wavenovel Chapter 151 The Dimensional Reduction Attack of Japanese Comics
Chapter 151 The Dimensional Reduction Attack of Japanese Comics
After leaving Chen Ke's studio, Lu Ran immediately dialed Shen Yuege's number.
"Senior, I have good news." As soon as the call connected, Lu Ran got straight to the point.
At the same time, Shen Yuege's tired voice came from the other end of the phone, mixed with the rustling sound of papers being turned over.
"What good news? I'm having a headache over the contracts of new artists. I just signed a few, but I haven't secured any follow-up resources yet."
"What a coincidence!" Lu Ran laughed. "I've finished writing the script for 'The Return of the Condor Heroes,' and Director Chen Ke is very satisfied with it. He's relented and said that when it comes to casting, as long as the actors are suitable, we can talk to them from any company."
"That's why I thought of you."
There was a pause in breathing on the other end of the phone, then Shen Yuege's voice tinged with joy as she said, "Really? 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' is finished? Is it the sequel to 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes' that you mentioned before?"
"Of course it's true. When have I ever lied to you?" Lu Ran leaned smugly against the window in the corridor, looking at the bustling traffic below. "The competition for the lead roles of Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu is too fierce, and we newcomers have no advantage. But there are many outstanding supporting roles, such as Guo Fu, Cheng Ying, Lu Wushuang, and even Li Mochou. If you play them well, you can become an overnight sensation. I'll try to negotiate with Director Chen, and getting a few roles shouldn't be a problem."
"That's great!" Even through the phone, Shen Yuege's voice was filled with excitement. "Lu Ran, this is a godsend! With the role in 'The Return of the Condor Heroes,' I'll have more confidence when I talk to other actors! There are a few actors I'm currently negotiating with, and maybe I can actually get them on board."
"There's another character, though he doesn't have many scenes, but he really tests your acting skills." Lu Ran's tone shifted subtly, "His name is Zhen Zhibing, and he's a Taoist priest. On the surface, he seems righteous, but he's actually a very complex character. He has a kind of obsessive love for Xiaolongnu, but the things he does are very annoying. But if you play him well, he'll definitely leave a deep impression."
"A complex role is great! It can hone my acting skills!" Shen Yuege agreed without hesitation. "I'll go find someone right away. Such an important role definitely needs a good candidate!"
Hearing Shen Yuege's energetic voice on the other end of the phone, Lu Ran suppressed a laugh and hung up. He could already imagine the interesting expression on that new actor's face when he got the script and saw what Zhen Zhibing had done.
……
With the weekend approaching, netizens have once again turned their attention to anime.
Amidst much anticipation, Xinghua Entertainment's "The Light of the Times" has officially launched.
This anime certainly gave viewers a pleasant surprise when it first aired.
From the art style and soundtrack to the narrative rhythm, it is a level above Starlight Entertainment's "Dragon Soars Across the Seas".
The grand historical scenes shown in the trailer were well recreated in the actual film, and its quality even surpassed that of the three Japanese anime.
Immediately, the internet was flooded with positive reviews.
"Xinghua is quietly doing something big! The quality, the narrative—it's definitely cinematic!"
"I was thrilled after watching this! This is the true spirit of a great nation! Chinese animation has truly risen!"
"Go for it, 'The Light of the Times'! Suppress the Japanese manga! Let those arrogant fools see what true historical depth is!"
"We misunderstood Xinghua before; they were preparing a big move! This is a sure thing!"
The comments section of Xinghua Entertainment's official Weibo account is filled with enthusiastic supporters, who are pinning all their hopes for resisting Japanese comics on this work.
In related discussions, the media joined in, showering praise on the topic with terms such as "a beacon of the rise of Chinese animation" and "a new benchmark for historical themes."
Even some professional film critics who were initially hesitant have given it positive initial reviews, praising its "solid production and lofty ideals."
As if overnight, the gloom dissipated and the sun shone brightly.
All viewers who care about the fate of Chinese animation poured their long-suppressed expectations and national pride into "The Light of the Times".
The morale within Xinghua Entertainment was greatly boosted, and the management team held a series of meetings to plan a strategy to capitalize on the momentum, increase publicity investment, and consolidate their hard-won dominant position.
It seems that they are the undisputed leaders of Chinese animation.
For a time, Xinghua Entertainment seemed to have truly vindicated Chinese animation. With just two episodes, its popularity surpassed that of Xingguang Entertainment's "Dragon Soars Across the Seas," ranking first on the animation charts.
However, this joy and anticipation lasted for less than 24 hours.
On Sunday evening, a highly anticipated new anime series from Japan, titled "Ama-no-Kumara," was simultaneously released on a Chinese video website.
There was no massive advertising campaign, just a single, sharply styled poster.
Initially, many Chinese viewers, who were immersed in the joy of "The Light of the Times," did not take it seriously and even clicked on the anime with a disdainful attitude.
But when viewers clicked on the first episode, everyone was stunned.
It was a complete and utter crushing defeat, from sight to hearing.
"Ama-no-Kumara" tells the story of a fictional mythological world. Whether it is the use of light and shadow, the smoothness of the battle scenes, or the portrayal of the characters' micro-expressions, it has reached the level of an animated film.
Every frame screams "burning money."
The story has a novel setting and a vast and rigorous world-building.
The soundtrack was composed by a renowned Japanese master, and the magnificent symphony instantly draws the listener into that bizarre and fantastical world.
What's even more frightening is its mature narrative pacing and well-developed characters.
In just one episode, the world-building is clearly laid out, the main characters are vividly portrayed, the conflicts are intricately linked, and the emotional tension is immense.
If "The Light of the Times" is a well-made TV series, then "Ama-no-Kumara" is a top-notch IMAX commercial blockbuster.
The gap between the two cannot be bridged by patriotism alone.
Many patriots, unable to bear the shock of watching this anime, vented their frustrations on other Japanese entertainers, ultimately leaving them listless for several days.
The online sentiment reversed overnight, and many viewers, though unwilling, had to acknowledge the gap between China and Japan.
"I take back what I said before... The gap between us and Japanese comics may be bigger than we imagine."
"It's not that Xinghua isn't working hard, it's just that the competition is too monstrous. The quality of 'Ten no Kusanagi' is simply a game-changer."
"After reading 'The Clouds of Heaven' and then 'The Light of the Times,' I suddenly found it all rather dull, like watching a PowerPoint presentation..."
"We probably won't be able to create a work of the caliber of 'Ama-no-Kumara' within the next five years. We're lagging behind in technology, funding, and creativity."
"Stop criticizing 'The Light of the Times,' it's already the best domestic production. Blame it on our late start and weak foundation."
"Sigh, let's all move on. Another bucket of cold water has been poured on us. The rise of Chinese animation? It's a long and arduous road ahead..."
The official Weibo account of Xinghua Entertainment, which was bustling with activity the day before, is now completely silent in the comments section. The few comforting comments that occasionally appear seem pale and powerless.
They wanted to refute it, but couldn't find any reason to do so, so they could only choose to remain silent.
A sense of pessimism and despondency permeated the entire internet.
First came the struggling "Dragon Soars Across the Seas," then the complete defeat of "The Light of the Times"—two hopes, two dashed hopes.
The patriotic enthusiasm of netizens has been exhausted, leaving only deep concern about the future of Chinese animation.
Just as this oppressive atmosphere reached its peak, an account that had previously been underestimated suddenly became active.
The official Weibo account of Xingyao Entertainment's animation division, which had been dormant for several months, posted a new update at 10:00 AM on Monday.
There was no trailer, no poster, and not even a single still image.
Only one short line of text:
"The movie 'Those Years, Those Rabbits, Those Things' will be released tonight at 8 PM!"
...