I think you’re a bit too nice to the animation. It can’t hold a candle to the stuff Jan Animation produces, which is really 100%-show-quality animation.
There are issues with the animation, but I find that most of the problems stem from two issues: 1. the characters don't interact with the backgrounds well because they're flash puppets, and 2. the body language of the characters is over-exaggerated (i.e. they overract a lot).
The first issue is definitely an animation problem, which is part of the reason I bumped off. The second reason isn't a problem with the animation per-se, it's just a stylistic choice made by the director that didn't match the show's style. Had this been an original production, the first issue would get a critique, while the second one is largely stylistic.
But yeah, there are definitely more show-accurate animations out there. Picture Perfect Pony could easily be right from the show if not for all the O Cs.
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I think the main problem with the animation is something akin to what was wrong with the first episode of The Venture Bros. They're using Flash and doing their damnedest with it, but it's pretty obvious that almost everything is a pre-made cycle. I'm pretty sure the real show has cycles as well, but they're much, MUCH better at disguising it. Each cycle flows well on its own, but when they're all put together, you can tell that there's really not much connectivity between them.
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Good as a fan animation, lackluster as a fan episode
My longer, more in-depth review of "Double Rainboom" can be found here.
"Double Rainboom" bills itself as "the first fan-made episode of MLP:FIM", and throughout its development was advertised as having show accurate animation and generally being the same quality as an episode of the show.
It isn't. Here's a quick overview of the pros and cons:
Good:
Bad:
In short, while the animation and music comes close to being show quality, the writing and storytelling is anything but. The plot exists only as an excuse to set up gags, which themselves consist mainly of Shout Out stuff and references to fandom memes that make no sense to someone who isn't up to date on fandom activities. The pacing is consistently choppy and slow, and in general it really doesn't capture the subtle characterization that defines Friendship Is Magic. It simply doesn't live up to its own hype.
HOWEVER, as a fan animation, it's definitely one of the most impressive things the fandom has created. The animation, while not 100% show accurate, is definitely close, and the sheer scope of the project is unprecedented. It's still very flawed, but it has enough merit to be worth watching. Simply put, if you go into it expecting a fan animation with all the requisite jokes and shout outs, you'll probably be pleasantly surprised by the quality. If you go in expecting professional quality, you'll be let down.