Is League of Legends Arcane an anime? Yes and no

The animated series based on the popular game League of Legends, Arcane, took the world by storm when it initially came out. Few were expecting a game with the reputation League of Legends has to pull through with such an amazing show with captivating characters, immersive storytelling, excellent music, and visuals that make you want to watch it again and again.

While the show’s visuals have been a point of focus for many who have watched it, fans also have a question that seems to be controversial. We are, of course, talking about whether Arcane is considered an anime. Today, we’re here to go through everything you need to know about Arcane’s status, and whether Netflix’s hit show is actually an anime or just an animated show.

So, without any more delay, we’re here to answer whether League of Legends is an anime. If you don’t care about this and just want to raise the League of Legends ranks then we still have you covered. Just buy a League of Legends boost from Eloking and watch your rank soar. You can even use the code “BoostToday” for an excellent 20% discount.

What even is an anime?

Before anything, it’s crucial to establish what the term “anime” means by definition. In its literal sense, the word is the Japanese word for animation. However, when it comes to pretty much every country outside of Japan, the word anime refers to the distinct style of animation that originated in Japan.

Naturally, the animation isn’t the only thing that’s included in this. The visual aesthetics, storytelling techniques, cultural influence, and various things associated with typical popular anime are what make an anime stand out from other animations.

Let us take popular shonen anime like Naruto and My Hero Academia as examples. Both anime are distinguished by their large, expressive eyes, exaggerated emotions, and action-packed sequences. Some anime also tend to explore philosophical themes, social issues, or fantastical worlds in deeply emotional ways, which is a major reason for the medium’s popularity worldwide.

Understanding Arcane’s roots and aesthetic

Now, Arcane is produced by Riot Games in collaboration with the French animation studio Fortiche. While the show boasts an art style that blurs the line between Western and Eastern animation traditions, it does so in a way that seems distinct yet familiar to anime fans. The show utilizes a combination of hand-painted textures, and 2D and 3D animation while also giving special attention to detail, especially in character expressions, fluid motion, and intense action scenes.

The overall feel of Arcane is extremely similar to a traditional action-packed anime. However, Arcane’s origins are firmly rooted in the Western animation tradition. Arcane is neither Japanese-made nor explicitly crafted within the anime tradition, even if the show has a global appeal and visual similarities to anime in various aspects.

Let us compare this to Cyberpunk: Edgeruners. While both shows are constantly compared to each other, it would be right to call Edgreunners an anime. After all, the show was a collaboration between Netflix, CD Projekt Red, and Trigger. Trigger is a known animation studio in Japan that has worked on various popular anime in the past, asserting Edgerunner’s origins in Japanese culture.

Themes and storytelling

Taking a closer look at Arcane’s themes and storytelling, it’s easy to understand why so many fans assume it’s an anime at first watch. By delving into deeply personal and philosophical themes through symbolism and metaphor, Arcane’s narrative leans heavily into characters like Vi, Jinx, Caitlyn, and Jayce. This is expected from an anime like Attack on Titan or even One Piece.

However, upon closer inspection, Arcane’s western themes outweigh the Anime-like ones. Exploring themes of sibling rivalry, class struggle, and political intrigue feels distinctly Western in tone and delivery. Couple that with the dialogue-heavy scenes and cinematic pacing, and one might assume Arcane is more reminiscent of shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender.

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Did Arcane influence modern Western animation?

Absolutely. Arcane is one of the most successful Western animation shows in modern times, and it does so by relying on Western storytelling methods. The late 2010s was a bad time for Western animation, as many had turned toward Japanese anime. However, thanks to the success fo Arcane, we have no doubt that more Western animation studios will feel the courage to pursue their dreams.

With that being said, Arcane was definitely influenced by anime. The series incorporates some elements of anime, especially in its fast-paced action sequences and emotional intensity. Additionally, many fans of anime have been drawn to Arcane because of these stylistic overlaps. 

However, it would be best to call Arcane a hybrid of sorts. The creators have blended different themes, techniques, and aesthetics, and we can only hope that other Western studios follow suit in what might become the new age of Western animation.

So, is Arcane an anime?

With everything said and done, is Arcane an anime? Well, yes and no. If you’re talking about the Japanese definition, then yes, Arcane is indeed an anime. After all, something would simply have to be animated to qualify as an anime in Japanese culture.

However, we’re sure most are interested in the Western definition of anime. In this case, no, Arcane is not technically an anime. The series is developed by a non-Japanese studio, and while it borrows many visual and story-telling themes from anime, it isn’t enough to qualify it as an anime.

FAQs

Which anime did Arcane take inspiration from?

The people behind Arcane’s first season stated the team took inspiration from various Japanese anime. In particular, the works of Satoshi Kon, Naoki, Urasawa, and Koji Morimoto served as great inspiration. This isn’t a surprise as these are the minds behind excellent anime like Perfect Blue, Monster, and 20th Century Boys.

What other Netflix shows aren’t actually anime?

While Cyberpunk: Edgerunners qualifies as an anime, that doesn’t mean all other Netflix animated shows do. For example, in addition to Arcane, shows like Castlevania are also made by non-Japanese studios, which means they don’t count as anime.