Disney has found itself in the middle of controversy after fans spotted unusual hand proportions in the recently released promotional posters for the 2025 Oogie Boogie Bash at Disneyland Resort. The posters, featuring Mickey Mouse and Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz, show noticeable distortions in their hands, an issue often associated with AI-generated artwork. This discovery has led to accusations that Disney may have used artificial intelligence to create the designs, sparking widespread discussion among fans and industry insiders.
The Oogie Boogie Bash, a beloved annual Halloween event at Disney California Adventure Park, is known for its family-friendly atmosphere filled with spooky fun. The event includes Halloween-themed entertainment, character meet-and-greets with popular Disney villains, immersive park experiences, and trick-or-treating throughout the resort. These posters, released just days ago, were designed to excite fans about the event, but instead, they’ve left many questioning the authenticity of the artwork.
Disney’s Legal Battle with AI Company Midjourney
The controversy surrounding these posters is particularly notable given Disney’s recent legal actions. Just one day before the poster’s release, Disney, alongside NBCUniversal, filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the AI image generation company Midjourney. The lawsuit claims that Midjourney has unlawfully used Disney’s intellectual property to train its models, generating unauthorized images featuring characters like Darth Vader, Elsa from Frozen, and even the Minions. In the lawsuit, Disney and Universal called Midjourney a “bottomless pit of plagiarism” and accused the company of profiting off their protected content without permission.
AI generated https://t.co/22QjNt91jh pic.twitter.com/NUwAkuh37w
— Nintega Dario (@Nintega_Dario) June 11, 2025
AI at Disney? A Possible Hypocrisy
The timing of the Oogie Boogie Bash poster controversy has led many to question Disney’s stance on AI-generated art. While the company is aggressively pursuing legal action against AI firms for copyright infringement, the possibility that it might be using similar technology for its own promotional material has sparked a debate over hypocrisy. Fans and critics are now wondering if Disney is inconsistent in its approach to AI in the creative industry, raising broader ethical questions about the role of artificial intelligence in content creation.
Although many fans suspect that AI may have been used in the creation of the posters, there has been no official confirmation from Disney regarding this. It’s also possible that the errors seen in the artwork could simply be the result of a mistake made by the artist. However, given the timing of the incident, the situation has raised significant eyebrows, and fans are pushing Disney for answers. The company has yet to comment on the allegations regarding the posters, but the pressure is mounting.
As the situation unfolds, Disney will likely face increasing scrutiny over its use of AI in creative projects and its handling of this particular controversy. The company must now decide whether to address these concerns head-on or risk further damage to its reputation, especially as it continues to navigate the legal and ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence.
