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4.64 AVERAGE
4.64 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Just like they did with the show, they went all out with this art book. It's gorgeous and has so much personality and a bunch of little extras and fold-outs. We already knew Arcane was a work of love and passion, but reading about the thoughtfulness that went into making it, along with the happy accidents, creative problem solving, and focus on every little detail, warms my heart.
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
One of my favourite television series in recent years has been the series Arcane, now on its second season on Netflix. As I’m now working on Season 2, I’m sure it will be in my 2024 list too (currently a work in progress.) Based on the Riot Games computer game, the television series is designed to appeal to those who loved the game as well as those like me who have no knowledge of the game.
Even with me being a complete novice to the world of the League of Legends, the series won me over. I’m not alone in my love of this series with its archetypal characters, brilliant characterisation and lush artwork – when the first season was first created in November 2021 it was one of Netflix’s most popular series of the year, being in the Netflix Top 10 for that year in 89 countries – nearly half of the world’s countries.
It was a series whose popularity spread by that so-elusive word of mouth, and unsurprisingly won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program in 2022.
Simplifying the plot enormously, it is mainly the story of two sisters – Jinx, aka Powder and Vi, aka Violet – and their life in the cities of Piltover and Zaun. Piltover is a utopian city, a a rich baroque mingling of ancient imperial history, arcane technologies and grand architecture. Around the young women are Ekko, who will later become known as The Boy Who Shattered Time, and inventors Jayce and Viktor, who work with mentor Cecil B. Heimerdinger. They discover an arcane power through Hextech that might change the world.
From the political factions we also meet Caitlyn, the Sherriff of Piltover and Mel, a member of the city council originally from Noxus who has a difficult relationship with her mother Ambessa, a war general.
However, like in the film Metropolis, Piltover covers a dark underworld, that of the undercity district of Zaun, where Vi and Jinx are embroiled in the underworld gangster goings-on of Silco and Vander, who control the distribution of the street drug Shimmer. The background setting to this is a dark decaying landscape, filled with ancient traps and poisonous chemicals. Produced by Fortiche, a French artist studio, the animation is fast-paced, rarely repetitive, unusual and yet readily identifiable, a combination of lush artwork, modern cinematic styles and contemporary music.
So, I was greatly surprised (and quite excited) when this large (and heavy!) tome arrived for review.
This one startles from the beginning. The dustjacket is a neon pink see-through acetate that almost glows, the artwork behind it suitably edgy and ‘street’ - and wholly appropriate for the character of Jinx who adorns the cover below the plastic. It is exclusive to this edition.
The book then has a number of extensive interviews on how the series came about. Christian Linke and Alex Yee, the co-creators and show runners, explain how difficult and complex it was to get a series like Arcane up and running. Even though the Riot Games game was very successful, it took a lot of effort.
What appears to me to be be important from the book is how important the role of music and video has been in evolving the series. A video, “Get Jinxed” was released on Youtube in 2013 and generated enough interest for the television series to be developed. The evolution of the series is shown on a Timeline in the book.
Much of the book is your standard material. There are early designs showing how characters evolved visually and interviews with over 20 key animators, writers, directors, artists, game designers, musicians, and other creators who brought the series to life. At times they do have a little of the “this is the best thing, ever” about them, but generally there’s enough explanation of the artwork process, the concepts and the character development to keep things interesting.
What elevates the copious artwork here – storyboards, concept designs, background mattes – are the enormous foldout images of some of the backgrounds, which can extend to 120cms or more and show you the detail even where things are not that obvious in the television series.
Turning the pages more it was that attention to details that impressed. I found little extras added to the book throughout – a Wanted poster here, maps, a blueprint there, even a stencil - so much that it reminded me of those ‘Vault’ books popular a few years ago. This is not a quickly produced, superficially written overview of the series, but a detailed, lushly produced summary which explains how the series has become the success it is.
With its many inserts, detailed interviews, and amazing fold-out backgrounds and artwork, The Art of Arcane is a triumph. One to prize, to have on display and be the envy of others. Highly recommended.
Even with me being a complete novice to the world of the League of Legends, the series won me over. I’m not alone in my love of this series with its archetypal characters, brilliant characterisation and lush artwork – when the first season was first created in November 2021 it was one of Netflix’s most popular series of the year, being in the Netflix Top 10 for that year in 89 countries – nearly half of the world’s countries.
It was a series whose popularity spread by that so-elusive word of mouth, and unsurprisingly won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program in 2022.
Simplifying the plot enormously, it is mainly the story of two sisters – Jinx, aka Powder and Vi, aka Violet – and their life in the cities of Piltover and Zaun. Piltover is a utopian city, a a rich baroque mingling of ancient imperial history, arcane technologies and grand architecture. Around the young women are Ekko, who will later become known as The Boy Who Shattered Time, and inventors Jayce and Viktor, who work with mentor Cecil B. Heimerdinger. They discover an arcane power through Hextech that might change the world.
From the political factions we also meet Caitlyn, the Sherriff of Piltover and Mel, a member of the city council originally from Noxus who has a difficult relationship with her mother Ambessa, a war general.
However, like in the film Metropolis, Piltover covers a dark underworld, that of the undercity district of Zaun, where Vi and Jinx are embroiled in the underworld gangster goings-on of Silco and Vander, who control the distribution of the street drug Shimmer. The background setting to this is a dark decaying landscape, filled with ancient traps and poisonous chemicals. Produced by Fortiche, a French artist studio, the animation is fast-paced, rarely repetitive, unusual and yet readily identifiable, a combination of lush artwork, modern cinematic styles and contemporary music.
So, I was greatly surprised (and quite excited) when this large (and heavy!) tome arrived for review.
This one startles from the beginning. The dustjacket is a neon pink see-through acetate that almost glows, the artwork behind it suitably edgy and ‘street’ - and wholly appropriate for the character of Jinx who adorns the cover below the plastic. It is exclusive to this edition.
The book then has a number of extensive interviews on how the series came about. Christian Linke and Alex Yee, the co-creators and show runners, explain how difficult and complex it was to get a series like Arcane up and running. Even though the Riot Games game was very successful, it took a lot of effort.
What appears to me to be be important from the book is how important the role of music and video has been in evolving the series. A video, “Get Jinxed” was released on Youtube in 2013 and generated enough interest for the television series to be developed. The evolution of the series is shown on a Timeline in the book.
Much of the book is your standard material. There are early designs showing how characters evolved visually and interviews with over 20 key animators, writers, directors, artists, game designers, musicians, and other creators who brought the series to life. At times they do have a little of the “this is the best thing, ever” about them, but generally there’s enough explanation of the artwork process, the concepts and the character development to keep things interesting.
What elevates the copious artwork here – storyboards, concept designs, background mattes – are the enormous foldout images of some of the backgrounds, which can extend to 120cms or more and show you the detail even where things are not that obvious in the television series.
Turning the pages more it was that attention to details that impressed. I found little extras added to the book throughout – a Wanted poster here, maps, a blueprint there, even a stencil - so much that it reminded me of those ‘Vault’ books popular a few years ago. This is not a quickly produced, superficially written overview of the series, but a detailed, lushly produced summary which explains how the series has become the success it is.
With its many inserts, detailed interviews, and amazing fold-out backgrounds and artwork, The Art of Arcane is a triumph. One to prize, to have on display and be the envy of others. Highly recommended.
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
This is everything. 5 Stars aren't even cutting it.
The best Artbook I've ever seen.
The best Artbook I've ever seen.