Series Development Update by Terry Matalas
Fans of the iconic card game and Netflix's animated adaptation of Magic: The Gathering have been wondering about the series for quite a while now. Recently, writer and executive producer Terry Matalas provided an update that fans needed to hear – which is that the script is done, and they're moving on to the casting and animatics stages. Matalas, who is known for his work on Vision Quest, will bring great storytelling experience for a very anticipated series.
Why Animation is the Ideal Medium for Magic The Gathering
Matalas called this project a "big, giant, expansive CGI wonderfest" and explained that animation is so necessary for (all of) the incredible diversity of worlds and planes in the Magic: The Gathering multiverse. In animation, creators can convey complicated locations or mannerisms of spell effects without the restrictions of a live-action budget.
Teamwork Between Netflix, Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast
Matalas stressed the collaborative aspect of the project. Netflix, Hasbro, and Wizards of the Coast have worked together in perfect coordination to do justice to the deeper lore and expectations of fans. He explained that this teamwork helped avoid the project getting "killed by notes", which is something that happens to a lot of IP.
What will fans take away from the animated show
While the scripts exist, the process of animation takes time. Matalas noted that now they are casting voices and working through animatics (essentially animated storyboards), which allow the team early edits and rewrites before the final animation. This experience is user-friendly for the creators since they can make any edits before the final animation. In live action, they typically do not have this luxury.
Chandra: The Core of the Narrative
Instead of trying to represent the vast Magic universe all at once, this show will focus on one of the game's most recognisable Planeswalkers: Chandra Nalaar. Chandra is a rebellious pyromancer with a fiery spirit and moral compass who has both broadening appeal and emotional baggage for audiences. Chandra represents the themes of justice, identity and emotional expression, which could be a great conduit for new audiences and established fans.
An Approach Similar to Arcane
With some parallels to Netflix's Arcane, which successfully launched its exploration of the League of Legends universe with familiar characters (with Vi and Jinx being two of its flagship characters), this new Magic: The Gathering animated series is planning to expand its aspect over time. By beginning with Chandra and enhancing additional Planeswalkers when the time is right, the hope is to create an interconnected universe told through these characters to introduce fans of Magic: The Gathering to it and potentially even a new audience.
As Matalas explained, they are wanting to build a show for people to share:
"How do you tell a story that brings fans into the world they want to be in? But also, how do you tell a story for people to be like, 'Hey mom, let me show you this story?'"
The series is still reportedly a long way from release, but given the direction and care taken already, it definitely seems like it could be a landmark adaptation of a beloved gaming universe.
