It looks a lot better. I tested the reach and it's the same, people just have misconceptions on how the older right swing actually played out since it was just slower.
Two things I noticed: new animation seems faster AND new animation has a diagonal angel. I believe its the new angel that makes the difference.
Diagonal hits dont take that much space to the sides - so swings dont get cought up in scenery so easy. On the other hand the swing is not so good anymore when turning into the swing, becouse reach may be the same in the extension BUT it seems narrow in the medium-part of the swing circle. So there IS a loss of reach in the medium part of swing, where only marginal damage might be dealt anyway. Dont really know. Gotta play some more with new animation.
Also what Teeth sayed:
... Although this might have to do with it being faster which gives me less time to move in during the animation, giving it less effective reach. The old rightswing allowed you to pull of greatsword swing reach when timed properly and combined with good footwork, and that is why I loved it. ...
However it seems it does not get interrupted by scenery that much anymore. Job done. Other effects? Well, not really shure.
I loved to do the big right to left swing spinning with it to hit enemys standing to my left side slightly in theire back. Now this is not not so easy. Maybe I just have to adept to new animation.
TLDR:
* old animation was good for spinning doing the bladewhirling - looked awkward if you stood still (like tennis)
* new animation looks better when standing still - not so much if you spin into the swing (becouse of the diagonal swing) maybe reach loss in midswing.
*Maybe its just an illusion becouse old animation just made me feel the spin. New one not.
So is this the trade off? Less collision with scenery - shorter reach in midswing. Its ok for me, if its only that. I support the idea to have old animation for 1h without shield and new animation for 1h with shield.