Competitive games started to gain popularity in the early 2000s with the introduction to esports, where two teams go head and head in a video game for money and glory. It did not take long for “League of Legends” to establish itself as one of the giants in esports. Although the community that plays the game receives a lot of hate for their toxic behavior, many people enjoy the story in the game. Therefore, it did not take long for the creators to start development on the show, “Arcane: League of Legends.” Released on Nov 6, 2021, the show became an immediate hit because of its diverse story, unique characters and explosive animation.
When it comes to successful shows, a storyline always remains a top priority. “Arcane: League of Legends” upholds this principle. The story follows the journey of two sisters, Powder and Vi, as they try to survive their corrupt world. It also shows the transition of Powder into Jinx. I love how the story accounts for people who have zero knowledge of “League of Legends,” as it gives the opportunity for the audience to grow with each character. It also provides an enjoyable story for all new viewers.
Characters played another huge role in the show’s success. Jinx puts on the best performance as we watch her go insane throughout the season. None of the characters stick out as evil, they may do horrible things, but they all have good intentions. Many characters paint Silco as the main “antagonist,” however he just wants to protect his people and bring equality to the world. I also enjoyed the character Jayce, an inventor who tries to advance his world closer to peace. All these characters make the show more enjoyable because they supply unique perspectives on their world, and they all maintain strong dedications to their goals.
The animation tops all the other components of “Arcane: League of Legends” success. Lead animators Sébastien Asensio and Martial André used 2D and 3D rigs to bring the show to life. When they animated huge fight scenes, the animators relied on 3D models and render. Meanwhile, they used 2D animation for the story development and background art. I love how the art always pops out at the viewer, which allows the audience to travel to another world. I hope to see a continuation of this in future seasons.
In the end, “Arcane: League of Legends” will forever be one of the best animated shows to hit streaming platforms. With its manifold story, eccentric characters and stupendous animation I give this show a well deserved score of five out of five jinx bombs.
