Dragon Ball Super: Beerus / Episode 3
SB - Matsuto Seya ( PN )
ED - Kokoro Kondou
Kondou takes on the episode direction here, and sadly, this is one of the weakest episodes I’ve seen in terms of execution, particularly regarding the compositing and directorial choices. The animation is very limited, which is expected for a low-priority episode, but the bigger issue is how poorly the material is handled.
The pacing should have been one of its biggest advantages, yet the episode struggles to maintain scenes even more than the movie and original DBS TV series. It’s a shame considering Kondou isn’t inexperienced in episode direction, but his choices drag the episode down considerably.
The staff lineup is also fairly small, with Yoshitaka Yashima being the most notable animator involved. The compositing is especially poor, with the gray screen during Beerus slapping Bulma being a prime example. The scene is held for far too long, making the execution feel awkward rather than impactful. This is accompanied by limited animation and noticeable errors, while the direction fluctuates between passable and outright poor.
I can’t lie; I was pretty bored watching this one. Although it was a low-priority episode, the production limitations don't excuse the weak staging, timing, and compositing choices that ultimately undermine the experience.
Seya could only do so much with the storyboards, and nothing particularly stands out, especially with Kokoro’s questionable choices. Ultimately, it isn't a terrible episode, but it's a mediocre experience that fails to make the most of its material.
RATING: 4/10
#dragonballsuper #ドラゴンボール超