A fan of the Canadian Football League used advanced technology to bring CFL teams to life through digital art.
Reddit user u/jtcward used artificial intelligence to generate artwork for each of the CFL’s nine teams. The images were posted to a Twitter thread by @cfl_reddit, a highly active social media account that helps oversee the CFL subreddit. Neither the Twitter nor Reddit accounts are formally affiliated with the league.
Below is each of these images accompanied by some of our own analysis. We don’t have any art aficionados currently working at 3DownNationso bear with us as we wade a little outside of our usual area of expertise.
BC’s art depicts a Lion strolling through a mountain range, which is appropriate given the club’s geographical location. What’s odd is that the animal is clearly not a mountain lion, which has small heads and no manes. Oh well. This lion is giving off serious Mufasa vibes and we’re here for it.
Remember when Edmonton got a new name and people criticized it because “elks aren’t intimidating”? Those people were wrong and this image proves that. This animal is standing proudly in a winter snowscape with what appears to be green light emitted from its hooves. That is not only intimidating but downright terrifying.
Spoiler alert: Calgary’s art features a horse. More specifically, it depicts a horse being ridden by a cowboy dressed in a red-and-white striped shirt. The Stampeders have their name for a reason and its origin is on full display here. We’re not sure why the horse appears to have two tails, but who cares? It looks super cool.
There is still a debate among historians regarding the exact origin of Saskatchewan’s team name and it appears as though artificial intelligence believes it has military roots. There was a volunteer cavalry in the Spanish–American War called the Rough Riders back in the late 19th century, so that checked out.
Winnipeg’s image looks like a cross between the Power Rangers, Iron Man, Mega Man, and Baymax from Big Hero 6. The figure has wings on its back, which makes sense given Winnipeg’s historical ties to the aircraft industry. It’s big, it’s bold, it’s blue, and it’s gold. Makes perfect sense, really.
Hamilton’s image features a tiger, which should come as no surprise. The fearsome feline is bearing its large yellow teeth, yet it also looks somehow soft and cuddly at the same time. Despite its cuteness, this is one cat you probably shouldn’t pet unless you’re cool with losing an arm (or at least a hand).
Does anyone need a washboard? If so, look no further than this dude’s abs. The Argonauts come from Greek mythology and that’s on full display here are as the figure looks freshly sculpted out of marble. Is it even possible to have that many abdominal muscles? Somebody asked Milt Stegall to confirm.
Ottawa has a rich history in the logging industry as depicted on their current team logo. This rough-and-tumble lumberjack fits that perfectly, featuring a flannel jacket, piercing blue eyes, and a striking brown beard. This image gets extra points for bearing a striking resemblance to 3DownNation reporter John Hodge.
The Alouettes’ artwork features a red bird flying over a futuristic version of what is presumably Montreal. Even though the city looks a little odd — there are a number of super tall, thin polishes all over the place for seemingly no reason — this is a really cool image that encapsulates the feeling of flight.
Which is your favorite image? Let us know on Twitter and don’t forget to tag @cfl_reddit.