Animation Art on a New Level Some animated projects go beyond the ordinary and familiar cartoon series. They manage to turn into something indescribable, which personally I am ready to call a true work of art from a visual point of view. The series "Arcane" is exactly one of them. The story grabs you from the very beginning and, it seems, has no intention of letting go. This story has great characters, a gorgeous, truly gorgeous visual style, and a solid plot. Even if you have never played "League of Legends" at all (and I never have, and was not familiar with the game's lore), the series is no worse because of it, and maybe even the opposite, better. It works as a self-contained thing, and knowing the source material is not necessary. The animated series explains more or less everything. The story takes place in a world with names that are difficult to pronounce (at least for me): Piltover and Zaun. These are two places divided not only geographically, but also by social status. Piltover appears as a brilliant, advanced metropolis ruled by the elite, while Zaun, in contrast, is shown as dark and gloomy slums full of crime and hopelessness. At the center of the story are two sisters, Vi (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (voiced by Ella Purnell), whose fates become strangely intertwined against the background of a growing conflict. Their relationship becomes the main driving force of this story, full of pain, a peculiar attachment and love, various betrayals and hope. The plot is not particularly original, there are plenty of settings like this, but for me the story works because of the strong direction, visuals, and excellent music. I did not know at all that "Arcane" was based on "League of Legends". The name was familiar, of course, but I was, as they say, "not into it." I think I only found out that the series was based on a game near the end of the first season. This does not affect the experience at all, because the series draws you into the world regardless of whether you know the source material. In general, it is easy to recommend to those who think that you cannot understand this story without knowing the game. The main heroines, Vi and Jinx, turned out very alive and interesting. There are plenty of emotions and complicated relationships here, and at different moments I often caught myself taking the side of one sister and then the other. Vi appears as strong and persistent, someone who does not lose faith in good, while Jinx is broken and chaotically unpredictable, but no less interesting because of that. Their dialogues and relationship are probably the most interesting part of the series. But the series does not rely only on its characters and story. The visuals are simply amazing. Without exaggeration, this is exactly what kept my eyes busy. The artists mixed 2D and 3D animation and created their own unique visual style. Sometimes you look at a frame and think it could literally be a painting in an exhibition, because the scene is put together so well. It is one of the most beautiful animated projects I have ever seen. Every frame is packed with bright and sometimes hard-to-notice details, colors, and an atmosphere that only intensifies what is happening on screen. The music also turns out to be extremely fitting for what is happening in the frame. I constantly catch myself thinking that the soundtrack fits the style of "Arcane" perfectly. "Enemy" by Imagine Dragons especially stands out. The song itself is excellent, and it fits the project's lore very organically. The music always comes in at the right moment to emphasize the drama and everything else. The second season was, in my opinion, a little weaker than the first, but I still would not call it a disappointment. Maybe the emotional intensity became a little lower, perhaps the first impression had settled down for me and the feeling of novelty had faded, but the epic finale still holds you firmly until the final minutes. In any case, it is a worthy continuation that logically closes the story. Overall, "Arcane" became an unexpected discovery for me, a real find among animated series. I did not expect the project to grab me so strongly. The writers, voice actors, and artists created a bright and colorful world with its own difficulties and stories. A world that pulls you in completely. There is definitely interesting lore here, memorable characters, and the excellent direction makes the series a must-watch even if the gaming industry is not close to you at all. 9 out of 10