@misc{critterzopenaifeature2025,
  title = {Critterz: First OpenAI-Backed AI-Native Animated Feature Film},
  year = {2025},
  publisher = {Deadline},
  url = {https://deadline.com/2026/05/open-ai-produced-animated-family-film-critterz-cannes-1236879586/},
  abstract = {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.},
  keywords = {generative-ai, production-practice, video-generation, labour-and-workforce},
  note = {AI \& Animation Education Knowledge Base}
}