“Arcane,” an animated TV show set in the League of Legends universe, took the world by storm in November of 2021 with its stunning art and captivating storytelling. Its second season, released in November of 2024 became Netflix’s top series in over 60 countries.
The show was brought to life by Christan Linke and Alex Yee, who achieved global acclaim and, with a $250 million budget, earned “Arcane” the title of the most expensive animated series ever produced. Its success marks a milestone for both animated shows and video game adaptations.
The world of “Arcane” is large and complex. The show takes place in the twin cities of Piltover and Zaun. Once united, the two cities maintain an interdependent relationship where authority in one city often creates authority in the other. Piltover, a center of technology and progress, is characterized in the show by its extreme wealth. The city is led by a council of seven people from prominent and wealthy houses. Legally the councils’ jurisdiction extends to Zaun, but practically their control is limited.
On the other hand, Zaun, also known as the undercity because much of the city is underneath Piltover, has no official government. Instead, it has a myriad of figures who exert a measured influence on the city; namely, the Chem-Barons. The Chem-Barons are an organization of individuals united by their selfishness and command over key Zaunite industries. The only other Zaunite leader that the series shows is Vander, who’s virtuous character serves as a contrast to the Chem-Baron’s selfishness. .
The plot of “Arcane” follows how citizens cope with the cities’ problems. Throughout the series, power structures shift and perspectives are challenged.
Although the world depicted in “Arcane” is fictional, many viewers recognize the conflicts they see in the show in their own lives. From large societal problems like fascism or forced occupation to interpersonal issues like familial expectations, the creators masterfully crafted “Arcane” to be relatable to a wide audience.
A lot of praise for the show has been directed toward Arcane’s unique art style, which uses a mix of 2D and 3D art to enhance the visuals of each scene. Fortiche, a French animation studio, produced the series under the supervision of Riot Games. They showed dedication and care by focusing on every individual detail, ultimately spending six years on Season One and three years on Season Two.
Arcane’s music has also received high acclaim, with 22 unique songs made for Season Two. This playlist features a variety of artists and styles, from Eason Chan to Ashnikko. Each song elevates the emotional impact of the story through the talented artists and their carefully crafted scores and lyrics.
From art and music to expert storytelling, “Arcane” demonstrated a previously unthinkable level of quality in western animated media. In the wake of its second season, many are mourning the end of the series. However, this isn’t the end for the franchise. In an interview with Linke he said they were excited to hone in on “what comes next,” revealing that new shows were in the works for various regions in the League of Legends universe with both new and continuing story lines from “Arcane.” If “Arcane” is any indication, these new series are sure to be groundbreaking. We are excited to revisit the stories of beloved “Arcane” characters and even meet new ones along the way.
