When most video games are adapted for film, the television shows and movies created from them are often known for not being the best. As an avid fan of video games myself, many of the films I’ve seen for video games weren’t exactly doing them justice. However, for League of Legends, (a game you’ve definitely heard of at least once), it was different. The game is not exactly the most popular one of all time, but it has gained a loyal fan base and a distinctive reputation throughout the years.
League of Legends is a multiplayer online battle arena game developed by Riot Games, known for its amazing character designs, accessibility and production value. Despite its many positives, the game is bound to have flaws. Many long-time players end up finding the game itself quite boring; some even consider the game system unbalanced, and the online community can be toxic at times. It wasn’t really the type of game I’d play because it didn’t appeal much to my tastes. Yet, my interest quickly piqued when Riot games launched Arcane. After three episodes, I was hooked; the show had an element so compelling that it made me a doting fan.
With stunning visuals, complex characters, and a spectacular soundtrack, Arcane is currently one of the most popular shows on Netflix. As a show with a 100% rating on rotten tomatoes and a 9.3/10 on IGN, it’s definitely recommended by critics and highly worth your time.
The best thing about watching Arcane is that you don’t have to know anything about the game itself to watch the show. From the beginning, you are dragged deep into the story. Throughout each episode, you’ll be able to easily understand what’s going on and dive deeper into the plot.
Arcane revolves around the two cities — the utopian city of Piltover and the repressed undercity of Zaun. Sisters Vi and Powder find themselves on opposing sides of a war. The show deeply examines these characters’ lives and the relationships around them. It has a great cast of characters, all being integral to the plot in one way or another and each conveying a different perspective. Though it’s primarily about sisters Vi and Powder, as the story progresses, other characters such as Caitlyn and Jayce are introduced.
When I saw Arcane’s trailer for the first time, the animation style caught my eye. The backgrounds are digitally hand-painted, and the texture of the characters is crafted to achieve a graphical look that fits with the environment. Due to its use of 3D animation combined with painted backgrounds, Arcane’s art style is highly praised and breathtaking. Taking elements from the game, the animators of Arcane are inspired to come up with their own ideas. Finally, the meticulous cinematography frames everything. Here are two screenshots capturing moments in the show that are truly stunning.
(image from img.game-news24.com)
Into the series; Jinx confronts her past demons from memories she had abandoned.
(image from showbizjunkies.com)
Vi and Powder discover the genocide and loss of their home.
The voice acting for Arcane is a crucial part of what makes the characters and plot blend well together. Each voice actor naturally fits their character’s role in Arcane, making the characters come to life through their delivery of the lines. You may know the popular actress Hailee Steinfeld from movies such as The Edge of Seventeen and the Hawkeye series. She voices the character Vi in Arcane. By giving Vi a lively voice, Hailee drew out her character’s overall appearance and spunky yet bold personality. Another prominent character whose voice-acting and design made the series spectacular was the show’s own villain Silco. The voice acting for Silco was so compelling that it solidified the antagonist image the show’s producers were aiming for. Without spoiling too much, when Silco talks to Jinx, he adopts a much softer tone with his voice, implying he has a softer spot for Jinx while maintaining a restrained facade in front of others. This leads us to see him as more than the villain he is and acknowledge the depth his character holds. Voices play a huge role when it comes to characters we see on screen; the way a line is delivered can have a huge impact on the story and how we as the audience view a character.
Arcane’s soundtrack also features incredible songs. For instance, as the official theme song of the show, Imagine Dragon’s song “Enemy,” is a bop with a catchy instrumental tune. However, the main aspect of the song is the subtext behind its snappy melody. “Enemy” is directly linked to one of the characters in the show, as to which one is something I’ll leave you to solve.
What distinguishes Arcane from a lot of animated shows is that the story emerges from the characters and their desire for each other, for satisfaction, and for retribution throughout the course of the show’s now-completed first season. It’s not a show that’s focused on world-building through exposition in the way that a lot of fantasy shows are. Rather, it depicts characters creating and shattering the world around them. It exhibits how their actions have consequences to their surroundings and sheds light on how we as the audience see characters as antagonists or heroes.
For me, the writing and animation of the show drive its dark yet intriguing plot. Though animated shows are not watched by everyone, Arcane is one that I think deserves a chance from all of us.
Jessica T