The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI have signed a major agreement to provide Sora with iconic Disney characters. This partnership will allow Sora to generate fan-made short videos featuring over 200 characters, costumes, props, vehicles, and backgrounds from the Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars universes. Users can create videos by simply entering simple sentences, and some of the generated videos will be available on Disney+.
This agreement includes Disney's $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI and the right to purchase additional shares. Disney will also become a major customer, leveraging OpenAI's APIs to build new features and tools across Disney+ and its internal operations. However, this license does not include actors' faces or voices.
The two companies jointly declared principles for responsible AI use that protect user safety and creator rights. They also agreed to establish technical controls to prevent the creation of illegal or harmful content and strengthen intellectual property protection standards. OpenAI plans to enhance the level of safety within its services by implementing age-appropriate policies.
Disney CEO Robert Iger stated that technological innovation has always driven change in the entertainment industry and that this collaboration will provide an opportunity to expand creative experiences in new ways. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasized that Disney is the global standard for storytelling and that together, the two companies will demonstrate responsible innovation.
Disney multi-brand short film creation with Sora and ChatGPT image features is expected to be available starting in early 2026. It will feature iconic characters like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Stitch, Cinderella, Simba, Baymax, Toy Story, Moana, Frozen, Inside Out, and Zootopia, as well as key heroes from Marvel and Lucasfilm.
This transaction will be officially finalized following the signing of a final contract and approval by both companies' boards of directors. This collaboration between the two companies is expected to be a turning point, setting the standard for AI utilization in the entertainment industry.
