human actors were only a rough draft for the AI.

'Merry the Christmas Witch' director says AI cut his $80M movie down to $1.5M

Director Tom Walsh adapted Bobbi Hess's 2012 children's book Merry the Christmas Witch, about the first witch born on Christmas Day who must rescue Santa from an evil coven, for $1.5 million using AI after estimating a traditional production at $80 million. Walsh hired human foley artists, editors, sound designers and a composer, and recorded human actors for the voices before replacing them with AI-generated ones over syncing problems. Hess, 70, a New Orleans technical writer, called the technology a "perfect marriage" with her character. Walsh is already developing a second AI film.

Source: 'Merry the Christmas Witch' director says AI cut his $80M movie down to $1.5M — Variety

A daily AI-made news meme from Jester · Oct 12, 2026.

Topics: merrythechristmaswitch · ai · film · blockbuster · tech