CATDOLL: DreamWorks has laid off a large number of employees and many popular animation sequels have been cancelled

According to foreign media reports, although DreamWorks Animation's overall performance in the past year has been unsatisfactory despite its hit animations such as "How to Train Your Dragon". In order to improve the company's operations, DreamWorks Animation has recently laid off 500 employees and closed the PDI-DreamWorks studio in Redwood City, California, and has also made a series of strategic adjustments: in the future, DreamWorks will only release two animated films each year, and projects such as "Madagascar 4" and "Puss in Boots 2" will not be seen for the time being.

DreamWorks will release two animated films every year in the future

Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation, said: "I am confident that through this strategic adjustment, we will be able to produce more outstanding films and achieve better box office results."

According to the new future plans announced by DreamWorks Animation, there are currently 7 animated films ready to be released between 2015 and 2018. They are:

2015:

Home (March 27)

Home, starring Jim Parsons and Rihanna, is based on the acclaimed children's novel The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex.

The story tells about an 11-year-old girl Tip, whose mother was kidnapped by the Boov aliens who invaded the Earth. She was forced to drive to Florida to escape. On the way, she met a Boov alien who called herself J.Lo. The two quickly became friends and experienced many interesting adventures together along the way. J.Lo accidentally attracted the Boov’s terrible enemy, the Gorg, who had occupied the Boov’s planet and wanted to eat the Earth and make humans their slaves. Tip and J.Lo must join forces to find Tip’s mother as soon as possible and save the world.

The so-called "Smek Day" is actually Christmas. After the Boov people occupied the earth, they named the earth "Smekland" after their captain "Smek", and named the day they landed on the earth (which happened to be Christmas) "Smek Day".

“Home” is directed by Tim Johnson, the director of “Antz” and “Over the Hedge”, and other voice actors include Jennifer Lopez, Steve Martin and others.

2016:

Kung Fu Panda 3 (March 18)

Trolls (November 4)

The film is based on the toys of "Ugly Dolls" (The Good Luck Trolls). Ugly Dolls are toy dolls with colorful frizzy hair. This time DreamWorks filmed the "Ugly Dolls" animation, which will tell how the ugly dolls became what they are, and there will be a lot of singing and dancing in the film.

2017:

Boss Baby (January 13)

Based on the children's book of the same name by Maria Frazee, the film stars Kevin Spacey and Alec Baldwin as the voices.

The Croods 2 (December 22)

2018:

Larrikins (February 16)

An animal musical comedy set in the Australian outback, starring a bilby.

How to Train Your Dragon 3 (June 29)

There are also some plans that have been announced but have now been postponed, rolled back or "cancelled":

1. Captain Underpants

Based on Dav Pilkey's best-selling comic book, it tells the story of two precocious fourth graders, George Beard and Harold Hutchins, who use hypnosis to transform their annoying principal, Mr. Benny Krupp, into a superman in underwear, Captain Underpants! This Captain Underpants is very friendly to the children and always helps them get out of trouble, but once he regains consciousness, he will forget what he did as Captain Underpants.

2. BOO: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations

The story tells of two clumsy people who join the "Underworld Administration" after death and become part of this elite team specializing in dealing with "haunted events". However, this job is not easy, because their ultimate enemy is the most powerful and terrifying ghost ever to appear on our planet.

"Underworld Administration" is voiced by Seth Rogen, Melissa McCarthy, Rashida Jones, Matt Bomer, Bill Murray, Jennifer Coolidge, Octavia Spencer, etc. The film has been in production for some time.

3. Mumbai Musical

4. Me And My Shadow

5. Madagascar 4

6. Puss in Boots 2: Nine Lives & 40 Thieves

The fate of these projects is still unclear. Some may be released after being reworked, while others may be canceled.