Arcane: a season 2 “in the continuity of the first, but better”, the creators of the series announce a crazy sequel

Season 2 of Arcane begins on Netflix Saturday, November 9. At a press conference, the creators of the series gave some information about what to expect in the sequel.

Two seasons, 8 years of production, 700 people, three studios: these are the colossal figures behind Arcane , animated series adapted from League of Legends which ends this month on Netflix. Three years after the end of season 1, season 2 is going online on the streaming platform on Saturdays November 9, 16 and 23, 2024. These will be the last of the series, which will thus mark the end of a  era for Fortiche Studio and Riot Games, creators of the series.

In season 2 of Arcane, Piltover and Zaun are recovering from Jinx's attack. Who survived ? What is certain is that while the wealthy city was in favor of reconciliation, At the end of season 1, this attack threatens to exacerbate tensions between the two cities once again. For her part, Vi will once again try to bring her sister back on the right path… unless confrontation is inevitable.

Fans figured it out with season 1, Arcane is definitely not an animated series like any other and is extremely costly in terms of time and investment, hence the three-year wait between the two seasons. At a conference attended by journalists and French animation students in Paris, before the release of season 2, the producers of the series detailed the process of creating new episodes: “it can take up to a year between writing the script for an episode and directing it,” explain Pascal Charrue, founder of Fortiche and co-director of season 2, Bart Maunoury, directing creator, Kianna Manker, producer and Amanda Overton, script editor.

Half a second of series produced per day and per animator

If the series does not use motion capture at all, the animators film each other to detail the scenes before animating them, in order to to adopt a “semi-realistic” style.  “On average, we produce half a second per day per animator”, they specified.  And to tease season 2, which will be “in the continuity of the first graphically speaking, but better”. Just that.

However, such ambition involves many costs. According to information from the American media Variety, Arcane reportedly cost over $250 million for its two seasons (production and promotion, a cost that has not been confirmed by Riot Games), becoming the most expensive animated series in history with “only” 18 episodes. The English-language media, however, assures that the series will not be profitable for the studio, and will allow it, at best, to cover its costs.

Season 2 of Arcane will be the last

Arcane will indeed end at the end of this season 2. In a video posted online on social networks, Christian Linke, co-creator of the series, came to give explanations on this choice: "We had a very precise ending in mind from the beginning of the creation of the series, which is why the story Arcane will conclude at its season 2".

But fortunately, this does not mean the end of plans to adapt League of Legends into animated series: "Arcane is just the beginning of our journey to tell a larger story, and it is just the beginning of our partnership with the wonderful Parisian animation studio Fortiche", explains Christian Linke. 

“Vi and Jinx's arc has evolved so much, way beyond anything we could have ever dreamed of, and we want to give the same treatment to other [League of Legends] champions,” he explained, before confirming that Riot and Fortiche are already working on new series and film projects featuring new champions of the famous online game. So, who among Darius, Twitch, Urgot, Camille or another LOL character will be the subject of a new series ? In any case, at a conference in Paris, it was confirmed that “other projects are planned in collaboration with Riot Games”.

According to information from Variety however, the series Arcane was supposed to last five full seasons. But given the cost of season 1 and 2, Riot Games and Fortiche's schedule had to be modified, and the number of episodes revised the decline. This cost is explained, in particular, by the workforce and budget overruns, reports the American media.

series sheet

Two sisters, Vi and Powder, are taken in after their parents die by Vander, the rebel leader and mayor of the poor, underground district of Zaun, located not far from the prosperous city of Piltover. Years later, during a robbery that goes wrong in Piltover, Vi and Powder discover mysterious crystals in an apartment they attempt to burgle. The story of the two girls, but also of several key characters in the city, will then be completely turned upside down.

For American voices:

• Hailee Steinfeld: Vi
• Ella Purnell: Powder/Jinx
• Kevin Alejandro: Jayce
• Harry Lloyd: Viktor
• Katie Leung: Caitlyn
• Jason Spisak: Silco
• Toks Olagundoye: Mel

li>JB Blanc: Vander

• Remy Hii: Marcus
• Reed Shannon: Ekko

For French voices:

• Alice Taurand: Vi
• Adeline Chetail: Powder/Jinx
• Franck Sportis& ;nbsp;: Jayce
• Cédric Dumont : Victor
• Elsa Davoine : Caitlyn
• Bernard Gabay : Silco
• Géraldine Asselin : Mel
• Boris Rehlinger : Vander
• Jim Redler : Marcus

~6 0~li>Aurélien Raynal : Ekko

Arcane is not broadcast é television and can only be viewed in streaming. You just need a Netflix account to discover the series, which has two seasons. Remember that a subscription to the streaming platform is paid, and that the price can vary from 5.99 euros/month (with advertising) to 19.99 euros/month.