OpenAI is investing resources into Critterz, an animated film generated with the help of artificial intelligence, aiming to demonstrate how AI can significantly accelerate and reduce the cost of film production compared to the traditional Hollywood approach.
The film is planned to be completed in just 9 months with a budget of under $30 million – while typical animated films require up to 3 years of work and a much larger budget. OpenAI will provide the team with its tools and computing resources, including GPT-5 and image generation models, with the goal of a world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in 2026.
The project will still involve people – actors will provide character voices, and artists will create initial sketches that GPT-5 and visual models will transform into final animations. The characters were developed over three years by Chad Nelson, OpenAI’s creative specialist, who initially used DALL·E for early versions of the film.
What makes this story unique is the fact that AI in Hollywood has so far mostly operated in the background through quiet tool integrations. Critterz is the first project openly presented as an AI film, which will undoubtedly provoke divided reactions from both the audience and the film industry. While it is realistic to expect the project to meet its planned timeline and goals, the biggest question remains – will audiences embrace a film that is openly created with the help of artificial intelligence?
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