If you haven’t heard of Arcane, you’re not alone. Even though it’s one of the most critically acclaimed animated shows of the last decade, it’s flown under the radar in a lot of circles. I can see why. A TV-MA animated show based on that online multiplayer game League of Legends? There’s no way that can be any good, right? Wrong.Â
I’ve never played League of Legends a day in my life, and I don’t plan on it. But I can safely say that Arcane is one of my favorite shows of all time, period. The first season came out in 2021, and I have been impatiently waiting for the final season ever since. At last, this November, the last season came out.Â
A little context for people who haven’t seen the show: Arcane Season 1 is a fantasy, steampunk style show set in the fictional city of Piltover and its oppressed “undercity” Zaun far below. The show primarily follows two sisters, Vi and Jinx, as the conflict between the privileged Piltover and impoverished Zaun simmers around them. Oh, and there’s emerging technology that’s infused with magic. Obviously. The first season is dramatic, tragic, and stunning.Â
In the second season, the brewing conflict between Zaun and Piltover explodes into an all out war. And if other fans are anything like me, they’re going to love it. Conflict between political powers, and interpersonal conflict between the characters, are in perfect chaos. The action scenes alone are worth the price of admission, and the emotional beats of the story make it soar. The show breaks your heart in a million ways, but it’s the kind of hurt you want to come back to. And I would be remiss not to mention the absolutely gorgeous animation. The show took 200 million dollars to make, and you can tell. The painterly backgrounds, the gorgeously rendered skintones, the bombastic fight scenes, and the multimedia sequences throughout the show are some of the best pieces of animation I have ever seen, and I watch a lot of animation.Â
The second season, of course, isn’t perfect. It asks a lot of its audience, presenting new characters and conflicts it doesn’t fully explain. The pace is breakneck, which sometimes serves the heart-pounding story well and sometimes makes you feel a little confused. I wish the show had more time to explore the smaller emotions between characters. But, with only nine episodes to wrap such a rich story, I’ll take what I can get.Â
I think Arcane is an important show, especially now. Firstly, in a world where generative AI is growing and corporations are attempting to replace artists, it is crucial to consume groundbreaking art made by human beings. The animation in this show is mind-bending, colorful, and ranges from grunge to ethereal. And it was made without typing in a prompt. Secondly, the show packs a powerful political message. We are living in a time of rising fascism, growing wealth disparity, and advancing technology with unknown impacts. Arcane doesn’t shy away from these topics, showing everything from the dangers of police brutality to the devastation of generational poverty. It is more relevant now than when it came out, and it will continue to be relevant in the future. Please, give it a watch. And if you see me on campus, please talk to me about it.