They Made Brand New Animation for This! - Arcane Enemy Music Video Reaction

[@Korbin_Arts]

there are actually 2 moments where you get a 1 frame switch to older jinx. The first is when the bug comes out of her mouth and the second is when she does the finger gun at the enforcers

[@littlebittywonderland]

YOOOO I've never noticed that until now! That's amazing

[@beyondviolet]

damn you right, the 1st one is so quick

[@peteryang5056]

A big theme in the music video is Powder perceiving the same person as her protector and as her tormentor. We see it most clearly with Vi. Young Powder obviously viewed her sister as her sole source of comfort and safety in the world. But we also see in the music video that their relationship could be fraught and that Powder was sometimes very frightened by Vi (something we see as Vi leaves her in Episode 3 - if you watch closely, you can see Powder flinch back as if she thinks Vi is going to hit her again). It's hard to put much blame on Vi for this - let's not forget that she was a young teenager herself, thrust into the position of acting as parent AND older sister to Powder, and leader to their little gang, after experiencing incredible trauma as a child. It'd be shocking if Vi weren't a powderkeg of anger herself (no pun intended). But trauma sadly begets trauma, and we see how even as Powder clung to Vi for protection, she also feared Vi's fury being directed at herself. The theme of protector vs tormentor continues with the other Undercity denizens. During Vi's boxing demonstration, we see Powder, Ekko, and the rest of the family hanging out with some of the same kids they end up fighting in Episode 1. And we know from the series that Ekko, who in the music video is clearly her childhood best friend, ends up as her sworn enemy. Even the big chef guy first starts out as a friendly source of sustenance before angrily lashing out at the kids when he finds out they can't pay. But the most interesting protector/tormentor is Jinx. In the last part of the video, we see the many different ways that Powder perceives her Jinx persona. Jinx is a prison, trapping Powder inside a cage of pain and trauma, from which Powder cannot escape no matter how hard she tries to batter down the walls. But Jinx is also Powder's savior, the part of her *own self* that can stand up against the oppressive world in which they live (symbolized throughout the video by the Enforcers). Jinx is what allows Powder to *not need* Vi anymore, because she can finally protect herself. It's the horrible catch-22 that underlies the character of Powder/Jinx in a nutshell.

[@Balderdash1000]

Extremely well put together and there's some things in there that I'm going to have to give some more thought to. 👍

[@TheGamingTeacher1]

I absolutely love this take on it and you bring up some truly thought-provoking points here that add so many layers to everything.

[@bzzzzzzzzzz2075]

Really well put!!

[@Sinewmire]

That's a fascinating angle, thanks for sharing it.

[@dairallan]

There's very strong indications that Powder had significant mental health issues not even from Episode 3 but before then. The "scratched" effect used seems to be a shorthand for her having dissociative episodes and the first time it happens is in the opening scene on the bridge

[@unknowndane4754]

If you're looking for more videos that would relate to arcane characters solely, then the music video "Get Jinxed" was made to introduce Jinx to the game, and the animated video "Seconds" was meant to introduce Ekko into the game. Both are great videos for character explorations, and while they're much older than Arcane, you will clearly see inspirations used in Arcane.

[@TheGamingTeacher1]

I’ll definitely have to look into it!

[@Starsaber222]

There's also an impressive mix of "Get Jinxed" and "Here Comes Vi".

[@CharlesBlazer]

In the scene with the enforcers, the way Jinx stands behind Powder looks to me like Jinx is protecting Powder -- which is even more tragic.

[@masterofpuppets7586]

So great you did this. Highly appreciated! Loved the whole Arcane reaction journey with you so far! Amazing job! 👍 You will love "Bridging the Rift"! 👍 Ekko and Powder were not only close. From Ekkos voice lines we now he even had a crush on her. "I had a crush on her - until she started talking with the gun" and when he first meets her in game "Man, I miss you so much! ". In a recent Q&A the authors of the show stated we will see more interactions between these two in season 2. I can feel the 💔 coming again...

[@redroseibarahime8755]

Great assessment ! Especially that you emphazied on the fact that Powder was damaged from the beginning. We see the glitching monster faces on the enforcers faces in the first minutes of the season on the bridge already and it is more appearent after being shimmered up in the final of the season when the glitching monsters are pressuring her to the ground. The first season is in fact about how "Jinx" came to be/ was created - that is the only 'closure' we get with season 1 - all other plot threats are wide open - therefore, the music video focusses on her to represent that message :) I love that they put in "new content" instead of using footage from season 1. This emphazises on Powder's/ jinx's perspective and - very important, you are right there - this is subjective to her! It doesn't mean to be necessarily the full reality. About the firelight leaving Powder's mouth: I believe this is a symbolic hint that Ekko (symbol firelight--> also see Ekko/Jinx fight on the bridge; he has the firelight in the back - she has the crow in the back)tried to get through to her and after that runs from her (=escaping the mouth). The writers said that at some point Ekko tried to get Powder back and ofc he must have failed because in ep7 he tells Vi that it is impossible to get Powder back - but we might see that in S2. So fyi - rumour says, that already 4 more seasons are approved by the Riot management ^^.

[@TheGamingTeacher1]

All excellent points here! If you are correct on the number of seasons, I will be a very happy viewer 😄

[@aperson9847]

"Like" is the wrong word but for lack of a better one, I do really like that they showed here how Vi and Powder didn't have an idealized, flawless relationship. All siblings fight, Vi has deep trauma that manifests as issues with anger and aggression, and there's such an age/strength gap between the two sisters that if an argument ever got out of hand, what we see here just seems like the obvious outcome. It's another one of those situations Arcane depicts so masterfully where a character (Vi in this case) is obviously in the wrong, and the result of their action is heartbreaking, but it's still really hard to blame them for it. But I definitely believe that clip at the beginning, where Vi is hugging a crying Powder, is the outcome of the argument after Vi has a chance to cool off. Bitter, because some damage has been done, but sweet because it shows how deep their love runs despite the imperfections of both characters. This whole video is just Fortiche flexing their "visual storytelling" muscles.

[@Tarolock]

you should totally watch Get Jinxed too. It was in the show for a few moments. Its the song that got released with Jinx for the game.

[@miklauzknaus]

Maybe you can react to "Worlds 2021 Show Open". Its opening ceremony for e-sport world cup turnament and it was Arcane heavy. They even had live action segment of Zaun.

[@miklauzknaus]

Then if you really want to dive in the rabbit hole: check out "The world of riots MMO is already done" by Necrit, if you want to learn more Lore outside just the city. It basicly covers all lore there is to this day(vaguely). Then you can check out any other league cinematic in no particular order. They are all great. Maybe check out Ruination and Kin of the stained blade in chronological order to get more into story, but the rest are fine to watch in any order.

[@UncleMilo]

I think one can assume that as much as Vi loved Powder that they are just sisters... and I don't think it's out of line to believe that given where they lived, the fact that their parents were dead and people being people, that there would be times when Vi would be frustrated... and Vi certainly has pent up anger. We still know how much Vi loved Powder just based on her conversations with Powder and her conversations with Vander. I also like this video as it shows more of the friendship between Poweder and Little Man. :)

[@derekmarshman6154]

Jinx is emotional armor for Powder. The scene of her railing against what she will become shows that she doesn't want it. She desperately wants to go back, but she can't. Circumstances make it so she can never be that person again. Powder never dies. She just loses faith in her own humanity. "I'm a jinx. I ruin everything, and everyone who gets close to me gets hurt because of me." She chooses to embrace that and push Vi away to keep her safe.

[@DI-QueenmoEMino]

Please react to the Bridging the Rift short documentary of Arcane. Seriously its so good and makes you appreciate the show even more considering how much extreme work that went into making a animated series like this, and how pretty close Arcane came to not existing at all. You really need to check it out man please.

[@zerodawn09]

this video even helps more with the "who made jinx" argument. so many like to hold on to the surface theory of VI made jinx but if you rewatch arcane and watch in this powder made jinx to handle her stress and trauma. for the people that want the VI made her since when has anything from arcane been so simple?

[@ChincerDante]

If you like the work riot does I would recommend more of their video, league fans been spoil with high quality production for trailers of various things and songs each season just because and been begging to have a show for a long time for a reason

[@TheGamingTeacher1]

I love when games have super high-quality trailers so I’ll definitely have to look into that 👀

[@brittvaughn9447]

I see Powder as a good depiction of borderline personality traits (I hate that name, though) before her schizophrenia becomes full blown. Due to early trauma, she develops severe separation anxiety, an anxious attachment style, and clear emotional lability and splitting.

[@AndreiulRadu]

You should also react to the opening of the Worlds 2021 show as well as in this song and add a few extra layers of Arcane information.

[@TheGamingTeacher1]

I’ll definitely look into it!

[@_Aarius_]

i really wish we got some of those poweder/echo scenes in the show, woulda given the bridge battle a lot more weight

[@TriXJester]

Riot always puts out some insane MVs so you should keep digging into the music that theyve put out for League

[@FabricioKarim]

This remembers the music videos from vtuber. As a vtuber is a person who uses a avatar all the time, all music videos anyone of them releases must be an animation. Goes from very simple like most covers of King (Hoshimachi Suisei version kzbin.info/www/bejne/o33apZmdapyemNU ) atil fum animation like Moonas Hosinova's Hi Tide kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaXQi3SKnbqfbJY

[@MrWillsonx]

Hey, just wanted to ask if you made your decision about "bridging the rift" - the arcane making off series. Are you going to watch it on this channel? - its very very worth it!

[@MrWillsonx]

0:40 a nvm, im very excited about that

[@The_Other_Dan]

It's easy to just see Powder as a sweet little thing that got corrupted. If you rewatch the first episode she literally throws a nail bomb at the kid from Deckard's crew. The look of sheer excitement and anticipation on her face while she waits for her device to shred that kid to pieces is really telling. She's a 10y/o (attempted) murderer who had no qualms about taking a life. You kinda get another glimpse at this side of her in this music video. She wasn't really that sweet and innocent little girl, she was just Jinx in incubation.

[@saiyasha848]

Something I only just realized after watching this for like the umpteenth time: I think there is a ministory within. Ekko and Powder antagonise the Enforcers They get caught, I'm not sure if it is Ekko who they kick the shit out in the corner, i can never quite see. The Enforcers crack down on them, Vi gets caught up in it, probably trying to defend powder and gets roughed up too After that Vi actually gives Powder a similyr spiel to what Vander does to her, she is just less calm and collected about it: How could you do that, that was dangerous, don't you know what could have happened to you, what If I hadn't been there etc. etc. and that is the fight we see in the bedroom. And there is the thing. Maybe Vi _ded_ push Powder. I mean she is somewhere between 14 and 16 here I would say, so a hormonal mess and a pretty reckless fighter that lets her emotions get the better of her on multiple occasions. _maybe_ What we see in Ep. 3 isn't as much of an anomaly as we think, though of course on a much higher scale: Vi and Powder fight, Vi lets her anger get the better of her and uses force to push Powder away, probably not super hard or in a way that could actually hurt her, but hard enough to leave an impression on Powder. Of course after that fight we see vi walk _away_ from powder (in the Video) to cool her head, just like she does in Ep. 3. This may have exasserbated Powders abandonment issues: When me nd my Sister fight she leaves. All speculations of course, but this was the first time that i connected the bedroom fight mentally to the scenes before, so I just wanted to let someone know XDDD

[@TheGamingTeacher1]

I did think about this potentially being her perception of events rather than reality since Powder and later on Jinx struggle with what is real versus what isn’t. I could totally see it going either way!

[@miserableghost6385]

I believe Powder still wouldve ended as Jinx or at least a less chaotic version eventually. She has always had mental problems and attachment issues. In the first episode she saw so much violence and bloodshed at like 5 years old ofc she'd be messed up and it seemed she had problems even before that bc there was some scratchy visuals during that scene just like the ones we'd come to recognize in later episodes. Also in terms of Vi and Powder's relationship that could honestly could just because they are sisters living in a pretty horrible environment. I have a older sister and didnt have the best living situation when we were growing up together so she had no way to really release her frustration and anger and sadly I would get the most of it bc I was an easy target. She loved me and would almost always apologize afterwards, hell she'd probably kill someone if they lay a finger on me but we certainly had rough moments for sure.

[@bzzzzzzzzzz2075]

I disagree with the fact that powder would've turned out like our Jinx. Something similar sure, but under Silcos influence she buried her empathy. Our Jinx is fine with killing people, even if she doesn't enjoy it. I don't think an au Jinx would be. No matter how mentally ill, Jinx was never a sociopath and still isn't, and likely would never have gone down the same path. The Jinx we see is about as bad a person as Powder could've become. But what I do agree with is that Jinx would've had the same mental issues- still developing ptsd, schizophrenia, and bpd, leading to a lot of the symptoms we see in her, and even been just as chaotic.(esp. bc her voice actor headcannons her as having adhd too, which informed the way she was acted) but she would've been much, much nicer lol Our Jinx was a product of 7 years of encouraged gang violence and getting approval for hurting people, and without that she would turn out very different. I'd say if you want a closer representation you could look at the Oddesy skin trailer, which is in a different universe, but stars a much healthier Jinx with more empathy and a actual support system, although with the same mental problems. Of course, she'd still be more Zaun-y in what we're theorizing, but idk Good comment tho, have a good day

[@thomassteigerwald3329]

This was kind of a trailer, and not necessarily completely cannon. For example, I’d say the scene of Vi teaching fighting techniques just used the models of the kids who ended up attacking them in episode 1 as stand ins, not that she actually knew them before. Love all the implications you can glean from the video though, especially between ekko and powder

[@TheGamingTeacher1]

That would probably make more sense, but definitely cool either way 😄

[@tchjdaedn]

One thing some folks miss is that two of the kids in the background during Vi's boxing demonstration are the thugs that accompanied Silco in the scene with Marcus' daughter.

[@tyla9057]

I don't know if you already have or plan on doing it, but u should react to "get jinxed" luv ur content btw :3

[@TheGamingTeacher1]

I’ll look into it, and thank you so much! 😄

[@F1rstWorldNomaD]

This version is sooo low energy compared to the intro version. I have no idea why they didnt punch this one up too. They could still have the rapping and stuff in there.

[@porkadobo2444]

You should watch League of Legends lore to know more about the world of Runeterra. TALES OF RUNE TERRA is what I suggest first. It gives you idea and expectations for season 2 :3 Also if you enjoy the music video of arcane, you should try watching them all . ti's good.

[@TheGamingTeacher1]

I’ll definitely look into it!

[@Sinewmire]

There's a thread of a story through this. Sorry for the essay, but here's how I see it: The start we see, with Jinx at the bar, is actually the end. She reflects on the events that have brought her here, and she starts to cry. Powder, Vi, Mylo and Claggor are out and about in the Undercity. Powder is thrilled to be out with her family, but Vi is wary, prickly, watchful. They go through the market, hang out with some other kids. Ekko takes Powder for a ride on his monowheel bike thing, and gives the Enforcers the finger. Mylo gets beaten up - Powder was supposed to be keeping watch instead of joyriding - and the Enforcers take an interest. Mylo gets away, but Powder doesn't and they shake her down, along with Vi who of course steps in to try and protect her little sister. They don't arrest them, they were just harrassing some street annoying kids, but Vi is furious and shouts at Powder back in their bedroom at the Last Drop. It's unclear if Vi hits her, or if Powder fell over flinching, neither is a good implication, but they're both kids. Powder has a panic attack, terrified by her trauma and abandonment issues. Vi turns up, and Powder cries onto her shoulder. They've made up. For now. One visual I love is the Firelight coming out of Powder's mouth. As, in another film with Moths in girls' mouths, our friend Dr Lector says "The significance of the moth is change. Caterpillar into chrysalis or pupa, from thence into beauty."

[@TheGamingTeacher1]

Oh I absolutely love this take and that last bit at the end you mention with the firelight coming from her mouth is 🤯

[@Sinewmire]

@@TheGamingTeacher1 I might have watched a few too many reactions to Arcane :D

[@fractaldisarray1518]

A bit of caution and context: This music video served as a teaser for the show, and just like the trailers, they made us believe things in the show would go one way but then it goes in a completely different and more incredible/badass/deep direction. And I really think they did the same with this music video. People who know even a little about the game, already knew Vi and Jinx would end up separated, the question was how, and this music video seemed to be answering the question. Somehow Jinx messes up and they end up in the hands of Enforcers. They lowered our expectations so episode 3 would hit us that much harder. I really don't think what is being shown in the music video is canon. I don't see how Vi, looking the same age as in ep 1, would be showing Silco's goons some moves and then immediately forget they exist for the fight in ep 3. She truly didn't know who they were, none of them did. Hell, one of the kids looking at Vi in this video is one of the kids from the mines in episode 8. If we are supposed to believe Vi would have such little control over herself and would vent her frustrations on Powder by pushing her to the ground or hitting her, they did a terrible job showing that in the show. The Vi in the show has such control over herself and such care towards addressing Powder, comforting and building her up, always knowing what to say and always protecting her. It took losing almost her whole family before her eyes in such a violent way to break her composure, and even then she immediately catches herself and attempts to momentarily remove herself from the situation to collect herself before she does something else she'll regret. And finally.. If you check the Bridging the Rift behinds the scenes - ((spoiler-ish warning here, not for future things in the show, just for the behind the scenes. Still, maybe read the rest later)) It's very easy to come to the conclusion that they've reused an animation test for the music video, they already made a "Vi frustrated with Powder" test animation before with different character models, Why wouldn't they re-do this test with the new models as well? And then incorporate it into the music video. But yeah, a lot of people have a thing for demonizing Vi and take this music video very literally and I really don't think that's an accurate take. I think Vi from the music video might be an earlier version that is closer to the Vi from the game, a violent girl with no patience, rather than the one from the show. But who knows. Only the writers and animators could tell us what their vision was.

[@TheGamingTeacher1]

There definitely seems to be some general debate on the accuracy of the content here and whether or not it is canon, and I can definitely see the point you are making here! It would definitely be easier to reuse assets for something like this as it saves a ton of time and money. Excellent perspective! 😄

[@justinechaine5679]

Yeah, I have a feeling this was to show some lesser version of the series's events in the MV. I also feel like Vi seems much more patient and calm with Powder than that in show, it wouldn't make much sense to me