Creative Spotlight – Hyperia City

Iconic and Enchanted cards are two of the rarest types of cards in Disney Lorcana TCG. These cards have unique styles based on the set they’re released in. Hyperia City is a bustling city with fantastical, whimsical districts and a sparkling nightlife. To take us on a sightseeing tour of this latest set, we have Hyperia City Art Lead Liz Richards to lead the way!

Question: Each set’s Enchanted and Iconic cards have had distinct art styles based on their respective set. In Hyperia City, much of the standard artwork is depicted during daytime, while the Enchanted cards show off the glimmers at night. How would you describe the look and feel of the Enchanted and Iconic cards in this set?

Liz: As we were focusing on our first set to take place in a city, our team discussed what makes urban life exciting and compelling—and one area that we thought was really unique was a vibrant nightlife. While the majority of the set is portrayed during the day, we thought it would be really special to show glimmers taking part in all the exciting things Hyperia City could offer at night as they help their Illumineers find ink drops and have some fun along the way. The amazing artists on this set really brought these scenes to life with a focus on vibrant colors, lighting, and dynamic poses. Each gives a glimpse into how unique and magical this town is at night.

Question: This set introduces glimmers from Disney and Pixar’s Coco. What was it like to take these characters from such a beloved film and reimagine them in this new place? Do you have any favorite artworks of these characters?

Liz: Coco is such a wonderful film, and we were so excited to have Miguel Rivera and his family throughout the set.  With music being such a key part of both the film and this latest adventure, it was a wonderful way to celebrate some great moments that call back to the original story. I love the gorgeous colors and creative gameplay of all of these cards, but I think Remember Me with Héctor and little Coco is one of my favorites—it’s such a sweet moment and a gorgeous composition.

Question: An urban setting is quite different from what we’ve seen in the realm of Lorcana so far; was there anything you kept in mind to make sure it felt fresh and new while still feeling like Disney Lorcana?

Liz: It definitely required some careful planning to keep the balance between elements that would help define Hyperia as a bustling city and stay true to the wonderful realm of Lorcana that has been established. In some of our early design stages, the team really liked the idea that a fun aspect of city life is how interconnected the stories could be. There’s a lot of fun to be had with connecting moments in this set. For example, a Madam Mim glimmer is keeping an eye on Merlin’s shop, trying to discover what he’s doing with ink drops. In the Wandering Straits, a Cruella de Vil glimmer is driving through the canals splashing water on unsuspecting passersby. I hope Illumineers will enjoy looking through the set and finding these smaller stories that show how great a magical city can be. 

Question: Hyperia City features a few different districts, each with its own look and feel, as well as glimmers you might find there. How do you go about making them feel different while all fitting into Hyperia City?

Liz: We tried to think of Hyperia like a real place—each neighborhood is influenced by the needs and comfort of the glimmers and their Illumineers interacting in that area. For example, The Greenbelt is a great space for animal glimmers, with lots of jungle areas and a more nature-focused layout. Olde Towne Hyperia—the oldest area of the city—still feels like it was influenced by a more medieval era, and that’s where you’ll find Merlin’s workshop. When the new power source for ink drops was discovered, the Multidisciplinary Academy for Genius, Innovation, and Creativity became the best place to experiment and invent for the Big Hero 6 glimmers. All of these unique areas are tied together with the underlying design of magic and ink that flows through all Lorcana.

Question: Hyperia City includes a unique take on some favorite characters. Can you tell us a bit about the princesses in this set? 

Liz: Our team loved being able to include some Dreamborn princess glimmers in Hyperia City. For example, an Ariel glimmer is showcasing a collection of her favorite gadgets and gizmos at a museum. A glimmer of Cinderella is creating beautiful gowns for Hyperia City’s fancier events. Rapunzel is finding new ways to create art throughout the city. The costume design was fun to explore as well. Creating looks that are compelling and true to each glimmer is always an exciting part of each set, especially when considering how they might look in an unfamiliar setting. It was a treat to explore the unique abilities of these wonderful princess glimmers in a new way.

Question: Anything else you’d like to share about working on Hyperia City artwork?

Liz: This set was such a delight to work on! We are so fortunate to work with incredible artists around the world who really brought Hyperia City to life, and our whole team really worked hard to bring this unique setting to Lorcana. I’m so grateful to work with such an incredible group of people who are dedicated to creating such magical stories. I hope everyone enjoys a visit to Hyperia City!

We hope all of you enjoyed this look behind the scenes of the art for our latest set, Hyperia City. Drop in for a beat at your friendly local game store to get your hands on some of these beautiful cards when Prerelease events start on October 16, with the release in all stores following on October 23. Head to tcg.RavensburgerPlay.com to find a Prerelease event near you!