This is sort of tangential, but I wonder how much the trend towards heavy digital effects and filters in TV anime came as a response to *Demon Slayer*. I feel like *Violet Evergarden* was the first show to really hit that “wow I can’t believe this is on TV” level of overproduction, and I’ve always attributed the trend to that series. However, knowing how much money DS made, it would be more reasonable to say that it was the driving force behind the trend, and studios have spent almost 7 years now basically replicating that visual “pizazz” on a noticeably smaller budget and talent pool.
MyNameIs-Anthony2026-01-06 23:58
Demon Slayer doesn't feel like a massive trendsetter so much as a natural endpoint in terms of previous trends.
The only other comparison I can think of is Avatar, where it didnt really change the game up so much as does things so expensively that other stuff can look cheap by comparison.
Keanotaku_Returns2026-01-07 00:36
I think it's more like Ufotable's Unlimited Blade Works was the one that actually set the trend of heavy use of digital effects, as well as really fluid 'overanimated' action scenes that are so prevalent in Shounen or any action anime nowadays and expected as the standard. Demon Slayer definitely was the series that really solidified the trend and made it ramp up and explode across the industry but it was Ufotable's earlier series that started it. Almost no action anime (that I can recall) had scenes that looked like that before Unlimited Blade Works (some other things in action series like the 'crazy use of line art' 'sudden animation style changes' and 'lots of flashy lights and cubes' are more of a post-OPM thing and solely due to the styles of specific famous animators though; it's the the digital effects and cinematic-ness, for lack of a better term, that is due to Ufotable).
I would say Violet Evergarden is a different case, with that series the 'wow I can't believe this is on TV' aspect was more so due to the highly detailed background art and use of digital effects for photorealistic lighting and doesn't really represent a trend or at least isn't part of the same trend as what is being described in regards to the likes of Demon Slayer; or, at least, it definitely didn't start the trend of heavy use of digital effects. Violet Evergarden was also certainly not the first show 'to hit that "wow I can't believe this is on TV" level of overproduction' - as I said, Unlimited Blade Works already came out before in late 2014.
Erufailon42026-01-07 00:54
It's definitely not Demon Slayer alone, since the trend arguably existed before it, but its contribution was likely the biggest since its mainstream impact (in Japan) eclipses pretty much any other TV anime of the 2010s. Similarly to how Your Name revolutionized theatrical anime. They were the breakthroughs, not necessarily the origins.
halifaxrose2026-01-07 01:40
Lots of comparisons to demon slayer but I want to throw in attack on titan in the conversation as well. The odm sequences were a big deal when season one was first airing
Ordinal43NotFound2026-01-07 01:45
I do think MAPPA in particular seems to have noticeably toned down their heavy digital effects starting with JJK S2.
Their "overly post-processed" look has always been one of my main issues with the studio (veeery noticeable in JJK S1 and AoT S4), but JJK S2 onwards and now the Reze movie feel like a clear shift toward flatter colors and much more restrained filtering and compositing.
It honestly reminds me of early webgen anime which I absolutely love. Personal preference, but I prefer 2D animation that lets the lineart shine more. The recent Sentenced to Be a Hero is another example of said style I adored so much (the lineart is just sooo crisp).
simp_sighted2026-01-07 04:21
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ActuallyFrozen2026-01-07 08:24
>and it was released more than 10 years ago
So????
torts922026-01-07 05:52
Studio Bones was the first to do the "can't believe this is on TV" stuff. After the popularity of FMA Brotherhood, everyone followed that. AoT was also another milestone in 2013. After that, most anime seemed movie quality.
ActuallyFrozen2026-01-07 08:26
>After that, most anime seemed movie quality
Have you seen 90% of the shows that air every season 😭
affnn2026-01-06 22:30
The way he describes the movie at the end makes it sound like weeb Titanic. I guess maybe it is, apparently a lot of people saw it multiple times in the theaters just like audiences went to see Kate Winslet and Leo DiCaprio.
Ok-Paramedic36052026-01-07 06:40
I did lol
_Pyxyty2026-01-07 07:21
I really don't know why either but I also saw it multiple times, three times to be specific. I don't know. I just, really wanted to see it again. A part of that is surely becauss I've read and loved the manga, a part of that is probably because Reze was so cute, but I think the biggest reason was probably just to see the spectacle of the second half of that movie again. The insane fight sequence in the city was just, wow.
Asa_Ayase2026-01-07 10:06
I am really happy I saw it in theaters multiple times myself now that I’ve watched the digital version at home too. It was the first movie in a long time to remind me how great the cinema experience can be. It was so much better and more immersive in theaters. Especially the fight in the second half of the movie.
Zeph-Shoir2026-01-07 14:53
It was the first movie I ever rewatched on theaters and I am almost 30 years old!
gamebond892026-01-07 12:58
Went 4 times.
Rexcodykenobi2026-01-08 02:49
I saw it multiple times too. It deserves an Oscar imo but I know the Oscars only like family-friendly movies when it comes to animation.
gamebond892026-01-07 13:07
With the success of Reze movie I haven't seen many mentioning Yoshihara as the director in praises. This article nicely delves into his past and present works and how he got there. The staff created a perfect vision for chainsaw man and added things that I felt were sorely missing in S1. I hope they continue to get proper time for future and animators continue to get the freedom to express themselves like they did in the movie.
Reze movie was truly special to me. A fanart of Reze made me found out about chainsaw man all those years ago and they perfectly nailed the bomb devil arc in every way imaginable. Truly cinema!
The very nature of chainsaw man is not to be constrained by a particular tone. The series at one moment blasts into frenzy and in the next it slows down when it needs to. What was needed a perfect balance of both which movie succeeded in portraying. The heart of chainsaw man that staff understood and the audience deservably responded to with great adoration.
Debrovz2026-01-07 18:03
Movie of the year
avar1ce2026-01-07 23:20
It was insanely good. I got it digital as well and already watched it like 20 more times.
Best anime movie of all time for sure. With just a handful of panels from the Manga they have created something extraordinary without ever crossing outside of the original material and making the IP infinitely better. Huge congrats to the director and everyone else involved.
Commentaires
The only other comparison I can think of is Avatar, where it didnt really change the game up so much as does things so expensively that other stuff can look cheap by comparison.
I would say Violet Evergarden is a different case, with that series the 'wow I can't believe this is on TV' aspect was more so due to the highly detailed background art and use of digital effects for photorealistic lighting and doesn't really represent a trend or at least isn't part of the same trend as what is being described in regards to the likes of Demon Slayer; or, at least, it definitely didn't start the trend of heavy use of digital effects. Violet Evergarden was also certainly not the first show 'to hit that "wow I can't believe this is on TV" level of overproduction' - as I said, Unlimited Blade Works already came out before in late 2014.
Their "overly post-processed" look has always been one of my main issues with the studio (veeery noticeable in JJK S1 and AoT S4), but JJK S2 onwards and now the Reze movie feel like a clear shift toward flatter colors and much more restrained filtering and compositing.
It honestly reminds me of early webgen anime which I absolutely love. Personal preference, but I prefer 2D animation that lets the lineart shine more. The recent Sentenced to Be a Hero is another example of said style I adored so much (the lineart is just sooo crisp).
So????
Have you seen 90% of the shows that air every season 😭
Reze movie was truly special to me. A fanart of Reze made me found out about chainsaw man all those years ago and they perfectly nailed the bomb devil arc in every way imaginable. Truly cinema!
The very nature of chainsaw man is not to be constrained by a particular tone. The series at one moment blasts into frenzy and in the next it slows down when it needs to. What was needed a perfect balance of both which movie succeeded in portraying. The heart of chainsaw man that staff understood and the audience deservably responded to with great adoration.
Best anime movie of all time for sure. With just a handful of panels from the Manga they have created something extraordinary without ever crossing outside of the original material and making the IP infinitely better. Huge congrats to the director and everyone else involved.