Many popular anime shows have recently chosen to send their beloved worlds and characters off in the form of films. Some recent examples include Haikyuu!!, which will adapt the manga's final chapters into a two-part film, the anime-original Backflip!, which will have a film release following the events of the first season, and Gridman Universe, which serves as a conclusion to both SSSS. Gridman and SSSS. Dynazenon.Rie Takahashi plays Ai Hoshino, Takeo Otsuka plays Aquamarine Hoshino, Yurie Igoma plays Ruby Hoshino, Megumi Han plays Kana Arima, Manaka Iwami plays Akane Kurokawa, Rumi Okubo plays Mem-cho, and Lynn plays Miyako Saito.
Kyoto Animation appears to be particularly guilty of this lately, with several of its recent properties culminating in the form of a film. Tamako Market finished with Tamako Love Story, and Violet Evergarden and Free! both ended with two films. This raises the question of whether films are a better way to end an anime. Here are the benefits and drawbacks of making a film.
The Positives of the Anime Film Format
Anime movies typically have significantly bigger budgets than TV series, resulting in much nicer animation than the standard television finale. Film release windows are also typically longer than television show release windows, providing the personnel more time to focus on achieving the highest possible quality for the film in question. This frequently allows for far greater animation quality, which sometimes results in a finished product that looks better than an entire season's worth of anime.
Movies also allow fans to watch the grand finale on the big screen with other like-minded individuals. It can lead to unforgettable memories and even possible new friendships, not unlike watching a movie like Avengers: Endgame in a packed theater. As anime becomes more mainstream, this experience has become more and more accessible for fans even outside of Japan.
The Drawbacks of the Anime Film Format
Final episodes of anime are frequently the subject of heated debate among fans. After all, this is the final chapter of the novel, and who knows when these people may return? The build-up to the debut is generally wonderful for generating buzz as fans eagerly speculate what's in store, and whether or not that finale exceeded their expectations, fans will still have much to talk about once it's all done. This is impossible to achieve with a film because not every fan can watch it at the same time. Some fans may want to watch on the first day, while others may have to wait until it's available on video or other platforms.
Anime films add another layer of hardship for fans because they often take longer to release in other countries. Fans must also struggle with a longer wait for the film's release compared to an episode release, the latter of which may take many years, whereas episodes normally take one week to release (assuming no unexpected and unexpected delays). Films also have lower time limits than anime seasons, which is why many fans are concerned that Haikyuu!!'s final arcs would be turned into a two-part film rather than a full season.
Shorter runtimes often mean that certain scenes or even characters may have to be completely cut out in order to fit everything within about two hours. Films can offer memorable experiences and feats of animation that may be more difficult to pull off in a television series, but they can also offer more roadblocks for casual fans that just want to see how their favorite series will end without paying $20 for a movie ticket.
