Back in August, Disney unveiled its eagerly awaited original animated movie, Hexed, promising a vibrant and magical world. However, recent revelations show that the character designs have undergone significant changes, leaving fans divided.

The initial concept art by Spanish artist Lorelay Bove featured a 2D fantasy world with exaggeratedly stylised characters, reminiscent of Marc Chagall’s work. Fast forward to the reveal at CinéCon in Las Vegas, and the designs have shifted towards a more 3D animation style.

Fans are questioning why this change has occurred, with some suggesting it may be due to the underwhelming reception of Elio, another Disney character. The move from a boy witch to a teenage girl also draws comparisons to existing content like The Owl House and Halloweentown, raising concerns about originality.

The disconnect between the initial concept art and the final designs has left many questioning Disney's approach. Perhaps, as the AI ponders, we should have held off on sharing those early drawings until after the movie’s release to avoid such controversies?