OpenAI is supporting the production of an AI animated feature film titled "Critterz," which aims to demonstrate how artificial intelligence technology can revolutionize Hollywood film production at a faster pace and lower cost. This animated film, which follows the journey of forest creatures leaving their home, will have its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2026.
The project was conceived by OpenAI creative expert Chad Nelson, with OpenAI providing tools and computing resources for the production. The script was written by James Lamont and Jon Foster, who also wrote "Paddington in Peru."
In terms of scale and cost, the entire movie has a budget of less than $30 million and will be completed by a team of about 30 people in a production cycle of nine months. By comparison, Pixar animated films typically have budgets of around $200 million.
The production process will combine human involvement and AI technology, including hiring live actors for voice acting, artists to draw reference sketches, and then using OpenAI's generative AI tools such as GPT-5 for production.
OpenAI announced this project on September 7, hoping to prove that AI can produce cinema-quality content more quickly and economically than traditional methods. The idea originated from Nelson's experience three years ago when he tried to make a short film using OpenAI's newly launched DALL-E image generation tool.
As "Critterz" approaches its 2026 release, it will serve as an important test case for the application of AI in long-form filmmaking. Its outcome could influence how film studios handle animation production in the future and the tools they use, highlighting the balance between technology and human creative input.
This project marks an important milestone in the application of AI technology in the entertainment industry and has also sparked widespread discussion about the role of AI in creative industries.
