Arcane – how the classic video game became an animated TV gem

With a $250 million budget, Arcane was as much a financial gamble as it was an artistic one. Adapting a hugely popular video game like League of Legends for TV was ambitious enough. Choosing animation in an era of live-action only added to the risk.

And yet, Arcane has pulled off the unimaginable.

The series has blended two competing mediums together seamlessly. It proves that video games can (and are) producing some of the best stories in entertainment. And with the conclusive finale of Season 2 riding high on Netflix's trend list, it’s safe to say we’ve just witnessed one of the best animated series ever made. And with new projects already announced, the magic of Runeterra is only just beginning.

The story of Arcane – love, war, and legendary characters

Across two seasons, Arcane is an epic animated series set between two warring cities. It explores the love and war between families and friends, between nations, and between ideals. On the one hand, you have Piltover, the city of progress. Perched on top, it is a futuristic utopia where citizens focus on technology, science, law and order. The only problem citizens seem to have is what new invention they want to become the patron of next.

Then you have Zaun, which is the literal underbelly. It is no more a city than an empire of squalor and poverty. The air is thick with noxious fumes. Crime is rife, and it seems every citizen has either a weapon on hand or some form of disfigurement. There is constant volatility between the city’s faction bosses, each of whom has no problem murdering their peers to seize control.

The political war between these two cities is evident from the get-go. But the conflict is escalated by one simple discovery – arcane magic. While some want to combine magic with science to improve life on both sides of the divide, others see it for what it truly is – the ultimate weapon.

In the latest season, even more conflict and drama are introduced. Ambessa, the Noxian warmonger, infiltrates the political big-wigs; together with her battalion, she's keen to investigate the potential magic can have in her own nation’s war efforts. Hot on her heels is The Black Rose, an ancient cabal of powerful beings who shape Runeterra to their liking. And then there’s Viktor, whose dream of using magic to eliminate humanity’s faults could very see the end of the world as we know it.

But when it comes down to it, Arcane is a story largely centred around two characters, Vi and Jinx. Two sisters on opposite ends of the war. Their love, sacrifice and hardship (voiced beautifully by Hailee Steinfield and Ella Purnell, respectively) accelerate the story at every point. With them, you’ll laugh, wince, gasp and probably cry.

Arcane is a multimedia feast

As an animation, Arcane has the freedom to engage all your senses. Visually, it is stunning. And the art style looks like an interactive painting that is constantly in motion on your screen. At regular intervals, episodes flip art styles.

The dark, damp Zaun can be utterly transformed by explosive watercolours. The prestigious Piltover can be reduced to cold, muted palettes. In family scenes, you'll experience beautiful montages that look, feel and act like an entirely separate series. These scenes promise some of the most powerful storytelling and will undoubtedly stick in your memory long after each episode ends.

And then, at a moment's notice, there’s combat afoot. A grenade drops. Someone reveals a gun. The music begins to race. And suddenly, your screen explodes with graffiti. Like some sort of psychedelic trip, your eyes will try to keep up to speed with wherever characters are darting to and from.

Speaking of music, you’re never too far away from a stellar track list of anthems, either. From Imagine Dragons to Twenty-One Pilots, Sheryl Lee Ralph to Freya Ridings, the wealth of talent who contributed to the show ensures Arcane is as much a treat for the ears as it is for the eyes.

There’s also the participatory element – something that only a video crossover can achieve. Players can jump online and actually play as Vi, Jinx, Caitlyn, Jayce and countless other characters in the game that made it all happen. Ambessa was released earlier this month as a playable character – no doubt Mel and Sevika will soon join her in time. A host of new game modes also feature more of the cast, ensuring the fun can continue from television to computer screen.

The untapped potential of a video game realized

League of Legends is a narrative marvel. For so many years, it relied purely on its gameplay. No one paid notice to the plot. In truth, there was none. Alongside four buddies, you simply played as a character whose mission was to destroy the enemy base. Why? No one knows. And who exactly was your character? Another question you had no answer for.

But the game was pure fun. And as the roster expanded to over 160 individual characters, the world teemed with potential. Fans naturally wanted answers. It was time to actually explain the game, and explore the ever-expanding universe.

Talk about a glowup #Arcane pic.twitter.com/k2dM9thEpw

— Lara Lunardi (@LaraLunardi) November 24, 2024

Like watching your favourite author pen a best-seller right in front of you, the story of League of Legends is still in construction. With every new character, spin-off series, cinematic video or song released, new storylines and dimensions are put into the world.

In the many years since I've started playing, entirely new nations have emerged. New rivalries are introduced. Some of the most important characters in this 15-year franchise have only just been released.

Perhaps that’s why Arcane is such a delight for newcomers and seasoned gamers alike. Old characters you’ve spent years playing can be re-introduced and elevated. People you never thought co-exist are suddenly intertwined. Staple characters die on screen, catching you totally off-guard. Your curiosity is and will always be in constant overdrive.

The future of League of Legends and Arcane

Could the war between Piltover and Zaun have gone beyond just two seasons? Absolutely. Those final three episodes could easily have been an entire season on their own. Part of me is still mourning the characters we didn’t get a chance to see.

But another part of me can also admit there would never be enough seasons to satisfy fans. Focusing on just one location does a disservice to the huge volume of stories elsewhere.

The good news is that Arcane’s showrunners have already confirmed that three new regions will be explored in further League Of Legends spin-offs – with production already in motion. Fans will soon visit the empire of Noxus, the kingdom of Demacaia, and the mystic islands of Ionia.

While Piltover and Zaun may well and truly be the rear mirror, the future of Runeterra is untapped. Who knows what new characters, new stories, and new adventures await millions of fans?

Arcane seasons 1 and 2 are available to watch on Netflix now.