Demanding Better Quality: A Call for Change
I’ve noticed a troubling trend in newer shows.
Many start strong, but quickly lose quality by the second or third episode. While I understand that animation studios work under tight deadlines and with limited resources, certain shortcuts—like excessive frame repetition or static movements—undermine the viewing experience. These are supposed to be TV shows, not GIFs from 1999.
This feedback is directed at the directors and managers of animation studios. While I understand the pressure to release content quickly for revenue, audiences are willing to wait (and even pay extra\1][2])) for better quality. Rushed work can feel like a missed opportunity, and we should stop rewarding shows that cut corners. We can’t continue to support subpar content just because it’s available.
As an audience, we need to shift away from supporting the decline in quality. Shows that consistently cut corners—like Bogus Skill Fruitmaster, Devil is a Part-Timer S2, Seven Deadly Sins S3/4, Chillin in Another World Level 2, Iceblade Sorcerer, and so many others—should not be rewarded with high ratings or continued viewership. We shouldn’t be encouraging the continued trend of lower quality, just because the content is available.
Shows like Jujutsu Kaisen, Solo Leveling, Demon Slayer, Frieren, Kaguya-sama, and Kaiju #8 (just to name a few) prove that quality is possible and worth waiting for. And this is not to say that all new shows should be of this caliber, as these shows are tops in their respective genres, but there must be a middle-ground that doesn't feel like a waste of 24 minutes.
For those who enjoy the current trend, I’m glad for you, but for many of us, it’s becoming harder to ignore the decline in quality. Here are a few specific issues I’ve observed:
Animation: Fewer frames, repetitive movements, static action scenes, lack of variety in facial expressions.
Illustration: Lack of depth, generic backgrounds, disproportional character designs, poorly drawn faces, excessive symmetry, repetitive geometric patterns.
Writing: Repetitive dialogue, unnecessary filler, lengthy redundant conversations.
Direction: Poor pacing, lack of build-up, minimal perspective shifts.
Hopefully this will encourage a push for higher-quality content in the future.
[1] Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (2021)#tab=summary)
[2] Box Office History for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Movies