OpenAI and Vertigo Films Launch AI Studio With Animated Feature
Amersia, a new production company built around AI-assisted filmmaking, is launching with Critterz, an animated feature that marks one of the first major studio films created using the technology. The company developed Woven, an internal production platform, specifically to make the movie.
OpenAI producer Chad Nelson created Critterz within OpenAI's ecosystem. The script comes from the writers behind Paddington in Peru. Director Nik Kleverov, who co-founded Native Foreign and previously created a viral AI-generated Toys"R"Us commercial, will oversee amersia's creative strategy.
Vertigo Films and Federation Studios established amersia to give artists access to new production tools. The company positions AI as a means to reduce repetitive work, not replace creative judgment.
How the Platform Works
Woven automates parts of the production pipeline, freeing artists to focus on decisions that require human judgment. Kleverov said the platform is "built around human-led creativity" and designed to "remove friction, not replace judgment."
The company is already testing Woven with select media partners before a broader rollout. Amersia CEO James Richardson framed AI as the next major shift in entertainment, comparing it to earlier transitions from sound to CGI.
What This Means for Creatives
The launch reflects a shift in how studios approach generative video and animation. Rather than replacing artists, these tools aim to handle time-consuming technical tasks.
For creatives in film and animation, the question is whether these platforms will expand what's possible or simply compress timelines and budgets. Critterz serves as an early test case for how audiences respond to AI-assisted animated features at scale.
The film heads to the Cannes market through AGC Studios, giving the industry a concrete example of what this production approach can deliver.
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