Arcane Series Review — A 10/10 Animated Masterpiece We Need More Of
Arcane is one of the best animated series I have ever watched, and it is an easy 10/10 for me. My IMDb profile reflects that score, but even a number does not fully explain how much this show impressed me. Set between the shining city of Piltover and the oppressed underground of Zaun, the story follows sisters Vi and Jinx as politics, technology, trauma, and conflicting loyalties pull them apart. You do not need to know anything about League of Legends to become invested. Arcane stands completely on its own as a powerful story about family, inequality, ambition, and the painful consequences of every choice.
The animation is the first thing that grabs you. Arcane blends painterly textures, expressive character work, cinematic lighting, and explosive action into a visual language that feels unlike almost anything else on television. Every frame looks carefully composed, but it never becomes style without substance. Color helps separate Piltover’s polished privilege from Zaun’s dangerous industrial energy, while small changes in movement and facial expression communicate emotions that dialogue alone could never carry. I genuinely wish more movies and shows were willing to take this kind of artistic risk instead of settling for animation that simply looks familiar.
The story is just as strong as the artwork. Across two seasons and 18 episodes, Arcane builds a conflict where nearly every major character has an understandable motivation, even when their decisions cause terrible damage. Vi and Jinx remain the emotional center, but the series also makes room for political ambition, scientific discovery, class division, romance, grief, and revenge. The writing rarely gives you an easy hero or villain. It lets people be loving, selfish, brave, frightened, and destructive—sometimes within the same scene. That complexity is what makes the world feel alive rather than like background material from a video game.
The voice performances make those relationships hit even harder. Hailee Steinfeld brings strength and vulnerability to Vi, while Ella Purnell gives Jinx an unpredictable mix of humor, rage, fear, and heartbreak. Kevin Alejandro and the wider cast give the supporting characters real weight, so even quieter conversations feel important. The series knows when to slow down and let a performance breathe, then uses its action sequences as emotional payoffs instead of empty spectacle. Some of its most memorable moments work because the acting, music, editing, and animation all move together.
Arcane also proves that adult animation can be ambitious without losing its sense of entertainment. It delivers fights, inventions, magic technology, and enormous set pieces, but underneath all of that is a deeply personal tragedy about two sisters who still matter to each other. The show earned its reputation, including a 9.0 IMDb rating and major Emmy recognition, because it treats animation as a complete filmmaking medium. We need more movies and series that trust artists to create something this distinctive, and we need more studios willing to give animated stories this level of time, craft, and emotional seriousness.
Overall, Arcane is a visually groundbreaking, emotionally devastating 10/10 animated series. It is dark, beautiful, exciting, and surprisingly human. Whether you are already a League of Legends fan or have never played the game, I highly recommend watching it for its art direction, character writing, world-building, and willingness to make bold creative choices. Its story may be complete, but I hope its success encourages an entire generation of filmmakers and animators to be just as fearless.
Watch Arcane on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/watch/81435684
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Watch Arcane on Amazon Prime Video here
