Attack on Titan: did the animation in S4 Part 1 ruin the series?

Key changes in animation have taken place in Season 4 Part 1 of Attack On Titan. How has that turned out?

The much anticipated Season 4 of ‘Attack On Titan’ has finally come out, so fans can finally get the closure they were looking for. If you are new to this, then you should know that ‘Attack On Titan’ (Japanese: Shingeki No Kyojin), is a Japanese anime that has gained extreme popularity ever since the first season aired on TV. The series’ novelty and quality, along with its widespread memes, have made it one of the most discussed topics in the anime community.

One of those points raised, has been the change in animation and art style, and the implementation of CGI in Season 4 Part 1. So, what did they change exactly, and how did that affect the quality of the anime?

1. Implementation of dominant CGI elements

First, and foremost, it came as a surprise that the producers would choose to use computer-generated models for the titans, instead of resorting to the established animation techniques. Perhaps the decision was backed by the fact that the CGI didn’t look that bad during the fight of Attack Titan with the Warhammer Titan. But still, it was too obvious, and the fans complained about it.

Attack Titan CGI (Season 4 Part 1).

It’s understandable that animation studios choose such techniques to save money and time, and reduce the workload of their animators, so they can focus on other projects at the same time. However, if you set the bar high from the start, anything below that will leave the audience with a bitter taste. As they say: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

2. Change of animation studio

Maybe fans don’t know this, but the animation in the final season is done by MAPPA Co. Ltd., while up to Season 3, it was handled by WIT Studio Inc. This means that, even if the producers decided not to change the animation techniques and art style, the end product would still look different, as the animation artists and overall direction would be from different people with different perspectives. Such changes can be very obvious. For example, most anime fans can tell which animation studio has done the job without even looking it up.

As for the reasons why this change was made, it’s mainly attributed to the decision of producers wanting to expand the episodes cheaply. Though this discussion was held as early as during the production of Season 3, not many studios were up for the challenge, because it was a difficult task to maintain the high-quality animation of such a famous series. Just imagine the studio’s reputation if they failed. Only MAPPA Co. Ltd. was the one “ballsy” enough to accept the challenge.

3. The author’s wish

We can argue all day about which animation is superior, but at the end of the day, it boils down to the wishes of the creator himself: Hajime Isayama. The new style might be disliked by many, but it portrays the original manga much closer compared to the previous seasons. Therefore, it makes sense that this should be the “right version” as it depicts the author’s original style.

4. Comparison to previous seasons

The changes feel drastic in Season 4 Part 1 vs. all the previous seasons. The art style cannot be blamed, as it’s vastly different and subject to personal opinion. Also, as previously mentioned, it’s on par with the manga version of ‘Attack On Titan’, hence closer to the original source.

Eren’s famous “coordinate punch” (Season 2).

However, regarding the animation, MAPPA Co. Ltd. didn’t manage to deliver the same quality as WIT Studio Inc. did. The fluidity, the colors, the attention to detail, the dynamic shots, and many other elements were simply breathtaking in the previous seasons to be easily replicated. It makes sense now why many studios bailed out of this responsibility.

The iconic fight of Levi vs. the Beast Titan (Season 3).

Finally, certain CGI elements could be forgiven as they aren’t noticeable, but when the Titans themselves, which are the central idea of this show, are fully modeled by a computer, they really raise multiple questions. CGI can never match animators’ hands, as the expression, the realism, and fluidity in movements are simply not there. Watching those titans fight, gave me some ‘Berserk’ (2016) vibes, which I didn’t like. I believe, any studio taking on the task of animating ‘Attack On Titan’, should put in its utmost effort.

Conclusion

Attack On Titan: Season 4 Part 1 has sparked some debates due to the art and animation style changes. Some things are subject to personal taste, but others cannot avoid objective criticism. The quality is still there, but some decisions, such as the use of CGI, could have been avoided, and the focus should’ve been given to proper handmade animation.

What do you think about Season 4 Part 1?

Did you like the changes?

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