Director Hiroshi Maeda on Why the Reiwa 'Fist of the North Star' Uses 3DCG
The director's frank explanation reveals that the 3DCG choice was a practical necessity to preserve the original's visual density, not a stylistic gimmick, and that the production deliberately mixes 2D and 3D to balance fidelity and expression.
Reporting from 1 sources: Magmix.
Director Hiroshi Maeda explains that the new 'Fist of the North Star' anime uses 3DCG because animating Tetsuo Hara's dense gekiga with only 2D animation was too difficult in terms of cost and quality control. He combined 3D models with hand-drawn animation for close-ups and character highlights, with key animator Junichi Hayama contributing. Maeda says he decided to make the version he loves, ignoring the lack of a correct answer.
Director Hiroshi Maeda told Magmix that the 3DCG approach in the Reiwa-era 'Fist of the North Star' anime was driven by the difficulty of rendering Tetsuo Hara's recent dense, thick-lined gekiga in pure 2D animation. 'Maintaining that many lines and thick touch with only 2D animation is quite difficult in terms of both cost and quality control,' Maeda said. He noted that 3D models allowed repeated trial and error while preserving the gekiga density. The production mixes 2D hand-drawn animation for close-ups and character highlights, with veteran key animator Junichi Hayama contributing. Maeda acknowledged harsh fan reactions during the early broadcast but said he ultimately decided to make the 'Fist of the North Star' he wanted to see, since there is no absolute correct answer.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.