How Galyn Susman Rescued Toy Story 2 and Lost Her Job
A Pixar staffer’s quick thinking saved a beloved film from disaster, but years later, she was let go. Discover the story behind the near-loss of Toy Story 2 and what happened to the woman who saved it.
Back in 1998, the team behind a certain animated classic was putting the finishing touches on their much-anticipated sequel. Spirits were high at the animation studio, with the project nearly wrapped up. Then, out of nowhere, a simple error from one of the animators wiped out nearly the entire film. Scene after scene disappeared before anyone could do a thing about it.
It turned out that about 90% of the work was gone in a flash. Normally, this sort of mishap wouldn’t be the end of the world, as studios tend to keep regular backups. Unfortunately, the backup system hadn’t been working for months, leaving two years of effort and a hefty sum of money seemingly lost for good.
Galyn Susman’s Timely Intervention
Just when things looked grim, Galyn Susman, who was on maternity leave at the time, came to the rescue. As the Supervising Technical Director, she’d taken a copy of the project home to work remotely. That backup, sitting on her home computer, turned out to be the only thing standing between the studio and a massive loss. Thanks to Susman, the team managed to recover the film and get back on track.
The sequel went on to become a box office hit, pulling in $511 million. The entire series has since raked in over $3 billion, making it one of the most successful animated franchises ever. Susman’s quick thinking played a huge part in that success, and you’d reckon she’d be a fixture at the company for years to come.
Unexpected Layoffs at the Studio
Despite her pivotal role, Susman was made redundant in 2023. She was one of 7,000 staff let go as part of a major round of layoffs, which saw 75 positions cut in a single day. Another high-profile departure was Angus MacLane, a senior creative who’d worked on several major titles. All this happened while the parent company reported a record $88.898 billion in revenue, up 7.47% from the previous year.
Susman’s departure came as a shock to many, given her long history with the studio and her role in saving a major project. She’d been with the company for over three decades, working on a string of hits and taking on various roles, from lighting supervisor to producer.
Susman’s Career and Where She Is Now
Susman’s career began after she finished her Computer Science degree at Brown University. She spent a few years at Apple before joining the animation studio in 1990. Over the years, she contributed to a range of well-known films, including Monsters, Inc., Up, Ratatouille, and Brave. Her last project before being let go was Lightyear.
After leaving the studio, Susman shifted to freelance work in animation production, staying in the San Francisco Bay Area. She’d given nearly 33 years to the company, not to mention saving them from a major disaster, before being shown the door.
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