2D Vs 3D

[gsketch]

If you had to choose, would you prefer to watch your anime in 2D or 3D? With shows like Berserk (2017) and Knights of Sidonia it seems as though anime has begun to embrace 3D animation. It's still quite expensive (and sometimes it doesn't look quite right). But as the technology improves and becomes cheaper, we will probably start seeing more 3D anime. What does this mean for the 2D industry in Japan? Will it eventually disappear one day?

I think this topic is fascinating and I would love to do a panel on it.
What are your thoughts?

[starglazeddonut]

Personally I prefer the 2D style, but I think it's just cuz I'm so used to it. Similar to how I will prefer the sub over dub or vice versa depending on which one I heard first (or abridged... I can't watch Free! without it feeling wrong cuz I'm so used to 50% off's voices). However if I really like the story I can push my distaste for the art aside ie: Ajin and RWBY. I just eventually get used to it. Perhaps if we see more 3D animations we won't have this "oh that looks wrong" opinion?

But what I really can't get into is when they go from 2D to 3D to 2D and so on or when they use both at the same time!

[crownowa]

3D characters on 2D backgrounds or vice versa, or when random objects like a chandelier or stuffed anime are 3D and everything else is 2D

We have seen some high production 3D anime in the past year like like Kado, Hoseki no Kuni, and Godzilla, which range from doesn't hurt my eyes to stunning - much better than RWBY and Knights of Sidonia that I have was already okay with.

[gsketch]

Blending 3D objects into a 2D space can definitely be challenging. Normally I believe this is done by an animation studio to cut down on the time it takes to create a shot. For example, if you have a war scene with 100 horses in frame, would you draw every horse? Maybe. But it might be easier (and faster) to make one computer model horse, and then duplicate it. This is probably the most common example I've noticed. Cars, trucks, horses, and any background object that appears frequently, might be made into a 3D object. Of course, if the object is not properly rendered, it can look VERY out of place.

However, once in a while I'll see something that makes me think "That actually looks very good in 3D." This scene from the first Evangelion Rebuild has Ramiel as a 3D geometric shape. It makes him feel "otherworldly".
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdU8dyjgXU0

[darkinsanity13]

Yeah, I'd say the 3D object in a 2D space works well for the angels in the Eva Rebuild movies because it helps to emphasize they're foreign entities.

As for my opinion on 3D vs 2D, I think overall I prefer 2D, but I don't necessarily mind 3D. I haven't really watched a whole lot of series that use it extensively (Houseki no Kuni's on my list, but...well...my list is very, very long, lol) but it's one of those things that's still kind of evolving and I'm interested to see where it goes. After all, there's plenty of 2D animations that don't get it quite right even these days. Also, I don't think 2D animation is going to completely die out, because I think there's going to be people who grew up on things like Studio Ghibli films and fight to keep it alive, or choose to tell their stories through that medium.

[Taffy]

I think this is a really cool topic for sure. To join in on the topics above, I think the more important (and interesting) question is what kind of stuff is 3D good for, and could it make sense in more than just a cost-saving measure.

I think it's worth mentioning the kind of activity and progress that has been done outside, and I feel bleeding into anime. Andromeda caught a lot of flack due to how their models were poorly generated, even with patches being rolled out. AI Kizuna is also a hit, and it plays with itself the same way Siri will talk about its existential status. Of course, the theme isn't complete without a reference to Hayao Miyazaki's sharp dismissal of AI-created animation, though technology always seems to have a way to surprise us.

[starglazeddonut]

idk if this can add to the convo: but I find that video game anime models to not be as jarring. It could however be because you're more involved in the gameplay not the art...

[ryukomatoiii]

I'm so down for this panel!

[gsketch]

If anyone would like to help me run this panel, I'd be happy to have you! Right now we only have 2 people, so we just need 2 more for our panel to go forward!

Please sign up at anpanels.com if you are interested. Enter your email and the name of this panel, "2D Vs 3D".
Thank you!

[Fingers]

Cleared.

[gsketch]

Thank you very much, Fingers!

[Fingers]

Couple regulars who usually do it alone are joining in.

F