The Walt Disney Company has signed a three-year partnership with OpenAI, enabling users to generate AI-powered videos featuring Disney’s most beloved characters on the Sora platform. The agreement comes alongside a $1 billion equity investment by Disney in OpenAI.
Launched in September, Sora allows users to create short videos from text prompts. Under the new deal, users will have access to more than 200 characters spanning Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars, including iconic figures such as Mickey Mouse, Simba, Elsa, Iron Man, and Darth Vader. This includes animated, illustrated, and creature characters, complete with costumes, props, and vehicles. ChatGPT Images users will also be able to incorporate these characters into their visual creations.
Disney stressed that the agreement does not cover talent likenesses or voices. Bob Iger, Disney CEO, said, “The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence marks an important moment for our industry, and through this collaboration with OpenAI we will thoughtfully and responsibly extend the reach of our storytelling through generative AI, while respecting and protecting creators and their works.”
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman highlighted the potential for AI to expand creativity responsibly: “Disney is the global gold standard for storytelling, and we’re excited to partner to allow Sora and ChatGPT Images to expand the way people create and experience great content. This agreement shows how AI companies and creative leaders can work together responsibly to promote innovation that benefits society.”
The company also plans to use OpenAI’s APIs to develop new products, tools, and experiences, including for Disney+. The partnership signals a cautious but forward-looking embrace of AI in creative industries, even as Disney has previously taken legal action against other AI platforms for IP violations.
This move positions Disney as a leading media company experimenting with AI while retaining control over its intellectual property, potentially shaping the future of AI-driven storytelling.
