OpenAI and the Walt Disney Corporation have reached what has been described as a landmark deal. The agreement means that OpenAI’s Sora generative AI model will be able to make videos featuring Disney characters.
Licensing partner
Sora and Disney have signed a three-year licensing agreement. Disney has become the first major content licensing partner on Sora, OpenAI’s short-form generative AI video platform. As a result, you will be able to prompt Sora to generate short social videos, featuring more than 200 Disney, Marvel, Pixar and “Star Wars” characters. These videos can also be viewed and shared by fans.
Additionally, a selection of the fan-inspired Sora short form videos will be available to stream on the Disney+ streaming channel.
Sora and ChatGPT
The licensing agreement includes more than 200 animated, masked and creature characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar and “Star Wars.” It also covers costumes, props, vehicles and iconic environments. You will therefore be able to use Sora to create videos using these assets. In addition, you will be able to use text to prompt ChatGPT to generate images using the licensed Disney characters.
Which characters will be available?
OpenAI released a comprehensive list of the characters you will be able to use. They include Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Lilo, Stitch, Ariel, Belle, Beast, Cinderella, Baymax, Simba and Mufasa. There will also be characters from the worlds of “Encanto,” “Frozen,” “Inside Out,” “Moana,” “Monsters Inc.,” “Toy Story,” “Up” and “Zootopia.”
Also, you’ll be able to use animated or illustrated versions of Marvel and Lucasfilm characters such as Black Panther, Captain America, Deadpool, Groot, Iron Man, Loki, Thor, Thanos, Darth Vader, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Leia, the Mandalorian, Stormtroopers, Yoda and more.
What’s not included?
OpenAI has been very clear that the agreement with Disney “does not include any talent likenesses or voices”. In practice, this means that if you prompt Sora to generate a video with Wolverine, it will be a generic comic book style Wolverine. The character in your video won’t look or sound like Hugh Jackman. You also won’t get paid if your fan video screens on the Disney+ channel.
Equity investment
As well as licensing its assets, Disney is making a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI. Disney will also receive warrants to purchase additional equity.
Disney is going to become a major customer of OpenAI. Disney will use OpenAI’s APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to build new products, tools and experiences, including for Disney+. Disney will deploy ChatGPT for its employees as well.
Responsible use of AI
As part of the agreement, OpenAI and Disney have affirmed their shared commitment to the responsible use of AI that protects user safety and the rights of creators. In a press release, OpenAI stated that the two companies “will advance human-centered AI that respects the creative industries and expands what is possible for storytelling.”
In addition, OpenAI and Disney will ensure robust controls to prevent the generation of illegal or harmful content.
What we think
Over the past 12 months, some rights holders have taken legal action against the companies behind generative AI. However, Disney appears to be going down the route of “if you can’t beat them, join them”. As well as opening up the use of its characters, Disney is also registering a major stake in OpenAI.
Disney is clearly stating its intention to use AI in its creative work going forwards, which will be disappointing to many artists and fans around the world. The licensing of intellectual property to an AI company on this scale is a unique move. It will be interesting to see if other media companies seek to pursue similar deals in the coming months.
Pricing and availability
You will be able to use Sora and ChatGPT to create content with Disney characters from early in 2026.
