What does low framerate even mean in this context? Isn't it still going at 24 FPS?
When I say "low framerate", I mean "fewer inbetween frames". So the usual slightly stuttery animation you get in anime, as opposed to super smooth Disney stuff.
What does low framerate even mean in this context? Isn't it still going at 24 FPS?
as opposed to super smooth Disney stuff.
The whole thing was animated on twos so it has a much much higher frame count to 99% of anime out there. I thought it looked super smooth for the most part.When I say "low framerate", I mean "fewer inbetween frames". So the usual slightly stuttery animation you get in anime, as opposed to super smooth Disney stuff.
My "wat" was more directed towards your "low budget" comment. Little Witch Academia is the opposite of low budget in any regard.I'm a little lazy to create / search my own gifs but these are representative of what I mean. In the first, she is spinning around a broom. It seems about 3-4 frames (maybe it's 5-6) with these extra bits thrown in, supposedly to give a sense of illusion but my eyes just pick up on them right away.
Also in the second picture her head repeats the same animation 2-3 times, and it's pretty jarring there as well.
There are other examples as well.When going up/down the tower, anytime something happens with just the sky as background
What's interesting about the revelations, to me, is how Yoshinari doesn't beat you again and again with them.I admit it did tell a complete story in 26 minutes and was very efficient on time. But I don't think the revelations were that interesting.(As soon as I saw the teacher smiling/standing there when the girl was talking about the chariot thing, I was pretty sure the teacher was chariot girl, else why zoom in on the teacher?)
I'm a little lazy to create / search my own gifs but these are representative of what I mean. In the first, she is spinning around a broom. It seems about 3-4 frames (maybe it's 5-6) with these extra bits thrown in, supposedly to give a sense of illusion but my eyes just pick up on them right away.
Also in the second picture her head repeats the same animation 2-3 times, and it's pretty jarring there as well.
There are other examples as well.When going up/down the tower, anytime something happens with just the sky as background
Are you talking about the totally rotoscoped out the anus stuff?
Theonik said:The whole thing was animated on twos so it has a much much higher frame count to 99% of anime out there. I thought it looked super smooth for the most part.
The animation is goddamn AMAZING and the number one reason to watch this. Yes, the framerate is lower than western animation. It's anime, you come to expect this. The big deal is that the keyframes are incredible.
The cartooniness is an asset. I didn't want to see characters dying and I didn't mind the outlandish slapstick. It's total escapism by design, and it works.
Also there actually is an upskirt shot
I can't speak for anyone else but the main joy of Little Witch Academia for me was how marvelous it looked. As someone who likes cartoons I thought it looked fantastic. Being in 2D animation made it even better. The story itself wasn't anything remarkable but it was well-told, sweet, and fun and that's why I enjoyed it.
I'm not sure what you expected in terms of world building or plot from this film. There's a limit to what you can do in 26 minutes. Yoshinari chose to make an incredibly fun and well-animated tribute to the cartoons that he loves. I'm plenty happy with that.
Edit: beaten like one of Sucy's victims.
This is all true. There is nothing novel about any of the plot elements at all.
This is also true. The spells did what you would expect. I'm not sure that's a "negative", though.
Remember, though, that this short is designed as a training project for young animators of the future. I don't think it's ever been advertised as some kind of revolutionary piece of storytelling.
Well, it is a cartoon. I can understand this being a negative for you, of course, but I don't think it ever really set out to be a life-and-death kind of story. People don't die all the time in all sorts of media, particularly something like this which is perfect for kids to watch.
I think this is probably a stylistic thing that you don't like. You've obviously watched anime before - do you watch anime TV series or just movies? What would you say is an example of high budget animation in anime?
Regardless of the "low framerate" or whatever, it's the inventiveness of the keyframes and movement that makes Little Witch Academia stand out really. Perhaps it's because it's "cartoony" that you don't like it?
I think you're missing what people liked about it. It is precisely the vibrant colours, music etc. that people are enjoying so much. It's not complex, but it's fun and entertaining and nicely animated. That's what's so good - not the Harry Potter/Worst Witch knockoff story and characters.
Well, this short had a much larger budget than the vast majority of anime, so I can't imagine you like much anime if this looked cheap to you. Anime is a limited animation medium, which means they take a lot of shortcuts because it's just too expensive otherwise. But within that medium several generations of great artists have spent decades honing their craft; it's not just about how many frames you have, but how you use them. On the extreme end of this you have Mitsuo Iso, who doesn't allow inbetweeners to touch his work, resulting in a low framerate, but the tradeoff is that every frame is a keyframe, so he has total control of every nuance of the animation.
Just watched it, absolutely loved it.
Cowboy Bebop is rotoscoped out the wazoo too. Sounds like you're not a fan of 'creative' inbetweening, which is honestly what attracts me to any animation more than any other in an age of CGI everywhere.
Cowboy Bebop is rotoscoped out the wazoo too.
How do you think those spaceships fly? All rotoscoped to be as accurate as possible.No . . . no.
No.
Just no.
No . . . no.
No.
Just no.
Watanabe also rotoscoped the shit outta Kids on the Slope. What a hack.Well the movie at least, direct from Bruce Lee footage.
iirc they used reference material but didn't rotoscope.Watanabe also rotoscoped the shit outta Kids on the Slope. What a hack.
iirc they used reference material but didn't rotoscope.
I can assure you no panties are involved.god DAMMIT
It's not on any level as bad as you're probably imagining.god DAMMIT
Nah, it was rotoscope city for the music bits (understandable) and also at least a fight or two which looked ultra clumsy as a result
[*]Characters follow tropes pretty closely. Completely flat, except maybe Sucy.
iirc they used reference material but didn't rotoscope.
Thanks for the Mitsuo Iso link!
I like some anime, as well as other animation. I usually watch all the Oscar nominated shorts as well as stuff on shortoftheweek.com in addition to what makes it through the AnimeGAF filter. I really enjoyed Cowboy Bebop, Gurren Lagann, Honey and Clover, among others.
I didn't mean to make it into a framerate pissing contest. In some ways, my favorite thing about animation is that it is low budget. Specifically, that given the low budget, the creators are able to take more risks and create new worlds, new ideas, new characters that have never been seen before. With traditional films or TV shows, creating a world that is far different from our own is expensive. A police drama is far cheaper to produce given how little needs to be changed.
Based on my reading of Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud and Story by Robert McKee, I have come to the following thoughts:
- Books are "cheapest" to produce, resulting in a large variety, but time consuming (LOTR movie shorter than reading the book) and rely on imagination
- Static Comics are relatively cheap as well and are quick to consume (efficient at conveying information), but ultimately limited by lack of popular interest
- Theatre/plays are somewhat cheap to create but also typically rely on imagination
- Live-action TV/Film requires relatively little imagination, but expensive
In the same way that Ghost in the Shell predated the Matrix (I know they're actually very different), animation has the potential to be "cutting-edge" in storytelling compared to other visual media.
But in the absence of an interesting or engaging world, my mind starts focusing on the details. And that's ultimately probably why it seemed low budget.
Conclusions:
Based on the great feedback from others above, I realize now that:
- This show seems to be enjoyed for its youthful fun, energy, vibrancy
- Compared to most anime it seems more engaging, better animated
- Effectively tells a story in a short time with good music and pacing
None of those are "enough" for me to consider this a great short, because I am mostly looking for creative and imaginative stories that surprise me, and am willing to overlook the animation flaws. Given that I felt LWA failed to surprise me, I assumed people liked it so much for the animation itself, hence why I started looking for (and found) flaws that I probably would not have noticed in a more intellectually engaging show.
Hopefully in this process of discovery I did not offend anyone. I am glad you enjoyed the short and thank you for helping me understand why. Please let me know if I misunderstood something.
Probably Mugi's dad's illegitimate Spanish daughter.ponpo's favorite, eyebrow witch:
I can assure you no panties are involved.
Are you a graduate student with too much spare time on your hands? Nobody gives a shit, just enjoy it.
I don't agree with him either but he disclosed his reasoning and clarified his stance once explanations were given. No need to be rude.
I agree with trejo. Besides,duckroll is AnimeGAF's official rude poster.
god DAMMIT
You would have known to watch it already if you kept in touch with AnimeGAF!Look at this shit. Why haven't I watched it yet?
I need it.
It's tamer than Kiki's Delivery Service.
I'm sorry, it's hard. ;_; I've been too busy recently.You would have known to watch it already if you kept in touch with AnimeGAF!
I don't know, that Shiny Chariot fraud is wearing some scandalous outfits.Ecchi is a none issue in LWA, its upbeat and fun.
iirc they used reference material but didn't rotoscope.
Yeah, in that sense I think this article commented/implied that the captured video of the performances was used as more than just reference for the animators:Nah, it was rotoscope city for the music bits (understandable) and also at least a fight or two which looked ultra clumsy as a result
I don't know, that Shiny Chariot fraud is wearing some scandalous outfits.
To explain it for non-anime fans on GAF: this is one of those rare occurrences where you'll probably enjoy watching it even if you don't like anime.
Quoting because bottom of the page sucks.Trigger just uploaded an official copy of the entire movie, with English subtitles, to their YouTube channel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjyhka0lM5Y
If you somehow haven't already, go watch it now. No excuse.
Awesome, glad to hear you liked it. I hope other people who aren't big on anime give this a shot now that the whole thing seems to be up legally on YouTube.Nailed it. I've watched a handful of episodes from various anime series, and I couldn't name one that I liked enough to go back to.
This on the other hand was pretty great. Fairly derivative obviously, but really nice animation, interesting characters and a really good sense of pace. I'd go back and watch more, if there was more.