Often overshadowed by their film counterparts, animated shows have long been a staple in television. However, the limitations of the kids' and adult animation subgroups have often led to a homogenization of these series. For those who dismiss animation, how does the crude humor of Family Guy differ from the slapstick comedy of The Simpsons? And how does Rebecca Sugar's impactful Steven Universe stand out from the equally moving She-Ra and the Princesses of Power or The Owl House? But in 2021, Arcane made its debut, daring audiences to look away with its confident three-week "act" structure on Netflix.

Netflix's Bold Bet on Arcane

For Netflix, investing in Arcane was a no-brainer. With a long history of creative and risk-taking animation projects, and Riot Games footing a significant part of the bill, Arcane had the potential to be a game-changer. The key difference between Arcane and other series is that Netflix allowed creators Christian Linke and Alex Yee to tell their story in its entirety without making too many concessions. While Netflix has had its share of animated hits like Bojack Horseman and Big Mouth, its animation offerings beyond these standouts have been inconsistent, resulting in a graveyard of creative successes and failures.

Much like Netflix's other content, its animation offerings are often a haphazard mix of "content" thrown at the wall to see what sticks. A series that fails to attract new viewers becomes expendable. Blue Eye Samurai may be a hit now, but it will lose its value over time. However, Netflix believed in Arcane and pushed it to win multiple Emmys, maintain consistent viewership from season 1 to season 2, and tell a stunning story from start to finish.

The Tale of Two Doomed Sisters

Following the tragedy of Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (Ella Purnell), Arcane takes the lore of League and transforms it into a moving exploration of human emotions. In the first season, we see heartache and tragedy unfold, and the characters endure anguish until the end. But the series never becomes overly masochistic. In the final act, we get to see the poignant connections between these complex characters along with the bloodshed and battle.

In the first of Arcane's three-episode finale, titled "Pretend Like It's the First Time," Ekko (Reed Shannon) and Heimerdinger (Mick Wingert) find themselves in an alternate reality where Vi died. This leads to a beautiful dance between Ekko and Powder as they flirt and bicker within their working relationship. The episode contrasts this heartwarming connection against Jayce's (Kevin Alejandro) journey through his own hell. Arcane is about the power of the Arcane and the larger themes of war, separation, and greed, but it also focuses on the human moments between its characters.

The Power of Emotion in Animation

Arcane's ability to transform universal emotions into large, bombastic sequences or heart-wrenching slow-motion tributes is what makes it so captivating. In Episode 4's "Paint the Town Blue" sequence, we see the distillation of hatred, rebellion, hope, and fear through splashes of blue spray paint and stylization. Caitlyn becomes a vengeful leader, Isha fans the flames of hope, and Jinx becomes a larger-than-life figurehead. Two episodes later, Isha's sacrifice is beautifully captured in a watercolor sequence, highlighting the fleeting beauty of life.

Arcane takes the time to allow these breaks and pauses in its story because they are essential. It shows its commitment to humanity through the animated expressions and emotions on the characters' faces. Every twitch of a mouth and every flicker of an eye is a testament to the power of art and humanity.

The Beauty and Perseverance of Arcane

The three years between seasons 1 and 2 were difficult, but the end result was worth it. From the brutality of battle to the weight of empathy and sacrifice, Arcane's beauty and success are a miracle. It tells a small, human story about two sisters and how they try to make the world a better place. Its commitment to its characters, style, substance, and heart has transformed it into a unique and unmatched project.

No matter what comes next for Netflix and Riot Games, Arcane has cemented its place as a genre-defining work. It has changed animation on television for the better by daring to dream in vibrant colors and delivering a powerful message about humanity and kindness.

According to recent Ofcom research, a significant proportion of UK adults have come across misinformation or deepfake content in the past four weeks. This finding highlights the importance of being vigilant in the digital age and understanding how to deal with such information.

Uncovering the Truth: Ofcom's Misinformation Study

Encountering Misinformation

In the previous four weeks, a remarkable four in ten UK adults reported having encountered misinformation or deepfake content. This widespread occurrence is not limited to a specific medium. Among those who have faced false or misleading information, an astonishing seven in ten (71 per cent) stated that they saw it online. Additionally, four in ten (43 per cent) said they encountered misinformation on TV, and one in five (21 per cent) through print newspapers or their associated websites/apps. Different groups within society are more likely to come across misinformation. Men, young adults, those from higher socio-economic backgrounds, minority ethnic and LGB+ groups, as well as those with mental health conditions are particularly at risk.During the week before the General Election, the research found that respondents were most likely to have seen false or misleading information about UK politics, including the General Election (39 per cent), followed by international politics and current affairs (33 per cent), and health and medical information (25 per cent). This shows the pervasiveness of misinformation across various topics.

Dealing with Misinformation

Over three quarters of UK adults (77 per cent) recognize the importance of checking different sources for news. They understand that online information is often a mix of reliable and unreliable posts. Almost half of people (45 per cent) feel confident in judging the truthfulness of information sources. However, only 30 per cent believe they can accurately determine if an image, audio, or video has been generated by AI.When it comes to practical ways of dealing with misinformation, nearly half (47 per cent) choose to ignore the content and move on. A quarter (26 per cent) use a search engine to find a more authoritative source, and a similar proportion (24 per cent) check the information on a trusted news website. These strategies show that people are taking steps to address the issue.

Confidence in News Production

Despite the efforts to provide reliable news, a significant number of people are sceptical of conventional news production processes. Some 44 per cent agree that the more a story is edited, the less likely it is to be true. A similar proportion thinks that important stories are deliberately covered up by traditional news sources (42 per cent). Additionally, 32 per cent believe that journalists follow codes of practice.This mistrust is also reflected in other beliefs. When asked to determine the truth of statements about current affairs, three in ten UK adults believe that there is a single group of people who secretly control the world together (29 per cent), and a similar figure think there is significant evidence of large-scale election fraud (30 per cent).

Ofcom's Response

Ofcom already has a responsibility to promote media literacy. The Online Safety Act has added more specific duties to build awareness of how people, especially those most at risk of harm, can protect themselves and others online. It also encourages the use of technologies and systems by services to empower them to do so.Under the Online Safety Act, Ofcom is required to establish and maintain an advisory committee on misinformation and disinformation. Lord Richard Allan, already a non-Executive Member of Ofcom's Board, has been appointed as Chair. Applicants must submit their CV and an accompanying covering letter outlining how they meet the key competencies by January 12th 2025. The interview panel will include Lord Allan of Hallam, Jessica Zucker, Ofcom's Online Safety Policy Development Director, and Libby Watkins, an Independent Panel Member. Lord Allan emphasized the importance of the new committee in drawing on research and expertise to provide the best advice to Ofcom and other stakeholders.