“Arcane” is a Netflix show released in 2021, based on the video game League of Legends created by Riot Games. However, viewers do not need to know anything about the game in order to understand the show.
It tells the story of two cities, Piltover and Zaun (also known as the under-city). Piltover is advanced and utopian, while Zaun is polluted and more of a shantytown. Despite their societal differences, both cities are very technologically developed. Further technological advancements in both cities led to them clashing with one another, which raised the stakes.
Orphaned sisters Violet and Powder are the two main characters; however, the show follows many diverse characters who navigate the struggles of the two cities’ interactions. All the characters play a role in the conflict.
The animation style in the show is a combination of 3D and 2D animation and digitally hand-drawn elements, also known as hybrid animation. This animation style has become popular in recent films. It was used in “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”, and “Puss and Boots: The Last Wish”. Hybrid animation makes the scenes in Arcane more vivid.
Arcane won four Emmy Awards, which consisted of three Outstanding Individual Achievements In Animation and one Outstanding Animated Program. The show also won many other awards. It has been very successful since its initial release, reaching the first spot of the top ten in fifty-two countries and second in the United States.
There are nine total episodes in season one. Season two is currently in development and will be released in late 2024. It will continue the story from the first season which ended on a cliffhanger.
