Imageepoch CEO Ryoei Mikage has taken to Twitter to address skeptics of Toki to Towa‘s animation system.
The game uses 2D hand-drawn characters on 3D backgrounds. Naturally, fans are curious as to how that will look in motion.
According to Mikage, characters are not models made of polygons, but high-definition images loaded straight off the PlayStation 3. Concerns such as being able to rotate the camera and creating smooth visuals were addressed early on in development. When production first began, the staff asked itself, ‘can we make something like this move?’
While some developers have been able to make 3D look like 2D using conventional methods (i.e. cel-shading in Naruto), Imageepoch has taken a different approach, which has resulted in difficult development. Though, Mikage is confident of the game’s animation abilities.
The first footage of Toki to Towa will debut on January 25.