Brandon Sanderson, a renowned author in the fantasy literary sphere, has been instrumental in shaping the genre with his intricate world-building and innovative magic systems. As a result, his insights into related media, particularly fantasy-themed television, carry significant weight. Recently, he expressed strong admiration for the animated series Arcane, emphasizing its uniqueness and quality in a landscape filled with mediocre adaptations. While fans of Sanderson’s work, such as Mistborn and Stormlight Archive, eagerly await potential adaptations of his novels, it seems that many fantasy series often fall short of expectations. Sanderson has voiced his concerns about the challenges in translating epic fantasy to the screen, yet he acknowledges that Arcane has managed to hit the mark.
Brandon Sanderson Considers Arcane One of the Few “Exceptional Fantasy Shows”Available
A Unique Force in Streaming
In a discussion with Polygon, Sanderson analyzed the pressing issues facing contemporary fantasy series, highlighting examples such as Amazon’s The Wheel of Time and Netflix’s Shadow and Bone. He pointed out the prevailing instability in the industry, where many promising shows face abrupt cancellations before realizing their full potential. Given the complexity of his own narratives, it’s understandable that such trends weigh on his mind. Sanderson also raised important structural dilemmas regarding episode lengths and seasonal formats, suggesting that even significant investment can’t circumvent foundational issues.
He asserts that live-action adaptations of fantasy properties have yet to reach the acclaim of the early seasons of Game of Thrones, highlighting a disappointing trend in quality despite the widespread promotion of new series. Contrary to this, Sanderson notably commended Arcane for successfully navigating these challenges:
“There is one excellent [fantasy] show: Arcane. But Arcane costs so much money, and it’s hard to reproduce that with an IP that doesn’t have League of Legends behind it. Arcane, I guess, is proof that it can happen.”
While an adaptation of Mistborn styled after Arcane would be extraordinary, Sanderson remains cautious about venturing into the streaming domain with his creations. Nonetheless, Arcane undeniably stands out in the fantasy arena, making its brief two-season run particularly disappointing.
Sanderson’s Praise for Arcane Highlights the Need for More Than Its Two Seasons
The Potential for Further Exploration
Sanderson acknowledges that the limitations surrounding Arcane‘s continuation—primarily financial and temporal constraints—do not diminish its excellence, which deserves to be further showcased. This series is truly a gem in the fantasy genre, distinguished by its stellar storytelling, dynamic character development, and breathtaking animation. While the pacing in the latter part of season two could be improved, additional seasons would present an opportunity to enhance the series and delve deeper into its compelling narrative.
His observations indicate that the streaming industry is still navigating the correct approach to fantasy storytelling. Investing more time and resources in Arcane could have established it as a cornerstone for similar future endeavors, both animated and live-action. Nevertheless, there remains potential for Netflix to leverage the groundwork laid by Arcane through future spin-off projects.
While Arcane Concludes, Netflix Is Expanding the Universe
New Spinoffs Promise Continued Adventures
Even though there won’t be a third season of Arcane, Netflix is planning to develop sequel shows and spinoffs that will delve into different regions of its world. Co-creator Christian Linke confirmed that future projects aim to explore areas such as Noxus, Ionia, and Demacia, providing opportunities for familiar characters to return, thereby maintaining continuity in the narrative landscape. While it’s bittersweet to bid farewell to the original storyline after such a short span, the exploration of additional facets of the League of Legends universe offers an exciting prospect.
This expansion not only fills the void left by the conclusion of Arcane, but it also holds the potential to positively influence the broader fantasy genre. Sanderson’s praise for Arcane‘s success is echoed by many, including prominent figures like Henry Cavill, who has expressed enthusiasm for the series. This indicates a ripe environment for other creators in the industry to draw inspiration from the narrative mastery exhibited in Arcane.
Sources: Polygon, GamesRadar