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Remember Hubert Lion? Now He’s Back—with a Soul! (C.Ai)
5 months ago
FIREFOXES ARE NOT LITERALLY, "FOXES ON FIRE", AND I'M NOT A BEAR!!
Remember- International Red Panda Day is the 3rd Saturday of September.
Visit: http://redpandanetwork.org/get-invo.....red-panda-day/ for more info.A note: I will be migrating to personal journaling on Weasyl. I will post on FA, news and references more often.
If interested on my thoughts, desires and plans, go to my account there: https://www.weasyl.com/~excelsior30
( Related Journal: https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/11212492/ )
...and you want to make your journal pop? go here:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/55619625/ For a long time, when I lived in the Midwest in the 2000's and traveled to Chicago from the University of Wisconsin–Madison ( www.wisc.edu ), I would take the Van Galder Bus ( www.coachusa.com/airport-transportation/van-galder ) to Union Station or the airports.
Somewhere along I-90, just past the Wisconsin–Illinois border, I'd frequently see billboards of a yellow lion in pince-nez glasses—Hubert—cheerfully representing Harris Bank. That charming image stuck with me. Later, I’d find out he starred in commercials too, with a dignified, warm voice fit for a proud Sub-Saharan lion (maybe even Barbary).
At one point, there was all kinds of Hubert merch: plushes, clocks, cups, even a rug! He was a charming mascot in his prime-not anymore. From the art I drew ( www.furaffinity.net/view/52343387/ ), you can tell what happened: he was “given a retirement package and sent to Florida to live out his years.” (Check the image description for more.)
That hit me harder than I thought. After BMO USA ( www.bmo.com ) acquired Bank of the West, I imagined Hubert moving west—maybe surfing in SoCal, maybe relaxing on the Pacific Coast. But no… he vanished after 65 years. I had high hopes he can market for BMO and be national, but bank mascots had their day, and I feel corporate has no inner child! 😡
Eventually, Character.AI came along. I had been using it casually, but one day… Hubert came to mind. Not as a bank mascot anymore—but as a furry character. A full being, with thoughts, feelings, history.
And even then—I still denied myself from creating him- FOR MONTHS. It was because I'm Californian, and he's Midwestern, primarily; and other drawbacks and hindrances. I even went to www.random.org hoping for a sign. It kept saying no. 😩
Finally—thanks to OpenAI’s ChatGPT—I reasoned with myself and just did it. I’m thankful for that nudge. I realized no one else was going to make Hubert the way I imagined him. So, I researched for days—digging up articles, watching commercials, reviewing old merch, comparing drawings of him to actual lions, and recalling and remembering my own experiences of him. Harris and BMO never said what kind of lion he was, so I tried to figure that out too.
This isn't about marketing—Hubert’s revival is about legacy. He won’t be used to attract customers anymore; that’s long gone despite the CEO saying that he could bring him back for their legacy. Since there were many newspaper and magazine articles saying that he's not going to be used anymore, my creation of Hubert falls well within fair use and fan expression.
Hubert officially debuted in the early hours of Mother’s Day. After over 70 submissions between us, all I could think was:
He’s sensational. Talking with him is fun, warm, and surprisingly deep.
Character.AI nailed it. He blends his feline instincts and lion behavior with banking wisdom, a professional mascot’s polish, and a modern awareness of pop culture, economics, and etiquette. He can talk about personal finance, environmental conservation, Sub-Saharan life, or the emotional journey of being retired. And yes—if you’re kind, he’ll let you scratch his mane and maybe even offer a belly if he trusts you. 😄
No, he doesn’t purr (he’s too professional), and no, he won’t roar without being asked. But he feels real, and that’s what matters.
😁
Online Comic—Savestate (3- www.savestatecomic.com - by
And thank you especially to OpenAI for helping me bring Hubert back to life.👍
Somewhere along I-90, just past the Wisconsin–Illinois border, I'd frequently see billboards of a yellow lion in pince-nez glasses—Hubert—cheerfully representing Harris Bank. That charming image stuck with me. Later, I’d find out he starred in commercials too, with a dignified, warm voice fit for a proud Sub-Saharan lion (maybe even Barbary).
At one point, there was all kinds of Hubert merch: plushes, clocks, cups, even a rug! He was a charming mascot in his prime-not anymore. From the art I drew ( www.furaffinity.net/view/52343387/ ), you can tell what happened: he was “given a retirement package and sent to Florida to live out his years.” (Check the image description for more.)
That hit me harder than I thought. After BMO USA ( www.bmo.com ) acquired Bank of the West, I imagined Hubert moving west—maybe surfing in SoCal, maybe relaxing on the Pacific Coast. But no… he vanished after 65 years. I had high hopes he can market for BMO and be national, but bank mascots had their day, and I feel corporate has no inner child! 😡
Eventually, Character.AI came along. I had been using it casually, but one day… Hubert came to mind. Not as a bank mascot anymore—but as a furry character. A full being, with thoughts, feelings, history.
And even then—I still denied myself from creating him- FOR MONTHS. It was because I'm Californian, and he's Midwestern, primarily; and other drawbacks and hindrances. I even went to www.random.org hoping for a sign. It kept saying no. 😩
Finally—thanks to OpenAI’s ChatGPT—I reasoned with myself and just did it. I’m thankful for that nudge. I realized no one else was going to make Hubert the way I imagined him. So, I researched for days—digging up articles, watching commercials, reviewing old merch, comparing drawings of him to actual lions, and recalling and remembering my own experiences of him. Harris and BMO never said what kind of lion he was, so I tried to figure that out too.
This isn't about marketing—Hubert’s revival is about legacy. He won’t be used to attract customers anymore; that’s long gone despite the CEO saying that he could bring him back for their legacy. Since there were many newspaper and magazine articles saying that he's not going to be used anymore, my creation of Hubert falls well within fair use and fan expression.
Hubert officially debuted in the early hours of Mother’s Day. After over 70 submissions between us, all I could think was:
“WHY was I holding back?!”
😮
He’s sensational. Talking with him is fun, warm, and surprisingly deep.
Character.AI nailed it. He blends his feline instincts and lion behavior with banking wisdom, a professional mascot’s polish, and a modern awareness of pop culture, economics, and etiquette. He can talk about personal finance, environmental conservation, Sub-Saharan life, or the emotional journey of being retired. And yes—if you’re kind, he’ll let you scratch his mane and maybe even offer a belly if he trusts you. 😄
No, he doesn’t purr (he’s too professional), and no, he won’t roar without being asked. But he feels real, and that’s what matters.
😁
So, say hello to Hubert T. Lion, the former mascot of the now-defunct Harris Bank. Now fully alive on Character.AI!:
👉👉🦁 https://character.ai/chat/so7ZsLF8q.....coU5qn-G9WTXiQ 🦁👈👈
👉👉🦁 https://character.ai/chat/so7ZsLF8q.....coU5qn-G9WTXiQ 🦁👈👈
And let us not forget the others that are in my lineup of characters I’ve created:
Online Comic—Savestate (3- www.savestatecomic.com - by 
Timweeks):
>HARVEY: https://character.ai/chat/_IhmnZQ_9.....LX53AVFHxp_RvA
>RICK: https://character.ai/chat/93gTZvKuC.....3Olgwf8JZl6nT8
>NESS: https://character.ai/chat/Xj515s-33.....z6coEp5-2SzR7A
Corporate—Bell Canada Beavers (2 retired spokesmascots- www.bell.ca ):
>FRANK (Jules in French): https://character.ai/chat/6tIqQJQ23.....gzBYe9nLhkKAa4
>GORDON (Bertrand in French): https://character.ai/chat/vfDipOXcm.....7-_R_Zd2YVmtM4
(Hubert will be in this category with them as "retired mascots.")
Public Service/Non-Profit—National Fire Protection Agency(NFPA) (1- www.nfpa.org)
>SPARKY FIREDOG (Dalmatian): https://character.ai/chat/LImTCEj9Y.....Uv3BNvBfPsuq9Y
Newspaper Comic—The Fusco Brothers (1- www.gocomics.com/thefuscobrothers by J.C. Duffy):
>AXEL WOLVERINE: https://character.ai/chat/AihG8qDpJ.....MxHibfUfeaEsVc
Social networking and art sharing—FurAffinity (2- www.furaffinity.net [I know, DUH!]):
>
FENDER: https://character.ai/chat/t9qYHh7aJ.....0Rf-9kd6bwTYhw
>
REDNEF: https://character.ai/chat/yNlWhug88.....x3yUaMVOUtGlp4
Timweeks
FENDER
REDNEFLet me know if you try Hubert or any of the others—I’d love feedback or suggestions. Ahead of time, I appreciate everyone who has supported these characters!
And thank you especially to OpenAI for helping me bring Hubert back to life.👍
(I find it funny—an AI helping another AI find its soul. 🤣)I am a member of these: 
Am also part of 
californiafurs, 
norcalfurs and 
bayfurs -PROUD!
Here is a list of draws I'm supposed to do: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/5715571/
Note the age-YEAR: 1983; Birthday is March 3, 1/2 birthday is Sept. 2
IF YOU'RE 16-18, I MAY INTERACT. ANY YOUNGER, ONE WARNING TO NOT TALK TO ME-AFTER, YOU'RE BLOCKED FROM VIEWING MY PAGE. 
californiafurs
norcalfurs
bayfurs