Arcane Season 2 will premiere on Netflix next month, and fans will be able to see the ongoing rivalry between sisters Vi and Jinx. Hailee Steinfeld reprises her voice as Vi and Ella Purnell as Jinx. The world of Arcane is based on Riot Games’ League of Legends video game, and beloved characters from the game are brought to life as an animated series that delves into the drama of the people of Piltover and Zaun.
Arcane co-creator and showrunner Christian Link is back for season two, and he talks with Nerd Reactor about creating the animated series and its impact, the challenges of engaging both gamers and non-gamers and emphasizing the importance of staying true to the characters and their in-game dynamics. Additionally, Link highlights the universal appeal of the central conflict between Vi and Jinx, especially their complex sibling relationship.
The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Nerd Reactor: What’s it like for you trying to cater to gamers who have been playing since day one and even people outside as well?
Christian Lenk: You know, it was always a difficult question. People were always asking during Arcane’s development, “Who is this for? Is it for gamers? Is it for non-gamers?” To be honest, I never had an answer, because I felt like we were living in a time where the whole world suddenly cared about what games had to say, what characters, IPs, and worlds looked like. And so I think from the beginning, the goal was to really stay true to what makes our characters, you know, the characters said they were and kind of let the general audience adopt the tone and feel and look of the game.
I mean it wasn’t easy. I always say that the difficult thing about adapting a video game like League of Legends is that it’s not just about the biopics and descriptions of their world. It’s about getting to know the players and how it feels to play these characters. As you know, when you play Vi in League, you will enter first, you will die first, and you will not be able to exit. With Jinx, it’s the opposite. You have to keep your distance from it, and it flares up very quickly when you take down someone. So we always tried to take those things into our writing, and it’s the same for season two. The characters have to feel authentic, and that’s not easy at all, because it changes over time as our gaming audience adapts these characters into any roles.
Nerd Reactor: Did you ever think that when you made this show, these characters would be so likable? Jinx is already likable, but now, she has a whole story that people can see fleshed out, and the relationship with her and Vi, just seeing from the beginning just reacting to the world?
Christian Link: Well, that’s a good question. Did I expect? I mean, I think we have this strong attraction to these characters for a reason. I think we always believe in them and love them. I think it’s impossible to really predict how much people will agree with us until it’s announced. I think the central question between them as sisters is a very universal one. I don’t know if you have brothers. I do. It’s not always easy, but you know, they’re family.
The central question we asked them was, “Can they be sisters again after what happened in the third episode of the first season?” And I think everyone who has that kind of sibling or even just a close friendship or another family member that causes that kind of stress like everyone else understands this question and can feel this question. And so I think that’s what really stirred things up, especially with VI and Jinx. So when I think about the most iconic characters that we all love, I think it’s easy to think that what makes them special in our memories is their design. But if you want to tell me that Luke Skywalker is an iconic character because he wears a white robe, I say, “That’s not it.” It’s his choices, right? It’s like the things he does that we fall in love with. I think it’s the same for VI and Jinx. The things they do really make us fall in love with them.
Nerd Reactor: So you’re saying there’s hope in their familial relationship, or their bond?
Christian Lenk: I mean, I think everyone who’s seen them grow up together as kids and survive these crazy experiences in the city and see how they help each other and support each other and support each other, it’s impossible to stop hoping. right? There’s always that little spark sometimes. It seems pretty much impossible. But I think that question always comes up in the end, “Are they really capable of killing each other?” This is an impossible question to answer until you actually experience this situation.
Nerd Reactor: Based on the trailer, Vi is really angry. She was aggressive before, but now she’s really aggressive. She fights, competes and beats everyone. So what do you think about the switch here, especially after the fallout from Season 1?
Christian Lenk: Well, I think what’s hard for her is that, in a way, what happens at the end of season one, it alienates her and also makes her find her new home and kind of closes lines with Caitlin. You know, she now has this connection with Piltover and the subway becomes more and more this foreign place that her sister kind of haunts. So I think there’s a little bit of a sense of loss for Vi. I know this feeling myself, but it’s like you’re in a beautiful place, it’s a place you chose to live, but it’s not home. And I think that’s something that, I think, is very difficult for Vi because we know that we’re entering the next chapter of the story.
Nerd Reactor: And Ella Purnell, she’s a jinx who’s also in Fallout. It’s the whole world of video games, and I knocked it out of the park. What are your thoughts on that doing all this stuff and then coming back for season two?
Christian Lenk: I mean it’s great and fun to see Ella conquer the world. I mean for us it was always clear how incredibly good it was. Her voice is incredible. The control she has, the different colors she can conjure, such is her ability to express. It was also only a matter of time until the world realized what an amazing talent she was.
About mysterious
From Riot Games, ARCANE returns this November on Netflix. The anime series, based on League of Legends and one of Netflix’s most successful anime series of all time, is created by Christian Link and Alex Yee. Executive producers include Link, Mark Merrill and Brandon Beck. The animation studio is Fortiche Productions. Voices include Hailee Steinfeld (VI), Annie Award winner Ella Purnell (Jinx), Katie Leung (Caitlin), Reid Shannon (Echo), Amira Van (Civica), Mick Wingert (Heimerdinger), Elaine Thomas (Ambissa), and Brett Tucker . (Singer) Among other things to be announced. Fortiche directed and produced the animation under the supervision of founders Pascal Chareau and Arnaud Delord.
The first season of ARCANE cemented Netflix’s position as a leader in adapting gaming franchises into animated cultural phenomena. The adult animated series was globally praised as one of the best TV shows of 2021, and also received four PRIMETIME EMMY Awards (2022) including Outstanding Animated Program – the first live-action series to win Outstanding Animated Program. The series swept the 2022 Annie Awards by winning in nine categories including Best Television/Media, Best Writing, Best Voice Acting (Ella Purnell), Best Directing, Best Production Design, Best Character Animation, Best Storyboard, Best Character Design, and Best Sound effects. The series was also recognized by the gaming community winning the Best Mod award at The Game Awards (2022). Additionally, Arcane’s album was nominated for a 2022 Billboard Music Award for Best Original Score.
Written by: Christian Lenk, Alex Yi
Executive producers: Christian Lenk, Mark Merrill, Brandon Beck
