CGI in anime is an often controversial topic. However, when it comes toBlade Runner: Black Lotus,that conversation jumps to a whole new level, considering that this series is an animated take on one of the most visually impactful movie franchises of all time.
Preceded by the short films that came out beforeBlade Runner 2049’srelease in 2017, the leadup to Crunchyroll’s animated series came with a fair amount of apprehension from fans of whether animation in the series would cut it or not. After all,Black Lotusis — based on runtime alone — the mostBlade Runnerthere is out there, at least on official release formats, given extra running hours afforded by its 13 episodes. Nevertheless, despite an engaging story, the show’s animation is still a huge a letdown for some.
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Blade Runner’sLegacy
When it comes to visuals, Ridley Scott andDenis Villeneuve are among the most widely acclaimedmovie directors out there, especially within the sci-fi genre. A large part of both of their legacies can be attributed to their work onBlade Runner. In Scott’s case, his groundbreaking efforts on the 1982 film are the culmination of cutting-edge techniques in terms of filming, lighting, special effects, and models. All of these innovations were way ahead of their time in an age before CGI was commonly used, and yet, watching the film in 2022 one could be forgiven for thinking it was made fairly recently.
The same goes for Villeneuve, whoseBlade Runner 2049, much like its predecessorwas lauded for its aesthetics which are not only beautiful, but also in line with the original film’s tone. The aforementioned short films — though tightly constrained to small scenarios — stick to that quality standard, and inBlade Runner Black Out 2022’s case, the 2D anime style envisioned by CygamesPictures captured that same vibe to satisfy both fans a highly demanding director like Villeneuve.
This is where the problems start forBlack Lotus. Sola Digital Arts was the animation studio tasked with giving life to the series; however, while the company also hasThe Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrimon its pipeline, its most recognizable production so far is Netflix’sGhost in the Shell: SAC_2045, a poorly reviewed take on an anime great.
WatchingBlack Lotuswill leave many wondering why such a glorified franchise now looks like a CGI cutscene from a PS2 or PS3 game. The experience is even worse so for those that adore the movies precisely because of the eye candy it provides. Contrary to what happens with many remakes or sequels, here the visuals appear to take away from the story, and not the other way around. But is it really that bad?
Blade RunnerOn Low Graphic Settings
In the modern anime scene, there are growing debates on CGI’s merits as the likes ofAttack On Titanrevindicate the technology’s usagein favor of crafting more exciting and unique action scenes. On the other hand, there are the odd sceneshere and there seen inRebuild of Evangelionthat can distract the viewer from otherwise gorgeous animation, a luxuryBlack Lotus doesn’t have.
For a franchise that’s always been about exploring the concept of human life,Black Lotus’character animation often deprives the audience from feeling any of that. This is exemplified considering the models look especially bad when they’re engaging in what should be meaningful dialogue. The facial expressions, overall movements, and close-up shots render the inhabitants of this dystopian Los Angeles quite lifeless on many occasions.
While Crunchyroll anime should not be expected to feature graphical fidelityon par withHorizon Forbidden West, nor is Elle expected be as lifelike as Aloy, these character models are not even up to par withwhatFinal Fantasy VII: Advent Childrenachievedback in 2005. TheFFVIIsequel, though much-maligned for its poor storytelling, is often still deemed worth fans’ time due to the beauty of its world.
Conversely,Black Lotuslets down its viewers with characters even when it’s practically impossible to recreate the dirty streets of Deckard’s Los Angeles in this format without excessive costs. Hence, it fails with what’s on the screen’s forefront and background. This LA looks far too pristine most of the time, there’s no perpetual feeling that this a bad place to be. The wayBlack Lotusfocuses its shots suggests the directors are aware of that, with characters also being somewhat unsightly at times. However, the final result is still a story far more appealing for its substance than its style, and that’s considering the former could also be found lacking by some.
Black Lotusis definitely worth watching, as the series expands on characters and themes the franchise has previously introduced, even more so with anupcomingBlade Runnerseries directed by Scott. The bad part is that to do so, fans must get past several hours of staring at their beloved Replicant world in the absolute worst state it’s ever been, and that is unacceptable forBlade Runner.
