10 entertainment edited by Stephanie Zhang
Arcane, An Animated Masterpiece
Source: Netflix
by Stephanie Zhang Entertainment Editor Recently it was confirmed that the second season of Arcane is coming in late 2024. Created by Alex Yee and Christian Linke, the series introduces us to the backstory of sisters Jinx and Vi:, characters from the game League of Legends. The first season was released in November 2021 on Netflix, and has garnered much praise worldwide for its distinctive art, worldbuilding, music and plot.
The insane art style in Arcane is courtesy of Fortiche, a French production studio that previously worked with Riot Games (the developer of League) on their music videos. The style is very unique, and brings out each characters’ distinct traits. They all possess their own strengths, reflective of their personalities, and flaws that make them authentic and relatable. The soundtrack was a total banger and amplified the show's emotional impact on its viewers. The songs “Enemy” by Imagine Dragons, “Playground” by Bea Miller, and “Goodbye” by Ramsey are some of the more notable songs from the animated series. The original score was also beautifully composed; it even featured violinist Ray Chen on a few of its tracks and as a cameo appearance.
The mix of 3D and 2D animation made the style of Arcane particular; 2D animation techniques resulted in the rich texture of the props, backgrounds, special effects and characters. The details were painted on top of the 3D models and rigs; a combination which created a realistic setting for the story, tangled with the major themes of the show. Overall, Arcane displayed appealing designs and adaptations from League of Legends. Its expressive narrative coupled with its message of duality from different characters’ perspectives made its 1st season highly distinguished. Fans eagerly wait for season 2, excited to see how the cliffhangers from the first season will unfold.
