In her column “Frame by Frame,” Sara Alanis Morales ’28 explores different facets of the animation industry while reviewing popular animated media.

Editor’s Note: This article is a review and includes subjective thoughts, opinions and critiques.

After the first season of “Arcane” dominated the 2022 awards season, taking home four Emmys, the award for best adaptation at the Game Awards and a record-breaking nine Annie Awards, the show garnered international recognition as a masterclass for what adult animation had to offer. On Nov. 9, 2024, Netflix released the season and final season of its critically acclaimed hit, building on its legacy and officially ushering in a new era for animation.  

“Arcane”  arrived at a critical time for adult animation. Fewer than four months before the show’s premiere, actress and comedian Amy Schumer said at the Academy Awards,  “The only [animated film] I’ve seen is Encanto because of my kid.” Later in the night, when presenting the nominees for best animated feature, actress Lily James added, “So many kids watch these movies over and over.” To that, Naomi Scott interjected, “I see some parents out there know exactly what we’re talking about.” Animation, it seemed, belonged only to children. 

Hollywood’s take on animation unveiled a key issue with the way the art form is widely perceived — as a genre rather than a medium. Hidden within how animated movies and TV shows are often relegated to their own categories during the awards season, animated media is often seen as a separate entity from other, more “serious” forms of content. This perception restricts the medium by propelling the creation of movies and shows that reinforce preconceived notions that animated media is inherently unserious and aimed primarily at children. However, in the last couple of years, animated shows like “Invincible,” “Bojack Horseman” and “Arcane” have broken away from this pattern, transforming the world of animation into a more broadly appealing medium.

After the release of the first season of “Arcane,” animated shows targeted to adults like “Blue Eye Samurai” and “The Legend of Vox Machina” made their debut on their respective streaming platforms. While it may be unfair to attribute these releases to the wide success of  “Arcane,” it is true that the show marks the beginnings of a trend in favor of the creation of more mature animated content.

Now that the final season of “Arcane” is out, the show’s second season has been met with vastly positive reviews. Nonetheless, there are some fans and critics alike who haven’t been satisfied with the show’s resolutions, citing it as rushed or forced. 

While it’s not unusual for a show to have a bag of mixed reviews, “Arcane”’s unparalleled initial success and the three-year waiting period between both seasons created a set of immense expectations for the show’s conclusion. These expectations were bound to leave a few spectators unsatisfied with the end product. 

With overlapping storylines and incredibly rich and complex worldbuilding, “Arcane” offers an immersive narrative that awards each of its characters immense depth and care. While season one manages to open a multitude of possible story paths for each character, the vastness of narrative threads works against season two as it struggles to juggle each storyline and wrap them into a satisfying conclusion. 

Regardless of differing views on the show’s last season, it is undeniable that this season of “Arcane” presents us with unparalleled creative artistry. With the second season building on top of previous innovative art styles achieved in season one, “Arcane”’s final season manages to experiment with the medium of animation in ways that high-budget animated productions rarely get to do. 

Produced by French animation studio Fortiche as an adaptation to Riot Games’ greatest hit “League of Legends,” “Arcane” was Fortiche’s first long-form project, following only music videos, short films and commercials in their past repertoire. With scenes emulating watercolor painting, graffiti street art and impressionist artworks taken out straight from the 19th century, Fortiche offers something other animated powerhouses rarely dare to attempt — creative innovation.

In a medium as costly as animation, where a single second of footage can cost as much as thousands of dollars, “Arcane” racks up quite a bill. Both of “Arcane”’s seasons have been reported to have cost around $250 million to produce, gaining the title of the most expensive animated series. However, while the high production costs of the medium often deter production companies from creative experimentation deeming it too risky, Fortiche welcomed the practice. 

In the aftermath of “Arcane,” we’re still experiencing the ripples the show has inspired in the animation industry. Hopefully, we’ll continue to witness the series’ reverberations in the years to come.