Originally Posted by dozy
Firstly, this was an accident that occurred during approach phase, thus even if the animation wasn't using day-for-night, there would be external references (runway lights etc.).
What's your experience again in night flying ?
I don't think I've ever seen one (as in a 3D representation) for a cruise-phase accident over water.
It's not like you had never seen that one ...
REAL Pitch Up Boeing 777 Incident - YouTube
Finally, the animation linked above appears to be made using off-the-shelf software (Flight data visualization & animation software: CEFA FAS) which is intended for FOQA and pilot training purposes, but even CEFA themselves don't advertise it as suitable for official forensic analysis.
To the contrary such tool is also designed for aircraft incidents and accident investigations.
Originally Posted by CEFA
In just a few clicks of a mouse, it takes flight data and turns it into meaningful information that everyone can easily understand and use. CEFA FAS instantly shows each moment in an aircraft’s flight, and thus provides a clear, precise image of the complex chain of events that occur during an incident or an accident – without compromise, assumption or any imagined interpretation.