The Best Game Animation of 2020

[@JoCat]

spider-men ❌ spider-mans ✅

[@shittown3billionbutepic]

First lets fucking go

[@CWRules]

Spiders-Man

[@PlebNC]

Welcome to A Cr*p Guide To Getting Best KZbin Comment *jingle plays*

[@rmsgrey]

Spider-People

[@eli507]

Do all my favorite youtubers know each other? What do you live next door to william osman?

[@mothersbasement]

Segue game was on point in this one Dan

[@MrIrrelevantComments]

Hey it’s guy from anime KZbin with the anime and the talking and stuff

[@icecatti]

geoff go to sleep

[@NewFramePlus]

I've legit had the thought: "I need to be cleverer about segues" while watching your videos XD

[@polyvoxelgon]

Anyway, Streets of Rage is back.

[@NishithThakkar]

I'm just glad a comment about segues didn't say 'segway'.

[@mr.potato]

These videos are basically like advertisements. I really want to play Ori and Necrobarista now

[@timothymclean]

Necrobarista is so good, I love it.

[@eldrevo]

Ori is so good, I love it.

[@PlebNC]

Except these advertisements actually make me want to buy the thing and aren't placed specifically to impede my enjoyment of the content.

[@xyvazkrown8048]

made me want to play a few of these games too, like the pathless

[@krisalis_]

This video made me add three games to my Steam wishlist, this channel really knows what it's doing

[@BlizzardofKnives]

The Animal Crossing section reminded me of an old saying, an expert is someone who makes hard things look easy.

[@milddiffuse]

I've heard similar things about Hollow Knight's art style

[@carso1500]

Yeah, nintendo are masters at their craft in that regard in almost everything

[@milddiffuse]

@@carso1500 Except at taking criticism, understanding their fans and I guess like the Internet?

[@martmine4618]

Wouldn't say it's a saying, rather the definition of the word.

[@joseruirodrigues5130]

Congrats to Dan for being one of the few people/companies out there that, while giving The Last of Us Part II the end of the year praise it deserves as a game and/or technical piece, isn't also shying away from denouncing Naughty Dog's crunch enviroment and asking for better treatment of their employees. Being the norm in the industry doesn't mean it is a good practice. And no game, as good as it can be, should be worth the wellbeing of those of actually made them. We should all ask for our games to be created in better environments.

[@StrunDoNhor]

Not to be the Negative Nancy, but we can "ask" developers to treat their employees better all we want -- unless it hurts their sales & reviews, they're not going to change their ways. The sad reality is that there are plenty of "grunt" animators/modelers/riggers/etc. out there, most of them fresh out of art school. All are eager to join the industry, and all are easily replaced if (or when) they are lost due to crunch. That "high-supply, low-demand" dynamic alone almost guarantees that crunch-culture will never go away. Lose workers? Not a problem, just replace them.

[@joseruirodrigues5130]

@@StrunDoNhor Taking action might not change anything, but things definitely won't change you don't even try. Call me naïve or whatever you want, but I find trying to have a slim chance to improve things more useful than not trying at all.

[@toowiggly]

@@StrunDoNhor replacing workers isn't really viable for a studio like naughty dog. Naughty dog expects high level production at a fast rate. People who are new to the company can't reach these level of standards because they're not acclimated to the environment and workflow of naughty dog. Training new people can be very time consuming. Disposable workers work very well for low level jobs, since there is someone that can do the job as well as the person they're replacing very easily. But hiring new people that have the same level of skill and experience as the people working at naughty dog is incredibly hard.

[@StrunDoNhor]

@@joseruirodrigues5130 I'm not saying you shouldn't try, I'm saying you should know what you're doing when you _do_ try. Yes, it is naïve to suggest that developers will change just because lots of people ask them to. You wanna help workers in the industry? Then take steps to actually change the industry. Tangibly show developers and publishers that you cannot support crunch-culture. Don't TELL them; SHOW them. Trying to do the right thing is no good if you cannot actually accomplish it -- so find out how you _can_ accomplish it. If that sounds daunting then that's because it is.

[@StrunDoNhor]

@@toowiggly Yeah, that was admittedly a bad example for studios like Naughty Dog, which focus on releasing one game every ~5 years. It is, however, very applicable to the games industry as a whole. I can say from 7 years experience that most studios _expect_ you to leave shortly after being brought on-board. For the first year or so, you are just viewed as more meat for the grinder.

[@Scrizati]

Schmonic the bledgehog? Hmm, is it the long awaited final fantasy series! Can't wait :D

[@PlebNC]

Nah, clearly it's a Metal Gear retrospective focusing on the well known and beloved boss character Speedy Echidna.

[@pedroscoponi4905]

You jest, but dan said in a Q&A he's probably gonna start releasing those final fantasy videos as they get done, rather than wait for the whole project to be complete, so - huzzah!

[@infinitesquarez]

Finally, a video on the animation of the original character, Blonic.

[@Dominik-K]

Oh I really loved Blonic and the 7 witches

[@shieldgenerator7]

Tonic the Wedgebog will finally get the recognition it deserves!

[@NanakiPL]

I love the “2019 video omission that needed to be addressed ‘immediately’”… immediately meaning in 2021 :P

[@yashkaushik6116]

lmao

[@AccentedCinema]

Spiritfarer, heck yeah!

[@Peer_Review]

Oh hey it's the best channel that covers Asian media on KZbin!

[@jimuren8223]

wait no way. This channel? Here? Actually no way. Thats amazing

[@ValkyrieTiara]

OK, Mother's Basement was obvious. JoCat was a surprise, but I mean sure. I get it. What the hell are YOU doing here?! I love it 😂

[@shieldgenerator7]

now i gotta try it with a second player to watch all the cat animations

[@milddiffuse]

@@shieldgenerator7 Same man, i didn't even know there was a coop option

[@supinearcanum]

Was totally digging this video then Dan talked about crunch. That took it to a whole nother level man, thank you for saying something, the games industry has a toxic relationship to work, and standing up to say something about it when you work in that industry can be incredibly difficult. I am so proud that you are being outspoken about injustice in a time when many would like those of us who want something better to be silent. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for having the courage to say something here to your public, in public, even if it could get you flak.

[@xww6849]

I’m just glad that he was able to appreciate the talent and craft of the many hardworking artists on the projects while recognizing the failure of Naughty Dog to create a stable or safe work environment. Navigating your relationship with a piece of art that came, in some form or another, from exploitation is really fucking hard, and going out of your way to acknowledge and shout out the people hurt the most by it (who, in fact, were some of the people that did the most to make the game as wonderful as it was) is a really mature way to go about it.

[@spych0367]

Mm yes an opinion every game has is gonna get him flak shut up

[@lvbboi9]

If Art System Works made a Castlevania fighting game I'd literally have a heart attack.

[@raikiri000]

Konami only ever will remember their IPs if there's a pachinko machine of it... IF they remember at all (sadly)

[@lvbboi9]

@@raikiri000 Someone rip it off their hands, fr The last thing we've had was SOTN on mobile, which was good but no one was expecting it Like, Nintendo put Simon, Richter, Alu and Drac in Smash, They should talk to Konami Or give it to Warner to make the game , they did great with MK11 #AlucardforMK

[@timothymclean]

@@lvbboi9 You might want to get a cardiologist to look at that. It would kinda suck if you died before getting to enjoy something like that.

[@PIKMINROCK1]

@@lvbboi9 That reminds that there's going to be a new sidescrolling Castlevania mobile game from a Chinese dev that attempted to rip off Castlevania. It looks pretty good for a mobile game.

[@Shino2912]

@@PIKMINROCK1 Do you know the name?

[@intilagos-brown5232]

one of the cool things in ff7 remake is how they kept some of the "goofy" animations of the original enemies which helps to maintain some charm of the old game rather than the whole thing being too serious.

[@faythsdream]

Watching the Spiritfarer segment, I kept hearing "FIIIIISH" in my head.

[@Nestamachine]

If anyone was wondering what any of the games featured in this video were, here's a list of them all: 0:01 - Ghost of Tsushima 0:06 - Carrion 0:10 - Drake Hollow 0:12 - Valorant 0:16 - No Straight Roads 0:20 - Hades 0:24 - Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout 0:30 - Later Alligator 1:31 - Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time 1:48 - Spyro Reignited Trilogy 2:36 - Final Fantasy VII Remake 3:00 - Final Fantasy VII 4:08 - Animal Crossing: New Horizons 5:17 - Watch Dogs: Legion 5:24 - Marvel's Avengers 5:27 - Ghost of Tsushima 5:28 - Resident Evil 3 (2020) 5:30 - Star Wars: Squadrons 5:32 - Half-Life: Alyx 5:44 - The Last of Us Part II 7:08 - The Pathless 8:10 - Granblue Fantasy Versus 8:22 - Guilty Gear Xrd 8:24 - Dragon Ball FighterZ 8:28 - Guilty Gear -Strive- 9:02 - Ori and the Will of the Wisps 9:55 - Streets of Rage 4 10:47 - Paper Mario: The Origami King 11:36 - Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy 11:45 - Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator 11:49 - fault - milestone two 11:52 - Necrobarista 12:34 - Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma 12:38 - AI: The Somnium Files 12:54 - Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales 13:57 - Spiritfarer 15:14 - 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim 15:18 - Bleeding Edge 15:20 - Furi 15:22 - Demon's Souls (2020) 15:27 - Bugsnax 15:29 - Genshin Impact 15:34 - DOOM Eternal 15:37 - Yakuza: Like A Dragon 15:39 - Minecraft Dungeons 15:55 - Shmonic the Bledgehog Thank you to the other users below who helped with this.

[@Cyfrik]

15:18 - Bleeding Edge 15:20 - FURI

[@Cyfrik]

0:01 - Ghost of Tsushima, I think, maybe.

[@twarnold14]

@@Cyfrik Yeah, that first one is also Tsushima.

[@LarLakFarStrider]

Yeah, 0:01 is absolutely ghosts of tsushima. It's from the opening section right after leaving the bridge.

[@sluep]

5:17 looks like Cyberpunk 2077

[@TheCanipaEffect]

Glad Spiritfarer got a shoutout! I'd love to see you have a go at covering 13 Sentinels and Vanillaware's 2.5D production in the future!

[@-nomi.-]

Yessssss, I love vanillaware. Muramasa especially has soke amazing animation in its combat

[@android19willpwn]

unfortunately 13 Sentinels didn't have that much in the way of animation. Two idle animations per character that's mostly just static poses with VW's fantastic squash/stretch thing to simulate movement, four walk cycles per character (walk, jog, sprint, think), a Sentinel summon, and a two-second long cut for each Sentinel attack. All quite good, but nothing too impressive. The art itself? Breathtaking. Beautiful. Fantastic. But the motion isn't the priority.

[@OhNoTheFace]

When Barret takes off his shades, I feel things. God he is handsome. So kudos to the model design

[@EverTheFractal]

I really love how he looks in the remake. I could swim in those eyes.

[@rcookie5128]

I felt things _harder_ then usual on this snippet of animation 8:54 Funny how a 3D version of a 2D-stylized character projected onto a 2D-screen can still seems so 3D-real.

[@dvillines26]

the eyes of the main characters in FFVII Remake are fucking incredible, it's amazing to think about how not that long ago video game animators just could not do it, could not make characters with lively eyes that didn't dip into the uncanny valley.

[@EverTheFractal]

@@dvillines26 yeah like seeing them flick and dart around naturally during conversations is so good. They tell whole stories through their faces

[@Gilbot9000]

Man it is always so hype to see your top animations of the year. You never fail to deliver on high quality animation in these showcases and the video and narration are on point like always. Looking forward to 2021's video already! And thanks for standing up against crunch!!

[@JoyceW-Art]

I'm so glad you called out Naughty Dog for their crunch practices. I keep hearing more and more crunch stories and it's really putting me off of wanting to work in the gaming industries... Which is a shame, cause as you said, there's so much beautiful talent and work out there filled with passion and skilled people!

[@timothymclean]

As long as the typical consumer is unaware of or apathetic to studios abusing crunch, crunch culture will be profitable. As long as crunch culture is profitable, most big studios will seek to profit from it, meaning that only a few devs will be able to escape those studios and go somewhere sustainable. As long as there are armies of young hopefuls dreaming of a job in game dev, those companies can find new employees. I blame capitalism. Devs should never need to choose between crunch culture and starvation.

[@w3ss3l88]

uhhh, thank you for introducing me to The Pathless??? how have i not seen this before! this looks disgustingly gorgeous, instant buy. thank you so much dan

[@midasmagnezone4282]

It's made by the same devs of ABZU if you've ever heard of that game.

[@w3ss3l88]

@@midasmagnezone4282 i have! also checked out the trailer, fell in love, bought and downloaded the game and am now playing it as of writing that comment

[@yungzhe]

He wasn't kidding about the size of that big project for Schomic the Bledgebog.

[@LudicGamer]

Kentucky Route Zero ended in 2020 after ~10 years of drip feeding us with chapters and supplementals. It's a phenomenal point-and-click adventure with animation that is both hyper-simple and meticulously complex. The game's whole vibe is this nebulous, languid, dream-like "tall takes of the American South crossed with the Twilight Zone" thing, and the animation sells it beyond belief. Highly recommend! Great to see you back, Dan! A great way to welcome the new year! And, yes - Daffodil is best cat.

[@AceTaxiaGaming]

It's theme of entropy is ironic with its agonizingly long dev cycle

[@HopefullRomantic]

Agree! I was admiring all the different movement animations and art as a whole all the way through.

[@ROCKCHOMP380]

I was blown away with how much care went into Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. Thing's like how expressive everyone's faces where and there's one scene in particular where Zelda runs her fingers over an object and how good it looked when it happened. The fight animations during the cutscenes are amazingly clear and easy to follow as well. It's definitely worth checking out!

[@LuxrayLloyd]

Yeah, I still am awestruck by how good animations are, both for realistic and cartoony styles

[@user-ex5pg3oy9c]

Games in order of first appearance: 0:00 Ghost of Tsushima 0:05 Carrion 0:10 Drake Hollow 0:13 Valorant 0:15 No Straight Roads 0:20 Hades 0:25 Fall Guys 0:31 Later Alligator 1:32 Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time 1:43 Skylanders: Imaginators 1:48 Spyro Reignited Trilogy 2:35 Final Fantasy VII Remake 4:08 Animal Crossing: New Horizons 5:16 Watch Dogs: Legion 5:25 Marvel's Avengers 5:28 Resident Evil 3 (Remake) 5:30 Star Wars Squadrons 5:32 Half-Life: Alyx 5:45 The Last Of Us: Part II 7:08 The Pathless 8:09 Granblue Fantasy: Versus 8:22 Guilty Gear Xrd 8:23 DRAGON BALL FighterZ 8:27 Guilty Gear - STRIVE - 9:08 Ori and the Will of the Wisps 9:44 Streets of Rage 4 10:46 Paper Mario: The Origami King 11:36 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney 11:45 Dream Daddy 11:49 Fault Milestone One 11:53 Necrobarista 12:34 Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma 12:38 AI: The Somnium Files 12:55 Spider-Man: Miles Morales 13:57 Spiritfarer 15:14 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim 15:18 Bleeding Edge 15:21 Furi 15:23 Demon's Souls (Remake) 15:27 Bugsnax 15:30 Genshin Impact 15:34 Doom Eternal 15:37 Yakuza: Like a Dragon 15:39 Minecraft Dungeons

[@user-ex5pg3oy9c]

Lemme know if I missed smth

[@Whitelisted_Productions]

You utter psychopath

[@anja8595]

I really appreciate the variety you showcased here! The diversity of talent is incredible

[@gnadov4506]

Well come back! Your channel is my most favorite channel about video game animation, so I always feel happy to see your new videos released. Especially, your comment on TLOU II is really meaningful. After winning a ton of awards, ND leaders did not give a fck about anyone any more.

[@MAO7891]

Thank you Dan for taking the time to address crunch in the TLoU2 segment.

[@normal6483]

I nominate Omori; it came out right on Christmas, so it makes sense that it hasn't gotten around to you yet, but the hand-drawn style is *amazing* and it takes a pencil & crayon aesthetic and animates it in this wonderful way that's both charming and horrifying at the same time.

[@rasmustagu]

Such a simple yet cool take on an old video formula, well done! - great work!

[@jcbueno1284]

I'm pausing the video right now to type this. I haven't played The Last of Us Part 2 yet, and not quite sure if I ever will, but I do love the attention to detail that the animators have put into making the characters feel alive and they do deserve a round of applause for their incredible work. Watching the reels and other clips from the game you showed in the vid was amazing to see, but it also kinda bummed me out knowing the hell Naughty Dog put their artists through to achieve that. I'm so glad you took the time to acknowledge that aspect of the development to promote better working conditions for the people who make these games! I was surprised to see it, but I shouldn't have been. You're an amazing person Dan, and I love watching the content you make! Keep at dude! 😁👍

[@Atypical-Abbie]

Some games I think deserve some attention here: Carrion, No Straight Roads, Doom Eternal, Phogs, Call of the Sea.

[@firekirby123]

Dan actually did wind up playing NSR on his gameplay channel! He may not have mentioned it in this video, but it's present, and you can hear a lot of his first impressions in that gameplay video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJLEq2mBaZ14lbs As for Doom Eternal... I think it's gotten plenty of attention this year. Can certainly agree on the other three though! It's likely Phogs just slipped in under the radar while he was making this video though, much like Later Alligator last year.

[@BananJumper]

@@firekirby123 the falling off pieces of monster flesh deserves mention at every possible opportunity

[@Loloshroom]

Hades is a beautiful game, the character animation for Zagreus is very expressive, and the environments are so alive and stunning

[@MewMewDerez]

I'll second this one, the art direction was phenomenal, and after seeing Zag's run cycle at -53% movement speed (thanks Chaos), you can really see the polish that went into his movement. and that's not even going into the SFX for all the boons and buffs he can get. But I'll also admit, while the game has truly great animation, I'd say on the list of things SuperGiant did *exceptionally well* on with Hades, animation comes after things like mechanicals and story and music. still *amazing* animation work, but the lowest on the list of *really great* aspects about that game. deffo my GOTY

[@Vesperitis]

Not to mention how amazingly readable and functional all the animation is. Even when your screen is filled with bullets and monsters you always know exactly what's going on, where the bad guys are, and how to plot your next move, aided of course by the phenomenal sound design and music. You can tell it was all polished to a mirror sheen.

[@thehauntedattic4279]

I think that a video specifically about animation in VR games would be a good idea. I LOVE VR GAMES and their is probably a lot of little animated instances that I missed while playing a lot of them. For example I love how the zombies (or walkers) move in The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners.

[@Benamax]

Agreed. VR just pushes animation to a whole new level. There’s something about seeing the small exaggerations in 3D animation that is so satisfying to view in VR. The high frame-rate and 3D depth that VR provides really elevate even decent animation. That’s probably why Half-Life: Alyx is my top game of the year in terms of animation. The 1-on-1 character scenes feel just right, even as they follow your gaze around the environment. The small bits of cloth that shake when the character moves add a lot of believability to the game. And the animation system powering the Combine, which perfectly transition between different walking directions and speeds, may be the one of the most impressive pieces of game tech I’ve seen all year. And all of it looks 10x better in VR.

[@thehauntedattic4279]

@@Benamax exactly, half life alyx just puts you in a trance with the character animations, and the fact that you DONT EVEN HAVE TO LOOK AT THEM DURING THE CUTSCENES! It’s crazy, the rooms are cluttered with so many little things that move in interesting ways.

[@IsmaPuntoDoc]

What NEVER fails to impress me is your choice in music for your end scrolls 🥰

[@erikasilva4183]

I'd love it if he made some video game remix videos

[@ZorlockDarksoul]

@@erikasilva4183 He has before. Back when he was still part of Extra Credits, he had a small series called Extra Remix, where he talked about some of his favorite VGM remixers.

[@qwert1043]

Takeshi and Hiroshi for the Nintendo switch has some great animation. The game uses 2 styles, claymation and 2D animation. The claymation is used only in cutscenes and the 2D animation is used in gameplay. I picked up the game solely for its art style and wasn’t disappointed.

[@flikkie72]

No matter how many "must play games of 2020" videos i watch, you always manage to mention some that I've never come across - absolutely amazing!

[@SkyAlbaharu]

One thing I really like about your videos is the appreciation for being able to manage well your budget and do cool art and animation with limited resources. I really admire people who can do that! And it's very nice to see some love for it :D

[@cyco7229]

Spiritfarer went completely under my radar, now It's high on my list of "buy"

[@astralura]

It'll emotionally destroy you in the best way

[@linkboynine9814]

@@astralura ^This. It's going to rip your heart out and stomp it flat, and you'll love every moment of it.

[@mme.veronica735]

@@astralura like Violet Evergarden? Sign me up

[@Vesperitis]

Your most important action is to hug people. It is absolutely beautiful and heartrending every time you do it.

[@KennethKeyn]

Make sure you buy several boxes of tissues as well.

[@thetoongrump9801]

Glad you put Crash 4 front and center. I agree that Toys for Bob KILLED it with that game’s look and I’m very glad that they’re still doing great things to this day. And yeah, the Skylanders games are worth looking into imo. They capture that “Saturday Morning Cartoon” feel better than any game series I’ve played. It’s such a fun series (if a bit expensive to properly enjoy)

[@lukeothedukeo]

SMALLBÜ!!!!! Glad to see you give them props. They are one of a handful of creators that I will drop everything for when they release new stuff. Such incredible artists!

[@ollieuglow]

Thanks for not forgetting about crunch. It's always nice when people appreciate the good, but try not to ignore what needs attention x

[@aradraugfea]

Dan, any chance we’ll get a video going into some of the differences between Miles and Peter’s animations? Just playing through the game, I noticed a lot of actions where the effect’s the same, the timing is the same, but Miles has a little stumble, or panic, or just something that otherwise sells that, while Peter’s been doing this for an unspecified number of years, we’re seeing someone still getting used to what they can do.

[@juanfebejarano5474]

Kudos to Genshin Impact's attack animations. Even though the weapons are classified in 5 classes and each class share a similar feel, every single character uses them in a slightly different way, it feels like every character know how their weapon is supposed to be used, but they created a style unique to them according to their own experience.

[@sheepaleepz]

shoutout to Zhongli just fuckin kicking his spear i love that guy

[@madelinedarby6492]

Also they manage to add a certain amount of flair to each elemental attack (usually- some of the animations are incredibly similar or the same) for so many characters- while still making each attack readable

[@clockworklemon9243]

I don't really care for the game as a whole but when I tried it out when it first launched I was really impressed with the weapon animations. I just stood on the beach swinging the sword around to admire how smooth the animation was

[@diegoantoniorosariopalomin9979]

Glad to see you back, Dan. I am going to recommend your channel a friend that just told me that she wants to learn how to animate

[@diegoantoniorosariopalomin9979]

Any resources for 2d animation specifically?

[@iamshow6477]

Please try to check out "Shady Part of Me". You control a little girl and her shadow individually. They both have their own flourishes to actions.

[@LarLakFarStrider]

I'm glad 13 Sentinels got a visual mention at the end. George Kamitani has just gorgeous animation in all of his games. And it has a great story to boot!!!

[@peebo111]

Must admit, I was upset you didn’t dive into NSR beyond the cameo in the opening - BUT thank you so much for sharing so many other beautifully animated games with us! Have a great 2021, man!

[@JessSoo91]

Really enjoy the positivity and passion you've shown through this video. keep it up!

[@hexhells]

man, i got so excited to see no straight roads in the intro, and i’m a little bummmed it didn’t get showcased here... but time and energy constraints are understandable! honestly, this game’s sense of character design and posing makes for some really dynamic animation. each character has such a distinct silhouette and movements tailored to their personalities with fun little details that just REALLY sell it. things like mayday’s little hip bob or zuke constantly tapping his foot to a set beat. things like eve’s flowing movements that stop at very jarring angles to show a duplicity to her, tatiana’s stiff and regimented movements, DJSS’s mind-bending arms... so much love went into the art of this game. the animations really end up saying something about each character and i will never not love it.

[@Doomsword0]

I really appreciate the way you jump back and forth between games that have significantly different art styles Dan. To help show people that having a game with a super cartoony art direction can have just as impressive animations as something like the last of us that could be mistaken for real life.

[@hylianmage413]

I love these recaps. Dan is at his best when he's able to just gush about all of his favorite things.

[@pavarottiaardvark3431]

Happy New Year to whoever animated the stunning fall at 6:28

[@TheWordPlay]

Man it's always a treat seeing these videos, because it gives me a chance to check out games I either forgot about or never seen before! Pathless looks amazing

[@ImTheBluestBird]

I’m really glad you mentioned Later Alligator, it’s such a great game that deserves so much love. Playing that game makes me smile so damn much, I love it to bits.

[@kenanwallace2124]

A lovely compilation Dan and awesome as always to hear your enthusiasm on the subject. Really puts a genuine smile on my face to hear people who enjoy game animation this much. Also looking forward to the Sonic piece when it's done, it's been a pleasure watching both your critiques, pleasant surprises and mild frustrations with the games you have played in the series.

[@GraekTarmikos]

There were at least 4 moments throughout this video where i thought "damn i gotta give this video a like", even tho i already had within the first couple of minutes into it. Your content is so consistently good it's mindblowing. Keep up the awesome work!

[@Lumcoin]

I love it that you use every opportunity to talk about the horrible working conditions in those big studios. Keep it up man.

[@vibinbee1298]

I think omori's animation in gorgeous in it's own way, how the animation portrays things you could not even notice is amazing

[@fikamonster2564]

I really like these "favorite Game Animation" videos you make. So much pretty animation here. Thanks dan

[@zoldilox2412]

I was very surprised and grateful that you not only, went off topic and addressed the toxic work environment in the video game industry, but used your channel as a platform to voice your concerns and raise awareness. I sometimes wonder what games we could have had if it weren’t for such problems hampering the progress, design, and direction if the industry wasn’t so volatile. I am happy to say that you earned a sub, and an added bonus, you make really great videos 👍😁

[@johncargille7722]

I really appreciate how positive Dan is in his videos. Sure, he can suggest constructive changes, but that never sounds angry, and all his praise is so well-developed and filled with personality. Man I love listening to Dan Floyd.

[@PoorMuttski]

every time I watch one of these videos, I immediately regret every second I wasted on some high-budget, big name schlock. I mean, those were some fun games, but this stuff is true art, and I need it!

[@Jesse_yo]

I really love hearing you talk favorably about videogames regardless of their flaws. It's pure positivity without being toxic and incredibly refreshing. Keep it up friend

[@alinayossimouse]

Phenomenal roundup, thank you. And I've added two of the games to my list that I either hadn't heard about yet or hadn't filed under great animation.

[@legomacinnisinc]

Commenting for our algorithm overlords. But seriously, I love these types of videos. I love animation and I love any chance I get to see new stuff.

[@PurpleFreezerPage]

It makes me really happy as a solo dev to see you complement what Necrobarista did. I've never heard of the game - I'm just glad to see low budgets being used in an artistic way.

[@elcheshireilustracion9396]

I just want to say... Spiritfarer is my 2020 GotY. I know that on a technical level it might not be as good as others, but I think narratively speaking it's way above and beyond. I really want games to take that route going forward. I know Origami King gets a lot of flack, but regardless of the need for XP (Wich I don't mind at all) on a technical level it's such an absolute beast, the visual style and music are really out of this world. Lovely video as always, Dan!

[@oranski3299]

Thank you for mentioning Spiritfarer. I only played this game recently but it tore open my heart and I'm grateful for it. It deserves all the praise and Daffodil is so wonderful

[@andrianhiew7180]

Thank you for including Spiritfarer! Although I haven't had the opportunity to play it, I've always found the animations to be close to home

[@danimate123]

Check out "Lair of the Clockwork God" it has a similar situation to what you found on "Later Aligator", where the animation is meant to make you laugh and giggle even without any dialogue.

[@Bobthepetferret]

I cheered when Crash 4 was the first game mentioned. Been playing through it recently and as a fan of both classic Looney Tunes style animation and the original trilogy of games, I am CONSTANTLY floored by just how good the animation in that game is. I've felt the Crash series to be consistently lackluster since Crash Bash and this game has won me back hard, and that animation is a big part of it.

[@ItsNanino]

6:25 Really impressed me for some reason. How the skin is tightening around the knuckles is really cool and something I would expect from a simulated charackter in a movie, not a real time rendered one.

[@ultramarinescommander]

It's so nice to hear positive things about games. The issue is that I didnt play a lot of these so I spend the year playing them and then I miss a bunch more. The never ending game cycle. I still love it.

[@Azmar.]

Yeees ♥ so cool ^^ This was great, I was going to mention 13 Sentinels in this comment, but you aknowledged it in the final montage. It's so good to have you back, I really missed your videos, and I really look forward to that shmonic the bledgehog one o/

[@timothymclean]

Which one is it?

[@Azmar.]

@@timothymclean 15:37

[@Sanshaino]

Have you checked out Röki? It's a debut title and I was very impressed with the simplistic animations. The walk cycles look great to my eyes.

[@Zift_Ylrhavic_Resfear]

Thanks for the video, and props for speaking out against crunch :)

[@1bardh1]

Fantastic video! This video was on my recommended and boy am I glad I clicked on it. Fantastic content and a much needed critique of the unfair working conditions and crunch situation in AAA publishers. Subscribed

[@cellochicita]

I'm so glad Spiritfarer made it on the list. The video was running close to the end and I was worried you had missed out on it!! Glad to see later alligator too, better late than never!

[@DannoTA]

SO HYPED to see new content from you in the new year!!!

[@Crystalitar]

Later alligator was such a joy. Also, props for you to compliment and also criticize Lou2 at the same time in a very non hating manner. Really well put and agreed

[@loveandmad530]

honestly, i think the thing that impresses me the most about origami king’s animation is the legion of stationary. you can see so much of their characters through just their idle and attack animations.

[@holmesw25]

Thank you for Later Alligator, this completely passed me by and I had a blast. What a lovely little game.

[@TheWarlordBob]

Have you seen Zniw Adventure? Came out this November with basically 0 reception. It's a cartoon dinosaur game with a lot of charm in the character designs and animations. It was made by a couple in Poland. Would love to see what you think about it.

[@NikiPaprika]

always love seeing these showcases, and i'm SO glad to see later alligator getting some love too haha! this is a fantastic list honestly, i cannot complain! the only thing i would add is yakuza 7, there was some fantastic and memorable scenes in that, and the fighting animations range from solid and impactful to downright silly (much like the tone of the game itself), some beautiful work there!

[@ztoogemcducc6360]

Recently switched majors to animation and these videos are super useful to me. They're entertaining but they are a valuable resource to me as a student.

[@noiJadisCailleach]

Man, i love your list. I don't buy games often, so when i buy them, i check lists like these. And your list has never disappointed me. Keep doing what you're doing, good sir!

[@MagicFlora.]

oh my god I got unreasonably excited to hear someone actually acknowledge spiritfarer

[@krishnansubramoni7801]

This video somehow felt comforting to watch. Thank you Dan for all your hard work

[@Aregulargameplayer]

13 Sentinels and Demon Souls remake are definitely worth mentioning.

[@Aduro180]

The amount of animation work that is in Cyberpunk 2077 alongside directing still amazes me. Every scene, even just talking to other person has SO many litle details which make every conversation feel natural and real. And I'm not even gonna start on guns reloads etc.

[@NitrogenDev]

I think a game that's worth mentioning, although its animation work is quite limited compared to the games featured in this video, is Hades. Its impactful attack animations and smooth running and dashing as well as the balance between them are definitely the type of things that, if they were to be missing, the game would feel wrong.

[@lhumanoideerrantdesinterne8598]

Mentioning Supergiant is cheating though, they make it seem too easy. That being said, if you want to hear Dan gush about Hades he is currently let's playing it on his other channel and it's delightful to watch.

[@lProN00bl]

@@lhumanoideerrantdesinterne8598 I mean it would have been a perfect lead in from talking about Naughty Dog crunching their employees compared to Supergiant.

[@NitrogenDev]

@@lhumanoideerrantdesinterne8598 will definitely watch his playthrough after finishing the game myself haha.

[@dandanthesuitman6013]

Oh thank you for bringing up crunch! The more people talk about it, the better. Thank you

[@sondeplanet]

Image result for xrd X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) is a rapid analytical technique primarily used for phase identification of a crystalline material and can provide information on unit cell dimensions. The analyzed material is finely ground, homogenized, and average bulk composition is determined.Feb 14, 2020

[@seiishin2766]

AHHHHH I'm so happy you showed a little clip of No Straight Roads in the opening, I adore that game with all my heart ;v;

[@FrickNasty]

Waiting SOOO patiently for the next Principles of Animation video!

[@ChesireWaltz]

YES A NEW VIDEO. I've been waiting for this one :D I love your point on Spiderman, I totally agree that you can just watch Miles and how he moves and you can tell he is NOT Peter but his movement is just as pleasing, if less precise.

[@flooflezmt]

Omori has some adorable (and spooky) 2D hand drawn animation that I think is great

[@PlebNC]

Something that may be worth discussing is the environment animation of Noita, as it gives various properties to each pixel in the game and how those properties interact leads to interesting animations. E.g. When you burn wood there's different burning animations based on what's burning it, at what heat and if the wood is above/near other flammable objects. Alot of it is likely procedurally generated but still adds extra fun to me when I cause unusual things to happen through interactions with the environment and is worth checking out. Also all the enemies are named after creatures from Finnish mythology.

[@NoshuHyena]

As a character design buff, I'm thrilled that Crash's new design is MANY steps above his regular design. Also, he finally emotes with his ears, a small animation AND char design improvement that goes a long way in making the character expressive.

[@midasmagnezone4282]

Boy would I like to know some of the games shown but not talked about here. 0:10, 0:16, 11:45, 11:48, 12:34, 15:14, and 15:20. I'd also like to mention Shady Part of Me which was shown at The Game Awards this year. The animation in the game contrasts the weighty and slow feel of the characters with the heavy and quick movement of background characters, and environment setpieces. And man do I love the walk and "victory" animations.

[@fantasythinkerfan]

In order: Drake Hollow, No Straight Roads, Phoenix Wright, Daddy Dating Simulator, Necrobarista, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, don't know the last one.

[@user-ex5pg3oy9c]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaHTnJydo9eKZ5Y&lc=UgwnVBBn4glIlDpr2_54AaABAg full list

[@midasmagnezone4282]

@@fantasythinkerfan Thanks a lot! I had seen No Straight Roads before but forgot its name and I've never heard of Drake Hollow before but it looks charming. The third and fifth timestamps are a bit off thanks to the nature of KZbin timestamps (I was actually talking about the games shown a second later) but just knowing even a couple of games shown here is greatly appreciated.

[@the11thhour44]

These videos are a nice break from the typical "hyper realistic 3D ray traced epic story AAA open world" games, impressive they may be. Each game you covered looks so delightful and charming in such unique ways. I'm especially fond of Ori and Later Alligator. Also, major kudos for taking the time to address the mistreatment of animators in AAA studios.

[@Roxor128]

I don't think anyone's done a game that's completely raytraced. Far as I know, all current use of it is for secondary rays only, not camera ones, and everything's still made out of polygon approximations, not true curved surfaces, which you could directly render with raytracing.