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Beady-dead-eyed, perma-grin horror children learn fairly mundane things, with a robot and a monkey, (seriously, why no whites in their eyes? *shudders*)

This show is HEAVILY voiced by Jason Manford, man of a thousand voices, all of them...Jason Manford. I like Jason Manford as a comic, but his acting and singing is less appealing.

"Highlights" of Manford's vocal "abilities", are his "American" robot. Who's back story presumably included previous time spent as a factory machine in Manchester?

Another is his POC postman, who sounds like a somewhat offensive impression of fellow comic, Jon Bishop.

I guess I should be grateful Mamford at least avoided doing a Jamaican or Kenyan accent! (And let's not even get into the ugly subject of black characters being voiced by white actors, like some modern minstrel act. Couldn't find a black voice actor, Jason?).

And as if white washing the vocal pool, voicing everyone, and butchering their accents wasn't bad enough, the kids TV crime of all crimes is committed here too...Using a grown woman to do a screechy little girls voice. Eurghh!! It's horribly irritating to the nth degree. Just because the Simpsons pulled it off, doesn't mean you can too.

Most other shows have learned to use child voice actors. Sadly Daisy and Ollie is trapped firmly in the tacky past.

My two year old daughter genuinely yells, "uh oh" or "oh no" and gets her lego out the second this comes on, and I couldn't be more proud of her.

Arcane is a little slow to start. It takes some time building it's world and introducing it's characters, but it's worth the time investment. By episode three, the story really starts to shine.

The main plot might not be the most original, either. Family divided by trauma and loss, etc. But it is handled well and is full of fleshed out characters, who have believable motivations. (Which is rare lately). There also some good sub plots that start to tie into the larger story.

I found that I really started to care about the myriad protagonists and their troubles.

The animation is excellent. 3D animation which is textured with an almost oil pastel effect, is mixed with some more traditional 2D effects. Producing some really stunning results.

It's similar in style to the recent Spiderverse movie, but I feel Arcane utilises the effect even more successfully.

The utopia/dystopia, steampunk/fantasy/sci-fi setting designs are beautiful. If you are a fan of indie animation, Manga and the like, these settings won't be new to you, but Arcane's art style really brings them to life.

The voice acting is solid throughout, with some really emotionally charged standout performances. (Young powder's desperate tears, will move even the coldest of hearts!)

While I've tried the game League of Legends, and I am vaguely familiar with it's characters, I was never really drawn in. Even with that being the case, it hasn't marred my experience of the series.

Even if you aren't a seasoned League player, don't be put off. You don't need to be a fan, or know League's existing lore, in order to enjoy this.

It really is a beautifully animated, and nicely written series, that effortlessly stands on its own two feet.

If Donald Glover gets bored of comedy, he has a bright future in horror.

Genuinely unnerving episode, with some solid funny moments too!