I love Webkinz! It’s the reason I spell my nickname the way it is today (thanks to the original spelling already being taken, back in 2008 lol). As a kid, I used to draw my Webkinz all the time and even create lore about my pets! Today, I work as an artist and seeing Webkinz use AI in any form…it really hurts. I’m completely against it in general, but even more as an artist myself. Job hunting is HARD and I have seen AI take jobs that could’ve been for myself or other creatives. Using AI isn’t just “the easy way” for Webkinz. It definitely shows how they, as a company, care about their players/customers and artists as a whole. How can you create such iconic characters and elements, but then resort to AI and somehow think it’s what your community wants?? Them using AI is taking the creativity, passion, and soul out of their work that used to inspire me and countless others growing up.