Before becoming one of the most celebrated anime series of 2021, Riot Games’ animated series Arcane, which won numerous awards, had humble beginnings in terms of both budget and resources.
The journey to create this groundbreaking show started modestly but eventually became one of Riot’s most ambitious projects. The show debuted on Netflix in November 2021, receiving widespread praise not only from the League of Legends community but also from audiences around the world.
In the first episode of the documentary series Arcane: Bridging the Rift, viewers are given a behind-the-scenes look at the risks taken by the production team, as well as the many challenges they had to overcome to bring the show to life.
$2,000 for the start of Arcane
One surprising detail revealed in Arcane: Bridging the Rift is that the initial production budget for Arcane was just US$2,000. The documentary’s first episode, titled “I Only Dream in Risky,” gives fans a glimpse into the modest beginnings of what would become Riot Games’ largest and most successful animated series to date.
The concept for Arcane was sparked after the release of the League of Legends music video “Get Jinxed!” which saw Riot Games collaborate with the French animation studio Fortiche Productions. Inspired by this collaboration, Arcane’s creator and writer, Alex Yee, envisioned a broader League of Legends universe that extended beyond the game itself and into long-form storytelling.
Series showrunner and co-creator Christian “Praeco” Linke also opened up about the difficulties the team faced in the early stages of production.
At first, they were given only US$2,000 to start the project, which posed a huge challenge. However, after much persuasion, Linke and his team managed to convince Riot Games co-founders Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill to increase the budget.
One of the reasons Arcane took so long to produce is its highly distinctive animation style, brought to life by Fortiche Productions. The first episode of the series, “Welcome to the Playground,” took an incredible 10 months to complete due to the innovative techniques used. As Fortiche founder Jérôme Combe explained:
“We use a blend of 2D and 3D animation. The 2D effects are created with 12 images per second, while the main animation runs at 24 images per second, like in other films. This creates a unique mix of styles.”
In March 2022, Arcane achieved a remarkable feat, sweeping the Annie Awards with nine wins in all the categories it was nominated for. Some of its awards included Best Writing, and Best Voice Acting.
From its small beginnings to its eventual success, Arcane stands as a testament to the passion and determination of its creators, and it continues to leave a lasting impact on both the League of Legends community and the world of animated storytelling.