Gideon’s Bakehouse at Disney Springs is getting ready for some big changes, and they involve a whole lot more than cookies! The bakery has announced that longtime art director Michael Reyes is leaving to pursue an opportunity with Disney, while a new group of artists is coming together to help bring Gideon’s characters and stories to life.
If you’ve followed Gideon’s for any length of time, you know that its artwork is a huge part of what makes the bakery so unique. From the characters featured on its monthly menus to the collectible trading cards, there’s an entire world of storytelling behind those famous desserts.
Reyes has been part of that creative world since Gideon’s opened its Disney Springs location. According to the bakery, he’s accepted an offer to work directly with Disney, and while his departure is bittersweet, the team is excited for him.
Gideon’s says it will continue with Reyes’ existing plans for its Morsel collectibles through the end of 2026 before beginning a new chapter in 2027. Rather than bringing in a single replacement, the bakery is expanding its creative team to work on projects both inside and outside Gideon’s.
And we’re already getting a look at some of the artists involved!
Gideon’s Introduces Its First Artist Edition Trading Card Series
As Gideon’s celebrates its 10th anniversary, the bakery is introducing its first Artist Edition Trading Card Series, featuring interpretations of familiar Gideon’s creatures by artists from across the illustration and comic book worlds.
The collection is expected to include up to 70 brand-new trading cards, and Gideon’s says some of the participating artists will also return for larger projects in the future.
The bakery shared previews of artwork from six artists, along with the following introductions.
Andrew Robinson
Andrew Robinson is a multi-award-winning New York Times best-selling illustrator who has painted covers for all the major publishers, illustrating titles such as Batman, Superman, Iron Man, Star Wars, and Black Panther.
Gris Grimly
Gris Grimly is an award-winning illustrator best known for his macabre yet humorous books for children and young adults that have inspired so many, including the art direction for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.
Ryan Ottley
Ryan Ottley is the artist and contributing creator of insanely popular INVINCIBLE, now an animated series on Amazon Prime. He’s currently the artist for Marvel’s Amazing Spider-Man and Hulk comics.
Chris Stevens
Chris Stevens has been a cover artist for over 10 years, contributing to titles like Captain America, Thor, Uncanny X-Force, Hulk, and What If?, as well as DC’s Batman Beyond, Aquaman, and Detective Comics.
Dan Brereton
Dan Brereton is an Eisner Award-winning writer and painter, best known for his book Nocturnals and his work with Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, Rob Zombie, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Simpsons, Heavy Metal, Marvel, and DC.
Jill Thompson
Jill Thompson is an Eisner Award Hall of Fame legend, Creator of Scary Godmother and Magic Trixie, art witch of Beasts of Burden, writer/artist of Wonder Woman The True Amazon and more.
A New Chapter for Gideon’s Bakehouse
It’ll be interesting to see how these different artistic styles translate into the fabulously quirky characters Gideon’s fans have come to know over the years. The bakery has always had a distinctive look, and inviting these well-established illustrators to put their own spin on its creatures could make for some pretty incredible collectibles.
Gideon’s hasn’t announced an exact release date (other than 2027) or pricing for the Artist Edition Trading Card Series yet, but with as many as 70 cards planned, collectors will certainly have something to look forward to.
And while we’ll miss seeing Michael Reyes’ work as Gideon’s art director, congratulations are definitely in order for his new opportunity with Disney!
Here’s hoping Gideon’s shares more about its plans for 2027 soon. I have a feeling there’s a lot more artwork coming our way!
