Art Nouveau and Art Deco in Arcane

Two specific points struck me as I was watching the first three episodes of Arcane.

The first was the series’ use of a “camera.” Animation, by nature, unchains the camera view or perspective from having to be anything grounded by reality. Arcane deliberately chose to use shots that could only be achieved by an actual camera following the characters (to a point where, in the first episode, mud spatter appears on the camera “lens” and obstructs the shot as characters are sliding down a dirty metal tube.)

The second was the use of art nouveau trappings specifically for Zaun and art deco trappings for the architecture and design of Piltover. These appear to be very deliberate choices due to how consistent they are and also, the few times that these unspoken design “rules” are broken.

Full disclosure, I am contracted by Riot Games for their League Championship Series esports broadcast as an analyst. I had no idea as to what Arcane would be about, saw no preview material that wasn’t publicly available to all, and was not told to write this; however, in the interest of disclosing any and all biases, I felt this necessary information.

Also, there will be spoilers for Arcane‘s first act.

#5 — Flip Flappers (2016)

In my Yuri!!! On Ice post, I mention how difficult it is for me to watch currently-airing series during the fall season due to my job. Yuri!!! On Ice was an exception.

I didn’t watch Flip Flappers right away or keep up with it while I was inundated with work, but once I watched the first episode, I was hooked. I couldn’t look away.

Breaking Promises in Flip Flappers

“But Iro is Iro. There’s always been only one.”

-Papika as Iro to Cocona, also as Iro, Flip Flappers, Episode 6

The key to understanding Pure Illusion is in Flip Flappers‘ sixth episode and the memories of Iroha Irodori.

Who is Bu? Behind Flip Flappers’ Annoying, Ubiquitous Robot

“Well, I don’t mind going with you every now and then. Only now and then. And if I feel like it.”

-Cocona to Papika, Flip Flappers, Episode 2

The initial setup of Flip Flappers resembles a standard magical girl story. Cocona, listless, directionless, and terrified to make any decision at all is swept up into the world of Pure Illusion thanks to Papika. Throughout the first four episodes, Cocona gradually begins to accept Papika into her life, and the fifth episode onward is where the meat of her emotional narrative begins.

Like all magical girls, Cocona and Papika come with their respective sidekicks.

Cocona’s is a green rabbit-like creature named Uexküll — a reference to Jakob von Uexküll whose ideas of subjective perception (umwelt) led to the field of biosemiotics. Uexküll’s namesake informs the Flip Flappers viewer, encouraging a closer look at the role of Pure Illusion and how Cocona and others interact with it.

Papika’s is an odd, perverted robot named “Bu-chan” that somewhat resembles a lawnmower.

Flip Flappers’ Courtship of Cocona

When Flip Flappers first introduces Cocona, she is trapped in a sterile classroom taking a test. The shifting of sand is heard rather than the ticking of a clock — an hourglass resembling a Rubin vase takes the place of a traditional clock face mounted on the wall above a white board.

Rubin’s vase — named after its creator, danish psychologist Edgar Rubin — shows two shapes only one of which can be recognized at any given time. You can see the hourglass, or you can see two faces with negative space between them. While your mind can recognize that there are two things to see available to you, your eye can only focus on one at a time.

This plays tricks with the way the human brain generally perceives objects — by establishing depth and separating figures or objects from the ground. Ambiguity, like the less distinct image of Rubin’s vase, allows our minds to take the lead in perceiving the object in front of us. Do you see an hourglass or two faces first?