Full-time cartoonist

The viewing room darkened and the Paprika film soon began to play.

There are no numerous advertisements and no opening credits.

Everyone looked at the screen seriously, their eyes shining.

The movie begins with a splicing of several bizarre dreams, in which Red Hot Chili Peppers uses DCmini to treat Officer Pinkawa's mental illness.

These dreams all echo the subsequent plot, which is a superb narrative technique.

But the theater staff all had expressionless faces.

"Such a plot will make the audience feel baffled."

People who have not read the original work, or have not read the original work seriously, will not be able to understand this plot.

It’s easy to turn an audience away.

Masao Maruyama did not give up on the opening chapter of "Paprika". He had his own persistence and a perfectionist attitude toward the finished film, which caused theater staff to have doubts about the future of the film.

Until the credits started.

This is a super awesome show-off scene, a textbook on animation film technology, and the use of storyboards puts Hibiki Higashino at a disadvantage.

No matter how great these cartoonists are, they cannot compare with professionals.

Red Chili Pepper was riding a motorcycle on the street for a while, and became a painting on a truck nearby. She rushed out of the painting and rode a missile in the sky. She then entered the huge screen at the top of the building and picked up another Beer on a screen.

Accompanied by Susumu Hirasawa's infectious music and funny bouncing rhythms, everything seems so charming and bizarre.

This is undoubtedly the world in dreams.

"oh!"

Dong Yexiang heard someone exclaim, which was an uncontrollable reaction.

"So powerful..."

Someone looked over and he stopped the noise.

The scene switched, and Red Pepper walked out of the computer screen of the social worker who had stayed up late and worked overtime, and put a coat on him who was sleeping soundly at the computer desk.

She jumped and danced on the sidewalk with endless traffic.

Then with a snap of his fingers, the screen began to pause.

The metal decorations reflected the different expressions of disgust she had when being approached. The pattern on the short sleeves of a boy riding a pulley outside the store became a safe house for her to hide in.

When the sky suddenly brightened, Red Pepper drove his motorcycle again and headed towards the research institute.

A car gradually approached, and when the two overlapped, Red Pepper appeared in the driver's seat of the car, and she also returned to her real appearance - the beautiful doctor Atsuko Chiba.

After the dreamlike opening song ended, she arrived at her destination and the story officially began.

Higashikata breathed a long sigh of relief, this was really a visual feast.

Brilliant transitions and invincible storyboards, this is Madhouse demonstrating its capabilities.

Hibiki Higashikata benefited a lot.

Several Sony Pictures Entertainment employees were whispering, the shock on their faces not dissipating.

Regardless of the story of the movie, this incomparable opening theme made their trip worthwhile.

The following content of "Paprika" is almost the same as the comic version. The dcmini is lost and the vice chairman's dream is invaded. Atsuko Chiba enters the dream of the vice chairman in the form of Paprika and becomes intimate with him.

The vice chairman reached a climax, breaking through the dream and returning to reality.

Tokida Kosaku, whom Chiba Atsuko likes, fell into a dream, and Red Pepper went to save him.

The scalp-numbing BGM was playing "Media Wild" by Susumu Hirasawa. Red peppers were falling freely from the sky. After passing through the clouds, they turned into Monkey King stepping on somersault clouds and holding a golden cudgel.

Cool, stunning and moving.

"It's really scary."

Higashikata seemed to hear someone say this.

Paprika tells a story while displaying a bizarre and majestic beauty that can only be captured in animation.

Tsutsui Yasutaka is smiling and immersed in the animated movie.

He is the person who knows "Red Hot Chili Peppers" best, and now it seems that he is very satisfied.

There are countless wonderful plots in the movie. It lasted 1 hour and 30 minutes from the start to the end, but Hibiki didn't feel the passage of time.

Before I knew it, the lights in the viewing room came on.

"It's wonderful, it's wonderful!"

Tsutsui Yasutaka was the first to stand up and applaud vigorously.

Others belatedly stood up and expressed their praise.

"In my opinion, it is not inferior to "Spirited Away" at all." Tsutsui Yasutaka praised it greatly.

It's just that these two animated films are not on the same track at all. "Paprika" is more like a type of award-winning film, and it is difficult for ordinary viewers to be interested in it.

And "Spirited Away" is a hexagonal warrior that combines artistry and fun.

Higashino Hibiya said: "It's really a pleasure to listen to Mr. Hirasawa Susumu's music."

Japanese songwriters are really scary, every one of them is so good and their level is very high.

The music produced is in line with the content of the animation and is exciting and beautiful, making the animation even more powerful.

Hibiki Higashino's animations such as "Soul of the Game", "Slam Dunk", and "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" have all benefited greatly.

Now, many viewers can hum the opening song.

"Toriakino-sensei, thank you." Susumu Hirasawa waved his hand.

However, "Media Wild" is his meticulous work, and it is normal to be praised like this.

…

Masao Maruyama's face was glowing. This test screening was very successful, and the audience was full of praise.

The theater staff asked for further contact.

Higashino Hibiki did not interrupt their work, and Tsutsui Yasutaka was ready to leave.

"Tori Akino-sensei."

As soon as he took a step, he was stopped.

"I am Hirano from Sony Pictures."

He bowed and handed over his business card.

"Nice to meet you." Higashikata nodded and exchanged business cards with him.

At this time, another group of people came over and surrounded Dong Yexiang.

Only when the conversation deepened did Higashikata know their purpose.

Among his works, both "The Garden of Words" and "5 Centimeters Per Second" are popular short comics, which have the potential to become popular after being adapted into movies.

If you look familiar in front of him, after the animated film is produced, maybe you can be responsible for operating and distributing it yourself.

In short, it’s not a loss anyway.

Higashino Hibiki couldn't bear to be cold-faced. After laughing, he politely said goodbye, and no one bothered him immediately.

"Mr. Tsutsui, let me take you home."

He walked up to Tsutsui Yasutaka.

"No need to trouble you," Tsutsui Yasutaka showed the car keys, "I can go home by myself."

…

Higashikata looked at the time and saw that he still had free time at his disposal.

He simply drove to "Future Society".

"Red Hot Chili Peppers" is a visible success, so he also has to be concerned about the production progress of "Your Name".

This time, he called Takagi Kiko in advance. He didn't want to happen again when he was stopped and couldn't get in the last time.

On the road, perhaps due to the aftereffects of watching "Red Hot Chili Peppers", he always felt that the car would fly just by mentioning the steering wheel.

Feeling dizzy along the way, Dong Yexiang finally reached his destination.

After being notified at the front desk, he decisively brought Hibiki Tono to the studio.

"Ah~ ah, is your conscience uneasy?"

Kiko Takagi held the workbook and smiled and joked when she saw Hibiki Higashikata.

"Of course not!" Higashikata flatly denied.

He is not Osamu Tezuka. He does not have the energy to take care of both sides. He can only choose between the dual identities of animation company president and cartoonist.

"I'm a layman, I just don't want to affect your work arrangements."

"We still have to thank you?"

"Of course!" Higashino Hibiki said confidently.

"Senior Takagi, when are you going to marry Yoshii-kun? You are almost 30 years old."

Takagi Kiko's face became terrifying.

"Absolutely! Never discuss a girl's age!"

Higashikata shivered, "Hug...sorry..."

Kiko Takagi turned around and led Hibiki to Asahina Yuko's office. Hibiki followed silently.

"As for marriage, Xiao Shanjiu and I are already husband and wife."

"Huh? Why didn't I know?"

"We did not disclose it to the outside world."

Kiko Takagi said it was natural.

In Japan, a wife is required to become a housewife after marriage. This is a good wife and mother.

If you continue to work hard, you will be gossiped about, especially from a wealthy family like the Yoshii family.

The reason for not announcing the marriage may be to protect Kiko Takagi.

"Congratulations."

"President, do you want to give me a red envelope?"

"Here! Give me a big one! I also want to thank Yoshii-kun for his selfless help in supervising "Hansawa Naoki"."

"Thanks."

Arriving at Yuko Asahina's office, through the glass, Hibiki saw Yuko Asahina immersed in drawing.

Kiko Takagi knocked on the door, looked up at Hina Yuko in confusion, blinked her eyes, and then returned to reality.

"Please come in."

Takagi Kiko pushed the door open and entered.

"Senior Takagi, what's going on?"

"Who do you think is coming?"

Kiko Takagi waved her hand, and Hibiki Higashi entered the studio, smiling coquettishly, "Long time no see, Supervisor Asahina."

"Higashino-kun!"

Asahina stood up in shock. She rubbed her eyes, "It's the real Higashino-kun! He's so awesome."

Dong Yexiang sighed helplessly, his conscience was greatly condemned.

"Then I'm going out." Takagi Kiko said with a smile, "You guys chat."

"No," Higashino Hibiki stopped her, "I am a married woman, and I can easily be misunderstood if I am alone in the same room with Asahina."

"It's really embarrassing." Takagi Kiko shook her head, "Okay then."

…

"Higashino-kun, what can you do?"

On the office sofa, Higashino Hibiki and Asahina Yuko sat opposite each other.

Asahina Yuko tilted her head and asked doubtfully.

"I wanted to come and take a look at the situation," Higashino Hibiki looked around the office, "Some time ago, Nishimura returned to Tokyo and mentioned you specifically."

"Nishimura?" Yuko Asahina was even more confused, "Who is it?"

Dongye Xiang struggled for a long time, "This is not important anymore..."

"Oh, by the way, I just watched the animated movie "Paprika". It was really great. The storyboards and transitions were smooth. Madhouse spent a lot of money on it, and the production budget exploded."

He said what he had always wanted to say, and he was gesticulating with excitement beyond words.

"Funding explosion?" Yuko Asahina couldn't understand anything she said to Hibiki Higashino.

"The salary of a madhouse animator is around 200,000 yen. Is this an explosion of funds?"

"Huh? 200,000 yen!"

This is only a little more than half of the average salary in Tokyo.

The salary of an animator can only be said to be barely enough to survive.

Kiko Takagi said, "The salary of animators at Madhouse is already quite high. They are at the highest level of animation companies. There are some who earn 100,000 yen a month."

"100,000?"

Higashikata was shocked again.

With this salary, it is impossible to survive without doing a side job.

"Well, the basic salary is about 50,000 yen, plus the piece rate of 40,000 to 50,000 yen. The average salary of animators in their 20s is about 1.1 million yen. This is the annual salary."

Higashino Hibiki looked out the window at the busy "Future Club" employees, "It's really about generating electricity for love."

The animation company's overtime hours are among the best, but the benefits are still poor.

Without passion, it is difficult to continue.

These people are all working hard with dreams in mind.

"Let me tell you, why are you making such a fuss," Kiko Takagi asked, "Have you never read the report I sent you?"

Hasn't her hard work been in vain for so long?

Higashikata didn't know what to say, so he smiled stupidly.

He used to watch animations, and when he saw the high frame rate pictures, he praised them with netizens, and the animation company's funds exploded.

It turns out that these are all based on exploiting animators.

There are so many talented people in Japanese animation, and they are so talented. The treatment went from bad to worse.

"It's so infuriating."

Takagi Kiko crossed her chest and puffed up with anger.

But she still had to send reports to Hibiki Hibiki, that was her job.

"What about our place?" Dong Yexiang asked.

Kiko Takagi spread her hands, "We are better, but in order to compete with our peers, we cannot invest too much money."

Yuko Asahina said: "In 1997, when everyone at Musashino Art University formed the "Future Society", they were struggling with only a meager salary..."

With the academic qualifications of a Musashino Art University graduate, you will be well paid wherever you work.

No matter how you say it, it is an astonishing three to five times.

If they persevere in this way, after becoming original painters, their salary levels will increase significantly, and there are many people who earn 500,000 yuan a month.

So we can't specialize.

Higashino Hibiki found out helplessly that he had also become a capitalist who should be angered by Naoki Hansawa.

"Then just give me an extra bonus in normal times. It's within the company's tolerance."

"Understood." Takagi Kiko made an OK gesture.

Hibiki Higashino stood up and said, "Let me see the production progress of "Your Name"."

He needed to change the subject.

…

It has been 4 or 5 years since the project of "Your Name" was launched, and the clarity now is much stronger than before.

"Your Name", which is familiar to Hibiki Higashino, gradually gets closer.

"Higashino-kun, look."

Yuko Asahina played "Your Name" for two hours.

But the content is only two-thirds of the content of "Your Name".

The extra duration is the static image timeline.

The early story is smooth, with scenes such as the male and female protagonists swapping bodies, feelings heating up, meteors streaking across the sky, etc., all of which make Hibiki immersed in it.

In the later stage, it became a simple picture change.

And it's confusing, and the content of the story keeps changing back and forth.

"The later editing has not been finalized yet," Yuko Asahina said sheepishly.

"That's it," Hibiki Higashikata said, "Let's continue like this."

"Future Society" has performed well in its growth in animated films.

This book is quite interesting and contains new ideas.