Every fan has a personal list of favorite anime. On a much grander scale, what is the internet's favorite anime? With myanimelist.net it's not hard to find out. Think Metacritic, but specifically for anime. However, within this long list, lies a particular sub-genre of anime that has become infamous.
I'm talking about CGI Anime.
Many fans are not too keen on CGI anime. It has been used in anime for years, but results are generally mixed. Especially if it's used sporadically. At best, It can actually add a lot of dimension to incredible worlds. A great example of this is the action scenes in Attack on Titan, utilizing CGI to make each heart-pounding action scene that much more dynamic.
Diving deep into the list of anime series and movies that utilize more 3D than 2D, the ones that reign supreme among fans are:
10 Hi Score Girl (7.95) #597
This one is for the gamers out there. Hi Score Girl is a romance anime about a boy named Haruo and his intense passion for gaming. When a girl named Akira beats him at Street Fighter 2, he is forced to form a rivalry with her. As they get to know each other, this starts to turn into something more.
Hi Score Girl uses actual video games to draw from real nostalgia, but rather than feel cheap for doing so, it makes everything relatable for those gamers who grew up during the '90s.
Hi Score Girl's CGI is used primarily for its characters and props. Due to the chibi style, It isn't too noticeable. Producer, Yuji Matsukura, had this to say about it: "As for going for that CGI look, we really wanted to recreate the feeling of being at an old school arcade. I don't know if any of you have bought a lot of the old consoles, so we wanted to recreate that experience."
9 Berserk: The Golden Age Arc II - The Battle For Doldrey (7.95) #592
If you are into anime of the dark and brutal type, Berserk sits brooding at the top of that genre. The second entry in this trilogy follows Guts and The Band of the Hawk in their quest across Midland. The fortified Castle of Doldrey stands as their toughest obstacle yet.
It is not exactly a secret that fans of Berserk are generally not a fan of the CGI. After the original series in 1997 (which is still cherished to this day), seeing this new 3D retelling rubbed a lot of fans the wrong way. The CGI doesn't look super polished, and animations still appear a little wonky.Getting down to it, this manages to crack the top 10 because it still retains most of the same storyline and allows newcomers to get a taste of the insanity Berserk has to offer.
8 Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete (7.99) #542
Square Enix is known for crafting beautiful CGI cutscenes in games, so why not create a full-length movie? They first did it in 2001 with Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, which was praised for it's CGI at the time, but was criticized for its lackluster storyline and received mixed reviews overall.
When Final Fantasy VII Advent Children was released, it received a positive reaction from fans. However, there was a problem. Some parts felt inconsistent because they had edited it down, catering more to hardcore fans. With the release of the complete version, 30 minutes were added to the film, filling in gaps, and making for a more cohesive version of the movie.
7 Stand By Me Doraemon (8.06) #460
Doraemon is a classic long-running anime series that has always been traditionally 2D. That is, until the release of the movie Stand By Me Doraemon (2014), opting for a silky smooth and polished CGI style comparable to that of say, DreamWorks. The movie follows Nobi, a young kid and time-traveling robot cat, Doraemon, and their adventures together. The film works as a "best-of" list, taking a lot of memorable parts from the manga and condensing them here.
Many fans of the movie said they couldn't help but cry during it, bringing up childhood memories and capturing the charm and magic of its source material once again.
6 Dorohedoro (8.14) #364
This 2020 series has garnered quite the fanbase in that short amount of time it's been out. Dorohedoro follows Kaiman, a reptile-human hybrid who's searching for the sorcerer who transformed him. Joining him is his friend Nikaidou as they traverse the everyday perils of living in the apocalyptic slum called The Hole.
Similar to Hi Score Girl, sometimes you don't even notice the CGI here. Other times when it's obvious, it fits in so well with the art direction and world that it works in its favor. Dorohedoro is a real trip, and the 3D animation only helps to blend style and function for this bizarre anime.
5 Promare (8.16) #348
From Studio Trigger, the studio behind Kill La Kill, we have the visual feast that is Promare.
The story of Promare is one that feels different, yet strangely familiar for the genre. The story revolves around Galo, a member of a firefighting squad called Burning Rescue. This team deals with the outbreaks brought on by a subgroup of humans with pyrotechnic abilities called Mad Burnish and their leader, Lio. After Galo leans more about Lio and the hidden plot right underneath their nose, the two agree to team up to stop the impending doom of the planet.
With Promare, the plot takes a backseat to the astounding visuals and colorful art direction. This CGI/2D hybrid meshes to create some of the most eye-popping visuals in an anime in recent memory.
4 Beastars (8.16) #336
Another recent Netflix breakout ranks high among fans. That is the anthropomorphic animal anime (say that three times fast) Beastars. It's a coming of age story first and foremost, with a mystery to keep you guessing. Upon seeing clips or stills of the anime, many have joked and written the show off as purely "Furry" fare, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Offering up a fully realized world and character-driven plot, Beastars has something for everyone.
The CGI used in Beastars is immediately noticeable with the character models, bringing the lively carnivores and herbivores to life in ways that 2D wouldn't be able to replicate.
3 Hi Score Girl II (8.17) #331
This one is kind of a cheat. MyAnimeList has both seasons of Hi Score Girl listed separately, and yet, there's a reason season 2 is ranked higher. It takes everything that made season 1 so enjoyable, and improves upon it-- Primarily the development of its characters and relationships. Who doesn't like a love triangle? Being young and trying to navigate relationships is something everybody deals with, and S2 captures the feeling of this. Even the most hardened of souls may find themselves endeared to this game infused romance.
2 Berserk: The Golden Age Arc III - The Advent (8.23) #277
Ask any Berserk fan about this movie, and widened eyes and downturned expressions will surely be the reaction. Not because of its quality, but because the third movie in The Golden Age Arc is where everything takes a turn in the most horrifying ways. The first two films have some brutal moments, but The Advent takes it to another level, venturing into horror territory.
While the first two in the trilogy struggle with its CGI, the third one manages to correct this by choosing to animate many of the character's faces traditionally, making for less awkward expressions and fully realizing the terror on display.
For those with a weak stomach, look elsewhere. However, those looking to engage with this story will find The Advent the most action-packed and memorable of all.
1 Land of the Lustrous (8.42) #135
Land of the Lustrous is anime Steven Universe. Okay, not quite, but they do share some similarities. The story revolves around a group of humanoid Gems that mirror the qualities of each stone. Sound familiar? In particular, Phos (short for Phosphophyllite), who is fragile due to the material she takes after. The plot revolves around Phos' determination to help out her fellow gems in the fight against the Lunarians, who want to use the fragments of their bodies for decoration.
In 2018, LotL won the award for best CGI at the CrunchyRoll Awards. The creative team opted for a CGI style to complement the fact that its main characters are the embodiment of gems. They have to behave and function like them, and 2D would not be able to do that justice. It currently sits as the highest-ranked CGI Show on My Anime List.