The Walt Disney Company has announced a groundbreaking partnership with OpenAI, becoming the first major studio to license its characters for use on Sora, OpenAI's short-form AI video platform. The three-year deal will allow Sora to create short, user-generated videos featuring more than 200 popular Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars characters.

Fans will be able to generate new videos using iconic characters such as Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Stitch, Ariel, Simba, Baymax, Iron Man, Groot, Darth Vader, Yoda, and many more. Costumes, props, vehicles, and famous Disney locations will also be available in the tool. ChatGPT Images will use the same licensed content to instantly produce images from simple text prompts.

As part of the partnership, Disney will invest $1 billion in OpenAI and receive warrants to purchase additional equity. Disney will also use OpenAI's APIs to build new digital tools, improve Disney+, and provide ChatGPT to employees for internal use.

In early 2026, Disney+ viewers will be able to watch curated Sora-generated videos, and subscribers will later get access to new interactive features powered by AI. Disney CEO Bob Iger said the deal will help the company create "more engaged experiences" for Disney+ users.

The agreement does not allow OpenAI to use Disney content to train its AI models, and it excludes all actor likenesses and voices.

Disney has recently taken strong legal action against various tech companies over alleged misuse of its intellectual property. Despite those disputes, both Disney and OpenAI say this new deal reflects a shared commitment to responsible AI and to protecting creators' rights.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman called Disney "the global gold standard for storytelling" and said the partnership will help bring creative tools to millions of fans.