World's first immersive musical theater adaptation of animation series to debut in Shanghai

The world's first immersive musical theater adaptation of the award-winning animation series Immersive Arcane is set to debut in downtown Shanghai.

Produced by Tencent Video and Tencent Games, and co-produced by Shanghai Media Group Live, Riot Games, Wajijiwa, Oriental Pearl, and the renowned London-based immersive theater company Punchdrunk, Immersive Arcane held its inaugural preview on January 21. The event took place within the specially renovated annex of the historic Shanghai Hotel.

Over 400 invited guests experienced the 120-minute production, featuring more than 20 performers. They stepped into the vibrant and contrasting worlds of Piltover and Zaun, enjoying complete autonomy to explore the narrative. Audiences encountered beloved characters like Vi, Jinx, and Jayce, influencing their own journey through the story.

Abandoning a traditional fixed stage, the performance unfolds across a dynamic two-level space. Actors move through dozens of evolving scenes, advancing multiple storylines simultaneously.

Participants can choose to follow a single character's arc for a deep dive into the plot or freely roam between scenes, piecing together their own unique "Arcane" narrative through fragmented encounters and overlapping timelines.

The preview received positive feedback. Attendees praised the authentic character portrayals and powerful live performances of the series' iconic soundtrack.

Many expressed a strong desire to return, as a single visit reveals only one facet of the sprawling narrative, inevitably leaving many hidden plot branches and discoveries for future explorations.

As the flagship production for SMG Live's See You in Shanghai! residency performance brand, Immersive Arcane will open to the public later this year.