Disney built its legacy on the artistry of human hands — from hand-drawn classics like Snow White and The Lion King to the digital magic of Moana and Encanto.

But with its newly announced partnership with OpenAI, Disney risks trading that legacy for algorithm-generated content.

According to reports, Disney has struck a deal that gives fans the ability to generate video content using more than 200 of its characters through OpenAI’s video tool, Sora. While the company frames this as innovation and fan engagement, it opens a dangerous door: one where the skills of animators, storyboard artists, voice actors, and writers could be pushed aside in favor of fast, automated output.

This isn’t about resisting new technology — it’s about preserving the craft that made Disney beloved for nearly a century. Generative AI tools don’t create art — they remix it. They sample from the hard work of real people, often without credit or compensation. And when a company as influential as Disney embraces these tools without guardrails, it sets a precedent for the entire entertainment industry.

We call on The Walt Disney Company’s leadership to:

• Publicly commit to preserving and investing in human-led animation and storytelling
• Guarantee that AI-generated content will not replace or reduce roles for professional animators and creative workers
• Ensure any AI initiatives are developed with the input of unions, artists, and storytellers
• Clearly disclose the use of AI in fan-generated and official content.

We love Disney because of the people who bring its characters to life — not because a machine can rearrange pixels. Let’s protect the craft before it’s treated like a relic.

Add your name to demand Disney keep its promises to creativity, originality, and the artists behind the magic.