The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI have reached an agreement for Disney to become the first major licensing partner on Sora. Sora is the AI company’s short-form generative AI video platform, which seems like it should be worrying for the multinational mass media and entertainment company.
However, the situation may not be as bad as you’d think. The new three-year licensing agreement will allow Sora to generate short, user-prompted social videos, which can be shared by fans, and will draw from 200 Disney characters, including Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars. It will even include props, costumes, vehicles and more. Further, the company will use ChatGPT Images to turn a few words into generated images that draw from Disney’s IP. However, the agreement doesn’t include anything like voices.
Disney will make a US$1 billion equity investment in OpenAI, and is able to purchase additional equity.
Under the license, fans will be able to watch Sora-generated videos on Disney+, and OpenAI and Disney will collaborate to create better experiences for Disney+ subscribers. The press release says that Sora and ChatGPT Images are expected to start generating fan-inspired videos starting in early 2026 and will include among the following characters: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Lilo, Stitch, Ariel, Belle, Beast, Cinderella, Baymax, Simba, Mufasa, as well as characters from the worlds of Encanto, Frozen, Inside Out, Moana, Monsters Inc., Toy Story, Up, Zootopia, and many more; plus iconic animated or illustrated versions of Marvel and Lucasfilm characters like Black Panther, Captain America, Deadpool, Groot, Iron Man, Loki, Thor, Thanos, Darth Vader, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Leia, the Mandalorian, Stormtroopers, Yoda and more.
Disney and OpenAI’s agreement also includes a shared commitment to the “responsible use of AI that protects user safety and the rights of creators. Together, the companies will advance human-centred AI that respects the creative industries and expands what is possible for storytelling.”
You can learn more about the OpenAI, Disney partnership here.
