First, what is Sora? It is an app that produces short, AI-generated videos that are 10 seconds long. You describe a scene and Sora turns that description into a cinematic video in under a minute. There is no camera, no editing software and no production timeline. If you can describe it clearly, Sora will generate it.

Sora also supports audio. Characters can talk, and you can add a voiceover. This combination of visuals and sound with one-tap creation is what separates Sora from other AI video tools.

The closest comparison is Vine, the short-form video app that launched in 2013 and shut down in 2017. Vine showed how much creativity could fit into a few seconds and helped define an entire generation of online video styles. But Vine relied entirely on human execution. You had the idea and you also had to film, edit and post it. With Sora, the idea is still yours, but the execution belongs to the software.

That determines how Sora is best used. It is not a replacement for professional video production or editing tools. It works best as a way to visualize ideas quickly. You might use it to show a new product concept, test how a visual approach feels before committing to real production or simply just for fun and share it with others in the Sora social stream.

There are limits. Once Sora generates a video, editing it is hit or miss. You cannot fine-tune details, rather you can change the prompt and hope Sora interprets your direction correctly. But when you change the prompt, Sora generates a new video based on the revised description, which is usually a completely new take on the subject.

Prompting is the most important part of using Sora. Begin by stating the setting, then identify the main subject, then describe what happens over the course of the clip. Describing the visual style you want helps guide the output. You can specify animated or realistic, suggest the mood and the lighting.

A useful shortcut is to ask ChatGPT to write the Sora prompt for you. If you are already working inside ChatGPT on a story, presentation or creative project, you can describe the idea and ask it to translate that into a Sora-ready prompt. This is a good way to learn the art of prompting.

Disney is sure to attract a new user base. Early next year, more than 200 characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm are expected to be licensed for use in Sora-generated videos. The list includes Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Ariel, Cinderella, Simba and Baymax, along with characters from Encanto, Frozen, Toy Story, Moana and Inside Out. It also extends into Marvel and Star Wars, with animated or illustrated versions of characters such as Iron Man, Black Panther, Loki, Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker and the Mandalorian.

Under the agreement, Disney will feature curated selections of user-generated videos on Disney+. OpenAI and Disney will also collaborate on new experiences for Disney+ subscribers, using OpenAI’s models to explore new ways for fans to connect with Disney stories and characters. Sora and ChatGPT’s image tools are expected to support fan-inspired videos with licensed Disney characters in early 2026.

What the agreement does not include is voice. While Sora can generate dialogue and narration for original characters, that capability will not apply to Disney’s licensed characters. Replicating or simulating the voices of recognizable characters would infringe on the rights of the actors who portray them. Under the Disney deal, fans will be able to create visuals featuring approved characters, but those characters will not speak or use AI-generated voices.

For Disney, this approach allows fan creativity while maintaining control over its characters. For OpenAI, it brings instant familiarity and legitimacy to a new kind of creative tool. Many people may never try an abstract AI video, but they will experiment with a short clip featuring characters they already know.

Sora is still early, and results can be uneven. But fast video generation, built-in audio and recognizable characters make it easy to see where this is heading. Short videos are easy to share and easy to watch. What people choose to create with tools like Sora will ultimately define how it fits into everyday creativity.

Leslie Meredith has been writing about technology for more than a decade. As a mom of four, value, usefulness and online safety take priority. Have a question? Email Leslie at asklesliemeredith@gmail.com.