TY  - ELEC
TI  - Critterz: First OpenAI-Backed AI-Native Animated Feature Film
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/09//
PB  - Deadline
AB  - 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.
KW  - generative-ai
KW  - production-practice
KW  - video-generation
KW  - labour-and-workforce
UR  - https://deadline.com/2026/05/open-ai-produced-animated-family-film-critterz-cannes-1236879586/
LA  - en
ER  -