Kite  Playing Cards by ARK Playing Cards (Kickstarter)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cardcollection/kite-playing-cards-by-ark

Custom playing cards inspired by the Chinese heritage of the kite, combining tradition, sophistication, and grace.

Current funding level: already funded
Kickstarter ends: Monday, October 28, 2024

In recent years ARK Playing Cards has become well-known as a creator of luxury playing cards, that are especially notable for their lavish production and creative tuck boxes.  Their newest project is Kite Playing Cards is currently being funded on Kickstarter, and continues this trend of innovation and quality. 



As with many of their previous projects, Kite Playing Cards is inspired by Chinese culture, and relies on innovative printing techniques and a creative tuck case design.  ARK constantly pushes the boundaries of what we've previously seen in the world of playing cards, and in this instance they've come up with a creative and foldable structure that is based on an important symbol from China's cultural heritage: the kite.

Kites date back some 2500 years to the Eastern Zhou period, and stem from a time where the papermaking industry had flourished.  Civilians began using paper to cover kites, which is a tradition that continues to this day, both as a form of entertainment, as well as a source of rich symbolism.

To capture this theme, they've come up with a unique concept for the tuck box of the playing cards unlike any other we've ever seen before.  When closed, it folds into the usual shape of a card box, to store the playing cards.  But when unfolded it displays the classic silhouette of a swallow kite. The case even has a display stand, because you can insert playing cards into special slots in the tuck box to act as the bamboo "frame" of the kite, enabling the box to be supported and displayed.

This animated gif does a good job of showing what this effect looks like:



The design of the tuck box features the traditional Shayan kite, and decorative patterns include important symbols such as Chinese knots, flowers, koi fish, catfish, and bats.

The card backs combine bamboo strips with Chinese patterns, and hidden in the design are items like the kite's spool, as well as symbols of joy and prosperity such as seals, bats, and swallows.

The four suits all correspond to different symbols and kite shapes:
- Spades: classic Shayan kite = good fortune
- Hearts: butterfly shape = happiness and fulfillment
- Clubs: goldfish shape = abundance and wealth
- Diamonds: dragonfly shape = grace and beauty

The faces on all the cards are decorated with exquisite patterns and motifs related to kites.  The court cards show figures engaging in kite-related activities such as kite flying, crafting, and weaving.

Much like we've seen with previous ARK projects, this project is available with different levels and styles of luxury packaging:
● Standard Deck (limited edition of 3333): single deck, including the creative folding kite tuck case and stand (US$30)
● Artist Boxset (limited edition of 999): holographic foil deck & monochromatic deck, in a gift box with a book (US$80)
● Walnut Boxset (limited edition of 333): holographic foil gold deck with gilded edges, plus a collectible coin, in a walnut gift box (US$185)
● Luxury Black (limited edition of 99): black-edged deck, plus an embossed metal plate (US$150, only available as part of the "All-In" reward)



Extra add-ons like uncut sheets and coins are also available separately.  Here's a preview of how each of the above four packaging and deck options look.

1. Standard Deck

This is a limited edition of 3333 decks, all with individually numbered seals, and is the base level deck, but includes the creative folding kite-shaped tuck case.

Tuck case







Cards











2. Artist Box set

These 999 box sets (again individually numbered) consist of a special gift box that includes a book, and two decks: a holo foil deck (with blue gilding) in the special folding kite tuck case, and a second special deck which is more monochromatic in colour and style.

Box





Holo deck













Special deck







Book



3. Walnut Box set

The Walnut Box set is limited to 333 copies, all individually numbered, and in a multifunctional wooden box that can be set-up for a special display of the deck.  The deck included is a gold deck with holographic foil and gilded edges, and there's also a collectible coin.

Box





Gold deck







Coin



4. Luxury Black set

Only 99 individually numbered Luxury Black sets are available, and you can only get this with the "all in" option.  This is a black deck (with black edges) that has white artwork and design, and comes with a numbered embossed metal plate.

Black deck











Metal plate



Head over to the project page for many more pictures of these unique collectors pieces.

Kickstarter link

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cardcollection/kite-playing-cards-by-ark

The Lost In The Shuffle documentary has now been released, and for just $4.99 you can stream it on demand on a variety of platforms:
- USA & UK: iTunes/Apple TV, YoutTube, Microsoft/XBox, Fandango
- Rest of the World: Kinema

It's also being screened at selected theaters.  For direct links to the above, and for information about theater screenings, see:

https://www.lostintheshuffle.film/live-dates



I've watched the film and really enjoyed it.  There's actually a lot going on, and the documentary ties together a number of different elements in a good way: playing card history, card magic, several big-name pro magicians, plus magician Shawn Farquhar travelling to various places.  It's evident that the film-makers have poured a huge amount of time, effort, and love into making this film.  Here's my review, with some of my impressions.
 
It was different than I expected, but in a good way.  I was expecting the focal point to be a new theory by Shawn Farquhar about the meaning of the court cards, i.e. a documentary about playing card history.  That was obviously a big part of the film.  But what surprised me is how this story was constructed around card magic.  In many ways it was more about card magic than about playing card history.  And I loved that.  The combination of different elements made it far more enjoyable to watch that I had anticipated.


 
Shawn Farquhar is the "narrator", and it's through his eyes that the story is told.  He's the perfect person for this, because he is just bursting with energy, and his enthusiasm for playing cards and for card magic is infectious. 
 
Along with Shawn is an impressive team of people.  Take a look at these big names: Alexandria Duvivier, Juan Tamariz, Michael Vincent, and Richard Turner.  Anybody who knows something about card magic will realize that there's some real experts here.  Seeing contemporary greats in card magic like Juan Tamariz, Richard Turner, and Michael Vincent being brought together like this was amazing.  I have great very high respect for all of them.  Alexandria Duvivier isn't quite in their league, but she fits in fine.
 

 
The framework and structure of the film is put together well.  I love how we join Shawn in meeting up with the four main magicians featured in the documentary, and with each of them there's a focus on a different plot in card magic.  This is combined with the story about playing card history that he is digging up along the way.  And all this is then capped off with a fun story-telling card magic routine at the end.  That really helps hold everything together, and is done in a really lovely way. 
 

 
Shawn's "thesis" about the playing card characters ended up having a much lower profile than I was expecting.  In short, he suggests that the traditional court card designs we're familiar with today help solve the mysterious death of King Charles VIII, who died in 1498.  He believes that the traditional `suicide king' (King of Hearts) represents King Charles, and that his death wasn't caused by bumping his head on a door frame as is usually believed, but the royal figure represented by the Queen of Spades was the villain that hastened his death.



It's probably a good thing that this storyline isn't laid on too thick, because the majority of playing card historians are unlikely to buy this theory.  Personally I find it somewhat tenuous, because as some of the historians quoted in the film point out, there's no real evidence for it.  Given the historical development of court cards, it's highly unlikely that a historical incident in a single setting would determine how court cards look all over France and around the world.  Even Shawn himself often says things like "I believe this character is X" or "I believe this detail on the card is Y" with no real evidence for the connection.



But that's okay, but that didn't prevent me enjoying the film because of the other content.  If this film was intended purely to be a documentary presenting an alternate version of playing card history, this would be a weakness. But there's a lot to enjoy independent of that, especially the card magic.    And while Shawn's theory becomes the framework and background premise for the documentary, the film doesn't need it to be true in order to work.  It's more of an artistic framework, and while it could be true, the film doesn't stand or fall on whether or not it is factual.  When watched as something that is informative and entertaining first of all, this approach is acceptable, and it would be unfair for playing card purists and historians to criticize it too sharply simply because they don't believe Shawn's alternate theory to be credible.
 
In fact, the film-maker Jon Ornay demonstrates intellectual honesty by not presenting Shawn's view as "fact".  Near the end he even includes some of the historian guys consulted along the way saying "I have no way of being able to support this thesis".  To me, that just proves that the film works, regardless of whether or not the viewer is convinced by Shawn.
 

 
Does Shawn himself even believes the thesis he prevents?  Probably.  But we can't be entirely sure.  He's first and foremost a magician.  And magicians fool us.  Is he perhaps using this whole story, just to lend legitimacy and historicity to the story-telling of his final routine?  I wouldn't rule out a magician doing that, and I wouldn't put it past him to tell us about this "theory", when in reality what he's doing is just setting us up for the grand reveal and the storytelling routine in the end.  If that's what is happening here, it's legitimate.  But having said that, it is my understanding that he is serious about his theory, but fortunately the film can be enjoyed independent of how you personally feel about this.
 
Despite the above disclaimers about the historicity of Shawn's thesis about the identity of specific court cards, I did really like the section about the history of playing cards at the start. I've done a lot of reading and study on playing card history, and it seems to me that the quick tour we get of the overall history and development of playing cards is accurate, informative, and interesting.
 


Furthermore, a lot of the history that is explored and explained by Shawn about King Charles and his court is also historical and accurate.  It's just the connection between this history and playing cards that is uncertain, as is Shawn's theory about the actual cause of Charles' death).  Fortunately the film doesn't push this too far, and as a viewer it's left up to you to agree or disagree.

Other aspects of the filmmaking are also solid.  The music is well suited and professional, and complements the visuals nicely.  The graphics and illustrations are well done for the most part too.  The animated parts of the film are one of the weaker aspects, but I can understand the need for them, and they function adequately.

Having French-speaking experts makes things a little harder to follow at times, given the academic and historical content of what they speak about.  But obviously they are authorities on the subject, so it is good to hear them in their own words and language.  And of course English subtitles are provided. 
 

 
In short, I'm very pleased to see a documentary that does a nice job of making the history of playing cards interesting, and also gives us some intimate time with some fascinating personalities and some of the best card magicians in the world, and enjoy some fun card magic too.  I'm pleased that "Lost In The Shuffle" has become more widely available and is now available for streaming, and I recommend checking it out if you can!

Where to find it:
- USA & UK
- Rest of the World

Raiders of the Lost Card (Michael Breggar)

A new book filled with sleight-light card tricks from funny man Michael Breggar

Michael Breggar is well known to many in the magic industry for producing a number of books that focus on what he calls "auto-magic".  He's written the Auto-Magic column for The Linking Ring magazine for several years, and uses this term to designate tricks that are professional and practical, but are relatively sleight free, and often even "self-working".   I've loved Michael's books for a number of reasons:

- He has a great sense of humor, with an amusing and fun-to-read zany style.
- He emphasizes presentation, which is what entertaining magic is all about
- His tricks are easy to perform, with no knuckle-busting moves
- His books are well designed and laid out (good formatting, lots of pictures)

His newest book was released on 17 August 2024, and is called Raiders of the Lost Card.  It has more than 200 pages of goodness, and filled to the brim with 35 tricks.  As usual, Michael's great sense of humour is built in as part of the package, as you can tell from the Indiana Jones reference in the title, a theme he finds amusing ways to keep coming back to in the names of the tricks, and throughout the book. Personally I'm a sucker for the great puns he comes up with, like: "Are you ready to give the LAST CREWS AID? Will you follow a TEMPLATE OF DOOM?"



Here's some of the ad copy, which gives an idea of what you can expect inside:

35 astounding, entertaining and highly commercial effects that will have your audiences? heads exploding and faces melting!

They include "mystery card" effects, transpositions, a quirky magic square performed with cards and an unbelievable kicker ending, weird card locations, "un-memory" demonstrations, hands-off Oil and Water, Open Prediction and ACAAN effects. And more than you can crack a whip at!

PLUS - there is Michael's blockbuster Bad Bikes with a huge section of cool variations.
PLUS PLUS - A selection of five remarkable, tried and tested, and hugely entertaining "Think-of-a-Card" effects from which you will "choose wisely".
PLUS PLUS PLUS - the "Museum of Moves" in which the curator will show you some sleight-lite moves to enhance your card magic.
PLUS PLUS PLUS PLUS - the usual craziness and satire you?d expect from a Michael Breggar magic book (and some you wouldn't)!
In all, you'll be Non Plus Plus Plus Plus Ultra'd over the whole serial chapter play.

So, shuffle your Bees, find some Aviators, hop on your Bicycles, gather your Cohorts then put their pet snake Reggie in a box. You are in for some rousing excitement.

Where to get it?  Raiders of the Lost Card was released on 17 August 2024, and can be purchased as a digital download in PDF format as an exclusive from Kaymar Magic here:

https://www.kaymarmagic.com/products/raiders-of-the-lost-card-ebook-by-michael-breggar

The Flourish Magazine (Issue II)

When the fantastic Launch Issue of The Flourish magazine was released in September 2023, it came with the promise that the goal was to publish a new issue every year.  Considering the quality of the production and content of the first issue, this seemed like wishful thinking and a tough assignment. 

Yet before the year 2023 ended, we'd already seen a Special Edition as part of a collaboration with Cardtopia.  And right now we're barely into the second half of 2024, and not even a full year has passed since the launch issue, and the next full-sized issue is already getting into our hands!  You can get it over on Biz's website here: The Flourish Magazine II.

I've thoroughly enjoyed reading this newest issue, because it's a real treat, that is every bit as terrific as the ones that have preceded it.  As with previous issues, it's a physical magazine with a impressive presentation all round, starting with the front cover.



Once again we have some marvellous content, with about 80 pages of full-colour goodness. 

Things kick off with a great article from noted cardist Jaspas, about how important community is for cardistry.



Community is the theme for this issue, and the article by Mattis and Nick about Europe's biggest cardistry event, Cardistry Experience, was a terrific read. 

These guys started from scratch, and things only get better and bigger with each convention they run. 



I always enjoy the feature articles and deep dive interviews with some key figures in the industry.  The first of these is an extensive interview with Charles Levin from Shuffled Ink, a playing card manufacturer based in Florida.  It was fantastic to read about the steps he took ahead of COVID that enabled his business to boom, and how his focus on family and customer service has really paid off. 

The detailed interview with Jed from RunIt Playing Cards, based in the Philippines, gives an excellent insider perspective on setting up a playing card shop. 

One of the things Biz does best is covering playing card brands, and the deep dive with Hai Do and Matthias Berger from Somnium Cards is fantastic.



Also fascinating was a feature article with Matthew Hiebert about the making of his brand Aroundsquare. Strictly speaking they focus on skill toys like begleri and knucklebones.  But as I discovered, these dexterity toys share a lot in common with cardistry, and  I really enjoyed thinking about ways that we can learn from a crossover discipline that is so closely linked to card flourishing.  I found myself checking out some videos of these skill toys online, and felt like I'd discovered one of cardistry's close cousins that I never new existed.

Another great read is a lengthy interview with LocalThunk, creator of the popular video card game Balatro.  Once again this is a subject that feels like a sideways move from playing cards, but the viral success of this game certainly owes its origins in playing cards, and was interesting to learn about.



There are many other smaller articles.  These include a couple of great first-hand pieces about aesthetics, movement, and flow, from magician Yoann Fontyn and cardist Loan Priano, including QR codes that will send you directly to video tutorials for two of Loan's productions. 

Almost everyone reading this review will be familiar with the famous Butterfly Playing Cards.  If so, you're certain to enjoy the interview with their designer, Stefan Eriksson.

Kevin Ho has a great article called "Cardistry Roulette", sharing ideas for a simple cardistry game that can force you to stretch your creativity and come up with new cardistry moves. 

Under the heading "Humans of Cardistry", there are short intros to a couple of cardists from Germany.



The spotlight cardist for this issue is Nathan Hu.  Besides a collectible card featuring Nathan, there's eight pages devoted to an interview with him, as well as an introduction to four of his moves, each of which has a QR code that brings you to an unlisted video on Youtube that teaches you each of these.  I especially enjoyed the flair of his Poptropica move, and his Tectonic move is a four packet structure that looks super smooth.  I was pleased to discover that these moves (along with Hinge Theory and Two Fold, the other two moves taught) aren't knacky moves reserved for experts, but should easily be within the abilities of most cardists to learn fairly quickly and easily.

The bar was set high with previous issues, so my expectations were high for this newest issue of The Flourish.  But Biz continues to surprise, and what he puts out has again exceeded my expectations.  Everything is outstanding, starting with the graphic design and physical presentation, as well as the content of the articles.



The Flourish Magazine is a must have for anyone who is passionate about playing cards and cardistry, and wants to pick up some solid reading material that will inspire and educate.

Get the latest issue of The Flourish magazine:

https://bizandfriends.com/products/the-flourish-magazine-issue-ii
 

Cardistry deserves more t-shirts, and this is a great one.



I picked it up from Biz & Friends here:

https://bizandfriends.com/products/the-cardistry-experience-tee



I love the design of the front especially, and the quality is excellent. I'm stoked!

Ankh Playing Cards by ARK Playing Cards (Kickstarter)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cardcollection/ankh-playing-cards-by-ark

Current funding level: already funded
Kickstarter ends: Tuesday, May 28, 2024

ARK Playing Cards is one of the foremost creators of luxury playing cards in recent years, and they are highly regarded for their lavish production and creative tuck boxes.  Their newest project is Ankh Playing Cards and is currently being funded on Kickstarter. 



This deck is named after the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol ankh, which represents life.  Ancient Egyptian religion was fixated on their ideas about life and about the afterlife, and these provide the inspiration for this new deck.

An elaborate tuck case immediately captures this Egyptian theme.  ARK's previous project, Apollo Playing Cards, was inspired by the Greek sun god Apollo, and featured a unique tuck case with a pop-out feature that could unfold and rotate to form a complete circle to depict the sun which the god Apollo was all about.  In a similar way, Ankh Playing Cards has an ideal and unique tuck case, because it unfolds to create a pyramid structure, which perfectly matches the Egyptian theme that inspired this deck.  This animated gif does a good job of showing what this effect looks like:



The pyramid is immediately recognizable as an Egyptian icon, and the case opens up to create this triangular structure.  The mechanism relies on a nested structure of six layers, with hidden sliding tracks and pivots that ensure it opens and closes smoothly.

The artwork on the cards combines handdrawn and digital techniques, drawing upon Egyptian mythology and historical murals, in a distinctly classical Egyptian style.



The card faces depict the different gods of ancient Egypt, and various aspects of their mythology and religion, with illustations and motifs found throughout all aspects of the deck.





Much like we've seen with previous ARK projects, this project is available with different levels and styles of luxury packaging:
● Standard Deck (limited edition of 3333): single deck, including the creative pop-out pyramid tuck case (US$30)
● Artist Boxset (limited edition of 999): holographic foil deck & monochromatic deck, in a gift box with a book (US$75)
● Walnut Boxset (limited edition of 333): holographic foil gold deck with gilded edges, plus a collectible coin, in a walnut gift box (US$185)
● Luxury Black (limited edition of 99): black-edged deck, plus an embossed metal plate (US$150, only available as part of the "All-In" reward)



Extra add-ons like uncut sheets and coins are also available separately.  Here's a preview of how each of the above four packaging and deck options look.

1. Standard Deck

This is a limited edition of 3333 decks, all with individually numbered seals, and is the base level deck, but includes the creative pyramid themed tuck case.

Tuck case





Cards











2. Artist Box set

These 999 box sets (again individually numbered) consist of a special gift box that includes a book, and two decks: a holo deck with the special pyramid tuck case, and a second special deck which is more monochromatic in colour and style.

Box







Holo deck











Special deck





Book



3. Walnut Box set

The Walnut Box set is limited to 333 copies, all individually numbered, and in a stunning wooden display box with a pyramid shape.  The deck included is a gold deck with holographic foil and gilded edges, and there's also a collectible coin.

Box







Gold deck











Coin



4. Luxury Black set

Only 99 individually numbered Luxury Black sets are available, and you can only get this with the "all in" option.  This is a black deck   (with black edges) that has white artwork and design, and comes with a numbered embossed metal plate.

Black deck







Metal plate



Head over to the project page for more pictures of these extravagant collectors pieces.

Kickstarter link

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cardcollection/ankh-playing-cards-by-ark

These were originally produced on Kickstarter, but have now been released, and are available directly from TCC's website here:

Room52 Playing Cards by TCC & Lunzi

https://tccplayingcard.com/products/room52-playing-cards-by-tcc-lunzi

Here's how the red deck looks - I particularly like the "door" on the back of the tuck box and on the back of the cards.







The cards themselves have a very retro or vintage look, which I personally find very appealing.







Here's the Silver deck:







The faces of these are more muted, and the reduced colour scheme arguably creates new beauty:





The half-brick set comes with stickers, and an upgraded version of the silver deck, with silver edges.

There have been questions about the difference in the artwork between the two decks that are part of this project. 

I've seen the decks in person, and can confirm that the artwork featured on the cards in the two decks is completely different. So it's not just the same deck with just different card backs and different tuck box.

Here's official confirmation that the two decks are entirely different, with an overall look at the artwork that comes with each.

The Standard Deck



The Gilded Deck

Kickstarter - Entwined Volume 4: Spring Playing Cards

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/oldgravity/entwined-volume-4-spring-playing-cards-deck

Luxury playing cards based on the ballet of nature and freedom of spirit

Project ends: Thurs, 11 April 2024

Spring is the season of life, when nature awakens from the icy cold of winter, streams flow, flowers emerge, and colours burst forth.  It is this joyous beauty of nature that is captured by this custom deck of luxury playing cards. 



This is the fourth in a series of gorgeous and high quality artistic decks of playing cards produced by Old Gravity, which consists of artist Ritu Bhattacharya and designer Bivas Bhattacharjee.  The team has already produced three gorgeous Entwined decks that correspond to the other three seasons.  The Spring deck is Vol 4, but it can be enjoyed as a work of art on its own, or alongside with the previous three entries in the series.

Spring Gold deck

Just as with previously Entwined decks, there are two main options, a Gold deck and a Rose deck.  Firstly there's the Spring Gold deck, which has a tuck box with lavish olive-gold foil and embossing.



The court cards really showcase Ritu's lovely artwork, and evoke feelings of spring, life, and dance.







The Aces feature oversized pips and stylish art.



One of the things I really like about this deck is the special attention given to the number cards.  These adopt a semi-transformation style, with the value of each card corresponding to the number of pip-shaped leaves on tree branches.




The Jokers also look charming.



Spring Rose deck

While the Gold deck has olive-gold foil on the card backs and tuck box, the Rose deck instead uses rose-gold foil.  Here's the exquisite  tuck box from the Spring Rose deck.



The card backs feature an elegant swan design, with shimmering foil for a true luxury look.





The decks are being printed by playing card manufacturer NPCC, which is especially well known for producing high end luxury tuck boxes. 

Collector's Box

As with previous project, discerning collectors wanting to get the very best option available can pledge to get a "Collector's Box".  This is a teal-coloured luxury box that is richly decorated with rose-gold foil, and opens to reveal one of each deck, along with a special brass coin.





[size=13]The series[/size]

Collectors will love the fact that if you do have all four decks (one for each season), they make make up a single polyptych image when put alongside each other, picturing a tree of life.  This is true both for the Gold decks and for the Rose decks.



Along with the new decks, you can also get previous decks in the series as add ons.  I have a copy of the three previous Entwined decks, and they are truly stunning, and have impressed everyone I've shown them to.  I have no doubt the same this will be the case with the Spring version of this deck. 

This is a wonderful custom deck that can be enjoyed on its own, as an example of some of the very finest custom playing cards on the market today, or together with the other three decks.  Bravo Old Gravity!

Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/oldgravity/entwined-volume-4-spring-playing-cards-deck

 Kickstarter: JOY - A Different Deck of Playing Cards by Brian South

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/teachbymagic/joy-deck-a-different-deck-of-playing-cards

Creative playing cards that hide hundreds of words and numbers in the pips - can you find "JOY" on every card?

Project ends: Friday, March 22, 2024



Brian South is from "Discover Magic", and it's already been a decade since he produced two wonderfully creative decks of playing cards.  These were the Mazing Deck and the Different Deck, which I covered in detail in this article. 

The Different Deck was a huge hit, with over 1500 backers on Kickstarter generating nearly $75,000 in funding.  This novel deck immediately caught my attention at the time due to its unique approach: each card had a single pip that is composed of illustrations and words corresponding to that card's rank.

 So instead of a standard 3 of Clubs, the Different Deck depicted a single Club made up of threes; instead of a 5 of Diamonds, there was a single Diamond made up of fives; and instead of a Queen of Hearts there was a single Heart made up of Queens.



The cards were also filled with hidden elements, including historical and pop culture references.  For example, if you look closely at the Queen of Spades shown above, you will not only see the word "queen" written in several languages, but also a queen chess piece, and even a Queen Elizabeth signature. The result is that each card has a single pip that is a unique piece of art that can be carefully explored and enjoyed. 

It took a number of years and a lot of work to turn this idea into a reality, but with the help of artist Nike Meyer, in 2014 the Different Deck finally saw the light of day. 



And that brings us to the present, which is the tenth anniversary of the original Different Deck.  Since the release of the Different Deck, Brian and his wife have experienced a lot of joys but also trials, including a failed adoption, financial loss, and even cancer.  But with the strength of their personal faith, they decided to approach these hardships with a positive perspective, by choosing joy. 

The Joy Deck is a brand new version of the Different Deck that captures this attitude to life.   The basic artwork of the original Different Deck has been retained on the card faces, but the word "JOY" has been added onto each and every card. 





The card backs feature a new design which revolves around an ambigram of the word JOY. 



And there's a new colour scheme, with a bright pink and blue producing a sense of vibrancy and energy. 



A sunburst around each giant pip also reflects the positivity exuding from this deck.



As a special touch, the cards will have gilded edges in bright purple.  How can you not feel joyful when you open a deck like this?



The deck is being produced by WJPC on their 310gsm stock.  This reputation of this playing card manufacturer has been growing in leaps and bounds in recent years, and folks in the world of playing cards have been speaking very highly of their quality, even comparing it very favourably to USPCC produced cards, which is high praise indeed.

Brian's goal is to spread joy, and to encourage us to look for joy - and we can literally do that on every single card. One of the extra cards included also gives a list of other things to look for in the deck, so it's certain to keep you busy for a long time.



Extra bonus items available with the project include JOY stickers, and limited edition decks with foil tuck boxes.  Some of the previous editions of the Different Deck and their related items are also available as add ons, as are magic tricks from Brian's Magic Explorers program.



I'm pleased to see this lovely project, and especially appreciate the thinking that underlies it.  Many new collectors may never have heard of the Different Deck, so this is a great chance to get this creative custom deck, now dressed in upbeat and positive new clothing.  Choosing this deck is a great way to start choosing joy in your own life!



Project link

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/teachbymagic/joy-deck-a-different-deck-of-playing-cards

The Flourish Magazine (x Cardtopia Special Edition)

Just 3 or 4 months ago, Biz released his terrific cardistry magazine, The Flourish Launch Issue.  It instantly made a very positive impression, with a physical magazine that consisted of over 100 pages of quality content, with quality presentation in every way.

The plan was to release this on an annual basis, so it was a real surprise to hear that an interim issue had come out, albeit smaller in size (38 pages), but with content of an equally high standard, if not even better.  It was a collaboration with the folks behind Cardtopia, hence the title of this issue: The Flourish x Cardtopia (Special Ed.)

Once again it all begins with a professionally produced cover:



I've just finished reading through my copy, and it's absolutely outstanding!

The contents page looks very impressive:



Here's a short text-based overview of some of the contents you can expect to find inside:



All this content is terrific, and the entire magazine is a wonderful resource that cardists are going to love.  The article on different uses for playing cards was really interesting, as was the one about the history and value of conventions.

I also loved the longer articles: an interview with Noel Heath, Shivraj doing a deep dive on Cardestroy, Daniel Lin from Lotusinhand discussing their thinking behind playing cards and design, and a shorter overview by Linus Schmidt about the brand Komorebi.

And as a playing card buff, I also enjoyed the time-line poster about the history of playing cards. All the articles were really well done from beginning to end.



Everything about it is superb, including the physical presentation.  The graphic design and pictures is stellar, and for a physical magazine it looks visually impressive and clean.

Using QR codes to link directly to youtube videos and more is a terrific idea. 

I continue to be blown away by the quality of this magazine, and anyone with a love for cardistry should go check it out, and support the creators, so that we can see more of this in the future.



Biz and Friends have done an excellent job all round with this Cartopia collaboration, and I highly recommend this beautiful magazine for anyone interested in cardistry. 

Get it here: https://bizandfriends.com/products/the-flourish-x-cardtopia-special-ed

View some sample pages here: https://issuu.com/bizandfriends/docs/cardtopia_ed

Review: Phill Smith's Elysian Duets - a brilliant successor to the DMC Elites marked deck

When it comes to marked cards, Phill Smith is a well-known name.  His popular DMC Elites first appeared in 2015, the DMC branding being a reference to his collaboration with English magician Drummond Money-Coutts.  These decks use an ingenious marking system on the card backs that Phill created, and that you can literally read from across a room.  It's billed as an "optical marking system" and the way it works is that you actually can't see the markings if they're right under your nose, but only from a distance away, and only if you know how to look at them. Once you know the system, you can't unsee the marks, and they're as plain as daylight.

The DMC Elites went through several versions, and now that Phill Smith is no longer working with Money-Coutts, he's rebranded the project, and the newly released Elysian Duets represent the latest version of this ingenious marked deck.  Phill has really taken things to the next level, because not only do we have the usual corner marking system with his easy-to-read optical marking system, but the cards also come in Mnemonica order, and there are markings which reveal the stack position, as well as the value/suit of the cards above and below any selected card in the stack. 



Anyone familiar with the DMC Elites will know how powerful and easy-to-use Phill's optical marking system is on its own.  If you're looking for a marked deck that isn't Bicycle branded, it's easily been the best on the market (along with Ondrej Psenicka's Butterfly Playing Cards, which use a more complex edge-marking system).  By incorporating the Mnemonica stack, the Elysian Duets instantly give magicians additional super powers to perform even more amazing miracles than those possible with an ordinary marked deck.  I've explored some of the possibilities that you can perform with a good marked deck incorporating a stack, by exploring proven products like Andy Nyman's The Code and Luke Jermay's Marksman Deck.  What you can do with these decks is absolutely mind-blowing, and the Elysian Duets now put the same kind of abilities at your finger-tips, while being so much easier to read.

Besides the deck, you get an instruction card with a secret link to Phill's website, where you'll find instructions for using the deck, and nine tricks that are ready to go.  Phill plans to add to these periodically with new material.  There are other extras I haven't mentioned, like one way markings, a Joker reveal, a QR code reveal, and a double backer.



The cards are printed by WJPC on their 310gsm German black core stock.  I've written about the quality and handling of WJPC's playing cards several times in the past, and I have been very favourably impressed by the quality they are producing.  I personally favour their slightly thinner 300gsm stock, which handles very similar to USPCC's crushed stock.  But their 310gsm stock is still a solid option, and it faros smoothly and easily out of the box, and holds up well.

Phill took the unusual step of not bringing his Elysian Duets to the market right away, but first he produced 30 samples that he sent out to well-qualified and hand-picked individuals in the world of playing cards, marked cards, and card magic.  That way he could benefit from their input and criticisms, and as a result he made numerous changes and improvements that have benefited the final product.  I was fortunate to be one of those who test-drove his original prototype, and applaud Phill for going the extra mile to get valuable feedback, and produce something that actually meets what card magicians are looking for in a product like this.   

The Elysian Duets are a fantastic addition to the current range of marked decks on the market, and should easily and quickly become a top choice for many card magicians.  They're available in red and blue, and come at around a $20 price point at all the major magic retailers.  Considering that you're not just getting a deck of cards, but a toolbox for creating a world of astonishment, including a number of strong tricks ready-to-go, this is excellent value.  Highly recommended.

The Casino Range from Mechanic Industries

Decks with flip-book animation, perfect for gambling-themed card magic

Mechanic Industries

I absolutely love custom playing cards that have special features built-in.  And few features are more jaw-dropping and amazing to see in a good deck than flip-book animation.   Mechanic Industries  has been producing some of the very best decks in this category, especially with their Casino Range, which is the focus of this article. 

They have been in the business of creating custom playing cards and servicing magicians for more than a decade.  Their specialty: playing cards that function as wonderful novelty items for collectors, but become powerful tools in the hands of skilled magicians.  Their innovative and important contribution to the playing card and magic industry comes in the form of decks that combine the novelty of flipbook animation with a secret marking system.  And they also provide free high quality video tutorials that teach the built-in routines possible with these delightful decks.

I first came across Mechanic Industries courtesy of their clever Mechanics deck, which doubles as a marked deck, and also produces an animation of moving cogs when you flip through the card backs.  The Metallic Mechanics deck set with gold and silver foil is especially stunning.   

Following closely on the heels of the Mechanic decks were their eye-catching Optricks decks, which came out in black and in red.  Besides the animated card backs, a special feature of these was that they came with some unique gaff cards.  One enabled you to produce an anamorphic illusion with the Queen of Hearts; the Optibox gaff enabled the tuck box to look empty even when the deck is inside.   The Visualies Gaff System took this to a whole other level, with an entire deck of creative gaffs.



The Casino Range continued Mechanic Industries' creative use of flip-book animation on the card backs, with a series of innovative decks that build on casino-related themes.  The first is the Roulette deck, which has an animated roulette wheel on the card backs, along with customized artwork that draws on the roulette motives.  Its successor, the Roulette Fanimation deck, operates on the same principle, but is a reimagining of this concept.  It uses ideas optimized for card flourishing, as well as a clever use of a roulette-inspired fan display that had good application to card magic.

Later releases continue the gambling theme. The Craps deck helps bring the flavour of classic dice-rolling to our beloved playing cards.  While not strictly part of the Casino Range, the next release, Snakes & Ladders deck, incorporates ideas from the classic game of Snakes & Ladders, including an animated snaking ladder, customized details on the artwork, and appropriate inclusions like snake reveal jokers and a snakebite gaff. 

The most recent release from Mechanic Industries is the Slots deck.  As with all the decks in the Casino Edition Range, along with the playing cards also get access to a full range of high quality video tutorials created by Mechanic Industries, where you get taught how to maximize the secrets of each deck, as well as some magic routines employing the gaffs and other features.  So let's head to the casino, and show you what some of these decks look like, and what they have to offer.



Roulette Playing Cards

The Roulette deck is far from your average custom deck, which is evident immediately from its unique animation features and the extensive tutorial video that accompanies it.

The concept of flip-board animation has always fascinated me, and incorporating a moving Roulette Wheel on the card backs seems so obvious that it's surprising no one thought of it earlier. But Mechanic Industries has a talent for delivering innovative ideas, and they've nailed it with this creation.



This deck is not just perfect for gambling routines; it offers so much more. The tuck box itself introduces us to the key elements and helps set  the stage for a captivating narrative. On the front, there's a roulette-style betting chart, while the back displays the mesmerizing roulette wheel that is the highlight of the card backs.

When the cards are in new deck order, flipping the card backs reveals an animation of the roulette wheel spinning around. You really must see this in action by checking out the Roulette promo video.  This clever feature also makes it a marked deck, enabling you to quickly discern the value of each card by glancing at the back.  Since the animations rely on a 13 repeating back system, riffling through the cards creates an animation effect even if the deck is shuffled.



The card faces feature an abundance of roulette-themed imagery. While the number cards and court cards maintain a standard look, the colors are limited to red and black, which enhances an elegant casino vibe. But what sets them apart are the thematic additions to the court characters, which are adorned with accessories like a roulette ball, rake, and handfuls of money. The crushed stock from USPCC ensures a smooth handling experience right out of the box.

The flip-book animation is just the beginning of the fun. The two Jokers depict a croupier's hand, one holding the ball and the other just releasing it. These can be used for a color change, and sets the mood for other card tricks you can perform with this deck.



With the deck you get a link and password granting access to a comprehensive two-hour tutorial video at Mechanic Industries. This invaluable resource provides insights into utilizing the card backs as a marking system. Furthermore, the instructional video includes tutorials for a variety of incredible casino-themed card tricks like Straight Up, Split Bet, Red or Black, Cool Monte, Lucky Thought, and House Edge. All of these take full advantage of the unique card backs and features incorporated into this deck. For a glimpse of the deck's potential, watch this entertaining 20-minute performance video showcasing these tricks back-to-back.

In short, the Roulette deck is much more than just a deck of cards: it's a complete toolbox of magical effects. Along with the deck, you receive the key to unlock this treasure trove of knowledge, with two hours of video instruction. Additionally, there's a private Facebook group where you can connect and exchange ideas with other enthusiasts. Considering the relatively low price and everything that is included, this deck is a fantastic buy for both magicians and collectors alike.



If you like the idea of the Roulette deck, you should also check out its twin brother, the Roulette Fanimation deck. 

This deck is effectively a spin-off from the Roulette deck, as you can see from Fanimation promo video.  It takes the same concepts, but adds what they call "fanimation colour step animation", using fans as part of the revelation of a selected card. 



Craps Playing Cards

Next up is the Craps deck, which is a perfect choice for gambling routines and beyond, much like its sibling decks. If you're not familiar with it, Craps is a classic and widely enjoyed dice game where players bet on the outcome of a roll of two dice.

The tuck box immediately immerses us in the theme, and is adorned with casino-like betting charts and, of course, pairs of dice. An intriguing card reveal for the 7 of Spades is cleverly hidden on the tuck box flap, ready for magicians to incorporate into their card magic.



When the cards are in new deck order, a fascinating animation of dice rolling on a table comes to life as you flip the card backs with your thumb. This captivating visual needs to be seen to be believed, and you can see it in action by checking out the Craps promo video. Naturally, this animation feature also transforms the deck into a marked one, allowing magicians to swiftly figure out the value and suit of each card simply by glancing at the back.

The Craps theme extends to every aspect of the card artwork, making it one of the most customized decks in the Casino Range. The thin black border on the backs serves as the backdrop for our rolling dice against the moving background of a betting chart, enhancing the illusion and feel of an actual Craps table.



Even the edges of the cards are colored in jet black, creating a miniature table effect, and leaving an unforgettable impression from the moment you lay eyes on it.

The card faces look quite different from previous Mechanic Industries decks, adding to the deck's unique vibe. The edges of all the faces have black borders, along with a sweeping arc on the left and right.  The Ace of Spades stands out with its exceptional custom design.



The color scheme has been reduced to red and black, to help strengthen an elegant casino-style appearance, while the font and pips have received stylistic adjustments to give them a fully custom feel. The court cards retain the classic style, but have casino-related embellishments, with Jacks flaunting a wad of cash, Queens sporting a rake, and Kings displaying dice.

The black borders on the faces and backs of the cards are registered perfectly, courtesy of printing by Cartamundi.  Cartamundi's Slimline stock has become very popular in recent years, and it handles consistently and smoothly.



The novelty doesn't stop with the flip-book animation and custom artwork. The deck includes three Jokers: one featuring a pair of dice showing 5 and 6; another displaying 2 and 5; and a third left blank. These Jokers offer a wealth of possibilities for magic tricks, since they add to the key values of 7 and 11, and you can create the illusion of a pair of dice falling off the card, leaving it blank.

Finally, the last card is an ad card with some gaffs that can be cut out to create flat dice, that you'll use for the "Squished Dice" routine (taught in the free support materials).

You're also given the link and password needed to access a 50-minute tutorial video at Mechanic Industries, which is packed with information on using the card backs as a marking system. This also offers comprehensive tutorials for performing various impressive tricks (e.g., Die Flat Purse, Squished Die, BPM Roll'em, Stick, Flat Top, and Splat), which make good use of the novel card backs and clever features integrated into this deck.



Slots Playing Cards

The SLOTS deck is the most recent addition to the Casino Range.  A slot machine is a popular staple at many casinos, and in depending on where in the world you live, is also called a fruit machine, poker machine, or one-armed bandit.  Typically it has a screen displaying three or more reels that spin when it is activated, and this makes it perfectly suited to flipbook animation. 

One fun idea about the tuck box is that you can cut out a slit in the top of the tuck box, and use this for depositing a coin (just like you might do with a slot machine), and incorporate this idea into your magic.



The icons on the tuck box immediately bring to mind the kinds of image you might expect to see on a slot machine, and give somewhat of a preview of what we'll see on the card backs.  A clever ambigram of the word SLOTS in the center of the card backs ensures that the animation will work regardless of the orientation of the cards. 

Riffling the card backs produces a delightful animation of the icons spinning round. Arrows the move up and down the borders help strengthen the visual effect.  Head over to this Slots promo video over on the official Mechanics Industries YouTube channel to see how this looks in action.  The changing backs also double up as a marking system that reveals the card values, and full information about how to read the card backs is provided in an instructional online video.



The pips have been slightly stylized for a unique touch.  And in keeping with the color scheme of the rest of the deck, the Hearts and Diamonds employ a vibrant yellow instead of the usual red, and the result is rather effective, working well with the black of the Spades and Clubs.

The artwork on all the Aces has been given a boost with some extra lines, and the custom design of the Ace of Spades is particularly well done.



As we're used to by now from Mechanic Industries, the court cards are also of special interest, each having some distinctive touch to fit with the casino theme.  As a result we have court characters clutching wads of cash, or tossing coins.

For the rest the card faces have a traditional look, to help keep the deck functional and practical for magic.  Printing by USPCC on their crushed premium stock ensures quality looks and handling.



The folks at Mechanic Industries like coming up with unique routines for each of their decks, and most of their decks include creative Jokers that facilitate fun tricks.  There are three Jokers with this deck, two of which depict their Grinder coin, and the third being blank except for the indices. 

The final card included is an ad card with the link and password needed to access the free tutorial that is provided for owners of the Slots deck.  It runs for over an hour, and contains a full explanation of everything you need to know in order to get the most out of this deck. This includes some strong magic tricks, and the "Jackpot" effect you'll learn is relatively easy to perform, but packs quite a punch.



Snakes & Ladders Playing Cards

Strictly speaking the Snakes & Ladders deck is not part of Mechanic Industries' Casino Range.  But it is also a playful animated deck with similar features, and since it is one of their newer releases, it also deserves some coverage here. 

This deck is billed as a re-imagining of the classic Snakes & Ladders game, "but in a Quantum Mechanics kinda way."  This ingeniously designed custom deck draws obvious inspiration from the board game, which is immediately evident in its tuck box, which features a snake and ladder coiled into the shape of a Spade. The color scheme of black, gold, and gray offers a glimpse of the main colors seen on the playing cards. The tagline "Animatdna Playing Cards" cleverly plays with the word "animated," hinting at the animations within.



The back of the tuck box showcases the standout snaking ladder design that graces all the card backs. When riffled, twin serpents come to life as a snaking ladder, creating a mesmerizing and magical moment.

The animations are eye-catching in various ways. The first striking feature is how twin yellow bands move up and down the card backs. Upon closer inspection, other elements come alive as well: there's a rotating snake at the center, between two snakes that dance in endless figure-eight patterns. Furthermore, lines at the top and bottom of the card backs gracefully twist and sway. These well-designed animations will instantly captivate anyone who lays eyes on them. You really need to see this for yourself by checking out the Snakes & Ladders promo video.



While the card faces maintain a relatively standard appearance, making them ideal for card magic, the Snakes & Ladders theme remains evident throughout. Each Ace is embellished with a snake or ladder, most prominently displayed on the exquisite Ace of Spades.

The choice to switch the traditional red color of hearts and diamonds to a vibrant gold perfectly complements the theme and enhances the deck's overall appeal without compromising its functionality.  The court cards also receive special treatment. Adorned with gold snake-like eyes, each character holds a snake, while ladders grace some of the cards as well.



Two "Snake Reveal" Jokers are included, each featuring a snake on a ladder. One of them shows a curled-up snake, cleverly designed so that magicians can create a fun colour reveal of a forced 8 of Diamonds, in combination with the animations.

Additionally, a duplicate 4 of Clubs is provided for other card tricks. Combined with the "Snakebite Gaff" that can be cut from the final bonus card provided with the deck, magicians can create an unforgettable moment of magic, as a snake appears to shoot out of the deck, stealing the corner of the spectator's card.



Naturally comprehensive instructions for these tricks and more are provided in the accompanying video tutorial. As with other Mechanic Industries decks, the animation feature doubles as a marked deck, allowing you to easily decode information on the card backs to identify the value and suit of any card, making it perfect for card magic. You're given the link and password for a 44-minute instructional tutorial video, which explains the markings and teaches a sample gambling demonstration routine. Additionally, full teaching is provided for tricks utilizing the other gaffs, namely the Joker Reveal and the Snake Pop Out. Get a glimpse of these routines and the possibilities this deck offers in the performance video.



Final Thoughts

There's a lot about these creative decks to like.

Innovation: One thing that stands out about everything that Mechanic Industries produces is the level of innovation and originality.  They have proven themselves able to come up with terrific ideas, with practical application, that helps inject real life into card magic.  There's a level of fresh creativity here that is immediately apparent.

Animations: The flip-book animation of the card-backs is a standout feature of these decks.  It looks terrific, and most people will never have seen anything like this before on playing cards.  This does mean that all the card backs are different, but most spectators won't even notice that until the moment you start riffling the cards.  Not only does this give your card magic an instant visual appeal, it can also be used to perform card reveals, and strengthen the effect of your magic.

Marked cards: The animation system is closely linked to the marking system, and these have been cleverly combined and tied together.  All the information you need to learn these systems is clearly taught in the supporting instructional materials that Mechanic Industries provides with their decks.  Magicians who enjoy marked cards will especially find something here that they can work with.

Novelty: I love all the novelty that these decks bring to the table, especially with the animated card backs.  This gives them immediate appeal with collectors.  And when used for card magic, the animation features help make the tricks performed with these decks more memorable and exciting.  And of course the special features of the animated card backs lets you perform card magic that you simply can't do with an ordinary deck.  The inclusion of unique Jokers and gaffs, and the things possible with these, just enhances this even more. 

Quality: The quality of the cards themselves is good, since they are high quality playing cards printed by industry giants USPCC and Cartamundi. So the stock and finish is something that magicians will immediately find familiar and durable.

Instruction: One thing I really like about the Mechanic Industries decks is that you're not left on your own to figure things out.  Purchasing one of their decks means you are buying into their brand, and they want to reward you by giving you the tools you need to take this to the next level, by providing you with the learning materials and ideas you need.  And the online video tutorials they provide aren't bare-bones affairs.  They cover a lot of ground, and include numerous effects and routines you can perform with each deck.

Value: I'm still blown away by the amount of things you get with the purchase of a single deck.  Not only is the price-point less than many custom decks, but for around $10-13 price-point you not only get a fully custom deck with some very fun built-in features, but full access to all the video tutorials.



Recommendation

I've had an enormous amount of fun with the Casino Range of animated decks from Mechanic Industries, because they offer so much more than your average deck of custom cards.  Each deck is a toolbox of creative visual magic, and gives you the potential to demonstrate visual effects that the average person has never  seen before.   

They will appeal to collectors who like the idea and novelty of the flipbook animation, and I love them for that reason alone.  But in combination with the unique tricks that these decks will enable magicians to perform, they will especially shine in the hands of magicians, who are best placed to take full advantage of all the unique features packed inside, and who like the idea of impressing their audience with something unique and memorable. 

And in each case, Mechanic Industries gives you everything you need to maximize the potential of this clever deck, especially with the help of their high quality video tutorials.  That ensures that these are a complete package, and so much more than just another 54 pieces of cardboard. 

Whether your love is just collecting novel playing cards, or whether you are into serious card magic, the Casino Range is excellent value, given everything you get for the price.  So whether you're just a collector or magician, these unique and attention-grabbing decks will find a welcome home in your collection.



Where to get them?
● Roulette Playing Cards
● Roulette Fanimation Playing Cards
● Craps Playing Cards
● Slots Playing Cards

Related decks from Mechanic Industries
● Snakes & Ladders Playing Cards
● Mechanic V2 Playing Cards
● Mechanic Metallic Playing Cards
● Visualies Gaff System Playing Cards

Mechanic Industries
● Official website, Tutorials, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram



Author's note: I first published this article at  PlayingCardDecks.