Junji Ito is a renowned Japanese horror manga artist known for his intricate and chilling artwork. While he is primarily known for his work in the horror genre, his talent extends to other mediums as well. One such example is his collaboration with the popular trading card game Magic: The Gathering. In 2021, Junji Ito contributed his unique artistic style to the special edition Secret Lair drop of Magic: The Gathering cards. This limited edition set, titled "Junji Ito: Magi cards," featured five cards with artwork by Ito and a horror-inspired theme. These cards were highly sought after by both Junji Ito fans and Magic: The Gathering collectors alike.
Avid players will be excited by the fact that the chosen cards do include some appreciated reprints, even for those looking for matches beyond the vast Commander tent. Secret Lairs are often discussed by hobbyist in terms of individual card value, as purchasing singles is almost always the best way to spend money on MTG. Both the Junji Ito Secret Lair and another by Metal Gear artist Yoji Shinkawa can be purchased in English and Japanese.
That last borrows the special treatment from the recently released Unfinity set, applying them to four specific lands that see plenty of play in non-standard formats. In addition to the traditional booster and collector s packs, All Will Be One will also include two new Commander decks Corrupting Influence white black green and Rebellion Rising red white and three additional Secret Lair drops.
These cards were highly sought after by both Junji Ito fans and Magic: The Gathering collectors alike. The artwork on the Junji Ito: Magi cards showcased the artist's signature style, which merges grotesque and eerie imagery with incredible attention to detail. Each card told its own eerie story, whether it was the haunting image of a skeletal hand emerging from the ground or a sinister-looking creature surrounded by tentacles.
Junji Ito Talks Magic: The Gathering and the Fear of AI Art
In a recent interview with 4Gamer, popular horror manga artist Junji Ito talked about his experience working with Wizards of the Coast designing illustration for Magic: The Gathering cards, and the fear of art created through AI technology. Wizards of the Coast directly contacted Junji Ito, and the artist didn’t know about MTG prior. [Thanks, 4Gamer!]
Junji Ito said that after researching Magic: The Gathering, he was impressed by the fantasy worlds and beautiful illustrations used for the cards, and felt that he wanted to work with Wizards of the Coast.
Drawing the final illustration for Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines took Ito about three days of work. In addition to that, there was a previous period of trial and error creating rough sketches that the artist and Wizards of the Coast went through until a final design was decided. Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines had three different initial sketches before the final one was chosen.
Ito said that the only rejection to a first draft was for the Carrion Feeder card, which initially depicted a gravestone in the form of a cross with an English name. In the final card, the gravestone is a normal slab, and the name is blurred. In addition, Ito said that if he were to receive another offer to work on Magic: The Gathering he would love to do it again. He also said that designing individual illustrations is a very rewarding job, as the deadlines and load of work for creating manga are tighter.
Junji Ito also talked against the use of AI-created art. The artist said that he feels threatened by it as a professional, and worries that manga will eventually be drawn using AI technology. He also said that he would like to continue to create stories where the unexpected becomes terrifying, before AI can learn to imitate that.
Also new for this release is a special raised foil treatment, which Wizards is calling “oil slick.” You can see more examples of the treatment alongside all the other cards revealed on the stream today.
Junji Ito's collaboration with Magic: The Gathering was met with great enthusiasm from fans of both the artist and the card game. The limited availability of the Junji Ito: Magi cards only added to their desirability, with collectors eager to get their hands on these unique pieces of art. The Junji Ito: Magi cards serve as a testament to the incredible talent and versatility of Junji Ito as an artist. His ability to convey horror and unease through his artwork shines through in this collaboration with Magic: The Gathering. These cards are a must-have for fans of Junji Ito and collectors looking to add a touch of horror to their Magic: The Gathering collection..
Reviews for "The History and Influence of Junji Ito's Magi Cards in the Trading Card Game Community"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really excited to get the Junji Ito magi cards as I'm a huge fan of his horror manga. However, I was really disappointed with the quality of the cards. The artwork looked pixelated and was far from the detailed and chilling style I expected. The cards also felt flimsy and cheaply made, which was a huge letdown. Overall, I feel like the product didn't do justice to Junji Ito's incredible talent and left me feeling unsatisfied.
2. Mike - 1 star - I have to say I was extremely disappointed with the Junji Ito magi cards. The images on the cards didn't even resemble Ito's artwork, and it felt like a lazy attempt at capitalizing on his popularity. The cards were also flimsy and seemed like they would easily get damaged with regular use. I expected a lot more from this collaboration, but it fell flat on its face. I would not recommend these cards to any Junji Ito fan.
3. Lisa - 2 stars - As an avid collector of magi cards, I was excited to add the Junji Ito edition to my collection. However, I was immediately let down by the poor quality of the cards. The print quality was subpar, and the colors looked faded and dull. The overall design also felt uninspired, lacking the creativity and uniqueness that Ito's artwork is known for. These cards were a huge disappointment and not worth the money I spent on them.