Full-time cartoonist

"Editor-in-chief." Yahagi interrupted them.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Torishima Kazuhiko remembered, it was now a serialization meeting, and they were deciding on the serialization qualifications of "Naruto".

"Include it." He waved his hand, ""Naruto" is a very interesting comic. As long as it is interesting, it can be serialized."

After the meeting time ended, the editorial team leaders informed the decision makers.

This time, a total of two comics were cut in half.

I wonder which two cartoonists have worked so hard to draw works that have been eliminated from the market. How do they feel?

After suffering day and night, I finally started serializing. I was worried about Xiaozheng's performance every week, and finally the day of trial came.

Are they finally relaxing and leaving the comics industry? Or should we bite the bullet and keep trying?

No matter what, it's really cruel.

Kishimoto is extremely happy now. His manga has passed the serialization conference, and "Naruto" will appear in the 42nd issue of "Weekly Shonen Jump".

That is more than a month later.

The dream he has had since childhood has finally come true!

Kishimoto has been denied his comic talent by countless people. He has reached this point all because of his love for comics.

"ah!"

An astonishing cheer came from the other side of the phone, and Yahagi's ears were shocked.

He put the phone away and smiled, "Really."

Soon, Kishimoto told Higashino Hibiki the good news about the serialization.

"I have always believed in you," Higashino Hibiki said with a smile, "It was indeed within my expectations."

Kishimoto complained, "Teacher, what you said is so strange! It feels like it's all your fault."

"Hahaha, don't worry about these little things," Higashino Hibiki said seriously after laughing, "Congratulations on passing the series. It's really not easy. You have worked hard for so long."

"Toriakino-sensei...thank you."

"Naruto", one of the migrant comics, will also start serialization, and the next era is coming soon.

Hibiki didn't care whether there was a ship that could carry him or not, he just continued to draw it step by step.

He drew cartoons, and after becoming financially free, it gradually evolved from doing it for money into a hobby.

Because it's fun to draw.

"Only those who continue to pursue things will not grow old."

…

The comics of "Millennium Actress" are being serialized, and the reality in the plot is blended with the movie. Readers can no longer tell whether what they are watching is reality or a movie.

Can't tell, really can't tell.

The camera keeps switching, from the conquest of the Warring States Period, to the end of the Tokugawa period when people with lofty ideals and benevolence continue to sacrifice; from the Taisho revolution in pursuit of equal rights people, to the bombing of Tokyo by planes.

In order to find the painter, Chiyoko Fujiwara kept making movies.

She grew up and became more beautiful and charming.

Chiyoko Fujiwara's movies have different types, but some contents are always the same.

"One is anti-war," Hiroshi Momiya concluded after looking at "Millennium Actress". "Chiyoko Fujiwara has made so many movies, always focusing on Japan's dark period. Against a grand background, it depicts the sorrow of the nation and the times. The rise and fall of.”

"Comics have always been shrouded in darkness and depression because of the disasters caused by war. Civilians cannot live the lives they want."

"Second, in every movie, Chiyoko Fujiwara is looking for someone. They are both the incarnations of the painter in the movie, but no matter how hard she struggles, she cannot be with the painter. As long as the war does not stop, the two of them cannot be happy. .”

"This work by Tori Akino is really beautifully drawn."

Such artistry cannot be achieved by Hongzhi Momiya.

His comics are simple and realistic, and "Millennium Actress" is such a rare work that interweaves reality and fantasy with many stories but does not deviate from the main line.

Hiroshi Momiya has watched "Millennium Actress" over and over again, and every time he discovers new points and gains new understandings.

…

After World War II, the world became unrecognizable, and Chiyoko had no clue as a painter.

She thought about more work and that person would see the films she made.

While filming, Chiyoko met director Otaki, who pursued Chiyoko.

She had been pursuing the painter, and at that moment, she almost agreed.

But because she had the painter's key, she finally refused.

Miss Eiko, who has been filming with Chiyoko, was still a very charming beauty when she first appeared in the manga. Now, Chiyoko is still charming, but Eiko has become a middle-aged aunt, playing the role of Chiyoko's elder.

While filming, she stole Chiyoko's emotional sustenance - the key.

So, Chiyoko and Otaki got married.

She cleaned houses and became a housewife.

"Eh?" Naoko Takeuchi's heart trembled violently when she saw this.

I don’t know if it’s because Chiyoko gave up being a painter or because she gave up her film career.

Naoko Takeuchi thought of another comic, which was "Five Centimeters per Second" that she liked very much.

Tono Takaki and Akari eventually parted ways because of the isolation of space and the passage of time.

The love that once existed only became a memory after finally letting go.

In the face of time, love is nothing.

"Does Tori Akino want to repeat his old tricks again in the future?"

In "Millennium Actress", Chiyoko Fujiwara has been pursuing the painter, and even after she became famous, she still did not give up.

This strong love moved Naoko Takeuchi.

Before disappearing, the artist painted Chiyoko as a student on the wall where he was hiding.

After just one meeting, they fell in love with each other. In Naoko Takeuchi's view, this is such a romantic thing.

As a result, has Chiyoko given up now?

Takeuchi Naoko's expression twisted.

"Think carefully, Naoko," Togashi lay on the ground, drawing the storyboard in pain.

He draws with great care, and the characters, backgrounds, and spatial perspective are all so clear that they can be used for direct serialization.

"What does the artist Chiyoko recalls in the manga look like?"

Naoko Takeuchi quickly turned over the page and said in surprise: "No face!"

Togashi sighed, "I'm afraid that over the long period of time, Chiyoko has long forgotten the face of the painter. Is she pursuing the painter, or is she pursuing herself who is "pursuing the painter"? "

Naoko Takeuchi didn't understand, and Tomigashi wanted to continue explaining, but she refused.

"Please let me continue reading."

…

The subsequent serial plot of "Millennium Actress".

Chiyoko discovered Yingzi's behavior and recovered the key.

It was her husband, Director Otaki, who was behind the scenes to get Chiyoko, and they divorced.

Yongzi also has her own reasons. She envies Chiyoko.

"You are always so young to chase a man."

Compared with Chiyoko, she was old and lustful, and Yingzi no longer had the spirit to be jealous of Chiyoko.

This line greatly touched Naoko Takeuchi.

She always understood that it was Chiyoko who paid for the painter.

But think about it, because of the painter, Chiyoko had the courage to become an actress. She kept working hard and making movies, and finally became a well-known actress.

Because of the painter, Chiyoko has a firm belief. This belief makes her full of vigor, and her years are not dull due to time.

Chiyoko, who is pursuing the painter, releases her own light, which is so dazzling that it attracts Director Otaki and Tachibana Genya.

"Ah," Naoko Takeuchi recalled. The last time she was sad, it turned out that it was not only because of Chiyoko's forgotten love, but also because she had lost her spiritual self.

"If Chiyoko doesn't pursue a painter, how is she different from other actresses?"

She watched six episodes of "Millennium Actress" and finally understood another core of this work - the beauty of pursuit.

Just like "Soul of Chess", the chess players in it are all pursuing the divine move.

Even if it is not achieved, this pursuit is valuable enough.

"What an amazing manga," Naoko Takeuchi exclaimed.

"Well," Yoshihiro Togashi nodded, "After drawing "Slam Dunk", Tori Akino-sensei is not satisfied, and is still pursuing comics with more possibilities."

"In him, I seemed to see another person."

Naoko Takeuchi was curious, "Who?"

Togashi paused and said slowly, "The god of comics, Osamu Tezuka."

"This mentality of constant pursuit, self-breakthrough, and never being satisfied is just like Mr. Tezuka."

Osamu Tezuka died in 1989. Before his death, he said "Give me a pencil."

Until the moment of death, he still couldn't let go of comics.

At the previous Tezuka Award presentation party, Yoshihiro Togashi had met Osamu Tezuka.

Osamu Tezuka said: "Please be sure to draw works that can give children their dreams!"

This cartoon master still maintained his original intention of drawing cartoons in his later years. He is still a person who is constantly pursuing, and has not been defeated by aging.

"Tezuka-sensei is really amazing."

After Yoshihiro Togashi finished speaking, the room became quiet.

"yes."

After a while, Naoko Takeuchi sighed.

…

The special high school police who once hunted the painter came to Fujiwara Chiyoko on crutches.

He has aged too much, lost the sight in one eye and lost a leg.

His clothes were messy and his life was very bad.

"Before the war, I did all kinds of evil things as a lackey of power, and now I travel like this in order to atone for my sins."

He knelt down and apologized to Chiyoko.

The most important thing is that he brought a letter that the painter left back then to thank Chiyoko.

Painting in my hometown in the snow country of Hokkaido.

They had such an agreement.

So, Chiyoko started running.

Shots of thousands of years are constantly cut together.

From the beginning of filming, Chiyoko, who was pursuing the painter, started pursuing her again.

as always.

As you run, obstacles come.

Chiyoko gritted her teeth and persisted, overcoming many obstacles.

Time starts to flow.

In the new movies, there is Godzilla, there is space, and historical dramas have become science fiction dramas.

What hasn’t changed is Chiyoko’s pursuit of the painter.

Finally, on the gray moon, there is endless silence.

In the distance, there is a painting.

The painting shows the artist in the snow, with his body on his back.

The dead moon blended with the snow, making it seem close before our eyes but out of reach.

The figure of the painter gradually disappeared.

So, Chiyoko decided to ride on the moon rocket and fly into the universe.

This is exactly the scene at the beginning of the comic.

"This..." Takeuchi Naoko was touched, and she understood Tori Akino's future thoughts.

At this moment, Chiyoko showed her unparalleled will to pursue.

The story reaches its climax here.

Then there was an earthquake in the studio, and Chiyoko left the prop rocket.

She lost her keys in the earthquake and then disappeared.

Chiyoko's quest is over.

After that, it is the beginning of the comic thirty years after she retired.

The little fan Tachibana Gen couldn't help but ask: "Why did you disappear from everyone's eyes?"

Chiyoko was determined to pursue the painter to the ends of the earth, but after the accident, she discovered that she was no longer young.

"I am no longer the person I remember."

She didn't want the painter to see her old self.

Naoko Takeuchi remembered Eiko's words.

"You are always so young to chase a man."

So did Chiyoko give up the pursuit because she got old, or did she get old because she pursued?

Maybe it's the former.

"In Chiyoko's heart, does she hate herself for letting go?"

Naoko Takeuchi didn’t understand.

The earthquake happened again, and Chiyoko Fujiwara became seriously ill.

Tachibana Gen also told the photographer another thing.

The painter was killed by the policeman as early as that year.

Chiyoko has been chasing the shadow of the deceased.

This is really sad news.

Naoko Takeuchi was also sad because of this, "The person I have been pursuing has died long ago. Chiyoko must be very sad to learn this news."

Togashi shook his head, "Don't make subjective decisions. Didn't I say that Chiyoko really still likes painters?"

She had long forgotten about the painter.

"Then why! Chiyoko would..." Takeuchi Naoko was puzzled, she asked: "Why would she work so hard to pursue a painter?"

Togashi put his hands on Naoko Takeuchi's shoulders and said seriously: "Continue reading, you will find the answer later."

Even though the manga has not been read to the end, Togashi has already thought of the final content of the work.

Chiyoko Fujiwara is dying, but she is happy.

"I can pursue that person again."

She held the key in her hand like faith.

Tachibana Gen also burst into tears, "This time... I will definitely see... see that person!"

Chiyoko said: "What will happen? But maybe it doesn't matter no matter what."

"because I……"

Everything returned to the moment when the rocket took off. This time there was no earthquake. The rocket rose high and she set off.

"Because I like myself chasing that person."

Chiyoko turned into light.

At the last moment of her life, she finally reached perfection.

This finishing sentence made Naoko Takeuchi understand.

Even though Chiyoko's life is like a broken portrait, like a mirror and a mirror, her pursuit is elusive.

But getting the goal is not important. What is important is pursuing the goal.

She had a magnificent life because of her pursuit of painters.

And because he gave up pursuing the painter, he finally spent thirty years of loneliness.

This is the power of seeking.

"She has become her most glorious self again." Naoko Takeuchi said to herself.

"What a glorious Chiyoko."