The making of Arcane: Get a sneak-peek behind the most expensive animated show ever

Concept art explorations of Vi from The Art and Making of Arcane
(Image credit: Insight Editions)

Everyone seems to be talking about Arcane right now, and for good reason. It's damn fantastic. There's been a lot of interest about how the show was made, too – particularly after the reveal that it's the most expensive animated series ever made.

All of that sumptuous detail is on show in the upcoming The Art and Making of Arcane book by Insight Editions, and you can get an early look at its contents exclusively here. There's plenty to dig into; it covers everything from evolving art styles to worldbuilding. It's also built using interviews from the show's creative team, so you're able to get a peek behind the curtain in more ways than one.

Anyway, enough chatter. Here's a better look at what can be found within the book.

As mentioned on the first page above, carting across characters from League of Legends to animation was harder than you might think. More specifically, it required a lot of animation tests. We've never seen these characters speak within the game, for example; how does their face move when they talk, and what expressions would they make?

Alongside this snapshot of the creative process, we also get to see some drop-dead gorgeous renditions of environments to populate this world. The art-deco style of topside Piltover is incredibly vibey, and just as it appears in the show with that painterly aesthetic.

You'll be able to get a good look at all this yourself when The Art and making of Arcane hits shelves this December 3, 2024. It can be pre-ordered now at Amazon, where it's been reduced to $54 from $60.

The Art and Making of Arcane | $60$54 at AmazonSave $6 - Buy it if:Don't buy it if:Price check:OOS⭐ UK price: £45£33.65 at Amazon

The Art and Making of Arcane | $60 $54 at Amazon
Save $6 - The book is still a couple of weeks away, but you can secure a copy for a fair bit less than the sticker price if you pre-order via Amazon. So far as I can tell, it's never been cheaper.

Buy it if:
✅ You find the creative process interesting
✅ You're a huge fan of the show
✅ You like coffee table books

Don't buy it if:
❌ You're happy to wait for a further discount

Price check:
💲 Insight Editions | OOS

⭐ UK price: £45 £33.65 at Amazon

While we're on the subject of discounts, there are plenty available right now as part of this year's Black Friday gaming deals.

CATEGORIES
Benjamin Abbott
Tabletop & Merch Editor

I've been writing about games in one form or another since 2012, and now manage GamesRadar+'s tabletop gaming and toy coverage. You'll find my grubby paws on everything from board game reviews to the latest Lego news.

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