Rats in Magic: The Gathering are often depicted as disease-ridden scavengers. It was important to me that the artists involved in the project reflected the diversity of cultures that celebrate Lunar New Year and a range of art styles. If you're of Chinese descent, you would hear it called "Chinese New Year," but the holiday is known globally as "Lunar New Year" and is celebrated by multiple East Asian and Southeast Asian regions. The order of the animals is based on a myth in which the animals raced to greet the Jade Emperor and the rat, being the most cunning, rode on Ox's back and then jumped down at the finish line to be first. On Jan 25, 2020, it will become the Year of the Rat, according to the zodiac that assigns animals (and their personality attributes) to a 12-year cycle. As art director for the Year of the Rat Secret Lair drop, I wanted to make something for Magic fans and the 1.5 billion people who celebrate Lunar New Year. "Being Chinese-American, the celebration of Lunar New Year has been as integral to my life as Christmas or Halloween. Now that you've fallen head over heels in love, hear a little bit from the art director of the drop, Meris Mullaley, about how the drop came to be. Year of the Rat is being published in English. ** is not available in the following regions: China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Vietnam.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |