By Ben / 2010-02-07 13:24:48Hurray Loading Screen's back! For the next couple of weeks anyway.
We've got the Halo anime next week, but this week EA and Starz's (plus a host of anime studios) Dante's Inferno.
I’ve complained many a time about films based on games messing around with their source material, but rarely do these films come out the same weekend as the game. In fairness the plot of Dante’s Inferno remains the same; Dante must enter hell to retrieve his lover Beatrice whom he betrayed. It’s the details they’ve changed that are a bit odd, such as how Dante came across his scythe, how he gets his body crucifix, and even the specifics of his interactions with the damned.
It perhaps doesn’t help things that I’m currently playing through the game, but the alterations to the games story is not necessarily a bad thing. The game doesn’t spend too much time filling in the blanks, so the extra detail in this anime is quite welcome. The only problem is when it doesn’t quite mesh with what’s gone before, or its source.
I’m not sure using the variety of anime studios was the best idea. It does seem to be the way these animated accompaniments work, but because Dante’s Inferno has a single narrative, rather than the usual episodic style, it doesn’t really work. While the studio seems to change with each new circle of hell, the only indication you get is a black title card. The result is jarring and confusing; the jump from the familiar Dante to a skin and bones version, then to a brick wall of a man, does the film no favours. When it first happens you wonder if it’s part of the narrative, that maybe time has passed since Dante entered the depths of hell.
The quality of the animation is a mixed bag. Generally the CG parts look quite good, but some of the background animations are laughably bad. Some of the animation styles are quite interesting, but you can’t help but wonder why Starz bothered hiring the other studios given the standard of what they’ve produced. Its also worth noting that none of the art styles match those seen in the game, which itself has a bit of variety.
One area that does excel is the sound. The score is well produced and of a high standard, the key thing is how well it’s used. It’s hard to tell if the acting is good or just sounds like it should be. Using the same cast as the game (to a point), the performances are full bombastic thespian, and while that maybe doesn’t suit the bloodshed, it does match the elevated tone EA are wishing for.
The anime is not as bloody as the game, it’s hardly restrained, rather it never dwells on one fight or situation for any length of time. This is actually a weakness of the film, it simply has no pacing, emotionlessly moving forward from hell circle to hell circle. It’s a shame, because Dante’s Inferno is littered with interesting characters from history, the kind of detail that would really add something to the franchise.
While Dante’s Inferno doesn’t do a whole lot wrong, it’s still far from essential. Indeed the problem with launching an animated accompaniment with your new game is that there’s no one who cares yet. You can imagine the Tekken and Street Fighter anime’s, even next weeks Halo anime, having their problems forgiven by rabid fans, but there’s no chance with Dante.
Not astounding then, fairly ordinarily in fact, but far from an embarrassment.
We've got the Halo anime next week, but this week EA and Starz's (plus a host of anime studios) Dante's Inferno.
I’ve complained many a time about films based on games messing around with their source material, but rarely do these films come out the same weekend as the game. In fairness the plot of Dante’s Inferno remains the same; Dante must enter hell to retrieve his lover Beatrice whom he betrayed. It’s the details they’ve changed that are a bit odd, such as how Dante came across his scythe, how he gets his body crucifix, and even the specifics of his interactions with the damned.
It perhaps doesn’t help things that I’m currently playing through the game, but the alterations to the games story is not necessarily a bad thing. The game doesn’t spend too much time filling in the blanks, so the extra detail in this anime is quite welcome. The only problem is when it doesn’t quite mesh with what’s gone before, or its source.
I’m not sure using the variety of anime studios was the best idea. It does seem to be the way these animated accompaniments work, but because Dante’s Inferno has a single narrative, rather than the usual episodic style, it doesn’t really work. While the studio seems to change with each new circle of hell, the only indication you get is a black title card. The result is jarring and confusing; the jump from the familiar Dante to a skin and bones version, then to a brick wall of a man, does the film no favours. When it first happens you wonder if it’s part of the narrative, that maybe time has passed since Dante entered the depths of hell.
The quality of the animation is a mixed bag. Generally the CG parts look quite good, but some of the background animations are laughably bad. Some of the animation styles are quite interesting, but you can’t help but wonder why Starz bothered hiring the other studios given the standard of what they’ve produced. Its also worth noting that none of the art styles match those seen in the game, which itself has a bit of variety.
One area that does excel is the sound. The score is well produced and of a high standard, the key thing is how well it’s used. It’s hard to tell if the acting is good or just sounds like it should be. Using the same cast as the game (to a point), the performances are full bombastic thespian, and while that maybe doesn’t suit the bloodshed, it does match the elevated tone EA are wishing for.
The anime is not as bloody as the game, it’s hardly restrained, rather it never dwells on one fight or situation for any length of time. This is actually a weakness of the film, it simply has no pacing, emotionlessly moving forward from hell circle to hell circle. It’s a shame, because Dante’s Inferno is littered with interesting characters from history, the kind of detail that would really add something to the franchise.
While Dante’s Inferno doesn’t do a whole lot wrong, it’s still far from essential. Indeed the problem with launching an animated accompaniment with your new game is that there’s no one who cares yet. You can imagine the Tekken and Street Fighter anime’s, even next weeks Halo anime, having their problems forgiven by rabid fans, but there’s no chance with Dante.
Not astounding then, fairly ordinarily in fact, but far from an embarrassment.
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