“The Legend of Ochi” is already gaining internet lore.
The upcoming A24 fantasy adventure film sent the internet into a tizzy with its first trailer, which marked the debut of the adorable eponymous Ochi creature — but also had fans wondering if the sprawling epic used generative AI for its production.
In short: No, it didn’t.
Writer/director Isaiah Saxon, who makes his directorial debut with the feature, took to X to refute assumptions that AI was involved. A source close to A24 also confirmed to IndieWire that the film was handmade.
“All close and medium shots of the Ochi are animatronics, puppetry, and suit performers,” Saxon wrote in a since-deleted post. “Wider stunt shots are 3D animation.”
Saxon further added, “Six years of handmade work: puppets, animatronics, matte paintings, and a bit of 3D animation. No AI. There’s the statement.”
Saxon also clarified which scenes involved real sheep, shutting down additional AI claims.
“Every shot of the Baby Ochi in the trailer is 100 percent animatronic puppet operated by 7 people live,” Saxon said. “No AI was used in this film.”
As for Ochi being eerily similar to another “baby,” the viral phenomenon of Grogu AKA Baby Yoda, Saxon wrote, “I began writing and designing this in 2015 and have never seen ‘The Mandalorian.’”
Saxon said that “The Legend of Ochi” was made on a $10 million budget, and involved more than 200 matte paintings that he “personally” created.
“I’ve been making handmade films that feel painted since 2005. Along came AI, and now we have crusaders like you shitting on people who’ve dedicated their life to craft,” Saxon wrote to one Twitter user.
He continued, “Shot 1 is full 3d animation and took a year of work, shot 2 is fully in-camera shot in Romania, shot 3 is a built model fg element, shot 3 is in-camera shot in the Carpathian Mountains with a partial matte painting integration on mountains. No mid-journey storyboards. Just stop.”
The filmmaker previously directed music videos for Björk, Grizzly Bear, Dirty Projectors, and Kanye West. Saxon is also the co-founder of the animation studio Encyclopedia Pictura. He shared first look images at the animation of “The Legend of Ochi” on his Tumblr page in 2023, calling the feature “a movie about the mysteries of animal communication” and an “adventure musical.” Saxon reunites with frequent collaborator and Dirty Projectors founder Dave Longstreth for the original score.
“The Legend of Ochi” was first announced in 2021. Production took place in Transylvania and Romania.
The Russo Brothers are executive producing the film, which is based on Saxon’s own characters and screenplay, through their AGBO label.
“The Legend of Ochi” tells the story of a young girl (Helena Zengel) who runs away from home and learns to communicate with an elusive animal species known as Ochi. Finn Wolfhard, Emily Watson, and longtime A24 collaborator Willem Dafoe also star.
A24 will release “The Legend of Ochi” in theaters February 28, 2025.
