Lorwyn Eclipsed: A Puppet Rock Opera Unveils the Dualities of Magic: The Gathering

Experience the World of Lorwyn Eclipsed Through Song and String!

Innovative Marketing for Magic: The Gathering's Newest Set

Historically, each new Magic: The Gathering release has been accompanied by a promotional video. While some sets, like Dragonstorm and Edge of Eternities, featured elaborate 3D animations, and others such as Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty and Bloomburrow opted for stylized 2D visuals, Lorwyn Eclipsed ventures into entirely new territory. Wizards of the Coast has collaborated with The Jim Henson Company to develop a full-fledged rock opera brought to life by puppets, a creative choice that aligns perfectly with the set's fantastical aesthetic.

The Jim Henson Company's Creative Vision for Lorwyn Eclipsed

Many of the creatures from the Lorwyn-Shadowmoor plane, such as Kithkin and Boggarts, already bear a striking resemblance to the fantastical beings from classic late-1980s Henson productions like Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. The newly released video, premiered on the WeeklyMTG livestream, masterfully illustrates the fundamental themes of duality and identity that define the Lorwyn-Shadowmoor narrative. This world is characterized by two contrasting states, cycling between a bright, enchanting day and a sinister, distorted night, with most inhabitants remaining unaware of their world's other manifestation or the memory-altering effects of the Great Aurora.

A Duet of Souls: Squen and Cragg's Journey of Self-Discovery

The new Henson Company production focuses on two Boggarts: Squen, residing in Lorwyn, and Cragg, from Shadowmoor. Far from being literal mirror images, their story explores a deeper, more metaphorical connection. Both characters share an innate longing to comprehend the other facet of their shared world, driven by an instinctual feeling of incompleteness rather than any overt conflict. This emotional depth served as a significant inspiration for Brian Henson when collaborating with writer Eliza Skinner on the storyline.

The Power of Musical Storytelling: A Theatrical Approach to Identity

Brian Henson noted that the concept of the two Boggarts essentially performing a duet immediately resonated as a powerful narrative device. The musical interplay between Squen and Cragg effectively communicates Lorwyn's central tension, depicting two mirroring voices and worlds that even harmonize, illustrating an identity fractured between light and darkness. Henson emphasized the metaphor of these characters representing the dual aspects within each individual, and to truly convey this, he instructed the puppeteers, Ben Schrader (Squen) and Kevin Clash (Cragg), to deliver a performance that was bold and theatrical, aiming to captivate the audience with raw emotion, much like a powerful rock opera.

Beyond Conflict: The Existential Nature of Lorwyn-Shadowmoor

The dramatic core of the narrative reflects how Wizards of the Coast conceives the Lorwyn and Shadowmoor planes, guiding the development of Lorwyn Eclipsed. According to Neale LaPlante Johnson, the set's world-building lead, this plane is fundamentally concerned with identity rather than traditional conquest. The primary struggle isn't physical combat but an existential quest for self-understanding. The original Lorwyn-Shadowmoor block hinted at this, with only a few characters recognizing the alternate version of their world. Lorwyn Eclipsed expands on this, exploring the experience of living in a world defined by its inherent incompleteness, where a vital element always seems just out of reach. The video beautifully articulates these complex ideas, serving as a powerful visual and auditory supplement to the card art.

Crafting a Tangible World: The Art Direction of Lorwyn Eclipsed

The unique essence of Lorwyn-Shadowmoor also significantly influenced the artistic direction for the set. Art director Deborah Garcia aimed for a visually and texturally rich world, steering clear of a purely digital aesthetic. She emphasized traditional painting styles or digital artists with a classic sensibility to evoke the vintage feel of the original block, which contrasted with Magic's more contemporary art. A significant challenge was to infuse a "puppety" yet non-distracting vibe. Given the absence of humans and the fantastical nature of creatures like the horned elves, the design leaned into the surreal and fabricated, mirroring the tactile and emotional qualities of puppets themselves. Garcia playfully mentioned that a Henson Company trailer was her dream reveal for Lorwyn Eclipsed, expressing her delight at seeing her vision realized with such authenticity.