As the battle between creative industries and artificial intelligence continues to rage on, audiences have been shocked by the latest announcement by Disney, which has revealed a $1 billion investment by the House of Mouse into OpenAI. The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI have agreed to join forces and introduce more than 200 Disney characters, including those from Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars, to the Sora generative video software, and fans across multiple franchises are understandably split on the unexpected move.

Earlier in 2025, both Disney and Universal released statements pushing back against generative AI programs' use of both companies' intellectual properties, with the two powerhouses of entertainment threatening litigation against any perceived copyright or licensing violations. In a complete 180 move, however, Disney has shifted its stance on the use of artificial intelligence in creative fields, raising more than a few eyebrows.

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OpenAI Hit With Copyright Infringement Allegations from Japanese Game Developers

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Disney Characters and Franchises Being Added to OpenAI Sora

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  • Mickey Mouse
  • Minnie Mouse
  • Lilo
  • Stitch
  • Ariel
  • Belle
  • Beast
  • Cinderella
  • Baymax
  • Simba
  • Mufasa
  • Black Panther (animated or illustrated)
  • Captain America (animated or illustrated)
  • Deadpool (animated or illustrated)
  • Groot (animated or illustrated)
  • Iron Man (animated or illustrated)
  • Loki (animated or illustrated)
  • Thor (animated or illustrated)
  • Thanos (animated or illustrated)
  • Darth Vader (animated or illustrated)
  • Han Solo (animated or illustrated)
  • Luke Skywalker (animated or illustrated)
  • Leia (animated or illustrated)
  • The Mandalorian (animated or illustrated)
  • Stormtroopers (animated or illustrated)
  • Yoda (animated or illustrated)
  • Encanto (franchise)
  • Frozen (franchise)
  • Inside Out (franchise)
  • Moana (franchise)
  • Monsters Inc. (Franchise)
  • Toy Story (franchise)
  • Up (franchise)
  • Zootopia (franchise)
  • "and many more"

The three-year licensing agreement introduces over 200 Disney characters to Sora, allowing fans to generate "short, user-prompted social videos," with a selection of these videos set to be available for streaming on Disney+. Among the biggest franchises to be added to Sora include the box office juggernaut Frozen, the iconic Toy Story, and the popular Zootopia, whose sequel is presently on track to gross over a billion dollars in theaters. Animated IPs are not the only ones set to join Sora, as both Marvel Comics and Lucasfilm's Star Wars will also be included in the deal. It is key to note that only animated or illustrated versions of characters like Black Panther, Captain America, Iron Man, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Leia, and others will be added to the generative video platform. According to the agreement, no "talent likenesses or voices" are included in the deal.

Disney's $1 billion investment in OpenAI will additionally include using the artificial intelligence company's "APIs to build new products, tools, and experiences, including for Disney+, and deploying ChatGPT for its employees." The agreement further states that Disney's massive investment will include "warrants to purchase additional equity," meaning Disney could buy up an even larger stake in OpenAI over time, so long as such deals are done prior to the expiration of the existing agreement. Both Sora and ChatGPT Images will be able to start generating Disney licensed characters in early 2026, so audiences may start seeing AI-generated video content on Disney+ sooner rather than later.

Despite a continued shift by executives and corporations in favor of introducing more artificial intelligence into creative spaces, audiences remain heavily split on the subject. The new agreement between Disney and OpenAI has already sparked outcries and calls for protest on social media. Many believe that the passion and care needed to craft heartfelt stories and meaningful character development simply cannot be replicated by machines, resulting in what fans online often call "AI slop." This term refers to content that utilizes beloved characters from hit franchises but tends to miss the mark on producing videos or images that have "soul" and instead often lands in the uncanny valley. However, those on the flip side of the argument feel that fans being able to get more involved in the creation of new entertainment could help to add more variety to the content options on Disney+ and other platforms.

Captain America Civil War Spider-Man

Whether the Sora AI-generated video content that eventually lands on Disney+ will be popular or of a respectable quality remains to be seen, but it is understandable that many are worried about the impact on artists, writers, and other creatives who may be forcibly fazed out in favor of the user-generated Disney content. One particular sticking point among audiences is the fact that users will not receive any form of compensation from the videos they may produce with Sora, meaning Disney will be getting this additional AI content without having to pay anyone involved in its creation. Only time will tell if audiences enjoy seeing some of the most iconic Disney franchises of all time receiving the AI treatment, but $1 billion is nothing to scoff at, even for Disney, and the House of Mouse seems more than content with its new OpenAI investment.

Source: OpenAI x Disney Joint Statement