CG? Japanese TV News Doesn't Need CG

While the stereotype might be that Japan is hi-tech, some of its biggest news broadcasters use low-tech dioramas and models to explain current events.

While respected Japanese network NHK has a full CG department, able to churn out impressive computer graphics, it still uses models made by its stable of master prop makers. NHK’s prop department, which also makes things for numerous historical dramas, is vast and extensive. And talented.

半日で模型を作ってくるNHKの本気 pic.twitter.com/DNLYkuKqDk

— 服トリユミ ver9.00 (@arrow_mg) October 16, 2013

ＮＨＫさん！わたしが大好きな模型はこういうのです！ #モケジョ　 pic.twitter.com/t5dIkcPHuD

— 服トリユミ ver9.00 (@arrow_mg) October 28, 2014

It’s no wonder because the Japanese entertainment industry has a long history of building miniatures and models, which is best seen in the country’s iconic kaiju movies, such as Godzilla and Gamera

Kudos to NHK for busting out giant model instead of CG Sky Tree, but you forgot the Godzilla suits for the casters. pic.twitter.com/wfrpCC5V

— Matt Alt (@Matt_Alt) October 17, 2012

NHKの深読みの模型がw力入ってるw pic.twitter.com/M1aegSAJm1

— つー坊 (@tsu_bo_) July 22, 2016

“When I’ve been on NHK,” author and game localizer Matt Alt tells Kotaku, “I’ve seen them break down and take apart sets so quickly. Backstage, it’s more like a theatrical production.”

That physicality extends to the dioramas. On Japanese news and variety shows, Alt points out, there are typically panels of commenters. Dioramas give them something far more tangible to interact with than CG.

見つかった男の子についてNHKが取り上げてるが、見つかった自衛隊の施設の模型を速攻で作ってて何か凄いなぁと思った。 pic.twitter.com/aI7p8c3p18

— まいてぃ999 (@mighty999) June 3, 2016

NHKニュース７。イラストやCGではなく模型を使うのは朝ズバが多用した手法。 pic.twitter.com/i3RPV6O6Nv

— れもんた (@montagekijyo) June 30, 2015

改めて、ニュースウオッチ9でのユニトラックとGM製小田急3000形
アナウンサー曰く、「模型では7両編成ですが実際は8両編成です」
ということはモーターが入った車両を抜いて手で転がせるようにしてあるのか。賢い。#NHK #NW9 #ニュースウオッチ9 pic.twitter.com/TRDwBv7ZOp

— 籟卯🐇🚭 (@ALNA_9003) September 11, 2017

What’s more, the dioramas might be easier to understand—especially for the country’s older viewers.

イージス艦の模型作らせたの誰だよ＞＜イージスアショアって、船の中に埋まってる部分とかあのへん全部含めてで、艦橋の上にある部分だけじゃないのに＞＜ #nhk pic.twitter.com/O98uvWMyAn

— ミトス@宮城 (@mitos7) December 19, 2017

During the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, for example, the dioramas even seemed somewhat comforting—something Alt wrote about for The New Yorker

NHKの深読みの模型がw力入ってるw pic.twitter.com/M1aegSAJm1

— つー坊 (@tsu_bo_) July 22, 2016

Dioramas are both tangible and somewhat abstract. Newscasters can pick up the model buildings or cars. They are “real” in an analog sense. However, they are also somewhat abstract, because they are smaller and even “toylike”. This can make them non-threatening.

The dioramas and models might take longer than the CG, but NHK continues to use them to explain everything from the Fukushima reactors and nuclear cores to new Tokyo Skytree and to the sprawling Tokyo subway labyrinth.

However, NHK isn’t the only network to use models instead of relying only upon CG.

Case in point: TV Asahi, with a recent weather pressure explanation.

テレ朝のこの天気図の模型が凄い！
これは一目で高・低気圧の意味が分かる(*￣∇￣*)

他局で…お昼に気象予報士さんがよく模型を使って
その日の天気を説明するコーナーがあるけど、あれ
は全く意味が分からなかったな(笑)(￣▽￣;)#テレ朝 #おてんき #５チャンネル #ニュース pic.twitter.com/M0wYSXJxt6

— Sakula～ひっそりと稼働中～ (@SakulaLambert) December 12, 2017