Disney+ Will Soon Let Users Make AI Slop with Its Characters

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Disney is consistently disappointing. Despite presenting a family-friendly image, it’s clear their main focus is profit. We see this in the endless, often unnecessary, sequels and live-action remakes they produce. They also quickly give in to demands that stifle free expression – and then backtrack only when it impacts their bottom line. Now, Disney is allowing Disney+ users to create short videos using AI and featuring their iconic characters, further demonstrating that money is their top priority.

This displeases me, if you couldn’t tell.

I was reading over at Kotaku, and they pointed me to a report in The Hollywood Reporter about some big changes Disney+ is planning. Apparently, Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed they’re making really significant updates – not just to what we watch, but also how we experience things on the platform. A key part of this is teaming up with Epic Games to bring some interactive features to Disney+ – which sounds pretty exciting to me!

Disney CEO Bob Iger shared his enthusiasm for how AI can enhance the Disney+ experience. He explained that AI will allow users to both create and enjoy short-form videos and other content made by fellow fans. Iger also mentioned that Disney has been in talks with AI companies, with a key focus on safeguarding its intellectual property.

The company famous for aggressively protecting its copyright – even changing laws to keep Mickey Mouse under copyright for an exceptionally long time – is now allowing users to create AI-generated content featuring its trademarked characters. It’s a bit like a parent allowing underage drinking as long as it’s done under their supervision. Essentially, we can use their copyrighted material freely, as long as we do it on their platform and they profit from it.

Expect to see a lot of TikTok and Instagram Reels featuring characters from movies like Lilo & Stitch and Frozen doing things people haven’t asked for. While Disney might make a little extra money, many of the artists and filmmakers who created these beloved characters and films probably won’t be happy about it. It raises a bigger question: is this what creators want when they make art? The use of AI to quickly generate content risks diminishing the value of even commercially successful films and animation, and this is a problem that’s likely to continue for a long time.

Kyle Anderson is a Senior Editor at TopMob and the host of the “Laser Focus” podcast, where he takes a detailed look at pop culture. He also writes film and TV reviews, and you can find him on Letterboxd.

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2025-11-13 23:33