Jim Henson Company Brings Magic’s Lorwyn Eclipsed to Life
Later this month, Magic: The Gathering is set to return to one of its most enchanting and cherished fantasy realms with Lorwyn Eclipsed. To mark the world reveal of this new set on January 5, an exciting collaboration has emerged: The Jim Henson Company. On Monday, the creative minds at Henson will unveil a short film set in the Lorwyn-Shadowmoor universe, featuring intricately crafted puppets. Before that, you can catch a 3-minute mini-documentary showcasing the film’s development.
This video provides an insider’s look at how the talented designers at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop brought unique characters and creatures from Lorwyn-Shadowmoor to life, along with insights into the production process. Key figures from The Jim Henson Company, including Brian Henson, discuss the journey of the short film, from initial story concepts to puppet design, fabrication, and performance.
In a video call, Brian Henson shared how the artistic connection between The Henson Company and Lorwyn Eclipsed was instantly apparent.
“We are a world-building company,” Henson noted. “The worlds of Lorwyn and Shadowmoor resonate with the likes of Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. Creating within fantasy realms is where we thrive.”
Lorwyn is a whimsical land bathed in perpetual sunshine, while Shadowmoor serves as its dark counterpart, with the two realms shifting as part of a cyclical transformation that alters their inhabitants into alternate versions of themselves. The upcoming Magic set will delve into this duality through its gameplay mechanics, making the puppet representation of the creatures from Lorwyn-Shadowmoor a perfect fit. Expect to encounter halfling-sized Kithkin, goblin-like Boggarts, Treefolk, Giants, and other beings inspired by Celtic folklore. Even the elves sport horns and cloven feet, and a Kithkin could easily be mistaken for a Gelfling from The Dark Crystal.
This connection runs even deeper, as Henson highlighted a shared appreciation for visible artistry between the two entities. Magic’s identity is deeply rooted in hand-painted card art and individual artistic expression, values that align closely with the Henson Company’s hands-on, performance-oriented approach to puppetry. Henson argued that fantasy loses its charm when it becomes overly polished, asserting that puppets and practical effects allow audiences to suspend disbelief while still recognizing the artistry involved.
This philosophy resonated with Wizards’ Lorwyn team, particularly art director Deborah Garcia, who admitted that the idea felt almost surreal when it first emerged.
“During early development, we always ask ourselves, ‘What’s the dream trailer?’” Garcia recalled. “I joked about the Henson Company being that dream. I never actually thought it would come to fruition.”
The unique setting of Lorwyn helped transform that dream into reality. Unlike many Magic planes, Lorwyn and Shadowmoor are entirely inhabited by non-human creatures—goblins, elves, faeries, and more—allowing for exaggerated forms, textures, and expressions that are perfectly suited for puppetry.
“There are no humans on this plane,” Garcia explained. “This gives you immense freedom to create creatures without the constraints of human realism. Lorwyn already feels tactile, folkloric, and emotional.”
For Neale LaPlante Johnson, the worldbuilding lead on Lorwyn Eclipsed, witnessing this tactile fantasy come to life physically made the project feel real much sooner than usual.
“You can work on a set for years, and it doesn’t feel real until players have the cards,” Johnson said. “Seeing these characters built, held, and performed? It felt like someone else had stepped into the world we created. That was incredibly validating.”
This sense of physicality was intentional. Both Wizards and the Henson team emphasized the significance of texture, traditional materials, and visible craftsmanship throughout the process, a deliberate nod to Lorwyn’s original art direction and its status as one of Magic’s most visually striking planes.
“Lorwyn holds a special place in the hearts of many players,” Garcia said. “For some, it was their first set. The art is closely tied to those memories, and we wanted to honor it without freezing it in time.”
The outcome, as described by everyone involved, is not just a promotion for Lorwyn Eclipsed but a reflection of what makes the plane unique: whimsy without softness and darkness without edge-lord grit. It serves as a warm reminder of why puppet classics like The Dark Crystal continue to be cherished today. The design possesses an almost uncanny quality that captivates the eye, with these puppets appearing more enchanting than unsettling.
“If you aim solely for cuteness, like children’s toys, it won’t be entertaining,” Henson remarked. “It lacks the depth of character. You need that slight weirdness, that quirkiness, that unexpected quality.”
Both Lorwyn and the classic dark fantasy puppets from The Jim Henson Company share that same je ne sais quoi, making the experience of seeing Magic puppets a true delight.
Lorwyn Eclipsed launches on January 23, with prerelease events kicking off on January 16. Tune in for the set’s debut—and The Jim Henson Company’s short film—on Monday, January 5, starting at 1 p.m. EST on YouTube or Twitch.
