A real visual and narrative slap in the face, the series Arcane continues to conquer the world. But to achieve this, Netflix fiction had to beat a more than impressive record…
Rare are the fictions that succeed in bringing the whole world into agreement. Especially when it comes to animated series. However, this is the feat that Netflix managed to accomplish with its series Arcane. Inspired by the world of video games League of Legends, Arcane is the result of a co-production between Riot Games, the American publisher of the game, and Fortiche Production, a French animation studio which has been working on the series for more than eight years. And if these elements may seem niche to ordinary mortals, it is nevertheless the general public who made it a phenomenon upon its release in 2021. Season 1 ranked number 1 in 85 countries and received 4 Emmy Awards, including for best animated program, a first for a streaming platform. And while season 2 has been broadcast since November 9, the success does not seem to be running out of steam. A success which, however, comes at a price… and not the least.
Arcane (Netflix) is the most expensive animated series in television history
Critics and audiences are rave: Arcane is a true gem of animation. Mainly based on a 2D technique, for this season 2, the Fortiche teams have strengthened themselves and included 3D special effects specialists for an even more spectacular rendering. But such attention to detail comes at a price: in everything, 250 million dollars were invested to produce the two seasonsor 18 episodes. An astronomical budget which makes it the most expensive animated series in historystreaming platforms and television channels combined. It must be said that if Jérôme Combe, one of the co-founders of Fortiche, told us that season 1 had already mobilized 300 people over five years, the teams grew even larger for season 2 with the opening of new studios in Europe .
Arcane : half a second produced per day, or the masterful work of the French animation studio
On the occasion of the release of season 2, Pascal Charrue, another co-founder of Fortiche, also participated in a conference on the design of the series. During the latter, he confided that to obtain the rendering ofArcaneit was only half a second that was produced per day per person. Which gives an idea of the sense of detail and the meticulousness given to the creation of the series. And if the adventure Arcane as we know it today will end at the end of season 2, Riot Games has already indicated that other projects are in development…
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