/jp/ - Otaku Culture

The problem isn't the change in art style - they could radically change the style and I wouldn't complain. The problem is that the new expressions do not fit the character's personality, at all. It's clear from the designs that they'll turn Haruka into a generic boke, in the same way the Clannad anime turned Kyou into a generic violent tsundere. Haruka isn't just a generic genki girl who occasionally makes strange remarks; she is exaggeratedly cheerful with no common sense, to the extent where people can't even communicate with her properly. All of her expressions are extreme and clearly exaggerated, and so is her dialogue.

Compare the anime designs. Picture 1 is a generic reasonable genki girl pose. Haruka wouldn't wink and make the peace sign from a distance, she would run up to the person whose attention she wants and start bothering them incessantly. Picture 2 is a generic moeblob smile. Her default expression is a much more playful, challenging smile, while her actual smile is an exaggerated laugh. Picture 3 gives a completely neutral expression, something Haruka never, ever shows. Picture 4 is the only suitable one, with her pretend moping as she does to tease Riki. I have no idea what picture 5 is supposed to be, if it's her scolding then that's utterly fucked up, as she always scolds people with a big smile on her face. Upper picture 6 is somewhat plausible, but lacks the playfulness and cheeriness of her personality when she's nagging someone. The last two pictures are simply 'what the hell'-level; I have no idea how they fit Haruka at all.

Why are Key anime adaptations always unable to get the best characters right?