Pixar to lay off 60 in California

EMERYVILLE, Calif., Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Pixar Animation Studios announced it is laying off about 60 staffers at its headquarters in Emeryville, Calif., after the release delay for "The Good Dinosaur."

The layoffs represent about 5 percent of the company's approximately 1,200 employees, The Hollywood Reporter said Friday.

"At Pixar, we are constantly re-evaluating the creative and business needs of our studio," a Pixar representative said in a statement. "With the release date change of 'The Good Dinosaur,' we have realigned our production and support priorities, which includes a small reduction in our staffing levels."

"The Good Dinosaur" was originally slotted to hit theaters in May 2014, but that was pushed back to Nov. 25, 2015, The Hollywood Reporter said.

The release date change also signaled a change in directors with Bob Peterson exiting the project and Peter Sohn being brought in as director or co-director.

"The Good Dinosaur" explores how humans and dinosaurs would have lived side-by-side had dinosaurs not gone extinct. The voice cast is expected to include Neil Patrick Harris, Frances McDormand and John Lithgow.