The world of streaming entertainment is about to witness something truly extraordinary as Netflix officially announces its partnership with renowned animation studio DIGIC Pictures for the highly anticipated Magic: The Gathering animated series. This groundbreaking collaboration represents a significant milestone in bringing one of the most beloved trading card games of all time to the small screen. After years of development challenges and creative reboots, the project has finally found its visual voice through DIGIC Pictures, a Budapest-based studio renowned for creating stunning cinematics for major video game franchises including Assassin’s Creed, Rainbow Six: Siege, and Star Wars: Outlaws.
The announcement, made at the prestigious Annecy Film Festival 2025, has sent waves of excitement through both the Magic: The Gathering community and animation enthusiasts worldwide, promising an epic fantasy saga that will transport viewers across infinite worlds filled with powerful planeswalkers and magical adventures.
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The Journey from Development Hell to Animation Paradise
The path to bringing Magic: The Gathering to Netflix has been anything but straightforward, resembling the complex multiverse that defines the card game itself. Originally announced in 2019 with the Russo Brothers at the helm, the project was initially scheduled to launch in 2022 but encountered significant creative challenges that led to a complete reboot. The original iteration faced undisclosed production issues that ultimately resulted in Netflix scrapping the entire project and starting fresh with a new creative vision in September 2024.
This creative renaissance brought aboard Terry Matalas, the acclaimed showrunner behind Star Trek: Picard, 12 Monkeys, and MacGyver, who now serves as the driving force behind the series’ narrative direction. Joining Matalas is Academy Award-winning director Patrick Osborne, whose expertise in animation storytelling promises to bring a unique visual flair to the magical universe. The series will focus on the compelling characters of Nahiri and Ajani, two iconic planeswalkers whose stories have captivated Magic: The Gathering fans for years.
DIGIC Pictures: The Perfect Animation Partner
The selection of DIGIC Pictures as the animation studio represents a strategic masterstroke for Netflix’s ambitious project. With 22 years of industry experience, DIGIC Pictures has established itself as a powerhouse in the world of computer-generated animation, particularly in creating breathtaking cinematics for major video game franchises. Their impressive portfolio includes work on Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, Rainbow Six: Siege, Star Wars: Outlaws, and Amazon Prime Video’s Secret Level series, demonstrating their ability to handle complex, visually stunning projects that require both technical excellence and artistic vision.
The Budapest-based studio’s expertise in creating immersive, fantastical worlds makes them an ideal partner for Magic: The Gathering’s multiverse concept. Their proven track record of translating video game aesthetics into compelling visual narratives aligns perfectly with the challenge of bringing the rich, diverse planes of the Magic universe to life. Dylan Thomas, Netflix’s Director of Adult Animation, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, calling Magic: The Gathering one of their most ambitious shows to date and praising the assembled team’s profound talent.
An Epic Fantasy Saga Across Infinite Worlds
Netflix has positioned Magic: The Gathering firmly within their “Adult Spectacle” category, alongside other high-profile projects like Splinter Cell: Deathwatch and Blue Eye Samurai season 2. This classification signals the streaming giant’s commitment to creating sophisticated, visually stunning content that appeals to mature audiences while honoring the source material’s complexity and depth.
The series promises to deliver an epic fantasy saga centered around three powerful mages known as planeswalkers, beings capable of traveling across infinite worlds, each vividly distinct from one another. This multiverse concept provides unlimited creative possibilities for both storytelling and visual design, allowing the creative team to explore diverse landscapes, cultures, and magical systems that have made Magic: The Gathering a cultural phenomenon for over three decades.
The collaboration between Netflix’s internal animation teams in Los Angeles and DIGIC Pictures’ expertise creates a unique production environment where creative vision meets technical excellence. Simon Rogers serves as the art director, ensuring that the visual language of the series remains true to the iconic aesthetic that has defined Magic: The Gathering while pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in animated storytelling.
Production Timeline and Future Expectations
While specific release dates remain under wraps, Netflix has indicated that more details about the Magic: The Gathering series will be revealed throughout 2026. This timeline suggests that the production is still in early development stages, with concept art currently being refined and production pipelines being established between Netflix’s Los Angeles studios and DIGIC Pictures’ Budapest facilities.
The partnership between Netflix, Hasbro Entertainment, and Wizards of the Coast ensures that the series will maintain authenticity to the source material while exploring new narrative territories. This collaborative approach balances creative freedom with respect for the extensive lore and passionate fanbase that has sustained Magic: The Gathering’s popularity since its inception in 1993.
Early reactions from industry insiders and fans have been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the decision to partner with DIGIC Pictures given their impressive track record in creating visually stunning animated content. The studio’s experience in translating complex fantasy worlds from interactive media to linear storytelling positions them well to tackle the challenges of adapting Magic: The Gathering’s rich multiverse.
Industry Impact and Broader Implications
The Magic: The Gathering Netflix series represents more than just another adaptation; it symbolizes the growing convergence between traditional entertainment media and gaming culture. As streaming platforms increasingly recognize the value of gaming IP, partnerships like the one between Netflix and DIGIC Pictures set new standards for how these collaborations should be approached.
The project also highlights Netflix’s continued investment in adult-oriented animated content, following the success of series like Castlevania, Arcane, and Love, Death & Robots. By positioning Magic: The Gathering within their Adult Spectacle category, Netflix demonstrates their commitment to creating sophisticated animated content that appeals to mature audiences seeking complex narratives and stunning visuals.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When will the Magic: The Gathering Netflix series be released?
A: Netflix has not announced a specific release date for the Magic: The Gathering series. However, the company has indicated that more information about the show will be revealed throughout 2026, suggesting that fans may need to wait until late 2026 or 2027 for the series to premiere.
Q: What happened to the original Magic: The Gathering series that was supposed to feature the Russo Brothers?
A: The original Magic: The Gathering series announced in 2019 with the Russo Brothers was completely scrapped due to undisclosed creative challenges. Netflix rebooted the project in September 2024 with a new creative team led by showrunner Terry Matalas and director Patrick Osborne, partnering with DIGIC Pictures for animation.
