Arcane is getting a 4K Blu-ray in case it ever disappears from Netflix

One way to ensure a favorite show or movie never disappears from streaming rotation? Buy a physical copy. On Monday, animation distributor GKIDS announced that there are fans of Netflix League of Legends series Arcane could get that chance soon, with Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray releases scheduled for later this year.

While Arcane backstories cut out for famous ones League of Legends characters Vi and Jinx, the animated series triumphed on Netflix thanks to a tenuous connection to familiar lore and an emphasis on stylish action and dramatic character work. The series, produced by French animation studio Fortiche for Riot Games, was a big hit for the streamer, attracting more than 34 million hours of viewers in its first week. And based on Netflix’s recent report on 2023 statistics, so is the series still finding millions of viewers two years later while people wait and/or catch up Arcane season 2, expected in November.

There are few details on what GKIDS might package in a physical release, but the initial announcement promises “a full product line-up later this year, ranging from digital to premium editions, including a 4K version exclusive to the home entertainment release.” But in a rare move for a Blu-ray licensing deal, the folks at GKIDS seem over the moon to make a physical edition of the series possible. The news broke at the Annecy International Animation Festival, where the distributor also acquired the rights to the Science Saru anime Dan Da Dan and a 4K restoration of Mamoru Oshii’s masterpiece Angel egg.

“We are MONSTER fans of (Arcane),” said GKIDS founder and CEO Eric Beckman in a statement, “and our team is thrilled to be working with the creatives at Riot and Fortiche to put together an amazing package for fans. This project was conceived on the lawn at Lake Annecy, so we are extra happy to announce this collaboration at the festival and the true home of animation.”

There’s no word on when Arcane season 1 will be released on Blu-ray, but GKIDS promises more announcements later this year.