Lecture Notes: Arcane and Animation Industry Insight

Introduction to Arcane

• Personal story of initial disinterest in League of Legends.
• "Arcane: League of Legends" became favorite TV show despite initial hesitations.

Unique Animation Approach

• Not a spin-off or adaptation but a creative project with freedom.
• French studio Fortiche Productions partnered for animation.
• Mix of 2D and 3D animation styles.

Animation Industry Context

• Western animation often deemed inferior, with ongoing guild fights for better pay.
• Japanese animation has respect but faces overproduction issues.
• Arcane had a long production time (6 years).

Production Journey of Arcane

• Riot Games' involvement: initially considered pro TV showrunners, used in-house staff with LoL lore experience.
• Growth of Fortiche from 16 to 300 animators.
• Riot allowed creative freedom; Fortiche treated as a creative partner.

Challenges in the Animation Industry

• Western dismissive term "vendor studio"; different approach with Fortiche.
• Importance of time in production; Arcane took two years for pilot alone.
• Detailed storyboarding process; no motion capture used.

Riot Games and Company Culture

• Riot Games' problematic company culture and leadership issues.
• Arcane creators pitched project as a financial risk but succeeded.

Creative Freedom and Artistic Input

• Arcane creators had creative freedom, emphasizing visuals over game canon.
• Cost-cutting led to unique artistic approaches.

Lessons from Arcane's Success

• Arcane's success is attributed to behind-the-scenes creative freedom.
• Comparison with 2016's Berserk and other rushed projects.
• Demand for TV animation outweighs production capabilities.

Examples and Comparisons

• Reference to other CG anime studios like Orange and 3D anime like Land of the Lustrous.

Final Thoughts

• Arcane as a testament to trusting animators and creative partnership.
• Summary of Arcane's impact and potential lessons for the animation industry.

Acknowledgments

• Thanks to supporters and contributors to the channel.