The use of CGI, especially 3DCG (three-dimensional computer graphics), in the anime industry has always sparked debate. Many fans often criticize any film that “dares” to use this animation technique in a series. This has certainly been the case with the third season of the anime “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Swordsmith Village Arc.”
In this season, Gyokko – one of the Upper Moons under Kibutsuji Muzan – releases a significant number of fish-like creatures to invade the village and terrorize its residents. Despite the overwhelming strength of these beings, they do not pose a significant threat to characters like Mitsuri Kanroji and Muichiro Tokito.
When a 2D character and a 3D character appear in the same scene, there is often a noticeable discrepancy, especially when the 3D character is rendered in a way that feels out of place. This “incompatibility” is typically the first observation viewers make.
However, this issue is not simply due to poor design or animation quality; it primarily arises from the fact that a 3D product appearing alongside a 2D character can create confusion for the audience. In fact, there are other scenes that also utilize 3DCG, but they are either limited to specific segments or in fast-paced sequences that do not draw much attention.
Here are some comments from netizens regarding this issue:
– The 3D aspect is only present for a few seconds, so it doesn’t really matter.
– Why do they decide to use CGI? It’s just a fish!
– I think CGI has improved compared to previous seasons, but it’s still at an average level. I don’t know why it feels so disjointed; CGI shouldn’t become a trademark of Ufotable.
– It integrates well with the background, but the movements are hard to comprehend.
– The techniques, animations, and models are executed quite well; only the artistic quality stands out, but when the 3D model clearly contrasts with the 2D environment, it makes everything seem off.
– For these kinds of scenes, viewers expect Ufotable to create animations in 2D. I had hoped that CGI appearing in the first part wouldn’t signal an increased use of CGI in future episodes, but I was mistaken.
– The introduction of CGI has led to the decline of “Demon Slayer.” This has been one of the most disappointing aspects of incorporating 3D elements.
– CGI has stunning visuals and realistic moving creatures. However, Ufotable seems to falter in the artistic realm. Nevertheless, this doesn’t matter much as it only lasts for a few seconds.
