Arcane Was Worth The Money

Key Takeaways

Riot’s League of Legends adaptation Arcane cost $250 million for 2 seasons, making it the most expensive animated TV series ever.
Arcane’s unique animation style led to massive praise from critics and fans.
While the series is not expected to turn a profit, Arcane’s success lies in areas that are far more valuable than money.

As a long-time gamer and a connoisseur of animated series, I must say that I am thoroughly impressed with Riot Games’ venture into television with Arcane. Having spent countless hours playing League of Legends, I was initially skeptical about this adaptation but was blown away by the quality of storytelling, animation, and character development.

Currently, Arcane is broadcasting its second and concluding season, yet a fresh report underscores the substantial monetary burden the show has represented for Riot Games.

Arcane marks Riot Games’ initial venture into television production, having previously collaborated on animated music videos and cinematics based on their League of Legends characters. Unlike these, Arcane is the first full-length adaptation of the game. Launched on Netflix in 2021, it was followed by an announcement for Season 2 just a short while later. The series, which took three more years to complete and was released in November 2024, has garnered acclaim for its unique animation style that combines 2D and 3D techniques, pushing the boundaries of both to achieve unprecedented detail and visual mastery. However, this high-quality production has come with a significant financial burden.

Arcane’s Production Budget Revealed

According to Variety’s sources, Riot Games is planning to spend around a quarter of a billion dollars on two seasons of “Arcane,” consisting of 18 episodes in total. This budget covers both production and marketing expenses, making “Arcane” the most expensive animated television series ever produced. The series is unlikely to turn a profit for Riot, as they only receive $3 million per episode from Netflix’s worldwide licensing fees and another $3 million from Tencent for distribution in China. To recoup their costs, Riot may rely on merchandising and “League of Legends” cosmetics for Season 2, although it remains uncertain if these efforts will allow the series to break even. Despite its staggering $250 million budget, many believe that every penny was well spent.

All of Arcane’s Budget Is Visible on the Screen

For decades, Arcane has led the way in the realm of animation, thanks to the French studio Fortiche who have developed a visually unique style. This style effectively conveys character feelings, constructs fantastical landscapes, and depicts high-octane action with an exceptional level of detail and precision that is seldom found elsewhere. A simple glance at fan comments on social media or professional critiques makes it clear that Arcane’s animation style is highly respected and cherished, a status not easily earned overnight.

After nearly nine years of work, Riot Games and Fortiche Studios have devoted a significant amount of time to the production of Arcane. Initially employing just 15 individuals, Fortiche had to expand its team to approximately 300 employees to complete the animation for Season 1 of Arcane. The wages paid to these workers over the years were crucial in refining Arcane’s animation, resulting in Fortiche becoming one of the most visually unique animation studios currently active. Riot Games’ investment in Fortiche has proven fruitful, as the studio is expected to receive increased demand following the conclusion of Arcane, with Riot likely enjoying priority status due to their ongoing collaboration.

Arcane’s Budget Seems Normal When Compared To Other Blockbusters

Compared to some modern blockbusters from Hollywood, Arcane’s $250 million budget appears quite modest. For instance, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) is reported to have cost a staggering $430 million – for a mere 2-hour movie! Although Jurassic World made a profit, not every high-budget Hollywood film shares the same fate. Joker: Folie à Deux, with an estimated budget of around $200 million, is expected to result in a loss of approximately $100 million for Warner Bros. On the other hand, Arcane’s budget was used to create content for two seasons, and while it may not bring Riot financial success, it has achieved success in numerous ways that extend far beyond simple monetary gain.

Why Arcane Was A Good Investment For Riot

Since its premiere in 2021, the series “Arcane” has racked up numerous accolades. Both seasons 1 and 2 have received universal acclaim from critics, with a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The show quickly garnered a large following, as both seasons of “Arcane” made it to Netflix’s Top 10 charts in an impressive 88 countries. Additionally, “Arcane” has been honored with numerous awards, such as nine Annie Awards, four Primetime Emmy Awards, and the title of Best Adaptation at The Game Awards – all for season 1 alone.

Most significantly, the show “Arcane” captivates both enthusiasts of “League of Legends” and individuals completely new to the franchise. The series has fostered an understanding of Riot’s game that might not have been achievable without the Netflix adaptation. The emergence of other video game adaptations like “Fallout” and “The Last of Us” led to a surge in sales for their source material, coinciding with their respective series premieres. Although Riot Games has not disclosed viewer engagement figures for “League of Legends” post-“Arcane’s” release, the show has opened up numerous opportunities for the franchise. It has facilitated the expansion of the champion roster (as seen with Ambessa) and allowed for a lineup of tie-in skins and cosmetics to be introduced, generating potential income for Riot, regardless of the TV series’ success.

Riot Shouldn’t Give Up The Entertainment Game

Although Arcane concludes with its second season, Riot Games has emphasized their ongoing dedication to their entertainment content. There were assumptions that Arcane’s brief two-season span was a result of its high production costs, but speculations about a five-season plan have since been proven false. League of Legends co-creator Marc Merill additionally confirmed to Variety that the company is “happy with the budget” spent on a show deserving of players’ time. However, Riot Games faces the challenge of sustaining Arcane’s quality, as Riot president Dylan Jadeja admitted that creating an entertainment collection upholding their high standards is “extremely difficult.

Despite the initial high cost, Riot’s investment in Arcane certainly wasn’t money thrown away. Instead, it funded artists for several years, resulting in an exceptional visual animation style, one that has left a lasting impact on viewers.

Arcane Season 2 will come to an end on Netflix on November 23.

2024-11-22 18:05