There have been a number of vanishing card case effects released in the last few years. Their popularity is obvious – what better or more visual way to start a card routine than to have the box disappear? From the trailer, the visuals on this looked spectacular – so how did the reality measure up?

What do you get?

A DVD and all the materials you need to construct your own gimmick. And there’s the first and really important thing you need to know if you’re considering buying Unboxing. It is quite an intensive craft project to make your gimmick. In fact, I would say you need to be a bit of a craft ninja – since there is precise cutting, glueing and sticking involved, some of it a little fiddly. You’re provided with most of the necessary bits, though you will also need a couple of extra cards you will probably already have lying around.

We’re not done on construction yet. The explanation takes about 20 minutes on the DVD – I say explanation, but it is a silent video (well there is some background music) with no verbal instructions apart from the odd sentence on screen. So I think you’re going to need a lot longer than this to check you’re doing the right things and get the bits together. And did I mention, it’s quite fiddly.

I also think the advert video is slightly misleading. It shows a move which isn’t possible with the main gimmick but requires the construction of a second (much easier) gimmick.

On the plus side

Once you’ve constructed the gimmick, the effect itself is self-working and very visual. Depending on how good your craft skills are, this may be more or less convincing. Even on the teaching videos there are some ‘flashes’ which expose the gimmick. In the real world, if you keep things moving, this shouldn’t be a problem – and some of the live performances show the strength of reactions possible.

On and on

I found the rest of the DVD rather tiresome. They go into a slightly laboured amount of explanation about how to set up and clean up. I couldn’t decide whether to feel patronised or thankful for the endless detail on presentation and minor variations – not far short of an hour!

The credits section is not really a proper set of credits but rather a short history of versions of this kind of effect – without attributing particular inspirations, and more importantly failing to include a number of modern versions.

If I’m honest, I feel like this is on the one hand over-engineered, and then alarmingly reliant on our own construction. If it was over-engineered and professionally built, I might be less concerned, or less complex and self-constructed – but this feels like a worrying combination – and I would have some concerns about the gimmick in operation. I understand that providing an assembled gimmick would have massively impacted the price, and perhaps I’m just not crafty enough, but for me this is a concern.

It feels a bit like the desire for the amazing visual has over-run itself. And I think I would be happier using the lower tech, but not much less visual and substantially easier to assemble Travelling Deck 2.0 (see our review here).

Unboxing is available from MagicShop.co.uk for £17.50 at the time of writing.

Review copy kindly provided by Murphys Magic to whom dealer enquiries should be directed.

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Essentially you get an extra gimmick – which enables you not just to make the deck of cards vanish (like version 1) but also the card case. It is a logical development (rather than a radical new idea) – but a useful one for sure, which increases your possibilities enormously.

Like the original DVD this one features a range of different routines using the gimmick. There are some strong effects here – and for my money it is much stronger for the vanish to be part of a routine rather than a one off effect. It can give you cover in the ‘get ready’ and makes the vanish even more impressive if the spectator has already handled the cards a little. I may be in a minority of one here because Costas insists that he uses it as a standalone effect.

In terms of pure ‘logic’ I like the sandwich type ideas best – because then there is a rationale for a card (or in this case several) being left behind. Maybe I am over-thinking this – but if you can vanish a deck of cards, why would you leave one behind?! All this being said – Chris Webb has a very clever solution for a complete vanish which you could use in certain circumstances.

The DVD teaches a number of different vanishes and also has sections on repairing the gimmick or changing the face/back if you want to use a specific value or back design. And you get some special stuff for you to make up a second gimmick if you need/want to – though the gimmick should last a reasonable amount of time.

Chris Webb does most of the explanation and is very clear without being patronising. He has lots of extra ideas and Costas adds his own tips as someone who has clearly used the effect lots. If you’ve already got version 1, I’m not certain you would make the upgrade (unless you really wanted the box vanish). But on the other hand it’s not a large investment and would provide you with some more ideas and a new gimmick.

Well worth a look.

Available direct from Merchant of Magic – £17.99 [with thanks to MagicTao who kindly supplied a review copy of the Travelling Deck 2.0]

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