So the recent MHA episode has once again used the 3D-CG model of Endeavour for a few shots. While I personally really like it's implementation, there are those who don't.
The biggest question regarding the models usage is... "Why?"
In this thread I'll go into my theories why.
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Anime is built upon using its limitations to its strengths in order to deliver a product on time whilst retaining quality. For a standard shot where people are standing around talking, solid direction and character poses usually take place of character animation. Blinks and-
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3 different mouth shapes are usually the only animation present in these scenes.
Since these kinds of scenes are usually on the low priority in terms of time and resources allocated to them, Endeavours hero costume design throws a wrench into them.
Unlike pretty much every-
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other character design, Enji's hero design has constant secondary-animation going on even when the character is static.
Scenes that would otherwise be simple and conservative in approach now have someone who has both animated flames and animated flame textures on their suit.
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Now you're probably wondering, "why don't they just composit in the CG flames and textures on a 2D drawing?"
There are two reasons why they would still use the 3D model.
1. Because it already has the flames and textures built in and tracked to it.
2. Saves time & resources.
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In a perfect, unrealistic world every episode and every frame in a 25 episode season would look flawless, with each shot given the same time and priority. We don't live in that world. In order to deliver stuff on time, corners have to be cut, and the staff have to be smart-
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and resourceful with how they use their time on every episode, shot and frame.
With the recent episode, it was more conservative in how they approached it. With only one animation director assigned to it, along with little-to-no household name animators. This was a smart-
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decision, since this episode had a lot of dialogue and it also allowed them to allocate more time and resources into more action-heavy episodes (just look at the preview for next episode). If Endeavour was 2D in every shot he was in this episode, that would require more work-
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than necessary.
Anyway you get the idea of what I'm trying to say.
The CG team and the whole staff have been doing tremendously this season.
Of course my theories could be wrong, and if that's the case please educate me on it. I'm still learning too.
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