Poll: How Big is Too Big?

[laggyteabag]

6 is a little big, but 7 is the definite "nope." area. In terms of anime/ manga characters 1 doesn't fit the style that I've become accustomed to. The nice area is around 3-5.

 

[Agayek]

Mostly it depends on what they're trying to accomplish. A serious drama about the ups and downs of being a bounty hunter (Cowboy Bebop)? Probably looking for a 4 at the most. A zany comedy with lots of slap stick shenanigans (Shin Chan)? Do whatever you want.

The wackier you get, the less I care about the aesthetics. The more serious your subject matter, the more it matters to me since it's hard to take a 9 very seriously.

This is pretty much my take on this. I don't really have a "limit", but the art has to match the tone of the story. An ostensibly serious drama with art on the 8-9 area of the scale is unwatchable because of the tonal dissonance, just like a goofy story with poe-faced realistic characters makes it hard to stomach.

It's all just a matter of tone - as long as it's consistent throughout the work as a whole, it doesn't matter in the least what it actually is.

 

[hermes]

7 is my limit.
My preference is 3 or 4...

 

[Ratty]

None are too big, it's just a matter of aesthetics and theme.

Slayers are somewhere around 7 and it works fine. Others are at 9 and work even better. That said, making a serous and/or gory drama with those aesthetics would clash, but it does suit other types of products. So... go ahead, knock yourself out?

Eh I'd say it's more around 7 for the newer seasons, but the classic 3 seasons/the original OVAs are a firm 6.

Spoiler: But don't take my word for it!

Original 1996 series. 2010 series
These are official Funimation uploads so sorry they don't work in all regions.

 

[ccggenius12]

I'd like to submit a write in vote for "11, and tear off the nob". It's all fine, as long as it's context appropriate.

 

[Weaver]

I can handle up to 7. 8 and 9 are just too much.

 

[RandV80]

It's also worth noting that sometimes eye size is used to denote youth. Disney basically established this, just think Bambi. Wouldn't be surprised if there were series where children were given 7's and adults 4's, or something like that.

 

[Naqel]

IMO it's all about the tone of the show.

I can stand even size 11 if it contributes to the overall aesthetic.

 

[DrOswald]

The artist in the OP is good at drawing everything up to 5, ok at drawing 6, and not good at drawing 7-9. Notice how from 1-6 the features of the eyes change to accommodate and compliment the larger size but after that it is essentially just stretching the eyes larger and larger. Style, technique, and features do not change correctly to accommodate the larger size. On this diagram 6-9 look off and get increasingly unsettling, but I think that has more to do with the failure of the artist than the actual size of the eyes.

If the style works around it virtually any size of eyes works. Even styles where the face is more eyes than face have worked just fine. But you have to do it right. And I must admit that Osaka is a weak point in Azumanga Daioh in that respect.

 

[Arqus_Zed]

I like 1 the best,
2 is still passable,
3 is a big maybe,
everything else is "nope".

In case you haven't noticed yet, I do NOT like googly eyed humans - and I hate it when noses turn into dots or just completely disappear.
(Now, if were talking about something like Sly Raccoon or Ratchet & Clank, we would be having a different conversation).

 

[game-lover]

I like them all. So I guess that's my answer.

Well, 1 is the most boring but real people drawn in a cartoon tend to be boring.

 

[Snowbell]

Style 4 is too much for me, 2 looks perfect

 

[martyrdrebel27]

six is the last acceptable one, i like 5 the best though.

 

[Coakle]

..It's part of the comedy of the show... (You'll get used to it... I hope?)

Is the size of that girl's eyes played for laughs? That would be neat.

Regardless, I'll be giving it another shot soon. I can get over most of my stylistic hang-ups if I watch a couple episodes. Madoka Magic made me cringe, but I got use to it at episode 3. Like I said, Azumanga Daioh seems to be the type of show I'd enjoy, so I'm willing to invest some time to get acclimated.

 

[Guy from the 80's]

Looking at the diagram, at what point do you say "Nope, too big?"


My limit is 6, I also could handle a 7 with an eye-patch. I think it's a surface area thing.

The more insect-like the better. Its perfectly normal to be turned on by cartoons where ladies looks like insects.

 

[Barbas]

I'm pretty okay with 1-5. 6 begins to push it, and beyond that, it starts to get into Betty Boop territory, and I've always found her hideous.

I like how the head shape becomes steadily more squashed and Stewie-esque the larger the eyes become. Number 9 looks like more like an owl, but that's alright because owls are super kuwaii iguu-san! ^^[footnote]Am I doing it right? :/
I am so sorry, Japanese people, it will never happen again!.....Probably. [/footnote]

I suppose the answer is that the eyes are never too big, so long as they work and can fit on the face. After all, larger eyes can see more.

Spoiler

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Looking at the diagram, at what point do you say "Nope, too big?"

Spoiler: Diagram

Please PM me if you know the original artist

I never say "nope - too big". So I voted "do not care".

Of the choices, I don't much care for 9 - it is a little too silly looking. However, in the right context, it wouldn't actually bother me.

My preferred style is between 3 and 6.

 

[Coakle]

7 and up looks more alien than human to me, so I'd say 6 is my limit. That said, as others have pointed out, any of them could work depending on the art style and tone.

It amuses me that people are saying 1 is "too small" or "creepy" when it's the only one that reflects what real humans look like...

I've never watched anime myself, but I do enjoy the art style.

I'm blaming "The Flowers of Evil" for that reaction. It's the most visible anime that has tried to do the small, realistic eyes for people. The show isn't my cup of tea, but some people really did not like how it looked.

Spoiler: Example

 

[Kennetic]

I voted that 6 was the most that I can take but I would amend that to 5 after I stared at the diagram for a minute. The 6 just started to freak me out a bit. I really dig number 2 though. Number 1 is weird for anime but I would like to see anime with face structure like number. Any suggestions?