DBZ artists/animators differences

[desirecampbell]

Gohan looks like his face is really flat

[Dayspring]

I strongly disagree that these GT moments were the worst animators by far. Freeza vs Goku at the beginning of their battle is up there with the worst animation.

[Duo]

GT's average animation quality was quite superior to Z's average animation quality.

Technology, dudes.

[DBZ MAN]

I strongly disagree that these GT moments were the worst animators by far. Freeza vs Goku at the beginning of their battle is up there with the worst animation.

Wait, the first animator to do the Goku/Frieza fight was amazing!
Which is this one no?

[gotenx]

I strongly disagree that these GT moments were the worst animators by far. Freeza vs Goku at the beginning of their battle is up there with the worst animation.

Wait, the first animator to do the Goku/Freeza fight was amazing!
Which is this one no?

He said GT. Not Z...

[DBZ MAN]

Ahh Friggon, Grrr Sorry
(Dammit Read again!!)

[Dayspring]

Ahh Friggon, Grrr Sorry
(Dammit Read again!!)

Actually I used bad syntax (talked about 2 different things in those two lines): you were right.

That's not the animator I'm talking about. The art I'm thinking about is when Freeza's using eye-beams randomly through a cloud to hit Goku. GOD were the faces bad...

[Smooth Criminal]

Actually, now that I think about it, GT's bad animation is by far the worst of all.

For a good example, just watch the 2(?)th Budokai episode right before the Super 17 arc begins. Not only is this one of the worst episodes ever, and a disgrace to the excitement that is the Tenkaichi Budokai, but the animation is so bad that the characters in some instances barely resemble who they're supposed to be! Goku's face in this episode is totally unproportionate... You can tell they really half-assed this garbage.

For those who haven't seen this episode (I don't blame you...), basically it's just a bunch of lame fights and nonsensical humor. Goku is eliminated by being tickled (not kidding). Everyone watching the fight randomly starts licking lolly pops in an attempt at humor... I think.

Anyways, I'm straying off topic. The point is the bad animation in GT makes the bad animation in Z look good.

[Bejiita]

Actually, now that I think about it, GT's bad animation is by far the worst of all.

For a good example, just watch the 2(?)th Budokai episode right before the Super 17 arc begins. Not only is this one of the worst episodes ever, and a disgrace to the excitement that is the Tenkaichi Budokai, but the animation is so bad that the characters in some instances barely resemble who they're supposed to be! Goku's face in this episode is totally unproportionate... You can tell they really half-assed this garbage.

For those who haven't seen this episode (I don't blame you...), basically it's just a bunch of lame fights and nonsensical humor. Goku is eliminated by being tickled (not kidding). Everyone watching the fight randomly starts licking lolly pops in an attempt at humor... I think.

Anyways, I'm straying off topic. The point is the bad animation in GT makes the bad animation in Z look good.

This is mainly because there is no manga of GT, only a few scenario pics and characters designs by Toriyama were given. So really, even when the worst of the worst of animators dida Z episode, they still had the very same image of the manga version for reference, seeing as the anime is literally the manga in moving colour, minus the filler.

GT is all drawings the animators had to interpret themselves without Toriyama's manga for a guide, this is probably why they got rid of Triangle crap for GT, because his drawings without a guide were probably shitter than shit.

[Akira]

The less skilled animator groups did not do a terrible job, it is just harder to watch one of thier episodes back to back with one from the most skilled team. For me, at least, this is the case.

[Bejiita]

The less skilled animator groups did not do a terrible job, it is just harder to watch one of thier episodes back to back with one from the most skilled team. For me, at least, this is the case.

It's mainly if you watch like 3 episodes in a row and the first episode is the good artist, and the next 2 are animated worser where the artist has changed, it's like watching one of the movies and suddenly the artist changes and the characters look all less detailed and the animation is worser.

[DBZ MAN]

It kinda ruins the mood. Or the heat of the arc.

[HP]

This is a good topic! Have learned quite some things here!
Indeed, I've allways noticed big differences in the drawings and animations over the DB series! Obviously it wouldn't be expectable that the 80's DB kid Goku and the GT kid Goku look the same, but... the differences are so obvious they are in front of your eyes from episode to episode!

Currently DB is airing in Portugal. We are watching the Tenka-Ichi Budokai, grown-up Son Goku fighting Piccolo. These episodes animation is awsome!! Almost looks like an OVA! Really. Amazing.


I recall some other great animation moments:
(DB) Gokou meeting Piccolo Daimao (and Tien) after having drunk the 'holy water'
(DBZ) Gohan turning into SSJ2 during the Cell fight
(DBZ) Vegeta doing the "kamikaze" to kill Buu
(DBZ) the above mentioned fight between SSJ2 Goku and Kid Buu (probably the best animation ever!! )

[Bejiita]

It's nice to see you've learned some things because it's partly the reason I made this topic, to show some people the differences here. A lot of people that have been here longer already know this, but there are many who haven't realised or don't really pay attention to the artists.

My friend has been watching every episode up to the Buu saga, and when it's a bad animator, I say 'aww it's the crap artist', and he wonders how I can tell any difference, he says they all look the same to him.

I haven't seen some really good DB animation, I have only watched the Pilaf story and some other episodes with Tao Pai Pai and the holy water at Karin's. So I still have to wait to watch some DB.

[Holken]

Here is a drawing really badly made! ô_Ô

http://img319.imageshack.us/img319/9752 ... llu1he.jpg

I put "pause" in the fight.

[kindertuin]

Here is a drawing really badly made! ô_Ô

http://img319.imageshack.us/img319/9752 ... llu1he.jpg

I put "pause" in the fight.

Funiest pic...EVER!

[DaemonCorps]

Hey gotenx, could you sort out those first few pics with the media player in the background? They do look bad, the artist clearly cannot draw Freeza. But looking at that Gohan I'm thinking it's the 'better than Toriyama' artist...even though he isn't really better than Toriyama.

Eh, I don't think he's the worst artist, but you can tell that this guy is different from the others. I'm pretty sure the screencaps of the episode where Freeza and Cell team up are the first time we see this guy. I agree that his style isn't really top notch, but it is better than triangle guy.

GT in general didn't have that many good animators. I think there was one guy who could have rivalled Toriyama, but the rest are I guess average; I dunno, I haven't seen GT in a while...

Anyways, I like this topic! More screen cap/manga comparisons, please!

[DaemonCorps]

You cans see Toriyama Trunks is way better, and Cell too, and MAjin Vegeta, all of them are better than the anime.

Not entirely true. In some cases, you can tell when Toriyama was being rushed and you can see when he draws Saiyan hair (mainly Vegeta) without all of its little curved details. I'd scan some pics, but I don't have a scanner.

But in general, yeah, Toriyama's drawing are pretty sweet-- even more so since he's the first one who drew them .

[Tsukento]

Ah, I've done stuff like this before. :x I can show off some comparison pics.

Let's start with Freeza's second form:


Note the amount of detail put into not only Freeza's build, but small smudges on his chest from the fight. Plus the detailed lighting and shading.


Now look at the very less detailed Freeza and how terribly unaccurate he looks.

Now let's go to my favorite two to compare, Trunks' arrival.

Here we have the two episodes in which the first ends with Freeza being slice in half, and is then killed in the begining of the second episode. The second episode basically redoes the slicing bit, with Cold's suprised expression followed and then the scene continues with Trunks killing Freeza.


Here, Freeza looks up as Trunks brings down his sword from above. Note how Freeza's eyes are shown as simply red circles, as a way to dramatically show his life is about to come to an end, in the first one. His face is highly detailed here, especially with the shading applied. The ground in the background also appears to be of natural color, as opposed to the second picture having a golden yellow color. Also note how Freeza's eyes are more angular in the second picture, as well as his mouth appearing more like he's laughing or yelling, as opposed to the more suprised look on the first screen of Freeza's face. Also note how oddly shaped the second Freeza's head is. Can't forget the missing sweatdrop on Freeza's head and how the metal on his head seems to have slightly changed in design.


Here we have Trunks slicing through Freeza. Where to begin here..? First, the background is completely different in the second picture. The clouds have disappeared, the sky is an entire shade of blue, rather than blue mixed with white and lighter shades of blue. Trunks' positions are also completely different, as is his sword which seems to resemble more of a toothpick in the second picture. Also, Freeza's even less detailed in the second picture, as well as his body splitting apart being less detailed. Note the lack of lighting and shading on Trunks' second screen. The first screen shows Trunks' hair to seem to have a more golden color, whereas the second just makes him out to be blond.


Final comparison is the look on King Cold's face as he sees his son sliced in half in the blink of an eye. First off, the screen positions are completely different. One view is from the side, while the other is a front view. Second, the mouths are also completely different. Most notably are the noses and chins. The first one seems to have a more regular nose, while his chin is rounded out. The second one has a thinner nose, while the chin pops out like Jay Leno's chin. Also note the lack of lighting on the second Cold's face, he appears to be a more dark purple color than a pinkish purple.

I could do more, should anyone care to see any other examples.

[Mike]

I could do more, should anyone care to see any other examples.

Please do so. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.