TLDR: Artist James C. Mulligan has been blacklisted by Disney and Ravensburger, the company behind the Disney Lorcana TCG, following confirmed use of generative AI in his official card artwork. The controversy escalated with accusations of Mulligan and his wife harassing and threatening individuals who raised concerns about his art practices. Disney is reportedly considering legal action, reinforcing its strict stance against AI-generated content, especially given its ongoing lawsuit against AI art platforms.
James C. Mulligan, an artist who contributed to the Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game, has been officially blacklisted by Disney and Ravensburger due to the confirmed use of generative artificial intelligence in his artwork. The decision comes after an employee of the Lorcana team, in consultation with their creative directors, verified that Mulligan had incorporated AI into his card illustrations. As a result, Disney has stated it will no longer collaborate with Mulligan and is reportedly exploring potential legal action.
The controversy initially surfaced through accusations from the community, particularly on platforms like Reddit and at events such as Anime NYC. Concerns were raised that Mulligan was using AI, specifically for backgrounds in his art prints, and allegedly denying this to customers who purchased his ‘hand-drawn’ works. This led to broader claims that AI was also present in his official Lorcana card art.
Ravensburger, the developer of Lorcana, maintains a ‘hard policy of no AI art in our games.’ The confirmation of Mulligan’s AI use by a director within the Lorcana team underscores the company’s commitment to this policy. This incident is particularly notable given Disney’s broader legal stance on AI, as the company is currently involved in a lawsuit against AI art platforms like Midjourney.
Beyond the use of AI, Mulligan and his wife have been accused of engaging in aggressive and deceptive behavior. Reports indicate they harassed and threatened individuals who publicly questioned his art, with his wife allegedly doxxing an original accuser. Furthermore, Mulligan has faced allegations of a history of questionable practices, including signing cards he did not illustrate (sometimes obscuring the original artist’s credit) and selling stolen Disney artwork as his own creations. His website has reportedly been deleted, though his Instagram remains active.
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The situation highlights the growing tensions and ethical debates surrounding AI in creative industries, particularly concerning authenticity, intellectual property, and artist integrity. The swift action by Disney and Ravensburger signals a firm stance against the undisclosed use of AI in official creative works and deceptive practices within their brand.
