Arcane officially becomes the most expensive animated series ever produced, setting new industry standards

Arcane, the animated series based on Riot Games' League of Legends universe, has officially become the most expensive animated series ever produced. The series has a combined budget of $250 million for its first two seasons which is way more than the usual animated productions in terms of both cost and quality.

The series, which premiered on Netflix in November 2021, was years in the making, with Riot Games spending around six years developing the show. Rather than working with a new animation studio, Riot continued their collaboration with Fortiche, a French studio that had previously worked on their music videos.

Arcane has maintained its signature visual style which mixes 2D and 3D animation.

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Netflix's Arcane received historic accolades

A still from the show (Image sourced from Netflix)

The show became the first streaming TV series based on a video game to win both Annie Awards and Primetime Emmy Awards.

At the Annie Awards, the series swept several categories in 2022, including Best General Audience Animated Television/Broadcast Production for the episode When These Walls Come Tumbling Down.

It also won awards for Outstanding Achievement in Character Animation, Character Design, Directing, and Writing, with notable recognition for the team behind The Monster You Created episode. Arcane’s animation studio, Fortiche, also won awards for Production Design and Storyboarding.

At the Emmy Awards, Arcane took home the prize for Outstanding Animated Program for the same episode, When These Walls Come Tumbling Down.

The show also received nominations in the Sound Editing and Individual Achievement in Animation categories.

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What is Netflix's Arcane about?

A still from the show (Image sourced from Netflix)

The animated series is set in the League of Legends universe, focusing on the origins of iconic characters like Vi, Jinx, and others. The show is divided into three acts, each exploring the complicated relationship between the wealthy city of Piltover and the oppressed undercity of Zaun.

It starts with two sisters, Vi and Jinx, growing up in the rough streets of Zaun, where life is tough, and the divide between the two cities is impossible to ignore.

After their parents’ death, the girls are taken in by Vander, a figure of authority in Zaun, who tries to shield them from the harsh realities of their world.

However, things take a tragic turn when a heist goes wrong, setting off a chain of events that shapes the future of both cities.

The show digs deep into the political and social tensions between Piltover and Zaun. Piltover is a wealthy, technologically advanced city, while Zaun is filled with underprivileged citizens struggling to survive.

Jayce, a brilliant inventor, and Viktor, his troubled ally, are at the heart of this conflict, with their innovation pushing both cities into a dangerous game of power.

Meanwhile, Silco, a ruthless figure in Zaun, rises to power, determined to break free from Piltover’s control, using Jinx, his adopted daughter, as a weapon in his quest for independence.

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Season 2 of the show is set to release in November 2024. The episodes will be available to stream on Netflix starting November 9, 2024, and will run until November 23, 2024.