Kamiyā Yuu did not pretend to be modest as he smiled and said,
"'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' is an attempt to break through the limits of its genre. Animation is exactly that sort of thing. I'm freer than Director Kitagawa. I can freely create wild ideas in my imagination. In that regard, I do indeed have more of an advantage than you. The plot development of your 'Mobile Suit 007' is also quite astonishing. The scene where the protagonist, Satō, charged without hesitation into the enemy Gundam squad made my blood boil. Combined with the heroine's singing, that sequence felt like a romantic space opera."
Kamiyā Yuu's praise did not make Kitagawa Shūichi happy. He shook his head dejectedly.
"That episode took several times more effort than an ordinary one and delayed quite a bit of the production schedule. Even so, the visual presentation still didn't reach the standard I expected. The music was barely acceptable."
Kamiyā Yuu set down his beer.
"Being able to create visuals like that already proves just how outstanding your ability is, Director Kitagawa."
Fujiwara Tora, who was beside them, scratched the back of his head.
"Kamiyā, aren't you praising yourself? The animation quality of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' is what's truly shocking. The media often says it's more than ten years ahead of the animation industry. Whether it's 3D or 2D, you handle both effortlessly. I really don't understand how you do it."
"That's a difference in production technology. It doesn't prove anything about directorial ability."
Kamiyā Yuu was left speechless.
Directorial ability?
Kitagawa Shūichi thought of the various plot foreshadowing in 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica,' the character portrayals, and the scene close-ups.
Those images were the best demonstration of an animation director's ability.
By Kitagawa Shūichi's standards, all of those aspects had reached an excellent level. When analyzing 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica,' he honestly could not find a better starting point.
With a solemn expression, Kitagawa Shūichi said in a low voice,
"Director Kamiyā's ability is undoubtedly superior to mine. Setting aside the animation quality of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica,' your overall grasp and construction of the anime are better than most animation directors I know. Those aren't things that can be compensated for with technology. The feeling 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' gives me is that it was directed by an animation director with extremely rich experience, not by a rookie director."
Kamiyā Yuu felt rather embarrassed. Just as he was about to speak, Fujiwara Tora interrupted him.
"Stop! You two animation directors can stop flattering each other now. This is a drinking party, so don't dig too deeply into work."
Fujiwara Tora waved his hand and cut off the topic.
Kamiyā Yuu and Kitagawa Shūichi exchanged a smile.
Indeed, if they continued with this topic, it would be rather awkward for Fujiwara Tora, who was not an animation director.
...
Less than twenty minutes later, the topic returned to discussions of the animation industry.
Taking sip after sip of beer, Fujiwara Tora sighed deeply.
"There is definitely something wrong with the industry right now. Fewer and fewer people are buying BDs, not even one percent of the people watching anime. Yet we animation studios can only rely on BD sales to make a profit. It's seriously frustrating. Late-night anime is becoming more and more like gambling. Only the popular ones can barely recover their costs. In the past, anime depended on popularity, and TV stations would share part of their advertising revenue with production companies. Now, only a few prime-time anime can enjoy that treatment."
"Indeed. 'Magical Girl Nanoha' sold well, but the profits weren't as high as I imagined. The operators took away a large portion. The bulk of the profits from figures and merchandise are all in their hands. Sometimes I wonder whether I should change the operating model. For example, America's fully online distribution model is a pretty good choice."
Kamiyā Yuu sighed in deep agreement.
More than a year had finally made him understand why District 11's animation industry was so distorted.
If he had merely established an animation production company, then it would have been absolutely impossible to escape the limitations of the industry's environment.
Perhaps even if he brought over every excellent work from his previous world, the profits from the works themselves would not be enough to support Yosuganosora Animation Studio.
Now, Kamiyā Yuu was already considering developing an entire market pipeline of his own to break free from the constraints of the industry environment.
To use a very fitting metaphor, an animation production company was equivalent to Kamiyā Yuu's former profession: a miserable webnovel writer.
Aside from manuscript fees, related copyright income was basically zero.
Even if the anime produced became extremely popular, the animation production company's profits would not increase by much.
"Speaking of which, opening up overseas markets is a pretty good choice. Recently, our company sold the rights to a batch of anime. It seems a video site in China plans to introduce licensed versions. If China's market matures, we production companies could earn quite a bit from that side alone. Right now, overseas market revenue is less than one-tenth of total revenue, so there's still plenty of room for expansion."
Kitagawa Shūichi smiled as he expressed his opinion.
It was only a casual remark, because he knew he could make anime, but he could not control the market.
Kamiyā Yuu quietly took a sip of beer.
If nothing unexpected had happened, that batch of anime rights had probably been bought by Busujima Murasaki and handed to the danmaku video site 'BIUBIUBIU.'
The prices were not as high as rumors claimed.
Streaming rights for an ordinary twelve-episode anime were only a few million yen. More popular ones cost just over ten million yen.
"Animation has already passed its peak. A collapse of this kind of industry market is only a matter of time."
Fujiwara Tora continued bitterly with an expression of frustrated disappointment.
"The royalties earned by the author of 'Adventure King' have already surpassed the profits of the animation production company. In the future, the Original Art Department and Animation Department might as well directly make manga. Who even needs anime?"
After saying this, he poured another large mug of beer down his throat with several gulps.
...
At the end of the party.
The table in front of the three was full of beer bottles.
Kamiyā Yuu himself had gone to the restroom several times, but he still did not feel drunk.
Fujiwara Tora and Kitagawa Shūichi, both veterans of drinking parties, had faces flushed bright red. Their tones were excited, and they were clearly drunk.
The normally steady Kitagawa Shūichi raised his glass and laughed loudly.
"Although the plot of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' is extremely interesting, 'Mobile Suit 007' has only just reached the point where its story begins to unleash its strength. Haha, I won't lose so easily to an industry genius like you!"
Fujiwara Tora clapped from the side and praised him.
"Exactly! Exactly! That's the spirit! Show Kamiyā the bearing of an industry senior!"
Seeing the two of them making a ruckus, Kamiyā Yuu helplessly shook his head and took out his phone to check the time.
This drinking party had lasted more than four hours, and even he was beginning to feel waves of fatigue.
From exchanging animation production experience to venting grievances about the state of the animation industry, this long conversation had benefited Kamiyā Yuu greatly.
Not in terms of making animation, but in hearing about Kitagawa Shūichi and the others' many years of experience in the industry, along with the changes in industry rules.
"Fujiwara, I should head back. Will you two be all right?"
Fujiwara Tora looked at his watch and waved boldly.
"We're fine, we're fine. You go first. I'll call a taxi."
Kitagawa Shūichi smiled at Kamiyā Yuu.
"Director Kamiyā, the next time we meet might very well be at that sushi restaurant. To protect my meager salary, I have no choice but to work hard."