The glorious game of many childhoods that is Magic the Gathering is now getting animated! And in a CGI cartoon, at that! Magic the Gathering has come so far from starting as the first trading card game in the late 90s to then getting adapted as an online game, and now this. With all the fantasy-based art and magic scenes, new magic stories added over the years, and new champion events after it got more players and fame, it’s time to catch up! For all the old fans, let’s go through memory lane to see how far it’s come, and to all the new curious fans, you’re in for a treat.
About Netflix
Netflix is a streaming service that allows its viewers to watch anything from TV shows, movies, Anime, and documentaries, so long as it is on an internet-connected device. The payment plan is that you pay a fixed fee per month, depending on what type of plan you choose, and you get to watch whatever you want, for however long you want, on any device. That feature will be useful for all the eager fans waiting to stream the Magic the Gathering cartoon.
For Geeked Week 2024, Netflix teased the Magic the Gathering fans by posting a single image on their social media, “Netflix Geeked” on X. There wasn’t any concrete proof to back this up until later when the Netflix website released the article, fully proving that an animated series for Magic the Gathering is indeed heading to Netflix. The same picture they posted on X to tease the fans was also posted right on top of the article, even dropping the name of the showrunner, Terry Matalas, to show that it was already in the works.
Now, let us all thank Netflix for preparing to gift us with the Magic the Gathering CGI cartoon. This gives us something new to look forward to while also being familiar enough to not cause any hesitation for those tired of new but flat stories. Netflix has already given us some great examples of CGI animations throughout this year and last year so far, such as Arcane and Blue-Eyed Samurai. Seeing as the series Arcane was also based on a popular online game that eventually grew into something huge, this gives us reason to trust them with creating an equally incredible story with Magic the Gathering.
CGI Video Games
Almost every video game uses CGI since video games depend on visuals and graphics. As proof, the first video game with CGI was more attractive than the ones without, and Magic the Gathering began as an online game with CGI. The history of the use of CGI in video games can be found in other articles, but the main thing to know is that CGI in games is typically used for characters, special effects, game items, the environment, and creating realistic graphics to further the player’s experience.
The concept of video games began in the 1970s when the first arcade opened up, the few games only started as white pixels over black screens, but they were so successful and with people wanting more attractive visuals, games like Pac-Man came about. In 1985, developers were given more inspiration to create more stunning visuals thanks to the release of the first Super Mario Bros. game, then in the mid-90s, the graphics for video games would evolve even more. In the mid-90s, average home computers at the time were able to give more power to games, helping developers get closer to 3D visuals.
When separate devices and consoles made specifically for video games were created, it paved the way for more gaming development, along with 3D visuals. Ever since the use of CGI evolved in game development, all the latest games have been immersive and different, thanks to the developers having more creative freedom. Minecraft, the Resident Evil franchise, and Stardew Valley are good examples of creative games made thanks to CGI.
CGI Cartoon
First, to anyone curious about CGI animation, read about some topics regarding how it began, along with other animation styles, before continuing with this if you’d like. For now, here are some things to know about how CGI works in developing cartoons so you can figure out what to expect for the graphics in the Magic the Gathering cartoon.
CGI means computer-generated images. Not to be mistaken for the other CGI acronym, which stands for Common Gateway Interface, which is for exchanging data. It is capable of producing both 2D and 3D content, no, it is not like AI, but it is similar to VFX which means visual effects. It is made through computer software and used for different fields such as art, science, and more. In filmmaking, there are a lot of steps, techniques, and methods to use CGI, depending on whether it is live-action or fully animated. Read through some other articles and websites, specifically on CGI, to learn more.
Since Magic the Gathering began with amazing graphics on cards and is continuing with the use of CGI for its graphics, stories, and cutscenes in its video games, it only makes sense to use CGI for its cartoon. From the tabletop to the big screens, it was announced at Geeked Week 2024 as an event animated series that will stream on Netflix. The announcement for the Magic the Gathering animated series was described as a dream collaboration between Wizards of the Coast, Hasbro Entertainment, Netflix, and Patrick Osborne. The animated series is already a dream come true in and of itself for millions of fans.
Magic the Gathering
Oh, the memories! Magic the Gathering started as a trading card game meant for the tabletop in 1993, to a fantasy-themed online game available on every computer. The Magic the Gathering was invented by Richard Garfield, who had a PhD in mathematics and had always brought games to his courses, introducing them to undergraduates and colleagues. When a board game he submitted was rejected by a game publisher, he challenged that same publisher to describe a concept for him to create a game around. Two years later, Magic the Gathering premiered at GenCon 1993.
The players immerse themselves as wizards or Planeswalkers and each card plays different roles depending on what kind they are. There are cards used for spells, battle cards used for the battlefield, and land cards that represent mana, and the players are to use these tactically to defeat their opponents by reducing their life totals to zero. Yes, it is inspired by D&D. The required players are two or more, there are various rule formats, and new cards are still being released regularly.
Conclusion
Thanks to computers, for those who don’t have anyone available to play in-person with, you can use either your computer, phone, or tablet to play either Magic The Gathering Online, Magic The Gathering Arena, Magic duels, and more. If you don’t feel like burning your eyes or don’t have any devices that can support any of the games, you can stick with playing with the traditional cards, which still get new releases, or you can buy to look at them because the art is so good. If not, wait in anticipation for the Magic the Gathering cartoon to come out, sit back, and relax.
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