Good animation vs. good story, which do you prefer?

Japanese netizens were embroiled in an intense online debate about what they prefer in an anime: good animation with a bad story or a good story with bad animation? This discussion has divided the anime community, with passionate advocates on both sides arguing their views fervently.

On the one hand, proponents of good animation argue that high-quality animation can significantly elevate the visual experience of anime. They argue that well-animated scenes can convey more intense emotions, improve viewer immersion, and make the story more visually appealing, even if the plot is weak. In addition, they highlight that impressive animation can grab viewers' attention from the get-go and keep them interested throughout the series.

On the other hand, proponents of a good story argue that without a strong plot and well-developed characters, the quality of the animation loses its value. They argue that a compelling story can compensate for shortcomings in animation and keep viewers engaged and excited, even if the visual quality isn't exceptional. In addition, they point out that a memorable story can leave a lasting impression on viewers long after the anime ends.

This debate between animation and story in anime has striking parallels to debates in the video game industry, where the importance of gameplay versus graphics is discussed. In both cases, fans must weigh up which aspects they value most in their entertainment experience: the technical quality or the immersive storytelling?

"What do you prefer? I'd rather not have an opinion about it."
"I think the content is the most important thing, but when I watch shows with good animation and others with bad animation, I realize how important this aspect is. If the story is interesting, I'll watch it even if the animation is lousy, but it rarely catches on."
"Today's popular anime come first. Animation is what makes something popular. It's more about reducing awkwardness than making it interesting. The most popular anime these days is the first one, but the story isn't that interesting. The animation must be so good that it must make you forget how bad the story is."
"Series that neglect animation and are still interesting are a rarity. There are a lot of bad stories with shitty animation."
"Of course it's the latter. A good story is enjoyable, whether it's good or bad animation."
"There's not a single anime with an interesting storyline."
"In the end, if the story isn't interesting, it won't sell. Unless it's Kyoto Animation."
"Are there any popular anime with shitty animation in the past? Compared to now, but if it was at a shitty level by the standards of the time, it would be impossible. I think only Higurashi, not Naku Koro, wouldn't even fall into this category."
"This. I can't think of anything interesting with shitty animation."
"Why do you think people keep watching Overlord despite the crappy quality of the animation? Because of the story, which is great."
"I stopped watching God Eater and Tales Of after 2 episodes. I can watch interesting anime all the way through even if the animation sucks."
"And which of the two categories would it be for Chainsaw Man?"
"Like Tokyo Revengers?"
"I've never met an anime where the story is interesting enough to overshadow the bad animation."
"There's no such thing as an interesting anime with shitty animation. There are tons of interesting anime with unique animation."