By Emma Jee
Arcane is an animated Netflix series based on the hit video game League of Legends. It follows the story of Vi and Jinx, two sisters who were born in the sprawling undercity of Piltover. Those who lived above them were considered ‘topsiders’ and enjoyed better privileges like clean air and higher status. The inequality between Piltover’s topside and the undercity led to massive amounts of conflict between the two, and viewers get to experience the political relationships between topside and the undercity while Jinx and Vi get caught in the middle of the hostility.
Before watching Arcane, I never played the game League of Legends or any other games relating to the League of Legends universe, so I had no idea who any of the characters were beforehand. However, I was able to clearly understand the whole plot and the characters. Each character was totally unique and had their own goals, weaknesses, and strengths regardless of whether or not they already had backstories in-game which was great for new viewers like me. For those who know more about the League of Legends universe, there were still lots of hints and details for them to enjoy while watching as well. One of the best elements in Arcane is the flawless mix of knowledge that doesn’t overwhelm newer viewers while still satisfying the veteran crowd.
I also really enjoyed the art style and how smooth the action and fighting scenes were. Everything blended in so seamlessly, and there is an immense amount of detail. Each episode is jam-packed with incredible action and storylines, and if you blink you’ll probably miss an easter egg or some important detail. Even stagnant backgrounds were so pretty and you could definitely notice small blemishes and imperfections in each character’s design that make them really feel alive. Everything was extremely well-thought-out and really brought the world to life. I also loved how everything that the characters did was so specific and emulated their character’s personality. Even when they talked, you could see their emotions in their eyes and facial expressions which was incredible when combined with the impeccable voice acting. These tiny micro-details engage the audience, and help the audience learn more about Arcane’s world.
Another aspect of Arcane that was impeccable was the writing. The writers of Arcane managed to take champions from the game and make a coherent story with all of these different backgrounds that was amazing. Not only did they manage to take original characters from League of Legends like Ekko, Vi, and Jinx and combine them, but they also expanded on each character’s lore throughout the series. Prior to Arcane, Jinx had no connection to Vi besides one voiceline in the game, and was only known as a crazy champion with a big rocket. However, Arcane made Jinx more three-dimensional and showed us how she became that person in the game. I also greatly enjoyed the plot in general, and every scene felt like it had a purpose, whether to build the world, introduce us to characters, or send a message.
Besides how entertaining and detail-oriented the series is, Arcane is groundbreaking in the animation industry. It is one of the many examples that show that cartoons don’t necessarily have to be targeted to children. While animated series have come out that are not really kid-friendly – I’m looking at you Star Wars: The Clone Wars – it joins other shows like Invincible that show that animated action series for adults can be popular and have an audience, as seen through Arcane’s success. Also, I love fantasy series, and honestly, fantasy doesn’t always translate well in live action movies or shows. Arcane highlights the potential of showing fantastical worlds through high-quality animation, and I hope other shows follow Arcane’s footsteps and start delving into animation.
Regardless of whether or not you have any prior knowledge about the League of Legends universe, Arcane is definitely a must-watch in my opinion. The art style, writing, and characters are all amazing, and this show definitely deserves a 10/10.
