Little Busters! approaches with an October release – and a new PV has been shared to show off what exactly one should anticipate with this project of animation destined to either succeed immensely, or fail.
Watching the PV below, the first few seconds do not impress – effects reminiscent of PowerPoint presentations, with generic upbeat music, are not the sort of traits carried by triple-A series, or even those of a modest composition. However getting past the title screen, the feelings become more mixed – the video exhibits a series of characters making slight and heavily accented motions atop of assorted backdrops, and while the visuals don’t strike with any distinct “wow factor”, the animation is looking fairly fluid.
Although even with that slight amount of promise, it’s simply too difficult to deny that the PV looks plain horrible in the sense that around the half-way mark, when scenes from the actual anime are shown, the entire display appears heavily dated, lacking of detail, bland, and in other words “expired”. Taking notice of the scene at a minute and 13 seconds into the PV, it looks as if the art was expertly done in MS Paint – and the walk cycles are absent of personality to the point it’s almost cringing to look at.
The exact minute mark in the video perhaps shows the most rewarding frame in the entire PV – although that one rather fine sight alone does not do much to raise hopes when the remaining majority are all of a caliber which seems to hardly even rival series of five years ago.
It’ll still be worth watching the first episode or so, of course, in order for one to assess the anime themselves – yet the PV, particularly the MS Paint reminiscent scenery, is heavily disconcerting of what sort of mess has possibly been made and brought upon the world.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 7:54 CDT
I’m not seeing the problem. I’m sure this will be good, and most will praise it.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 8:31 CDT
Are you seeing the grass at 1:13 that looks like it was colored with the Paint gradient tool?
Or how about how all the characters run in an identical broken manner?
Jul 29, 2012 @ 9:28 CDT
Paint doesn’t have a gradient tool.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 9:51 CDT
They probably upgraded to Paint .Net.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 10:52 CDT
I think, that scene is more of like a symbol than showcase of final art as I believe that scene did not happen in VN (but I may be wrong and already have forgotten that).
It seems to me, that your opinions are rather biased, because of JCStaff.
I gave up hope, that it will have the artistic quality KyoAni gave to Clannad, but still I think, that it will not be as bas as you might think.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 13:13 CDT
A scene is shown in the PV with horrible art quality and to call it “horrible” is being biased against JC Staff?
Let me quote the article for you:
“The exact minute mark in the video perhaps shows the most rewarding frame in the entire PV – although that one rather fine sight alone does not do much to raise hopes when the remaining majority are all of a caliber which seems to hardly even rival series of five years ago.”
When the visuals are impressive, they’re regarded as such:
http://seventhstyle.com/2012/06/28/little-busters-character-key-visuals/
In this case they’re not.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 8:11 CDT
Apart from the stupid pic at 0:19, this doesn’t look all too bad… I didn’t have high hopes for this anime to begin with so I guess it could have been worse.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 8:32 CDT
It can certainly always get worse, though there’s not much to get worse from in this case.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 8:40 CDT
My favorite part of this PV is at 0:26 – 0:31.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 9:43 CDT
For me, it is 0:54 ;)
Jul 29, 2012 @ 10:03 CDT
I say it’s OK…not as bad as I thought it might be. I’d give it a shot.
(a little me inside my head is still sulking that it’s not KyoAni, though…)
Jul 29, 2012 @ 12:19 CDT
totally agree mr!! i just hope j.c won’t screw up…
Jul 29, 2012 @ 14:20 CDT
“i just hope j.c won’t screw up…”
That’s like hoping cows don’t go “moo” tomorrow.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 14:19 CDT
“not as bad as I thought it might be”
They could have been stick figures.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 14:26 CDT
So, if the animation is bad, then the anime must be bad too? Well, PV isn’t something amazing, they could have done it better… I agree that animation is very important part, but not the most. Sure, horrible animation is a huge minus. The more they aim for, the more they fall. Well, there’s still a chance, that they will succeed, although, from what we have so far it doesn’t seem so.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 14:38 CDT
The only bad part that I noticed was 0:20
Characters faces looks…poor(specially Kyousuke). But animation isn’t everything, gotta wait until the anime airs.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 15:05 CDT
I’m disagreeing with everyone saying the animation or visuals aren’t the most important – if you just want a good story, go read a book. Although that’s likely another topic in itself.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 15:22 CDT
So, in other words – if an anime has good animation, then it’s good?
Jul 29, 2012 @ 15:24 CDT
Not sure where you got that from – although if an anime has terrible animation, then it’s a terrible anime.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 15:45 CDT
Doesn’t that make everything equal?
Jul 29, 2012 @ 15:47 CDT
What does a terrible anime make equal?
Jul 29, 2012 @ 15:53 CDT
I mean art and storyline are quite equally important and reflects on each other. If we compared animes like Hyouka and FMA BH, then Hyouka has better animation but worse story than FMA BH. Which one would you give a higher score?
Jul 29, 2012 @ 15:55 CDT
It’s illogical to compare a highschool slice of life to a supernatural action series to begin with.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 16:02 CDT
I haven’t watched Hyouka but said it as an example because as much as I know the animation is beautiful. So, let’s say, you would rate FMA BH higher, not because of it’s animation, but cause it’s more interesting and fun, and has a better storyline. I think we should end it, our opinions won’t match at this point and no one will prove their beliefs onto others.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 16:08 CDT
“you would rate”
Only I didn’t – you did though apparently.
“but cause it’s more interesting and fun, and has a better storyline.”
Even though you say you haven’t watched Hyouka to compare.
“I think we should end it, our opinions won’t match at this point and no one will prove their beliefs onto others.”
I agree – although I just want to point out, a simpler plot doesn’t mean it’s inferior. I’d rather live in a renowned five room mansion with granite surfaces and expensive Italian tile floors than a castle of 200 quarters, rats, dirt, and stink.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 16:23 CDT
I’ve dropped FMA BH after few episodes (I might continue someday, maybe), it annoys me when they add a lame joke to a very serious moment, etc. I gave an example of how animes score on certain anime websites (summed up opinions). Anyway, it’s just my opinion that storyline is more important than animation (animation is still very important (second)).
Jul 29, 2012 @ 16:27 CDT
That’s all fine – no worries.
On another note though, unrelated to visuals, story, and whatever, I dislike the idea of rating anime, or anything, numerically.
Stuff differs too much to put them all on the same scale – it bothers me when I see that on IGN or similar.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 16:37 CDT
Yeah, rating anime in numbers is kinda weird. Low score doesn’t mean that YOU won’t like it. I’d like to see anime ratings by emotions it gives (not numbers, but emotions, feelings, thoughts), yeah, that’s quite a nonsense.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 15:25 CDT
As long as the animation is good then no need to worry. To me, I think animation and visuals are important, however, the showcase of what is given from the beginning of the first episode and the end of the episode are also important to me as well – it will depend on one’s interest after all.
This preview isn’t that bad except the grass at 1:13 is way off. The studio could’ve added more to it, but guess not.
Keep in mind that more previews will come out later. Some of the previews I watch looks horrible, but as more previews are being shown later, it’ll probably become better.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 15:32 CDT
“As long as the animation is good then no need to worry.”
The problem is the animation isn’t good.
“showcase of what is given from the beginning of the first episode and the end of the episode are also important”
We call that “the animation”. If you’re referring to the story, then yes it’s obviously important – but if this anime was made with stick figures, would you enjoy it as much? No, you’re unlikely to even give the anime a chance if that were the case. Little Busters isn’t made with stick figures, but it’s made with lackluster animation – visuals are integral, and that’s a major issue.
If sub-par visuals don’t bother you, that’s just fine – but it doesn’t stop the fact that the anime will be barely elevated on the quality scale.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 16:12 CDT
Ouch, the animation isn’t that good. That’s not too promising, but I was never a stickler for good animation. Seven can attest to my lack of artistic analysis ability hahaha.
I’m more worried about JC staff screwing the heck out of the over-arching plot. Little Busters has some fairly significant plot twists that are somewhat difficult to adapt into anime. I wouldn’t be so worried if it was KyoAni since they have a proven track record of successfully adapting Key’s weirdness into great anime. However, JC staff seems much more adept at mindless moe-blob fun, as seen in Zero no Tsukaima.
Granted, Little Busters has it’s own share of mindless moe blob fun that I would like to see, but that’s only half the story. It would be a shame if Little Buster’s full potential was squashed thanks to the studio not being up to par, but I’ll keep my hopes up! As long as I get my fix of Rin goodness I’ll be satisfied.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 16:31 CDT
“As long as I get my fix of Rin goodness I’ll be satisfied.”
Ebiten is a pretty bad ongoing series, and it has a NicoNico user approval of around 60%, although I do enjoy looking through images of the episodes every week.
http://i.imgur.com/Nkdog.jpg
Jul 29, 2012 @ 16:38 CDT
Little busters sure is overrated now nothing but serious discussion everywhere.Only hardcore anime fans would care about it so much
Jul 29, 2012 @ 16:57 CDT
I barely watch more than 2 anime series a season and am hyped about this.
Also, how do you know it’s overrated if you never played/watched it? What a stupid comment *facepalm*
Jul 29, 2012 @ 17:00 CDT
One facepalm alone is not enough to suffice for the stupidity.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 18:51 CDT
I just feel that you all take anime way too seriously
Jul 29, 2012 @ 18:55 CDT
And that’s why you’re on a site about anime – a multi-billion yen industry in Japan involving thousands within the production side, and millions in the fanbase.
Jul 29, 2012 @ 18:51 CDT
Because of all the serious discussions about it
Jul 29, 2012 @ 19:12 CDT
If you don’t want to read serious discussions about anime, then you’re on the wrong site.
Jul 30, 2012 @ 9:15 CDT
Well let’s wait and see if its good or not….
Nov 16, 2012 @ 16:36 CDT
It has good animation. Just because the animation is bad for a few seconds doesn’t mean that you need to drop it…
Nov 16, 2012 @ 16:54 CDT
The problem is it doesn’t have good animation.