GDC 2025 Session Viewer
VFX Storytelling: How 'Hearthstone' Breathes Life into Hundreds of Cards
Alex Cortes (Senior VFX Artist, Blizzard Entertainment)
Pass Type: All Access Pass, Core Pass - Get your pass now!
Track: Visual Arts
Format: Lecture
Vault Recording: TBD
Audience Level: All
Gather around and take a seat as we explore how VFX artists on Hearthstone create visual stories that enhance key gameplay moments to bring delight and joy to its players. Learn how the artists craft cohesive visuals among hundreds of Hearthstone legendary animations by abstracting elements from the art to create whimsical moments and grand entrances for Hearthstone's legendary cards. See what makes a legendary animation successful and how the artists approach and ideate on unique ideas for them. Learn how to approach VFX with the goals of evoking certain emotions from the player in the presence of the effect by thinking a little bit outside the box!
Takeaway
There will be a great focus and insight into how utilizing stylized animation with VFX can help evoke the personalities of many cards composed mainly of 2D art. See the creative problem-solving the team utilizes to tackle difficult card prompts while keeping the visuals within Hearthstone's Art Style.
Intended Audience
The intended audience will be mainly VFX Artists and other creatives wanting to get an insight into the creative process of Hearthstone, a digital card game with over 10 years of content, and how new and creative ideas are made every expansion to keep newer cards visually exciting to play.
