Entertainment
Arcane Act I: A treat for every ‘League of Legends’ player
Stirred with strife, spectacle, and sorrow
Arcane
Act I: A treat for every League of Legends player
Act II: Whirlwind of emotions, understanding
This article contains spoilers. Read at your own risk.
Growing up, I was the kid who read the lore and storylines in every game I play. League of Legends included. I was giddy when Netflix unveiled Riot’s Arcane — the game’s first animated series. Seeing an iconic champion’s back with her conspicuous blue hair gave me flashbacks of days where I spent time reading their stories.
In between matches and my studies, I was drawn. Perhaps, even lost, in the narratives weaved in the land of Runeterra. The anamnesis roused my senses; I paused my work to try to bask in something novel.
Mesmerizing portrayals of Piltover and Zaun
I bleated when I played the intro. Not because of the perfectly picked soundtrack. But because the art reminded me what my life could’ve been if I believed in myself enough to pursue arts.
The animation and drawing style reminded me of the practice drawings I had when I was younger. Reminiscent of splash arts from digital paintings of every iconic champion I’ve played at League of Legends. Albeit, flat and textured this time around to be animated for film easily.
Even the background art and the scenery painted to depict Piltover and Zaun — symbiotic cities with stark contrast that sets the tone for the story — looked marvelous. League of Legends fans and players alike certainly know the tale between the two cities. And the series expanded the paintings that mesmerized me. For me, it was given justice.
Piltover houses the rich, the elite, and the advancements of science, technology, and engineering that were deemed beautiful. Reminiscent of a steampunk future where technology and machinery dominate the world. If Ragnarok’s very own Rune-Midgard Kingdom and Republic of Schwartzvald bore a child, Piltover would be it.
But Piltover is only a part of something beautiful. Underneath is Zaun, an underground district filled with fumes leaking across its streets. It has dystopia spelled all over it. A painting of how divided the rich and the poor is. A portrayal of what is deemed hideous.
Somewhat similar to my home country where the rich and the elite live in gated, clean, and bright subdivisions with towering skyscrapers while the rest of the population are forced to fit in slums and cities that suffered through a lack of urban planning. I certainly reveled in how Piltover and Zaun represent the reality we live in.
Riot’s wonderful taste in music and talents
Even the music and scoring picked for the intro and for the montages fit perfectly for both the visuals and in my ears. Imagine Dragon’s “Enemy” as the intro sets the tone of a harrowing, action-packed animated series. Meanwhile, Bea Miller’s “Playground” helped portray the atmosphere of life in Zaun.
A grief-stricken rift between sisters
Arcane follows the story of Violet and Powder — two orphaned sisters whom you’ve probably come across in League of Legends. Yes, they’re Vi and Jinx in their youth. Inseparable, partners-in-crime despite Powder failing almost every mission they try to pull off in both Piltover and Zaun.
The first three episodes — which sums up Arcane’s Act I — told the tales of characters we’ve known and loved. Defender of Tomorrow Jayce, Sheriff of Piltover Caitlyn (my favorite champion back then), Revered Inventor Heimerdinger, Ekko who shattered time, and even Viktor but as a young scientist.
There were hints and there that explored their childhood, youth, and backstories which were intertwined with their lore based on the game. Riot did it right with Arcane, giving emotions to stories we only read inside the game while we pass time.
In Act I, I felt a barrage of emotions alternating between awe, thrill, pity, sorrow, and grief. I was immersed with the developments and the dialogues, leading me to understand that the experiences forged the champions they’ve become in the league. If Riot pursues that path for the following acts.
Frankly, it’s hard to hate anyone when you know the motivations and reasoning behind their behavior. The last episode revealed the rift between Vi and Powder, and the strife that might lead to them being the pride of their respective cities. Vi, becoming an enforcer, probably after being kidnapped by someone from Piltover.
Meanwhile, Powder might heartbreakingly take over her epithet ‘Jinx’, becoming the madwoman known throughout the streets of Zaun. That is, again, if Riot will pursue the path for the following acts the same way it was written in their lore.
Is it worth watching?
Though predictable, what Arcane did is embed thoughts, emotions, and history. While we know how certain story beats go, we don’t exactly know how a person felt or what they thought of before an event transpired. This applies in life, too. Arcane gave us a deep dive into every character’s thought processes, their complex emotions, and how their feelings directed their behavior throughout the story.
Whether you’re a League of Legends player or just someone who’s looking for a new animated series to revel in, Arcane is worth watching. It’s something that’s on a different ‘league’. And seeing the iconic champions you used to play might make you giggle in joy and excitement, too.
Nevertheless, Riot’s Arcane Act I is a treat for anyone who’ll decide to watch the series. It’s stirred with strife, spectacle, and sorrow. And the way things end will surely make you want more.
Arcane Act II will premiere on November 13, 2021.
Entertainment
One Piece: Into the Grand Line unveils final trailer ahead of premiere
All 8 episodes dropping on Netflix this March 10
Netflix has revealed the final trailer for One Piece: Into the Grand Line, exactly one week before its March 10 premiere.
The clip opens with a monologue from Monkey D. Luffy, reminding the Straw Hat crew of how far they’ve come to make it to the gates of the legendary Grand Line.
He mentions that it is time for the pirates to see what’s in store for them in the legendary stretch of sea.
Of course, that’s the treasure they’re seeking albeit encountering bizarre islands, new enemies, and unpredictable danger.
The clip then again features the larger-than-life scale of Season 2, including the towering Red Line, giant whale Laboon, Little Garden’s dinosaurs, and the giant, Brogy.
For a brief moment, the protagonist is also shown in an encounter with Smoker. Tony Tony Chopper, shown in the official trailer, once again made a quick appearance.
Just as action-packed as previous trailers, this 1:44 clip then culminates with more combat. There’s Zoro defending the crew at Whisky Peak.
Wapol and his metal-transforming Munch-Munch powers was shown in the end against Monkey D. Luffy.
The entire trailer is also set to an upbeat remix of “Come Sail Away” in the background, continuing the excitement from Season 1.
All eight episodes of One Piece: Into the Grand Line will be made available by March 10.
Entertainment
ITZY’s YUNA is Infinix’s first ever global brand ambassador
Infinix is in with YUNA in the scene
Infinix is entering a new era — and the brand is bringing one of K-Pop’s most sought-after stars along the ride.
A first for Infinix
In line with the launch of the latest NOTE 60 series, Infinix has also named YUNA of ITZY as its very first Global Brand Ambassador. The company calls this a bold step forward for both innovation and style.
For the record, this is the first time Infinix has tapped a global ambassador — and the choice makes sense. YUNA is known for her confidence, vibrant energy, and unapologetic self-expression. These qualities align closely with Infinix’s “Joy Tech, Beyond Limits” philosophy.
In a statement, YUNA shared her excitement about the partnership. She said she’s looking forward to connecting with fans in a new way and creating meaningful stories together with the brand.
For Infinix, this collaboration is more than just a celebrity endorsement. It signals a shift in how the company wants to position itself globally — not just as a smartphone maker, but as a lifestyle tech brand for expressive, tech-savvy youth.
The more, the merrier
The partnership goes along the debut of the NOTE 60 Series, further fueling Infinix’s move toward a more premium smartphone experience.
Like YUNA, the NOTE 60 line also brings notable names in the table:
- Powered by Snapdragon from Qualcomm
- Design collaboration with Pininfarina
- Audio tuned with JBL
It’s a clear attempt that Infinix wanted to elevate both performance and design by blending in flagship-level specs, more refined aesthetics, and immersive sound altogether.
Infinix says this launch also marks its expansion into more premium international markets.
With YUNA as the face of the brand, the company hopes to strengthen its appeal among younger users who want both powerful hardware and a device that matches their personality.
Rather than focusing purely on specs, Infinix is leaning into storytelling — highlighting how technology can spark creativity, joy, and individuality.
With the NOTE 60 Series and YUNA front and center, Infinix appears ready to redefine its brand identity on a global scale.
I’m starting to think that cosmic horror is near-impossible to adapt to the big screen. Often, the point of this subgenre of horror is to showcase the unfathomable, a horror so unknowable that it’s impossible to describe. Now, for a medium that thrives on “show, don’t tell,” a full-length movie doesn’t seem like the best format for this type of horror. I’ve seen so many cosmic horror films, and a majority of them fail to land the satisfaction of a more traditional horror film.
Iron Lung, directed by and starring Markiplier, takes a stab at this elusively complex genre.
After the sudden disappearance of stars and planets in the universe, a lone space station explores a nearby moon to search for a way to save humanity. The catch is that the entire moon is covered in an ocean of blood. A convict, played by Markiplier, is tasked with exploring the moon in a one-man submersible, in exchange for his freedom.
Naturally, an ocean of blood isn’t the best place to be. The moon’s ocean hides mysteries and monsters beneath all the gore.
On the impossibility of cosmic horror
Though a movie is all about showing and not telling, Iron Lung navigates through these intricacies by not showing anything.
Because everything is just blood outside, the submarine needs a special camera that takes only grainy photos directly in front of the submersible. There’s always a sense of claustrophobic dread. What’s outside the submarine? What were those sounds? Did the camera really take a photo of something alive?
The film’s premise alone is a perfect source of horror. This is where cosmic horror thrives: on the questions, on the tiny sneak peeks of a monster lurking around the corner.
But, then again, this is also where the subgenre can paint itself into a corner. Eventually, audiences ask for more. They need to see and know the beast for real. Think Cloverfield, when the massive alien finally shows its face, or The Nun with… well, The Nun.
It’s an unwritten rule in horror films that the monster must make an appearance. It becomes a paradox for cosmic horror because the beast must also be unknowable.
When the beast finally shows up in Iron Lung, the audience never learns an understandable reason why it’s stalking the submarine. It’s not hungry, it doesn’t want revenge, and it doesn’t want to take over the world. It just is.
Is that a satisfying enough conclusion? If you’re a fan of cosmic horror, then it’s par for the course. However, if you’re more used to the more traditional horror film, it might leave you wanting more.
On madness
A mysterious monster isn’t the only thing that cosmic horror is known for. It’s also about madness and how the protagonist goes insane after seeing the unknown.
It’s apropos, then, that the convict starts hallucinating right after seeing a glimpse of the ocean’s beast. He starts to lose track of what’s real and what’s not.
In other movies, madness is an effective tool in subverting expectations and amplifying the horror. For example, in The Lighthouse, Winslow, the protagonist, also loses his sanity and questions reality. The film is all about this descent into madness and the questionable actions as a result from it. In Shutter Island, madness is a punchline, a plot twist that invites the audience to revisit the entire film and question their own perception.
Iron Lung, however, is neither a complete descent nor a plot twist. Rather, it’s a clear third act stemming from the convict’s encounter with the monster.
Since it’s clearly delineated in the third act, it’s hard to empathize with the convict’s plight. There’s a sense of vertigo moving from a creature feature into, in the convict’s own words, “alien shit” where you’re not sure of what’s real. Likewise, it’s not a plot twist either. You don’t reevaluate whether the entire movie was a hallucination.
Madness is understandably a major plot point of the original game that the movie is based on. However, its translation into film isn’t the smoothest. It’s both too short and too long.
But is it a good film?
Despite its struggle with the format, Iron Lung is still a spirited attempt at a one-room horror film. Markiplier melds into his role and doesn’t just showcase his on-screen YouTube personality.
The premise is, at once, frightening. It’s eerie and creepy. There is always a pervasive need to figure out what comes next. That’s pretty much what you want from a movie anyway. Yes, the ending might be polarizing, especially to those more used to the usual horror film, but the journey is still worth the price of admission.
And, at the very least, the film got me interested in watching Mark’s original playthroughs.
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