Cyrax’s faceplate blows apart to expose the human underneath in a breathtaking fan animation that has gained the attention of Ed Boon himself.
Ed Boon, the co-creator of Mortal Kombat, recently posted fan art depicting Cryax’s mask exploding, revealing the human behind the icy machine. Boon has been a persistent presence on social media over the years, compelling fans about future NetherRealm Studios projects and dropping cryptic hints about the next DLC guest characters coming to his long-running fighting game franchise. He’s also shared several interesting Mortal Kombat secrets, like the origins of Scorpion‘s famed “Get Over Here” slogan.
Cyrax, a cyborg member of the frigid Lin Kuei assassin clan who first appeared in Mortal Kombat 3 in 1995, is one of the many Mortal Kombat characters Ed Boon has helped design. Cyrax was part of a hidden Lin Kuei experiment to turn its warriors into more efficient assassins by implanting their brains into mechanical bodies. His first mission as the yellow-hued LK-4D4 was to find and eliminate former Lin Kuei member Sub-Zero. Cyrax would reclaim his humanity and become an ally of the Special Forces in their mission to safeguard Earthrealm as the Mortal Kombat series progressed. Cyax would appear in Mortal Kombat 11‘s story mode. However, his last playable appearance was part of the DLC character Triborg alongside fellow robots Sektor and Cyber Smoke in Mortal Kombat X.
Ed Boon posted an excellent fan animation of Cyrax on Twitter earlier today, created by acclaimed freelance artist FlavioLuccisano. While music from Mortal Kombat 3’s Rooftop stage plays in the background, Cyrax’s faceplate blows apart, revealing his still-human face beneath. Aside from Cyrax, FlavioLuccisano has drawn several characters from Mortal Kombat’s extensive playable characters, including fan-favorites Reptile and Johnny Cage.
— Ed Boon (@noobde) November 29, 2021
The release of this gorgeous Cyrax animation coincides with reports that NetherRealm is already working on Mortal Kombat 12, spurred by the studio’s recent announcement that they are finished releasing new material to Mortal Kombat 11. Fans are already speculating about MK 12’s potential list of playable fighters. Some are hoping for a big cast akin to Mortal Kombat Armageddon, and others are seeking guest combatants like WWE icons Mick Foley and Kane.
Given the events of the Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath DLC, which set the path for MK 12, Cyrax might return as a selectable fighter in either his robotic form or with the humanity he dearly missed in later Mortal Kombat games. In any case, it’s fantastic to see Mortal Kombat fans like FlavioLuccisano recreate the classic Mortal Kombat characters through drawings and animations, as well as to get these amazing artists recognized for their work by the folks who created one of gaming’s most popular fighting game franchises.
Source: FlavioLucciano/Twitter (via Ed Boon/Twitter)
