China Entertainment King of Science Fiction

Chapter 314 Skyhawk Warrior

Xu Wenshen did not pay much attention to the animated film "Your Name". As the CEO of DreamWorks, although he was once a senior producer, he still paid more attention to commercial success.

Whether it was to acquire Tianhe Animation and merge it into Mo, or to start these animation projects, it was Chen Jingxing's decision alone. He himself did not think highly of the commercial value of animation.

Even last year, "Battleship", "Evolution" and "Star God II" were all very rare commercial successes - this was almost the first time in the domestic non-sub-oriented animation field, but this profit is still far away.

It is far inferior to live-action movies and TV series. Of course, with the development of peripheral licenses, especially books and toys, there is still a lot of revenue. The three animated series have earned more than 100 million in peripheral copyrights and licenses so far.

.

Compared with the "low" production costs of these three animated series - the low price here is of course relative to other DreamWorks film and television dramas, rather than compared with the investment of other animation companies - especially when compared to the disguised production costs.

Three animation IPs have been developed. Judging from current and long-term profits, the profit margin is indeed very considerable.

However, animated movies are relatively uneconomical, especially 2D animated movies. The production cost is much higher than that of animated dramas, but the box office limit is extremely low.

In the current domestic film market, the highest-grossing 2D animated film only has a box office of just over 100 million. It is a very well-known anime theatrical version from Japan. It is considered top-notch in the animation circle, but it is nothing more than that, and anime fans simply cannot afford it.

At the box office, passers-by have a firm stereotype of animation, and the stereotype of 2D animation will be doubled.

Regarding Chen Jingxing's great efforts in the field of animation, Xu Wenshen can only attribute it to the fact that his boss may really have feelings. Domestic films have made rapid progress in the past two years under the leadership of DreamWorks. The only ones that have not made much progress are animated films.

, he felt that Chen Jingxing might have some kind of "savior complex."

Therefore, although Xu Wenshen was full of praise for the movie on the surface, he felt regretful in his heart. He felt that if "Your Name" was a live-action movie instead of a 2D animation, the box office potential would have been several times higher.

With this pity, he agreed with Xu Sheng's idea of ​​"riding the popularity of the "Signal" IP". Since the box office of animation-themed movies is limited, he should try to add as many buffs as possible.

Already.

Moreover, "Your Name" is indeed of the type of "The Signal" in terms of story structure and science fiction setting. It just replaces the communication between two time and space with a walkie-talkie or a TV and replaces it with "dreaming", or in other words, exchanging bodies.

But the essence is still the same, and it has the same purpose as "Mirage".

Chen Jingxing's decision was equivalent to an "imperial edict" at DreamWorks, and Xu Wenshen didn't care even if he couldn't be persuaded. Although the announcement time was tight, there was not much pressure. It was just an animated film, and there was no need to negotiate with other big companies.

Schedule.

"'Aquila Warrior'? 'Special Investigation Team'?"

This year's Chinese Valentine's Day is August 9th. If you want to consider the weekend release, it has to be moved to August 5th. It's only half a month away, and there are three Chinese Valentine's Day love movies scheduled, plus

"Your Name" and the summer movie season itself are a bit overcrowded.

He really doesn't pay much attention to the so-called love movies in China that focus on pathos and feeding the audience shit. Romance movies of the quality of "Love in Seattle" have not been seen for several years, and they are scheduled to be released on Chinese Valentine's Day.

Several romance films have been announced for release, and he has read about them one by one, without any worries at all.

"Whether it's crowded or not depends on the quality of the movie. Isn't it crowded during the Spring Festival this year? Just because the movies are scheduled for Chinese Valentine's Day doesn't mean they can get the box office of Chinese Valentine's Day." Chen Jingxing said confidently.

But it would still make him feel very sad if DreamWorks Movies' glorious record of never losing money would end here. It would be a pity.

Chen Jingxing has made so many movies, and the level of storyboards has been improved a lot. Although it still looks amateurish to a master animator like Wu Han, the design sense is still good, and every detail can be seen at a glance.

Characteristics of a design drawing.

Even Xu Sheng, who has never been a producer, feels that this is almost equivalent to committing suicide. He is not worried that the release of "Your Name" will affect DreamWorks or Mo. However, it is also Mo's first independent production.

Even if you can't make a lot of money from animated movies, it's best not to lose money.

It's just that in "Mirage", the heroine from the future saves a little boy from the past, and turns out to be her husband.

Chen Jingxing didn't expect others to open his eyes, so he could only make his own decision: "Don't keep looking at the box office for animation fans. My goal is not just one or two hundred million. If you want to eat, I can eat the box office of romance movies. I watch this

The movie will be scheduled for Chinese Valentine’s Day!”

However, Chen Jingxing did not agree with this proposal, which seemed to be beneficial to box office results.

Other movies that have already been scheduled for Chinese Valentine's Day will definitely be scolded by DreamWorks' sudden airdrop, but that's all. No one will shy away from it. After all, who would shy away from an animated film? Even if the animated film is from DreamWorks

Produced.

That kind of romantic and fresh love is also very similar to "Mirage", if you remove the thriller and crime plot in the early and middle stages of "Mirage".

The first is the animated series. After the pioneering work of the two animations "Battleship" and "Evolution", it seems that this road is feasible. As long as the cost is controlled, animated series can also be profitable on the video platform.

"Qixi Festival? Are you too nervous?" Xu Sheng was a little worried.

After "Accepting" "Your Name", Chen Jingxing learned about the project progress of another animated film "The Return of the Great Sage". This 3D animation is the animated film in which Mo concentrated most of his resources and energy. 1.3

The production cost of 100 million is considered to be the highest investment in animation in domestic history. This cost is considered a large-scale production for a live-action movie.

The production of "The Return of the Great Sage" is also going smoothly and is expected to be completed by the end of August.

Regarding Xu Sheng's worries, Chen Jingxing came here to reassure him this time.

This means that Mo will free up most of its manpower and resources. With the new employees recruited this year, Mo's computer animation department is already the largest animation team in the country.

In "Your Name", the male protagonist from the future saves the female protagonist from the past, and then the rescue becomes a lover.

"I didn't expect anime fans to support the box office. It doesn't matter whether it is an IP or not." Of course Chen Jingxing had already considered it all: ""Your Name" was announced to be a romance film."

In particular, DreamWorks has begun to advance its IPO in Hong Kong. A DreamWorks movie, even if it is just an animation, will have some impact at the box office, and the negative impact may be much greater than 50 million.

Even though Chen Jingxing has become the boss of a film company, he still can't figure out why domestic film studios are so keen on showing tragic movies on Valentine's Day. Let alone amnesia, everyone has cancer, and those who don't have cancer are also involved in car accidents and other accidents.

Each film basically ends in a tragedy, either life and death or the entire army is annihilated. Does the producer have a grudge against the couple?

Or are they just relying on the couple’s immediate need to spend on watching a movie on Valentine’s Day, so they are confident?

Since domestic filmmakers love to feed couples so much, don't blame me for using "Your Name" to reduce the dimensionality.

Xu Wenshen is actually not worried about the loss itself. Even if he loses 50 million, he will not blink an eye. DreamWorks has just given out a 50 million red envelope.

The scale of DreamWorks' IPO is likely to set a record for Chinese film and television and even media companies. The funds raised will be at least 4 billion, which is actually very restrained. Chen Jingxing does not want to release too much equity, and the market value will be at least

Tens of billions level.

It is best not to have any loss-making film projects before completing the IPO.

Xu Sheng is actually worried about the expansion task that Chen Jingxing has never stopped. Currently, there are nearly 400 employees in the computer animation department of Mo. With so many talents, he is afraid that there will not be enough projects to digest. Many of them will be absorbed this year.

The newly hired employees have been idle for a long time because they missed the project team formation of "Your Name" and "The Return of the Monkey King".

Wu Han, the head of the animation project team of "Your Name", looked at the thin script that Chen Jingxing took out, as well as some mecha design drawings and some weird concept drawings, and expressed doubts: ""Sky Eagle Warrior" looks like a child.

Animation?”

"Your Name" focuses on love, and the sci-fi setting that spans time and space is an easter egg.

Chen Jingxing took on four projects at once this time, which will definitely allow Mo's current manpower to be fully utilized and even continue to expand.

The promotion of "Mirage" focuses on science fiction settings, and love is an Easter egg.

"It's not appropriate. The setting of crossing time and space is actually a big easter egg in "Your Name". It's the same as the identity of the policeman in "Mirage". He is closely related to the movie-watching experience we can bring to the audience. Can it not be a drama?"

Just try not to spoil anything." Chen Jingxing is very insistent on this point. Of course, this is also because DreamWorks is not short of money, which can give him the capital to be "willful".

After hearing this, Xu Wenshen persuaded: "Boss, animated films have little appeal in our country's market. The production cost of "Your Name" was more than 50 million. It is not easy for a 2D animated film to get a box office of 150 million.

Besides, this is not a well-known IP. I wouldn’t be worried if it was a theatrical version of "The Legend of the Star God". "Your Name" is an original animated film..."

From the concept map, it looks very much like the animation theme of mecha or summoned mecha. This kind of theme is not uncommon at home and abroad. There are also similar low-quality 3D works in China such as summon warriors and armored warriors, most of which are sub-suppliers.

The animation, coupled with the name Skyhawk Warrior, makes it quite familiar.

Naturally, he doesn't like to make subtitle animations, and it seems that Chen Jingxing doesn't like to make subtitle animations. Last year's "Battleship" and "Evolution" illustrate this point, and "Space Super Battleship" is the first

The film has been hailed by many netizens and film critics as the first domestic work that uses animation themes to explore serious issues.

For money? It’s even more impossible. It’s really not difficult for Zi Gongxiang Animation to make a profit. Maybe his former employer Tianhe Animation will be greedy, but DreamWorks probably won’t see the money.

Chen Jingxing smiled and replied: "It looks like, well, it sounds like it, but it's not. Both of these movies are science fiction. Since others think that we can use animation to explore serious topics, we will naturally continue to work hard."

(End of chapter)