The Animation of Guilty Gear Xrd & Dragon Ball FighterZ

Between Guilty Gear Xrd and Dragon Ball FighterZ, no game studio captures the look of anime in their 3D games like Arc System Works. Let's break down how they achieve this faux-2D look!

Watch Motomura's GDC talk about Guilty Gear Xrd here!

Learn about the history of anime games over at Mother's Basement!

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To request an episode topic, support New Frame Plus on Patreon!

Written and produced by Daniel Floyd

Special thanks to:
-Carrie Floyd
-Geoff Thew
-Barry Kramer
-Eric Luhta
-Jonathan Cooper

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♪ Featuring selections from the Guilty Gear, Guilty Gear XX, Guilty Gear Xrd, Dragon Ball FighterZ and Persona 4 Arena official soundtracks.

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Want to contribute translated subtitles to this video? You can do so here!

#ArcSystemWorks #DragonBallFighterZ #GuiltyGear #animation #NewFramePlus

[aguywithalotofopinions]

Making something that in theory shouldn’t be possible using brute force is the most Guilty Gear thing I’ve ever heard

[themocaw]

One little thing I love: the character Baiken in Guilty Gear has one arm and eye. In prior games, her missing eye and arm would switch based on what direction she was facing, due to Sprite mirroring. In Xrd, with all their new tools and the freedom of 3d, which could easily solve that problem. . . Baiken's missing arm and eye still switch sides based on what direction she is facing. :shrug:

[formoftherapy]

It hurts my brain to see that Dragon Ball game footage. It looks so much like the 2D cartoon yet 3D…wow

[Canthary]

The DBFZ visuals looks so much like the actual series in motion it's still unbelievable to me.

[aganaom]

modern animators: " we use incredibly precise technology to make our work process as smooth and efficient as possible. And it's all thanks to how these machines are programmed."
arc sys: "these dumb machines don't do what they're supposed to. so we broke every single one until they did."

[vincenttorrijos]

The most eye opening part of this is the manually added imperfections. They had to go through every individual frame and add in imperfections to further replicate an anime style, completely matching it while purposefully negating one of the most crucial features of computer assisted animation, all to fit the aesthetic.

Imperfections are everywhere in 2d animation, both on-paper and digitally, you just have to know where to look, yet they're one of the most defining features of the style, so that just goes to show the dedication these animators have.

[GuitarSlayer]

"Imperfections"
*Zooms on Aqua*

A C C U R A T E

[markthematey]

Literally 5 days later the new guilty gear is released and it has a new aesthetic. Still anime but instead of a tv anime it’s a high quality anime movie.

[krystaLuvin]

"Rather than compete with their own products..." Their only competition in Anime Fighting Games is themselves. lol

[cruye]

If Arc makes a JJBA fighter in my lifetime I'll die happy

[RikXtreme]

Anime games should STRIVE to look like this.. Good god, could you imagine a Shonen Jump game by Arc systems?

[marscaleb]

I'm gonna be honest here, I've been thinking about how games could try to look like this for a good 20 years already. I've noticed factors like failing to emulate low framerates and held poses for ages.
I am so immensely pleased to see that someone has finally done it.

[AccentedCinema]

New Frame Plus: "How few drawings can you get away with?"
Evangelion has joined the chat

[FixTheWi-Fi]

12:18 "Kill Every Thing 3D" sounds like a mindless fun indie game.

[liaminator]

This guy makes the most rewatchable videos i swear

[Gilbot]

I might cry. This was so good, and just highlights so much of what made the Guilty Gear series my absolute favorite fighting games of all time. Dan, thank you so much for this gift.

[poidnet]

They did such a perfect job on DBFZ, it will be petty much impossible to do a better Dragon Ball fighting game in term of graphics.

[mocliamtoh]

I've been looking forward to this ever since you suggested it as a potential topic. I've already seen the GDC talk, and this is a great, accessible complement to it.

[isadoracostahamsi]

Computer: here you go! Everything is perfect, light, proportions, transitions! Everything!
Me: urg. This is ugly!
Arc System: there, I worked really hard and manage to break every single thing!
Me: thanks, that is a lot better!

Computer: but... but...

[LostSoulSilver]

I still can't believe this video is what introduced me to Guilty Gear and got me to give it a try. Now it's on my top 5 favorite videogame series ever