In a highly anticipated announcement, GKIDS, the Academy Award®-winning producer and distributor known for its artist-driven and award-winning animation, has revealed an exciting partnership for the international home entertainment release of Arcane. Collaborating with Anime Ltd. & Plaion Pictures, Plain Archive, Shout! Factory, and Sugoi Co, GKIDS will bring the first season of the globally acclaimed series from Riot Games to digital download-to-own and physical home media platforms worldwide in 2024.
A Global Home Media Release
Fans of Arcane around the globe will soon have the opportunity to own the first season in a variety of formats. The series will be available on digital download-to-own and physical home entertainment platforms in several international markets:
- Europe, South Korea, Australia/New Zealand: Released by Anime Ltd. & Plaion Pictures, Plain Archive, and Sugoi respectively.
- Latin America: Digital download-to-own will be available through Shout! Factory, which will also handle physical product distribution in North America alongside GKIDS.
This move follows a previous announcement at the Annecy International Film Festival where GKIDS confirmed it had acquired worldwide (excluding China) videogram and digital transactional rights to Arcane’s first season.
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Fans can expect a full product array to be announced soon, including a 4K version exclusive to the home entertainment release. This array will range from digital downloads to premium physical editions, ensuring that there is something for every type of collector and viewer.
Critical Acclaim and Awards
Since its debut in November 2021, Arcane has received widespread acclaim for its stunning animation, complex characters, captivating music, and high production quality. It has been hailed as one of the best video game adaptations ever created, earning four Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Animated Program, and nine Annie Awards, including Best Mature Animated Television Broadcast Production.
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The series has been celebrated for its ability to transcend typical video game adaptations, offering a deeply engaging narrative and visual experience. Critics and audiences alike have praised its striking animation style, emotionally rich storytelling, and overall artistic achievement.
A Landmark in Animation
Set in the universe of the immensely popular video game League of Legends, Arcane was created by Riot Games in collaboration with Fortiche Productions for Netflix. Co-created by Christian Linke and Alex Yee, the series delves into the origins of iconic League champions Vi and Jinx, exploring their journeys amidst the power struggle between the utopian city of Piltover and the oppressed underground city of Zaun.
With Arcane’s forthcoming home media release, fans worldwide will have the chance to revisit or discover the groundbreaking series that has set a new standard in animated adaptations. The collaboration between GKIDS and its international partners ensures that Arcane will be accessible to a global audience, further solidifying its place as a landmark in animation and storytelling.
Stay tuned for more details on the upcoming release of Arcane’s first season on home media. Mark your calendars and get ready to own a piece of this remarkable series when it becomes available in 2024.
About Arcane
Release Date: Season 2 November 2024 (THAT POSTER IS FOR SEASON ONE, DONT BE DUMB)
Created by: Christian Linke, Alex Yee
Studio: Riot Games
Animation: Fortiche Productions
Executive Producers: Christian Linke, Marc Merrill, Brandon Beck
Cast: Hailee Steinfeld (Vi), Ella Purnell (Jinx), Katie Leung (Caitlyn Kiramman) will reprise their voice roles
Synopsis
Arcane dives into the delicate balance between the rich city of Piltover and the seedy underbelly of Zaun. Tensions between these city-states boil over with the creation of hextech — a way for any person to control magical energy – in Piltover; and in Zaun, a new drug called shimmer transforms humans into monsters. The rivalry between the cities splits families and friends as Arcane brings life to the relationships that shape some of League of Legends’ famous champions including Vi, Jinx, Caitlyn, Jayce and Viktor. Based on the world behind the game League of Legends, the animated event series features a complex world filled with moral decisions, breathtaking animation and suspenseful storytelling.
Are you excited to own Arcane on home media? Which edition are you most looking forward to? How do you think the series captures the essence of League of Legends? Let us know your thoughts on social media!
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