Watching Arcane season two made me feel like a dad watching the Super Bowl. From the storyline down to the art style, every second leaves you at the edge of your seat. Finishing the final episode had me thinking that this is what good animation looks like. 

!!SPOILERS AHEAD!!

In the first season of Arcane, you are introduced to the beloved main characters, Jinx (who was then known as Powder) and Vi. Despite losing their birth mother, Powder and Vi are two sisters who survived the Piltover and Vaun bridge battle. They have been with each other through thick and thin, and they are taken in by a family friend, Vander.

During a heist with Vi, Powder wanted to prove herself useful not only to Mylo and Claggor but also to her older sister Vi. The mission goes wrong and ends with Powder causing an explosion that kills of some of the people closest to the sisters.

Vi, clouded with the loss of her father figure and close friends, yells at Powder and calls her a jinx (this action had consequences). Just as Vi realizes her mistake, it’s too late, the new Powder (Jinx) is being taken in by the corrupt Silco, and Vi is arrested by an enforcer for the explosion. The rest of the season consists of Vi trying to be reunited with her sister after years in prison while also teaming up with an enforcer trying to prove to her parents that she can be more.

The first episode of Arcane season two picks back up where we had left off in the previous season with Jinx’s attack on Piltover. We see the aftermath and the damage done, as well as the lives that were lost in this event. This season is split into three acts, all of which lead to a big war in the season finale.

Additionally, there are character arcs for each of the main characters that link together in the end. New characters, such as the Noxus and Black Rose were also introduced and will be brought back in later projects for Arcane and League of Legends.

This season was all about balance, love, and sacrifice. Many new bonds formed and strengthened throughout this season. From Jinx’s short-lived moments with Isha to Jayce and Viktor’s undeniable devotion to one another, many relationships have their time to shine this season.

For the first time, Vi experienced WLW (with women) heartbreak! Her arc is justified though. If my girlfriend became an overruling tyrant, I would also become an emo MMA fighter.

Although the new season featured gorgeous visuals and an amazing original soundtrack, some viewers felt dissatisfied. Shocking, right? A couple of Arcane fans felt that the new season was rushed and served as a setup for the spin-offs Riot Games planned.

Animation has been undergoing a “glorious evolution” for the past decade. Shows like Cyberpunk Edgerunner, Blue Eye Samurai, or Dandadan have grown in popularity lately, and fans are particularly attracted to the smooth animation.

Not only has animation recently taken a new style, it seems like people are finally realizing that animated shows and movies can take on a more mature serious tone and reach a wider audience.

Animated movies, such as Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, have caught the attention of many anime lovers due to their appealing art style and experimentation with animation. The writers, artists, and animators of the Spider-Verse movies deserve a special thank you.

This started a trend of hybrid 2D+ 3D animation. Movies such as Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, the recent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” and so many more have adapted and experimented with this animation.