Released over three consecutive weekends in three acts, each comprising three 40-minute episodes, Arcane follows the escalating tensions between the wealthy and cultured settlement of Piltover and the impoverished under-city of Zaun that lies at its feet.

Piltover wields a new technology known as hextech, developed from arcane magic, which their high council is under pressure to weaponise. Simultaneously, Silco, the nefarious leader of Zaun’s underground movement, has cultivated an addictive serum known as Shimmer, which can cause extreme, violent mutations.

Act one follows a group of young Zaun scavengers, who sneak into Piltover to steal whatever they can. Sisters Vi and Powder discover a cache of arcane crystals in the flat of a young scientist named Jayce. When the girls accidentally cause an explosion, a warrant is put out for their arrest, and they seek refuge with Vander, gruff landlord of a popular Zaun tavern.

Jayce, meanwhile, is dragged before the high council, where the diminutive, 300-year-old councillor Heimerdinger warns him against the crystals’ dangerous and unpredictable powers.

Before the first act is over, a rift has developed between Vi and her younger sister that sees the pair torn apart. Powder seeks refuge under the wing of Silco, and as act two opens a few years later, she becomes the vengeful Jinx, while Silco solidifies his position as leader of Zaun’s guerilla movement and plans a violent campaign to win independence for the under-city.

In the upper echelons of Piltover, Jayce has won his fight to develop hextech, as well as a seat on the council, which distances him from childhood friend Caitlyn but brings him closer to chief councillor Mel Medarda.

Beyond its appeal to fans of the science-fiction and fantasy genres, the creators of Arcane actively broaden the show’s appeal with a robust voice cast headlined by Hailee Steinfeld as Vi and Ella Purnell as Powder. Japanese performer Miyavi also appears.

The soundtrack boasts an exclusive theme song from Imagine Dragons, as well as contributions from the likes of Sting and Bea Miller to complement Alexander Temple and Alex Seaver’s immersive score.

Regardless of your familiarity with the material, the show draws you into its intricately realised world and builds to an emotional and impressively uncompromising climax.

With a second season already greenlit, Arcane emerges as one of the year’s most rewarding seasons of television, animated or otherwise.

Arcane is streaming on Netflix.