Disney Names Adobe Its AI Innovation Partner, With Custom Firefly Foundry Models Built on Disney Properties

Disney has named Adobe its official AI innovation partner under a multiyear alliance, as Variety reported, giving Disney's creative teams early access to Firefly, Firefly Foundry, Premiere and Photoshop. Disney will also work directly with Adobe on custom generative AI models trained on its own characters, environments and visual styles.

• Early access across Adobe's stack. Disney gets early access to the latest AI, creative and media technologies from creative software maker Adobe, plus dedicated engineering and research resources for the Disney production pipeline.
• Custom models trained on Disney properties. Disney and Adobe will build Firefly Foundry models trained on Disney character attributes, environments and visual styles.
• Imagineering is already using Firefly Foundry. The R&D team at Walt Disney Imagineering uses it for a sketch-to-image model and a custom image model that generates franchise-accurate assets.
• Adobe joins Disney's R&D programs. Adobe becomes a StudioLAB Innovation Partner at The Walt Disney Studios and will work with ESPN Edge on AI for sports content.
• Marketing is part of the pact. Adobe gets marketing activations with Disney's parks, cruise line, ESPN Edge and StudioLAB, plus a bigger presence across Disney's media platforms.

Firefly Foundry models will learn Disney's characters, environments and visual styles

Under the alliance, Disney will work directly with Adobe on Firefly Foundry models customized on Disney properties. According to the companies, the models are trained on "unique world knowledge," including character attributes, environments and visual styles, to generate "commercially safe and production-ready outputs."

Disney says the models will be "human-centered and artist-led." The companies also say the custom models and tools are meant to help teams develop ideas more quickly "while protecting creators and their works."

Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development is already using Firefly Foundry in its theme park development pipeline. Its work includes a sketch-to-image model that transforms hand-drawn concepts into fully rendered 2D concept art, and a custom image model that generates "on-brand, franchise-accurate creative assets."

Beyond Foundry, the package covers Adobe Firefly for generative AI, Premiere for video editing and Photoshop for digital imaging.

StudioLAB and ESPN Edge put Adobe inside Disney's studio and sports R&D

StudioLAB is The Walt Disney Studios' innovation hub, where creative and technical talent prototype ideas and turn experiments into proven tools. As a StudioLAB Innovation Partner, Adobe will work with Disney creatives and technologists to explore and expand internal creative workflows.

At the ESPN Edge Innovation Center, ESPN and Adobe will look for ways AI can enhance engagement with sports fans and shape how ESPN delivers content. The companies also list new ways to bring ESPN's archive to life as a goal.

Adobe also gets marketing reach across Disney parks, cruises and media

The alliance lets Adobe amplify "innovation stories" with Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line, ESPN Edge and StudioLAB through global marketing activations, industry events and customer storytelling, according to Adobe's announcement. Adobe will also increase its presence across Disney's media platforms to reach entertainment and sports audiences.

Hannah Elsakr, vice president of GenAI New Business Ventures at Adobe, said Adobe's tools have supported everything from Disney's content creation pipelines and workflows to personalized marketing campaigns and digital experiences in the parks. Becca Vodnoy, senior vice president of Corporate Alliances at The Walt Disney Company, said the alliance gives Disney's creative teams "new ways to explore and develop their ideas."