June 12, 2024, 6:12 am | Read time: 4 minutes
In the age of streaming, it’s rare for a Netflix film or series to also receive a physical release. However, Season 1 of “Arcane” will soon have this rare honor.
For decades, fans could build their own film or series collections to have them readily available. Over time, it started with videotapes, then DVDs, and now Blu-rays, filling shelves and creating carefully curated private libraries. However, the business of physical media is declining in the streaming era. It’s all the more surprising that a Netflix series is being released this way: Season 1 of “Arcane.”
GKIDS Films Acquires Season 1 of “Arcane”
The independent U.S. film distributor GKIDS, specializing in animated and family films, announced on X (formerly Twitter) that it has secured the worldwide home entertainment rights for Season 1 of “Arcane.”
They promise a “full product range” release later this year. As the industry magazine “Deadline” additionally reports, only the Chinese market is excluded from this deal.
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Collector’s Editions on the Horizon
So, if you want to own Season 1 of “Arcane” rather than just stream it on your Netflix account, you’ll soon have several options. Digital purchases will be part of the releases, as well as premium editions of the title. This will include a 4K Blu-ray, as the designated “Arcane” page at GKIDS suggests.
The exact details of the various sales versions and their scope are not yet known. Possible options include box sets or media books with multiple discs and other extras for fans. However, it’s unclear whether GKIDS has already secured the rights to the upcoming second season.
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Season 1 of “Arcane” is a Masterpiece
Regardless, Season 1 of “Arcane” is a hot commodity. The series is based on the video game “League of Legends” and tells the story of the orphans Vi and Powder (later Jinx) and how they survive on the streets of Piltover. Over the course of the nine episodes, events escalate, and friends and family suddenly become bitter enemies.
“Arcane” has been a complete success for Netflix. The title has won several awards and has been overwhelmingly well-received by critics and fans alike. The second season is set to premiere on the streaming service in November 2024. As “Variety” reports, it will also be the final season. However, entirely new stories from the “League of Legends” universe are expected to follow in the future.
Exception for Netflix Original
While it’s happened before that a title originally exclusive to Netflix later appears as a physical medium, it’s by no means a given. This is mainly because the goal is to encourage customers to subscribe and use the service as much as possible.
The purchase of Blu-rays fundamentally contradicts this goal. Nevertheless, there are various licensing agreements behind the scenes that allow some selected films and series to appear in stores. “House of Cards” is a well-known example. There have also been special, limited sales versions of “Stranger Things” and “The Crown.”
At the same time, the prestigious label Criterion, known for special films, has recently released acclaimed works like “Roma,” “The Irishman,” and “Marriage Story” as special editions on DVD and Blu-ray. However, the vast majority of Netflix films and series will never be available as physical media.