Full-time cartoonist

Higashino Hibiki introduced his new assistant Tanaka to Asahina and Minami Chiharu.

"Hello..." Tanaka said shyly.

It's been a long time since he talked to so many girls.

"Hello." Asahina said expressionlessly.

"Hello." Nan Qianchun looked at him curiously.

The Animation Department's "The Death of the Dragon Girl" was very popular. This kind of work with a slightly tragic ending, but overall warmth, is very popular among students.

Later, Gao Xueji submitted "The Death of the Dragon Girl" to the Tokyo Folklore Works Culture Exhibition, which was highly praised and became famous.

Recently, the animation department is working overtime to prepare an opening animation for the Japanese Agricultural Cooperative's promotional plan.

Asahina and Minami Chiharu finally had some free time and went to Higashino Hibiki to rest for a while.

"Today's young people are so amazing," Tanaka lamented.

This kind of ordinary club activity only existed in his dreams.

Talking about the animation department, Hibiki suddenly thought of the animation "eva" that was currently being released.

More than three months have passed since October.

Fifteen episodes have been aired so far.

The style of "eva" has changed. From the robot battle at the beginning, it has become a deep exploration of the heart and spirit of the characters.

The ideological core of the work is undoubtedly more profound.

But because of this, the ratings are also declining.

Especially in the last two episodes, it has dropped below 1%.

The plot of Asuka asking for a kiss from Shinji Ikari in episode 15 is also unclear, and many people have opinions.

This animation is difficult to understand. It is full of stream of consciousness, religion, and some inexplicable things. Hibiki Higashino doesn't have time to read it carefully, so he can only watch it for fun.

What Hibiki Higashino can understand is that the creative basis of "eva" is inseparable from the current background.

After the economic bubble collapsed, young people became desperate for real life and chose to become otakus.

This cowardly desire to escape gave birth to a masterpiece like "eva".

This is what excellent works are like, such as "Ultraman Tiga" that Tsuburaya Company is planning to produce, which is also a product after the economic bubble burst.

With the development of society, people's hearts have become more and more distant, and indifference has become the main tone of society. The Kirialodian sect in the subsequent plot is also a reflection of the cult.

Inject positivity and positive energy genes into a negative society.

Thinking of this, Hibiki suddenly remembered that "Death Note", a work by Ken Obata, was also a way to vent social problems.

His thoughts became more and more divergent. After thinking about it, he said to his assistants: "Then let's start working."

Akimiya Akemi responded: "Okay."

She, Yoshii, and Tanaka stood up and walked to the work table.

"Wait a minute," Hibiki Higashino said. He looked at the people in the room and asked, "Where's Oda?"

"Oda-san went to Yanyan High School to collect information!" Yoshii Sanhisa replied.

Yanyan High School is the prototype of Lingnan High School in Hibiki Higashino's manga. After all, it is nearby and it is easy to obtain materials.

It's just a drawing school. There is no need to agree with Mr. Takehiko Inoue and go to Kamakura High School, the prototype school of Ryonan High School. As long as it's a high school that fits the style of the work, it's fine.

"That's really hard work for him, let's get started first."

…

A month later, four more episodes of "Slam Dunk" were drawn.

The main content is Sakuragi joining the Shohoku basketball team and the personnel of the basketball team.

Important among them are captain Akagi Gangen, vice-captain Kimime Kimibubu, first-year new member Rukawa Kaede, and later protagonist Sakuragi Hanamichi.

The rest who are not important include Tsunoda Satoru, Ishii Kentaro and others.

The basketball manager's name is Inoue Ayako, a beautiful girl with a shaggy hair and a very personal personality.

The basketball coach is Mitsuyoshi Anzai, a chubby old man with white hair. He usually doesn't talk much and is cheerful, but he is very dignified in the team.

As Sasaki walked on campus, he thought that it had been 7 or 8 years since he graduated. Compared with these young and beautiful college students, he had indeed gone through many vicissitudes, not only in appearance, but also in soul.

While at work, I heard the editors discussing "Slam Dunk".

“Can this comic really become a tentpole?”

"Basketball cartoons are unreliable no matter how you think about them."

"Xiao Zheng's ranking is not high. I really can't understand the editor-in-chief's choice."

"If I were in charge, I would draw more funny plots. The funny plot of Mr. Tori Akino's "Slam Dunk" is quite interesting. If the proportion is increased, it should be able to attract a group of readers."

"Funny cartoons will never be number one, so forget it. I think Akino Tori's drawing skills are great, and the basketball plot is particularly exciting."

"But Xiaozheng this week is only seventh."

They were arguing about the "Slam Dunk" results together, and Sasaki listened silently.

Even editors think so, and readers think even worse.

Tori Akino...

His heart sank and he walked out the door.

Then we arrived at the door of the teachers’ dormitory.

…

"In the first episode, Xiaozheng ranked first."

"In the second episode, Xiaozheng is third."

"Episode 3, Xiaozheng is ninth."

"Episode 4, Xiao Zheng ranks sixth."

"As of today's fifth episode, Xiao Zheng is in seventh place."

This is a small positive result for each episode of "Slam Dunk". It looks very healthy and there is no risk of being cut in half.

However, the results were very average. For Tori Akino, a popular manga artist, he just barely passed the test.

"The work has just been launched, so it's normal to have average popularity," Sasaki comforted Hibiki Higashino: ""Dragon Ball" had just started serialization, and Xiao Zheng's performance was not good. It was converted into a passionate battle comic, and Goku changed from an adventurer to a martial artist, and his performance It just started to improve.”

He is not in a hurry. The early stage of the comic tells about the world view and enriches the character settings, and the results are generally normal.

For Hibiki Higashino, there is no need to rush to attract readers at the beginning. He already has a broad reader base and can develop slowly.

"Of course I understand." Dong Yexiang nodded.

When he serialized "Slam Dunk", he knew this result.

To be honest, the opening of "Slam Dunk" was not exciting. As the plot progressed and the focus was placed on the game and the exploration of the core of the characters' thoughts, it became a national-level work.

"Being Tori Akino's editor is such a worry-free experience."

Sasaki looked at Hibiki Higashikata and realized that he had underestimated him, so he began to discuss the advancement of the subsequent plot.

"Sakuragi joined the basketball team because he likes Haruko. Now it is time to describe the process of his change of mind and make him really fall in love with basketball. This is the protagonist..."

…

In the afternoon, Sasaki got up to say goodbye, and Higashikata saw him off.

"Ah, the soy sauce is gone, wait a minute."

Higashino suddenly remembered that in the morning Akimiya Akemi said she had run out of soy sauce at home and asked him to buy a bottle when he had time.

He called Sasaki, put on a windbreaker, and walked out of the room.

The two walked side by side towards the school gate. The supermarket was also on this road.

"By the way," Sasaki said suddenly: "Do you know "The Sun Murder Incident"? Yamamura's manga."

"I know," Hibiki Higashino replied, "It's a rare mystery comic on Jump. The plot and Mr. Arai's drawings are very exciting. It can be considered a superior work."

"Well," Sasaki nodded, "it was really exciting before, but in the latest episode, the plot started to go astray.

The setting of super powers has been added to the mystery comics, and the protagonist has changed from the original high-intelligence detective to a psychic. "

"Hey!" Dong Yexiang stopped in shock.

"With this change, doesn't the tone of the work change?"