I definitely think they should tone down the animations a bit, but I do think some level of vfx is required due to their ability activation system.
Right now, the vfx/animations are needed because everything you do in BG3 requires 2 clicks (activate ability, then target/confirmation). Most of the gestures and animations happens when you're waiting in the target/confirmation stage. So the animation is basically user feedback to let you know you are at a "ability has been selected, now choose a target" stage. It's visual confirmation to request further user input.
With that said, I think there's enough cues that Larian can tone this down without losing much information. Right now, we have a sound cue, a vfx cue (air gathering underneath the character), AND an animation cue whenever someone enters the targeting stage.
