Ark: The Animated Series

I loved the idea of these people getting sent to this strange dinosaur filled island from all these time periods, but the show doesn't really do a lot with that idea. The bulk of the series seems to be focused on this native american group that I just didn't find very interesting for long. Loved the idea at first, but I think they should have included more interesting characters from different time periods and locations. I found myself staring at my phone and losing track of what was happening far too often. I think there is still potential there that the show could tap into, so I'm not going to give it a totally negative score, but I think after these first 6 episodes I don't plan to watch any more to find out. It's too bad, because I do think the animation is great, and I like that they seem to have attracted so many big name actors. Although maybe some of that money should have been spent on better writers.

I wanted to learn about this world and - more importantly - what the heck was going on?? None of that got explored in the first half of the season, and instead we were incessantly fed political commentary that was as trite as it was overbearing.

The most interesting characters were Rockwell and Nervus; I was disappointed with the rest - especially with how much they stereotyped John and Meiyin Li. And Helena, oh boy, is easily one of the worst Mary Sue's I've ever seen. When you have a character like this, it would at least be appreciated if you quit putting them in peril all of the time - there's no suspense - and it takes up screen time that could be better utilized.

Interesting premise, underwhelmingly delivered. Beautiful animation (in later episodes) but that's not enough to hold someone's interest.

FYI, I played them game. I 'know' what's going on, but I do not see how anyone else can possibly hope to keep up.

5/10.

The voice acting in this is abhorrent and makes my eyes roll, predictable dribble and lackluster screams that could've had some emotional resonance if someone else wrote it and said it. The themes are fine, the story is fine, but the execution, geez. Didn't expect to dislike the use of animals/dinos but damn did i hate the dinos, nothing but macguffins.

While i like the art direction the actual animation and camera work is pretty bad but as an animator i don't want to complain too much. There are tons of visual inconsistencies, floaty, choppy animation and as much as the camera shakes try to convey impact the action scenes lack any weight especially during contact.

The main issues I have with this involve the way characters speak to each other, how the emotional scenes seemed so ham fisted and quick that i ended up not caring for any character and how frustrating the protagonist is alongside these-

"you gave me an apple, now i am under your command forever" or "i am not an animal i am a tool"

creatures of the past.

The setting, action, fight scenes, and characters are great, but everything they do right they follow quickly by attempting to virtue signal which feels like a betrayal to the existing fanbase.

The main character's flashbacks give nothing to the current storyline outside of trying to place her in a saintly position which makes her a less relatable character. She's a scientist at the top of her field, a professor at a prestigious university, she is a Lesbian who lost her partner to a foreign conflict, a first nations person from Australia and an activist with a criminal record. The list goes on and on and on and on, but none of it, not even her sexuality is at all important to the current events they put just as much effort into presenting how horrible the world is just for it to be completely overshadowed by how horrible the Ark is.

I don't know, I'll keep going because it is well made. It just seems like too much for zero narrative reward.

I had high expectations for this animated series after falling in love with Ark Survival and its story, and spending countless hours in its world. Unfortunately, the series felt flat and bland compared to the game's many ups and downs and the sense of danger in the world of Ark. I just couldn't feel it in the show. Honestly, it feels like another disappointment, similar to the MCU lately.

One aspect that particularly stood out to me was the lack of development in the characters. In the game, the characters are complex and multi-dimensional, with rich backstories and motivations. In the show, they felt like cardboard cutouts, with little to no depth or nuance.

Additionally, the show's pacing was slow and plodding, failing to capture the sense of urgency and danger that permeates the game. The animation was also subpar, with stiff character movements and dull, uninspired environments.

I was also disappointed by the show's failure to explore the world of Ark in any meaningful way. The game is full of mysteries and secrets, but the show barely scratched the surface.

I hope there will be a spin-off or remake that makes use of the world of the ark to its fullest.

Overall, I was disappointed by the Ark Survival animated series. As a fan of the game, I had high hopes for a faithful adaptation, but the show fell short in many ways. I hope that a future spin-off or remake will be able to do the series justice.

In conclusion, while the Ark Survival animated series had some promising moments, it ultimately failed to deliver on its potential. With underdeveloped characters, slow pacing, and subpar animation, the show felt like a disappointment. I hope that future adaptations will be able to capture the magic of the game in a more meaningful way.