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¿Qué inspiró el arte de Arcane (2021)?

Translation: Paula Picado Picado

What inspired Arcane’s art (2021)?

The thought of producing an animated series based on the story of a video game with a majority of female protagonists and dealing with serious issues such as abuse of power, loss of loved ones, and social inequality may seem risky for several reasons. Firstly, because it is quite possible that if you try to recommend an animated series to an adult, they would dismiss it outright since animation is a genre “aimed at children”; and secondly, because it is very easy to “fail” in adapting a video game as well-known as League of Legends, played by a vast majority of men who prefer male characters over female ones. However, Arcane (2021), despite facing some challenges, has managed to be a huge global success, recognized for its story, characters, soundtrack, and aesthetics. Whether or not you’ve had the chance to watch this series, today we’re going to talk not about its plot or characters (information that is easily accessible online), but about its striking aesthetics and its main sources of artistic inspiration.

Arcane draws on themes and aesthetics rooted in the great genres of science fiction and fantasy, genres to which many of us devoted much of our childhood and adolescence with series and films such as Star Wars and Blade Runner, or authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien and Julio Verne. It is no coincidence that the series’ animation studio decided to make a small but very clear nod to the influence these genres have had on its production (which only the most perceptive would be able to discern) by naming two characters who sit next to each other in a brief scene in the first episode, Julio and Verne. I won’t surprise anyone by stating that this studio is French, as is the acclaimed author himself.

If we want to delve deeper, Arcane would fit into the steampunk subgenre which, as its name suggests, continues to use steam technology as the main driving force behind the creations of the world. Transport itself is proof of this, with the use of aircraft, hot air balloons, and carriages powered by mechanical propulsion systems, steam, or some unspecified type of gas. The combination of steam engines and a peculiar aesthetic that merges the rustic and industrial, beige, copper, woody, and bluish colors, these modes of transport have little to do with planes, trains, and cars used nowadays. Rather, they remind us of the transport of the Victorian era, which is often the setting for steampunk-style works.

Fig. 1. Different aerostats and airships illustrated in the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedia, 1890-1907 (Brockhaus and Efron)
Fig. 2. Different modes of transport seen in Arcane, (Vincentelli)

On the other hand, steampunk aesthetics are not the only ones that predominate in Arcane. Fortiche studio itself has spoken about the major influences reflected in the architecture, animation, and even the action scenes. Specifically, the architecture of the two cities in the series, the privileged Piltover and the disadvantaged Zaun, needed to demonstrate both a great contrast and the relationship between them that will develop throughout the series. This is achieved by relating them to two styles that are commonly confused despite their great differences: Art Deco and Art Nouveau. While Piltover needed to display its values of wealth, security, hierarchy, and power with the geometric shapes, straight lines, symmetry, and bright, vivid colors of Art Deco, Zaun shows us its “rebellion” against Piltover’s values with wavy and asymmetrical shapes, intense colors, and even neon lights, along with the floral and natural patterns of Art Nouveau.

Fig. 3. Streets of Piltover on Progress Day, 2024 (Vincentelli)
Fig. 4. Piltover, 2024 (Vincentelli)
Fig. 5. Window and lamp in a Zaun home, 2024 (Vincentelli)
Fig. 6. Map of an area of Zaun, 2024 (Vincentelli)

Interestingly, the works of artist Alfons Mucha have been one of the greatest inspirations for Fortiche’s designers, who include his artistic style in stained glass windows, murals, windows, and facades, particularly in Zaun.

Fig. 7. Job, 1896 (Mucha)
Fig. 8. Mural in Zaun, 2021 (Arcane)
Fig. 9. Stained glass in Zaun, 2024 (Vincentelli)
Fig. 10. Verano, 1896 (Mucha)

The different types of painting and art that have inspired Arcane can also be seen in specific scenes of the second season. Several action scenes combine the classic 3D style with a 2D FX style, more recognizable in comics or video games. At the same time, we can also see scenes created with watercolor, showcasing the animation studio’s great versatility while also pushing the sometimes rigid boundaries of series in terms of artistic technique. It is no coincidence that the action scenes are related to the comic book style, while the more sentimental scenes are associated with watercolor, as each of these techniques arouses different emotions: the former, adrenaline, and the latter, melancholy, both reinforced by the music used in each moment.

Fig. 11. Action scene in Arcane, 2024 (Vincentelli)
Fig. 12. Watercolor-style scene in Arcane, 2024 (Blood)

Just as this series has been inspired by different styles of architecture and painting, the influence of cinema could not be overlooked. Film directors such as Brian De Palma (The Untouchables), John Woo (Hard Boiled), Zack Snyder (Superman), and even Satoshi Kon (Perfect Blue) have left their mark on Arcane, as the series’ directors explain:

“‘Arcane is not conceived as an animated series’… ‘many of our references are live-action series or films’ (…)  De Palma is cited, for example, as one of the biggest influences on the suspense scene in episode 201… ‘I was thinking of a scene in The Untouchables… they exchange glances, the tension escalates,’ says Arnaud Delor [director] (…)” (Vincentelli 2024)

Fig. 13. Interview with the directors of the series, 2024 (Vincentelli)

As we have seen, just as books should not be judged by their covers, series should not be judged by the way they are categorized. Although Arcane is an animated series set in a fantasy world, it is also so much more. In its architecture, we can see touches of our own buildings, its murals remind us of our favorite artist, its windows of that cathedral we always take a picture of when we pass by. It’s almost as if our own world could indeed be just as fantastic as the one we see on our television, if only we looked closely enough and used our imagination. We should be proud to recognize how the different artistic fields we live with inspire and influence each other so clearly, leaving marks everywhere and demonstrating their inherent connection. This “collage” series has served as my muse for this article, with which I also hope to inspire you, whether it be to discover the main influences of your favorite works, what other works they have influenced, or to simply watch the series so you can appreciate its art and history.


OpenEdition le sugiere que cite este post de la siguiente manera:
pauppic (27 de enero de 2026). ¿Qué inspiró el arte de Arcane (2021)? El blog de Tartalo. Recuperado 14 de abril de 2026 de https://doi.org/10.58079/15kwy


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