In the ever-expanding world of Disney’s trading card game, Disney Lorcana, the storylines and artwork have captivated audiences since the game’s launch in 2023. Players take on the role of Illumineers, magical beings who draw from enchanted ink to summon Glimmers, representations of iconic Disney characters. This magic-infused gameplay intertwines nostalgia and strategy, creating a collectible experience that resonates with both casual fans and Disney enthusiasts alike.
The artwork on each card has been praised for its uniqueness and quality, often becoming a point of pride for collectors. The illustrations, created by talented artists, serve as a visual journey through the vast, imaginative world of Disney’s most beloved characters.
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One such artist who gained widespread recognition for his work on the game was James C. Mulligan. His contributions to Disney Lorcana featured illustrations of Disney characters like Ariel, Rapunzel, Dumbo, Scrooge McDuck, and more. Fans were eager to collect his artwork, celebrating his skill and creativity.
However, Mulligan’s career with Disney recently took a dramatic turn after accusations surfaced that would put the artist’s integrity—and his future with Disney—into question.
The controversy began when a fan attending the Anime NYC convention in August 2025 accused Mulligan of lying about his artistic process.
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The fan, Toon_Emu, publicly stated that Mulligan had been dishonest about using artificial intelligence (AI) in his artwork. The accusation quickly spread, gaining traction among Disney Lorcana fans, leaving many to wonder whether one of the game’s most prominent artists had been exploiting AI technology to create what was presented as hand-drawn art.
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.
This tweet ignited a firestorm of discussion, with many questioning whether AI had indeed been used in Mulligan’s illustrations, especially given the fact that Disney Lorcana’s official policy was clear about using only hand-drawn artwork. AI-generated art is strictly prohibited, which made the accusations even more troubling.
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. pic.twitter.com/2kfLfbSbbq
— Emu💭👁️🗨️ (@Toon_Emu) August 22, 2025
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As the story spread, Toon_Emu provided further details in a lengthy thread. According to the fan, they had asked Mulligan to show his artistic process, hoping to see a Timelapse video of how the images were created. Timelapse videos are a common feature in Procreate art programs, allowing users to view the progression of their digital artwork from start to finish.
However, Mulligan reportedly told Toon_Emu that he did not record such a video. This comment immediately raised suspicions. To clear up the confusion, Toon_Emu offered to help Mulligan access the timelapse feature, but Mulligan allegedly became upset and told them to leave.
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
The situation escalated further when Mulligan’s wife, who was present at the event, got involved. Toon_Emu claimed that she denied the accusations and even threatened legal action in response to the fan’s post.
Meanwhile, the story was gaining momentum online, and it was clear that Mulligan’s behavior was now being scrutinized by not just fans, but by those within the Disney Lorcana community.
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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One comment from The_Green-Nymph, a person who claimed to work for Disney Lorcana, further fueled the controversy.
This person stated, “I actually work for the company that makes Disney Lorcana, so I will be bringing this up with my Creative Directors. We have a hard policy of no AI art in our games, and they will be able to assess further.”
Soon after, it became clear that Disney Lorcana’s creative team had indeed looked into the situation. According to a follow-up message from The_Green-Nymph, “So I did check in with my Director and it looks like his work is indeed AI. 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.”
It seemed that Disney Lorcana had already made the decision to sever ties with Mulligan. The investigation had confirmed that the artist had used AI to generate some of the artwork that was being sold under his name. This breach of trust was a significant blow, as the game had been built on the promise of original, hand-drawn art.
In response to the accusations, Mr. Mulligan made a post on Facebook in which he vehemently denied using AI to create his Lorcana artwork.
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
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At the time of publishing, Disney and Ravensburger have yet to respond to the situation involving Mr. Mulligan or the concerns surrounding the reported use of AI in his artwork. His Instagram profile is still live, featuring a collection of his illustrations, along with videos of him sketching fan-favorite Disney characters by hand.
Meanwhile, Disney Lorcana’s popularity shows no signs of slowing down. The game has even made its way into the parks, with a special Lorcana-themed quest now underway at Disney California Adventure. As part of the experience, guests can explore locations like the Beast’s Library, solving challenges along the way. Those who complete the adventure are rewarded with a magical bonus: an exclusive Belle – Mystic promo card that can’t be found anywhere else.
What are your thoughts on the accusations against James C. Mulligan? Do you believe AI has a place in the world of collectible card art, or should it be strictly off-limits? How should Disney handle artists who cross ethical boundaries with AI? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
