Animated Transcendence

For as long as I can remember, never have I waited and wanted for a follow-up series to be released than that of Fortiche’s and Netflix’s Arcane. Not only did the first season inquisitively present a promising yet vivid world which felt it had existed far before the series starts and will continue to exist far far after the story is finished being told – and a select of characters to add to this which didn’t require audience members to know from the get-go – it also illuminated all of the engaging contextual elements in a distinctive frame that made for an arresting impression at first glance. Comparable to the manner in which the acclaimed Spider-Verse animated films seamlessly fuse clear and different artistic approaches fluently and effectively, Arcane similarly and wonderfully mixed and matched different artistic and animated mediums for different means of expression. Indeed, it’s clear to perceive and connote just how much of this ‘bombast’ is part of the appeal; it’s language of effortlessly using epic soundscapes, the spectacle of its expensive, stylised animation and a story filled with compellingly cruel ironies. Yet, despite its rather and arguable heavy-handed nature, Arcane’s first season left a long-lasting impression and its latest outing of season 2 exceeds this said fancy to such a point where you’re left yearning for more and more. With the grandiose manner in depicts its story and how it concludes, viewing Arcane in its entirety presents a shared and inescapable feeling of knowing that there should be more…

Amidst the escalating unrest between the rich, utopian city of Piltover and the seedy, oppressed underbelly of Zaun, sisters Vi and Jinx find themselves embroiled in a developing conflict over clashing convictions and arcane technologies. Arcane Season two picks up in the immediate aftermath of the explosive events that concluded the first season. With Jinx’s reckless use of a stolen Hextech gemstone leading to catastrophic consequences, tensions between Piltover and Zaun are at an all-time high. With every action taken, a reaction follows suit with the likes of Caitlyn and Vi hunting down Jinx for her misdeeds whilst the likes of Ekko and Heimerdinger uncover an anomaly that aligns with Jayce’s ideals of eradicating Hextech to save a mortally wounded Viktor. Yet, as events transpire and characters collide and clash on behalf of their own respective ideals and emotions, new purposes begin to unfold; motives that all coincide with the fate and future of both Piltover and Zaun…

With high-praise and accolades for its efforts in the first season, it’s fair to surmount that Arcane’s latest and last outing had tremendous expectations in regards to not only where the interconnected story was going to lead to, but how it would equal – if not – out-match the inspired animated techniques first fulfilled back in 2021. Even looking back at my own review of the aforementioned series’ first televised excursion, I painted this elaborate picture that Arcane could rival the successes seen in a series such as Game of Thrones which full-fleshes the motivations of the established characters and introduce other League of Legends characters that coincide with the overarching plot. After viewing all of the episodes and Acts available to view, the sky-high expectations are truly matched and are even proudly stretched to the point where events and actions that take place between characters feel understandably shocking yet thrilling to behold. This viewing pleasure is firstly established within the series’ first Act and how it upholds the momentum of the catastrophic cliff-hanger proposed at the end of the first season to an opening three episodes that deliver on built-up tension that blossomed in the preceding season. Indeed, whereas the first season was about the brewing conflict between the citizens of Piltover and the years of oppression that led to animosity and hatred, then this whole second season is the resulting conflict. Lines are firmly drawn and this escalates with each passing episode, showing how a leadership that chooses brutality leads to a radicalized populace and where defining actions of characters make way for poignant change. In similar vein to its foregone season, where characters are moulded by the choices they act upon and ultimately collide with other characters’ interest (a notable story construct grasped in the aforesaid Game of Thrones), the rather action-orientated story first presented in this second season very much remains centred and ruled on its complex characters’ individual arcs and how they are eventually interwoven come the end. Whereas we see the character of Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) torn between difficult choices – causing the said figure’s rage and vulnerability to seep through every action she undertakes – we also get to see a vengeful Caitlyn (Katie Leung) who is forced to make some hard choices during difficult times, showing how hard it can be to maintain your ideals while also holding onto power. Leung especially is seen as one of the standout performers of the entirety of season 2 – forever portraying the subtle ways Caitlyn’s outlook has been impacted by her time in the Undercity, her time with Vi, and how they clash against a lifetime of prejudice and outside influences from the Noxians. Then we have the persona that is Jinx (Ella Purnell) who’s conflict and grief are encompassed are bested through an amazing voice performance. It’s fair to say that a number of character undergo their fair share of changes, but Jinx is by far the most profound of this as she not only becomes a symbol of resistance – where she must decide whether she’s a force of chaos or if she stands for anything or anyone – but also and unlikely friend to Isha where Jinx herself retains some of her playful innocence once found when she was once known as Powder.

In spite of the fact that Arcane doesn’t necessarily play-out as the most heterogenous show in depicting social commentaries around inequality and systemic oppression, there’s a clear view to depict just how much the showrunners portray their given themes through more compelling contextual notes and doesn’t inevitably emphasise themes without resorting to broad attempts at “both sides have their points.” To view Arcane simply, it’s a story about an empire that keeps creating its own monsters — with people in positions of power responding to provocation vengefully, rather than with understanding, in a pattern that keeps spiralling. Indeed, it’s a context with rather taps into its science-fiction undertones; motifs of ‘progression’ and how actions for this idea – both ‘good’ and bad’ – have their consequences on peoples freewill and imperfections. What makes these specific story thematics so alluring however, is how it rather complicates the relationships of the characters, rather than what it says about the world overall. This is proven with two perspectives of the entire series – one through the journey that the character of Ekko (Reed Shannon) undertakes and the way in which Arcane concludes. Without spoiling too much of what is already a compelling and joyous ride of a story, it’s important to illuminate that Ekko is as much a victim of the presented themes compared to that of the world in which he lives in, since Ekko himself is rather raptured by the overarching story at the beginning and finds himself in a different space where he begins to understand what he needs do in order to change or ‘progress’. By placing focus on Ekko – a character who was always near the main action and the main characters but not at the center of the story – writer Amanda Overton does a great job of distilling the big-picture stuff of Arcane. Ekko’s reactions to a world straight out of his wildest dreams show us the effects that war and oppression can have on a child. Non of the same can be said in regards to the world that is vividly and beautifully shown in Arcane as, ultimately, everything is seemingly all forgiven and characters are friends, despite everything we know about the inequality and injustice that’s inherent to Piltover. It’s one thing for Arcane to promote mercy over resentment. But we never see anyone admit their mistakes or air their grievances. Sins aren’t forgiven – they’re just forgotten. This extends to core themes that were there from the start: The finale quickly discards all lingering threads in favour for simplistic conclusion in which everyone puts aside their differences to fight a greater threat. That being said, whilst the grand finale rather rushes its proceedings and blindsides nearly everything that it compellingly builds-up, there are many fantastic story sequences to take away from all of season 2 where you’re not unoccupied by. From Caitlyn’s rise as a general, to well-choreographed fight sequences and even the entirety of episode 7 which gives the viewer a beautiful ‘what if?’ scenario, there’s much to remember and admire about Arcane’s season 2 with thanks to its use of formal elements…

As engaging and tangible both the story and characters are portrayed in this latest and last season of Arcane, what inevitably stands-out more than any other component of the said show is its use of animation and how studio Fortiche presents Arcane to be a world that blurs the line between fantasy and realism. Indeed, Showrunners Christian Linke and Alex Yee, alongside series directors Pascal Charrue and Arnaud Delord, again pursue a fascinating collision of styles, as various forms of traditional animation are spliced together with computer-generated 3D. This means some effects have a hand-drawn touch, but it also extends to sequences where an entirely new style takes over. One such example of this, and one of the more poignant sequences to be ensnared by, is from the first episode where we see a grieving Caitlyn coming to terms with her mother’s death. Rather instinctively, to capture the emotions and feelings of the aforesaid character and the grief she is going through, the show seemingly blends the show’s computer-animated characters with a complete charcoal aesthetic to, again, capture the feelings and situations that Caitlyn is undergoing. Even later on, a characters memories are melancholically depicted using chromatic watercolours to depict feelings of yearning yet happiness. For all its purposes, it’s truly masterful what animation is displayed here. The show is at its most exciting during these transformative sequences, mixing and matching mediums of animation for different means of expression. The team at Fortiche deserves all the praise not just for the spectacle, but also for how they portray the characters; the way they move and emote is simultaneously grounded and realistic, but also impressionistic in a way only animation can be. As the story blossoms and develops into metaphysical territory, the animation itself metamorphoses into artistic strokes that are wilder and more psychedelic. Upon reflection, what I’m more impressed by with in terms of the show’s said animation, and its other noticeable formal elements, is not how they are implementing it, but rather when these tools are used in specific moments. It’s one thing to actually utilise a myriad of different animated mediums and other components, but to use these formal elements for specific purposes is on another level. There are many examples to pinpoint this, but one such scene that sticks to my mind is that of the bout between the characters of Sevika and Smeech. Of course, within this said sequence, a lot of elements are mixed together to create something that is bewitching and eye-popping. Yet, what makes the animation so effective in this aforementioned sequence is when certain elements are used; whether it’s the needle-drop of the soundtrack that elevates the tension of the given sequence or use of minute sound-effects/drawn-effects to blur the line of fantasy and realism in a given moment. It’s utterly breathtaking at times and whilst the Spider-Verse films come close in achieving feats such as this, there’s other animated project or given tv series to day that can compare to how formal elements are used within Arcane. There’s a reason as to why many laud Arcane as one of the most generational tv-events, and its because of its animation alone. That’s not even mentioning the including of its illustrious soundtrack which features and array of different types of songs and musical nods that slot perfectly in its intended sequence.

Along with a plethora of other shows and films that I have seen throughout this year, Arcane is certainly on top of the tree when it comes to best T.V. series that I’ve seen all year round. Despite adopting an ending that doesn’t ultimately feel right, given the preceding build-up of tensions between Piltover and Zaun and character relationships that ever-shift, it’s hard to dismiss the animated majesty that studio Fortiche passionately present here and its such an effort that warrants this said show to be one of the best animated projects that have ever existed. Its amalgamation of everything shown makes for a captivating watch all the way through. There was never a moment for myself where I didn’t want to look away or get unenthused by each particular story-thread. Indeed, each moment that is presented doesn’t at all stagnate for one second and keeps you close tightly to the action and emotions that are present. As much as it is unfortunate that we won’t get to see more of Arcane, given the intention that this show was made and how much it was to make it in the first place, I have a feeling there’ll come a fortitude of a like-minded soul that’ll want to make something of similar ilk; a series that is of the same universe? Or, something that is not related to League of Legends but adopts the same animated tendencies. Whatever comes along, what will remain is how much Arcane can takes its place as one of the greatest tv projects to have ever been conjured…

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ – Alex Rabbitte