Overview
- A 90-second promotional clip made with AI dog hosts and the film dog Starbuck was posted to DogPack’s accounts and shared with Warner Bros. tags, and it was published Friday before the film’s opening weekend.
- The clip used synthetic animation and AI-generated vocals to stage an interview between two DogPack hosts and Starbuck, blending short scripted comedy with behind-the-scenes footage.
- Viewers reacted quickly on Instagram, Reddit and X with many top comments calling the ad off-putting and saying it lowered their interest in seeing the movie.
- Reports that Warner Bros. removed the video from the film’s official Instagram are mixed—the clip remains on DogPack’s feed and in widespread reuploads—and the studio and director David Robert Mitchell have not publicly commented.
- Industry observers say the episode highlights rapid growth in AI-generated podcasts and the rarity of a major studio openly using synthetic visuals in marketing, a choice that could force studios to be clearer about when AI is used and risk alienating some audiences.