World of Warcraft was the highlight at BlizzCon 2023. Included: a brand new cinematic that fans can’t get enough of. Especially Anduin’s new look raises questions. MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus was able to speak live with the developers about it.
No one less than Chris Metzen himself announced the next 3 expansions for WoW. This caused thunderous applause in the hall, followed by an awed whisper when the new cinematic was shown.
This is what can be seen in the cinematic: The former Warchief Thrall meets Anduin Wrynn, who has changed significantly during his time in the Maw. Instead of a blonde mane, he sports a military buzz cut and a scruffy beard. The “Child King” has finally grown up.
His new appearance has since sparked discussions. After the opening ceremony, I met with Senior Narrative Designer Anne Stickney and Associate Art Director Tina Wang for an interview.
The conversation focused primarily on the story of 11.0 and the design of the new world. In response to a seemingly simple question about why Anduin now looks so different, Anne Stickney provides a remarkably long and insightful answer.
“He has to cope with a kind of PTSD”
The answer to the question of why Anduin now looks so different goes quite deep into the matter and the backgrounds of The War Within itself:
[Anduin] has been through a tough time. You need to understand that within just a few years, he transitioned from a boy who believes in peace and diplomacy to the point where he loses his father in an instant. Suddenly, he is the king of a realm and doesn’t know what to do.
When Shadowlands started, he had just barely managed to cope. And what happened to him was two steps away from making him “Full Arthas.” That hits a person hard, especially someone who dedicates himself to the Light and the idea of peace and diplomacy, who works with people to shape concepts of sacrifice, healing, and warmth.
To be twisted into something that is the complete opposite of that, to be forced to do what he has done to the people he loves and calls friends, has affected him in ways we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of.
So, when he decides at the end of Shadowlands to go into the Maw, Anduin didn’t just want some space to breathe. He actually had to cope with a kind of PTSD. He no longer feels worthy of the Light. When you grow up dedicated to this concept and it gets ripped away from you, how do you come to terms with who you are again?
So… yes, he needs a bath. Yes, he probably needs a bit of care. Anduin is somewhere in there. The War Within is not just about Azeroth, but also about the battle you fight with yourself.
Anne Stickney further explains that this struggle manifests not only in Anduin but also in Alleria, who grapples greatly with her dark side. The conflict between who she is and the Void is another part that we will explore in The War Within.
Nonetheless, she hopes, as I do, that Anduin will one day get his flowing blonde hair back. But we will only find out in The War Within or even later – and it might be expensive:
