TV: Arcane (Netflix Series in Collaboration with League of Legends)

[PALE PWNR]

How is nobody talking about this show on here. League's one of the most popular games in the world, their world championships are happening right now, and Netflix just released the first 3 episodes of Arcane today.

Netflix’s Arcane is a slick and exciting intro to League of Legends

You don’t have to know Runeterra lore to have fun with the animated show

For years, fans have been wondering just when the heck League of Legends developer Riot would make an animated series. It seemed inevitable. The studio previously created stunning animated shorts to promote everything from new characters to esports tournaments. And with an increasing focus on expanding League’s storytelling — something that’s tough to do within the confines of a team-based strategy game — a show made a whole lot of sense. Now, it’s real, with a nine-episode series called Arcane. The best part: not only is it a lot of fun, but you don’t have to know anything about League to get into it.

Arcane is set (mostly) in a city called Piltover early on, which is on the verge of a big change that could impact the entirety of the fantasy realm of Runeterra: a pair of scientists are figuring out a way to harness the dangerous power of magic to use in everything from weapons to tools to transportation. Amidst this backdrop, the show follows a handful of characters throughout the city. Things start out with a street kid named Vi leading a small gang to a big score, heading to the upper reaches of the city to steal some expensive-looking gadgets. The heist, naturally, goes bad and ends with some exploding crystals. The perspective then shifts to the likes of the aforementioned scientists and an underworld kingpin with lots of scars and a big grudge.

The first 3 episodes came out today, the next 3 on the 13th, and the final 3 on the 20th.

Click to read more...

 

[RandV]

I plan on getting started tomorrow. Have no interest in the games, but certainly happy to get a good animated series out of them like they did with DOTA earlier in the year.

And I've always been saying while there's a lot of live action fantasy shows being made now after Game of Thrones' success this quality production animation is a great way to tackle some series when you can't spend $10M on episode, like I believe Amazon has done with the Wheel of Time and will likely follow up with their new LotR series. My favourite fantasy series is Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archives, which I just don't think would be feasible to do live, but while there are a lot of ways you could design an animation I think Arcane's style would be amazing for it.

 

[Nizdizzle]

I watched all 3 episodes yesterday and I have to say, Riot hit it out of the park. The quality of animation, story, and voice acting is amazing. I cannot wait until next week for Act 2.

I'm interested in seeing what people who aren't familiar with the League of Legends IP think, because I admit seeing some of the characters in the world really added to the show for me. I can't remember any TV show I watched this year that I enjoyed as much as this almost to the point I'm worried I'm fanboying and overreacting.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Just finished watching the second episode. Damn this looks great and I'm intrigued by the world it is set in.

 

[Tw1ster]

Never played the game but after 7 episodes, this is one of the best shows I’ve seen all year

 

[PALE PWNR]

Never played the game but after 7 episodes, this is one of the best shows I’ve seen all year

Just finished watching the second episode. Damn this looks great and I'm intrigued by the world it is set in.

Nice, enjoy! You don't need to be familiar with League to enjoy these series. The only real lore associated with League of Legends are minor character backstories to the game. This is the start of building up the lore from the ground up. And in my opinion, will be one of the biggest franchises over the entire entertainment industry in the next decade or so. Aside from LOL the game, there is an auto-chess battler called Team Fight Tactics, a shooter called Valorant, a trading card game called Legends of Runeterra, and an MMORPG, a Fighting game and more confirmed to be coming. Aside from those, Riot is working on the 2nd season of Arcane already, there are rumors that more TV and potentially movies in the works. They've already fully immersed themselves into the music industry with K/DA, True Damage and Pentakill. And even older videos that they've worked on previously are fantastic.

Theres a ton of lore to explore with League, and this is just scratching the surface. And this series is a great starting point and a fantastic representation of what they are looking to do moving forward. If you want more here are some other videos that League has done in the past that you might be interested in. All are either character introductions for the game itself or just promotional work to hype it up some, but the quality throughout is fantastic. Riot has been quietly killing it for a while now and they are about to blow up even further than they already have.







There are a lot more of those types of videos to watch as well. Nothing that spoils Arcane or anything else.

Enjoy the deep dive! And the series too

 

[Emperoreddy]

Amazing show but a bit of misery porn.

From what I have gathered in reading actual LoL lore I really hope the show just keeps doing its own thing.

It feels like it would wreck the arcs the show has created to shoehorn them into their game roles.

 

[Nizdizzle]

Amazing show but a bit of misery porn.

From what I have gathered in reading actual LoL lore I really hope the show just keeps doing its own thing.

It feels like it would wreck the arcs the show has created to shoehorn them into their game roles.

My guess is that the show will be about each characters journey to their "end-state" role (which is what they are described in the basic LoL lore). I imagine once they tell that story, they will move on to other characters and stories. Personally, I'm excited to see the Viktor storyline most of all.

 

[Emperoreddy]

My guess is that the show will be about each characters journey to their "end-state" role (which is what they are described in the basic LoL lore). I imagine once they tell that story, they will move on to other characters and stories. Personally, I'm excited to see the Viktor storyline most of all.

I hope this isn't the case. The characters in league are very one note

 

[Nizdizzle]

I hope this isn't the case. The characters in league are very one note

I don't think that's been the case with the characters they've shown in Arcane. I like what they did with Singed, Viktor, and Jayce in particular, who before the show I couldn't have told you a lick about what their lore was and I honestly didn't care all that much. I don't see why they couldn't give the same treatment to pretty much any other league character.

 

[RandV]

I hope this isn't the case. The characters in league are very one note

A MOBA is a terrible setup if your interested in developing characters and telling stories in a game. It does however leave you with a blank if you want to do all that outside the base game, and in which case in terms of an animation actually works out better than trying to do something like Final Fantasy VII or other 'story-driven' RPG's.

 

[Emperoreddy]

A MOBA is a terrible setup if your interested in developing characters and telling stories in a game. It does however leave you with a blank if you want to do all that outside the base game, and in which case in terms of an animation actually works out better than trying to do something like Final Fantasy VII or other 'story-driven' RPG's.

True as long as they are willing to let the show be the true canon start to new arcs, or let it be its own thing.

They somehow struck super gold here with a legitimately excellent show with some great characters with lots of depth.

Jinx in the games is basically just a knockoff Harley Quinn. Super zany and manic. Show Jinx has done a great job showcasing how mentally ill she is, doesn't play it for laughs or goofs, instead leaning into how tragic she is.

Show Jinx is a character. LoL Jinx is a game mascot.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

This show and the Castlevania series make me pine for an animated take on Metroid.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Watched episode 5 back on the 7th. Then I watched episode 6 last night and somehow forgot everything that happened... Anyway! Still really enjoying it. Did they say when season 2 is supposed to come out?

 

[beowulf]

Actually ended up liking this series. Was not a huge player of the game but I want to see where the story goes in the next season.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

I finished this season yesterday. Damn. 9.5/10 from me.

And now I'm watching Arcane easter egg videos on YouTube. I know nothing about the games but apparently the series has so many call backs, hints, and whatever.

cc @PALE PWNR

 

[PALE PWNR]

I finished this season yesterday. Damn. 9.5/10 from me.

And now I'm watching Arcane easter egg videos on YouTube. I know nothing about the games but apparently the series has so many call backs, hints, and whatever.

cc @PALE PWNR

Nice! Yea there's a lot out there! Enjoy!

 

[hoyster]

Never had any interest in the game and I have absolutely zero knowledge of it.

That being said, this was one of the best shows I've seen and this will be a tough wait to get the next season.

 

[Warden of the North]

Loved it.

Have no interest at all in the game

 

[Jussi]

No knowledge of the game nor any interest in it.

Really liked the show. Definitely shipping Vi and Caitlyn which the writers seem to be doing based on how much they apparently are liking all the CaitVi stuff on social medias. Amanda Overton fought to get in the "Cupcake" line. That being said, Powder was so annoying/stupid/reckless that I probably would have slapped her too. Also got a major Tiny Tina (Borderlands) vibe from Jinx.

 

[Raekwon]

Bump
Just got into this show and ripped through season 1 and the new season

Loving the vibe and can't wait for the act 3 tomorrow

 

[PALE PWNR]

One of the best TV series I've seen. The plot, story and characters are amazing. The music and art is all time imo.

 

[Romang67]

One of the best TV series I've seen. The plot, story and characters are amazing. The music and art is all time imo.

It's the best for me, period. Just finished act 3. I'll add the parallel structure running through acts and between seasons to your list of amazing things.

And to echo everyone else, I also haven't played the game and have no interest in doing so. Not my type of game, and it sounds like the fanbase is awful.

Spoiler

I'm so deeply and profoundly not okay.

 

[Rodgerwilco]

Watched the first 3 episodes and I'm loving it! The animation is just really next level, amazing Voice Acting, and they've built quite an awesome little universe in the series. Looking forward to getting through more of the series. I played LoL from launch until about season 3, and doubt I'll ever get back to it, but it's cool to see something related to it.

 

[SJSharksfan39]

I finished Arcane over the weekend and I don't think there was another show that has disappointed me a lot in the last year than this one. I watched the first season in July (The week before Star Trek Prodigy came out) and I thought it was great and looked forward to more. Also, I like Ella Purnell from Prodigy and wanted to see another project she was in (I think I should do a watch of Yellowjackets or whatever other show that she is known for) and I thought her portrayal of Jinx was really good. I wanted to like Season 2 but in the end I really didn't. It was too rushed, they tried to fit 3 seasons into 1 and there wasn't really a cohesive storyline. It's like each of the three parts were just three different parts and they barely related to each other. Maybe I just don't know the League of Legends lore enough to appreciate this show, but watching the last two episodes I just grew really frustrated, even to the point of being annoyed with the animation and the in your face flashing that I applauded this show for before. Also, they made a decision at the end of the finale that they didn't need to make, but I guess if you go back to episode 7 it was inevitable.