Netflix and Riot Games' League of Legends animated series Arcane was definitely one of the best animated original shows released in 2021. The nine-episode first season, which is based on the lore of Riot's popular MOBA game League of Legends, was well-received by both critics and viewers alike. With a second season already confirmed, Arcane's background was explained by a surprising source.
The executive of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim explained the time needed to develop Arcane, while also talking about how the steampunk fantasy animated series is an "amazing achievement".
Over on Twitter, co-creator and Executive Producer of Toonami, Jason DeMarco, explained how long it took for Arcane to hit Netflix, and how the lengthy production time is not common in the world of animation:
"Nah Arcane DID have a big budget- I know how much it was- and they had SIX YEARS of development, which most shows will never ever get. To be clear- that doesn't mean the show isn't an amazing achievement (it sure is!), but it has no lessons to bring to the world of CG anime.
No anime studio can afford to throw development $$$ at a team for more than half a decade! And if Arcane was going anywhere but Netflix, where ROI doesn't really matter, the economics wouldn't make any sense for a studio. It's definitely a miracle- but it won't be a bellweather."
Read More: 10 Best Moments in Arcane Season 1
Arcane follows the origin story of two sisters and fellow League champions Jinx and Vi, who are torn from one another thanks to the war between the utopian city of Piltover and the underground world of Zaun. The series was praised for its brilliant storytelling, beautiful animation, excellent character development, and its awesome soundtrack.
All nine episodes of Arcane Season 1 are available to stream on Netflix. You can read more details about Arcane Season 2 here.
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