‘Paddington’ Writers Team Up to Expand AI Short ‘Critterz’ with Native Foreign

The groundbreaking AI short film "Critterz" is being developed into a feature-length animated movie, with James Lamont and Jon Foster—writers behind Paddington in Peru—on board to script the adaptation. The project marks a major milestone in AI-assisted filmmaking and is being led by Vertigo Films in partnership with Native Foreign, the original creators of the short.

A New Chapter for AI-Powered Storytelling

First released on April 10, 2023, Critterz made headlines as the first animated short film to be entirely visualized using OpenAI’s DALL·E, with every character and background generated by the AI model. These visuals were then brought to life by a team of Emmy-winning animators. Written and directed by Chad Nelson, the short was produced by Native Foreign in collaboration with OpenAI and went on to screen at top festivals including Annecy, Tribeca, and Cannes Lions.

Critterz was also named a finalist for the 2025 Producers Guild of America Innovation Award, standing out as the only AI-driven project among the nominees.

Feature Adaptation in Production

The feature-length version of Critterz is set to enter production in April. Writers Lamont and Foster are known for their work on The Adventures of Paddington and Channel 4’s Wasted, and bring their storytelling expertise to a world first visualized by AI.

“We’re very excited to be putting storytelling at the heart of this groundbreaking project,” said Lamont and Foster. “The creative team behind ‘Critterz’ really impressed us with their vision and desire to make a beautiful, compelling, and funny family movie.”

James Richardson of Vertigo Films added:

“The original ‘Critterz’ showed us how AI tools can help filmmakers tell beautiful and entertaining stories and we are delighted to have an opportunity to once again be at the vanguard of another technological revolution. Chad and Nik [Kleverov] and their animation team created an incredible and award-winning short two years ago, and now James and Jon will be bringing their storytelling magic to the feature-length version for family audiences around the world.”

Expanding the World of Critterz

The new film continues Native Foreign’s mission to explore the intersection of human creativity and generative AI. Earlier this year, Native Foreign released Critterz: Remastered using OpenAI’s Sora, showcasing just how far generative technology has evolved in two years. You can watch Critterz: Remastered here.

With the upcoming feature-length version set to enter production in April, the producers aim to set a new standard for generative storytelling—blending human creativity and traditional animation with cutting-edge AI tools.

“AI didn’t replace my vision—it expanded it, helping me dream bigger and move faster,” said Nelson. “And now, with the rapid advancements made in AI since we launched the original ‘Critterz,’ we can fully realize these lovable characters and achieve our vision more completely.”

Nik Kleverov of Native Foreign said: “We have been touched by how audiences have taken ‘Critterz’ to their hearts and can’t wait to reveal more of their world with the support of our visionary partners at Vertigo Films.”

The film is produced by Allan Niblo and James Richardson for Vertigo, and Nik Kleverov for Native Foreign, with Nelson serving as a consulting producer. Jane Moore will be serving as executive producer for Vertigo.

What This Means

The development of Critterz into a feature film marks a major turning point in the acceptance of AI-generated content in mainstream cinema. While many projects have toyed with AI-generative visuals, Critterz combines AI imagery with traditional animation and human-driven storytelling—offering a blueprint for how the industry might balance emerging technology with creative artistry.

With backing from established writers and producers, Critterz is poised to test whether audiences are ready to embrace AI-assisted storytelling at scale. If successful, it could open the door to more hybrid production models—pairing AI generation with human-led direction to reimagine how animated stories are made.

As Critterz moves from a groundbreaking short to a full-length feature, it marks not just a milestone for AI in animation, but a glimpse into a future where technology and imagination grow together—expanding what’s possible in storytelling for generations to come—and inviting audiences everywhere to imagine what comes next.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.