Arcane is already the most expensive anime in history

The popular animated series "Arcane," based on the "League of Legends" universe, has been confirmed as the most expensive animated series ever produced, according to a new report from Variety. According to the report, the 18 episodes of the series have cost a total of $250 million, which includes both the production budget and promotional expenses.

Although Riot Games, developer of the video game and producer of Arcane, did not officially confirm this figure, a spokesperson for the company stated: "We are completely satisfied with the expense, as it has allowed us to create a show that is truly worth our players' time."

The production cost of the first season reached approximately $80 million, while the development of the second season involved an investment of close to $100 million. Additionally, Riot Games would have allocated $60 million of its own for the promotion of the first season, in addition to the promotional resources provided by Netflix.

Despite the fact that five years ago Riot Games announced its plans to expand into the entertainment field, so far "Arcane" has been the only production of this type launched by the company. The second season, whose first act will premiere on November 9, 2024 on Netflix, will be the last, despite the fact that up to five seasons were initially planned.

In relation to this change, Marc Merrill, co-founder of Riot Games, explained that, although the company's ambition in the entertainment sector still stands, the team realized that "doing things right takes much more time than we had anticipated", which is why they recalibrated their expectations, goals and teams to adjust to a slower and more rigorous creative process.

The plot of Arcane follows the story of sisters Jinx (played by Ella Purnell) and Vi (played by Hailee Steinfeld), who are drawn to opposite sides of a growing conflict between Piltover, the utopian city, and Zaun, its oppressed underworld. This narrative has captured the attention of millions of fans not only of the video game, but of the general Netflix audience, being recognized for its innovative animation and its deep focus on topics such as power, justice and family ties.

Source: The Verge