What's the story?
Disney has signed a major three-year licensing agreement with OpenAI, allowing more than 200 of the company's iconic animated characters to appear in AI-generated videos created using Sora. The deal gives Disney a $1 billion stake in OpenAI, making it its most strategic foray into generative media. The partnership will allow Sora users to create short AI videos featuring popular characters such as Mickey Mouse and Simba.
Disney showcases Sora-generated clips on platform
Disney plans to feature select clips created by Sola on its own streaming platform. The company also plans to use ChatGPT internally to support teams across the organization. However, it's important to note that Disney is licensing the voices of the characters, not the people playing the characters. This means that Sora won't be able to recreate the look or voice of actors like Tom Hanks, who played Woody in the movies. toy story fame.
Disney and OpenAI's contract has strict restrictions
The agreement between Disney and OpenAI has severe limitations. The latter is also prohibited from using Disney movies or TV shows to train models. This is something Disney is increasingly defending, as seen in its recent cease and desist letter to Google over allegations of unauthorized training.
Disney CEO Bob Iger talks AI and intellectual property
Disney CEO Bob Iger said the company wants to explore new storytelling formats that leverage AI while protecting intellectual property and the work of its creative teams. He described Sola as a controlled, “safe environment” for experimenting with Disney's catalog. This partnership is similar to previous deals between Disney and Epic Games that brought Disney characters into games. fortnite and other shared entertainment spaces.
What this deal means for AI-generated video
Disney's $1 billion deal with OpenAI could be a turning point in AI-generated video by bringing licensed mainstream IP to tools like Sora. Disney has justified the creation of AI videos by allowing creators to use iconic characters under strict guardrails, with clear limits on training data, audio, and likenesses. The move could prompt other studios to follow suit, accelerating the adoption of AI storytelling tools and reshaping the way short-form videos, fan content and branded entertainment are produced.
