Animation is one of the fundamental elements that captivates and keeps fans immersed in anime . However, a phenomenon that has frequently generated discussions among fans is the change in animation quality between different seasons of a series. Recently, a debate on Reddit brought to light some examples of anime that underwent significant transformations in their animation throughout the seasons.
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We attribute the shift to superior animation in subsequent seasons to several factors. The success of the first season, for example, can attract more funding , allowing animation studios to invest in better resources and hire more experienced animators. This translates into smoother animation, more refined details, and improved visual consistency. Furthermore, audience feedback allows creators to clearly understand which aspects they need to adjust and refine to better meet audience expectations.
Tight deadlines are another common problem. Therefore, the pressure to release a second season quickly can lead to rushed production, compromising the quality of the animation. Overwork among animators is a recurring problem in the anime industry. Long hours and lack of rest can lead to burnout and lack of motivation, negatively impacting the quality of the work.
Check out the list of anime that changed their animation style between seasons
Yakusoku no Neverland
The infamous second season of Yakusoku no Neverland. The story quality improved, but the production didn't follow suit.
Hataraku Maou-sama
The difference between the two seasons is almost 10 years. The first season is significantly better than the second in every way: quality, animation, plot, characters, and their motivations. As a fan, I was happy that a good anime got a new season after many years, but the second season was a huge downhill slide.
Nanatsu no Taizai
The first two seasons, animated by A1 Pictures, were impressive, but the third and fourth, produced by Studio DEEN, were awful.
World Trigger
Seasons 2 and 3 showed a significant improvement over the first season.
Gunslinger Girl
The two seasons, released four years apart, showed a drastic change in direction and style. The theme became darker, while the character design and everything else became brighter and less detailed.
- Kingdom: The series improves as the seasons progress. The first season has a lot of bad CGI, but it's also criticized for its heavy censorship and for skipping plot arcs.
- Initial D: Throughout its numerous seasons and films, there have been many changes in animation and character design, making some characters almost unrecognizable compared to their previous depictions.
- Golden Kamuy: The further it progresses, the higher its quality. The same goes for Kingdom.
Other anime have also gained prominence among fans
- The Rising of the Shield Hero: The change in quality between the first and second seasons makes you wonder if it's the same series.
- Knights of Sidonia: The first season was a science fiction anime about space battles, while the second season turned into a harem anime.
- K-On !: There was a significant difference between its seasons. Not in the animation, but in the writing and pacing. The first season covers 2.5 volumes of the manga, while the second covers 1.5 volumes, but is twice as long. This shows how much KyoAni expanded the script. While the first season was a relatively solid series, the second became the best slice-of-life anime and one of the three 10/10s I've ever seen.
- Danmachi: The fourth season far surpassed the previous ones. The second season of Clannad was a huge step forward. Graphically, the later seasons of Kingdom improved a lot. The first season was terrible.
- Oregairu: They completely changed the studios and the style between the first and second seasons. They even changed the protagonist's hair color from green to blue.
- It's an obvious answer, but the drop in quality between the first and second seasons of One Punch Man . Personally, I don't think it's terrible, since it still has humor and fun, but the animation made the first season exceptional, so the difference really stands out.
Finally, these were some anime that had their animation altered with a change of season. Also, comment what you thought and don't forget to follow AnimeNew on our WhatsApp and follow us on Google News .
Source: Reddit