Naruto Shippuuden Episode 117

[DarthEnderX]

I'm not going to hold my breath. I wasn't all that impressed by the overall quality in that arc because it really lacked consistency. In the beginning when Asuma was fighting Hidan, the quality was average at best then it gradually got better but it peaked right before the real action started. That episode when Shikamaru and the others were gearing up to avenge Asuma was by far the best episode, quality-wise, in that entire arc. Then by the time Naruto showed up the quality was little better than it is right now.

We'll just have to agree to disagree then because I felt that the second battle between Shikamaru and Akatsuki was easily in the top 3 of all of Naruto in terms of quality.

[poopdeville]

We'll just have to agree to disagree then because I felt that the second battle between Shikamaru and Akatsuki was easily in the top 3 of all of Naruto in terms of quality.

This is just a difference of opinion, but what about Orochimaru/Sarutobi, Sasuke/Naruto, Gaara/Rock Lee? (Actually not a personal favorite, but it was pretty cool and well liked) Lee/Kimimarou? I even liked the Sakura/Sasori and Naruto/Orochimaru fights better.

I didn't think the art was so great during Hidan + Kakauzu (pt 2). As far as I remember, the art during the Shikamaru/Hidan fight was the same old animation they regularly use (basically cell shaded stills with joints). The art in the Kakashi/Kakuzu fight was different at times, but I didn't like the direction they went in. Sakura/Sasori did this sometimes too: Sakura and Kakashi looked/moved like the Guren Lagann -- using a particular Gainax-like style of deformation and motion blur to denote "speed".

[DarthEnderX]

Yeah, it's the same animation style they used during Sasuke vs. Orochimaru(Chuunin exam), Oro vs. the 3rd, and Naruto vs. Sasuke 2, two of those you listed as your favorites.

That's basically their "go to" animator for their most badass fights. The thing is, they rarely use him for entire fights. He usually just does one entire episode, and since fights like that are rarely ever one episode long, he usually just does the most action intensive episode of the fight.

For the record, I'd say my favorite fights are:

5. Sakura & Chiyo vs. Sasori
4. Lee vs. Kimimaru
3. Team Shikamaru vs. Hidan & Kakuzu
2. Naruto vs. Sasuke 2
1. Lee vs. Gaara

[antiravage]

For the record, I'd say my favorite fights are:

5. Sakura & Chiyo vs. Sasori
4. Lee vs. Kimimaru
3. Team Shikamaru vs. Hidan & Kakuzu
2. Naruto vs. Sasuke 2
1. Lee vs. Gaara

That's a pretty good list, I would put Gaara Vs Kimimaro instead of Lee Vs Kimimaru, children shouldn't drink. Talking about the upcoming fights, they better use their best animators, I wouldn't stand another Gaara Vs Deidara, the pace was too slow and the animation was bad.

[Assertn]

drunk lee rampage on kimimaro is seriously the best 6 minutes of the entire anime.
The animation, the art, the music, and the choreography was all perfect.

[DarthEnderX]

drunk lee rampage on kimimaro is seriously the best 6 minutes of the entire anime.
The animation, the art, the music, and the choreography was all perfect.

Hard to argue with that. It's just, that ONE little bit after he gets up and the music kicks in, it's just 100% own.