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I don't mean that things have to be extremely exaggerated -- I just mean that animation, in general, gives characters rather cartoonic faces, and that makes sense. You know -- big, expressive eyes and that sort of thing. And they don't have to be huge eyes or super animated body language, just... something that's not super-realistic. Even animated shows that draw characters in a relatively "realistic" way -- at least in the sense of not having their eyes explode every two seconds -- like Gravity Falls or Bob's Burgers (I think? I've only seen bits and pieces of Bob's Burgers, so I can't be sure) still draw faces in a way that doesn't look like it's supposed to be super-realistic. ...Because it isn't. It's a cartoon. And that's ok!I kind of feel like this point is super subjective.
You're also literally the only person I've seen really complain about Archer's animation or art style. I mean, it's totally cool the show's not for you, but I have to offer the counterpoint that a big problem I have with a lot of animated shows is how over exaggerated a lot of it is, especially in a lot of anime. Sometimes a subtle change in expression and a more natural reaction sells a joke a lot better than suddenly making the character's facial features explode to super exaggerated proportions and act over animated about something. I don't think someone should exaggerate facial expressions or body language just because they can, it has to fit the art direction, and with something like Archer, it really works because they try to keep it realistic. The show works as an animated program because when they do do something obscene and outlandish, it feels grounded and almost believable because the rest of the show is, and if it was live action, it would just go right off the rails into cheap CGI and special effects realms that would be distracting.
I admit that what I said was poorly-worded -- what I was trying to say was that I think animation works out a lot better when people work with the strengths of the medium instead of trying to make it into something it's not (again, motion-capture animation comes to mind. Seriously, why not make it live-action at that point?). Because, for me, Archer's art style looks like it's trying too hard to be realistic -- and, as a result, everything just comes off as stiff to me. Not just the faces but the way their bodies move, too. >_>
But, you're right, it is subjective. I'm just one gal giving my opinion. I know a lot of people like Archer -- I just... can't stand the art style (among other things), and I gave my reasoning as to why.
Yeah, that might be why I don't like the humor in it.It's also extremely sardonic. Every character is egomaniacal and compulsive in some manner, insecure, childish, and so on. I can get why people might not find it funny: None of the characters are particularly redeemable. They're all pretty horrible people and most of the humour comes from when they get hit with what they deserve.
I'm just not great at explaining why jokes do or don't work, so... yeah, for whatever reason, the humor just doesn't tickle me at all.