Chapter 5: On-the-spot Explanation
Masao Iwata left Kiyoto Suzuki’s Director’s Classroom, ignoring the greetings from several newly hired employees, and slowly returned to his own Director’s Classroom.
Anyway, both of them were Third-Class Directors at the Tokyo Television Production Bureau, and their assigned office classrooms were not far apart.
This was also why he came to investigate at this time.
“Heh, that old guy Kiyoto Suzuki will inevitably be kicked out of the Production Bureau sooner or later!”
Returning to his own classroom, Masao Iwata’s triangular eyes scanned the subordinates who were nervously busy inside the classroom, and seeing their extremely tense appearances sent a chill through him, giving him a feeling like a lion patrolling its territory that greatly satisfied his vanity.
So he pushed open the door to his office and returned to his carefully arranged single-person office.
Thinking of Kiyoto Suzuki’s angry face.
A smug smile appeared on Masao Iwata’s face: “This time, the promotion to Second-Class Director seems set in stone.”
That somewhat famous manga artist, he had been wary of him in his heart at first.
Afraid something might go wrong.
That’s why he went over so arrogantly to take a look.
But unexpectedly, that somewhat famous manga artist was clearly just a fresh graduate.
“Just got lucky, randomly drew a manga that achieved some success, and now thinks he can produce animation?”
Masao Iwata picked up the steel pen in his hand and toyed with it lightly between his fingers, his smug expression growing even more intense: “I think that old guy Kiyoto Suzuki has lost his mind, actually wanting to pin his hopes on a fresh graduate student. No wonder he’s been at Tokyo Television headquarters for seven or eight years and is still stuck at Third-Class Director.”
Saying this, Masao Iwata sneered: “Or rather, he’s originally from an affiliate station under the headquarters television station, just like those subordinate stations, all petty and small-minded!”
If they weren’t petty and small-minded, then why were the programs produced by those subordinate stations under Tokyo Television all so poor?
Both ratings and completion rates were terribly low.
“Sooner or later, I’ll kick out all you good-for-nothings who just eat and wait to die!” Masao Iwata’s face darkened as he snorted coldly.
Thinking that the other was still competing with him for the promotion opportunity.
Masao Iwata’s expression grew even uglier.
‘Ding-ling-ling—’
While Masao Iwata was pondering, the desktop telephone on the desk in front of him suddenly rang.
Masao Iwata picked it up: “This is Masao Iwata.”
But as the voice from the other end of the phone came through, his expression changed instantly.
The previous arrogant and oppressive look completely turned into one of deference, even the gloomy demeanor vanished directly, replaced by a brilliant smile.
Because on the other end of the phone was his backer, his father’s old classmate.
Also the Deputy Director of the Tokyo Television Production Bureau.
Toshihide Takada.
“Deputy Director Takada, rest assured, I have already prepared the themes. It’s an animation project created with the theme of vengeful spirits of ancient samurai.”
“It’s currently in urgent production, and my team is very professional.”
“Yes, I understand the time is tight.”
“Kiyoto Suzuki?”
“I’ve already investigated. He’s only just starting preparations, and in his panic, he’s randomly partnering with a fresh graduate.”
“Yes, this is indeed very foolish behavior, and I will seize this opportunity.”
“I am still very grateful that Deputy Director Takada informed me half a month in advance.”
“Hai! Extremely grateful! Hai!”
At this moment, Masao Iwata stood in front of his desk, his face even more serious, and at the end, he even bowed repeatedly.
After the call ended.
His face slowly retracted the brilliant and exaggerated smile from earlier.
However, even after retracting the smile, Masao Iwata’s eyes, face, and the corners of his mouth still carried a triumphant grin.
If there were no accidents.
The promotion slot to Second-Class Director.
Was destined to be his!
Thinking of this, Masao Iwata did not stay in the office but instead opened the door and went outside, his face stern as he continued patrolling his territory.
Especially seeing that in his territory, there were four or five more subordinates than in Kiyoto Suzuki’s classroom.
And they were all nervously busy with their tasks.
“Yo xi.”
Masao Iwata nodded in satisfaction.
He could see that these assistants were diligently working on the animation for the theme and content he had determined in advance.
Based on the progress, the first episode could be produced before the weekend.
Then submit it to the Production Bureau’s review department in advance.
As long as it gets approved.
Then with Deputy Director Takada’s help, he could speed through the review process, get early approval, and arrange a prime-time slot for premiere.
As long as it achieves 3% ratings then.
His promotion slot to Second-Class Director.
Would be absolutely secure!
“Everyone, be serious!” Thinking of this, Masao Iwata touched the small mustache under his nose, his face growing even happier as he solemnly reminded the subordinates in the classroom: “Don’t rush just for speed; strive for perfection, understand?”
“Hai! Understood!” The subordinates in the classroom, busy with screenwriting animation content, producing animation storyboards, creating animation storyboards, and testing animation smoothness, all responded in unison.
This made Masao Iwata nod in great satisfaction.
These subordinates were also animation production staff he had hired through connections.
Although Neon now was not the Neon from his previous life on Earth, it was basically Neon’s parallel world, and the level of animated film production was top-tier on Earth and also top-tier in this Blue Star world.
Moreover, due to the boom in the film and television industry, in this parallel Neon of the 1990s, a large number of skilled workers had been trained as well.
These seemingly young subordinates, even if they had just graduated from school not long ago.
Were equally professional when producing animated films.
“Smooth animation, terrifying plot, slaughter, ghosts and monsters, and deities—my《Oni-bō Samurai》 will absolutely be a huge success!”
Masao Iwata was full of confidence.
……
Suzuki’s Classroom.
Hiroshi Nohara, having mixed in official circles in his previous life, quickly integrated into the normal work rhythm of the classroom.
And because the《An Shizhi》 manga was completed by him.
So when Kiyoto Suzuki decided that the next animation theme would be adapted from Hiroshi Nohara’s《An Shizhi》.
The focus of the work naturally fell on Hiroshi Nohara.
He was the creator.
Which meant he was the screenwriter who best matched the essence of the work.
Moreover, Hiroshi Nohara had all the memories from his previous life on Earth of《An Shizhi》 broadcast on Tokyo Television.
Adapting the manga now was simply a piece of cake!
This left the four people in Suzuki’s Classroom utterly astonished.
Including Kiyoto Suzuki, who was equally shocked.
Because when Hiroshi Nohara explained how to create animation, how to storyboard, how to break down the manga storyboards, and how to produce them.
They found that Hiroshi Nohara explained everything clearly and logically.
It was as if…
Hiroshi Nohara had planned all the content in his mind and was just explaining it to them, so they didn’t need to worry at all and could simply follow along!
And based on their own mental calculations.
The content that Hiroshi Nohara explained and planned…
Seemed truly perfect!
“Is this kid a genius?” Even Kiyoto Suzuki, over fifty years old with more than thirty years in the directing industry, was extremely shocked while listening to Hiroshi Nohara’s explanations and some of his ideas from the side, his gaze toward Hiroshi Nohara involuntarily gaining a bit more sparkle!
