The plot of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' was even more appealing to people who had not been exposed to many similar elements.
Alger was different from Harry. His interests were broad, and he had seen quite a few similar god-tier plot twists before. So while he was very interested in the development of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica,' he had not reached the point of neglecting food and sleep over it.
Harry, however, was completely the "normie" type. Most of his understanding of film and television entertainment came from television. The plot developments of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' had truly given him a huge shock. After that, like all obsessed fans, his mind became filled with thoughts of how the later plot would unfold.
Since the new episode of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' had not aired yet, all he could do was seek comfort in substitutes by searching for more related information.
The internet was such a convenient tool for exchanging information.
Harry felt as though he had entered a new world. When he typed his first comment, the joy of sharing the same hobby with others fascinated him.
What kind of work was 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' really?
How did others define this work?
Or when he saw comments posted by others, he could find a subtle sense of agreement.
With this mindset, there was no doubt that Harry had already become a loyal fan of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica.'
Although European and American viewers did not understand most elements of Japanese anime, as long as the story was exciting, they would still enthusiastically support it.
In the previous world, Japanese anime with excellent stories such as 'Fullmetal Alchemist,' 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica,' 'Fate/Zero,' 'Steins;Gate,' 'Death Note,' 'Mushishi,' 'Cowboy Bebop,' and 'Code Geass' all received extremely high ratings and popularity.
Alger's successful evangelism was only one example.
After the god-tier plot twist in Kamiyā Yuu's remade version of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica,' it captured many Western viewers who were encountering Japanese anime for the first time.
The art style of Japanese anime seemed somewhat strange to them, but it was not unacceptable.
Western audiences expressed emotions less subtly than Eastern cultures did. They were accustomed to using rich expressions and gestures to show their inner feelings.
After Episode Seven of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' finished airing, Fakebook's user discussion board briefly became filled with posts titled [XX's reaction after watching Episode Seven of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica']. These recorded various viewers' emotional changes after finishing Episode Seven. Their exaggerated words and actions drew laughter from many onlookers.
Some enthusiastic users compiled these videos into a collection and uploaded them. Unexpectedly, it entered the top ten of Fakebook's weekly entertainment video popularity rankings.
Many site users who saw the video became curious because of the exaggerated reactions inside. Just what kind of work could make their emotions change so drastically?
...
'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' was fairly popular in Europe and America, so naturally, it could not be weak in China either.
China had a higher aesthetic acceptance of Japanese anime. Although there were cultural differences, at least there would not be too many doubts raised about Japanese anime aesthetics.
Setting aside the strange products born from District 11's crooked technology tree, things popular in District 11 would also gain considerable popularity in China.
The danmaku video site 'BIUBIUBIU,' abbreviated as Bilibili, relied on four major weapons: licensed streaming rights for current-season anime, operating rights for the game 'Warship Girls Collection,' danmaku comments, and streaming rights for past excellent Japanese anime. With these, it seized the actual position of China's main ACG cultural exchange hub in one stroke.
It was not limited to Japanese ACG culture either. It also covered film, television, and gaming elements from Europe and America. Large numbers of such users settled there, forming stable user circles.
Thanks to Bilibili's well-developed operating system, it could quickly absorb these users. Although its deficit was enormous, the huge profits brought by 'Warship Girls Collection' were enough to compensate, forming a healthy operational cycle.
In this surging environment, 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' quickly seized first place in the site's overall video popularity ranking.
Its total heat was more than twice that of second-place 'Violet Blooming Garden.'
Third was 'Adventure King,' the long-running hot-blooded shōnen anime airing in the same season as 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica.'
Chinese viewers' aesthetics toward Japanese anime were roughly the same as those in District 11.
An anime plot capable of causing a sensation in District 11 would absolutely receive a strong response in China as well.
Moreover, in China, where ACG culture had only just taken shape, there was also a very peculiar phenomenon known as following the trend.
For an excellent anime, the appearance of a trend-following phenomenon not only proved that its quality was solid, but its impact on popularity was no worse than official promotion.
To put it plainly, trend-following behavior was spontaneous promotion by viewers.
Once the trend-following atmosphere began, it was like a towering tsunami that could not be stopped.
Of course, the trend-following phenomenon did not only bring benefits. Otherwise, derogatory terms such as "bandwagon dogs" would not exist.
For example, the trend-following phenomena surrounding works such as 'Sword Art Online,' 'Kagerou Project,' and 'Tokyo Ghoul' back then had created a batch of bandwagon haters.
"The divine masterpiece of the universe, 'Sword Art Online.'"
"Kagerou fans' whole families explode."
"You don't understand Little Angel Kaneki's sorrow."
Sarcastic remarks like these once triggered flame wars on Tieba.
At present, however, because of the excellent production quality of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica,' these trend-following remarks were still developing in a positive direction, pulling more and more ACG-loving users into this huge pit. The evaluations were overwhelmingly positive.
...
"Cheers!"
In a relatively quiet bar, seated in a calm corner, Kamiyā Yuu, Fujiwara Tora, and Kitagawa Shūichi raised their glasses and each took a sip of beer.
During this period, the three had finally found time to meet up.
Usually, either Kamiyā Yuu, Kitagawa Shūichi, or Fujiwara Tora would be unavailable. Now that each of their anime projects had entered stable development periods, even the two busiest animation directors, Kamiyā Yuu and Kitagawa Shūichi, had managed to squeeze out some time for a gathering.
Just like his name suggested, Kitagawa Shūichi gave Kamiyā Yuu the first impression of a refined and capable middle-aged man. His gentle smile did not make people feel distant.
"Hey, hey, Kamiyā's 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' is currently the most talked-about anime online. Kitagawa, I think you should just accept your fate. In another episode or two, both its ratings and popularity will surpass yours."
Fujiwara Tora vigorously patted Kitagawa Shūichi's shoulder with his large hand. His square face twisted into an exaggerated, comical expression.
Feeling the heavy force from his shoulder, Kitagawa Shūichi spread his hands with a strained smile.
"Fujiwara, are you on Director Kamiyā's side or ours? Why does everything you say lean toward Kamiyā?"
Kamiyā Yuu laughed.
"I'd like to recruit Fujiwara myself, but unfortunately, this guy has turned down my invitations several times in a row."
Fujiwara Tora replied with a solemn expression,
"I'm simply stating the facts. If that's how the facts are, then there's nothing I can do about it. Haha!"
"I actually envy Director Kamiyā quite a lot. You're both an animation director and the president of your company. Without those outsider producers making demands, you can make anime however you want. Ordinary animation studios wouldn't dare do what you did. Maybe the successful example of this plot twist in 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' will become an industry classic. Even I was shocked after watching it. At the time, I was thinking, " Can anime really use a plot like this?"
Kitagawa Shūichi took a sip of beer and sighed emotionally.
As an animation director, he had a completely different view and opinion of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica.'