Is Arcane an Anime or Non-Anime Series? The Debate Around It’s Style and Origins Explained

League of Legends is a game that we all grew up with. With such a rich lore, fans worldwide could not believe it when in 2021, a TV series named Arcane would be featured by OTT giant, Netflix. Written by Christian Linke and Alex Yee, this fantasy, steampunk animated series has been extremely well received by fans and critics alike. The three acts format second season just got over on 23rd November.

The quality of the series often makes fans ponder questions regarding its lore and even its form! In an age of the internet which is experiencing the Fourth Anime Boom, worldwide, the question of placing Arcane safely into a pocket comes to the fore. Is Arcane an Anime or is it a Non-Anime series? Let’s dive into this dilemma head first and figure it out!

What is Anime?

When we (non-Japanese context) think of anime, we think of long serialized animated narratives in the Japanese language. While there is truth in this kind of surface-level conception, it does not completely portray the entire picture. The supremacy of the native language is rendered null in a globalized setup where dubs, be it in English or regional languages prove to be access points for potential otakus. Additionally, there is a plethora of animated features that are not necessarily “long” like an anime film ‘Akira’ or a title dependent on both film and series adaptation like Neon Genesis Evangelion – both considered anime classics!

To accurately designate Arcane as ‘Anime’ or ‘Non-Anime’, we need to have an understanding of what truly makes anime, anime – a question that has been thoroughly explored in academic and scholastic circles.

Let’s define Anime!

We will attempt to understand Anime from a foreign or a non-Japanese perspective, strictly. Japan had its broadcasting infrastructure running by 1953. In 1963, Astro Boy aired on Japanese TV, the first serialized anime. As scholars have tried to define anime they noticed a cross-cultural interaction with the West. Anime creators were inspired by the Disney animated films, adopting their animation techniques. Additionally, if we consider manga, which is the precursor to anime, then we need to account for the fact that that too was influenced by comics from the US. So am I saying that Anime does not have an identity of its own? Absolutely not!

A practical way to conceive of anime would be as a media form that proliferates in Japan and is a part of her culture. We need to broaden our conception of what makes anime, anime. If we fall into the trap of categorically demarcating stylistic features as inherently Japanese (and hence anime-esque), we risk misunderstanding the nature of art, as art forms often interact with other art forms; hybridity and innovation are inevitable. Despite this, there will be strong distinct markers that sustain the unique identity of the art form like elaborate eyes and pointed faces, to name a few, for anime. But the story cannot end there.

Therefore, based on our study so far, we can add a few more pointers that can more or less help us pinpoint a work of art as anime:

• Anime produced in the Japanese context: Japan has a supportive environment for anime. The media field is allied closely with fields focusing on manga, toys, merchandise, and games. Their market is vastly different from the Western market and their distribution strategies are unique as well. Anime is a Japanese media form and thus in this post-modern age, style is not the only component that one must consider!
• Creators who designate their work as anime: It is important to take into account the creator’s wish. Their choice of labelling goes a long way in how we can interpret a work. Hayao Miyazaki very famously rejected the title of anime for his films.

So is Arcane an Anime or a Non-Anime series?

In my opinion, Arcane is not an Anime. It is a Non-Anime series. It fails to satisfy the three parameters by which I have identified anime:

• Style: Arcane is animated by the French studio, Fortiche. Their colorful and vivid style is seemingly unlike any anime I have seen. However, due to style not being too reliable an indicator, I’ll expand on the other two parameters as well.
• Production context: Arcane is distributed by Netflix. It’s produced in the US and France. It is strictly a non-Japanese production.
• Creator’s designation: Netflix categorizes Arcane in its platform as a TV Action and Adventure series and US TV Show.

Comment down below about whether you agree or not. What is anime to you?

---