Chad Nelson, writer and director of ‘Critterz,” syncing Blue, one of the stars of his short AI film. … [+]
Native Foreign
Creative agency Native Foreign is set to release Critterz: Remastered, a shot-for-shot remake of the first AI-assisted animated short Critterz with OpenAI’s Sora video generation model. The short film’s release today coincides with the February 13 introduction of Sora last year.
For the film’s creators, the project is more than just a technical demonstration—it’s a benchmark in AI-assisted storytelling. The original Critterz, released in April 2023 to commemorate the first year of DALL·E 2, was a groundbreaking experiment in blending AI-generated visuals with traditional animation techniques. Native Foreign is revisiting the short it originally worked on with OpenAI in 2023 with vastly improved tools, showcasing the strides AI has made in generative filmmaking over just two years.
The Origins of Critterz
Chad Nelson, the writer and director of Critterz, is now a creative specialist at OpenAI. He originally conceived the project when DALL·E 2 was first introduced in 2022 he was the Creative Director at Top Golf. “When I started playing with DALL·E, it completely changed my perspective on how AI could transform creativity,” said Nelson. “One of my first prompts was, ‘A red furry monster looks in wonder at a burning candle,’ and it was astonishing. The AI was capturing emotions with an expressiveness rivaling a student starting at CalArts.”
Native Foreign CEO Nik Kleverov working on “Critterz” with director Chad Nelson.
Native Foreign
His experimentation with AI-generated characters led to a deepening relationship with OpenAI. The company recognized Nelson’s ability to push the tool’s limits, inviting him to collaborate with its research team. That relationship evolved into a formal partnership, with OpenAI funding Critterz as an animated short to showcase what AI-powered storytelling could achieve.
Bringing Critterz to Life
To translate the still images generated by DALL·E 2 into an animated film, Nelson turned to traditional tools like Unreal Engine and Adobe After Effects. “They asked me, ‘Are you going to create every single frame with DALL·E?’” Nelson recalled. “I said, ‘No, but if you let me bring in other tools, I can create something compelling.’” OpenAI granted him the flexibility, and with that, Critterz was born.
A much more animated Critter.
Native Foreign
At the time, generative AI was met with both excitement and skepticism, especially in Hollywood. “We launched Critterz in April 2023, just before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes,” Nelson said. “There was definitely some anti-AI sentiment brewing, and we were worried about backlash. But when people saw the film, they realized this wasn’t AI replacing artists—it was AI being used as a tool in the creative process.”
The film gained traction, making the rounds at nearly two dozen festivals, including the prestigious Annecy International Animation Festival. Critterz was also nominated for a PGA Innovation Award, alongside projects from Marvel and ILM. It notably won recognition for comedy writing, an achievement that had nothing to do with AI.
Note the incredible detail Sora adds.
Native Foreign
Native Foreign and Nik Kleverov
Nelson wasn’t alone in this endeavor. The first person he brought on was long-time collaborator, Nik Kleverov, who is best known for the award winning Narcos title sequence. The two first met years earlier when Kleverov was a creative director at Digital Kitchen. When he started Native Foreign, Nelson was among his first clients. Native Foreign has since become a pioneer in AI-assisted storytelling, blending traditional filmmaking techniques with cutting-edge technology. “This remaster is a testament to the rapid advancements in AI,” said Kleverov. “It allows us to create a more immersive and dynamic world while staying true to the original film’s charm.”
Native Foreign’s work extends beyond Critterz. Kleverov has been at the forefront of AI-generated brand storytelling, notably producing the Toys R Us commercial using Sora . “Short-form advertising content is where AI is already making an impact,” he explained. “Unlike feature films, the turnaround time in advertising is much faster, and AI enables us to produce high-quality content at scale.”
A collage from Native Foreign.
Native Foreign
Why a Remake?
With Critterz: Remastered, OpenAI demonstrates just how much AI video technology has improved in less than two years. Unlike the original short film, which relied on DALL·E-generated stills animated through third-party tools, the remake was built entirely using Sora, OpenAI’s new text-to-video platform.
“It’s not just an upscale—it’s a full visual and sonic reimagining,” said Nelson. “The original had limitations because it was built in 2D. Now, we’re able to create a truly three-dimensional world, with characters that move fluidly and emote in ways that were impossible before.”
To drive the point home, OpenAI will release the new 4K film presented as a side-by-side comparison with the original. “It’s like watching the evolution of AI happen right in front of you,” Nelson said. “We’re using the same script, the same performances—just with completely different tools.”
The fullscreen 4K remastered version is available at CRITTERZ.tv along with a behind-the-scenes short on the creative process in crafting the original.
