From January 27 to February 21, 2025, the heart of Montpellier pulsed to the rhythm of Arcane.
In collaboration with Riot Games and the city of Montpellier, Fortiche invited fans, students, and the simply curious to dive deep into the making of the series that shook up animation and they showed up in force: over 15,000 visitors in just one month.
Not bad for an exhibition that started with a simple idea: let’s open the doors and show what’s behind the magic.
Set inside the Hôtel de Ville (designed by Jean Nouvel), the exhibition pulled back the curtain on our creative process, art direction, and the incredible team effort behind the two seasons of Arcane.
On display:
- Original artworks and reproductions from both seasons
- Concept art, storyboards, final frames — the full visual journey
- Cosplayers’ collectibles made with Love
- Behind-the-scenes videos highlighting the craft and the people
The exhibition also featured a few special bonuses:
A chance to win the coveted (and sold-out) Art of Arcane artbook, courtesy of Manabook and the city of Montpellier
A signing session on February 19 at Librairie Planètes Interdites, where fans got to meet some of the Fortiche team IRL
The icing on the cake? A packed opening event on January 30, with Montpellier’s mayor Michaël Delafosse joining Arnaud Delord, Barthélémy Maunoury, and Hervé Dupont to officially launch the exhibition and celebrate the creative bond between the city and the studio.
Montpellier isn’t just a stop on the map for us, it’s one of Fortiche’s three homes, alongside Paris and Las Palmas. Since 2020, our studio in the south has been a key piece of the Fortiche puzzle, and this event was a love letter to the local scene, the fans, and the culture that keeps pushing us forward.
This was just the first step.
More to come.
