EntertainmentTVAnimation ShowsArcaneArcane season 2 showrunner says its animators were “always hunting” for chances to switch up the League of Legends show’s animation styleWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
EntertainmentTVAnimation ShowsArcaneArcane season 2 showrunner says its animators were “always hunting” for chances to switch up the League of Legends show’s animation styleWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Netflix)

Arcaneis coming to a close, with the final three episodes releasing today, and showrunner Christian Linke tells us the animators are always looking for ways to challenge themselves.
Regardless of your feelings on the source material,League of Legends, you have to admit the quality of Arcane’s animation is top tier. At a rumored$250 million for 18 episodes, you can really see where the budget went.
What also helps is the creativity of the staff working on the show. In a recent interview with Linke, he tells us “you have a studio full of artists and animators who are just like ‘oh, we can do something different, that challenges us, that explores a different style?’ I think there’s always a desire to do that, they’re always hunting for those.”
What amazes me the most with Arcane’s style is how tangible its camera feels. Something I had to wrap my head around for modern, computerized animation is that there is no camera, it’s all virtual. But Arcane’s scenes shake and lose focus for a second as though there’s an actual crew filming everything.
As for some of the show’s deliberately less realistic moments, Linke explains, “whenever there’s a moment that takes place in someone’s head, you have an opportunity to really use their perspective, to really color and change the depiction of something. It doesn’t need to be as realistic.”
These are the moments the team loves because, “It doesn’t need to be as grounded. It can be abstract. It can be impressionistic. So I think that’s where that usually comes from. Usually when we have some sort of internal dialog or depiction of someone’s internal experience, I think we tend to gravitate towards some sort of different interpretation, different stylization, to really exaggerate what they’re feeling about something.”
Arcane has only been on air for three years, butthe team have spent “nine years” on the characters, so it must be nice for them to be able to stretch their creative legs and not be confined to just one style for the entire run of the show.
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As for what’s to come,will there be an Arcane season 3?
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League of Legends co-creator responds to report that Arcane was a “financial miss,” says “people think we make things like Arcane to sell skins, when in reality we sell skins to make things like Arcane"Arcane writer shares where she wants to go with a new story in the League of Legends universe
League of Legends co-creator responds to report that Arcane was a “financial miss,” says “people think we make things like Arcane to sell skins, when in reality we sell skins to make things like Arcane”
League of Legends co-creator responds to report that Arcane was a “financial miss,” says “people think we make things like Arcane to sell skins, when in reality we sell skins to make things like Arcane”
Arcane writer shares where she wants to go with a new story in the League of Legends universe
Arcane writer shares where she wants to go with a new story in the League of Legends universe
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
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2
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3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
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4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
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4
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5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”