Arcane x LoL Redesigns: The Evolution of League of Legends' Female Characters

Image by Lewis Glazebrook

League of Legends has long had controversy and conversation about their female character designs. However, with the introduction of their award-winning animated show Arcane, League's character redesigns demonstrate how realism and female gaze can lend unique and favorable styles without the oversexualization the gaming industry is often guilty of.

For our review, we've selected three of Arcane's leading ladies: sisters and main protagonists Vi and Jinx, and Caitlyn, a citizen of Piltover and Vi's main love interest throughout the show.

Jinx was once scantily clad in a hot pink strappy top and short-shorts, adorned with bullet holsters as a bra strap and belt, true to her punky and chaotic personality. While unique in premise, the execution of this skin design proves lacking in the consideration of versitility and realism, falling into an almost "sexy baby" appearence.

With the reinvention of Arcane’s designs, Jinx’s design became more subdued and realistic. Her shorts evolved into long, ripped pants with black and muted purple stripes, while her top transformed into a black halter top adorned with a cross on the front. She maintained her multi-belt accessories, featuring leather and weaponry, but her overall look gained depth, adding personality and dimension to her character as a figure with purpose and backstory.

Illustrator Katie De Sousa discussed the design choices for Jinx, noting that many of League's female champions at the time had a "sexy persona and voluptuous hourglass figure." She aimed to diversify by envisioning Jinx as "more wiry and spunky," leading to a slender character wielding oversized weapons. This design choice emphasized her chaotic and unpredictable nature, setting her apart from other female champions.

Described as a "hotheaded, impulsive and fearsome woman with very little respect for authority," Vi was originally designed to be Jinx's little sister, while in the Arcane series she became older. Her character can be seen reflected within her original league attire, with fierce textures and heavy weaponry coming to play throughout her style. However, her body shape and stature have often been criticized for unrealistic when considering Vi's giant and heavy glove weapons.

In her redesign, Vi's attire becomes tamer and less sexy, her figure filling out with muscle more in tune with her character's development and abilities. In season 2, Vi becomes an enforcer alongside Caitlyn, and is provided a uniformed, militarized look with obvious functionality in mind throughout the design.

Caitlyn is most often seen sporting her Enforcer—or Warden—uniform, as a general of the policing force in Piltover. Her original game skin consists of a short, dark blue dress with white ruffles at the hem and a high ruffled collar. The outfit is adorned with leather elements and pieces, highlighted by gold buckles, belt and additive elements. Caitlyn originally wore a top hat, true in Steampunk nature, but later skins and her Arcane look forgoes the top hat in favor of a more military-esque white beret.

We do see her donning a tall general’s cap, but Arcane’s design borrows more from historical military uniforms than the good Victorian gentleman.

These character's redesigns from League of Legends to Arcane has marked a significant shift in the predominantly male-dominated game. Moving away from traditional beauty standards in favor of more realistic figures allows for the players to consider the depth and complexity female characters are able to posses, especially evident in the success of the animated series, which has amassed 29 awards since its initial release in 2021.