Vinland Saga Director Apologizes After Viewers Criticize Animation Quality in Latest Episode

Spencer Baculi |

Nov 6, 2019

Vinland Saga director Shuuhei Yabuta has issued a public apology to fans of the popular anime series after receiving complaints that the latest episode’s animation quality did not faithfully recreate the scenes from the manga.

https://youtu.be/0A8hK-KBRjs

Following the October 4^th premiere of the series 17^th episode, ‘Servant’, some viewers took to Twitter to express their dissatisfaction with the animation of the episode, believing that some scenes had lost their impact in the translation between the original manga pages and the anime adaptation:

I was disappointed by today’s episode , hope you improve the animation in the next episode

— Jeet Singh (@JeetSin20755894) November 3, 2019

Just why ? This panel was so beautifull and amazing why did you turn it into this basic image 😢 But the rest of the episode was very good !! 👍 pic.twitter.com/YrDt97QpDE

— Ezio (@EzioTilia) November 3, 2019

Another great Vinland Saga episode, but just want to say that I was sort of disappointed with this panel recreation. Other stuff was done amazingly (like the horse punch) but WIT REALLY dropped the ball with Terror Thorkell compared to the manga. pic.twitter.com/N1MoLQwwvw

— Philip Giles (@philipgiles) November 3, 2019

https://youtu.be/1Leotjg811s

Two moments in particular seem to have disappointed this small group of fans: Thorkell’s intimidating aura and a close-up of Thorfinn yelling:

Vinland Saga Director Apologizes After Viewers Criticize Animation Quality in Latest Episode

In light of these complaints, Yabuta took to his personal Twitter account to apologize for the lack of quality, thanking fans for their “understanding and supporting” and noting his belief that “It is also unwilling for me to make a film that is unsatisfactory for viewers”:

Thank you for a lot of responses, and I really appriciate for your understanding and supporting.
It is also unwilling for me to make a film that is unsatisfactory for viewers. I will keep pushing on.

— やぶた (@yabshu55) November 4, 2019

He then proceeded to thank fans for their “concern and a lot of kind words,” noting that he hopes that this feedback and discussion “will be a good memory for everyone to be involved with this title and the community.”

Thank you for your concern and a lot of kind words.
All of your words encourage me and staffs.

I’m always thinking positively to see valuable ideas and exchange of opinions.
I hope that it will be a good memory for everyone to be involved with this title and the community.

— やぶた (@yabshu55) November 5, 2019

Vinland Saga is available to stream on Amazon Prime. It releases weekly on Mondays.