Sometimes appearances can be deceiving, especially in the case of anime. Animations that appear extremely elaborate and expensive can be surprisingly easy and cheap to develop, while animations that seem simple and uncomplicated can be a bottomless pit of resources and money. This phenomenon, which occurs in all forms of media, is even more apparent in anime due to the general lack of understanding about how animation works. And this has been demonstrated in one of the most talked-about anime of this new season, “The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses,” available on Crunchyroll.
Created by Koume Fujichika, “The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses” is an adaptation of the manga of the same name. It revolves around the story of Kaede Komura, a high school boy who has a crush on his classmate, Ai Mie, who frequently forgets her glasses. The entire story is a romantic comedy that explores his ridiculously massive crush, her limited vision without glasses, and the constant misunderstandings that arise from the interplay of these two elements.
As a manga, “The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses” is a typical romantic comedy. Its characters have personality-filled designs, the artwork is good, and the writing is humorous, but it never ventures beyond the norm. However, the anime adaptation is creating a buzz among the audience. Why? It’s due to the extravagant nature of its animation.
Adapted into anime by GoHands studio, the first episode of the series encompasses all the elements that have made the studio popular. It features numerous camera movements, vibrant colors, impossible camera angles, extensive tracking shots, and an abundance of unconventional frames. These are uncommon in anime, giving it a lavish and luxurious appearance. Many people have taken to social media to praise its cinematic qualities and express doubts about the sustainability of such high-quality animation in subsequent episodes. Some users on social platforms have rightly pointed out that this demonstrates a lack of understanding about how anime production works.
In reality, the animation quality of “The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses” is not particularly impressive. It utilizes AI interpolation and 3D models with a noticeable lack of polish. When observed with even the slightest critical eye, the animation falls short. Limbs distort without reason, gardens are simply textured 3D grass glued together, and the color palette and camera composition often seem to prioritize spectacle over coherence. These factors indicate a lack of meticulous work behind the scenes. In other words, not only is the animation not particularly good—it’s merely spectacular—but it also doesn’t require a significant budget allocation due to the lack of detailed craftsmanship.
Of course, this issue has been addressed in the worst possible manner on social media: by creating antagonistic factions between those who associate the animation’s spectacle with its quality and those who believe that appreciating that spectacle demonstrates ignorance or even outright stupidity. As a result, two opposing factions have emerged regarding the series.
The reasonable point, of course, lies in a middle ground. While it is true that the series does not have high-quality animation, that does not detract from its spectacular nature, even if it is rough and unpolished. It is natural for those who are not knowledgeable about animation, more easily impressed, or able to overlook its flaws to be impressed by it. However, it is also logical that animation purists see it as a shallow display of fireworks, given the series’ weak script and the fact that its spectacle serves no purpose beyond being spectacle itself.
What is evident is that the average viewer does not know how animation works, and that’s normal. The average viewer doesn’t have to be an animation expert, understanding what makes animation good or not. Especially when discussions about anime rarely touch upon its cinematic aspects. Therefore, while “The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses” may be the most talked-about anime at the moment, it may not be for the best reasons. Even if it’s not the best series out there, what is clear is that it provides material for a more interesting analysis than simply labeling those who enjoy it as ignorant or those who don’t as snobbish.
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