I write this while listening to Ma Meilleure Ennemie and pondering why I want to commit to writing a three-part article on Arcane. Revisiting the series makes me realize just how much effort was put into making it as close to perfect as possible. So, let’s get into it.
For the uninitiated, Arcane is a two-season animated series loosely based on the League of Legends game. It follows the story of two sisters in the city of Piltover and the oppressed underground nation of Zaun. It first aired in November 2021 and was distributed by Netflix.
Act 1: Music/Sound Design
So, why do the title and the sound design come first? As of the writing of this article, Arcane currently has a rating of 100% on rotten tomatoes, which is literally perfect. As for why music/sound design first, this is usually the first attack point for naysayers (read as Chioma).
Most Chiomas state that the music sequences/montages are too much, but I say why not lean into your strengths? Riot Games did a beautiful thing, by ensuring most of the songs and sounds were originally produced for the series (reportedly spending 3-4 years working on the music for the show), most popularly, Enemy by Imagine Dragons. We saw the beauty of music montages especially more in Season 2.
Season 2 had 13 music sequences, while Season 1 had four. These music sequences fulfilled one major statement in art, show don’t tell. They were used to skip over tropes that could have weighed down the quality of the series, summarise time skips and give deeper insights into what is going on.
The score and songs were not merely background noise; they were integral to the storytelling. They enhanced the emotional impact of key scenes, foreshadowed future events, and provided insight into the characters’ inner thoughts and feelings. For example, Heimerdinger who is a mentor to Jayce and Ekko voices the lyrics in Spin the Wheel. The song plays over visuals of Jayce and Ekko finding their way in the new worlds they were thrust in, serving as a sort of lesson that Heimerdinger was giving them.
Another example is the haunting melody of To Ashes and Blood, which perfectly complements the climactic battle between Jinx and Vi, the fight between Sevika and Caitlyn, and Jayce tampering with the wild rune. Even more amplifying the intensity of the moment. The song’s lyrics, also give further insight into what is going on in the scene.
With such a rich tapestry of music, it is difficult to narrow down the best songs. However, here are some of the top 10 picks from seasons 1 and 2:
- Ma Meilleure Ennemie
- To Ashes & Blood
- Wasteland
- Guns for Hire
- What could have been
- Remember Me
- The Line
- Heavy is the Crown
- Sucker
- Dynasties & Dystopia
Act 2: Visuals
One of the first endearing aspects of the series for many fans (myself and the Chiomas included) was the visuals. The visuals presented a fresh taste of the world of animation. Represented by the Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles, and a budget of $250,000 for the entire show, studio Fortiche worked on Arcane by combining 3D and 2D elements.
The behind-the-scenes documentary, Arcane: Bridging the Rift, delved deeper into what made the visuals so special. 3D character animation was done on 2D hand-painted backgrounds, which were 3D-mapped to enable the fluidity of the scene. Then lighting and effects were manually hand-painted frame by frame into the scenes. Finally, Fortiche had this unique spin on their camera angles, which gave a more realistic view and introduced human camera errors into the animation. Animators also used reference performances instead of motion capture to create semi-realistic and engaging character animations.
The result was a visual spectacle, which stood out from more traditional forms of animation. Such that you could pause at any point and get a beautiful concept art/illustration. Not only were the aesthetics eye-catching but they also served the purpose of enhancing the emotional impact and immersing viewers in the world of the show. The characters’ expressions, their fluidity of movement and the interplay of light and shadow all led to a profound and unforgettable viewing experience.
Moreover, this led to Arcane winning three Annie Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awards, and one UZETA Award and getting nominated for multiple other awards on account of its visuals. These recognise the ground-breaking nature of the show’s visual achievements.
In the words of Thomas Vu, one of the producers of Arcane, “Because of their handcrafted-ness and the painter-y look, it gives this timeless look that I think even when the technology evolves, that this will still feel lasting.”
Act 3: Character Arc & Plot
At the heart of Arcane lies a story of two sisters. This was evident from the cold open of Season 1 until the last scene of Season 2. Chiomas would say that the focus shifted from Piltover vs Zaun to the Viktor storyline in Season 2, but Arcane has always been the characters and their struggle.
Vi’s character arc started with her wanting to fight for her family and her community. Young Vi was so ready to take up arms against Piltover. This eagerness to lead and fight led to the eventual deaths of Claggor and Milo, her arrest and the temporary loss of her family. Her eventual release only brought her back to the point of wanting to fight for her family, leading her to realise that things had changed, evidenced by Jinx’s betrayal at the end of season 1 and Caitlyn’s assault on her in season 2, episode 3. This led to her eventual spiral into a state of having nothing to live for. How did she pass the time? Fight Club. Only through the return of Jinx and her duelling Warwick/Vander does she begin to realise that not everything can be fought for.
Jinx’s character arc mainly revolved around her wanting to be useful. She started as Powder a useless child on missions, whose inventions did not work, wanting to be found useful by her sister/family, to becoming Jinx (through trauma) and wanting to be found useful by Silco. Eventually, she realises this weakness, a form of connection to Powder then kills Silco at the end of season 1 and tries to kill Vi in season 2, episode 3. Only through her accidental encounter with Isha is she able to restore her human connection, her reconnection to Powder. And when Isha dies, it sends her into a depressive episode where she tries to kill herself. Eventually, she becomes extremely important in turning the tide of war at the end of the series and realises the importance of her walking away to end the cycle of violence.
Other characters go through character arcs that eventually resolve an issue they started with. For Viktor and Jayce it was the price of ambition, Heimerdinger was his inability to relate with humans and serve as a good mentor/teacher, while for Silco it was his fight for respect and a victorious underdog story. Ekko moves from being an indirect cause of the events of the series to carrying the burdens of Zaun and eventually showing why he deserves the title, The Boy Saviour. Let us not forget Singed who shows that being ruthlessly and unwaveringly committed to your cause, will yield great results (Bro literally won Arcane). Through these compelling character arcs and more, the creators weave the various individual journeys into a larger wonderful tapestry.
The tapestry was so large that many Chiomas feared the conclusion of the series, but those fears have been put to bed. The plot, although, fast-paced ensured that no stories were lost out. Paying attention to the tiniest of details. One most intriguing was Huck, a very minor character, who moved from being a trader in Zaun to a shimmer junkie to the gatekeeper of the herald and finally the first person transformed into a robot for Viktor. Another is the level of foreshadowing done by the creators for relatively minute aspects of the plot.
The plot truly showed Arcane as a masterpiece of character-based storytelling. The actions of individual characters had far-reaching consequences, shaping the course of events and affecting the lives of countless others.
Overall, Arcane is a groundbreaking series that has set a new standard for animated storytelling. Its combination of captivating music, stunning visuals and a compelling storyline make it a must-watch even if you know nothing about League of Legends.
Oluwapelumi Akin-Ajani
What you said on the music is very true