Bullocks to digital coloring!

[ClockStomper]

Matt Wilson made a good observation recently:


Seems like unless an anime is digitally colored, CN isn't interested anymore.

Sad and true. The Big O looked very crisp and clean with it's "traditional" coloring, while it's sequel was watchable, the bright colors and "rubbery" look was quite inferior to the original (and more importantly, creates obvious inconsistancy.)

While I'm sure CN thinks it's making itself look "modern" by only picking up anime with digital coloring, it's really a diservice because anime from the 1990s (Kenshin) often looks much better than the rubbery look of more recent aquisitions (Gundam Seed).

On the American side of the coin, take Batman Beyond as an example. It had a great, gritty look in season one. Then season 2 came along and all the great grey and black texture was replaced by effeminate neon lavenders.

So, power to the people...yay or nay for the digital coloring bias?

[CookieS]

You can't blame the network entirely. How do we know the design studios are not making the decisions here? They could be using digital coloring to cut costs or to make a series easier to sell for broadcast. Its a "chicken or the egg" problem. Regardless of who started it, I think its going to continue to become a standard for all animation outlets.

The only problem with digital coloring is that its so bright. Animators don't realize that having digital colors means that 100% hue is preserved for broadcast. I think with traditional painted cels, we lost at least 5% brightness of color. It was a helpful loss though.

[livingfruitvirus]

The only problem with digital coloring is that its so bright. Animators don't realize that having digital colors means that 100% hue is preserved for broadcast. I think with traditional painted cels, we lost at least 5% brightness of color. It was a helpful loss though.
Thanks to computers, that problem can be fixed.

Gundam SEED is bright like Doom 3 is dark.

[Killtacular]

No animation studio in Korea uses cels anymore. NONE. This was THEIR decision and American companies had to deal with it. Digital coloring IS a good thing in terms of preservation... an after effect is that networks start looking towards the faded, inconsistent cel-animated shows with a bit of disdain.

[bluedeucedodge]

I really enjoy the brighter colors in the anime on today. I am glad they are changing from traditional colors to the digital ones. It is MUCH easier on the eyes.

[Rabi~en~Rose]

I will be weird and say I liek cel better :) the grittier look is nice and seems more personalized then many recent shows

[Karl Olson]

I think the problem is very few of the animators have figured out just how bright digital cel looks (often times because the LCD monitors they work on don't properly show contrast and brightness compared to a CRT or TV Set,) and they don't get how that can be problematic when you're trying to set certain moods. Some studios have realized that are making adjustment in their palette to take some of the digital edge off (case in point: the animators who worked on Haibane and Texhnolyze,) but many studios (most notably Sunrise, atleast in the case of Gundam SEED,) seems to be struggling to further their ability to use digital coloring to accentuate their animation rather than get in the way of it.

Meanwhile, I don't mind CN having a preference for the newer stuff. It's annoying that a few gems are getting left by the wayside, but if most people can't look past the animation, then it's bad business to buy an older show.

[Wanted]

I say that digital coloring looks good, as long as it doesn't take the show in a whole new direction (Powerpuff Girls).

No wonder why, though, the Cartoon Network has set aside their original shows from the past. They're developing a little bias.

[Youko Recca]

Yeah and that bias has probally cost them of what would have been some great aqquisitions. I can understand them wanting to have shows that will last long with it's color and such, but the brushing aside of older shows leaves you to be forced to wonder of what could have been. Even if it seemed like just yesterday a certain show was a possibility. It's not a problem relating to the topic, but one branching off. Otherwise, digital coloring has a positive goal and it can carry that out all it wants. No complaints on that part. Or for now atleast.

[Umino]

Personally, I have mixed feelings on digital coloring. Some digital colored shows look great, and go well (Re: Cutie Honey, Midori no Hibi, Azu Manga Daioh, Inuyasha). Some it just looks horrible. Gundam SEED, and Big O II are the worst. In the second season of Big O, the art and animation were bland. The art would go from bad to good to bad, and the characters looked different each episode. (Dastun and Dorothy suffered the worst).