The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI have reached a landmark three-year licensing agreement to bring Disney’s iconic characters to OpenAI’s short-form video platform, Sora (12/12). The deal allows fans to generate and share short AI-driven social videos featuring more than 200 characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars.

Generative AI Enables Fan-Created Videos and Images

Under the agreement, Sora can produce user-prompted videos using Disney’s characters, props, vehicles, costumes, and environments. Fans can also use ChatGPT Images to turn text prompts into fully generated images, drawing from the same intellectual property. The license does not include any actor likenesses or voices.

Disney Invests $1 Billion and Becomes OpenAI Customer

Disney will make a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI and receive warrants to purchase additional equity. The company will also become a major customer of OpenAI, using its APIs to build new products, tools, and experiences, including for Disney+, and will deploy ChatGPT for its employees.

Commitment to Responsible AI

Both companies emphasize a shared commitment to responsible AI that protects user safety and creator rights. Robert A. Iger, CEO of Disney, 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.”

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, added, “This agreement shows how AI companies and creative leaders can work together responsibly to promote innovation that benefits society, respect the importance of creativity, and help works reach vast new audiences.”

Integration with Disney+ and Fan Access

Curated selections of Sora-generated videos will be available on Disney+. OpenAI and Disney will collaborate to enhance subscriber experiences using AI models. The new AI features, including Sora and ChatGPT Images, are expected to launch in early 2026. Fans will be able to create content featuring characters such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Ariel, Belle, Elsa, Iron Man, Thor, Darth Vader, Han Solo, and many more from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars.

PHOTO: OPEN AI

This article was created with AI assistance.