Dragon Ball Super (DBS), despite its narrative highs and lows, often faces criticism for its inconsistent and sometimes downright poor animation quality. The core issue stems from a confluence of factors, including tight production schedules, budgetary constraints, reliance on freelance animators, and a shift in artistic direction that prioritizes speed over polish. This combination led to noticeable dips in animation quality, particularly during early episodes, impacting the overall viewer experience and tarnishing the legacy of the Dragon Ball franchise.
The Perfect Storm of Production Issues
While Dragon Ball Z is lauded for its iconic battles and dynamic animation, DBS struggled to consistently replicate that level of quality. The rapid turnaround time required for weekly episodes, combined with budget allocation, created a situation where animators were forced to prioritize speed over meticulous detail.
Tight Deadlines and Rushed Production
One of the biggest culprits behind the inconsistent animation is the incredibly demanding production schedule. Weekly anime releases necessitate a rapid turnaround time, leaving little room for error correction or polish. Animators are often forced to cut corners, leading to animation errors and inconsistencies. Unlike movies or OVAs that have months or even years in production, weekly anime series like DBS are under immense pressure to deliver content quickly. This relentless pace leaves limited time for quality control and refinement, resulting in rushed and subpar animation in certain episodes.
Budgetary Constraints and Outsourcing
Anime production, like any creative endeavor, is subject to budget limitations. While Dragon Ball is a massive franchise, the animation budget allocated to DBS might not have been sufficient to consistently maintain a high level of animation quality. Outsourcing animation to various studios, particularly those with less experience or lower pay scales, is a common practice in the industry to manage costs. While outsourcing isn’t inherently bad, it can lead to inconsistencies in style and quality if not properly managed. The varying skill levels and artistic approaches of different studios can create noticeable disparities in the animation, further contributing to the perceived “bad” animation.
Reliance on Freelance Animators
The anime industry heavily relies on freelance animators. While many are incredibly talented, the variability in skill level and experience within the freelance pool can contribute to inconsistencies in animation quality. Supervising and coordinating a large team of freelance animators to maintain a consistent style and level of quality is a challenging task. The pressure of deadlines and budget constraints can further exacerbate the issues arising from relying on a diverse pool of freelance talent.
Artistic Choices and Evolution
Beyond production issues, some argue that the artistic choices made during the development of DBS contributed to the perception of subpar animation.
Shift in Artistic Direction
While maintaining the core character designs, the overall artistic style of DBS differed somewhat from Dragon Ball Z. Some viewers found the cleaner, more digital look less appealing compared to the hand-drawn, more traditionally animated style of its predecessor. This shift in artistic direction, while not inherently bad, contributed to the perception that the animation was less dynamic or impactful. Furthermore, certain character designs, particularly in the early episodes, were criticized for being inconsistent or poorly drawn.
Prioritization of Speed over Detail
The production team’s focus on delivering content quickly often came at the expense of detail and polish. Complex action sequences, which were a hallmark of Dragon Ball Z, sometimes appeared rushed or poorly animated in DBS. The lack of attention to detail in character movements, background elements, and visual effects contributed to the perception of lower quality animation. While speed is important for meeting deadlines, prioritizing it over detail can significantly impact the overall visual appeal of the anime.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About DBS Animation
1. Why were the early episodes of DBS so poorly animated?
The early episodes suffered from the combined effects of a rushed production schedule, budget limitations, and reliance on less experienced animators. This resulted in noticeable animation errors, inconsistent character designs, and a general lack of polish. The now infamous “Vegeta Bingo” scene is a prime example of the poor animation quality that plagued the early stages of DBS.
2. Did the animation quality improve later in the series?
Yes, the animation quality did generally improve as the series progressed. As the production team gained experience and potentially secured more resources, the animation became more consistent and polished. The “Tournament of Power” arc, in particular, featured some of the best animation in the entire series.
3. Was there a specific animation studio responsible for the “bad” animation?
Toei Animation is the primary studio responsible for Dragon Ball Super. However, they outsource animation work to various other studios. Identifying a single “bad” studio is difficult, as the inconsistencies likely stemmed from a combination of factors across different studios and individual animators.
4. What role did the directors play in the animation quality?
The directors play a crucial role in overseeing the animation process and ensuring that the final product meets a certain standard. However, their ability to influence the animation quality can be limited by factors such as the budget, schedule, and the availability of skilled animators. Strong directing can mitigate some of the negative effects of production constraints, but it cannot completely overcome them.
5. How does DBS animation compare to Dragon Ball Z Kai’s animation?
Dragon Ball Z Kai was a remastered version of Dragon Ball Z, with improved visuals and a streamlined storyline. While Z Kai also had its share of animation errors, many fans considered it to be a visual upgrade over the original Dragon Ball Z. DBS, in contrast, was an entirely new series, and its animation quality was often compared unfavorably to both Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Z Kai.
6. What is the difference between animation quality and art style?
Animation quality refers to the technical aspects of animation, such as fluidity of movement, consistency of character designs, and attention to detail. Art style, on the other hand, refers to the overall aesthetic and visual design of the anime. While the two are related, it’s possible to have good art style with poor animation quality, or vice versa.
7. Was the animation better in the Dragon Ball Super movies (Broly, Super Hero)?
Yes, the animation in the Dragon Ball Super movies, particularly Dragon Ball Super: Broly, was significantly better than the animation in the television series. This is due to the longer production time, larger budget, and more focused attention on visual detail that is typically allocated to film projects. Dragon Ball Super: Broly is widely praised for its dynamic and visually stunning animation.
8. Did fan criticism influence the improvement in animation quality later in DBS?
While it’s difficult to definitively prove a direct causal relationship, it’s likely that fan criticism played a role in influencing the improvement in animation quality. Anime studios are generally responsive to fan feedback, and the widespread criticism of the early episodes of DBS likely prompted Toei Animation to address the issues and allocate more resources to improving the animation.
9. What are some specific examples of “bad” animation in DBS?
Examples include inconsistent character designs (e.g., Vegeta’s face in early episodes), poorly drawn fight scenes, and static or unnatural character movements. The aforementioned “Vegeta Bingo” scene is a particularly egregious example.
10. How does the animation in DBS compare to other modern anime series?
Compared to some other modern anime series with large budgets and longer production schedules, DBS animation often fell short. Series like Demon Slayer and Attack on Titan have consistently delivered visually stunning animation, raising the bar for the entire industry. However, it’s important to acknowledge that DBS had a weekly release schedule, which placed significant constraints on production.
11. Why didn’t Toei Animation prioritize better animation given the popularity of Dragon Ball?
While Dragon Ball is undeniably popular, production constraints and budgetary considerations are realities that even the most successful franchises face. The pressure to deliver weekly episodes quickly can often outweigh the desire to produce flawless animation. There is also a business calculation involved, where the studio may determine that the existing level of animation is “good enough” to satisfy a large enough audience.
12. Will the animation in future Dragon Ball projects be better?
Given the success of the Dragon Ball Super movies and the lessons learned from the TV series, it’s reasonable to expect that future Dragon Ball projects will prioritize higher animation quality. The increased budget and longer production time typically allocated to films, combined with the understanding that fans demand better animation, suggests that future projects will strive to deliver a more visually impressive experience.