Arcane, the animated League of Legends adaptation, has been surging in popularity in recent weeks. The show just became the number one streaming series in the United States. This achievement, which happened last week, beats the record previously held by hit projects Stranger Things and The Mandalorian.
Arcane is a computer generated animated series set in the same universe as the beloved League of Legends video game. The latter entertainment entity is an online multiplayer game that has drawn players since 2009. League of Legends is one of the biggest games to be played competitively. The show has been praised by critics and fans alike for its intriguing story and unique animation style.
Arcane has expanded on the story and world of the video game from which it is adapting for the small screen. The series is set in a time period before the events of League of Legends. Characters in the program live in one of two main locations. One of said locations is named Piltover, a utopia for the upper class. The other setting is Zaun, a dirty and downtrodden city which serves as the home for the lower class.
Rising actress Hailee Steinfeld (who also appears in the newly released Disney+ show Hawkeye) and Ella Parnell star as sisters Vi and Jinx. The pair find themselves being on opposite sides in a brewing war. Additional cast members include Kevin Alejandro, Katie Leung, Harry Lloyd, Jason Spisak, Toks Olagundoye, JB Blanc, and Reed Shannon.
Most Netflix shows release every episode in a particular season on the same day. On the other hand, Arcane is using a different method. Groups of three episodes premiere once a week over a span of three weeks. This process might be a possible explanation for the series’ huge success, as viewers could not originally binge the entire season in one weekend. Not surprisingly, Arcane has already been renewed for a second season.
Some may be shocked at the massive hit that Arcane turned out to be. However, it is already one of, if not the most critically acclaimed video game adaptations of all time. Most video game-based movies and tv shows tend to receive poor reception. Arcane’s overwhelming acclaim shows that quality adaptations from the video game medium are able to be made. League of Legends’ large fan base allows for consumers to tune in to the tv show in droves. For the many fans of either the video game, the small screen project, or both the huge ratings do not come as a surprise.
You can watch Arcane on Netflix. This news comes to us from Deadline.
