Forum - View topicDoes the low frame rate in anime bother you?
|
Goto page 1, 2 Next |
| Author | Message | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Allegro
 Posts: 12 |
|
||
|
I know anime in Japan is usually done on a budget, and that most studios cut back on the number of animation frames per second to save money. But has this limitation ever bothered you in any way?
I'd like to think that I've gotten used to the "choppiness" of Japanese anime since I first started watching it. It did take me a while since many of the western cartoons I've seen have had smooth and fluid animation. But since anime usually has well-drawn artwork and character designs, the actual movements seem to take a backseat for me when I'm watching. |
|||
|
|||
arachneia
 Posts: 415 Location: On the wings of Bob Lennon |
|
||
|
I don't mind a low frame rate, but I hate when the frame doesn't change for seconds at a time. That's just cheap.
|
|||
|
|||
Mr Adventure
 Posts: 1598 |
|
||
|
Isn't it typical for all animated shows to only have 3fps?
And I mean in the US as well. EDIT: Well maybe not 3fps, but its typical to see 8 and 6fps in lower budget animated television. With 12 and 24fps being used for higher end stuff (usually film). |
|||
|
|||
Blood-
 Bargain Hunter Posts: 24208 |
|
||
|
Nah, the low frame rate doesn't bother me. As the OP pointed out, there are enough other compensations (background art, character designs, etc) to please the eye. But what I will never get used to is the "frozen" or "statue" crowd scene. Two characters will be walking and talking amidst a group of non-moving people. It always knocks me out of my immersion.
|
|||
|
|||
Keonyn
 Subscriber Posts: 5567 Location: Coon Rapids, MN |
|
||
|
Yes Mr Adventure, decreased fps is typical in animation. Although that statement is somewhat misleading, since the frame counts stay the same. Instead what they do is they only put an actual key frame every 2 or 3 frames, and the frames between just consist of a fade out of the previous key frame while the new frame fades in. Of course the fade in and fade out aren't really perceived by the eye, particularly since they're almost identical frames, but it does create jerkier movement.
It is a bit more prevalent in anime though to be honest, particularly in theatrical releases, since this practice pretty much is non-existent in domestic animation at the cinematic level. To answer the question though, it does bother me at times, yes. However, I watch shows primarily for the story, so I can overlook poor animation provided the storytelling isn't impacted. Twelve Kingdoms is a good example of a series that really had some below average animation, but still told a good and engaging story to the point that didn't bother me. Of course, then there's Gilgamesh, where I have to admit the poor and inconsistent animation (it was good at times) really had a negative impact on my view of the series, and the story was not enough to get past that. |
|||
|
|||
|
PetrifiedJello
Posts: 3782 |
|
||
|
The only time it bothers me is when it's so noticeable, it's distracting. I tend to notice them on fast moving action scenes, rather than "someone walking" though I can see the same 3 frames repeated.
One instance of this in particular, while watching Polyphonica, was during a chase scene involving vehicles. Anyone watching the truck in pursuit will clearly see the frame rate issues because it was so blatant. Though, I'm just glad it got licensed, flaws and all. I still prefer DVD quality over online offerings and TANoD. |
|||
|
|||
TatsuGero23
 Posts: 1277 Location: Sniper Island, USA (It's in your heart!) |
|
||
|
Yeah low frame rate doesn't bother me as much as bad storyboarding. With a bad storyboard those low frame rates really stand out. I know the "slow camera pans" or "close ups" and "speaker's mouth convienently not in shot" are budget tricks but at least they are more interesting then 3 characters standing while the only thing moving is 1 guy's mouth *cough*naruto*cough*. I love my shonen but those poorly thoughtout scenes bother me to no end. A good storyboard can keep a low budget series from looking like garbage and a bad storyboard can ruin even a higher budget series.
|
|||
|
|||
|
krelyan
Posts: 173 Location: Utah |
|
||
|
Yes, anime's heavy use of panning and zooming was an annoyance at first, but you generally get used to it. My main gripe would be what Blood- noted: the 'frozen statue' scenes. It really started grating me to only see one character or object animated at a single time.
|
|||
|
|||
Hyperone
 Posts: 20 |
|
||
|
It bothers me when it's inconsistent or you have large sections that simply have zero FPS for no real reason.
If a show is at least consistent in low FPS it's not a major deal. |
|||
|
|||
|
Spastic Minnow
Bargain Hunter Exempt from Grammar Rules  Posts: 4634 Location: Gainesville, FL |
|
||
|
Static face, mouth or lips moving up and down while talking, if the animator is ambitious, the chin will move (but not the jaw). No actual facial expression.
That really bothers me. A specific exaample is how I always found that to be a big problem with the GitS TV series. It is a show where you are supposed to be able to tell if a character is human or artificial, but with that stupid animation shortcut EVERYONE looks robotic and fake. They even make it a plot point in the individual eleven storyline, saying that Hideo Kuze has a sculpted face that can't move like a more advanced one but on the screen he looks the same as anyone else! |
|||
|
|||
|
Allegro
Posts: 12 |
|
||
|
I also think the combination of smooth CGI animation and the traditional "budget" animation is something that really sticks out for me in an anime. When both are used in the same scene, it looks very goofy and takes away from any realism from within the show.
Same here. Your example illustrated much of how I feel about the character animation in Japanese anime. Even though the character designs might look appealing for a show, it's still weird to see a character seemingly frozen in time, while only the lip flaps go on and on. |
|||
|
|||
John Casey
 Posts: 1853 Location: In My Angry Center |
|
||
|
Not a bit. Framerate almost never bothers me when it comes to animation. They've got a story to tell, and only about 20 minutes to do so. Some areas suffer, some prosper - that's the way it is.
What does bother me however are shortcuts. And extreme shortcuts (or frakups?) at that: 
|
|||
|
|||
Richard J.
 Posts: 3367 Location: Sic Semper Tyrannis. |
|
||
|
I'm not bothered by the animation being a bit less fluid than many Western cartoons since anime does more with the story. Maybe I'm just not getting to see the really good stuff produced over here but most of the modern Western cartoons I've seen are just episodic zanniness. I just like the more plot-driven (even if it's an excuse plot) nature of anime. Even when a Western show has a decent plot, it tends to also have lots of comedy of a type I don't like. (Really, I haven't liked many series since the 80s that weren't borrowing from anime.)
The more detailed character designs are also much more interesting to me. I mean, there are some great shows that have been made over here but so many of them have characters that look like rejects from a Dali painting. Humans in anime at least tend to look more human. Also, some cartoons seem to lack depth. Not just in artist terms but also in writing terms. I know a lot of anime doesn't seem all that deep but cartoons over here sometimes seem to have been written with stoners in mind rather than actual kids or teens. (And the only cartoons made over here with adults in mind are, again, comedies I don't like.) The animation being a little less fluid is about the last thing on my list of gripes. |
|||
|
|||
Kruszer
 Posts: 7994 Location: Minnesota, USA |
|
||
|
Not at all.
The only thing that really bugs me in regards to animation is bad physics motion. Also, blocky, badly CGed, vehicles, ships, or mecha with clunky movement or zero thought put into weight or mass of objects are an eyesore. Like Vandread for instance. However, unless it's really bad it probably wont effect my enjoyment of the show, as I watch for the story and the animation is just eye candy. Last edited by Kruszer on Fri Feb 19, 2010 1:51 pm; edited 2 times in total |
|||
|
|||
Ggultra2764
 Subscriber Posts: 3977 Location: New York state. |
|
||
|
Whether or not the fluidity or detail in an anime title bothers me depends on the genre and premise of said title. If it's a down-to-earth anime title with emphasis on drama, romance, and/or comedy, then I can forgive some corners being cut as I'm focused more on the story and characters than how the title looks. I'm forgiving so long as the corner cutting isn't made too obvious. But if I'm seeing a title with elements of action and/or adventure, then you'd better give me fluid movement and detailed character designs to hook me into the battle scenes. Sloppy visuals and reused animation frames in a action-adventure title won't me a happy camper.
|
|||
|
|||
 |
All times are GMT - 5 Hours |
|
|
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group