Alex Hirsch Slams Warner Bros.’ AI Dog Video Promoting ‘The End of Oak Street’
‘The End of Oak Street‘ has been building buzz for months as one of the bigger genre swings coming from Warner Bros. this summer, blending a family survival story with an unexpected dinosaur invasion. Directed by David Robert Mitchell and produced by J.J. Abrams under his Bad Robot banner, the film stars Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor as parents trying to protect their family after their suburban neighborhood gets swept into a prehistoric landscape.
Much of the marketing leading up to the film’s release has leaned into the family’s dog, Starbuck, whose character posters and social presence have quickly become a fan favorite ahead of the movie’s theatrical debut. That approach seemed to be working in the studio’s favor, right up until its latest promotional push took an unexpected turn online.
Warner Bros. recently partnered with DogPack, an AI-generated “pawdcast” account run by four brothers out of Montreal, to release a 90-second clip featuring two AI-animated dogs interviewing Starbuck about the upcoming film. The reaction to that clip has been swift and largely negative, with backlash spreading across both Reddit and X over the studio’s decision to use AI-generated dog content as part of its rollout.
Animator Alex Hirsch, best known for creating ‘Gravity Falls,’ didn’t hold back in his own reaction to the video, joking that these were the first dogs he’d ever wanted to euthanize. His comment quickly racked up significant engagement online, amplifying a wave of criticism that had already been building against the clip well before his post went viral.
The negative response proved intense enough that Warner Bros. Pictures appears to have quietly removed the video from its official Instagram account tied to the film. Despite that removal, the clip has continued circulating elsewhere online, including through DogPack’s own account, keeping the controversy alive even after the studio’s initial post disappeared.
Reactions across social media ranged from confusion to outright rejection of using AI-generated animals to promote a movie centered on very real family stakes. One widely shared comment questioned whether the promotional choice meant the film itself involved AI in some capacity, while another simply dismissed the clip as corporate-driven “AI slop.”
The controversy arrives at an awkward moment for Warner Bros., given how much earlier marketing for ‘The End of Oak Street’ had leaned on Starbuck’s genuine on-screen charm rather than any AI gimmickry. Character posters released ahead of the film’s debut spotlighted Hathaway, McGregor, and their co-stars Maisy Stella and Christian Convery, each facing off against prehistoric threats within their own suburban neighborhood.
Producer J.J. Abrams has previously spoken about what drew him to the project, describing it as a high-concept blockbuster grounded by genuine family dynamics. Whether this AI-related misstep will meaningfully affect audience interest remains to be seen, but it’s certainly generated a different kind of pre-release conversation than the studio likely intended.
With ‘The End of Oak Street’ set to stomp into theaters on August 14, Warner Bros. will be hoping the film itself, rather than its AI dog podcast detour, ends up dominating the conversation once audiences actually get a look at the finished movie.
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