“Arcane: League of Legends” Wins Magnolia Award for Best Animation

“Arcane: League of Legends” Wins Magnolia Award for Best Animation, Setting New Record for Game Adaptations

At the 28th Shanghai Television Festival Magnolia Awards ceremony, Arcane: League of Legends, the animated series co-produced by Riot Games and Fortiche Production, claimed the prestigious “Best Animation” award, becoming the first game-adapted animated work to receive this honor. This milestone achievement signifies mainstream recognition of game IP adaptations at the highest artistic level within the film and television industry.

Breakthroughs in Artistry and Technology

The judging committee particularly highlighted in their citation: “With breathtaking visual execution and profound narrative tension, Arcane has redefined industry standards for game adaptations.” The series employs a unique “3D-to-2D” animation technique, seamlessly blending hand-drawn artistry with 3D animation technology. With a production budget exceeding $10 million per episode, it has set a new benchmark for animated series production.

Global Acclaim and Commercial Success

• Since its premiere in November 2021, Arcane has taken the world by storm:
• Topped Netflix viewership charts in 37 countries and regions
• Maintained a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes
• Won 9 international awards, including the Annie Award for “Best TV Animation”
• Boosted League of Legends daily active users by 35%

A Landmark in Transmedia Storytelling

Riot Games CEO Nicolo Laurent stated: “This award is tremendous validation of our decade-long dedication. Arcane not only delivers an epic story for players but also proves the artistic value of gaming culture to the world.” The highly anticipated second season is currently in production and slated for release in 2024.

Profound Industry Implications

This historic win signifies:

• Game IP adaptations entering an era of premium quality
• Unprecedented convergence of animation art and gaming culture
• Growing recognition of digital-native content in traditional awards

The Shanghai Television Festival committee announced plans to introduce a dedicated “Best Game Adaptation” category, further encouraging cross-media innovation.

[About Arcane: League of Legends]
Set in the League of Legends universe, the series explores class conflict and heroism between the cities of Piltover and Zaun, hailed by critics as “a masterclass in game-to-screen adaptation.”