MovieChat Forums > Arcane: League of Legends (2021) Discussion > If you're not a teenager, don't bother. ...

If you're not a teenager, don't bother. This show is emo-overload. Think Lonely Island's "I Threw It on the Ground".

posted 2 years ago by pbt (108)
8 replies | jump to latest

It's kind of false advertising to say this is adult animation. Just because you add violence and draw characters with sideboob, it doesn't make it adult. It just means you're marketing inappropriate material to kids.

Now the graphics and animation really are outstanding as everyone says it is. The story however is pretty sub-par. Really distracting is how often the creators "vogue" and "strike a pose". It badly wants to be "cool", "edgy", and "bad-ass" to the point where this seems to be the meat and potatoes of the show. So if you think movies like Transformers don't care that they shortchange story in favor of action and special effects, this show shortchanges story in favor of style.

[–] chilidoggg (13243) 2 years ago

Welcome to the real world! JACKASS!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAYL5H46QnQ

[–] damocci (1503) 2 years ago

It's interesting that you compare this show to the Transformers movies. In my opinion that's a false comparison. The first Transformers, which happens to be the highest rated of the Michael Bay franchise, is the first and only movie I've ever walked out of DURING the climactic battle at the end. By that time I'd lost all interest and nothing could redeem the movie.

And yet as a 37 year old I thoroughly enjoyed Arcane, including it's unusual story and the fact that none of the characters are straight up good or bad. To compare this show to Transformers is disingenuous. It would be more accurate to compare it to Spider-Man: Into The Spiderverse, a film that also has great animation and a really weird teen-centric story that might not appeal to some older viewers.

[–] FilmBoy (1095) 2 years ago

I disagree.
I thought it was amazing.
Great cinematography, direction, lighting, plot, music, action...

My 18 yr old Daughter recommended it to me, and this 55 yr old Dad loved it.
But then again, I'm a cool gamer Dad (never played LOL tho)

[–] maximmm (3093) 2 years ago

Agreed.
There's a similar tactic that's employed in a number of adult anime as well - lots of gore/violence, but with a story designed for 10 year olds in terms of complexity/dialogue/etc. It's like taking 'care bears' and changing only one thing - their hearts cause mass slaughter with tons of blood splashes everywhere. The story/dialogue remains idiotic and childish, but by mere inclusion of violence and blood, you've upgraded it to an R rating in an instant. It's still a children's story, but it is now advertised to adults which is quite ridiculous.

This anime is the same - the story is written for kids/teenagers - the very ones who play the game. Adults should stay away, simply because the story/characters/dialogues are immature.

[–] TheReccher (343) 2 years ago

The show has been universally praised buy the vast majority of adults who watch it so...

...hey that's okay. Keep trying to shrink the world into your narrow view. Not like there isn't enough of that on the internet.

[–] maximmm (3093) 2 years ago

OK - I'm starting to see a trend here. You are gaslighting, aren't ya? Going to every thread where this show is being criticized and stating that people are wrong, because they are in minority. That's cute - keep it up.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 2 years ago

It's basically GoT for teens. And it managed to be better.

[–] TheReccher (343) 2 years ago

Translation: I am incapable of seeing anything beyond the surface, therefore, I will preemptively assume that's all there is.

There is certainly style to be had here, tons of it. But if think the story is nothing but style, you're not looking hard enough. The animation is a tool used in tandem with the themes to explore the psyche of its characters. Jinx's style is a façade, because she has no real identity to cling onto. We see the style slowly melting away in many scenes to showcase the inner turmoil and chaos, and its done with with harrowing authenticity and rawness. Jinx's failure to return to her old self is one of the best subversions I've ever see. She can never be Powder again because her memories bring about pure mental anguish and torment.

In truth, I avoided the fact that Arcane is a YA story entirely. It's elevated to something better than what it is. The depth of story-telling here was awe-inspiring. It doesn't rely on its style as a crutch, but fuses it with the atmosphere, the tone, the themes to create stunning examples of pure visual story-telling that can rival the best classics.