My Favorite Enemy

The first time I laid eyes on this series, you could say I was utterly disgusted—but this isn’t an article meant to tear down a masterpiece. Instead, it's here to appreciate all the elements that make Arcane the stunning work of art that it is.

Elite Animation

Video game adaptation animations often struggle when reproducing a version that isn’t directly from the game itself. That’s why, when I first watched Arcane, I was a little skeptical. But putting aside my biases, I dove into the first episode—and that’s when I realized I might have been wrong. In the opening sequence, there was a scene where a blue crystal, called the Hextech crystal, exploded. I was blown away by how beautifully they captured that moment, turning what was supposed to be destruction into something breathtaking. Throughout the series, there were multiple scenes like this, which made me reconsider my perspective on animations based on video games.

Dystopian Significance

The storyline in Arcane, as I mentioned earlier, is truly unique. From the sisterhood that supports the side characters to the bond between the two scientists who create new worlds through their discoveries, the narrative is rich and layered. What stood out to me most was the cold conflict between the surface world and the underground. I’ve seen similar dynamics before, where the overworld allows the underground to decay in crime and poverty, ruled by gang bosses and ignored by those in power. This is one of the core elements that brings Arcane to life.

Take Viktor, for example one of the scientists with ties to the underworld. His journey to find a cure that could heal the people below and bring them into a new reality was powerful. Yet, in his pursuit, he flirts with the idea of becoming a godlike figure, crossing moral boundaries.

This part of Arcane mirrors the real world, where the wealthy elite often abandon the poor and under-resourced, leading to a deep divide between classes. This separation can give rise to gangs and underground economies built on illegal activity. This anime, which I stumbled upon by accident, ended up fascinating me for how well it reflects real-world issues. It might just be one of the most efficiently written animations I’ve ever watched. A word to fellow animation lovers: sometimes, just watch the animation you think you’ll hate—you might be surprised.