Hello everyone!
We wanted to address recent concerns regarding the possible use of generative AI in the illustrations featured throughout our game
When commissioning these illustrations from a third party illustration studio, we explicitly and repeatedly requested that all artwork be hand-drawn without the use of generative AI (with no exception)
The illustration studio behind our in-game illustrations confirmed this multiple times.
Following concerns and suspicions surrounding the illustrations used in The Hat Man, the original editable artwork files were examined, including their layers and coloring/rendering elements.
All evidence points towards the illustrations being hand-drawn, supporting the assurances we originally received from the illustration studio (Wigi Wigel Studio)
We want to build our indie game studio to the FULLEST of honesty, transparency, and ZERO deception.
With that in mind, we've decided to make all supporting evidence and original editable artwork files publicly available for anyone who wishes to review them
This includes:
Original Illustration Files (All formats - .AI / .EPS / .PNG / .JPG)
Purchase History (Documenting the commissioned illustrations)
Supporting Evidence (Screenshots)
"The work I create is not the result of AI. My work is 100% hand-drawn and vector-based."
- Wigi Wigel Studio (December 21, 2025)
"All of my work is 100% hand-drawn, and I do not use AI or automated design tools of any kind."
- Wigi Wigel Studio (December 30, 2025)
Google Drive Link --> The Hat Man - Non-AI Illustrations (Original Files & Evidence)
We never intended to mislead anyone regarding the creation of our game and our statement as written on our store page description still stands with pride.
Black Lantern Entertainment proudly confirms the following regarding the use of generative AI in The Hat Man:
We hired an illustration studio to hand-draw our in-game artwork.
We hired an animator to create our capsule art and cinematic trailer in Blender.
No generative AI was used to create the game’s artwork, illustrations, animations, sound effects, textures, environments, 3D assets, UI, character models, or any other visual or audio content!
Thank you to everyone that raised their concerns and suspicions (and rightfully so!)
Please never hesitate to reach out to us with any feedback, criticism, concerns, questions, suggestions, anything and everything!
If anyone has any additional concerns, suspicions, or questions regarding the creation of our game, please do not hesitate to reach out! (We're active on various social media platforms)
Every ounce of communication with those that choose to play our game is extremely important to us!
Lastly, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to Wigi Wigel Studio for honoring our request to create hand-drawn illustrations without the use of generative AI, and for providing the original editable artwork files to support their assurances 🤗
Thank you for your continued support of The Hat Man and Black Lantern Entertainment! ❤️🎩