Disney signs deal with OpenAI to allow Sora to generate AI videos featuring its characters

The Walt Disney Company announced Thursday that it signed a three-year partnership with OpenAI that will bring its iconic characters to the company’s Sora AI video generator. Disney is also making a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI.

Launched in September, Sora lets users create short videos using simple prompts. With this new deal, users will be able to use more than 200 animated, masked and creature characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars, including costumes, props, vehicles and more.

These characters include iconic faces such as Mickey Mouse, Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Baymax and Simba, as well as characters from Encanto, Frozen, Inside Out, Moana, Monsters, Inc., Toy Story, Up and Zootopia. Users can also enjoy animated or illustrated versions of Marvel and Lucasfilm characters such as Black Panther, Captain America, Deadpool, Groot, Iron Man, Darth Vader, Han Solo, Stormtroopers and more.

Users can also draw from these characters while using ChatGPT Images, the feature in ChatGPT that allows users to create visuals using text prompts.

The agreement does not include any talent or voice similarities, Disney said.

“The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence marks an important moment for our industry, and through this partnership with OpenAI, we will thoughtfully and responsibly expand the reach of our storytelling through generative AI, while respecting and protecting creators and their works,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement.

Disney says that in addition to the deal, it will “become a major customer of OpenAI” as it uses its APIs to build new products, tools and experiences, including for Disney+.

“Disney is the global gold standard for storytelling, and we are excited to work together so Sora and ChatGPT Images can expand the way people create and experience great content,” said Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, in a statement. “This agreement shows how AI companies and creative leaders can work together responsibly to advance innovation that benefits society, respect the importance of creativity, and ensure works reach vast new audiences.”

It’s worth noting that Disney has sued generative AI platform Midjourney for ignoring requests to stop violating its intellectual property rights. Disney also sent a defamation letter to Character.AI, urging the chatbot company to remove Disney characters from the millions of AI companions on its platform.

Disney’s deal with OpenAI signals that the company is not completely closing the door on AI platforms.