The Animators Behind Vegeta vs Tamagami 2

Summary

The speaker expresses mixed feelings about an episode of *Dragon Ball Daima* featuring Vegeta's Super Saiyan 3 debut. While excited by the character's victory, they critique the inconsistent animation quality, which they attribute to a small, stretched production team. Despite impressive moments, such as Yohei Sasaki's action and striking lighting during Vegeta's transformation, the episode's execution feels lacking, especially in underwater scenes. Ultimately, while it had potential, the episode doesn't fully deliver on the high expectations built around its climax. The speaker hopes future episodes will bring stronger direction and emotional depth.

Takeaways

• 😀 Vegeta finally gets a win and debuts his Super Saiyan 3 form in a major episode, but the animation quality doesn’t fully live up to the hype.
• 😀 Despite a talented staff and a promising storyboard, the episode’s animation falls short of expectations, with some parts feeling flat or lacking dynamism.
• 😀 The animation team for this episode is stretched thin, with many of the same animators reappearing across multiple episodes, leading to inconsistent results.
• 😀 Guest animators, such as Yohei Sasaki and Tadayoshi Yamamuro, deliver some of the best animated sequences, particularly during the Doo fight, rather than Vegeta’s climactic battle.
• 😀 The underwater scenes, while planned to be dramatic, fail to capture the intended scale and intensity, feeling small and lackluster due to poor layouts and background work.
• 😀 Yuichi Hamano’s effects animation stands out, especially in the action scenes, with fast-paced, snappy movements and great posing.
• 😀 Despite issues with certain scenes, the transformation into Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta is a visual highlight, with strong lighting and unique design choices for his hair.
• 😀 The episode’s overall lack of animation talent, particularly from regular staff, is cited as a major issue, as they simply don’t have enough time to meet the ambitious demands of such an episode.
• 😀 The episode’s biggest animation successes are attributed to the guest animators, whose sequences are intense and feature remarkable posing, speed, and weight.
• 😀 Despite some strong moments, the episode fails to reach the heights of previous climaxes in the series, leaving the reviewer feeling underwhelmed given the build-up.
• 😀 The review ends with cautious optimism for the next episode, which will feature Aya Komaki’s direction and is expected to offer a significant improvement in terms of animation and emotional impact.

Q & A

What was the initial reaction to Vegeta finally getting a win in the episode?

The initial reaction was one of excitement and surprise, as the person was thrilled to see Vegeta finally get a victory, but also expressed that they felt the episode didn't fully live up to expectations despite the build-up.

Why did the episode not live up to expectations despite having similar staff to episode 8?

The episode didn't reach the expected heights due to a combination of factors such as production limitations, resource allocation issues, and a lack of animation talent to meet the ambitious scope of the fight, despite the episode having the same core staff as a previously successful episode.

What concerns were raised about the show's production team?

The concerns were centered around the small size of the production team, which caused certain animators to be stretched too thin. Several animators appeared repeatedly in multiple episodes, leading to exhaustion and diminishing returns in animation quality.

How did the guest animators contribute to the episode?

Guest animators like Kozue, Takeshi Morita, Osamu Sakata, and Hiromi Ishigami were mentioned as providing high-quality animation in smaller episodes, but the concern was raised about why they weren't allocated to the major episodes like this one to help elevate the overall production.

What specific animation sequences were praised in this episode?

One of the most praised sequences was the action involving Vegeta, particularly the fast-paced and dynamic animation during his transformation. Yuichi Hamano's effects work also stood out, with sharp, stylish effects that added intensity to the fight.

What were the issues with the underwater sequences in the episode?

The underwater scenes suffered from poor layouts and mediocre background work, which led to the loss of the intended dramatic lighting and scale, making the moments feel flat and underwhelming despite the storyboard's clear intent for grandeur.

How did Vegeta's Super Saiyan 3 transformation compare to other characters' designs?

Vegeta's Super Saiyan 3 transformation was noted for its unique design, featuring a distinct hair look that resembled a blossoming flower or a mullet version of Gohan Beast's style, standing apart from the designs of Goku and Gotenks, who had more recognizable features for their forms.

What was the significance of the fight's ending sequence with Vegeta?

The ending sequence, where Vegeta delivers a punch with immense force, was highlighted as a fantastic representation of the character's cocky yet powerful attitude. The sweeping camera work and intense composition added to the scale and excitement of the climactic moment.

Why was Majin Doo's portion of the episode considered superior in terms of animation?

Majin Doo's portion was considered superior because it received more focus in terms of animation talent, with standout sequences animated by experts like Yohei Sasaki, Hitoshi Inaba, and Tadayoshi Yamamuro, which gave Doo's scenes a level of dynamism and intensity that overshadowed Vegeta's fight.

What was the criticism regarding the transition from storyboard to layout in the episode?

The transition from storyboard to layout was criticized for not fully realizing the intended scope and atmosphere. Some scenes, especially underwater, lacked the intended scale and contrast, making them feel less impactful compared to what was originally envisioned in the storyboard.