The most expensive animated series to date, “Arcane,” has just concluded on Nov. 23, 2024. The show consists of 18 episodes spread over two seasons and had a production budget of $250 million. It premiered its first season in 2021 and garnered an impressive four Emmy Awards at the 2022 ceremony.
“Arcane,” found exclusively on Netflix, presents a beautifully illustrated narrative centered around themes of love, war, friendship, family and fate. Although it is based on the popular video game “League of Legends,” prior knowledge of the game is not necessary to enjoy the show, as “Arcane” serves as a prequel.
The series features a well-rounded ensemble of voice actors. Hailee Steinfeld, whose voice acting credits include playing Gwen Stacy in the Spiderverse franchise, voices one of the show’s main characters, Vi. Vi’s sister Jinx is voiced by Ella Purnell who starred in the very successful Amazon Prime “Fallout” show, another video game adaptation. The duo have been seen frequently together on press tours. Other notable members of the voice cast include Kevin Alejandro as Jayce, Katie Leung as Caitlyn, Harry Lloyd as Viktor, Toks Olagundoye as Mel, and Reed Shannon as Ekko.
“Arcane” employs a combination of 2-D backgrounds and VFX with 3-D character models to create a unique animation style. However, the show is not constrained to one style as they switch up the art style for specific scenes to highlight impact. The series features high-action fight scenes, intense relationships, relatable characters with significant development and meticulous attention to detail.
In addition to its breathtaking visuals and a well-crafted story, “Arcane” boasts a star-studded musical lineup featuring artists such as Tom Morello, Stray Kids, King Princess, Ashnikko, Imagine Dragons, Pusha T and Twenty One Pilots. The music is expertly integrated into the show, amplifying its intensity and making the soundtrack a standout element.
“Arcane” takes place in two contrasting cities, the wealthy and technologically advanced city of Piltover and the crime-ridden and impoverished city of Zaun, where the main characters, sisters Vi and Jinx, are from. The two cities and two sisters are just the tip of the show’s main theme of duality. At its core, “Arcane” tells the tale of two sisters, two cities and two worlds — two sides of the same coin.