The Netflix show Arcane is a ground-breaking,three-act story adapted from the “League of Legends” multiplayer video game. The show was released Saturday, November 6th for over three weeks on Netflix. The complete season 1 is now available for streaming and season 2 has been confirmed. 

Arcane follows the lives of Vi and Powder – two sisters who live in the undercity, a dense and urban underbelly in the shadow of the shining city of progress, Piltover. The story follows the tension and relationship between Vi and Powder after a tragic event separates them. Despite the story following their relationship, it also includes a vast cast of characters both in the undercity and Piltover. Most notably, the story also follows Jayce and Viktor – two scientists who discover a way to control magic through science – developing a technology named Hextech. 

The story is a masterpiece in the way it weaves complex social and political issues while creating a compelling cast of characters. Every character feels like a person, with complex feelings and motivators that guide the story in a natural way. Part of this is due to the animation, where animators effectively used 3D models to convey emotion – something that has been notoriously difficult in animation history. The animators were able to convey realistic emotions through the purposeful asymmetry in the faces of the characters, a groundbreaking animation tactic. 

The atmosphere and setting of Arcane is immersive and fantastical with wide shots, interesting lighting, and even chalk-like effects that portray character emotions and plot tension. This is extremely effective in portraying the differences between Piltover and the Undercity, with color palette and lighting having significant effects. 

The music in Arcane is another excellent aspect of the show. Songs like “Enemy” by Imagine Dragons, “Guns for Hire” by Woodkid and “Dynasties and Dystopia” by Denxel Curry, Gizzle, and Bren Joy are amazing songs in their own right and add a unique element to the storytelling. 

Overall, Arcane is my favorite new TV series, and would rate it a solid 10/10. I highly recommend it to all audiences, especially those who enjoy high fantasy and action. Do not be intimidated by the “League of Legends” aspect – You do not need to play the game to understand the plot. I highly recommend this series for animation lovers as well – the visuals are the most stunning Netflix has ever released.