Release Date Revealed: When Will Arcane Season 2 Hit Netflix?

Season 2 of Arcane has finally premiered on Netflix. However, not all episodes are available yet; viewers will need to wait to watch the entire season. Here are the key dates to remember.

Netflix subscribers can now enjoy the latest episodes of one of the most anticipated series of the year. Arcane made its big return to the streaming platform on Saturday, November 9, 2024. Fans will note that the first episodes of Season 2 are available three years after Season 1. But there’s a catch! The streaming service is releasing episodes on a weekly basis for this adaptation of the League of Legends universe: upcoming episodes will be available on Saturday, November 16, with the season finale scheduled for November 23.

In Season 2 of Arcane, Piltover and Zaun are recovering from Jinx’s attack. Who survived? What’s certain is that while the wealthy city was in favor of reconciliation at the end of Season 1, this attack may reignite tensions between the two cities once again. Meanwhile, Vi will try again to guide her sister back to the right path… unless a confrontation becomes inevitable.

How is Arcane Created?

Fans realized with Season 1, Arcane is no ordinary animated series and requires substantial time and investment, hence the three-year gap between seasons. At a press conference in Paris attended by journalists and French animation students before Season 2’s release, the series’ producers detailed the creative process for the new episodes: “It can take up to a year from writing the script of an episode to its production,” explained Pascal Charrue, founder of Fortiche and co-director of Season 2, Bart Maunoury, creative director, Kianna Manker, producer, and Amanda Overton, script editor.

While the series does not use motion capture, animators film one another to detail scenes before animating them, adopting a “semi-realistic” style. “On average, we produce half a second per day per animator,” they noted. And they teased Season 2, which will “continue in the graphic style of the first season, but even better.” Just that.

Such ambition, however, involves substantial costs. According to American media outlet Variety, Arcane cost over $250 million for its two seasons (production and promotion, a figure not confirmed by Riot Games), making it the most expensive animated series in history with “only” 18 episodes. The English-language media outlet, however, assures that the series will not be profitable for the studio, and at best, it will break even.

Arcane’s Season 2 Will Be Its Last

Arcane will indeed conclude with this Season 2. In a video posted on social media, Christian Linke, co-creator of the series, provided explanations for this decision: “We had a very specific ending in mind from the start of the series, which is why the Arcane story will conclude with its second season.”

Fortunately, this does not mark the end of League of Legends adaptations into animated series: “Arcane is just the beginning of our journey to tell a broader story, and it’s just the start of our partnership with the wonderful Parisian animation studio Fortiche,” explained Christian Linke. “The storyline of Vi and Jinx has evolved far beyond anything we could have dreamed, and we want to give the same treatment to other champions [from League of Legends],” he added, before confirming that Riot and Fortiche are already working on new series and film projects featuring new champions from the popular online game. So, which characters from LOL—be it Darius, Twitch, Urgot, Camille, or another—will be the focus of a new series? In a conference in Paris, it was confirmed that “other projects are planned in collaboration with Riot Games.”

According to Variety, however, the Arcane series was initially intended to last five full seasons. But given the cost of Seasons 1 and 2, the schedule from Riot Games and Fortiche had to be adjusted, and the number of episodes reduced. This cost is explained, in part, by labor and budget overruns, reports the American media outlet.

What is the Plot of Arcane?

Two sisters, Vi and Powder, are taken in after the death of their parents by Vander, the rebel leader and mayor of the poor and underground district of Zaun, located near the prosperous city of Piltover. Years later, during a heist gone wrong in Piltover, Vi and Powder discover mysterious crystals in an apartment they are trying to rob. The story of the two young girls, as well as several key figures from the city, will then be completely turned upside down.

Who are the Voice Actors in Arcane?

For the American voices:

• Hailee Steinfeld: Vi
• Ella Purnell: Powder / Jinx
• Kevin Alejandro: Jayce
• Harry Lloyd: Viktor
• Katie Leung: Caitlyn
• Jason Spisak: Silco
• Toks Olagundoye: Mel
• JB Blanc: Vander
• Remy Hii: Marcus
• Reed Shannon: Ekko

For the French voices:

• Alice Taurand: Vi
• Adeline Chetail: Powder / Jinx
• Franck Sportis: Jayce
• Cédric Dumont: Victor
• Elsa Davoine: Caitlyn
• Bernard Gabay: Silco
• Géraldine Asselin: Mel
• Boris Rehlinger: Vander
• Jim Redler: Marcus
• Aurélien Raynal: Ekko

Where to Stream Arcane?

Arcane is not broadcast on television and can only be viewed via streaming. Simply having a Netflix account allows you to watch the series, which spans two seasons. It’s worth noting that a subscription to the streaming platform is required, and prices can range from $5.99/month (with ads) to $19.99/month.