Key points
- First animated feature backed by OpenAI, budgeted at under 30 million US dollars.
- Planned nine-month production timeline, described as human-led and AI-assisted throughout.
- AGC Studios launched world sales at the Cannes market in May 2026 with first footage; worldwide theatrical release planned for 2027.
Summary
Critterz is the first feature animation backed by OpenAI, announced in September 2025 with a budget reported as under 30 million US dollars and a planned nine-month production timeline. Directed by Nik Kleverov of Native Foreign, with Chad Nelson of OpenAI as producer and Vertigo Films producing, the project is described as human-led and AI-assisted throughout. AGC Studios launched world sales at the Cannes market in May 2026 with first footage shown. A worldwide theatrical release is planned for 2027. The production economics -- budget and timeline relative to traditionally produced animated features -- provide a comparison point educators are already being asked to contextualise.
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Source
Source: Deadline ↗ (Trade Press)
Cite this item
Deadline (2025). ‘Critterz: First OpenAI-Backed AI-Native Animated Feature Film’, Deadline. Available at: https://deadline.com/2026/05/open-ai-produced-animated-family-film-critterz-cannes-1236879586/
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