No matter how many times I try to watch one of these shows that use this clunky, low polygon count GCI, I just end up disgusted and feel like these studios just consider us all suckers.
Netflix seems to be the biggest purveyor of this, but it seems to be cropping up everywhere. I can think of only one reason they would peddle this is that it’s considerably cheaper to produce.
I’d like to that if the story is good enough that you could look past the bad animation, but I am constantly ripped from the story because it, no matter how hard I try. Because it’s so prevalent now, it makes me wonder if most people just aren’t bothered by it, or maybe even actually like it.
Here are some of the shows I’ve tried watching.
- The Seven Deadly Sins: Grudge of Edinburgh
- Trigun Stampede
- Exception
- Godzilla Singular Point
- The Dragon Prince
Am I being over critical?
Land of the Lustrous without CGI wouldn’t be the same. So at least some studios are doing it right.
I find it really depends on how it’s used and what style it’s done in. Some shows, like Chainsaw Man, seem to do a pretty good job of incorporating it and still having a consistent style. Part of why I like anime is that I, generally, like the art style better than other varieties of animation. I felt like a lot of criticism of Trigun Stampede was just dismissed as people being close minded about CGI. It may have been technically impressive, but I didn’t like the way it looked and it didn’t hook me. It felt less like an anime and more like if some Western studio made an adaptation of Trigun. If there’s people who like it, great, but I do wish I could dislike it without having people dogpile me to say my personal tastes are wrong.
The original Trigun was among the first anime I watched, so it’s close to my heart and wanted to give this new installment a fair shake. As I have already said, I think it’s better than most of the other examples I’ve listed, but it still falls into the category of distracting 3D for me. The faces and expressions are just odd and unnatural. I’m still actively watching it and don’t plan to drop it like other on my list, but I wish I wasn’t distracted by it.
People can dismiss your opinions as close minded, but you can’t fight the visceral reaction you get when watching something, even when trying to be open minded about it. I completely respect the people that have no issue with it, or even prefer it, but that’s not my experience.
That said, I actually love the OP in Trigun. The animation as well as the music, and I don’t actually skip it like I do on most.
I’m 35 years old and have been watching anime since the 90s. I truly miss cell shaded anime, but at the same time the newest CGI based animes seem not bad. I did like MAPPA’s take on Chainsawman and I do not mind the next season of Vinland Saga. To be honest, if done well, it’s not the end of the world. I strongly prefer no 3D still, however.
i felt trigun’s cgi was pretty good. felt like it had a consistent style. a little bit pixarish buts thats probably for the best.
I might be a little biased because F/SN: UBW is one of my favorite animes ever but I find it absolutely gorgeous. GRANTED, a lot of the most beautiful parts are simply wide paintings, but I do think the CGI usage for particle effects, fog, and some of the magic during the fights lends a “pop” that I think looks pretty cool and doesn’t pull me out.
F/SN: UBW and most anything from that franchise is on a completely different level. Garden of Sinners is an all time favorite.
I’m not against CGI as a medium one bit, though I don’t think it could ever replace the human hand for sheer beauty. What I’m against are these clearly low quality, blocky, and unnatural looking animations that are jarring to watch. It just feels to me like it’s budget before substance. If people aren’t bothered by it, then it’s a financially sound decision. But to me, it loses what it means to be an “Anime”, and is just an animation.
The video the @Gordon_Freeman linked shows that it’s indeed possible to keep the Anime aesthetic while gaining the benefits of 3D, so I can only hope the medium matures sooner than later.
There are some CGI I have never minded, personally I think the real problem with CGI is quite often it does not mesh with traditional animation. Like the infamous bear fom Golden Kamuy.
But then the Berserk movies and Promare shows you can have full CGI and work well as well as 2d/CGI hybrids and work well
Wow that’s an excellent representation of terrible CGI implementation!
Chainsaw man had CGI
Chainsaw Man’s CGI was incredibly well done too. If more anime used it like MAPPA did there, I think it would be better received.
