I love how you can clearly see the family resemblance between young Ambessa and Mel. During Arcane, there's the deliberate design difference between them that makes them look like complete polar opposites in appearance, but here, you can SEE Mel in her mother's face. Especially in the shots of her in broad daylight.
its absolutely amazing, i love how young ambessa and mel are almost identical from the cheeks to chin and clearly related but not identical from the eyes up
Arcane is the embodiment of how to write well crafted characters. All of the characters are so brilliantly written and Arcane doesn't waste a single damn frame. The amount of love that went into this show is undeniably so much.
This whole music video hits really hard, Kino is the lamb that Ambessa needed to sacrifice as the commentor above says, and this video is Ambessa grieving for Kino’s death that she needed to realize in order to save Mel, it’s mostly foreshadowing bc Ambessa at that point didn’t had Mel and Kino yet, but it’s a beautiful resemblance.
It's gonna hit harder when you all find out kindred is Mel's father and Kindred has been fathering mages for the intent of aiding the black rose in destroying Mordekaiser.
“You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God,” says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 34:31 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.” John 10:11-12
Truly incredible but also pretty sad to this woman had to throw away parts of herself to survive in a harsh world and thats not good because yes you survived but now when the fight is over instead of sitting back and enjoying what you've won your off looking for the next fight the next conquest you shave away more and more of who you were until you d9nt even remember who you are anymore and by the time you realize what's going on its to late jinx is a prime example of that instead of shaving away that innocence/decency put it in a box and set it to the side that way when the fight is over you can use it to stop and rebuild have a life
In the League world, the most powerful death spirit is Kindred - represented by 2 entities. Lamb collects your soul when you accept your death peacefully. Wolf collects your soul when you fight death. Ambessa is initially carrying a lamb, possibly symbolizing how she has accepted she is going to die. But it gets reforged into a wolf heart, possibly symbolizing how she will, from this point forward, fight her fate.
She seems to be fighting back plenty even before Lamb offered her a tiny... heart... thing. She didn't look like she had given up at any point. I kinda took the golden lamb she was carrying as a representation of the innocent child in her womb (which, the shining golden eyes are telling me is Mel, also the vision of a boy holding a lamb I think is meant to represent Kino holding his little sister). I don't have a full theory I'm confident in or anything, but to me it seems like Ambessa was offered some kind of deal by Lamb that she chose to take her up on, but was very unhappy about (her crying when she sees the crystal statue of the boy holding a lamb, then the version of her in the Shuriman desert crying out in agony after she takes the heart). Now that I think about it, the fact that she offered up the golden lamb, then it broke into pieces and went into the wolven heart is a bit ominous in this context. Almost as if her deal was her life in exchange for her child's- a life for a life- though clearly it didn't work out that way and there's something about the child. Maybe Ambessa's guilt towards Mel runs deeper than not being able to stomach the look in her eyes whenever she harmed people. Or it could be the other way around- in exchange for Mel's life, she owes some kind of life debt to Kindred. Maybe she even blames herself for Kino's death in more ways than we thought... This also makes me think about Ambessa's lines about foxes and wolves a lot. "A wolf has no mercy"... She would know, wouldn't she?
Seriously! She's so good. She brought the appropriate emotions, strength and drama to this. And being a fan, knowing some of her story and struggles, it's just - there's no one else who could have sung this better!
I have seen this video so much, I didn't even realize she is pregnent here and this entire song was about the survival of her child and her fighting to save it.
It's about both. Her fighting to secure her own life in a merciless world. (When she holds the lamb) Fighting to secure all she can for her children. Being ruthless to give herself and her own all she can do they don't have to fight as hard as she did. (When Mel holds the lamb and Ambesa becomes the wolf.)
@@alenvex8192It would make her just another female character whose only purpose is anyone but herself. And "mom who does mothering" has been done thousands of times before.
@@MrPerser Though the Ionian guerilla war could as well be a nice setting. The rebirth of Shurima coupled with the fight against the void is probably more something for series three or four.
She wasn’t just fighting for herself, she was fighting for her unborn child!! She was fight to go back home to her son!! She’s been fighting to protect her family from DAY ONE! And Ambessa wasn’t kidding when she said Mel was chosen by the wolf, she was literally saved by Kindred!
I guess the lamb symbolizes her innocence, which gets slowly chipped away by war after war and battle after battle. Until it reshapes into the heart of a wolf, creating the battle hardened warrior and conqueror we know today as Ambessa.
If i got it right... Ambessa is Shuriman, she was probably from the areas in the northern coast to where Noxus expanded, and i think those warriors arent Noxian... they are Rakkor, Sun believer from Targon, at least a sect. Their training makes Noxus look like a summer walk. Ambessa must have started as a simple villager, for whatever reason she was sent or even kidnapped by the Rakkor, she was traine(endocrinated) by them, then came Noxus, and if i remember correctly, their annexation of Shuriman lands was pretty pacific all things considered. Not like the Rakkor care, not even Noxus can invade Targon. But Ambessa seems to have been fed up with the Rakkor, accepted becoming Noxian, and Noxus accepts anyone with the strength, intelligence and drive to go up their ranks, and the rest is story. The biggest question in my mind now is... if the Medarda family already existed and Ambessa married into it, or if she founded it... i wouldn't doubt the later, this video puts a lot in perspective of her drive, she wasn't kidding... she would burn the world for her family.
@@cryochick9044 Yes, visual is one half of the whole. Story is another half which is come from Riot. Good visual without great story is like a fine looking meal that taste awful. I highly doubt if Fortiche was hired by Disney. They will be able to make a better show than Arcane.
Ambessa will go down in history as one of the greatest antagonists in history, her and Mel were awesome from start to finish and they really shined this season, definitely both in my top 5 fav arcane characters
do you not know of this famous actress ? Sheryl Lee Ralph? shes phenomenal actress! her famous line after winning a award " People dont have to like you , people dont have to love you , they dont even have to respect you , but when you look in the mirror,.... you better LOVE what you see!
@@joshuarock4631 No, to be completely honest I hadn’t recognized her as an actress, though I have heard of some of her movies. That’s really cool line though, such a strong beautiful message!
the only thing Netflix had hand on Arcane is the agreement to stream and advertise it. the folks behind the show are Riot Games for the world, writing and music while the Animation magic is from Fortiche
@@Jñrskësh it s only a promotional mv for the charcter reaching the roster of the game. It s not in the show. But it adds some extra layers to her background story
This is insane. The reason I love Arcane is because it represents strong women in the right way. They’re not overpowered, they have clear weaknesses, however they were put into such a harsh environment that they had to learn how to survive. Even with a more masculine character, the fact that she’s a mother is highly focused on and how that influences her actions. That’s how you write strong women.
The problem with a lot of "strong, independent women in media" is that they are shown from a patriarchal point of view - are strong in patriarchal standards (toxic masculinity - physically strong and not showing emotions) and their strength is shown in the context of male characters (how stronger and better they are). There is often an attempt to humiliate the male character to make the woman look better. Rey from Star Wars is an example of a character presented in this way, but there are more. As a woman and feminist I am glad that it is written by competent people who understand such things. Vi and Savika are physically strong, but it is not presented as "being stronger than men", they are strong because they are. Same with Caitlyn - she is an excellent shooter, she is intelligent, because that's who she is - there is no need to compare it to random male characters. Just let strong female characters be real characters.
@@KageFrankenstein The only thing with Ambessa is that now she is quite emotionless, harsh and physically strong. Only because she chose that path for herself though, to survive in the world she was born. We can clearly see how pure she was at first
@@zdravkogeorgiev323 I love her character. She is a good example that it is possible to make a female character who is strong and doesn't show too many emotions (although she definitely has them), and at the same time it's not shown from a patriarchal point of view. She is that way not because "these are the traits that every character must have to be called strong", but because she has to be like that to protect the people she cares about. Her character also works so well, because there are so many female characters who are strong in their own way.
@@KageFrankensteinAlso Grayson, the former Sheriff of Piltover. She was skilled, wise, caring, not greedy for power, and was very forward thinking. She saw that Caitlyn was a driven and skilled cadet so she let her take the winning shot in the competition because she legitimately thought her skills were worthy of earning the prize. She respected Caitlyn and genuinely wanted her to succeed. Almost as if she knew that Caitlyn would be a very good enforcer one day, and had pride that the new generation of recruits. It shows that she thinks of the future, not just holding onto her own authority.
3:05 Ambessa makes a deal with death and becomes a wolf; she will no longer live peacefully and will bring death to many 3:20 As part of the deal, the Wolf acquires her form to challenge future warriors on the brink of death (similar to how it used Pantheon's form to challenge her) 3:30 The Wolf, as it takes her form, realizes there was one more life at stake that just got away... 3:34 Ambessa's child is marked by Kindred
She's pregnant in this video.... 3:33 gives the impression what she gave up as a sacrificial lamb is her children. Which is why she cried at the sight of the child and lamb. The son who is already born and one lamb whom she was pregnant with, which we know now is Mel. She lost one in the show... i think this tells Mel's fate.
She's alive. You're right. But just wait... you have no CLUE what is going to happen. I saw the episodes and we are not ready. Warwick was just the beginning of the epicness. LONG. LIVE. THE:🖤🌹
@@YourEmperorStefMaybe you shouldn't spoil that fact and leave it under read more the Warwick stuff I already got visually spoiled by accident on a short months ago and was told some spoilers by a salty TH-cam commenter but by the stuff I heard and saw it's gonna be great and so sad.
This music video is such a masterpiece. Honestly this has made me invested in Ambessa. Like in Arcane it's easy to hate her, see her superficially as a tyrannical warmonger. But, here we're given so much more. She's the miaden, the warrior, the mother.
Great observation, and it doubles down on a motif that we see with Mel too, I’m really curious about the lore behind these scenes and can’t wait for the new season!
Just realised the baby is Mell, not sure why I assumed it was her older brother because Ambessa is so young looking. But the baby opening their golden eyes makes more sense now after act 2.
" I couldn't endure the look in your eyes whenever I made the decisions-the necessary decisions to keep us safe!" - Ambessa, Arcane Season 1 This video brings much needed depth to that. My first thoughts in Ambessa is she seems like a war mongering opportunist who will do any means to win the war ( even using the value of family to get what she wants) . The idea of her accepting the wolf and sacrificing the last bit of innocence left in her so her unborn baby can survive brings those lines in full circle. All the bloodshed , the manipulation, and even the banishment of her daughter is really for her family. She is simply a wolf doing everything she can to protect her pups.
I may not have known the specifics at the time...but I never doubted Ambessa's sincerity or veracity. The entire time, you could see this haunting truth underneath everything. This festering regret that makes her hate herself...but also gives her the determination to push forward at ANY cost. "I'm not going to live there. There's no place for me there... any more than there is for you. Malcolm... I'm a monster. What I do is evil. I have no illusions about it, but it must be done." She WANTS peace. She WANTS love. She wants calm and prosperity. But she's absolutely convinced it's impossible without exterminating every enemy and obstacle...no matter the cost. She cannot be stopped, she cannot be swayed from her path. But...now that both of her children are dead...(or at least one is dead and the other is probably crippled and deformed now), she may just decide to burn the world as punishment.
@DoremiFasolatido1979 Agreed. She puts on this confident, authoritarian mask that will make you distrust or even hate her. Perhaps it is something she built over many years as conqueror and general. There is no space for compassion in War after all.Though her approach is harsh, if you look deep into her words, she was not speaking it out of spite. She really is really imparting her wisdom to others from experience. Take the scene with her and Jace in the bath house, she literally said to his face that the council is the problem but he waved it off. That is why she turned to the story of General Parlec, it's a subtle way of saying that Jace is really blind and he is going to get himself killed because of his ignorance. Man, I am really excited to see how they delve deeper into Ambessa's relationship with her children. And if they apply the previous lore of LoL, that means we will slowly see the downfall of Ambessa, her family, and everything she had built for.
it's interesting to read you see it that way, my interpretation of why Ambessa chose to accept the wolf aligns with yours, but it differs after she accepts the wolf. Thereafter, she sees the world anew, she knows only war, blood, sweat and tears now. That becomes the focus of her new self, in alignment with the wolf. And that means that she looses herself because the true price she had to pay, her sacrifice, is her children. I see some parallels with walter white from breaking bad.
If you are not a League player. That warrior with a spear and shield is most likely the Aspect of War Pantheon. Which is the name of a character in game, but the real character we play in game is actually name Atreus, not Pantheon. Pantheon was basically a god who has been killed by Aatrox, one of the demon like being named Darkin. And Atreus is a mortal who got his body stolen by Pantheon before. After Pantheon died, he inherited his power. Started his journey to fight against Darkins, demons and even gods, because all their intentions would only bring disasters to humanity. I wish we can see a good story about the how a dead god got here.
s3 onwards of arcane (or at least, riot's confirmed that their future animated projects are not vi/jinx focused) will be about something other than piltover/zaun, it'd be cool if it went somewhere in that direction
ty for this comment, i see a lot of league players just being completely mean and impatient when arcane watchers don’t play the game and don’t know background lore (its a lot and i don’t blame anyone who doesn’t want to spend hours on the website reading backstories) so thanks
I belive that dead god is now a part of Mord's army of damned. Dead god still have some kind of afterlife, and since Mord took over of Runeterra natural afterlife domain, u can asume that after his death Panteon would become a part of Mords army. So she fight Pant in afterlife domain, witch is now controlled by Mord and Pant is a part of Mord's army of damned. And she also become damned in the end couse she gonna cross any line during her life to secure her child safety. It's 99% no true, but it sound cool)
Broadway LEGEND Sheryl Lee Ralph is the masterful voice behind the song. She has had decades on stage tv and movies under her belt. Now she’s a Legend for a new generation.
As a woman, this resonates insanely within me. The whole concept of keeping up the courage, keeping up your will, when all you have known is a downward current and opposition wherever you go. Even in happiness you still find obstacles and that purity you had as a child, the little girl with the lamb, is long gone and you weep with eternal sadness for the loss of that inner child - still, you just press on in utter and pure defiance of the world. Its astounding.
They did it AGAIN! How they catch such a level of gorgeous visuals that elevates an immense emotional whirpool is beyond human comprehension. Arcane storytelling is Absolutely a Masterpiece. Chapeau!
I was raised by wolves I was born to lead And I starve 'til there's no more mouths to feed There's a hand on my throat And a blade at my feet But the weight of the world won't bend my knees Broken bones, battle scars I have seen the bloodshed Carved in stone, when it's my sword They won't forget No war, no peace 'til I lead them all Leave me with my demons Hear my voice call No fears or sorrows underneath these bones Just blood, sweat, and tears Is all I know I can use who I want And I taste what I please In this world, I get all my fantasies There's a hand on my throat And a child at my feet But the weight of the world Won't bend my knees No war, no peace 'til I lead them all Leave me with my demons Hear my voice call No fears or sorrows underneath these bones Just blood, sweat, and tears Is all I know Don't wash away my blood Don't wash away my sweat It's all I know Don't wash away my tears (Don't wash away, don't wash away) Don't wash my spirit, don't cleanse my soul Can't break my courage, and I won't fall 'Cause that's all I know No war, no peace 'til I lead them all Leave me with my demons Hear my voice call No fears or sorrows underneath these bones Just blood, sweat, and tears Is all I know
NEACRIT lore video about to be a hour long! I need to know why Kindred offered Ambessa a second chance life. Also love how Kindred takes on a different visual take since Ambessa is Noxian. For those who don't know, The Kindred serve as the Grim Reaper of the world of League of Legends. The story goes that Death was so lonely that it split itself in two, so it would "always have a friend". One half is the Lamb, and the other half is the Wolf. Lamb represents the peace in acceptance of death, wielding a bow to deliver a swift end, and Wolf represents the violence of rejecting and running from death, being literally a beast that mauls anything that tries to escape. You only see them when they've decided your time has come. (One last quick note - Lamb feels little but knows everything, while Wolf feels everything but knows little.) At 3:22 looks like we have Swain who is the eye of noxus and grand general of Noxus, Pantheon is the one with the spear and shield she was sparring with, he is from Mount Targon and the other is Katarina who is also from Noxus. All 3 of them have also faced death in their own ways and came back alive. And the dessert place I assume is part of Shurima. Wonder if Ambessa is originally from Shurima. Shurima use to be the biggest nation in Runeterra and has a lot of its background based off Egyptian lands. I'm assuming the introduction is on an Ionia beach and the baby is either Mel or her first born son.
I thought that might be Kindred at first, but I wasn’t sure because of how different they looked. Your idea of them looking different due to other cultures viewing death differently makes so much sense.
@@Wolf-xy7xpit's not their idea it's cannon Spirit blossom (look up spirit blossom kindred if you haven't seen, very pretty) for example is the ionian picture. Personally I think Kindreds true form is incomprehensible to the mortal mind so the mortal mind sees them as what they think Kindred are
I think there's a struggle for most people. The lamb takes in all who find peace in their death. Wolf basically gives people the choice to fight or try in vain to outrun their death. All the warriors are the one who chose to fight and won. Ambessa seems to have been on the edge between rather choosing death and being in her happier past or fight to see herself rise.
Kindred slowly becoming the main character of LoLiverse and I am ALL FOR IT! Also, the animation is just freaking dope - oozes of creativity, kudos to the team behind it!
@@patheticyoungboyspodcast7386 Not of arcane but of whole leauge universe. They are putting kindred into all cinematics for diffrent games and now even arcane related cinematic. Thats what they meant i think.
Now knowing there's a Noxus story coming in the future, I can't wait to come back to this music video after it comes out and understand things I can't right now. I love this universe SO much
This reminds me of the Enemy music video, which complemented Arcane Season 1 so well and was what made me realize how incredible the show truly was. I love how Christian, Alex , and their team take characters and add a thousand dimensions to them. None of the villains are truly evil, there is history and trauma behind their actions. Jinx, Silco, and now Ambessa. Except for Marcus, that guy truly sucked.
You're wrong about Marcus. He was a truly excellent character with great thematic relevance on the difficulty of being a good man in a harsh world when you are fundamentally weak at heart.
This has to be the best skin trailer ever. How they tied it into being sort of canon and with a character we want to know more about because of Arcane. Genius! The video is absolutely gorgeous (ty Fortische) and the song really sounds like Ambessa is singing it. The new hints of lore and all the little eastereggs make me so excited!
This is arguably the most lifelike facial expressions i've ever seen in any animated show😍 Edit: ALMOST 2K LIKES?!!! I have officially ascended from the mortal realm and will now be leaving u humans to it🫡....but not before arcane season 2 , duhhh😁
It was animated by Fortiche, the animation studio behind Arcane and the producer was Christian Linke, Arcane's showrunner. And of course Sheryl Lee Ralph did an amazing job with the vocals.
This music video is so awesome, it gives us a bit of backstory as to how Ambessa became the person we see in Arcane Also, 1:34 this moment with the one of the stilt legged guys striding over and beating their hip drums is just like *so cool*
As a Kindred main, you guys have NO IDEA how excited I am for this. It's another skin for them and there's a slight chance it's legendary for them! I doubt that, yeah but I have hope 😭😭😭😭
This video makes me think in terms of kindred, ambessa gave a life of peace and even a peaceful death for the sake of Mel and her brother to a life of a wolf. Harsh,hard, unforgiving and violent. She, to me! is a nice parallel to silco and I love that it shows how far she’ll go but in the end lost her way just like viktor. In my final thoughts you’ll give up everything for your children even your own soul but for ambessa “ambition” she gave even her own children for a better life and thus lived a life of contradiction and selfishness while in her heart felt selfless. Also love the detail of the wolf looking at her then the belly
3:34 To me this seems like confirmation that Mel has magical abilities and will survive. (I've not engaged with the leaks and any spoilers are unwelcome, I'm just theorizing)
@@tathabarcellos It's a possibility of course, but Mel just seems more likely to me. Gold is the color she's associated with more than any other character and it's her relationship with Ambessa that is the center of both their characters. Kino has been kind of an afterthought so far tbh, so I don't think this being him necessarily does anything for the story.
@@chiefpurrfect8389that baby inside Ambessa is Kino, since he is Ambessa's first child, in this clip, she appears much younger, saying that he is her first child... in the flashback in which Mel appears as a child in the first season, We are presented with a much older Abessa with semi-gray hair, implying that Mel is the youngest, just like Mel, Kino could also have some magical proficiency in her... nothing prevents that...
@@chiefpurrfect8389 I actually thought Kino was the boy holding the lamb at 2:15 & I agree that Mel is the child in the womb. I know nothing about LOL lore, but I wonder if that shot of gold flowing through the child's body is supposed to hint at Mel having magic powers because of Ambessa's ressurection (if that the baby IS Mel).
As empowering as becoming a warrior is, I'm so glad they acknowledge the loss of motherhood to do so, something she never thought she'd have to sacrifice but she did and it hurts like hell
y'all. the lamb represents her unborn child that she's pregnant with. which she gives up to the black rose when she sees her future and knows she will have another child and also be a leader. she gives up her child in exchange for her survival in the attack, and once she has given it up, the (possesed) fetus saves her
She seems to be pregnant with Mel, a child carrying the golden shielding magic. Mel saves Ambessa from death (probably during one of the attacks on Ionia). That is shown by kindred giving her a talisman and the wolf (representing death) also leaving her at the end instead of attacking. The lamb that is being destroyed from all sides could be a representation of her innocence/peaceful life being replaced by war, or maybe could also be about her sacrificing her son Kino to Black Rose. They earlier show a boy holding a lamb and Ambessa crying at the sight.
SPOILERS: With the information we now know, I think she was pregnant with Mel in this sequence. While Kindred came close to claiming her, Mel’s magic triggered and kept Ambessa from dying.
The coolest villian in television, best part of the show and an amazing send off in the final episode with her final words tying it all together, now she can live on in the game as the true ruler of noxus
@@rafaelacol2216 I mean. It's for the skin. Like, we know this. Netflix is posting it to drum up hype for Arcane cuz it's Ambessa, but this has nothing to do with Arcane. At best, we'll get a reference to Ambessa almost being killed one time on a beach, but that's it.
@@patheticyoungboyspodcast7386 at 3:25 its a showcase of a skinline with Ambessa, Swain, Katarina and Pantheon (and possibly the shurima version of kindred we see at 2:56) All people who were given a second chance at life.
@@patheticyoungboyspodcast7386 in the game, characters have alternate outfits and riot normally releases them in theme groups, the skinline is probably going to be certain characters who have had near-death experiences that lead that make you stronger
@@patheticyoungboyspodcast7386 This is more an advertisement for a new champion and new skins coming to the game rather than Arcane Season 2. Kindred, Katarina, Swain, Pantheon and Ambessa are all getting a new skin in League of Legends.
She started out as a lamb, but circumstances forced her to become a wolf. Sad to think maybe once, in her youth, Ambessa was an idealist like Mel, hoping for peace, unity, democracy.
Omg I just can’t get enough of the design and art quality used and presented, absolutely magnificent Whoever’s singing has such a powerful voice that sounds like Ambessa
If Ambessa was pregnant at the beginning of the video (looks like she is), then perhaps that was Kino that died there? The lamb represents both her innocence but the loss of her first child (Kino). She fights death, trial by wolves, but death still claimed her firstborn. The baby at the end is herself (being reborn), and foreshadowing Mel.
Arcane season 1 animation was already unmatched but this is just STELLAR 🤩 The textures and lighting are also just insanely beautiful, overall incredible work. All my love and kudos to the hard-working people behind this, I'm so excited for Arcane season 2.
This MV maybe explains why Ambessa was so determined to help Victor destroy Piltover? She didnt have much of a choice, her deal with kindred possibly made her seek out destruction.
The visualls are insane. This is my interpretation but the lamb being riped apart after she finally realizes she can't hold it in the chaos is so strong. The sheep forced to grow fangs and be the wolf type shit. She cried at the person she lost, a version of herself that was innocent. and the baby at 3:33 just showing us how the cycle has to happen all over again with her fighting her kid till they get strong
Wow. There's no words to accurately describe just how breathtakingly powerful this music video is, the music, score and vocals paired with the most raw emotions being shown in the incredible art and animation. Thank you Riot and the team of amazing people that make these works of arts possible and share them with us to enjoy. 😊 I hope anyone reading this is doing well and thank you again to the wonderful people who made this masterpiece.
Watching this again after finishing arcane S2 has me loving this even more. The transition from League of legends champions with random spotty at best lore to the masterpieces of lore and depth of character arcs in Arcane will be studied and taught in writting classes in the future.
The fact creators make Wolf part of Kindred visit Noxian before death to fight untill your last breath is just breathtaking. For it is literally written in Kindred's lore that people of Noxus meet wolf and not lamb, for they will not accept death easily. How Aspect of War is used to put Ambessa to test and make her warrior herself is just another cherry on top of this diamond. And I can't get enough of this initiation rite symbolism, for carrying a lamb is her as a kid, but standing proud in front of a wolf is her as a woman. As she fights she also loses more and more of her cloth color to black, to power up a transition.
Arcane is that good work that you should remember forever. The ability to learn about something and transform it into art is just a symbol that they are on the right path. Congratulations.
The Arcane Series is one of the best I've seen. With Ambessa's backstory shown here, I understand why she is the way that she is. Growing up where strengths is everything, Ambessa had no choice but to become the wolf, symbolizing ruthlessness and strength, abandoning, what I interpret that the lamb is the nurturing and kindness. I just love that with every character, they're very human.
I love how you can clearly see the family resemblance between young Ambessa and Mel. During Arcane, there's the deliberate design difference between them that makes them look like complete polar opposites in appearance, but here, you can SEE Mel in her mother's face.
Especially in the shots of her in broad daylight.
its absolutely amazing, i love how young ambessa and mel are almost identical from the cheeks to chin and clearly related but not identical from the eyes up
they are MOM AND DAUGHTER? i havent seenthe show nor havent gotten too invested in it But... NOW I see
@@ambuknight yep, in arcane she is introduced as mel's mother
@@ambuknight You should watch it, it's incredible 😁!
It's because mel worked out big time
Arcane is the embodiment of how to write well crafted characters. All of the characters are so brilliantly written and Arcane doesn't waste a single damn frame. The amount of love that went into this show is undeniably so much.
love and lots of money too xd
(tho amazon rings of power show that money without good profesionals leading wont get you too far)
Imagine if Takehiko Inoue approves this studio to animate vagabond…….
@@xxcorvoxxx_x1959well you have concord there, tons of money complete ass
Riot games baby just professional af
This is not from Arcane tho
This is a trailer for a skin line in league
"You are the wolf" hits so much harder after going back and watching this music video, damnit Arcane producers, you beautiful geniuses
True. And Kino must have been the lamb Ambessa had to sacrifice😭😭
This whole music video hits really hard, Kino is the lamb that Ambessa needed to sacrifice as the commentor above says, and this video is Ambessa grieving for Kino’s death that she needed to realize in order to save Mel, it’s mostly foreshadowing bc Ambessa at that point didn’t had Mel and Kino yet, but it’s a beautiful resemblance.
It's gonna hit harder when you all find out kindred is Mel's father and Kindred has been fathering mages for the intent of aiding the black rose in destroying Mordekaiser.
@@brothaonanadventure3573what what what ??
I want what u smoked@@brothaonanadventure3573
"To survive in this world, you need to be both the fox and the wolf."
"A wolf has no mercy"
“You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God,” says the Lord God.”
Ezekiel 34:31
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.”
John 10:11-12
@@WCJ777cool
Funny how ambessa called Mel a "fox" and Mel said a "wolf has no mercy" before yk. Mel is both fox and wolf and she even wears white like the lamb
@@greyy3976 Mel is a wolf in sheep’s clothing now 💛
"You Are a Wolf..."
She was a lamb disguised as a wolf, now she’s a wolf that’s disguised as a lamb.
A *Kindred* spirit one might say.
A wolf disguised as a herder more like.
The sheer POWER in this woman's voice made me cry, and the animation and its story were incredible. Ambessa is badass.
Truly incredible but also pretty sad to this woman had to throw away parts of herself to survive in a harsh world and thats not good because yes you survived but now when the fight is over instead of sitting back and enjoying what you've won your off looking for the next fight the next conquest you shave away more and more of who you were until you d9nt even remember who you are anymore and by the time you realize what's going on its to late jinx is a prime example of that instead of shaving away that innocence/decency put it in a box and set it to the side that way when the fight is over you can use it to stop and rebuild have a life
Sheryl Lee Ralph. You may know her as Barb from Abbott Elementary
whoever sang this sounds almost exactly like ambessa and i love it.
Sheryl Lee Ralph
Fr🎉
@@BlackShardStudio fr
@@BlackShardStudioSHUT YOUR MOUTH 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱
@@ZeissWorld Reported.
In the League world, the most powerful death spirit is Kindred - represented by 2 entities. Lamb collects your soul when you accept your death peacefully. Wolf collects your soul when you fight death.
Ambessa is initially carrying a lamb, possibly symbolizing how she has accepted she is going to die. But it gets reforged into a wolf heart, possibly symbolizing how she will, from this point forward, fight her fate.
She seems to be fighting back plenty even before Lamb offered her a tiny... heart... thing. She didn't look like she had given up at any point. I kinda took the golden lamb she was carrying as a representation of the innocent child in her womb (which, the shining golden eyes are telling me is Mel, also the vision of a boy holding a lamb I think is meant to represent Kino holding his little sister). I don't have a full theory I'm confident in or anything, but to me it seems like Ambessa was offered some kind of deal by Lamb that she chose to take her up on, but was very unhappy about (her crying when she sees the crystal statue of the boy holding a lamb, then the version of her in the Shuriman desert crying out in agony after she takes the heart).
Now that I think about it, the fact that she offered up the golden lamb, then it broke into pieces and went into the wolven heart is a bit ominous in this context. Almost as if her deal was her life in exchange for her child's- a life for a life- though clearly it didn't work out that way and there's something about the child. Maybe Ambessa's guilt towards Mel runs deeper than not being able to stomach the look in her eyes whenever she harmed people. Or it could be the other way around- in exchange for Mel's life, she owes some kind of life debt to Kindred. Maybe she even blames herself for Kino's death in more ways than we thought... This also makes me think about Ambessa's lines about foxes and wolves a lot. "A wolf has no mercy"... She would know, wouldn't she?
It logically can't be Mel, as Mel was actually born.
Indeed
@@ZeissWorld damn i guess im a zombie now
I would've deleted "most powerful" part because most powerful death spirit is The Etherfiend, but sure.
Sheryl Lee Ralph's talent knows no bounds. From Moesha, to Abbott, to her phenomenal singing. Give this woman all yhe flowers.
Seriously! She's so good. She brought the appropriate emotions, strength and drama to this. And being a fan, knowing some of her story and struggles, it's just - there's no one else who could have sung this better!
Absolutely obsessed with this vocal performance! 😍
I love the Kindred love they keep showing. Ambessa was a lamb and became the wolf. Her weapons even turned into the shape of Kindred’s bows.
Yeah, I love how they've forged their own language of metaphor.
unfortunatly they didnt make that skin. They made a light version of thst one :(. It looks so basic...
@@derGerhart ?
Her helmet too
I didn’t even make the connection with the weapon shape!
Sheryl Lee Ralph's voice is so insanely powerful, absolutely perfect for this song
Fax 💯.
What a legend. Had no idea that was her
my jaw dropped, her voice and emotion are gorgeous
BOSS!!!!
Epic❤sherlyyyyyy donnnaaaapotereeee
❤❤❤❤❤
I have seen this video so much, I didn't even realize she is pregnent here and this entire song was about the survival of her child and her fighting to save it.
I think it's mostly about her rein and conquering. Would be pretty lame if it isn't.
It's about both.
Her fighting to secure her own life in a merciless world. (When she holds the lamb)
Fighting to secure all she can for her children. Being ruthless to give herself and her own all she can do they don't have to fight as hard as she did.
(When Mel holds the lamb and Ambesa becomes the wolf.)
@umhi9778 why would it be lame?
@@alenvex8192It would make her just another female character whose only purpose is anyone but herself.
And "mom who does mothering" has been done thousands of times before.
@@umhi9778 I think feminism has rotted your brain into thinking that being a mother is lame. Says a lot more about you than anything.
The quality is insane
And this is just the promotional music video. Imagine the quality the actual season is gonna be.
@@AyanamiRoot2 I mean, it is Ambessa's actual music video. Like other champs have too..
4k quality on the league of legends channel :) no 1080p :S
they could have done this for the 2024 championship music video and…… got that garbage.
🔥🔥🔥
The casting is perfect. She sounds just like Ambessa. God I can’t wait for Arcane again
Does that mean we're going to leave Piltover this season?
@@expentio7804 yep, this season would be the last for Arcane as they're going to make shows for other regions of the world
@@expentio7804 They'll most likely introduce Noxus and Demacia. They've been at war and would be very interested to claim power in Piltover.
@@MrPerser Though the Ionian guerilla war could as well be a nice setting.
The rebirth of Shurima coupled with the fight against the void is probably more something for series three or four.
@@cristianmirasol1538 is this confirmed or you just hope it happens?
She wasn’t just fighting for herself, she was fighting for her unborn child!! She was fight to go back home to her son!! She’s been fighting to protect her family from DAY ONE! And Ambessa wasn’t kidding when she said Mel was chosen by the wolf, she was literally saved by Kindred!
I guess the lamb symbolizes her innocence, which gets slowly chipped away by war after war and battle after battle. Until it reshapes into the heart of a wolf, creating the battle hardened warrior and conqueror we know today as Ambessa.
Lamb and wolf are both parts of Kindred, the personification of death in LoL universe.
@@heavy-delivery9390 Someone xD Tryndamere
@@heavy-delivery9390 not in the call it's in "Still Here"
Wow, thank you for that explanation and clarification because although the animation looked beautiful, I didn't know what was going on. 🤷🏽♀️👌🏽
If i got it right... Ambessa is Shuriman, she was probably from the areas in the northern coast to where Noxus expanded, and i think those warriors arent Noxian... they are Rakkor, Sun believer from Targon, at least a sect.
Their training makes Noxus look like a summer walk.
Ambessa must have started as a simple villager, for whatever reason she was sent or even kidnapped by the Rakkor, she was traine(endocrinated) by them, then came Noxus, and if i remember correctly, their annexation of Shuriman lands was pretty pacific all things considered.
Not like the Rakkor care, not even Noxus can invade Targon.
But Ambessa seems to have been fed up with the Rakkor, accepted becoming Noxian, and Noxus accepts anyone with the strength, intelligence and drive to go up their ranks, and the rest is story.
The biggest question in my mind now is... if the Medarda family already existed and Ambessa married into it, or if she founded it... i wouldn't doubt the later, this video puts a lot in perspective of her drive, she wasn't kidding... she would burn the world for her family.
I love that the "Art" is still there, micro movements, everything feels/looks alive. Story, cinematography. I love it.
Disney used to be gold standard of animation story but now I can say for myself that Riot/Fortiche has tops the throne
@@mukamuka0the animation is more Fortiche than Riot. They hired Fortiche because of their animation style after all
@@cryochick9044 Yes, visual is one half of the whole. Story is another half which is come from Riot. Good visual without great story is like a fine looking meal that taste awful. I highly doubt if Fortiche was hired by Disney. They will be able to make a better show than Arcane.
@@mukamuka0 well Fortiche is 100% owned by Riot, so they are basically Riot at this point
@@hansoloq3467No, they are not "100% owned by Riot" 🙄 Riot didn't buy Fortiche, they invested in a minority stake.
Ambessa will go down in history as one of the greatest antagonists in history, her and Mel were awesome from start to finish and they really shined this season, definitely both in my top 5 fav arcane characters
The singer embodies Ambessa’s relentless fighting spirit so well! I’m truly so impressed! 🔥
@@ZeissWorld Didn't subscribe, Ill update yall if Im alive in a few hours 😜
do you not know of this famous actress ? Sheryl Lee Ralph? shes phenomenal actress! her famous line after winning a award " People dont have to like you , people dont have to love you , they dont even have to respect you , but when you look in the mirror,.... you better LOVE what you see!
@@joshuarock4631 No, to be completely honest I hadn’t recognized her as an actress, though I have heard of some of her movies. That’s really cool line though, such a strong beautiful message!
I’m still alive after 2 weeks. Is that curse of yours one vacation? Or am I invincible? 😜
Netflix this is by far the best show you have, I hope the support for their craft will continue past Arcane
its a full riot games project they just use netflix to stream it to people.
Yeah, Netflix, stop cancelling your GOOD SHOWS and KEEPING THE SHITTY ONES!!!
the only thing Netflix had hand on Arcane is the agreement to stream and advertise it. the folks behind the show are Riot Games for the world, writing and music while the Animation magic is from Fortiche
please don't be woke, please don't be woke, please don't be woke, please don't be woke. Amen 🙏
@@megazinejokes on you my little special snowflake, the first season already was.
Now feel free to cry :)
On 3:50 Ambessa also has that circle underneath her that mel also has when she survived jinx rocket on Arcane Season 2 Ep 1
Do you know what episode this scene of ambessa in her youth transpired
@@JñrskëshThis isn’t in any episode. This is its own separate thing for more insight into the character.
@@Jñrskësh it s only a promotional mv for the charcter reaching the roster of the game. It s not in the show. But it adds some extra layers to her background story
1:54 her reflection on Pantheon’s shield. It’s there for a fraction of a second but the animation is just…. MUAH! Chef’s kiss
I was wondering if that was actually sevikas face? it looked like it or im probably tripping lol
isnt that just the aspect of war? Pantheon is his human vessel, i doubt the aspect hangs out on targon as a dude.
damn true!
not pantheon, its just The Warrior
@@hexxmania772 I literally kept replaying it because it looked like Sevika!
This is insane. The reason I love Arcane is because it represents strong women in the right way. They’re not overpowered, they have clear weaknesses, however they were put into such a harsh environment that they had to learn how to survive. Even with a more masculine character, the fact that she’s a mother is highly focused on and how that influences her actions. That’s how you write strong women.
in other words, they're strong, well written characters rather than just "woman with muscles and no emotion"
The problem with a lot of "strong, independent women in media" is that they are shown from a patriarchal point of view - are strong in patriarchal standards (toxic masculinity - physically strong and not showing emotions) and their strength is shown in the context of male characters (how stronger and better they are). There is often an attempt to humiliate the male character to make the woman look better. Rey from Star Wars is an example of a character presented in this way, but there are more.
As a woman and feminist I am glad that it is written by competent people who understand such things. Vi and Savika are physically strong, but it is not presented as "being stronger than men", they are strong because they are. Same with Caitlyn - she is an excellent shooter, she is intelligent, because that's who she is - there is no need to compare it to random male characters. Just let strong female characters be real characters.
@@KageFrankenstein The only thing with Ambessa is that now she is quite emotionless, harsh and physically strong. Only because she chose that path for herself though, to survive in the world she was born. We can clearly see how pure she was at first
@@zdravkogeorgiev323 I love her character. She is a good example that it is possible to make a female character who is strong and doesn't show too many emotions (although she definitely has them), and at the same time it's not shown from a patriarchal point of view. She is that way not because "these are the traits that every character must have to be called strong", but because she has to be like that to protect the people she cares about.
Her character also works so well, because there are so many female characters who are strong in their own way.
@@KageFrankensteinAlso Grayson, the former Sheriff of Piltover. She was skilled, wise, caring, not greedy for power, and was very forward thinking. She saw that Caitlyn was a driven and skilled cadet so she let her take the winning shot in the competition because she legitimately thought her skills were worthy of earning the prize. She respected Caitlyn and genuinely wanted her to succeed. Almost as if she knew that Caitlyn would be a very good enforcer one day, and had pride that the new generation of recruits. It shows that she thinks of the future, not just holding onto her own authority.
3:05 Ambessa makes a deal with death and becomes a wolf; she will no longer live peacefully and will bring death to many
3:20 As part of the deal, the Wolf acquires her form to challenge future warriors on the brink of death (similar to how it used Pantheon's form to challenge her)
3:30 The Wolf, as it takes her form, realizes there was one more life at stake that just got away...
3:34 Ambessa's child is marked by Kindred
Maybe why Mel has golden tattoos/markings?
Could also be Kino, Ambessa’s eldest child-son-and Mel’s brother. It could’ve been him that was marked for death by Kindred the Wolf 🐺💀
Arcane is coming baby
Ambessa was pregnant with season 2
@@lsaacthecraftsman Biggest birth ever
Yep LET'S FLIPPING GOOOOO 🎉
@@lsaacthecraftsman lol
@@tumock8lmao fr😂🎉
She's pregnant in this video.... 3:33 gives the impression what she gave up as a sacrificial lamb is her children. Which is why she cried at the sight of the child and lamb. The son who is already born and one lamb whom she was pregnant with, which we know now is Mel. She lost one in the show... i think this tells Mel's fate.
Mel’s brother is dead tho, meaning she lives?
I think is the brother Mel had they mentioned died
She's alive. You're right. But just wait... you have no CLUE what is going to happen. I saw the episodes and we are not ready. Warwick was just the beginning of the epicness.
LONG. LIVE. THE:🖤🌹
Or maybe it’s a religious reference. She sacrificed the lamb so her son could survive, here representing the trade of her innocence for survival.
@@YourEmperorStefMaybe you shouldn't spoil that fact and leave it under read more the Warwick stuff I already got visually spoiled by accident on a short months ago and was told some spoilers by a salty TH-cam commenter but by the stuff I heard and saw it's gonna be great and so sad.
This music video is such a masterpiece. Honestly this has made me invested in Ambessa. Like in Arcane it's easy to hate her, see her superficially as a tyrannical warmonger. But, here we're given so much more. She's the miaden, the warrior, the mother.
Arcane series is pure unadulterated awesomeness
@@ZeissWorld i just farted
period.
2:26 Ambessas wounds look like kintsugi, the Japanese process of repairing pottery with gold.
Great observation, and it doubles down on a motif that we see with Mel too, I’m really curious about the lore behind these scenes and can’t wait for the new season!
True! Really a nice touch and great observation.
@@fakename2926 Can give you some lore tips and my interpretation of the vid if you want
Yes it's so cool!!
Just realised the baby is Mell, not sure why I assumed it was her older brother because Ambessa is so young looking. But the baby opening their golden eyes makes more sense now after act 2.
" I couldn't endure the look in your eyes whenever I made the decisions-the necessary decisions to keep us safe!" - Ambessa, Arcane Season 1
This video brings much needed depth to that. My first thoughts in Ambessa is she seems like a war mongering opportunist who will do any means to win the war ( even using the value of family to get what she wants) . The idea of her accepting the wolf and sacrificing the last bit of innocence left in her so her unborn baby can survive brings those lines in full circle. All the bloodshed , the manipulation, and even the banishment of her daughter is really for her family. She is simply a wolf doing everything she can to protect her pups.
I may not have known the specifics at the time...but I never doubted Ambessa's sincerity or veracity. The entire time, you could see this haunting truth underneath everything. This festering regret that makes her hate herself...but also gives her the determination to push forward at ANY cost.
"I'm not going to live there. There's no place for me there... any more than there is for you. Malcolm... I'm a monster. What I do is evil. I have no illusions about it, but it must be done."
She WANTS peace. She WANTS love. She wants calm and prosperity. But she's absolutely convinced it's impossible without exterminating every enemy and obstacle...no matter the cost. She cannot be stopped, she cannot be swayed from her path. But...now that both of her children are dead...(or at least one is dead and the other is probably crippled and deformed now), she may just decide to burn the world as punishment.
Also, her lecture to Mel about killing one person to ensure lasting peace rather than prolonging war and suffering.
@DoremiFasolatido1979 Agreed. She puts on this confident, authoritarian mask that will make you distrust or even hate her. Perhaps it is something she built over many years as conqueror and general. There is no space for compassion in War after all.Though her approach is harsh, if you look deep into her words, she was not speaking it out of spite. She really is really imparting her wisdom to others from experience. Take the scene with her and Jace in the bath house, she literally said to his face that the council is the problem but he waved it off. That is why she turned to the story of General Parlec, it's a subtle way of saying that Jace is really blind and he is going to get himself killed because of his ignorance.
Man, I am really excited to see how they delve deeper into Ambessa's relationship with her children. And if they apply the previous lore of LoL, that means we will slowly see the downfall of Ambessa, her family, and everything she had built for.
it's interesting to read you see it that way, my interpretation of why Ambessa chose to accept the wolf aligns with yours, but it differs after she accepts the wolf. Thereafter, she sees the world anew, she knows only war, blood, sweat and tears now. That becomes the focus of her new self, in alignment with the wolf. And that means that she looses herself because the true price she had to pay, her sacrifice, is her children. I see some parallels with walter white from breaking bad.
And now she lost that daugther...
If you are not a League player. That warrior with a spear and shield is most likely the Aspect of War Pantheon. Which is the name of a character in game, but the real character we play in game is actually name Atreus, not Pantheon.
Pantheon was basically a god who has been killed by Aatrox, one of the demon like being named Darkin.
And Atreus is a mortal who got his body stolen by Pantheon before. After Pantheon died, he inherited his power. Started his journey to fight against Darkins, demons and even gods, because all their intentions would only bring disasters to humanity.
I wish we can see a good story about the how a dead god got here.
s3 onwards of arcane (or at least, riot's confirmed that their future animated projects are not vi/jinx focused) will be about something other than piltover/zaun, it'd be cool if it went somewhere in that direction
Swain and Katarina were also behind Pantheon in the scenes (probably for the new skins lol)
who are the blue guys?
ty for this comment, i see a lot of league players just being completely mean and impatient when arcane watchers don’t play the game and don’t know background lore (its a lot and i don’t blame anyone who doesn’t want to spend hours on the website reading backstories) so thanks
I belive that dead god is now a part of Mord's army of damned. Dead god still have some kind of afterlife, and since Mord took over of Runeterra natural afterlife domain, u can asume that after his death Panteon would become a part of Mords army. So she fight Pant in afterlife domain, witch is now controlled by Mord and Pant is a part of Mord's army of damned. And she also become damned in the end couse she gonna cross any line during her life to secure her child safety. It's 99% no true, but it sound cool)
Broadway LEGEND Sheryl Lee Ralph is the masterful voice behind the song. She has had decades on stage tv and movies under her belt. Now she’s a Legend for a new generation.
No one gonna talk about how badass the singer sounds?
First I thought ambessas voice actor was the singer
Y'all have no idea how much I've missed this peak animation...😭😭😭😭
Same
3:33 she's pregnant with Mel, we see a glimpse of Mel's power giving Ambessa power !!!
yes she save her
Mel is Eren 2.0
As a woman, this resonates insanely within me. The whole concept of keeping up the courage, keeping up your will, when all you have known is a downward current and opposition wherever you go. Even in happiness you still find obstacles and that purity you had as a child, the little girl with the lamb, is long gone and you weep with eternal sadness for the loss of that inner child - still, you just press on in utter and pure defiance of the world. Its astounding.
🔥
I feel like it resonates with anyone who is a human person
@@antares3030lol
"HELLLLL YEAH" we all shout in unison
omg hi catra
REAL
Felt the power with her
HELL YEAH
HELL YEAH!!!!!!
Sheryl Lee Ralph's voice is insanely powerful. It's so beautiful and impactful. The growls in her lower notes give me actual CHILLS.
They did it AGAIN! How they catch such a level of gorgeous visuals that elevates an immense emotional whirpool is beyond human comprehension. Arcane storytelling is Absolutely a Masterpiece. Chapeau!
It's genuinely amazing how raw and expressive they made the animation here
I was raised by wolves
I was born to lead
And I starve 'til there's no more mouths to feed
There's a hand on my throat
And a blade at my feet
But the weight of the world won't bend my knees
Broken bones, battle scars
I have seen the bloodshed
Carved in stone, when it's my sword
They won't forget
No war, no peace 'til I lead them all
Leave me with my demons
Hear my voice call
No fears or sorrows underneath these bones
Just blood, sweat, and tears
Is all I know
I can use who I want
And I taste what I please
In this world, I get all my fantasies
There's a hand on my throat
And a child at my feet
But the weight of the world
Won't bend my knees
No war, no peace 'til I lead them all
Leave me with my demons
Hear my voice call
No fears or sorrows underneath these bones
Just blood, sweat, and tears
Is all I know
Don't wash away my blood
Don't wash away my sweat
It's all I know
Don't wash away my tears
(Don't wash away, don't wash away)
Don't wash my spirit, don't cleanse my soul
Can't break my courage, and I won't fall
'Cause that's all I know
No war, no peace 'til I lead them all
Leave me with my demons
Hear my voice call
No fears or sorrows underneath these bones
Just blood, sweat, and tears
Is all I know
NEACRIT lore video about to be a hour long! I need to know why Kindred offered Ambessa a second chance life. Also love how Kindred takes on a different visual take since Ambessa is Noxian. For those who don't know, The Kindred serve as the Grim Reaper of the world of League of Legends. The story goes that Death was so lonely that it split itself in two, so it would "always have a friend". One half is the Lamb, and the other half is the Wolf. Lamb represents the peace in acceptance of death, wielding a bow to deliver a swift end, and Wolf represents the violence of rejecting and running from death, being literally a beast that mauls anything that tries to escape. You only see them when they've decided your time has come. (One last quick note - Lamb feels little but knows everything, while Wolf feels everything but knows little.) At 3:22 looks like we have Swain who is the eye of noxus and grand general of Noxus, Pantheon is the one with the spear and shield she was sparring with, he is from Mount Targon and the other is Katarina who is also from Noxus. All 3 of them have also faced death in their own ways and came back alive. And the dessert place I assume is part of Shurima. Wonder if Ambessa is originally from Shurima. Shurima use to be the biggest nation in Runeterra and has a lot of its background based off Egyptian lands. I'm assuming the introduction is on an Ionia beach and the baby is either Mel or her first born son.
I thought that might be Kindred at first, but I wasn’t sure because of how different they looked. Your idea of them looking different due to other cultures viewing death differently makes so much sense.
@@Wolf-xy7xpit's not their idea it's cannon
Spirit blossom (look up spirit blossom kindred if you haven't seen, very pretty) for example is the ionian picture.
Personally I think Kindreds true form is incomprehensible to the mortal mind so the mortal mind sees them as what they think Kindred are
I think there's a struggle for most people. The lamb takes in all who find peace in their death. Wolf basically gives people the choice to fight or try in vain to outrun their death. All the warriors are the one who chose to fight and won. Ambessa seems to have been on the edge between rather choosing death and being in her happier past or fight to see herself rise.
Kindred slowly becoming the main character of LoLiverse and I am ALL FOR IT! Also, the animation is just freaking dope - oozes of creativity, kudos to the team behind it!
Wdym by kindred is becoming the main character?
@@patheticyoungboyspodcast7386 Not of arcane but of whole leauge universe. They are putting kindred into all cinematics for diffrent games and now even arcane related cinematic. Thats what they meant i think.
Runneterra❌ LoLiverse✔
LoLiverse sounds wrong bruh hahaha
Loliverse 💀
Now knowing there's a Noxus story coming in the future, I can't wait to come back to this music video after it comes out and understand things I can't right now. I love this universe SO much
This reminds me of the Enemy music video, which complemented Arcane Season 1 so well and was what made me realize how incredible the show truly was. I love how Christian, Alex , and their team take characters and add a thousand dimensions to them. None of the villains are truly evil, there is history and trauma behind their actions. Jinx, Silco, and now Ambessa. Except for Marcus, that guy truly sucked.
And that season will make us hate people that we loved last season 😢❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ just amazing.
Yeah, this video tho is for a new skin theme
You're wrong about Marcus. He was a truly excellent character with great thematic relevance on the difficulty of being a good man in a harsh world when you are fundamentally weak at heart.
@@spartan1879 shoutout based marcus perspective
This has to be the best skin trailer ever. How they tied it into being sort of canon and with a character we want to know more about because of Arcane. Genius! The video is absolutely gorgeous (ty Fortische) and the song really sounds like Ambessa is singing it. The new hints of lore and all the little eastereggs make me so excited!
It's amazing how you can difference whenever something is made with love and time.
Thank you for giving us some masterpieces like this.
Fortiche just can't stop cooking 🔥🔥🔥
This feels like a different studio, is it really fortiche?
@@TheDarkstar3601 im pretty sure
@@TheDarkstar3601its fortiche
@@TheDarkstar3601 it's fortiche . They just upgraded the animation
Clearly this is fortich touch
This is amazing, always putting so much effort not only in music and lyrics quality, but also in music video. I am left speechless everytime.
Ambessa is one of the strong mother main characters in Arcane. Love her strength and madness for power.
This is arguably the most lifelike facial expressions i've ever seen in any animated show😍
Edit: ALMOST 2K LIKES?!!! I have officially ascended from the mortal realm and will now be leaving u humans to it🫡....but not before arcane season 2 , duhhh😁
Looks like someone hasn't seen Love Death and Robots
@@patrickbrisbin1057 Or Wallace and Gromit
Then I encourage you to watch "The war within" cinematic for World of Warcraft 😊
@@rybr3ad Nah, Saurfang's not in it.
@@Basteal But, Saurfang is dead.
Wow Blood, Sweat, & Tears is amazing who ever wrote & animated this, capture the essence of how Warriors & soldiers go & born through.
It was animated by Fortiche, the animation studio behind Arcane and the producer was Christian Linke, Arcane's showrunner. And of course Sheryl Lee Ralph did an amazing job with the vocals.
@BotRaper
@elonsmuk You're welcome & you too.
the animation, the music, the characters, everything is wild
The bar has been set. Many will try and many will fail to surpass such excellence.
Chosen of the wolf...2 birds with one stone...damn Riot made one MV promoting both skins and Arcane at the same time
Thanks to Christian tho! Bro is a master in publicity
yeah it's insane how well they've put it all together
I never truly appreciated how awesome of a character Ambessa was until now
Everytime I think I’m done being impressed by the arcane art style I see something new and I’m in awe again
1:36 Sound design and transition 🔥
This music video is so awesome, it gives us a bit of backstory as to how Ambessa became the person we see in Arcane
Also, 1:34 this moment with the one of the stilt legged guys striding over and beating their hip drums is just like *so cool*
As a Kindred main, you guys have NO IDEA how excited I am for this. It's another skin for them and there's a slight chance it's legendary for them! I doubt that, yeah but I have hope 😭😭😭😭
Where was kindred??
@@ZodiaXXO The wolf and the shadowy lamb figure that gives Ambessa the wolf heart are the kindred
It was in fact not legendary, we must cope even harder
@@Idk-qk2kr indeed, next time we gottem
Is it my idea or Lamb looked tall in this video?
The animation is top tier, this comes as no surprise, wouldn’t expect any less from Arcane!!
This video makes me think in terms of kindred, ambessa gave a life of peace and even a peaceful death for the sake of Mel and her brother to a life of a wolf. Harsh,hard, unforgiving and violent. She, to me! is a nice parallel to silco and I love that it shows how far she’ll go but in the end lost her way just like viktor. In my final thoughts you’ll give up everything for your children even your own soul but for ambessa “ambition” she gave even her own children for a better life and thus lived a life of contradiction and selfishness while in her heart felt selfless. Also love the detail of the wolf looking at her then the belly
Holy...
The music
The animation
The lore
Help- I have no words
3:34 To me this seems like confirmation that Mel has magical abilities and will survive.
(I've not engaged with the leaks and any spoilers are unwelcome, I'm just theorizing)
I don't think she's pregnant with Mel, but with her firstborn Kino.
@@tathabarcellos It's a possibility of course, but Mel just seems more likely to me. Gold is the color she's associated with more than any other character and it's her relationship with Ambessa that is the center of both their characters. Kino has been kind of an afterthought so far tbh, so I don't think this being him necessarily does anything for the story.
@@chiefpurrfect8389I think its Mel too based off the same reasons you described.
@@chiefpurrfect8389that baby inside Ambessa is Kino, since he is Ambessa's first child, in this clip, she appears much younger, saying that he is her first child... in the flashback in which Mel appears as a child in the first season, We are presented with a much older Abessa with semi-gray hair, implying that Mel is the youngest, just like Mel, Kino could also have some magical proficiency in her... nothing prevents that...
@@chiefpurrfect8389 I actually thought Kino was the boy holding the lamb at 2:15 & I agree that Mel is the child in the womb. I know nothing about LOL lore, but I wonder if that shot of gold flowing through the child's body is supposed to hint at Mel having magic powers because of Ambessa's ressurection (if that the baby IS Mel).
As empowering as becoming a warrior is, I'm so glad they acknowledge the loss of motherhood to do so, something she never thought she'd have to sacrifice but she did and it hurts like hell
y'all. the lamb represents her unborn child that she's pregnant with. which she gives up to the black rose when she sees her future and knows she will have another child and also be a leader. she gives up her child in exchange for her survival in the attack, and once she has given it up, the (possesed) fetus saves her
She seems to be pregnant with Mel, a child carrying the golden shielding magic. Mel saves Ambessa from death (probably during one of the attacks on Ionia). That is shown by kindred giving her a talisman and the wolf (representing death) also leaving her at the end instead of attacking.
The lamb that is being destroyed from all sides could be a representation of her innocence/peaceful life being replaced by war, or maybe could also be about her sacrificing her son Kino to Black Rose. They earlier show a boy holding a lamb and Ambessa crying at the sight.
SPOILERS:
With the information we now know, I think she was pregnant with Mel in this sequence.
While Kindred came close to claiming her, Mel’s magic triggered and kept Ambessa from dying.
The coolest villian in television, best part of the show and an amazing send off in the final episode with her final words tying it all together, now she can live on in the game as the true ruler of noxus
A simple amazing music video,
Arcane doesn't disappoint.
This isn't even really an Arcane music video lmao, this is more for the League of Legends skin than anything to do with Arcane.
@@aneonfoxtribute if Netflix posted it, then it’s obviously Arcane related. And the song is from Arcane season 2 so…
@@rafaelacol2216 I mean. It's for the skin. Like, we know this. Netflix is posting it to drum up hype for Arcane cuz it's Ambessa, but this has nothing to do with Arcane. At best, we'll get a reference to Ambessa almost being killed one time on a beach, but that's it.
Very appropriate for Swain to be in this skinline, he also had a battlefield awakening/was close to death.
Wdym by this skinline?
@@patheticyoungboyspodcast7386 at 3:25 its a showcase of a skinline with Ambessa, Swain, Katarina and Pantheon (and possibly the shurima version of kindred we see at 2:56) All people who were given a second chance at life.
@@patheticyoungboyspodcast7386 in the game, characters have alternate outfits and riot normally releases them in theme groups, the skinline is probably going to be certain characters who have had near-death experiences that lead that make you stronger
@@patheticyoungboyspodcast7386 This is more an advertisement for a new champion and new skins coming to the game rather than Arcane Season 2. Kindred, Katarina, Swain, Pantheon and Ambessa are all getting a new skin in League of Legends.
Swain close to death vs Irelia. Katarina vs Talon. Pantheon vs Aatrox. They all close to death.
She started out as a lamb, but circumstances forced her to become a wolf. Sad to think maybe once, in her youth, Ambessa was an idealist like Mel, hoping for peace, unity, democracy.
Correct. The lamb does symbolize her past life.
She threw away any potential for a peaceful life in order to be reborn.
Now Riot has to make all the champions music videos where they sing. I WANT TEEMO SINGING NEXT!!!!
u r kiddin, right...?
@@yolomensch6851 That will be Satan hymn.
Sadly this is not Ambessas avaa singing, it's a musician who does sound similar
That would be so cute lmao yes please. 😂
I prefer the video we already have with Mordekaiser kicking him off the mountain :P
Omg I just can’t get enough of the design and art quality used and presented, absolutely magnificent
Whoever’s singing has such a powerful voice that sounds like Ambessa
If Ambessa was pregnant at the beginning of the video (looks like she is), then perhaps that was Kino that died there? The lamb represents both her innocence but the loss of her first child (Kino). She fights death, trial by wolves, but death still claimed her firstborn. The baby at the end is herself (being reborn), and foreshadowing Mel.
the animation, the song, the story, omg i’m in love with this show so much
Arcane season 1 animation was already unmatched but this is just STELLAR 🤩 The textures and lighting are also just insanely beautiful, overall incredible work. All my love and kudos to the hard-working people behind this, I'm so excited for Arcane season 2.
This MV maybe explains why Ambessa was so determined to help Victor destroy Piltover? She didnt have much of a choice, her deal with kindred possibly made her seek out destruction.
this character is just amazing. her design, her story, her child🤭
No but srsly she's so good written.
Ambessa to Mel: "- You are the wolf"
The visualls are insane. This is my interpretation but the lamb being riped apart after she finally realizes she can't hold it in the chaos is so strong. The sheep forced to grow fangs and be the wolf type shit. She cried at the person she lost, a version of herself that was innocent. and the baby at 3:33 just showing us how the cycle has to happen all over again with her fighting her kid till they get strong
Arcane is coming!
*The war zeppelins appear in the sky upon Piltover*
Announcer : “Brace yourselves! Noxus is coming!!!”
- Frostpunk reference
Oh man... The singer is perfect. Shes got a fantastic, powerful, deep, mature voice.
oh mel gonna age so beautifully... she looks just as young ambessa!
Wow. There's no words to accurately describe just how breathtakingly powerful this music video is, the music, score and vocals paired with the most raw emotions being shown in the incredible art and animation. Thank you Riot and the team of amazing people that make these works of arts possible and share them with us to enjoy. 😊
I hope anyone reading this is doing well and thank you again to the wonderful people who made this masterpiece.
You cant really explain how INSANEEEE this animation is!!!!
Ambessa was one of the characters I wanted to see more of, glad we are gonna see that S2. Her aura was massive!
Watching this again after finishing arcane S2 has me loving this even more. The transition from League of legends champions with random spotty at best lore to the masterpieces of lore and depth of character arcs in Arcane will be studied and taught in writting classes in the future.
The fact creators make Wolf part of Kindred visit Noxian before death to fight untill your last breath is just breathtaking. For it is literally written in Kindred's lore that people of Noxus meet wolf and not lamb, for they will not accept death easily. How Aspect of War is used to put Ambessa to test and make her warrior herself is just another cherry on top of this diamond. And I can't get enough of this initiation rite symbolism, for carrying a lamb is her as a kid, but standing proud in front of a wolf is her as a woman. As she fights she also loses more and more of her cloth color to black, to power up a transition.
Arcane is that good work that you should remember forever. The ability to learn about something and transform it into art is just a symbol that they are on the right path. Congratulations.
The anticipation is killing me dawg
Damn!! Fortiche is the ultimate goat in term of animation!
This is how you write a strong female character
Riot that kindred skin should be legendary. ISTG
@@ZeissWorldif only I were to be so lucky.
don't wish that on us. They'll put it in a skinner box and make people pay $250 for it.
@@ZeissWorld reported
they already have two legacy/limited skins that I can't get now istg if I miss another kindred skin T-T
@@ZeissWorldlame
Remarkable just how much Ambessa looks like Mel.
Hol' up, reverse it! Mel looks like Ambessa in her youth
every frame after 3:00 is my new wallpaper
Sooo excited to learn more about Ambessa! Love the wolf and lamb visions. This video and this song are both 🔥!
It feels like I'm watching the absolute lifework of some of the most insane graphic artists alive. IN-SANE!
The Arcane Series is one of the best I've seen. With Ambessa's backstory shown here, I understand why she is the way that she is. Growing up where strengths is everything, Ambessa had no choice but to become the wolf, symbolizing ruthlessness and strength, abandoning, what I interpret that the lamb is the nurturing and kindness. I just love that with every character, they're very human.
Chills man, literal chills