D23 Expo 2022
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| D23 Expo 2022 | |
|---|---|
| Event type | Convention |
| Venue | Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California |
| Dates | September 9–11, 2022 |
| Key announcement | Public debut of Disney Lorcana |
| Notable products | D23 Expo Collector's Set Mickey Mouse – Brave Little Tailor promo card |
| Legacy | First public Lorcana cards; introduced Inkwash foil treatment |
The D23 Expo 2022 was a three‑day Disney fan convention held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, from September 9 to 11, 2022.[1] It is best known for being the event where Ravensburger publicly unveiled Disney Lorcana, a new trading card game created in collaboration with The Walt Disney Company.[2] The expo marked the first time any Lorcana cards were available to the public, making the items distributed there highly sought‑after collectibles.
Announcement
On September 8, 2022, Ravensburger revealed the first six Disney Lorcana cards, which were sold as a collector’s set during the expo.[3] The announcement included details about the game’s premise: players take on the role of Illumineers who use magical ink to summon “glimmers” of Disney characters from a repository called the Great Illuminary.[4] Ravensburger also confirmed that the first widely available set would be titled The First Chapter and was scheduled for a fall 2023 release.[5]
In interviews during the expo, co‑designer Ryan Miller stated that the game was designed to be easy to learn for newcomers while offering strategic depth for experienced trading card game players.[3] He also noted that Ravensburger planned to support the game with four new sets per year and a robust organized play system.[3]
Products
D23 Expo Collector's Set
The D23 Expo Collector's Set was a limited‑edition boxed set sold at the Ravensburger booth for $49.99.[5][6] It contained six cards, each featuring a unique foil treatment and stamped with D23 and “1st Edition” logos.[3] Only 900 sets were produced.[7] The cards included were:
- Stitch – Rock Star (Illustrated by Simangaliso Sibaya)
- Elsa – Snow Queen (Illustrated by Nicholas Kole)
- Cruella de Vil – Miserable as Usual (Illustrated by Nicholas Kole)
- Maleficent – Monstrous Dragon (Illustrated by Luis Huerta)
- Robin Hood – Unrivaled Archer (Illustrated by John Loren)
- Captain Hook – Forceful Duelist (Illustrated by Marcel Berg)[5][4]
All six cards were later reprinted in The First Chapter without the D23 and 1st Edition logos.[3]
Promotional Card and Pin
Every attendee who visited the Lorcana booth received a free promotional card: Mickey Mouse – Brave Little Tailor, along with a matching pin.[7][6] This card was not part of the Collector's Set and is distinguished by its D23 Expo stamp and 1st Edition marking.[5] It is widely considered the first public Lorcana card and remains one of the most iconic promotional items for the game.[7]
Press Pins
Members of the press covering the expo were given a special pin featuring the Disney Lorcana logo. Some attendees who visited the booth were also able to obtain this pin by asking or trading.[8]
Reception and legacy
The D23 Expo 2022 launch created immediate excitement and intense demand for Lorcana products. Within days, the Collector's Set and the Mickey Mouse promo card were reselling on eBay for hundreds and even thousands of dollars.[6] A complete D23 Collector's Set graded PSA 10 has sold for over $3,000.[9] The Mickey Mouse – Brave Little Tailor promo card has sold for over $200 on its own.[6]
The D23 Expo 2022 cards are notable for introducing the “Inkwash” foil treatment, a distinctive foil style that was later used for Enchanted rarity cards in The First Chapter and subsequent sets.[10] Because of their limited availability and historical significance, the D23 Expo 2022 releases are considered the “holy grail” of Lorcana collectibles by many fans.[7]
The event also marked the beginning of Lorcana’s story and community. A video tour of the Lorcana booth was shared on the official Disney Lorcana Twitter account, providing early insights into the game’s lore and artwork.[8] The expo is frequently referenced in discussions about the game’s origins and its passionate collector base.
Trivia
- The D23 Expo Collector's Set was initially limited to the first 300 attendees each day of the expo.[11]
- The “D23” name refers to Disney (the D) and 1923 (the year The Walt Disney Company was founded).[8]
- The Mickey Mouse – Brave Little Tailor promo card was inspired by the 1938 animated short film of the same name.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ D23 Expo 2022: Event Dates and Information. D23 Expo.
- ↑ Disney Lorcana debuts Mickey and Elsa cards at D23. Wargamer (September 9, 2022).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Disney Lorcana Reveals First Cards, More Details. ComicBook.com (September 9, 2022).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lorcana To Debut At The D23 Expo 2022 With Exclusive Set. DisKingdom (September 8, 2022).
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 First Disney Lorcana Trading Cards Will Be Available at D23 Expo 2022. WDW News Today (September 9, 2022).
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Disney’s D23 Expo 2022 Included Exclusive Trading Cards. Beckett (September 12, 2022).
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Disney Lorcana – Wikipedia. Wikipedia.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 D23 Expo: Difference between revisions. Mushu Report Wiki (April 12, 2024).
- ↑ Disney Lorcana: The Next Big Trading Card Game?. Yahoo (October 11, 2022).
- ↑ A Mysterious Sixth Rarity: Enchanted. Ravensburger (July 14, 2025).
- ↑ CGC Trading Cards Now Grading Disney Lorcana. CGC Cards (October 6, 2022).