It's such a shame that people will miss out on this show just because it's animated. I tried talking a friend into it and she dismissed it because she doesn't "watch cartoons." Idk, I've always felt that animation was the superior medium in communicating stories-especially fantasy ones! There are no limits when it comes to animation and the wonders it could produce are infinite and I just don't understand why this would ever be a turn off for some people.
@@whereaboutsunknown3822 it really is! Animation takes you to whole new world and it's so fun to explore a universe with such a flexible medium. I can't imagine how Spider-Man Into the Multiverse or even Arcane would've been if they weren't animated bc a lot of their charm lies in the animation.
I’ve thought and thought about it, and honestly I can’t think of a single thing live action can do that animation can’t do better. I know that sounds radical, but animation really does feel superior in every way. Once upon a time, I would’ve said live action has the advantage of looking real (duh) but after seeing the incredible photorealistic animation of things like Love, Death, and Robots, live action doesn’t even really hold that advantage anymore. And even most live action uses animation in it. People keep referring to the new Lion King as a live action remake, but it’s not. That entire movie is animated.
I love that you made this video! i was not remotely interested in watching this when it came out, but i decided to just check it out after seeing so many positive reactions, and STILL it exceeded expectations.
@Christy I love all things Arcane. And, like you, I’d not really even heard of league of legends before. Great review. and @TheBookLeo I don’t know what made me click your profile. But I’m glad I did. Love just the idea of both of your channels. Just subscribed to both of you.
@@christy-anne-jones I feel the same way, but I am finding resistance. As soon as they find out it's animation `I can tell they dismiss my recommendation. Their loss.
I have no idea what you're talking about. Piltover has always been contrasted with Zaun. What is Republic City contrasted with? It's been a while since I watched LOK.
@@empiricalpurity I think they are referring to season 1, with its attempted social commentary on benders and non benders , politicking and the Equalists. Yeah when put side by side, night and day. Lok paints it as black and white, never explores the Equalists perspective, all the characters with any influence in the story are Benders, and the revolution is chalked up to Daddy issues and is never mentioned again outside of their Mechs. Bender bias and corruption is systematic, and never touched on after S1, Tarrlok and all the problems with the City council and the Police are never mentioned again.
@@matthewknudson8610 Thanks Matt. I guess the way they approached it was really different. In Arcane, the Enforcers work exclusively for the Council who only have vested interest in Piltover. Whereas in Republic City Police protect Benders and Nonbenders alike. They showed how the Triad were Benders who oppressed Nonbenders. But the Sato Family were able to enjoy great wealth and power despite being Nonbenders.
There is no cartoon or anime that has birth the range of emotions and mental conflict Arcane has within 9 episodes. I could literally empathize with even the secondary characters, how tf does every character's motives make sense? That's insane. Best ever!!!
@@buffbeluga9541 It doesn't the same way. A lot of anime dialogue is just telling you the plot and the symbolism like it's a school lesson. Show vs tell
@@xianalis4713 Yes, but what Arcane does differently that hits harder is that so much of its emotion is silent and concise. In what Anime that I have watched and enjoyed ( Death Note, Code Geass) I emphasized with the characters, but the fact is that they are heavily limited by their animation style and budget. No shade, this is just a fact, so most of the emotions we feel have to be told and at time these characters will go on soliloquy’s that works but feels artificial for plot ( Lights infamous chip eating monologue). But Arcane can communicate so much emotion and internal thoughts through its keyframe animation and just every single film making technique out there that they don’t need the characters to make jarring monologues or other forced plot devices because you feel what they feel though the animation, rather than being told. It makes them feel so authentic because they aren’t all of the sudden becoming stage actors with a whole page of words to describe how one event impacts them. The one trope I got sick of in anime was when the MC met the god figure if their world and they just stand there in an empty void or flat room and talk about what happened and how they feel. Compare that to how much story and emotion is told in literally Arcanes first scene with no verbal storytelling. Arcane is the exception of animation because it had so much creative freedom and more resources than usual for its production, not saying it to belittle traditional animation, it just is.
at one point you said "it felt like there was a person actually there with a camera filming everything" That's EXACTLY what Fortiche's intention was. And not only in the general composition of shots and photography, but also, in little, tiny details that makes all the difference. In Arcane, they use animation so they can get very creative with the camera angles. BUT they actually simulated a camera lens. And when I say they simulated it, they emulated the defects a lens puts on an image. The corners are sometimes a bit darker because of vignetting, you can see focus breathing when there is focus pulls, you can actually SEE depth of field on pretty much all the shots, there is sometimes chromatic aberation (fringing), the out of focus areas don't look like a blurry mess but actually how a lens with a diaphragm would render bokeh. When a light is pointing directly at the camera you can see the impact of lens dust, when there is a zoom in or zoom out, there is a few frames of blur to simulate a lens that isn't parafocal that you need to re-focus after a zoom action. When the camera is following someone, it does not move in a straight line but actually has a movement similar of what we would see if someone was running with a camera on a stabilized gimbal All of those are DETAILS that only a camera nerd will really see and appreciate, but for anyone else, those subtile details are the final touch to make the image beliveable.
And that’s what makes arcane so good. It was made with love, similar to how fanfic writers write the best fanfictions, these workers who have put all their efforts on something they like.
I loved when the camera would shake when a character would hit a wall, and in a scene when it was raining you could see water drops on the lense. As you said, incredibly detailed work. They thought of everything!
[***Vague Spoilers Below***] Something I've thought about for awhile now, having rewatched the series, is this show actually made a really risky and bold choice in its storytelling. Even more risky given this is an animated fantasy video game adaptation that has basically everything stacked against it in terms of getting people to check it out. But it chose to tell a very character driven story, not a plot driven story. A story where colliding character motivations and choices dictate the direction of the narrative. That in itself is not terribly uncommon, but it goes further in that you eventually realize this show is all about perspectives. It wants the viewer to see into every character, good bad or ugly, and understand why they see things the way they do and why they make the choices they make. Not just to know their motivations, but to understand them. It needs you to connect to these people well enough to understand what they are trying to do even if you don't like them. It needs you to consider the state of the world they are living in, the causes for it and implication of not just a characters actions.. but of consequences for a characters inaction. And a lot of this information isn't spoon fed to the audience, the show is trusting its viewers to pay attention to all the information its delivering both actively and passively while watching these characters make choices. If the viewer doesn't do this, or if the show doesn't sell it, the whole story falls apart. The first big example is the major story beat at the very end of Episode 3 where the actions and decisions of two characters could easily polarize the audience for one character or the other if it doesn't effectively communicate where both characters heads are at. Something made all the harder by how viscerally its portrayed. A viewer that comes too far down on one side or the other could easily end up irritated or put off of the rest of that narrative as a result. This same gamble, the notion it can show you how everyone is right and everyone is wrong and consequences are not just the result of any one character, is then played out again and again over the rest of the season through every character pairing. It's such a bold decision to make, it risks losing the audience so many times when they could have just made a black and white plot driven adventure story that probably would have been engaging enough. But the reward for taking that risk is both a far richer and more impactful narrative that results in the sense, at the final moment of the season, that what just happened isn't just a product of the characters in the scene we just watched.. but the collective result of every choice made over the entire story by every character.
It's excellent! I'll admit that I felt meh about the theme song to begin with, but now I LOVE it. 'What Could Have Been' is my favourite from the sound track 💛
I initially reacted in outrage when you said Arcane dethroned Avatar as the best animated show but I can't deny you just might be right. I think we need to wait for the series to finish to say either way but goddamn I have never been so absolutely obsessed with a show so quickly
This. Avatar has been my favorite show of all time since I watched it growing up. If this show can keep up the quality and finish well, it will be the new GOAT.
Definitely I just hope it doesn't end up like GoT. I remember how hyped I was about the first seasons, everyone telling that they need to watch it. And then...beginning with season 5 slowly getting worse and worse. So I said - well Avatar it is. Best show 😂 Please Riot Games! I haven't been so hyped for such a long time!
My brother, who plays League and has reads the lore, made me watch it. It was downright the best thing I watched this year as well BY FAR! It was so nice to watch it with someone who could share his theories and knowledge of the world as well. I keep watching all the cinematics and listening to the soundtrack while I wait for the next season. I'll probably rewatch it as well! Didn't expect this video, but I loved it :)
The "camera work" starts so early. It really is amazing. When Vi and Mylo slide down the rooftop, it is in 3rd person, showing their confidence, but when Powder slides down, it is in first person, showing her fear.
One word- among MANY others I could use to tell how much I love that series- physics. As both a former physicist/chemist and still a nineteenth century sabre fencer, and more generally martial arts and antique weapons aficionado, I was blown away by the degree of realism they managed to put in the animation in this field. "Details" like the way Hextech weapons respect inertia or the way Caitlyn aims and empties her lungs before firing or even Vi guard and punches she has a hard time controlling when she's not facing a bot- please listen to Ekko girl, stop blocking with your head!- for example definitely had an impact in my love for this show. Cheers!
The part about female characters is just SO TRUE, SO SO SO F****** TRUE, it's worth watching just because of how great women are portrayed! My boyfriend played a lot of LoL when he was younger and I made him a ton of questions asking "Is he a playable character? Please, tell me this person isn't dead!" 🤭 Great video, Christy! PS: watch "Blue Period" also in Netflix, is just beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time 😭💕
12:08 believe me, even as someone who knew the backstory and who is going to survive, they did such an amazing job that I still feared that one of those characters might die
I've been recommending Arcane non stop to anyone who would listen. Did not expect to get so immersed but the animation, the story, the characters 🙌🙌 - everything was just so well done. Can't wait to rewatch!
You did not convince me. I already saw each episode the day they launched and loved it so much in still looking up reviews and reactions to it. Truly a masterpiece and this video does an excellent job selling that.
Without giving any spoilers, the main thing you get from knowing the game is picking up on foreshadowing that the show gives about the trajectory of characters
Wow! I just watched the first two episodes and I am hooked! The animation is amazing. I am so intrigued to learn more about this world and characters. Thanks for sharing!
I should be studying right now, but did not expect this video to come out and am really excited to watch it. I really enjoyed the show Just finished it! Completely agree with everything you said
i was not expecting this video and i absolutely agree with everything you said. i was curious about this show because of its animation and i was curious about league's lore and i've never played it as well! i felt this spark while watching each episode because i loved looking at every detail on the screen and i was so immersed in what was happening. the last time i've felt that spark was when i watched into the spiderverse. arcane's definitely one of the best animated series out there and i understand why this was years in the making and i can't wait for season 2!
YESS I had the same experience watching arcane where I was constantly blown away by both the unique animation + top-notch ensemble cast character drama + great world-building. I'm sooo happy it's getting the love it deserves because I think we're seeing such an exciting turning point in what animated storytelling is capable of, particularly in the west (i.e. mature & well-crafted stories). ✨
I am not going to lie, I was one of those people who didn't like animated things. I honestly wasn't even sure I wanted to watch this regardless of having played League of Legends before. I just wasn't all that interested. But I was instantly blown away at the depth of this storyline, the animation, and how believable they made this. It is like you said, a storytelling triumph. It is now hands down one of my favorite TV shows ever! They absolutely nailed every aspect of this series from the dialogue to the little visual hints to the major action sequences, it was 10/10. I'm so glad to hear so many positive messages about this series. Its safe to say animated stories are now very much on my radar. 😄
Don't know anything about LOL, but because people was so amazed by it I started watching it. I was blow away by how good Arcane is. I fully agree with you on every thing you said. Arcane is next level animation and storytelling. I have never seen an animated series this good before.
The characters of Arcane look like physical sculptures that have been hand-painted. And they've been so lovingly and painstakingly crafted...and you can see every single ounce of that in ever twitch of their eyes, every subtle shift of their body. They are never, at any point, "still". They're always moving, fidgeting, "shaking". They FEEL alive. If you could make an android that had exactly the same external look as any of these characters, and still give it the same motion and expression...it would FEEL like a person even though it clearly does not look human (in the real world, anyway). . They way they made the entire story and its people feel so natural is just...mind-blowing.
Also, Arcane has the best dubs out there. I actually watched it in Chinese because one of my favorite Chinese actors voices one of the characters, thought I would try it out and I fell right into the rabbit hole. I've now watched the whole series three times in two languages. It was great.
I used to have that bias toward anime that it just objetively inferior to live action. but after watching Arcane I completely changed that. Especially the ekko vs Jinx scene, that will never work on a live action. This show raised the bar so high that I don't wanna watch half of my watchlist now(maybe more).
the cool thing about animation is that you can make every singel frame look EXACTLY like you envision it, and that the fact that its already animated/not realistic looking helps the viewer to more easily suspend disbelief, so you can get more artistic, expressive and out there with your presentation^^ unfortunatly most animated properties arent able to have so much fucking time, work and effort put nto them as Arcane did, but the potential is there^^
Arcane isn't an Anime though, in this instance you should just say "Animation". However- yes, animation has a lot of opportunities in terms of storytelling because in Live Action, many things have to be done with CGI and it's always a hit or miss with that while also costing way much more money than an animation. So animation has much more freedom when it comes to visuals. Anyways, I personally think no one should restrict themselves in what they're watching because there're always good shows in any media - be it Live Action or Animation.
I understand. I grew up watching anime, and while there are a few good ones out there, there are many many bad ones too. I became quite picky about which animes to watch. Because often times they get tropey or cliche. The thing that I really like about Arcane is that the show felt genuine. It never relied on typical generic tropes or tropey characters to pull the story along. We need more shows like this.
I cannot get over how beautifully crafted every aspect of Arcane was 🤩🤩 We binged it over 2 days, and I’m hankering for s2. The plot structure was so intriguing! Like you say, everything about it subverted expectations in the best way! ☺️🌟
My dad is the same way he gives live action films way more of a chance but he doesn't completely push animated away he just appreciates live action more I introduced them to arcane and they continued watch it after i introduced it to em and they really enjoyed it
This was a beautiful essay! I played the game and it only slightly gave me some idea about what the characters were but really it's very far far different from it. Absolutely stunning animation and story!
this is one of my favorite shows of all time. I don't know jack about LoL, but this show blew me away with its art direction, animation, storytelling, world building, and immersion. This and Breaking Bad are the most immersive shows I've seen because of how they show that the characters have heavy consequences for their actions. Truly one of a kind visually and a milestone for storytelling.
Love your exploration of the themes and visual storytelling! I’ve watched the series twice now and it’s so satisfying to pick up on the nuanced filmmaking decisions. For example Silco holding the hex-sphere in one hand while his other hand on Jinx’s shoulder, symbolizing the dichotomy of the decision he will need to make toward the end.
What a lovely and inspired review, befitting of this lovely and inspired show. So happy that all types of people are enjoying this show and spreading the love. I've even sat my parents down to watch this show, and I can't stop gushing about it. Glad you enjoyed it!
Ever since i found out that you’re obsessed with Arcane as well, i was passionately waiting for you to do a video about it. I was SO happy when i got the notification for this video today. Amazing work Christy, as always! And i agree with literally everything you said about the show(and GoT too lol). I love it so much and i love to share yet another passion with you ❤️
It was shocking just how amazing this show turned out to be. More people need to give it a watch, and I'd still say that if everyone in the world had watched it.
There's one little detail you would have missed unless you are a comic book fan from generation X. The scribbles and hallucinations that appear whenever Powder/Jinx is under duress is highly reminiscent of how comic book artist Bill Seinkeiwicz depicts madness. It really reminded me of his work on Elektra: Assassin.
Great review. I was completely engrossed after the first episode and already loved Vi and Jinx, so by episode three when we get to end of the first chapter I was more invested in Arcane than I've been in any characters for a long time.
Thank you for the Fab vid-essay CAJ ! I just viewed first ep 3 days ago and now i have trouble thinking of anything else. My adult granddaughter months ago told me of this animated series which simply crushed her...but thinking it was 'traditional anime' i refused to try. But she sorta tricked into the first ep... Now i want ev'one to see it and your essay will be one of my tools to explain why the frak it's so good. "Arcane' tells the story that "The Hunger Games" should have been...
I just started watching Arcane last night and ended up watching 4 episodes in a row. It's so good! The production and art style is stellar. The characters are so well fleshed out. The storyline is very captivating. And a lot of scenes so far has made me so emotional. Thank you for convincing me to watch Arcane because it is that amazing!
This was an exceptional overview. I felt like there was enough detail to make an informed decision on whether or not to dive in without feeling like I know how things are going to play out. Thank you.
If you're interested to have a bit of sneakpeak on other regions of the Runeterra where the Arcane is set on you might want to watch the short video animated series called Tales of Runeterrra by Riot.
You haven’t introduced a book with this enthusiasm. 🙃 I have played LoL but never watched Arcane, now I’m going to watch it. You are great at presentation after all! Make more video like this 😎
I enjoyed your video and breakdown on what made this show work so well. I went in to just watch the animation, but having all the stuff you stated here, was what pushed this series into excellence.
I was watching blue period which kind of derailed me. But arcane sounds super intriguing, I'll watch it once the exams are over. Thank you, your recommendations are always on point! I mostly watch anime or read books so you're my go-to! 💛
Because it is a very high quality level of storytelling and animation, I definitely think anyone who likes anime or just any good story will enjoy this show.
:D I love how much love Arcane gets Thanks for making this even tho vids covering Arcane aren't as trendy anymore Your genuine feelings came across well
You said on instagram that you were afraid that the video wouldn't have so many views, but being honest I'm really happy you made it, I watched arcane and finished finally beacause you upoloaded this. I am really interested in these type of analyssis. Please if you feel comfortable do more, about video games, one piece, movie you have seen!!
Thank you for this great analysis! It's been two months, and so far this is probably the best thing I've listened to about Arcane. All points are beautifully made. Great job! Would be great to listen to your more in-depth talk about it with spoilers. I would say the people who played the game were not ahead on the lore by much, because the info in the game is scarce and a lot of characters are basically archetypes, but the show makes real complex people out of them. Of course players know the relative future of some characters and the world, but trust me, this knowledge adds to drama a lot. It's a torture to see some characters and know they are destined to become their own opposite or just lose some important part of their soul. And as they don't know the journey of the characters, it hits just as hard. But I wouldn't agree about your Game of Thrones example, because the rare things that show did well in the beginning were from the book. And it's the book that is a masterpiece. The show mangles everything, all the consequences, themes, characters and realism starting with season 1, long before season 8. It's basically a life-supported Rio the lizard in a jar by the season 3. If you haven't read the books, do it and you will never want to mention the series again ^^
It is considered a MUST-SEE show for anyone who is even remotely interested in animation, fantasy, or just wanting to experience a good story. It's a must-see because this is groundbreaking in its class. Riot has set a new standard.
This was an excellent animation series. I kept flashing back to the French comic Metal Hurlant and the underground world created by Moebius. I hope there is second edition in the series. I look forward to hearing more from you about the characters and development of the series!
I just finished watching Arcane a few days ago and I agree. Spectacular storytelling and the way it evokes emotion is powerful. It really was as good as people said.
Omg I did not know you watched this. I watched the first episode after seeing a random yt video about it in my recommended, but I’m too scared to continue because I’m afraid it might be very triggering for me since I’m dealing with very severe mental health issues atm. I really hope I can watch it sometime in the future tho.
I absolutely love finding these types of videos because I have absolutely no one to fully express my hyperfixiation that I do have on arcane. Now, I do annoy my family with my inputs of arcane but I do hold back as much as I can, I desperately need a space where I can go into explicit detail about how I feel, and my analysis, of arcane
An interesting technique on Arcane narrative is the pairing: characters are very often making a pair on relevant scenes or sequences. Vi and Jinx, Vi and Caitlyn, Vi and Jayce, Jayce and Viktor, Jayce and Mel, Jayce and Hammerdinger, Hammerdinger and Ekko, and so on. This create enough space for knowing characters by - very often, unexpected - interactions. But because the interaction isn't overcrowded, we can observe each one deeply. The other character works like a contrast.
What a brilliant video! I was not planning to watch this series, but then my partner (who plays LoL) said I absolutely had to watch it. We actually have two rabbits he named after LoL characters: Teemo and Jinx 😄 He said that the show doesn't really have a lot to do with the game but is basically just the story behind Jinx (just one of the many many characters) and how she came to be who she is. Perhaps in the future we will learn the background story of other characters? 😁
12:08 - 12:22 part of me is jealous of the people who came into Arcane knowing nothing about the story and characters. Knowing which characters are already playable in the game is kind of Arcane's version of plot armor, but even with all my prior knowledge I was still enthralled by the show at every turn. I'm just so happy that people who have no experience with League of Legends also love Arcane.
Season 2 has been annunced to be in production so we are getting it! :D I freaking loved arcane, It was probably my favourite animated series of all time. The art was breathtaking and as an artist dreaming of working in animation, it was super inspirational!
Arcane story has became so great because every main characters here already has existing storylines aka lores that just need to be followed. Riot just mix them up together and that's why its scenes are seamless, consistent and doesn't feel it was forced out together. Even the game loading screen states some random "tips" or "facts" about the lol universe that most of the time players dont pay much attention. My opinion as a player about the show is that it really hits hard way better through their visuals, it was interesting, delivered a bit differently from the lore because this is an adaptation which is either frustrating to some or good but some canons are there. They just made tweaks on how scenes are to be played out, and they succeed on this. All in all everything became significant and creative. All 6 years making this show really is worth it.
I absolutely LOVE this show! It's been so long, I guess literally since season 1 of GoT, that I was so absolutely destroyed after watching. The characters are all done so right, the animation is mindblowing, and it's not woke! I was a bit hesitant at first with the purple and blue haired girls, but I'm so glad I kept watching. You're absolutely right; this is representation (though I loathe the term) done right. Strong female characters, and not just the protagonists, that stand on their own. Without the need to push down a male character in order to seem stronger in comparison, or have ridiculous abilities just because. You see them struggle, you see them fail, and it makes it all the more real.
Man I felt sooo bad for Powder. I just want to see her with Vi again. It was really frustrating how Vi and Jinx always, always got interrupted by other people like Cait, Silco or Ekko.
I loved this video essay and I LOVED arcane. I think I would probably give it more like a 9.5 just for some choices I didn't favor and some issues with representation, but I truly believe this to be my all-time favorite show. Watching this eased my urge to rewatch for the third time this week! Thank you for your depth and attention to detail!!!!!
It's such a shame that people will miss out on this show just because it's animated. I tried talking a friend into it and she dismissed it because she doesn't "watch cartoons." Idk, I've always felt that animation was the superior medium in communicating stories-especially fantasy ones! There are no limits when it comes to animation and the wonders it could produce are infinite and I just don't understand why this would ever be a turn off for some people.
I feel the same way. Animation is a beautiful medium, and generally, it is far more interesting and engaging to watch than live-action imo.
@@whereaboutsunknown3822 it really is! Animation takes you to whole new world and it's so fun to explore a universe with such a flexible medium. I can't imagine how Spider-Man Into the Multiverse or even Arcane would've been if they weren't animated bc a lot of their charm lies in the animation.
let them miss out.... seasons will keep on coming haha
I’ve thought and thought about it, and honestly I can’t think of a single thing live action can do that animation can’t do better. I know that sounds radical, but animation really does feel superior in every way.
Once upon a time, I would’ve said live action has the advantage of looking real (duh) but after seeing the incredible photorealistic animation of things like Love, Death, and Robots, live action doesn’t even really hold that advantage anymore.
And even most live action uses animation in it. People keep referring to the new Lion King as a live action remake, but it’s not. That entire movie is animated.
That's how I feel about musicals. Some people just hate them, but they can tell stories with more weight.
I love that you made this video! i was not remotely interested in watching this when it came out, but i decided to just check it out after seeing so many positive reactions, and STILL it exceeded expectations.
SAAAME--this was exactly my experience. Now I need EVERYONE to go watch it
Arcane video when? ;P
@Christy I love all things Arcane. And, like you, I’d not really even heard of league of legends before. Great review. and @TheBookLeo I don’t know what made me click your profile. But I’m glad I did. Love just the idea of both of your channels. Just subscribed to both of you.
@@christy-anne-jones I feel the same way, but I am finding resistance. As soon as they find out it's animation `I can tell they dismiss my recommendation. Their loss.
Same
also can we talk about how Piltover was what Legend of Korra tried to do with Republic City?
I have no idea what you're talking about. Piltover has always been contrasted with Zaun. What is Republic City contrasted with? It's been a while since I watched LOK.
Piltover/Zaun is probably my favourite fantasy city of all time--just absolutely stellar world building
i think its just that piltover is the best made 'utopia' archetype which is also rep city concept
@@empiricalpurity I think they are referring to season 1, with its attempted social commentary on benders and non benders , politicking and the Equalists.
Yeah when put side by side, night and day. Lok paints it as black and white, never explores the Equalists perspective, all the characters with any influence in the story are Benders, and the revolution is chalked up to Daddy issues and is never mentioned again outside of their Mechs. Bender bias and corruption is systematic, and never touched on after S1, Tarrlok and all the problems with the City council and the Police are never mentioned again.
@@matthewknudson8610 Thanks Matt. I guess the way they approached it was really different. In Arcane, the Enforcers work exclusively for the Council who only have vested interest in Piltover. Whereas in Republic City Police protect Benders and Nonbenders alike. They showed how the Triad were Benders who oppressed Nonbenders. But the Sato Family were able to enjoy great wealth and power despite being Nonbenders.
There is no cartoon or anime that has birth the range of emotions and mental conflict Arcane has within 9 episodes. I could literally empathize with even the secondary characters, how tf does every character's motives make sense? That's insane. Best ever!!!
Alot of anime does lol
@@francisconavarrete2390 name pls
@@buffbeluga9541 It doesn't the same way. A lot of anime dialogue is just telling you the plot and the symbolism like it's a school lesson. Show vs tell
There's a lot of anime that can make u depressed for weeks.
@@xianalis4713 Yes, but what Arcane does differently that hits harder is that so much of its emotion is silent and concise. In what Anime that I have watched and enjoyed ( Death Note, Code Geass) I emphasized with the characters, but the fact is that they are heavily limited by their animation style and budget. No shade, this is just a fact, so most of the emotions we feel have to be told and at time these characters will go on soliloquy’s that works but feels artificial for plot ( Lights infamous chip eating monologue). But Arcane can communicate so much emotion and internal thoughts through its keyframe animation and just every single film making technique out there that they don’t need the characters to make jarring monologues or other forced plot devices because you feel what they feel though the animation, rather than being told. It makes them feel so authentic because they aren’t all of the sudden becoming stage actors with a whole page of words to describe how one event impacts them. The one trope I got sick of in anime was when the MC met the god figure if their world and they just stand there in an empty void or flat room and talk about what happened and how they feel. Compare that to how much story and emotion is told in literally Arcanes first scene with no verbal storytelling.
Arcane is the exception of animation because it had so much creative freedom and more resources than usual for its production, not saying it to belittle traditional animation, it just is.
at one point you said "it felt like there was a person actually there with a camera filming everything"
That's EXACTLY what Fortiche's intention was. And not only in the general composition of shots and photography, but also, in little, tiny details that makes all the difference.
In Arcane, they use animation so they can get very creative with the camera angles. BUT they actually simulated a camera lens. And when I say they simulated it, they emulated the defects a lens puts on an image.
The corners are sometimes a bit darker because of vignetting, you can see focus breathing when there is focus pulls, you can actually SEE depth of field on pretty much all the shots, there is sometimes chromatic aberation (fringing), the out of focus areas don't look like a blurry mess but actually how a lens with a diaphragm would render bokeh. When a light is pointing directly at the camera you can see the impact of lens dust, when there is a zoom in or zoom out, there is a few frames of blur to simulate a lens that isn't parafocal that you need to re-focus after a zoom action. When the camera is following someone, it does not move in a straight line but actually has a movement similar of what we would see if someone was running with a camera on a stabilized gimbal
All of those are DETAILS that only a camera nerd will really see and appreciate, but for anyone else, those subtile details are the final touch to make the image beliveable.
And that’s what makes arcane so good. It was made with love, similar to how fanfic writers write the best fanfictions, these workers who have put all their efforts on something they like.
I loved when the camera would shake when a character would hit a wall, and in a scene when it was raining you could see water drops on the lense. As you said, incredibly detailed work. They thought of everything!
[***Vague Spoilers Below***]
Something I've thought about for awhile now, having rewatched the series, is this show actually made a really risky and bold choice in its storytelling. Even more risky given this is an animated fantasy video game adaptation that has basically everything stacked against it in terms of getting people to check it out. But it chose to tell a very character driven story, not a plot driven story. A story where colliding character motivations and choices dictate the direction of the narrative. That in itself is not terribly uncommon, but it goes further in that you eventually realize this show is all about perspectives. It wants the viewer to see into every character, good bad or ugly, and understand why they see things the way they do and why they make the choices they make. Not just to know their motivations, but to understand them. It needs you to connect to these people well enough to understand what they are trying to do even if you don't like them. It needs you to consider the state of the world they are living in, the causes for it and implication of not just a characters actions.. but of consequences for a characters inaction. And a lot of this information isn't spoon fed to the audience, the show is trusting its viewers to pay attention to all the information its delivering both actively and passively while watching these characters make choices. If the viewer doesn't do this, or if the show doesn't sell it, the whole story falls apart.
The first big example is the major story beat at the very end of Episode 3 where the actions and decisions of two characters could easily polarize the audience for one character or the other if it doesn't effectively communicate where both characters heads are at. Something made all the harder by how viscerally its portrayed. A viewer that comes too far down on one side or the other could easily end up irritated or put off of the rest of that narrative as a result.
This same gamble, the notion it can show you how everyone is right and everyone is wrong and consequences are not just the result of any one character, is then played out again and again over the rest of the season through every character pairing. It's such a bold decision to make, it risks losing the audience so many times when they could have just made a black and white plot driven adventure story that probably would have been engaging enough. But the reward for taking that risk is both a far richer and more impactful narrative that results in the sense, at the final moment of the season, that what just happened isn't just a product of the characters in the scene we just watched.. but the collective result of every choice made over the entire story by every character.
100% Arcane is the best thing I've watched in a very long time. Every detail is well executed. Simply put, it's refreshing.
The soundtrack in this show has to be one of the best I've seen in ages 🔥
It's excellent! I'll admit that I felt meh about the theme song to begin with, but now I LOVE it. 'What Could Have Been' is my favourite from the sound track 💛
well... Christian Linke one of the executive producers of Arcane was previously a lead in music team
The voice work was fantastic as well and superbly cast
For me it was guns for hire which played when jinx lit her flare in act 2. Really made the scene more impactful!
How do you see a soundtrack
I initially reacted in outrage when you said Arcane dethroned Avatar as the best animated show but I can't deny you just might be right. I think we need to wait for the series to finish to say either way but goddamn I have never been so absolutely obsessed with a show so quickly
This. Avatar has been my favorite show of all time since I watched it growing up. If this show can keep up the quality and finish well, it will be the new GOAT.
Definitely I just hope it doesn't end up like GoT. I remember how hyped I was about the first seasons, everyone telling that they need to watch it. And then...beginning with season 5 slowly getting worse and worse. So I said - well Avatar it is. Best show 😂
Please Riot Games! I haven't been so hyped for such a long time!
Avatar is typical Hollywood movie. Generic and substanceless. Arcane has more substance and soul.
@@jonpetter8921 wrong avatar my dude
My brother, who plays League and has reads the lore, made me watch it. It was downright the best thing I watched this year as well BY FAR! It was so nice to watch it with someone who could share his theories and knowledge of the world as well. I keep watching all the cinematics and listening to the soundtrack while I wait for the next season. I'll probably rewatch it as well! Didn't expect this video, but I loved it :)
The "camera work" starts so early. It really is amazing. When Vi and Mylo slide down the rooftop, it is in 3rd person, showing their confidence, but when Powder slides down, it is in first person, showing her fear.
One word- among MANY others I could use to tell how much I love that series- physics.
As both a former physicist/chemist and still a nineteenth century sabre fencer, and more generally martial arts and antique weapons aficionado, I was blown away by the degree of realism they managed to put in the animation in this field. "Details" like the way Hextech weapons respect inertia or the way Caitlyn aims and empties her lungs before firing or even Vi guard and punches she has a hard time controlling when she's not facing a bot- please listen to Ekko girl, stop blocking with your head!- for example definitely had an impact in my love for this show.
Cheers!
She seriously puts so much into her videos ✨
😭💛💛
The part about female characters is just SO TRUE, SO SO SO F****** TRUE, it's worth watching just because of how great women are portrayed! My boyfriend played a lot of LoL when he was younger and I made him a ton of questions asking "Is he a playable character? Please, tell me this person isn't dead!" 🤭 Great video, Christy!
PS: watch "Blue Period" also in Netflix, is just beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time 😭💕
12:08 believe me, even as someone who knew the backstory and who is going to survive, they did such an amazing job that I still feared that one of those characters might die
tbh we were always scared for jinx because we knew how she would end up lol
I've been recommending Arcane non stop to anyone who would listen. Did not expect to get so immersed but the animation, the story, the characters 🙌🙌 - everything was just so well done. Can't wait to rewatch!
That "Enemy" lullaby in the back is a great touch
You did not convince me. I already saw each episode the day they launched and loved it so much in still looking up reviews and reactions to it.
Truly a masterpiece and this video does an excellent job selling that.
Without giving any spoilers, the main thing you get from knowing the game is picking up on foreshadowing that the show gives about the trajectory of characters
You def sold me. The show just made my tbw list. 😄
Wow! I just watched the first two episodes and I am hooked! The animation is amazing. I am so intrigued to learn more about this world and characters. Thanks for sharing!
Report back after you finish episode 3
yea let us know how you felt about the end of that act
Yes, please share how the rest felt
I should be studying right now, but did not expect this video to come out and am really excited to watch it. I really enjoyed the show
Just finished it! Completely agree with everything you said
i was not expecting this video and i absolutely agree with everything you said. i was curious about this show because of its animation and i was curious about league's lore and i've never played it as well! i felt this spark while watching each episode because i loved looking at every detail on the screen and i was so immersed in what was happening. the last time i've felt that spark was when i watched into the spiderverse. arcane's definitely one of the best animated series out there and i understand why this was years in the making and i can't wait for season 2!
I just finished it and I’m tempted to watch it again
Easily THE best review of this show I've seen to date.
YESS I had the same experience watching arcane where I was constantly blown away by both the unique animation + top-notch ensemble cast character drama + great world-building. I'm sooo happy it's getting the love it deserves because I think we're seeing such an exciting turning point in what animated storytelling is capable of, particularly in the west (i.e. mature & well-crafted stories). ✨
This show is actual crack and has been living in my head rent free ever since i watched episode 3.
I like the use of the Enemy melody in the background like a music box, it's very nice!
I am not going to lie, I was one of those people who didn't like animated things. I honestly wasn't even sure I wanted to watch this regardless of having played League of Legends before. I just wasn't all that interested. But I was instantly blown away at the depth of this storyline, the animation, and how believable they made this. It is like you said, a storytelling triumph. It is now hands down one of my favorite TV shows ever! They absolutely nailed every aspect of this series from the dialogue to the little visual hints to the major action sequences, it was 10/10. I'm so glad to hear so many positive messages about this series. Its safe to say animated stories are now very much on my radar. 😄
i also love the world-building and how it all connects together.
Your piece was one of the better researched ones I've seen vs the others who have written about arance.
Really good!
Don't know anything about LOL, but because people was so amazed by it I started watching it. I was blow away by how good Arcane is. I fully agree with you on every thing you said. Arcane is next level animation and storytelling. I have never seen an animated series this good before.
Completely agree. Nice video!
The characters of Arcane look like physical sculptures that have been hand-painted. And they've been so lovingly and painstakingly crafted...and you can see every single ounce of that in ever twitch of their eyes, every subtle shift of their body. They are never, at any point, "still". They're always moving, fidgeting, "shaking". They FEEL alive. If you could make an android that had exactly the same external look as any of these characters, and still give it the same motion and expression...it would FEEL like a person even though it clearly does not look human (in the real world, anyway).
.
They way they made the entire story and its people feel so natural is just...mind-blowing.
Also, Arcane has the best dubs out there. I actually watched it in Chinese because one of my favorite Chinese actors voices one of the characters, thought I would try it out and I fell right into the rabbit hole. I've now watched the whole series three times in two languages. It was great.
I used to have that bias toward anime that it just objetively inferior to live action. but after watching Arcane I completely changed that. Especially the ekko vs Jinx scene, that will never work on a live action.
This show raised the bar so high that I don't wanna watch half of my watchlist now(maybe more).
the cool thing about animation is that you can make every singel frame look EXACTLY like you envision it, and that the fact that its already animated/not realistic looking helps the viewer to more easily suspend disbelief, so you can get more artistic, expressive and out there with your presentation^^ unfortunatly most animated properties arent able to have so much fucking time, work and effort put nto them as Arcane did, but the potential is there^^
Arcane isn't an Anime though, in this instance you should just say "Animation". However- yes, animation has a lot of opportunities in terms of storytelling because in Live Action, many things have to be done with CGI and it's always a hit or miss with that while also costing way much more money than an animation. So animation has much more freedom when it comes to visuals.
Anyways, I personally think no one should restrict themselves in what they're watching because there're always good shows in any media - be it Live Action or Animation.
I understand. I grew up watching anime, and while there are a few good ones out there, there are many many bad ones too. I became quite picky about which animes to watch. Because often times they get tropey or cliche. The thing that I really like about Arcane is that the show felt genuine. It never relied on typical generic tropes or tropey characters to pull the story along. We need more shows like this.
I cannot get over how beautifully crafted every aspect of Arcane was 🤩🤩 We binged it over 2 days, and I’m hankering for s2. The plot structure was so intriguing! Like you say, everything about it subverted expectations in the best way! ☺️🌟
what a wonderful review! truly a phenomenal feat in animation storytelling
My dad is the same way he gives live action films way more of a chance but he doesn't completely push animated away he just appreciates live action more
I introduced them to arcane and they continued watch it after i introduced it to em and they really enjoyed it
This was a beautiful essay! I played the game and it only slightly gave me some idea about what the characters were but really it's very far far different from it. Absolutely stunning animation and story!
this is one of my favorite shows of all time. I don't know jack about LoL, but this show blew me away with its art direction, animation, storytelling, world building, and immersion. This and Breaking Bad are the most immersive shows I've seen because of how they show that the characters have heavy consequences for their actions. Truly one of a kind visually and a milestone for storytelling.
Never played the game, but LOVE the show. I already rewatched 4 times since last week, and still love it.
Love your exploration of the themes and visual storytelling! I’ve watched the series twice now and it’s so satisfying to pick up on the nuanced filmmaking decisions. For example Silco holding the hex-sphere in one hand while his other hand on Jinx’s shoulder, symbolizing the dichotomy of the decision he will need to make toward the end.
What a lovely and inspired review, befitting of this lovely and inspired show. So happy that all types of people are enjoying this show and spreading the love. I've even sat my parents down to watch this show, and I can't stop gushing about it. Glad you enjoyed it!
Ever since i found out that you’re obsessed with Arcane as well, i was passionately waiting for you to do a video about it. I was SO happy when i got the notification for this video today. Amazing work Christy, as always! And i agree with literally everything you said about the show(and GoT too lol). I love it so much and i love to share yet another passion with you ❤️
It was shocking just how amazing this show turned out to be. More people need to give it a watch, and I'd still say that if everyone in the world had watched it.
After seeing your video, I watched the first season over 3 nights. It was awesome, thank you!
There's one little detail you would have missed unless you are a comic book fan from generation X. The scribbles and hallucinations that appear whenever Powder/Jinx is under duress is highly reminiscent of how comic book artist Bill Seinkeiwicz depicts madness. It really reminded me of his work on Elektra: Assassin.
I didn't know that going in, but the technique certainly was effective cuz I knew she was borderline coco-puffs the right off the bat
Great review. I was completely engrossed after the first episode and already loved Vi and Jinx, so by episode three when we get to end of the first chapter I was more invested in Arcane than I've been in any characters for a long time.
Thank you for the Fab vid-essay CAJ ! I just viewed first ep 3 days ago and now i have trouble thinking of anything else. My adult granddaughter months ago told me of this animated series which simply crushed her...but thinking it was 'traditional anime' i refused to try. But she sorta tricked into the first ep...
Now i want ev'one to see it and your essay will be one of my tools to explain why the frak it's so good. "Arcane' tells the story that "The Hunger Games" should have been...
Arcane was just beautiful , 100% favourite animated show
So glad you enjoyed Arcane and made your own breakdown for it! The show is phenomenal and deserves all of the love and spotlight it can get.
Title correction: Arcane is the best thing *that* came out this year.
oh my god 💀 thank you so much for pointing that out!!
@@robertoradical2153 Lol. I was going to say, "Arcane is the best thing that has come out, ever"
I just started watching Arcane last night and ended up watching 4 episodes in a row. It's so good! The production and art style is stellar. The characters are so well fleshed out. The storyline is very captivating. And a lot of scenes so far has made me so emotional. Thank you for convincing me to watch Arcane because it is that amazing!
This was a great review! Hope you explore Arcane some more. This video brought me to your channel.
Thanks for the video! I'm going to have to watch this show now. ❤
This was an exceptional overview. I felt like there was enough detail to make an informed decision on whether or not to dive in without feeling like I know how things are going to play out. Thank you.
Also...I loved the "music box" version of Enemy. Good choice. Sounds surprisingly good.
If you're interested to have a bit of sneakpeak on other regions of the Runeterra where the Arcane is set on you might want to watch the short video animated series called Tales of Runeterrra by Riot.
You haven’t introduced a book with this enthusiasm. 🙃 I have played LoL but never watched Arcane, now I’m going to watch it.
You are great at presentation after all! Make more video like this 😎
Yes, you have convinced me 🥰
I enjoyed your video and breakdown on what made this show work so well. I went in to just watch the animation, but having all the stuff you stated here, was what pushed this series into excellence.
I was watching blue period which kind of derailed me. But arcane sounds super intriguing, I'll watch it once the exams are over. Thank you, your recommendations are always on point! I mostly watch anime or read books so you're my go-to! 💛
I hope you enjoy it, once you're able to find time for it! good luck with your exams 😊💛
Because it is a very high quality level of storytelling and animation, I definitely think anyone who likes anime or just any good story will enjoy this show.
You did convinced me to watch Arcane (again).
Quite frankly arcane is just the best thing to come out in the past 10 years, counting live action too.
:D
I love how much love Arcane gets
Thanks for making this even tho vids covering Arcane aren't as trendy anymore
Your genuine feelings came across well
Thanks for such a great and thoughtful video essay!
You said on instagram that you were afraid that the video wouldn't have so many views, but being honest I'm really happy you made it, I watched arcane and finished finally beacause you upoloaded this. I am really interested in these type of analyssis. Please if you feel comfortable do more, about video games, one piece, movie you have seen!!
Excelent analysis!
Thank you for this great analysis! It's been two months, and so far this is probably the best thing I've listened to about Arcane. All points are beautifully made. Great job! Would be great to listen to your more in-depth talk about it with spoilers.
I would say the people who played the game were not ahead on the lore by much, because the info in the game is scarce and a lot of characters are basically archetypes, but the show makes real complex people out of them. Of course players know the relative future of some characters and the world, but trust me, this knowledge adds to drama a lot. It's a torture to see some characters and know they are destined to become their own opposite or just lose some important part of their soul. And as they don't know the journey of the characters, it hits just as hard.
But I wouldn't agree about your Game of Thrones example, because the rare things that show did well in the beginning were from the book. And it's the book that is a masterpiece. The show mangles everything, all the consequences, themes, characters and realism starting with season 1, long before season 8. It's basically a life-supported Rio the lizard in a jar by the season 3. If you haven't read the books, do it and you will never want to mention the series again ^^
Love your presentation, but the music box playing Enemy is awesome!
Seems like I finally have to give in and get a Netflix subscription, LOL! This looks and sounds so amazing, I need to watch it. ^_^
It is considered a MUST-SEE show for anyone who is even remotely interested in animation, fantasy, or just wanting to experience a good story. It's a must-see because this is groundbreaking in its class. Riot has set a new standard.
This was an excellent animation series. I kept flashing back to the French comic Metal Hurlant and the underground world created by Moebius. I hope there is second edition in the series. I look forward to hearing more from you about the characters and development of the series!
I just finished watching Arcane a few days ago and I agree. Spectacular storytelling and the way it evokes emotion is powerful. It really was as good as people said.
Omg I did not know you watched this. I watched the first episode after seeing a random yt video about it in my recommended, but I’m too scared to continue because I’m afraid it might be very triggering for me since I’m dealing with very severe mental health issues atm. I really hope I can watch it sometime in the future tho.
Thank you for this video 💕
i dont really watch the animation, but i just came here to support you
Great review. I wish more people knew about this show and how special it is. It's an instant classic.
I absolutely love finding these types of videos because I have absolutely no one to fully express my hyperfixiation that I do have on arcane. Now, I do annoy my family with my inputs of arcane but I do hold back as much as I can, I desperately need a space where I can go into explicit detail about how I feel, and my analysis, of arcane
You are very welcome here 💛
@@christy-anne-jones thank you so much Christy!!
Great review!
Arcane's a masterpiece!
Great assessment 👌🏾 ✅! Can’t wait for season 2
An interesting technique on Arcane narrative is the pairing: characters are very often making a pair on relevant scenes or sequences. Vi and Jinx, Vi and Caitlyn, Vi and Jayce, Jayce and Viktor, Jayce and Mel, Jayce and Hammerdinger, Hammerdinger and Ekko, and so on.
This create enough space for knowing characters by - very often, unexpected - interactions. But because the interaction isn't overcrowded, we can observe each one deeply. The other character works like a contrast.
I love your review! Arcane is super amazing!
What a brilliant video! I was not planning to watch this series, but then my partner (who plays LoL) said I absolutely had to watch it. We actually have two rabbits he named after LoL characters: Teemo and Jinx 😄 He said that the show doesn't really have a lot to do with the game but is basically just the story behind Jinx (just one of the many many characters) and how she came to be who she is. Perhaps in the future we will learn the background story of other characters? 😁
Really good review, u made your research and your analysis is well driven
12:08 - 12:22 part of me is jealous of the people who came into Arcane knowing nothing about the story and characters. Knowing which characters are already playable in the game is kind of Arcane's version of plot armor, but even with all my prior knowledge I was still enthralled by the show at every turn. I'm just so happy that people who have no experience with League of Legends also love Arcane.
Season 2 has been annunced to be in production so we are getting it! :D I freaking loved arcane, It was probably my favourite animated series of all time. The art was breathtaking and as an artist dreaming of working in animation, it was super inspirational!
Excellent review; very well done!
Very nice put together video!
Arcane story has became so great because every main characters here already has existing storylines aka lores that just need to be followed. Riot just mix them up together and that's why its scenes are seamless, consistent and doesn't feel it was forced out together. Even the game loading screen states some random "tips" or "facts" about the lol universe that most of the time players dont pay much attention. My opinion as a player about the show is that it really hits hard way better through their visuals, it was interesting, delivered a bit differently from the lore because this is an adaptation which is either frustrating to some or good but some canons are there. They just made tweaks on how scenes are to be played out, and they succeed on this. All in all everything became significant and creative. All 6 years making this show really is worth it.
I absolutely LOVE this show! It's been so long, I guess literally since season 1 of GoT, that I was so absolutely destroyed after watching. The characters are all done so right, the animation is mindblowing, and it's not woke! I was a bit hesitant at first with the purple and blue haired girls, but I'm so glad I kept watching. You're absolutely right; this is representation (though I loathe the term) done right. Strong female characters, and not just the protagonists, that stand on their own. Without the need to push down a male character in order to seem stronger in comparison, or have ridiculous abilities just because. You see them struggle, you see them fail, and it makes it all the more real.
Episode 3 just killed me! Fantastic summary!
Man I felt sooo bad for Powder. I just want to see her with Vi again.
It was really frustrating how Vi and Jinx always, always got interrupted by other people like Cait, Silco or Ekko.
I loved this video essay and I LOVED arcane. I think I would probably give it more like a 9.5 just for some choices I didn't favor and some issues with representation, but I truly believe this to be my all-time favorite show. Watching this eased my urge to rewatch for the third time this week! Thank you for your depth and attention to detail!!!!!
what issues with representation?
I love how you speak about GoT, when you first mention it and then... season 8... I share your pain of... what could've been (no pun intended)
Arcane's a show where even the side characters have depth
Mel, Ekko, Sevika, Hermindinger all have great characterisation
Amazing video!! 🎃
i love that the music is enemy
Great presentation 👍