GKIDS has acquired worldwide (excluding China) videogram and digital transactional rights for Season 1 of hit animated series Arcane from L.A.-based developer and publisher Riot Games, which produced the show with French animation company Fortiche Production for Netflix.
A spin-off of Riot Games’ League of Legends multiplayer online game, Arcane is co-created by Christian Linke and Alex Yee, and follows the origins of League champions Vi and Jinx, as they become caught in the power struggle between the utopian city of Piltover and the oppressed underground city of Zaun.
Working with international partners, GKIDs will start releasing Season 1 later this year across different formats, ranging from digital to premium editions, including a 4K version exclusive to the home entertainment release, with further details to be announced.
The deal was announced at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on Monday, where all the partners are in attendance.
“GKIDS is thrilled to be partnering with our friends at Riot to bring the global hit series Arcane to fans worldwide,” said GKIDS founder and CEO Eric Beckman, who is on Annecy’s Graduation Films jury this year.
“We are monster fans of the series, and our team is having a blast collaborating with the creatives at Riot and Fortiche to put together an amazing package for the fans. This project was dreamt up on the lawn by the lake at Annecy, so we are extra happy to be able to announce this collaboration at the festival and true home of animation.”
Arcane was an instant hit when it first released on Netflix in November 2021 and went on to win four primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Animated Program, as well as nine Annie Awards, including Best Mature Animated Television Broadcast Production.
The upcoming Season 2, which is due to launch on Netflix in November, will be teased in Annecy on Wednesday in a Making Of Session featuring Showrunner Linke, scriptwriter Amanda Overton and senior concept artist Arnaud Baudry from Riot Games as well as director Bart Maunoury and producer Christine Ponzevera at Fortiche Production.
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