The technique of rotoscoping is famous in the world of animations and filming. It brings the reality of our universe to animated screens, making fictional characters move more naturally and human-like – or fight movements that resemble those of true masters.
Developed by Polish-American Max Fleischer, the technique consists of redrawing frames derived from footage to be used in animations. Although it is a refined technique in history, it was basically what started animations.
The developers illustrate all the movement and, in some productions, the face of the actor performing the scene. It is hard work, as it is necessary to illustrate frame by frame.
Nowadays, animations usually use 60 frames per second – the famous 60 FPS (frames per second). This means that each second of the film has a total of 60 pictures. The illustrator must redraw the movement sixty times. Thus ensuring the naturalness of the movement and its smoothness.
Despite the great manual work that creators do when using the technique, the results – if well used – bring great respect and appreciation from the audience. Not to mention that sometimes it can be easier than drawing from scratch.
In this way, we can imagine that rotoscoping is quite similar to stop motion. Both use frames to create an animation, but rotoscoping usually takes these frames directly from film footage or photographs.
Rotoscoping in Japanese Animes
The animes that reaped good fruits from the technique of rotoscoping were the films Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion and Cowboy Bebop: The Movie. These were the two major works responsible for popularizing this technique in anime.
The method not only provides a naturalness to the anime but also reduces production costs. This is the case with Neon Genesis Evangelion. A film highly anticipated by fans. Produced in 1997, it was when rotoscoping began to be an option for artists.
However, with a tight budget, it was the only way the creators found to make the film possible. The fight of Asuka Langley – one of the most important scenes in all of Evangelion – was an example of the quality of the technique employed. However, it was the film Cowboy Bebop: The Movie that launched its popularity.
Unfortunately, some use the technique of Rotoscoping incorrectly, merely to have less work when drawing frames manually. This ends up creating low-quality works or ones that hurt the eyes of viewers.
The biggest rotoscoping disaster in anime
A common problem when talking about rotoscoping is the anime Aku no Hana. It tells the story of a boy who loves reading books and admires his muse Nanako Saeki from a distance. When a small problem arises that leaves him unsure of what to do, while also being blackmailed by a shy classmate. The young man feels frightened and consumed by guilt.
At first, the synopsis of Aku no Hana attracts the attention of fans of the genre shonen. Another drama of Japanese school life that brings to light the romance characteristic of the style.
The idea was interesting, the studio wanted to create something original, an anime with unique and different traits, despite the animation’s flaws, the person in charge also made the mistake of not being a good director, ruining everything with the script and animation.
The interesting script provided the worst reception of rotoscoping in the history of anime. It has even become a reference when talking about the illustration method. So, if you’ve ever heard the words “rotoscoping” and “bad” in the same sentence, the blame lies with Aku no Hana.
The poor reputation of the adaptation of the manga, originally from 2009, was due to the immense realism that the illustrators brought to the anime – which had only thirteen episodes. Thus, the beautiful script was left behind due to the quality of the animation. And, unfortunately, humans tend to remember the bad parts.
In 2015, a film called Hana to Alice: Satsujin Jiken was released, showcasing to the audience what true rotoscoping technique is. Viewers evaluate the quality of the production: despite the clearly visible low quality in some scenes, the authors’ proposal was certainly fulfilled.
Kowabon is another anime that utilized the tool in its production. Of the horror genre, at first it seems like another poor production – in the style of Aku no Hana. However, the poor quality of the technique employed, according to viewers, provided a darker and more bizarre atmosphere for the script. In this case, the text and the texture of the image became united. Generating dread and many scares.
What do you think of the Rotoscoping technique? Have you ever liked a work that uses this technique entirely or partially? If you enjoyed the article, don’t forget to share and leave your comments.
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