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THE FEATURE IS ADAPTED FROM THE FIRST GROUND-BREAKING AI ANIMATED SHORT CRITTERZ
‘PADDINGTON IN PERU’ WRITERS JAMES LAMONT AND JOHN FOSTER BOARD THE FILM AHEAD OF PRODUCTION IN APRIL
Leading independent film and TV producers Vertigo Films (a Federation Studios company) are teaming up with pioneering AI creatives Chad Nelson, Creative Specialist, OpenAI, and Nik Kleverov, CCO, Native Foreign to produce Critterz, a feature-length adaptation of the groundbreaking 2023 short of the same name. Writers James Lamont and John Foster (Paddington in Peru) will pen the script for the family adventure, expanding the world of the lovable Critterz for a global audience.
The 2023 animated short Critterz was the first ever AI film which combined OpenAI Dall•E generated visuals with traditional animation techniques. The film screened at numerous festivals including the prestigious Annecy International Animation Festival and Tribeca Film Festival and was nominated for a PGA Innovation Award. Earlier this year, writer/director Chad Nelson and the Native Foreign team released Critterz: Remastered (2025) with OpenAI’s Sora, demonstrating the advancement of the tech in just two short years. The feature length Critterz promises to set a new benchmark for generative storytelling pairing human-driven creativity with the latest AI technology.
The feature length film will return audiences to the beautiful island of lovable creatures, untouched by humans. One day, a package arrives from the sky – and what’s inside the package will change their world forever…
James Richardson of Vertigo Films commented “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 and their animation team created an incredible and award-winning short two years ago, and now James and John will be bringing their storytelling magic to the feature-length version for family audiences around the world.”
Chad Nelson of OpenAI states, “There have been rapid technological advancements made in AI since we launched the original Critterz, allowing us to fully realize these lovable characters and achieve our vision more completely.” Nik Kleverov of Native Foreign added “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.”
James Lamont and John Foster added: “We’re really excited to be putting storytelling at the heart of this groundbreaking project. The creative team behind Critterz really impressed us with their vision and desire to make a beautiful, compelling and funny family movie”
The film is produced by Allan Niblo and James Richardson for Vertigo and Nik Kleverov for Native Foreign alongside Chad Nelson from OpenAI. Jane Moore is Executive Producer for Vertigo.
About Vertigo Films:
Vertigo Films is a British independent TV and Film production company founded in 2002 by Allan Niblo and James Richardson and joined a few years later by current CEO and partner, Jane Moore.
The company has produced and distributed over 50 feature films, from critical hits Monsters and Bronson to Oscar Nominated Ajami, to No.1 UK box office hits StreetDance 3D and The Sweeney. It has also made over 100 hours of high-end TV such as Britannia (Sky), Bulletproof (Sky) and Mammals (Amazon). In addition to their prolific producing record, Vertigo Films co-founded the distribution company Vertigo Releasing, international sales company Protagonist Pictures, as well as post and VFX companies Post Republic and Automatik (now manager owned), giving it an expertise in marketing, sales, and post-production.
In 2022 Federation Studios acquired a majority stake in the company to expand their offering of premium Film and TV for the global market.
About Native Foreign:
Native Foreign is a renowned women-owned creative agency that is leading the space in AI storytelling. In addition to partnering with Chad Nelson on the original Critterz (2023) and Critterz: Remastered (2025), the creative team has been behind recent landmark achievements in the advertising space, including the first ever brand film using AI, for Toys”R”Us.
Their recent short Memory Maker won in two categories at the prestigious Project Odyssey awards,
recognising achievements in AI. Nik Kleverov, CCO, is an Emmy-grade storyteller known for his work on Netflix’s
Narcos title sequence and has become a leading voice on how AI is reshaping the future of storytelling, with over
100 keynotes and panels delivered on the topic: from Sundance, to TIFF, CES, Cannes, and beyond.
About Chad Nelson:
With 25 years in interactive design and entertainment, Chad Nelson is an acclaimed creative director and technology strategist. His work spans video games, social media, TV, mobile applications where he has collaborated with companies like Microsoft, Intel, Sony, Virgin, and Adobe. He currently serves as a Creative Specialist at OpenAI, having launched one of the first AI-based films, the award-winning animated short CRITTERZ, the first AI-based VOGUE cover featuring Bella Hadid, and most recently, working directly with the research team in announcing their latest modality – Sora.
