Anime Tarot

Deck Name: Anime Tarot Deck

Creator(s): McCalla Ann

Publisher & Year: 2022

Havana James

Let me preface this review by stating this fact: I know almost nothing about anime or manga. If I know any references or recognize any characters it is because of mainstream media and or my nieces. From time to time, my nieces like to tell me the plot lines of their favorite anime shows. With that being said, I appreciate the aesthetic of the Anime Tarot Deck. Mercenary of Duna, the artist, uses bold, saturated colors, and graphic styles to create expressive character designs. The deck is primarily based on Rider Waite Smith archetypes while borrowing some card titles from the Thoth deck. Temperance has been changed to Art and Judgment has been changed to Aeon. Additionally, the Page and Knights of the court cards have been changed to Princess and Prince.

Initially, I thought this deck would include specific characters from different anime shows however I didn’t immediately recognize any specific character designs in this deck. Although I didn’t recognize any specific characters, I thought I might recognize some cards that mY have been “inspired” by character designs. The Fool reminded me of Naruto, the Empress reminded me of Sailor Moon, I thought Art could be an Inuyasha reference, and 4 of Coins looks like it could be a doppelganger of Misty from Pokemon. I didn’t recognize any other character inspirations but as I stated previously, I am not familiar with much anime.

I love how the aces for each suit appear to be represented by a spirit of the element associated with the suits. The elemental symbols are clearly presented on the aces as well as an assigned color for the suits. I also enjoyed how the Princes are illustrated in motion with animals that traditionally represent the elements of each suit such as a lion for wands, and a bull for coins.

I found my reading experience with this deck to be easy and smooth. Because this deck shares a lot of the Rider Waite Smith systems, I knew the meanings of each card without having to reference the guidebook. With that being said, the guidebook is a wonderful resource. Although the guidebook is only 126 pages it does an excellent job of providing easily understandable description and narratives for beginners. The major arcana cards provide a brief description for the archetype of each card while the minor arcana as well as the major arcana provide upright and reversed descriptions of each card. The guidebook includes three original spreads that provide some unique insight.

The deck comes in a two piece box with a cardboard insert where the deck fits snuggly. The cardboard insert isn’t as sturdy as the outer box and can possibly rip in the corners if you are not careful. A pull ribbon is included in the box to make removal of the deck easy. The cardstock of the deck is a standard stock with a matte finish and flexible core. This means they riffle shuffle nicely but the softer edges can fray if you’re too rough. Personally, I think this deck might benefit from a bit stiffer cardstock and a gilded edge. The images of the deck have such a regal presence that I feel a gilded edge would elevate the deck to another level. I understand that most anime aren't very diverse as far as ethnicity, disabilities, or body size goes and this deck reflects the same type of standards. That doesn’t stop me from wishing there was more diversity in such a modern deck.

Overall, I find this deck to be a beautiful deck that can be a wonderful choice for a first deck. The images and descriptions do not stray too far from the symbolism of the Rider Waite Smith so while it is a more contemporary version of the tarot, it presents a lot of old world charm. I find it rather fitting that the creator of this deck chose to use anime as a vehicle to present the hero’s journey through the tarot. Many anime series are a retelling of the hero’s journey with a cast of interesting characters and lessons along the way, exactly like the tarot. If you’re a fan of manga art and/or anime series, I would suggest you give the Anime Tarot Deck from Insight Editions a closer look.