Legendary Pokemon TCG Artist Debuts in Magic: The Gathering Bloomburrow Set

As a huge fan of both Pokémon TCG and Magic: The Gathering, I’m beyond excited to witness the debut of renowned illustrator Mitsuhiro Arita in the world of MTG with the upcoming set Bloomburrow. Known for his iconic work on the Base Set Charizard and Pikachu cards, Arita is one of the most important Pokemon TCG artists of all time, contributing to the creation of small-scale illustrations that matched the tone and style of the TCG when it debuted back in 1998.


Famous Pokémon Trading Card Game artist Mitsuhiro Arita will join Magic: The Gathering for the first time in August, when the new set Bloomburrow (MTG’s 101st expansion) is launched.

Renowned for his legendary designs on the initial Pokémon Base Set Charizard and Pikachu cards, Arita is set to present his debut work in Magic: The Gathering with the borderless display version of Lumra, Bellow of the Woods.

Mitsuhiro Arita is one of the most important Pokemon TCG artists of all time

The iconic Base Set Charizard occupies a distinguished place among renowned collectible cards in the annals of card games’ history. Notably, it is considered one of the most prized Charizard cards and a significant component of one of the most valuable Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) sets ever produced.

Ken Sugimori is responsible for designing and producing the initial 151 Pokemon. However, it was Arita who contributed significantly by creating detailed, small-scale illustrations that aligned with the TCG’s tone and style when the Base Set was first introduced in 1998.

Using his initial Magic: The Gathering card, Arita – known for designing over 700 distinct Pokémon cards and collaborating on numerous other trading card games – brings the Magic: The Gathering realm to life through his rendering of the legendary Elemental Bear Lumra. His artwork represents a marked contrast from his customary technique yet harmoniously blends within the Magic multiverse.

Based on the latest sneak peek from Wizards of the Coast regarding Bloomburrow, Arita’s borderless display variant is the only illustration she contributed to this Magic: The Gathering expansion. Yet, mentions of “calamity beasts” may allude to a series of legendary Elemental animals, potentially indicating more projects featuring Arita’s artwork in MTG’s upcoming releases.

As a gamer and fan of both tabletop card games (TCGs) and role-playing games, I can’t help but be impressed by Arita’s diverse portfolio. Not only has he contributed significantly to the TCG community, but he also lent his creative talents to projects like “Final Fantasy 11,” where he produced promotional materials. Additionally, for the theatrical release of “Berserk: The Golden Age Arc,” Arita was responsible for the concept designs.

Save the date: Bloomburrow is set to be launched on August 2. Get ready to be enchanted by Arita’s debut in the magical realm of Magic: The Gathering.

Read More

2024-07-13 16:59