This month, Netflix will release the second and final season of the critically acclaimed animated series set in the League of Legends universe, Arcane. Overall, Arcane will have 18 episodes divided between two seasons. Despite the low total, Arcane is now the most expensive animated TV show.
According to Variety, Riot Games spent approximately $250 million to produce and promote Arcane’s 18 episodes. That is the highest amount of money ever spent on an animated series on streaming or linear TV.
Why is Arcane the most expensive animated TV show ever?
Per Variety, “The profligate spending and unrealized ambitions are a reflection of the company’s inexperience navigating the intricacies of entertainment production.”
Production on Arcane Season 1 reportedly cost over $80 million, while the upcoming second season’s price is around $100 million. Besides animation, the expensive production was driven primarily by a “labor-intensive approach.” Additionally, Season 2 entered production without scripts for every episode, causing significant delays.
Riot spent an estimated $60 million of its own money to promote Arcane Season 1. Most studios that aren’t distributing a show would not spend that much on promotion. The $60 million is “far above” what Netflix spent.
Riot also has some misfires early on. In 2020, Riot enlisted Anthony and Joe Russo to develop a movie in the League of Legends universe. However, creative differences led Riot to pay the Russo Brothers $5 million to walk away.
Created by Christian Linke and Alex Yee, Arcane follows sisters and two League of Legends champions, Jinx (Ella Purnell), a.k.a. Powder, and Vi (Hailee Steinfeld).
“Jinx (Purnell) — also known as Powder — and Vi (Steinfeld) find themselves on rival sides of a brewing war between the utopian city Piltover and its oppressed underbelly Zaun,” reads the official synopsis. “Powder and Vi are completely transformed by the end of the first season, as Powder becomes the mischievous Jinx and Vi proves she’s one champion you don’t want to mess with.”
Arcane Season 2 will stream on Netflix. It will be split into three acts released on November 9, 16, and 23.
(Source: Variety)