“OpenAI’s Critterz: The First AI-Driven Animated Feature Set for Cannes 2026”

Hollywood’s traditional filmmaking landscape is facing an unprecedented experiment — and leading the charge is none other than OpenAI. The globally renowned AI powerhouse is stepping into uncharted territory with Critterz, a full-length animated feature created using its own AI tools. If everything goes as planned, the film will make its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2026. More than just a movie, Critterz is being hailed as a bold statement about the future of creativity.

At its heart, the story of Critterz is charming yet profound. It follows a group of forest animals whose peaceful lives are disrupted by the arrival of a mysterious stranger. The visionary behind this concept is OpenAI’s creative specialist, Chad Nelson. About three years ago, Nelson began experimenting with character designs using OpenAI’s DALL·E tool, crafting a small proof-of-concept. That modest experiment has now evolved into a full-fledged production, supported by major players like Vertigo Films in London, Native Foreign in Los Angeles, and backed financially by Federation Studios.

Traditionally, large animated films take around three years to complete and cost over $100 million. In sharp contrast, Critterz aims to be produced in just nine months with a budget under $30 million. The project is a collaboration between humans and AI: artists will sketch initial characters, AI will enhance them with detail, and professional voice actors will breathe life into them. The script is being penned by the writers of Paddington in Peru, while voice casting is already underway.

For Nelson and OpenAI, the stakes are high. If Critterz succeeds, it could prove that AI is not just a tool for storyboarding or special effects, but a genuine force capable of creating an entire cinematic experience. “OpenAI can talk all day about what its tools are capable of,” Nelson remarked, “but when you actually show it in practice, the impact is far greater.”

This experiment comes at a time when Hollywood remains deeply divided on AI’s role in entertainment. While platforms like Netflix are drafting regulations for AI use, studios such as Disney and Universal are embroiled in lawsuits against MidJourney over copyright infringement. During last year’s SAG-AFTRA strike, actors demanded stronger protections against the use of digital likenesses.

Against this backdrop, Critterz isn’t just about saving budget and time — it could serve as a roadmap for how creativity itself may be reshaped in the age of AI.

Hollywood’s traditional filmmaking landscape is facing an unprecedented experiment — and leading the charge is none other than OpenAI. The globally renowned AI powerhouse is stepping into uncharted territory with Critterz, a full-length animated feature created using its own AI tools. If everything goes as planned, the film will make its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2026. More than just a movie, Critterz is being hailed as a bold statement about the future of creativity.

At its heart, the story of Critterz is charming yet profound. It follows a group of forest animals whose peaceful lives are disrupted by the arrival of a mysterious stranger. The visionary behind this concept is OpenAI’s creative specialist, Chad Nelson. About three years ago, Nelson began experimenting with character designs using OpenAI’s DALL·E tool, crafting a small proof-of-concept. That modest experiment has now evolved into a full-fledged production, supported by major players like Vertigo Films in London, Native Foreign in Los Angeles, and backed financially by Federation Studios.

Traditionally, large animated films take around three years to complete and cost over $100 million. In sharp contrast, Critterz aims to be produced in just nine months with a budget under $30 million. The project is a collaboration between humans and AI: artists will sketch initial characters, AI will enhance them with detail, and professional voice actors will breathe life into them. The script is being penned by the writers of Paddington in Peru, while voice casting is already underway.

For Nelson and OpenAI, the stakes are high. If Critterz succeeds, it could prove that AI is not just a tool for storyboarding or special effects, but a genuine force capable of creating an entire cinematic experience. “OpenAI can talk all day about what its tools are capable of,” Nelson remarked, “but when you actually show it in practice, the impact is far greater.”

This experiment comes at a time when Hollywood remains deeply divided on AI’s role in entertainment. While platforms like Netflix are drafting regulations for AI use, studios such as Disney and Universal are embroiled in lawsuits against MidJourney over copyright infringement. During last year’s SAG-AFTRA strike, actors demanded stronger protections against the use of digital likenesses.

Against this backdrop, Critterz isn’t just about saving budget and time — it could serve as a roadmap for how creativity itself may be reshaped in the age of AI.