One of the main reasons why anime has captivated audiences thus far is its 2d hand-drawn animation sequences which can bring out the depth of its stories more while completely engrossing fans.
However, in recent times, we have seen a shift from this norm as more and more animation studios are incorporating elements of 3d in their series. While the more purist fans who have become accustomed to 2d are highly disappointed by this, there are still many who see this as a good sign for the future.
Looking into the future, it is clear that the incorporation of 3D animation into the anime medium has enormous promise and opens up a whole new world of creative possibilities.
Appeal of 3d
Several reputable animating studios such as Disney have become renowned for their work using 3d animation and bringing a life-like realism through this technology. There are many reasons for 3d being desirable for both creators and fans:
With 3d, Environments and backgrounds can be drawn in more detail, providing a more dynamic and engaging setting for the story.
With the use of 3D models, complex camera movements are possible, enhancing dramatic and action sequences.
Designs and accessories of characters can also be completely revitalized and looked at through a new perspective, bringing a fresh new aesthetic to anime.
Through 3d, many mangas and other source materials which are extremely hard to replicate through 2d can be made while bringing a whole new world of imagery and visual effects to life.
In a time when advancement in well-known 2d animation seems to be stagnating, this could be just the thing that brings more fans to start watching anime on a global level.
3d anime vs CGI
3D anime and CGI animation both utilize 3D computer graphics but in different ways. 3D anime uses 3D CG mainly for background environments and spaces while retaining traditional 2D anime aesthetics and animation for the characters.
This allows for more dynamic depth and camera angles compared to 2D while keeping the stylized anime look. In contrast, CGI aims to create much more photorealistic 3D worlds and characters by using 3D models, textures, motion capture, and advanced simulation.
CGI requires building, animating, and rendering all assets in 3D, which is more complex and costly than 3D anime’s hybrid approach. While 3D anime still relies heavily on hand-drawn techniques, CGI makes greater use of automation, algorithms, and physics to achieve naturalistic movement and realism.
Overall, 3D anime balances anime expressiveness with 3D perspective, whereas CGI focuses on full 3D realism. The distinctions are not absolute, but this summarizes the core differences between the mediums’ contrasting aesthetics and production methods
Is 3d the Future?
While it is certain that anime watchers will be hesitant to easily adopt 3d, we have already seen in animes such as Land of the Lustrous, where 2d would have been unimaginable, that it is highly possible to bring this technology to anime.
At the same time, the hand-drawn, personalized feeling of 2d animation is also characteristic of what gives anime its name. Therefore, to ensure that they retain their fan bases while also adapting to the changing structure of technology.
It would become imperative for studios to find a way to blend 2d and 3d while bringing forward a new era of stunning visuals to accompany the excellent stories to tell.
