Summary
Three years after its debut,Arcaneis set to return in November 2024 for season 2, and the critically acclaimed series already looks to have avoidedInvincible’s biggest problem. Despite the two animated shows having completely different environments and stories, they also share a lot in common asArcaneseason 2’s long release window mirroredInvincible’sproduction cycle. Prime Video’s hit superhero show had a two-and-a-half-year gap between installments, and while season 2 still offered plenty of great character arcs and exciting action,Invinciblestill suffered one massive problem that I thinkArcanemay have already overcome.
The Netflix series was highly praised when it first hit screens in 2021, as its gritty and heartbreaking story instantly won over viewers, which was helped by its gorgeous animation. These qualities made it a huge success, but despite its popularity and award-winning reception,Arcaneseason 2 will be the finalouting for theLeague of Legendsadaptation. While this was certainly a huge surprise, I think it makes a lot of sense asArcaneseason 2 will have even higher stakes, which will prevent it from overstaying its welcome while helping it avoid one major issue.
Arcane Season 2’s Animation Looks As Good As Season 1’s If Not Better
Arcane Has Managed To Maintain Its Quality Despite The Long Wait For Season 2
Arcaneseason 2’s early footage looks incredibly promising, with the animation appearing to match and potentially succeed season 1. The show’s stunning visuals and stellar animation were one of its best traits, so maintaining this high quality is important for its legacy. I’m still impressed by some of the jawdropping fight scenes, as Jinx vs Ekko really stood out alongside Vander’s final moments when he helped save Vi during his battle with Silco. WithArcanereally pushing the boundaries of animation in its first season, I’m relieved to see season 2 looking every bit as good.
Arcane Season 2’s 8 Biggest Theories Ahead Of The League Of Legends Show’s Return
Season 2 of Arcane has a wealth of possibilities, from League of Legends champions being introduced to new story developments branching off season 1.
Season 2 has had a teaser, an official trailer, and a few clips released by Netflix, all of which look spectacular. Thankfully, the early footage looks crisp and clean, matching the high standards that people have come to expect of the series. While nothing from season 2 has yet matchedArcaneseason 1’s endingin terms of bold, eye-catching animation, the show’s final outing will naturally be keeping its big fights and most detailed moments hidden until its release. Therefore, it’s possibleArcaneseason 2’s visuals could get even better, which is incredibly relieving afterInvincible’s slight struggles.
Invincible Season 2’s Animation Left A Lot To Be Desired
Invincible Season 2’s Animation Fell Below Expectations After Such A Lengthy Production
Although the teaser forInvincibleseason 2 suggested the animation would take a big step forward, the show failed to deliver massive improvements.Invincibleseason 1 still has strong visuals which season 2 was able to match, but the series didn’t take the huge leap many were expecting. After watching Mark and Allen talk in the diner, I really thought the whole season could reach a similar quality, especially givenInvincible: Atom Evewas a noticeable upgrade. However, despite the show avoiding any blatant errors,the action lacked the sort of detail and originality ofArcane.
Invincible’s animation does help maintain its comic book feel given how faithful the show is to its source material, but it still felt a little underwhelming after a two-and-a-half-year wait.
It’s worth noting thatInvincibleseason 2’s animation wasn’t bad, but when comparing it to the very top shows, it still left a little to be desired. Considering thesuccessfulX-Men 97released alongsideInvincibleseason2 part 2, it was easy to compare the superhero shows, and while both had fantastic stories, the Marvel project was clearly a step above when it came to its visuals.Invincible’s animation does help maintain its comic book feel given how faithful the show is to its source material, but it still felt a little underwhelming after a two-and-a-half-year wait.
Considering how great the storytelling, character work, and voice acting were, this small issue didn’t impact my enjoyment of the show, but watching other top animated projects made the difference in quality more obvious. Despite its flaws, the series seems self-aware that it isn’t perfect, as anInvincibleseason 2 scene mocked its animationby pointing out some shortcuts used in the industry. Therefore, I’m convincedInvincibleknows that this isn’t its greatest strength, but it will hopefully still improve its animation in the future while continuing to work on its engaging story.
I’m Still Excited About Invincible’s Future Despite Season 2’s Problem
Invincible Remains One Of The Best Shows On TV & Will Hopefully Learn From Its Mistakes
Even thoughInvincibleseason 2 didn’t quite deliver on the animation front, it excelled pretty much everywhere else, making me excited about the show’s future.Invincibleseason 3’s production updateis already proving the show is trying to reduce the wait time for each installment, and with season 4 also confirmed, I’m optimistic about Mark Grayson returning to our screens sooner than expected. While this speedier production leaves less time to improve on animation,Invincibleis more than capable of thriving with its current standard, as the first two seasons have already highlighted.
The reviews for the series have been incredible, and it remains one of my favorite shows on TV. Not only does Mark have a compelling, underdog story, but there is a vast roster of interesting side characters, each with their own fleshed-out arcs. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Omni-Man, Allen, Eve, Rex, and plenty more heroes who will be in and among the action. In addition, the return of some of my personal favorites like Battle Beast and Titan, alongsidethe inevitable new introductions make the future ofInvincibleextremely exciting, and I can’t wait.
I Hope Shows Like Arcane & Invincible Continue To Be Made
We Need More Mature Animated Shows Like Arcane & Invincible
Animated projects have been huge for decades, but the likes ofInvincibleandArcanehave proven that they can adopt a more mature setting and thrive. Neither show holds back when it comes to emotional themes and the depictions of violence, but this is part of what makes them so good. They aren’t limited to the same constraints as live-action projects, allowing them to create incredibly unique worlds that are often breathtaking to look at. However, these aren’t their only selling points, as both bring their own distinct tone and environment to the table.
IMDb - 8.7
IMDb - 9.0
IGN - 8
IGN - 10
Invincible’s gory take on the superhero genre helped create one of the most shocking first episodes of TV I’ve ever watched, and it’s only gotten better. It also appears to have influenced the likes ofX-Men 97to be less filtered and tackle deeper themes than expected when it comes to Marvel’s animation. In addition,Arcane’s dark and pessimistic vibe makes some of its biggest moments more heartbreaking, which helps make Jinx and Vi’s story so captivating, and I need more animated shows like these that will continue exploring such bold and heavy narratives.
Arcane
Arcane is an animated series set in the League of Legends universe, debuting in 2021. It explores the conflict between the affluent city of Piltover and the oppressed undercity of Zaun. Central to the story are two sisters whose allegiance to opposing sides of a technological and ideological war strains their bond.
