Google Street View Causes Error in Shoshimin Anime
Recently, a mistake in episode 7 of the anime Shoshimin, one of the current season’s most popular shows, went viral on Japanese social media. It’s common for iconic landmarks in Japanese cities to be depicted in anime scenes, creating a strong connection between the real world and the animated one.
A prime example is the portrayal of one of the most famous locations in Makoto Shinkai‘s acclaimed film, Your Name:
However, this time, it seems the animators of Shoshimin made a blunder by using a screenshot from Google Street View—a Google Maps and Google Earth feature that allows users to view 360° horizontal and 290° vertical panoramic views of various places worldwide.
Google Street View Causes Error in Shoshimin Anime
The mistake occurred during an attempt to depict the “Toshi Keikan 100-Sen” monument. Below is how the monument appears in real life, followed by its representation on Google Street View and in the anime.
Real-life Appearance of the Monument:
The Monument as Seen on Google Street View:
Apparently, the animators used Google Street View as a reference for portraying the monument in Shoshimin, as it appears with the same distortion:
Japanese Reactions to the Error in Shoshimin Episode 7:
- “It seems like there would be material available without relying on Street View.”
- “Location scouting using Street View reduces costs and leaves a good impression, although I think they should have done a bit more research.”
- “The use of Street View was criticized in Yuru Camp.”
- “I laughed a lot haha. They’re just tracing and don’t understand the essence.”
- “Because going to the actual location costs money.”
- “Even Japanese anime, which they take so much pride in, is getting worse. What else can they do?”
- “Although it seems they did it with great awareness, they didn’t do their own location scouting.”
- “Does location research really affect viewership ratings?”
- “The drawings have become more beautiful than before, but I feel the quality has declined. There are more and more things that are just visually appealing.”
Attentive Japanese fans never miss anime mistakes, which is why it’s more common for productions to conduct on-site scouting rather than relying on Google tools.
via Otakomu