Since its premiere in 2021, Arcane: League of Legends has been ranked the No.1 TV show in 85 countries by Netflix. It’s won four Emmy Awards, and also holds the title of most expensive animated show. A report by Variety set its production and promotion cost at $250 million, making it the most expensive animated feature ever on streaming or linear TV. But, if you’re familiar with Arcane, then you know that the $250 million is simply a reflection of the show’s beautiful animation style and fantastic quality.
Arcane: League of Legends is the most expensive animated TV show because it’s one of the very best animated TV shows.
Arcane is based on Riot Games’ League of Legends, a 2009 multiplayer video game that has drawn 180 million monthly active players around the world (Wallenstein). The show focuses on twin cities, Piltover and Zaun, and their inhabitants. While Zaun fights for its independence from Piltover, struggling against classism and injustice, Piltover labels itself the “City of Progress”, projecting a facade of peace and satisfaction. Arcane: League of Legends does a masterful job of weaving together several different storylines: that of Vi and Jinx, sisters torn apart by betrayal and experience, of Viktor and Jayce, scientists trying to tame magic, and of Mel Medarda, a young politician carving a place for herself in Piltover.
All of Arcane’s characters are beautifully formed and unique––they’re real people, with ambitions and flaws. No matter what type of character you prefer, whether it be the morally grey antihero, the conflicted hero, or the righteous villain, Arcane has someone to root for. Tracing their development over the course of the show is fascinating, as no Arcane character is truly static.
In addition to its unparalleled characters, Arcane boasts a distinctive and unique animation style. It’s eye-catching, colorful, and memorable. There are countless edits out there titled “the beauty of Arcane”, showcasing how its style makes use of everything from vibrant neons to inky shadows to convey a world of symbolism.
Arcane: League of Legends is one of the most expensive animated shows in terms of monetary, cinematic and literary value. It tackles weighted topics such as classism and generational trauma, presenting them using a cast of original characters and an unmatched animation style. If I had to recommend one Netflix series above all others, it would be Arcane.
Comments