The animated show Arcane: League of Legends (2021) kicked off its second season on Nov. 9 with the first three-episode batch, dubbed “Act I,” on Netflix — and for fans of the series, it is all the rage. The multi-award winning animated series by Riot Games was called “the future of animation and CG” by legendary Japanese video game designer and director Hideo Kojima in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter). The show was nominated for five Emmys, winning four. Arcane also took home nine Annie Awards, which highlight excellence in animation. After being left shook two years ago by the first season’s finale, there was no way I was going to miss the release of Arcane Season 2, and I sure as heck was not alone in that.
Starting right where the previous season’s finale left off, we experience the repercussions of the attack on Piltover’s council by Jinx, voiced by Ella Purnell, and see her fully embrace her chaotic nature. We also find Vi, voiced by Hailee Steinfeld, feeling out of place in a nation where she does not belong, while simultaneously feeling directly responsible for her sister’s destructive stunt. Caitlyn, voiced by Katie Leung, develops a fierce demeanour that was lacking in the first season; the circumstances that have left Piltover vulnerable demand her to fill a role with unprecedented expectations, even while in a vulnerable spot herself. Many other characters make their return, including Jayce (Kevin Alejandro), Viktor (Harry Lloyd), Sevika (Amirah Vann), and Ekko (Reed Shannon). While their initial arcs are not to be understated, the series is very clearly setting up more to come for them in the upcoming Acts.
On the topic of storytelling, the show’s stellar writing is complimented by studio Fortiche’s sublime animation. They have implemented their signature style and have drizzled in new, exquisite visual effects, artistic liberties, and an absolute banger of a soundtrack. The series builds upon the masterful first season, delivering on the unspoken promise of closure from Season 1’s finale while setting up an exciting Season 2. You’ll be treated to a marvellous display of artistry from every angle, a kind of visual narrative and mastery I have seen executed very few times before. The creators wasted no time showing everything that’s relevant for this Act, making the most out of every minute and using detailed exposition to tell the best story they can. If you enjoy media that isn’t afraid to showcase its bold artistic direction while it takes you for a roller coaster ride, then you will definitely not be disappointed.
Video game adaptations to movies or series have become more popular over the last few years, with the release of more and more projects of this type over the last decade. However, it has proven to be a tricky category of adaptation to pull off; they tend to have a bad reputation and the story of each project’s success varies widely. For example, the recent release of Borderlands(2024), directed by Eli Roth, reportedly bombed at the box office this summer — even though the movie stemmed from a well established IP and had a stacked cast, including Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black. Various sources criticized the movie for its rapid-fire plot and uninteresting characters, which by contrast makes Arcane shine even brighter.
Watching Arcane for the first time was a revolutionizing experience; I found myself constantly coming back for more. Having watched the whole thing numerous times I — as well as many of the series’ fans — am still blown away by the quality of the work. You can feel the creative team’s passion infused in every moment; there is not a single scene in this series that feels like wasted potential. To say that Arcane has revolutionized the animation industry is not an understatement. I truly believe that anyone looking to witness a grand demonstration of storytelling, writing, animation, art, editing, and so much more, should definitely check this series out.
