Legendary Pokemon TCG artist working on MTG for the first time

The artist who brought Charizard and Pikachu to life in Pokemon TCG is working on Magic: The Gathering for the first time with a brand-new card.

Anyone who played during the Pokemon TCG’s early days knows just how much the game’s look and feel owe to artist Mitsuhiro Arita. The prolific artist has been working on the Pokemon TCG all throughout the game’s life and has now lent his talents to Magic: The Gathering for the first time.

Arita has provided art for Lumra, Bellow of the Woods, one of the first cards revealed for the premier Bloomburrow set launching in August 2024. Lumra is sure to be a standout upon release thanks to Arita’s inclusion.

Mitsuhiro Arita’s Pokemon TCG history

The Pokemon Company/Mitsuhiro Arita

Ever since the first Pokemon cards launched, Arita’s interpretations of classic Pokemon designs have shaped how fans view and engage with the franchise. The artist was working on the TCG before Pokemon Red and Green had even launched, fleshing out early sprites into creatures that would delight players for decades to come. Right from the off the Pokemon TCG – and Arita’s designs – played a huge part in how popular the series would become.

Arguably the most well-known Pokemon card of all time is the original 1st edition Charizard, known for selling at exorbitant prices and designed by Arita himself. Arita locked in the TCG designs for both Charizard and Pikachu in the game’s first set, creating images that had a direct impact on the incredible long-term popularity of these two mascots.

Arita has designed almost 700 individual Pokemon cards to date, making him one of the most crucial factors in the game’s ongoing success.

Bloomburrow brings out a different side of legendary Pokemon TCG artist

WOTC/Mitsuhiro Arita

In a way, Bloomburrow feels like a perfect fit for Arita’s existing TCG career. The set’s overlap of fantasy and small-scale creatures isn’t a million miles away from Pokemon and its original bug-catching inspiration.

Arita clearly isn’t resting on his laurels in his work for MTG however. The style deployed in Lumra, Bellow of the Woods is unlike anything the artist has ever brought to Pokemon, and the card stands out all the more for it, terrorizing the other inhabitants of Bloomburrow.

It’s a treat to watch an artist at the top of their game take on a brand-new project and give it their all. Lumra has a hugely different style than Arita’s fans might have expected but is just as eye-catching and dynamic as could be hoped.

Lumra, Bellow of the Woods is sure to be one of Bloomburrow’s standout – and most expensive – cards when the MTG set launches on August 2. Hopefully, this will just be the beginning of Arita’s contributions to the world of Magic.

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