Don't blame the art style or animation. The lackluster writing is more to blame. This is especially sad when you consider the talent on the list of writers for GK (Goyer, Rucka, etc). I really wonder if any of these guys actually discussed the project together or if they just went their own separate ways. Maybe DC or WB had a hand in creative input. The result is definitely not comparable to any of Nolan's work.
I hate how people like to shoehorn stylistic entries and titles into the "anime" classification. These people obviously haven't seen real anime, and probably judge it based on rather dubious and out of date examples, like Voltron or Dragon Ball or something.
I'm not defending Gotham Knight's art style or anything. To that effect I hated the Bruce Wayne and Batman design in the "Field Test" short. As per traditional male anime protagonist, Bruce appeared too effeminate, too young.
But then again, you could say the same about the Bruce design in "Through the Pain" (my favorite of the shorts), but there was an edge to that design.
