arcane, babyyyy

another piece (this one's a discursive) in prep for final exams :>

the show thats greatness is anything but: (this title's a work in progress :,))

     I have never been the biggest fan of animated television shows. To me, the idea itself suggests shallow characters, loud noises and vibrant colours aimed to entertain the youngest of audiences (FAKE NEWS this is just me appealing to english teachers). But victim to relentless insistence from multiple friends of mine, each preaching louder than the last about the ‘genuine masterpiece’ that awaits on Netflix, I gave in and clicked on ‘Arcane Season 1 Episode 1: Welcome to the Playground’, unknowingly making what I will remember to be the choice that ruined all other television experiences for me. 

     To describe Arcane as a mere ‘television show’ would be criminal. 

     It is perhaps most aptly described by a passionate Google review by ‘Doogy’- “it’s an emotional odyssey, an experience that transcends its medium.” The visuals alone reach new levels unseen by any other shows, ones that, frankly, make some works from huge animation studios such as Disney or Dreamworks look like flipbooks. Fortiche Productions, the animating company behind Arcane, manages to depict Piltover and Zaun’s contrasting sceneries in a way that makes them tangible to viewers, somehow evoking a feeling of nostalgia for experiences we have never encountered. Every texture and shade carefully crafts an atmosphere that enraptures audiences in its richness and depth, aided by a genuinely phenomenal soundtrack that brings together diverse voices and languages that allow for an almost spiritual experience. 

     However, it is the characters that really set Arcane apart from any other piece of media ever created (in recent memory).

     In both live-action and animated films and shows, there is often an issue when it comes to character development and representation - a recently popularly discussed example being ‘Emily in Paris’, which has received much criticism for managing to lock each character, even the entire country of France, into a convenient stereotype with no consideration for development or purpose other than to serve the plot. The creators of Arcane have somehow managed to avoid this, infusing each character with a purpose, a motive, and a story of their own that is delved into independently at some point in the six acts that make up the series. Every character feels layered and real, whether it’s Jayce and his desire for progress and the welfare of Piltover, or Vi and her instinct to protect her family, or her sister, Jinx, the ‘mentally unhinged wildcard’ who has suffered enough to traumatise the whole population of Zaun. Even the main antagonist of season one, Silco, the ruthless crime lord of the undercity, has so much depth behind his character that we grow to sympathise with him despite his very questionable morals. Although creators have adhered to many character and gender archetypes, such as the traditional depictions of masculinity and femininity, hero versus villain, the way the plot is crafted respects each archetype as its own story. Each piece of dialogue, action, and choice is deliberate, creating intricate subtexts that suggest any character is more than just their usefulness to the storyline; each detail is so significant that I could spend pages analysing just their facial expressions. Overall, Arcane’s characters are just overwhelmingly human. They each fight their own battles and realise their desires, displaying the most innate qualities of humanity: love, loss, loyalty, honour, and betrayal. 

     Arcane truly is a milestone for animation. It has completely redefined what animated storytelling can achieve. This is a show that will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest pieces of animation of all time - its 100% Rotten Tomatoes score up there with the Spiderverse movies and the Oscar-nominated Spirited Away, setting the standard for storytelling that future animators will aspire to.

     Fifteen minutes of complete silence followed the binge-watching of eighteen 40 to 50-minute episodes, punctured only by the occasional sobs of the friend I had the fortune of watching it with (herself having already watched it four times). My mind could conjure only two words in its stunned and forever-altered state. 

     ‘Genuine Masterpiece’.

thanks for reading!!!