Disney turns to Adobe AI for sketch-to-concept-art pipeline
A multi-year partnership includes Imagineering and will also explore creative workflows at StudioLAB and AI applications for ESPN.
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Disney has named Adobe its official AI Innovation Partner in a multi-year alliance that will put customised generative-AI tools into the entertainment group’s creative and production workflows. The companies said the arrangement gives Disney early access to Adobe’s AI, creative and media technologies, alongside dedicated engineering and research support.
One use is already under way at Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development. A Firefly Foundry sketch-to-image model is turning hand-drawn concepts into fully rendered 2D concept art for theme-park development, aiming to move new ideas through that pipeline more quickly.
Disney will work with Adobe through Firefly Foundry to develop models tailored to its properties. Those models will be trained on Disney character attributes, environments and visual styles, with the stated aim of producing commercially safe, production-ready material while allowing teams to take on more creative projects.
Adobe will also provide access to Firefly, its generative-AI product for creatives; Firefly Foundry, which supplies proprietary models; Premiere for video editing; and Photoshop for digital imaging. The Disney-specific generative-AI models are described as human-centred and artist-led.
The companies are extending the collaboration beyond Imagineering. Work with Walt Disney Studios’ StudioLAB is intended to explore and expand internal creative workflows, while ESPN and Adobe will look at AI applications for fan engagement, content delivery and bringing ESPN’s archive to life.
The commercial alliance also covers Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort and Disney Cruise Line through marketing activations, industry events, thought leadership and customer storytelling. Adobe is set to increase its presence across Disney media platforms in entertainment and sports.
The deal builds on a decades-long relationship in which Adobe tools have been used in Disney content-creation pipelines, marketing campaigns and park digital experiences. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The alliance was announced at Adobe MAX 2026 in Miami, which runs from Nov. 10 to 12. The companies said additional activations and experiences are planned over the agreement’s multi-year term.
- Medium Art and design
- Company Adobe