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Do you like the "lack of movement" in anime?

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Yesterday, 12:08 AM
#1

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Feb 2014
4905
Let's all be honest: If anyone here really cared about the "animation" part of thing, we would be watching Disney films (Or watching "The Thief and the Cobbler" on repeat).
It's not a competition, we've lost from the start, and it's when you notice that that you're finally free.

Anime is "stiff", there's not much movement.
That's OK, it's not like the people making it don't know it and are "surprised" during production. They work around it... some better than others. When all goes well, the problem of anime's "lack of movement" is the same problem of a game with a fixed camera: None.

That being said, I'm so used to it that, whenever I see 3DCG animation, it is full of "superfluous movements", "useless movements": Characters slightly moving their heads while talking, moving their fingers even though they're out of focus, always oscillating a bit, they're always moving, never still, etc
Such thing is trivial do to in 3DCG, but would be a lot of extra work on 2D animation. So when 3DCG anime tries to copy the look of 2D anime, they're EXTRA stiff, no extra movements at all (Think something like Kamitsubaki-shi Kensetsuchuu or Malice@Doll).

The closest I've seen get to "a golden mean" would be Girls Band Cry, which adds a lot of more complex movement to the characters actions and expressions, but doesn't make them "unable to sit still", meaning that it still preserves that anime look.

What's your opinion on the subject?
Yesterday, 12:20 AM
#2

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Oct 2010
21792
if I don't see animation in anime I will get insane, still shots annoy the shit outta me
Yesterday, 12:33 AM
#3
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Jun 2022
531
Direction is more importamt than sakuga quality (even though it is always welcome obviously) because if the direction is poor then thse high quality scenes may not be delivered, but when direction department is fully utilized like full use of lighting colors color palette cinematography/photography then this can make every scene even with limited in animation movie quality/breathtaking and whenever there are high quality scenes and or high quality anime this complements this even further.

Direction aspect is so underrated in anime community, even though it is very important part of every filmmaking medium.
Yesterday, 12:49 AM
#4

Offline
Oct 2020
944
I quite literally hate a lack of movement in anime unless it's necessary. Something like a character model walking should be normal, ifykyk. Tho, a terrible example would be all those slideshows in Record of Ragnarok where movement is necessary for the action choreography to flow well. Like imagine the feeling that the fans felt years ago when they realized one of the more known "action" series DIDN'T MOVE AS THEY FOUGHT, like that's a straight abomination to the fans and the author, excluding whatever happened in the production process at times.

How do I explain this, lack of movement should be used where characters absolutely don't need to move, like the act of telling time, or when a year passes in the show and a slideshow appears. Now that is where I wouldn't care since time is passing quickly and I don't have to expect actual animation in a scene, unless the staff wants to input more creativity, while wasting time doing so and takes more screentime for no reason.


 "Hard work is worthless for those that don’t believe in themselves" - Naruto Uzumaki
Yesterday, 1:02 AM
#5

Offline
May 2015
1767
Of course nobody wants to watch a slide show, but the abscence of action in the anime I usually watch and the reading of the subtitles making me unaware for quarter of the time what is happening on the screen animation-wise make me somewhat immune to it. Most of my favourites didn't sell themselves to me with their smooth animation, but of course I too can appreciate it if said animation is directed well, which is a kinda hard to put your fingers on quality, you can just feel that when it is well done.
IshitatesoYesterday, 1:06 AM
Yesterday, 1:25 AM
#6

Online
Mar 2008
53167
OP is talking about scenes where the only thing moving is lip flaps and some blinking. Most anime uses this shortcut and gets around things looking not dynamic enough by doing a camera pan over the scene. I am sure Ive seen many cases where rubberized expressions occur. It tends to show up in more energetic characters.
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Yesterday, 1:32 AM
#7

Offline
May 2023
65
when I imagine how anime would look if the characters were in continuous movement like IRL people it seems it would look weird as hell
Yesterday, 1:52 AM
#8

Online
Sep 2016
20677
I don't like it, but I can tolerate it for the most part, although the overabundance of zoom-slide-effects (fake motion) is very apparent in many anime.
Yesterday, 2:01 AM
#9

Offline
Sep 2018
5206
If I only cared about fluidity I'd watch live action. That's why I always found something like Kanashimi no Belladonna more interesting than the "good old OVAs" from the 80s and the 90s.
Yesterday, 2:10 AM
Offline
Jan 2021
122
I like it. Sometimes I see clips from Western cartoons with overly animated mouths and arms, and it weirds me out. While anime might move a little slower, I feel like the gestures overall are properly proportioned, if that makes sense? Like, the maximum fps / movement of each limb is slower, but the movement of the whole body feels like a fluid unit.
Yesterday, 3:02 AM

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Jul 2021
10270
The lack of movement is not a stylistic choice, it's entirely a cost saving measure.
Anti-aliasing enthusiast
Yesterday, 3:04 AM

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Sep 2016
122
No, anime moves in a particular way that is arguably much better than Western/Disney styled stuff, even when it uses minimal stills. It's because anime modulates the rate at which unique drawings are held across 24/s frames of film in a free form fashion, where Disney generally kept a steady rate, either 12/24 ( one unique drawing every two frames) or 24/24 (one unique drawing per frame). This allowed for far more dynamism and creativity in anime's motion. Likewise, the layouts (which determines the trajectories of motions, as well as the relation between different characters and objects and the exact angles they're drawn at) traditionally tended to be more three-dimensional, immersive and complex, and while this is downstream from anime's cinematic background and what is indicated in the storyboards, it is something that the animators are responsible for, and counts as animation.

This analysis makes the mistake of assuming that the only aspect to evaluate in animation is the density of motion, but even within the Disney rule book, things like utilizing antics properly and communicating the through line of an action through the posing of the drawings themselves were seen as important. It's not a matter of how much motion, but rather the inherent qualities of that motion and what it does for the viewer, that really counts when evaluating animation.

https://wavemotioncannon.com/2016/12/31/an-introduction-to-framerate-modulation/
Reign_of_FloofYesterday, 3:37 AM
Yesterday, 5:18 AM

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Jul 2024
816
Depends on whether the show "requires" it or not.
I hate beating up on TBATE repeatedly, but that's definitely the most notable example.
Yesterday, 7:55 AM

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Oct 2017
5172
Intention matters. Legend of the Galactic Heroes doesn't need a ton of flashy sakuga, a series like Kill La Kill does....Granted it isn't a simple as action series needs more animation, drama or slice of life doesn't, however, the story is going to determine what is needed in that moment.

Still yeah, when anime doesn't animate much, it's not a stylistic choice, and more of a cost saving measure.

thewiru said:
Let's all be honest: If anyone here really cared about the "animation" part of thing, we would be watching Disney films (Or watching "The Thief and the Cobbler" on repeat).
Yeah fuck you if you enjoyed Redline....speak for yourself dude lol. If I didn't care about animation I wouldn't be here at all. There are some standouts in this medium, in terms of storytelling. Works that can go toe to toe with anything; however, as a whole, the storytelling angle is often inferior as a collective whole compared to other mediums. Right now, as I am reading Suneater, a series like that is closer to LOTGH, than anything that is likely to come out of this industry anytime soon. So in the end, it's the animation/aesthetic that makes anime appealing, not just the writing. Animation is my favourite medium, so I largely stay a fan and even in a limited format, animation can be appreciated and loved.
BilboBaggins365Yesterday, 8:01 AM
Yesterday, 8:01 AM
#1 Hitagi Lover

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Apr 2014
3034
Animation really only matters if it's oogling at some tig ol bitties and peaches. Just my 117 cents
Yesterday, 8:14 AM

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Sep 2018
14149
As long as the girls are cute; I can forgive less animation.
Yesterday, 8:19 AM
lagom
Online
Jan 2009
106832
anime is considered limited animation anyway and we still love it for how stylish it looks

full animation like how disney of the past does it is too expensive so yes anime uses limited animation for cheaper production and faster production too
Yesterday, 8:36 AM
lagom
Online
Jan 2009
106832
whats bad is anime copying the feel and look of limited animation on 3dcg anime especially 2.5d animation aka cel shaded style there is no reason for them to lower the framerate or fps to save production cost its just simply artistic choice of the anime industry
Yesterday, 9:42 AM

Offline
May 2020
764
I don't like my anime being a poorly produced slideshow (except for Fairy Tail I guess) but I don't mind having this "type" of animation where the characters are animated decently only when it needs to, like during an action scene or boobs jiggles or something. I say it would be annoying to have every anime with constant fluent animation like Disney or Ghibli, I think other Japanese studios perfected their animation style and are far more unique then what Disney and Pixar are doing these past decades.
JoshhhpYesterday, 11:55 AM



MAL is the perfect place to shit talk about people's opinions.
Yesterday, 9:45 AM

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Dec 2015
561
I've become so used to the slower movement of anime that the over animated of many western cartoons annoy me.
Yesterday, 9:52 AM

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Sep 2008
4454
Reply to Catalano
if I don't see animation in anime I will get insane, still shots annoy the shit outta me
@Catalano exactly this. anime implies it's animated.
馬鹿げた倫理 全部ガラクタで
Yesterday, 9:53 AM
Offline
Jun 2022
531
Look at these scenes how breathtaking they are thanks to the full use of direction.

first is from upcoming gintama yoshiwara in flames arc movie remake



second is from hunter x hunter first adaptation directed by Kazuhiro Furahashi





and third is from one piece




Yesterday, 10:38 AM

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Feb 2022
2939
These "Superfluous" movements good even in quiet scenes pero~ improve show pacing and chara acting pero~
Counterintuitive yes, but true.
Yesterday, 1:27 PM

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May 2018
12287
"Do you like the "lack of movement" in anime?"

I mean, minimalism is one of the most prominent traits in anime.
I like it when it's properly done (with insanely good storyboarding, which sometimes lacks in 2D doghua which may have more FPS, but doesn't look as good).


"The closest I've seen get to "a golden mean" would be Girls Band Cry, which adds a lot of more complex movement to the characters actions and expressions, but doesn't make them "unable to sit still", meaning that it still preserves that anime look."

This is on the opposite side of the spectrum tho. Girls Band Cry is way too simplistic and aesthetically unpleasing in comparison to any average 3D CGI donghua.
When you use 3D you need eye pleasing excess...and maybe this is why usually anime struggles with that. It's hard to do this with minimalistic artistic means.
OP's choice of Girls Band Cry is kind of the worst. Lupin III: The First is the way to pick an adequate example.
alshuYesterday, 1:38 PM
Yesterday, 4:35 PM

Offline
Feb 2016
14662
thewiru said:
It's not a competition, we've lost from the start

We didn't, actually. Toei established its anime devision with fully animated movies and continued to make them throughout the 60s and early 70s, until they were finally killed off by TV anime.
https://myanimelist.net/stacks/48634
その目だれの目?

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