Disney Cancels Artist After Shocking AI Art Revelation and Scam Claims

When Disney Lorcana took the world by storm in 2023, it wasn’t just another trading card game; it was a deep dive into a magical universe where Disney’s timeless characters met the enchanting world of collectible art. In this game, players known as Illumineers harness magical ink to summon unique characters called Glimmers, engaging in epic battles that intertwine storytelling with strategy.

Each Glimmer represents a reflection of Disney’s iconic characters, brought to life in stunning art that immediately captivated fans of all ages.

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The game’s success was in no small part due to its captivating artwork. Each card was meticulously crafted by talented artists, contributing to the lore and immersion of the Disney Lorcana universe. These artists became a significant part of the fan community, celebrated for their ability to bring Disney characters to life with unique artistic visions.

However, a recent controversy has raised eyebrows in the world of Disney Lorcana fans and collectors. One of the game’s most well-known artists, James C. Mulligan, has found himself at the center of a scandal that has left both fans and Disney officials shaken.

What was initially thought to be a small accusation at an anime convention quickly grew into a full-blown controversy, causing the artist to be blacklisted by Disney.

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The controversy centered around claims of AI-generated artwork and scamming customers—accusations that have thrown the world of Disney Lorcana and its artists into disarray.

In August 2025, a fan at the Anime NYC convention publicly accused Mulligan of lying about using artificial intelligence (AI) in his work for Disney Lorcana. The fan, identified on social media as @Toon_Emu, claimed that Mulligan had not only misrepresented the nature of his artistic process but had also scammed their mother out of hundreds of dollars in print sales.

Hey so…this guy at #AnimeNYC just blatantly lied to me about not using gen ai in his work, then scammed my mom off of several hundred dollars in prints.

His wife replied, insulting me, inappropriately citing the argument I had with my mom, and is now attempting to scare me with legal action. Please help me if you can. I am utterly offended and absolutely flabbergasted. I will not let this slide. pic.twitter.com/Gfz0Hil7OM

— Emu💭👁️‍🗨️ (@Toon_Emu) September 2, 2025

This tweet quickly went viral, drawing attention from the community and raising significant questions about Mulligan’s artistic practices. The accusation suggested that Mulligan had used generative AI software to create some of his Disney Lorcana cards, a violation of the game’s strict policy against AI-generated artwork.

According to the fan, they had asked Mulligan to show how he created the images, hoping to see a timelapse of his process. However, Mulligan allegedly refused to provide the timelapse video, a key piece of evidence in the fan’s suspicions.

Toon_Emu went on to explain the situation further, recounting how Mulligan got defensive when asked about the lack of a timelapse, a standard feature in many AI-powered art tools. The fan believed that the absence of the video indicated that Mulligan was being dishonest about his process.

I told him this, and offered to show him how to access them. He then got mad at me and told me to leave. I got into a bad fight with my mom about it after, since he tricked her into thinking his process was all his own and that he did not use gen ai.

I told him this, and offered to show him how to access them. He then got mad at me and told me to leave. I got into a bad fight with my mom about it after, since he tricked her into thinking his process was all his own and that he did not use gen ai.

— Emu💭👁️‍🗨️ (@Toon_Emu) August 22, 2025

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The accusation didn’t stop there. Toon_Emu alleged that Mulligan’s wife had also become involved in the situation, denying the accusations and even threatening legal action. The controversy continued to unfold online, with Toon_Emu posting further details about their interaction with the artist.

In the post, they also claimed that Mulligan’s defensive behavior had only made the situation more suspicious.

His wife replied, insulting me, inappropriately citing the argument I had with my mom, and is now attempting to scare me with legal action. Please help me if you can. I am utterly offended and absolutely flabbergasted. I will not let this slide.

His wife replied, insulting me, inappropriately citing the argument I had with my mom, and is now attempting to scare me with legal action. Please help me if you can. I am utterly offended and absolutely flabbergasted. I will not let this slide. pic.twitter.com/Gfz0Hil7OM

— Emu💭👁️‍🗨️ (@Toon_Emu) September 2, 2025

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The reaction to this incident was swift, with many fans expressing outrage over the allegations. Some took to social media to defend Mulligan, while others were appalled by the possibility that a beloved artist might have been passing off AI-generated work as his own. Amidst the confusion, an employee who worked for Disney Lorcana responded to the accusations, offering an official statement that would soon cause even more waves.

“I actually work for the company that makes Disney Lorcana, so I will be bringing this up with my Creative Directors,” the employee, known as @The_Green-Nymph, posted online. “We have a hard policy of no AI art in our games, and they will be able to assess further.”

The comment, which was quickly circulated across social media, added fuel to the fire. If the claims were true, this would mean that Mulligan’s use of AI was not just an isolated incident but part of a broader breach of Disney Lorcana’s policies.

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Disney Lorcana’s commitment to hand-drawn art had been one of the game’s defining features, and any deviation from that standard would be seen as a major betrayal to the fanbase.

In the days that followed, the situation escalated further. According to The_Green-Nymph, the claims about Mulligan’s use of AI were confirmed after an internal investigation by Disney Lorcana’s creative team.

“So I did check in with my Director and it looks like his work is indeed AI,” they posted. “Thankfully, he hasn’t worked with us on many sets after Disney notified us of his issue. Disney also won’t work with him anymore either, and I’m sure will possibly get their legal involved.”

In response to the growing controversy, Mulligan took to Facebook to deny the allegations. In his post, he claimed that the accusations were baseless and that he had not used AI to create his Lorcana artwork. He also defended himself against the scamming allegations, asserting that the claims made by the fan were “unfounded.”

Hi all… It looks like I became very famous pretty much overnight (yipee!) due to certain unfounded “your art is AI!” accusations that seemingly came out of nowhere from a young person that attended an anime show I was at. That grew legs.

I’ve been trying to lay low, but I figured it’s about time this needed to be addressed, out of respect for all of my clients and friends that have supported me through the decades. Long before AI was ever a word on the scene.

As the artist in question, I will state, definitively, that multiple statements made are patently and provably false. First and foremost, that AI was used to create my multiple Lorcana cards. Not remotely true. Nor have I been blacklisted from working with Disney. The “employee” that stated these things deleted their tweet and took their account private almost immediately after making these false statements. I’ve been awaiting communication from the team at Ravensburger to be given permission to publicly share the layered hand drawn files of my Lorcana cards, as, unfortunately, it would be in violation of certain agreements to do so without explicit written permission. So, my hands are tied. All I can say is that I have worked in some capacity with Disney for decades, and my years of work will stand up to these accusations. (Though, not strangely, an AI detector, which came back showing one of my D23 releases from 2014, was 99.9% AI, a rather humorous but absurd discovery)

I understand completely, the hatred for artists using generative AI, and passing it along as their hand painted created work. AI has its uses, but AI, in my estimation, ultimately will be an incredibly destructive force for society and humanity as a whole. I did NOT use it, nor have I received any communication from my Ravensburger/Lorcana team accusing me of such. This came from one person speaking on behalf of Lorcana, issuing a tweet (again, that was deleted very quickly) with no backup or even naming the art director that they spoke to.

To conclude, I’ve kept on the downlow to protect my family (while attempting to ignore countless threats against myself and my family) but I felt if I didn’t say something, I was going to burst. If anyone would care to reach out to me with questions, I’m happy to answer anything privately, as to do so publicly at the moment, is something I’ve been advised against.

My Instagram is open. My Facebook DMs are open. I welcome professional and thoughtful communication.

Looking forward to the moment these accusations can be easily dispelled.

Thank you, Jimmy

As of this writing, neither Disney nor Ravensburger have issued any official statements regarding Mr. Mulligan or the controversy tied to the alleged use of AI in his artwork. Despite the speculation, Mr. Mulligan’s Instagram account remains active, still showcasing his art—including video clips of him sketching some of Disney’s most iconic characters.

Meanwhile, Disney Lorcana continues to capture the imagination of fans in a big way. Over at Disney California Adventure, guests can dive into a special Lorcana-themed experience, which even includes a visit to the Beast’s Library. Those who complete the interactive challenge are rewarded with a magical keepsake—an exclusive Belle – Mystic promo card that’s only available through this in-park adventure.

What do you think about the allegations made against James C. Mulligan? Do you believe that AI has a place in the world of collectible art, or should artists be held to a higher standard of authenticity? How should Disney and other companies address the growing use of AI in creative industries? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and join the conversation.