Although Arcane has been around for five years already, Netflix’s animated adventure series keeps getting better with each passing year. Set in the League of Legends universe, Arcane is an animated adventure show that follows the story of Hailee Steinfeld’s Vi and Ella Purnell’s Powder as the two sisters get caught up in a war between the rich and the poor.
Set between the cities of Piltover and Zaun, Arcane’s complex fantasy story raises the bar for video game adaptations and animated adventure shows in general. With an immersive visual style that features some truly stunning flourishes, the world of Arcane feels both lived-in and still stunning in its sheer invention.
Arcane Will Never Get Old
Admittedly, Arcane season 2’s storyline was a complex, dense affair that left some casual viewers feeling lost. However, for every viewer who needed a rewatch to keep up with the power struggles in Piltover and Zaun, there were more audience members who were understandably impressed by the Netflix hit’s refusal to dumb down its complicated plotting.
The huge cast featured in Arcane’s first two seasons could leave newcomers feeling daunted by the prospect of keeping track of so many pivotal characters. However, the show deftly interweaves their stories throughout its two seasons, while Arcane’s masterful pacing ensures that the show never feels slow or dull despite providing viewers with a huge amount of in-universe lore.
Why Arcane Only Had Two Seasons
Although Arcane was a massive hit with viewers and critics alike, it is easy to discern why the show has only two seasons to date. Arcane’s budget was massive, coming in at over $200 million and setting numerous records for the biggest sum spent on animated web shows to date. This paid off.
Upon release, both seasons of Arcane won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program. That said, the sheer amount of money that the show’s production cost makes it understandable for the series to wrap up after only two seasons and 18 episodes. For viewers who were left devastated, however, the franchise does have future plans.
The Arcane Franchise Is Not Over
According to a November IGN 2024 article, the show’s creators said that Noxus, Ionia, and Demacia would all get more focus in upcoming spin-offs set in the League of Legends universe. WhileArcane’s spinoff series won’t arrive for some time, it is already clear that the show will expand the world of its predecessor.
With so many more regions and territories to explore, there is no end to the potential expansion of the franchise. However, it will be tough for any new show to live up to the high standard set by Arcane’s two seasons.
Source: IGN
- Release Date
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2021 – 2024
- Network
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Christian Linke
- Directors
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Barth Maunoury, Marietta Ren, Christelle Abgrall
- Writers
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Amanda Overton, Nick Luddington, Mollie Bickley St. John, Ben St. John, Giovanna Sarquis, Henry G.M. Jones
