Home Entertainment The new Berserk animated series looks…weird

The new Berserk animated series looks…weird

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Berserk (2)

I’m a huge fan of animation. I think of it as an art form, an idea that doesn’t get the same amount of respect as a Jackson Pollock paint enema or a Dadaist toilet installation. And that’s a shame, because traditional 2D animation is a bridge between modern and older techniques of art, mixing digital advances with hard-earned talent.

But lately, there’s also been a shift towards a more three dimensional form of animation. On paper, it makes sense: Cheaper production values, quicker turnaround times on episodes and kids are stupid enough to fall for this each and every single time. But what about a merger between 3D and 2D? It’s not exactly un-possible. In fact, its been done plenty of times over the years, as 3D models sport cel-shaded designs to give them a more graphic visual style.

And in short bursts, that works. But maintaining that ceaseless look over multiple minutes and hours? It’s just…weird. It’s something we got a taste of in the original video animations for Berserk, which blended the two styles, using 2D animation for more serene sequences and 3D models for the bigger action set pieces. But with a new Berserk anime on the way, the 2D and 3D marriage is looking downright odd:

Something’s missing, right? Anime forums are massively divided right now over this art direction. Some call it cheap, others think its the right kind of gritty. And I’m straddling a fence like some sort of pervert with a very specific picket fetish over this style. Whatever the end result, I’m still damn excited to finally see the Berserk tale progress further, covering newer arcs that previous series never had the time or budget to adapt. The Berserk manga is dark, gruesome and ultra-violent stuff, but also legendary for its unique visuals.

Hopefully this early look, leads to something better along the way as 90 seconds just isn’t enough.

Last Updated: June 14, 2016

10 Comments

  1. Eh, I think it looks fine. Honestly, it’s more of an adjustment issue rather than a quality issue. If not for the CG, you’d have cheaty and cheap animation instead 😛

    Glad to see a series covering events beyond the Eclipse event, though 😀

    Reply

  2. Johann

    June 14, 2016 at 13:26

    It does look funny yeah, maybe just because we’re not used to it? I don’t know, I still prefer the old school 2D anime art.

    Reply

    • jona ruiz

      October 7, 2016 at 15:18

      did you watch the 3 berserk movies??? that 3D was way better than this one

      Reply

  3. Deceased

    June 14, 2016 at 14:05

    Well, I’ve never been a fan of the whole 3D feel in anime – but this actually looks good :O

    Reply

  4. Nathan

    June 16, 2016 at 04:16

    I definitely understand the puzzlement the trailers have left people with. And while I do much prefer 2D animation to 3D, I think the key issue is that the Berserk manga is SOOO detailed that capturing it in animated form is incredibly difficult. You either get it with a little less detail in 2D art, but the animation is choppy (ala the 90s series), or you maintain the artwork, but get bizarre 2D-esque CG animation (ala the movies and this series.) Personally, whatever gets it on the screen is ok in my book. We’ll see how it goes.

    Reply

  5. ConcernedEuropean

    June 19, 2016 at 11:39

    Basically its impossible to say until the final product comes out next month.
    Could be crap or could honestly be very good looking.

    Reply

  6. Justyna Przybylska

    July 12, 2016 at 14:22

    It’s look like shit, they move like wood. I prefer old version. I hope they’ll resign from that 3D shit.I couldn’t focus on story of anime because of that crap.

    Reply

  7. le minou

    August 8, 2016 at 14:50

    I don’t mind CGI, but I actually don’t like the art style. Feel like it doesn’t properly portray the characters.

    Reply

  8. Kitty Star

    August 14, 2016 at 03:38

    lol wtf? this has got to be the dumbest thing I have heard anyone say about Berserk. Looks to me like a bunch of old dinosaurs are upset that anime looks better these days. And is made in a more creative by far superior way then the shitty looking stuff they worship…

    This is a very very clear no brainer that this is better. And from a professional artist l point of view like myself. Not sure why people hate on things that are better lol its so childish. But most of America is this way… I see it all the time with music too. A song will come out and get 20 million views in the first month so all these jellos loser american type people will automatically hate the song even though there is zero argument. It will be clear as day and night that its the most amazing song released in decades. Things are popular because they are good! plain and simple. they are doing the same thing with this anime here. It looks better so it angers them that something is better then something they like lol typical American way of thinking. I catch these types singing along with these songs over and over daily when they think nobody can hear lol. Then if you bring up the song they will get furious!! And go on and on how it sucks simply because its good and popular lol. Heaven forbid something you like is popular!!! how uncool lmao… So they pretend they don’t like it or talk shit based the fact and only the fact its better and popular. That’s Americans for you they think life is a race and a competition and they all have to be better! lolz and most of these idiots actually believe it too lol.

    Anyhow just wanted to see what this idiots reasoning was for why its weird looking… and well they had no reason they simply explained why its so bad ass and looks so good is all. Apparently they suffer from the new increasingly acquired mental disease called American lolz this needs a name… Like American Brained. or how about American Syndrome like Down Syndrome… lol

    This is what I get for looking something up on the internet some dip shit as usual spewing garbage because they have American Syndrome… I should know better by now.

    Reply

    • Kodo

      August 26, 2016 at 12:11

      A human being wrote this and thought it was a coherent argument.

      Reply

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