League of Legends has always had strong marketing from Riot Games. LoL (League of Legends) has managed to remain among the most prevalent video games played all around the entire planet, from propaganda material, videos to music videos. The introduction of “Arcane” emphasizes how well LoL (League of Legends) markets its video game to both fan base and non-fans.
On September 25, the trailer for their new Netflix show “Arcane,” which they co-created with Fortiche Production, was released. Because this is the first time Riot has done something like this, the teaser had me wondering where the show would go. Riot always is phenomenal in terms of motion graphics and art, but would their storytelling miss the mark in the end?
The story takes place in two cities: Piltover, which is known as the city of progress and home to the wealthy, and Zaun, which is known for its black market and shady dealings. The politics ultimately drive the characters’ story between these cities, creating tension among them.
Background of League of Legends
For all those unfamiliar with League of Legends, it is one of two massively successful MOBA games currently being played around the world. While other spin-off games established in the very same universe had also repeatedly tried to detail out all the world a little, we’ve never seen anything quite like a show dedicated to the story about two characters previously.
Arcane as a show was at the center of Riot Games’ massive media push, which included a collaboration with Epic Games and the inclusion of League of Legends in Fortnite.
Story Line
The show is divided into two main stories. The first follows sisters Jinx and Vi, separated after their empire crumbles underneath them, and the catastrophic event disconnects them. The following central plot point follows champions Jayce and Viktor to figure out how to use their new invention, Hextech.
Hextech uses arcane, another word for magic, to power tools and assist non-arcane users in wielding mysterious power that isn’t natural to them. Jayce and Viktor join forces to fine-tune and research the authority, restoring Piltover to its former prominence among other territories. This ability is significant in the story because everyone can see the possibility of arcane and wants to use that for positive or negative.
Without giving anything away about the plot, the rivalry between the two sisters is intriguing because it is intertwined with the power struggles between the two cities, causing internal conflicts between family and doing what is right. Jayce and Viktor both have disagreements over what they should do with hextech and how to cope with both the cities’ gradual separation.
The only issue I have with the story’s plot is how it happened. I genuinely believe that this season is unfinished and that one further episode would better round out and set up the new season.
Behind the scenes work
The series’s animation is flawless. Spectators can feel the video games animations, which also have subtle clues of either a comic strip artistic style. Evey personality introduced has their design, and it’s clear that even the background characters have been given a lot of thought to provide them with their distinct personality.
The correct method to get a sense of the cartoony graphics is to watch the music video for “Enemy,” demonstrating the various techniques used to showcase character types’ behavior. The pictures for the personalities are breathtaking, but the artwork for the cities is equally impressive. Not just the town, but also the people who live there, have a sleek and refined style. Dark colours and sturdy tower blocks, compressed into the underground, emphasize Zaun.
The series’ writing and acting is another strong suit. Each vocalist is a perfect match for their animated character, fully exemplifying the character. I’m glad they can’t endorse down to give it their all when it comes to the speech acting, as I believe that can make or break an animated series. The emotion in the voice actors’ voices made me more invested in the story because of their dedication to diving into the role of their characters.
Mel, who helps Jayce and Viktor promote hextech in Piltover, is voiced by Toks Olagundoye, one of my favorite characters. Mel must maintain her poised stature so that no one can see her flaws and use them against her, as Olagundoye’s voice emphasizes who she is. Mel carries the weight of the city and her past on her shoulders, so she must maintain her confident stature so that no one can see her flaws and use them against her.
