‘Arcane’

Text by ASH MEHTA

Art by POLINA VAN HULSEN and from WARNER BROS

Arcane

A feat of activism, animation, and allegory

The new League of Legends-inspired TVshow “Arcane” has revolutionized the animation world over the past few months.

With nine Annie Award nominations, the show has pushed the boundaries of what animation can accomplish in a way that I haven’t seen since Sony’s 2018

“Into the Spider-Verse.” “Arcane” serves as a backstory for the “League of Legends” officer — named Cait (Katie Leung) emfranchise. But the show is so much more ploys Vi to help expose corruption in Zaun. than the game, starting off with some of the The animation of “Arcane” is incredbest queer representation I’ve ever seen in ible. It’s no wonder the show took six years animation and a great portrayal of socio- to create — I don’t economic inequality through the starkly “They didn’t just ‘happen think I’ve ever seen a TV show with contrasting cities of Piltover and Zaun to be queer,’ or ‘happen to visuals this spectacular, and that is not

The first two be in a relationship,’ as the hyperbole. episodes are backstory, exploring Vi’s relationship is critical to The moody color palette and (Hailee Steinfeld) childhood, and her relationship with both of their stories, but at the same time, they each steampunk aesthetic create a futuristic atmosphere. her little sister, Powder (Mia Sinclair Jenness). have well-developed histo ries and personalities.” With a score featuring artists like Imagine Dragons

The show then and PVRIS, the skips forward about soundtrack perfectly accompanies it. two decades and Though the plot itself is fairly generic examines the rising ten- and trope-reliant (dead father figure, longsion between Zaun and lost siblings…), the characters more than Piltover. An en- make up for it. They’re compelling microforcer — police cosms of their world, and viewers are sure to fall in love with them instantly. I did. As you can probably tell, I adore this show. And it does a pretty good job in terms of activism as well. Vi and Cait, though not technically together (yet), are heavily implied to be setting up for a relationship in Season 2. Their sexuality is clear without ever being outright stated. It strikes the perfect balance between queerbaiting — implying but not actually showing LGBTQ+ couples — and being too on-the-nose. Vi and Cait are what any central couple in an action show is supposed to be: they have a relationship that fits the universe of the

show and advances each of the characters’ stories. Their queerness and their relationship don’t just feel dropped into the show for the sake of representation.

Both of the characters stand well on their own, another aspect that’s missing from a lot of queer animated shows (and from medias’ portrayal of women in relationships in general). They didn’t just “happen to be queer,” or “happen to be in a relationship,” as the relationship is critical to both of their stories, but at the same time, they each have well-developed histories and personalities.

For all the “She-Ra” fans out there, Cait and Vi are essentially a better-paced Catra and Adora.

Of course, there’s the definite possibility of the show completely butchering its representation in Season 2. For that, we’ll simply have to wait and see.

In addition to queer representation, “Arcane” dives into issues such as police brutality, socioeconomic inequality, and drug addiction.

But, the way “Arcane” does it is just okay to me. There are times I felt uncomfortable or guilty about my own privilege — an indicator that the allegory is doing its job. The inequality of access to scientific advancements is brilliantly shown, and I think the cycle of poverty in Zaun is portrayed well, too.

The oppression does often feel hidden under an overlay of steampunk and action. There are times where the poverty of Zaun is romanticized, or depicted as simply an unchangeable fact of life. This could allow a viewer with a cynical point of view about real-world inequity to retain it.

The show also has some other great (and not so great) activist elements that I won’t get into here, like fantastic, strong female characters and immigrant representation.

My one major qualm with the show is its producer, Riot Games, the subject of a plethora of misogyny allegations. Riot is best known for producing the “League of Legends” franchise, the video game series that inspired “Arcane.” Riot has a long history of gender inequity allegations, and many have referred to the company as having a “frat bro” culture.

In 2018, 28 former and current Riot employees shared their personal experiences with the alleged culture of sexism and misogyny at Riot in a report called “Inside the Culture of Sexism at Riot Games.”

Sparked by this report, 2019 saw 200 Riot employees walk out in protest of the “frat bro culture” and systemic misogyny.

In late 2021, Riot Games paid $100 million to settle a gender discrimination lawsuit. And they have taken steps towards progress, such as funding a Diversity and Inclusion team. Maybe this show is reflective of a larger change in Riot’s atmosphere. But it’s hard to be that optimistic; realistically, workplace

culture doesn’t change that quickly. It ties back to the age-old art-versus-artist debate. I have a hard time fully enjoying a show’s representation when many of its creators are likely contributing to an oppressive workplace atmosphere. I find myself having to take the stellar “I find myself having to sapphic representation, the strong female characters, and everything else with a grain take the stellar sapphic of salt. On its own, the show is incredible. representation, the strong But with the knowledge of Riot’s history, it feels somewhat insincere. female characters, and ev- That said, I still immensely enjoyed erything else with a grain “Arcane” and would strongly recommend everyone to watch it, particularly animaof salt.” tion-lovers. It’s a masterpiece, and despite Riot’s history, the representation is still incredible. I hope that this show indicates a positive change in Riot’s workplace environment, and that its incredible representation remains in Season 2.