AGC Introduces Family-Friendly Animated Film ‘Critterz’ at Cannes Market
AGC Studios Launches World Sales for AI-Produced Animation ‘Critterz’ Ahead of Cannes Market
AGC Studios, led by Stuart Ford, is set to launch international sales for its innovative AI-assisted family animation, Critterz, ahead of the prestigious Cannes market.
The film, crafted by writers James Lamont and Jon Foster, known for Paddington in Peru, alongside screenwriter Tom Butterworth of Birthday Girl, is touted as one of the first mainstream family films to integrate AI throughout its production process. Directed by Nik Kleverov, co-founder of AI company Native Foreign, Critterz aims to redefine the animation landscape.
The story centers on a brave but anxious woodland creature who teams up with a band of quirky outcasts, each contributing their unique strengths, on a perilous quest to locate her long-lost brother. AGC Studios plans to unveil the initial footage at Cannes, although the voice cast, reportedly composed of human actors, has yet to be announced.
The project’s estimated budget hovers around $30 million, a figure significantly lower than traditional animation costs. Critterz serves as a full-length adaptation of the 2023 viral short film of the same name, which was among the first to leverage OpenAI’s creative technologies.
When Critterz was first announced in September 2025, the Los Angeles Times posed the question of whether it marked "AI’s Toy Story moment."
Kleverov expressed his vision for the film, stating, "Critterz will be a timeless film — a world that feels truly its own. It will carry the wonder of the ‘80s fantasy movies I grew up on — the scrappy, adventurous spirit of The Goonies and the mythic, emotional scope of The NeverEnding Story… combined with the scale of early Star Wars. At the heart of it is a character whose greatest power isn’t force — it’s believing in herself and her family."
AGC CEO Stuart Ford emphasized the film’s groundbreaking nature, saying, "We are thrilled to join Vertigo and Native Foreign in bringing the much-anticipated Critterz to the industry. This ground-breaking feature demonstrates for the first time how AI can integrate into production without replacing artistry, becoming a tool for exploration rather than substitution. Filmmakers shape the story, characters, and emotions, while AI provides the brushstrokes to bring a new franchise to life for families around the world."
Allan Niblo and James Richardson from UK production and distribution company Vertigo Films expressed excitement about their collaboration. Richardson remarked, "We’re delighted to be partnering with AGC to show the world how great artists and storytellers can utilize this incredible technology to do the only thing that really matters – make a great movie. Critterz is a beautiful, heartwarming, and thrilling tale that has been crafted with scale and ambition to wow audiences and put smiles on the faces of families worldwide."
