Alex Hirsch Critiques Warner Bros. AI Dog Video for ‘The End of Oak Street’
‘The End of Oak Street‘ has generated excitement for months as one of the summer’s notable genre films from Warner Bros., combining a family survival narrative with an unexpected dinosaur invasion. Directed by David Robert Mitchell and produced by J.J. Abrams under his Bad Robot banner, the film features Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor as parents striving to protect their family after their suburban neighborhood transforms into a prehistoric landscape.
The marketing strategy leading up to the film’s release has heavily focused on the family’s dog, Starbuck, whose character posters and social media presence have quickly gained popularity among fans ahead of the movie’s theatrical launch. This approach seemed effective until the studio’s latest promotional effort took an unexpected turn online.
Warner Bros. recently collaborated with DogPack, an AI-generated “pawdcast” account managed by four brothers from Montreal, to unveil a 90-second clip featuring two AI-animated dogs interviewing Starbuck about the upcoming film. The response to this clip has been swift and predominantly negative, with backlash spreading across both Reddit and X regarding the studio’s choice to utilize AI-generated dog content as part of its marketing.
Animator Alex Hirsch, renowned for creating ‘Gravity Falls,’ did not hold back in his reaction to the video, humorously stating that these were the first dogs he’d ever wanted to euthanize. His comment quickly garnered significant engagement online, amplifying a wave of criticism that had already been growing against the clip prior to his post going viral.
The backlash was strong enough that Warner Bros. Pictures seems to have quietly removed the video from its official Instagram account related to the film. However, the clip continues to circulate online, including through DogPack’s account, keeping the controversy alive even after the studio’s initial post was taken down.
Social media reactions ranged from confusion to outright rejection of using AI-generated animals to promote a film focused on real family stakes. One widely circulated comment questioned whether this promotional choice suggested the film itself involved AI in some way, while another dismissed the clip as corporate-driven “AI slop.”
This controversy arrives at a challenging time for Warner Bros., especially considering how earlier marketing for ‘The End of Oak Street’ had relied on Starbuck’s authentic on-screen charm rather than any AI gimmicks. Character posters released prior to the film’s debut highlighted Hathaway, McGregor, and their co-stars Maisy Stella and Christian Convery, each confronting prehistoric threats in their suburban neighborhood.
Producer J.J. Abrams has previously discussed what attracted him to the project, describing it as a high-concept blockbuster grounded in genuine family dynamics. Whether this AI-related misstep will significantly impact audience interest remains uncertain, but it has certainly sparked a different kind of pre-release discussion than the studio likely anticipated.
With ‘The End of Oak Street’ set to hit theaters on August 14, Warner Bros. will be hoping that the film itself, rather than its AI dog podcast detour, captures the audience’s attention once viewers finally see the completed movie.
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!