Disney Lorcana Co-Creator Talks Designing New Cards
In 2023, Disney launched a new trading card game called Lorcana, which blends the rich storytelling of Disney’s vast universe with strategic card game mechanics. The game quickly gained attention for its unique approach to both gameplay and design, as it brought together beloved Disney characters in a fresh context. Behind the scenes of Lorcana are its co-creators, Ryan Miller and Stefan Alexander, both veterans of the card game industry. The two have worked tirelessly to bring the game to life, creating an experience that appeals to a broad audience of both Disney fans and competitive card game players. In interviews and discussions, they’ve shared insights into the creative process, including how they approached the design of new cards for the game.
The Origins of Lorcana and the Role of Disney’s Characters
From the outset, one of the key features of Lorcana was its innovative approach to integrating Disney characters into the trading card game format. Unlike other games, which often focus on generic or fantasy-based creatures, Lorcana brought Disney’s vast library of characters—ranging from classic animated figures like Mickey Mouse to more contemporary icons like Elsa from Frozen—into the fold. This allowed the designers to tap into a well-established emotional connection that fans have with these characters.
Miller and Alexander both acknowledged that the game’s design philosophy needed to ensure that the essence of these characters was preserved, while still creating a compelling and balanced gameplay experience. They explained that designing a card game around Disney characters required a delicate balance. The team wanted to preserve the spirit of
