‘Arcane’: Everything about Netflix’s success and its relationship with League of Legends

Video game adaptations are on the rise. In recent years, titles such as Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023) and Super Mario Bros. – The Movie (2023) dominated the box office, while series like The Last of Us (2023), from HBO, and Fallout (2024), from Amazon, shone at the Emmys. In this scenario of large productions, Arcanefrom Netflix, stands out as one of the most ambitious and successful adaptations, based on the universe of League of Legends. With stunning visuals and an engaging narrative, the series won over both game fans and new audiences.

Created by Christian Linke and Alex Yeein partnership with the developer Riot Games and the French animation studio Fortiche, Arcane explores the fictional world of Runeterrawhere the stories of League of Legends. The series, initially launched in 2021, returns in its second season, which arrived in Brazil in November 2024, with an exclusive release on Netflix.

Divided into three acts, each with three episodes, the series is released weekly: Act I debuted on November 9th, followed by Act II on November 16th and Act III, which ends the plot, on November 23rd.

The plot of Arcane

The series is set between two contrasting regions: the utopian city of Piltover and the dark underworld of Zaun. The story follows the sisters Saw (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (played by Ella Purnell) while facing personal and social conflicts amid the struggle between the two cities. In the first season, we follow the sisters’ youth, marked by tragedy and the desire for revenge, as well as secondary characters who enrich the narrative, such as Caitlyn, Ekko and Heimerdinger.

In the second season, Vi and Jinx deal with the consequences of their choices, while tension between Piltover and Zaun increases. The production not only expands the development of the main characters, but also deepens the relationship between Vi and Caitlyn, a highlight of LGBTQIA+ representation within the series.

The relationship with League of Legends

Arcane is based on the universe of League of Legendsa MOBA game (online battle arena), where teams compete to destroy the opponent’s base. Characters such as Vi, Jinx, Caitlyn, Ekko, Jayce, Viktor and Singed appear in both the series and the game, with their stories and personalities being explored in more depth in the adaptation.

Since the first season, Riot Games has collaborated directly with the production, ensuring that the series will become an official part of the game’s lore in 2023. Riot has also released related content, such as skins and in-game missions, connecting fans of the series to the universe of League.

Impact and recognition

Arcane it was the first streaming series to win the Emmy for Best Animated Program, in 2022, in addition to receiving an Annie Award. Its budget was estimated at an impressive US$250 million, reflecting the high level of production that elevated the series to a level of quality rarely seen in game adaptations.

Despite its success, Riot Games has faced controversy, including accusations of a sexist culture and mass layoffs in recent years. The series, however, became a showcase for the company, overshadowing some of these issues with its popularity and critical acclaim.

The future of Arcane and of League of Legends

Although the second season ends the story of Arcaneshowrunner Christian Linke stated that the series is just the beginning of a larger narrative journey in the Runeterra universe. Furthermore, the universe of League of Legends continues to expand with new games such as The Mageseeker and Song of Nunuand other multimedia adaptations.

This article was translated and adapted from Rolling Stone USA. Read the original version here.