>>73339I think a lot of it was also that Shinbo back then actually was a lot more involved in the anime he directs. Hidamari sketch season 1 and parts of s2 were some of his last more direct involvement. Now he's a lot less involved and it shows depending on the director. One of his actually very good students was locked up in their basement working on Kizu for years after doing bakemonogatari , and you can tell the difference. I mean in my opinion, Bakemonogatari and Kizumonogatari are heads above the other monogatari seasons though I still like them.
Anyways point is, as much as it was a product of the times, it was also due to director changes. It's kind of nostalgic though, it doesn't feel like Shaft does what it used to anymore.
