I guess the fear of losing out on the trend, much like losing out on piracy, Disney is in the camp of "If we can't beat them, join them!" And so it begins...
https://www.wsj.com/business/media/disney-to-invest-1-billion-in-openai-...
Animation : Bob Iger LOVES AI by Bob Harper
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I just commented on this in the producing lounge because I saw a lot of rampant comments from folks who hadn't looked into the actual deal. My reply was:
It's important to understand the scope and context of this. Here is Iger's breakdown: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/bob-iger-openai...
As a former Disney filmmaker I can completely understand why this was done, but I believe the rollout and the subsequent announcement was handled horribly.
I would bet that billion dollars also includes proprietary infrastructure for the animation studio to incorporate within the pipeline. And likely creating a VFX pipeline. Currently, most of the live action VFX is farmed out.
In a bit of kismet, I have been digging deep into a few older documentaries on the animation side, as I am producing and directing one about the shuttered animation studio in Florida. WAKING SLEEPING BEAUTY and INSIDE PIXAR both lay a lot of evidence as to how Disney has ALWAYS tried to stay ahead of technology. (They are on D+ if you are a subscriber to that or Hulu.) There are a lot of similarities as to where we are today; things are just moving faster.
Meanwhile, as this unfolds, Disney vehemently protects their IP, the Google/MidJourney/Gemini lawsuits aside, they are known for going after daycare centers that dare paint their characters onto murals.
Where I think Iger has lost his touch and hurt the company is in the core value of its artists and stories. This is what would have Walt rolling over in his Frozen bed more than the tech.
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Laurie Ashbourne You are entirely correct on your assessment. Not only do I think Disney will benefit from pipeline integration, but I also think they will use it to develop some of their IP, since whatever fans create will not be copyright-protected.
110% Bob Harper I promise they have thought of that and it is in the terms that no one reads when they sign up for anything.
Bob Harper. Everyone loves AI including me because it helps me write and it learned the better tools and training on how to write scripts professionally. Bob Iger is not the only one. It helps me gain confidence as a writer.
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Chase Carmichael Not everyone loves AI. I'm happy you found a use for it, and it helps you grow. Unfortunately, that's not why Iger and most studios love it.
Bob Harper. Then, what is it?
Chase Carmichael They love it because it will cut costs for development and production.
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https://deadline.com/2025/12/disney-openai-deal-animators-sora-1236651227/ - Disney’s OpenAI Deal: Soulless Exploitation Or Necessary Innovation? Former Mouse House Animators Have Thoughts
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Laurie Ashbourne Great article. It confirms what you and I both assessed how Disney will exploit the AI Content. Many of my animation colleagues voice similar opinions.