I’m really loving the animation style of this launch video for Legends of Runeterra, a digital collectible card game developed and published by Riot Games. Check it out below –

The at times non-motionblurred, steppy animation style combined with the painterly brushstrokes treatment is really successful in removing the trite vanilla CG look used in too many animated films and productions. The animated film Connected that I’m working on right now also utilizes a painterly brushstrokes finish that really softens the look of bland CG.

I feel the creators definitely took a page out of Spiderverse’s stylebook, but tweaked the look to create something unique, and the end results are fantastic. I would looove to see a TV series or animated film using this visual style. Does anyone know if Riot Games’ own cinematic division was responsible for this animation, or if they hired another vendor to make it for them ?

*Update – I’ve been informed that the Paris studio Unit Image worked on the animation for this trailer. Amazing work !