A spoiler-free review of Arcane, an animated action-adventure-drama series set in the universe of League of Legends.
This month’s featured show is Arcane, an animated action-adventure-drama series produced by Fortiche under the supervision of Riot Games. It is set in the universe of the video game League of Legends, but no knowledge of its origin is required to enjoy it. Arcane is the story of the conflict between the extravagant utopia Piltover, and the oppressed underground Zaun, and how it changes the lives of two sisters forever. This review is completely spoiler-free.
When Arcane was first announced two years ago, it was expected, at best, to be a love letter to the game it comes from and a fun ride with characters fans are already attached to. What we got instead was a heart-breaking, powerful epic featuring multi-faceted characters and the power struggle between the elite and the subjugated which tears them apart. Arcane is a deeply tragic story, with the struggle of each character being rooted in some sort of trauma. It progresses its harrowing narrative by delving into the emotional core of each character and developing their arcs while reflecting on their unique experiences and relationships, resulting in a plot led by characters that feel human. This human connection is what allows Arcane to interact with the viewer on such a deep emotional level.
Arcane was released in three three-episode Acts, a bold release strategy that worked both for bingers and people who want to watch weekly. By the end of the first Act, Arcane already manages to do what most shows can’t do in their entire runtime, delivering a shocking gut-punch of an act finale that completely uproots what most viewers expected and hooking them in to find out what happens next. The show is excellently paced, though it is slightly slow in Episodes 1 and 2 and a bit rushed in 8 and 9. It somehow makes time to flesh out every aspect of its story, one of the best examples being its world-building. Both settings are excellently introduced and explained. Piltover boasts technological innovation and a steampunk aesthetic, while Zaun feels more murky but somehow more honest.
The full extent of Arcane’s accomplishments can’t be discussed without talking about the animation and filmmaking. The six years of development and budget equal to that of a feature film really show, as nearly every frame of Arcane could be its own painting. The show’s style of using 3D characters and settings with 2D textures, shading and effects results in unmistakable visuals that draw in the viewer and expertly frame the story. Arcane is a master in “show, don’t tell,” with the filmmaking telling half of the story through dynamic shots and gorgeous cinematography. The camerawork is especially magnificent, with Arcane consistently employing varying camera movements to immerse the audience in the show and give the show and characters some weight, a quality sorely missing from Western animation. This weight also comes into play in the action, which is just…so perfect. It feels real because it’s not just invincible beings that feel nothing throwing out a bunch of over-choreographed moves but instead they’re character-motivated brawls where everyone has their own reason for fighting and every hit has an impact felt both by the character and the viewer. Last but not least, the show’s score enhances it tenfold and complements the visual storytelling by infusing the scenes with emotion in a way only music could achieve.
Arcane boasts a huge and intriguing world enhanced by an unpredictable rollercoaster plot, complex themes, and characters so human they manage to tap into the deepest of the audience's emotional reservoirs. Not to mention the breathtaking animation, striking visual style, and masterful filmmaking on display, setting an industry standard matched only by Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse. Arcane is my favourite piece of media to come out of 2021, and if the following seasons can match the beginning, then it will go down as a masterpiece along with the likes of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Why are you still reading this?? Go watch Arcane.
By Jash Parikh
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