From knock-off old-man's electric vehicles to industrial giant

Chapter 114 The wildly popular Starry Sky Itasha: Who brought the chopped chili fish head to the anime convention?
Magic City.

The time came to Saturday.

The CP (Content Creation) Fan Comic Con was held as scheduled at the International Expo Center.

As a long-time anime fan, Li Shi naturally couldn't be absent, and he arrived at the anime convention early in the morning with his friends.

This time.

He was in a great mood driving his own Starry Sky "itasha" (a type of car decorated with anime characters).

can be seen.

There were many itasha (decorated cars) at the scene.

It's true that itasha (decorated cars) have only become truly popular in the country in the last two years.

This is related to a policy passed in the traffic law two years ago.

In October 2014, China made some revisions to its traffic laws, which relaxed restrictions on car modifications to a certain extent, including changes to the appearance of car bodies.

The new regulations have removed the restriction that "the area of ​​the vehicle body color change shall not exceed 30%", and instead, vehicle owners can freely change the color of the entire vehicle, including spraying anime patterns. As long as the color type complies with the regulations and an application for registration is submitted, the vehicle can be driven on the road.

This is how itasha (decorated cars) received their official "certificate of conformity".

before this.

While itasha (decorated cars) culture is somewhat popular within the anime and manga community, those anime fans and car owners who privately customize their entire cars are generally violating traffic laws.

If caught, you will likely face a fine and be forced to revert the car to its original color.

and so.

This resulted in the suppression of itasha culture as a whole in the past.

Now that the restrictions have been lifted, there has been a trend of retaliatory growth in the community, resulting in a massive explosion in the number of itasha (decorated cars) in a short period of time!

Furthermore, the relaxation of policies has allowed large-scale anime conventions to legitimately establish "itasha (decorated car) zones" for enthusiasts to display their vehicles.

"Watts...911!!"

"Holy crap, Ferrari... BMW M4, GTR..."

"This is so damn cool! I hate rich people!!"

...

Along the way, Li Shi listened to his companions' constant exclamations of surprise, and he was getting a little numb from watching.

Once it comes to such a large event, the inner area is never short of luxury cars, with many wealthy men bringing their supercars to participate and "show off" them.

In addition, there were even some booths for domestic car manufacturers, who put on itasha (decorated cars) paint jobs to capitalize on the publicity traffic from the anime and manga culture.

Because the event was so popular, Li Shi couldn't even get a spot to display his car on the periphery, so he had to park his car in a parking area that had been spontaneously fenced off by the enthusiasts.

But... it doesn't really matter anymore.

Compared to these luxury cars, my own Mini would look ridiculous if I were to put it up there.

Li Shi didn't think too much about it. After parking the car, he focused on browsing the exhibition booths and taking photos.

……

at the same time.

Amidst a lively and enthusiastic atmosphere.

The judges from the organizing committee are browsing the vehicles on display.

As is customary, in addition to displaying the itasha (decorated cars), the itasha section also features an annual "itasha selection" event.

The "most popular itasha" (decorated car) in the venue was determined by audience vote.

As you can see, the cars that look the "coolest" and "most luxurious" are surrounded by cosplayers and photographers.

They quickly amassed a considerable number of votes and were poised to take the top three spots in the arena.

Several judges are exchanging ideas.

"This year's number of itasha (decorated cars) is double that of the last one, showing that individual collectors are becoming more and more enthusiastic."

"There are too many cars, and everyone is very well prepared..."

"Looking at it this way, it's going to be quite difficult for us to pick one out of them to award the Best Art Award."

"Teacher Zhou, what are your thoughts on this?"

……

Several judges turned their attention to the elderly man who was traveling with them.

This year's comic convention judging panel invited a "special guest," an associate professor from the Animation Department of the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, who had previously provided training to the art teams of "Qin's Moon" and "Painting Rivers and Lakes."

If we were to choose one itasha (decorated car) from the event as the best art exhibition car, then this one would undoubtedly be the most qualified to give an opinion.

As a "special guest," this was Mr. Zhou's first time attending such an exhibition.

They seemed somewhat unaccustomed to the enthusiastic discussion among the young people.

He pondered for a moment before speaking: "What criteria did you use to select the best artist in the past? Was it design level, or artistic skill?"

Upon hearing this, several judges from the anime and manga community decisively shook their heads.

"Standards? It seems there aren't any standards."

"In the previous two editions, there weren't this many cars on display, so the selection was quite random."

"Let me think... Last year's Best Art Award was given to a content creator who brought his bicycle-themed car into the exhibition area. That was quite creative at the time! It also attracted a lot of people to take photos and check in. But this year, there are too many of these kinds of things, so it's not so artistic."

...

Mr. Zhou: "..."

As judges of anime and manga, their view of "art" differs significantly from that of professionals.

sometimes.

Abstraction is an art.

However, as time went by, the abstract art section of the exhibition became overcrowded.

Old Zhou looked around, and then made his assessment:
"From an artistic point of view, the paintings on these modified cars are mass-produced products with no creativity. Even if they are part of the modification culture, they all look too similar at first glance. They are obviously mass-produced by studios. No matter how exquisite the appearance of these works is, they are rigid, monotonous, and have nothing to do with art."

But if you look at some of the cars outside the stadium, the situation is much better.

Like that one over there, it's entirely hand-painted, the artist's inspiration incorporating their personal understanding. It's a bit rough around the edges, but that's the kind of work that can be judged from an artistic perspective.

Based on the evaluation of professionals.

Several judges also "suddenly realized" the truth.

"Yes, yes...that's exactly what we think!"

"No wonder there's a feeling of not being able to find anything to pick out. These cars in the venue are all produced by a few fixed studios. To put it bluntly, they are mass-produced products and have nothing to do with the art we are pursuing."

"In that case, why don't we go check out the fan area outside?"

……

The group arrived at the outer area.

Compared to the "assembly line" paint jobs inside the arena, some of the cars in the outdoor arena, although rough, are at least not so monotonous.

Just then, a car that looked quite different caught Mr. Zhou's attention.

It was a mini car.

The entire car body is painted in a style that is clearly a personal creation, with a very distinctive overall style.

The image, cracked and fragmented, depicts a broken angel, trapped in a shattered concrete wall. The steel bars protruding from the wall pierce through the white feathers, resembling shackles and constraints. Combined with the angel's tearful and empty expression, the image is filled with immense tension.

The overall artistic expression of the painting is so impressive that even professionals can't help but nod in approval.

The interplay of broken and whole, soft and sharp, and perfectly balanced light and shadow embodies the characters' struggles, symbolizing the feathers of freedom being bound...

...

Old Zhou's eyes gradually lit up: "Good! The paint job on this car is quite artistic; it's a work of art that evokes pain!"

The judges' eyes followed.

"Hiss—it seems pretty good..." "But this doesn't seem to be fan fiction."

"It's alright. The origin of itasha doesn't necessarily have to be fan fiction. Even Zhou Lao said that it's a creation that evokes pain... Since it can make people feel pain at first glance, it fits the definition of 'itasha' perfectly."

"Awards must be presented! Awards are a must!!"

There's a saying circulating online.

Getting a tattoo can be very painful, so car owners call cars that have been "tattooed" "itasha" (a type of Japanese anime/car).

In other countries, painting cartoons or anime on cars is taxed, and young people feel particularly distressed by having to pay these taxes.

then.

This expression of pain seemed particularly apt to the judges!
When Li Shi received the notification and arrived at the scene, he was completely dumbfounded!

His star-themed car was not only surrounded by the organizers and judges, but also by a whole circle of people and photographers who were frantically taking pictures and checking in.

"Fuck..."

"You won an award?!"

...

The time comes in the afternoon.

Under the spotlight, on the awards stage.

Three of the most popular "itasha" (decorated cars) were selected, their appearance and paintwork showcasing exquisiteness and luxury.

And next to these luxury cars and supercars.

However, there was a "chopped chili fish head" dish that clashed with the overall style of the painting, creating a stark contrast that made the onlookers stare wide-eyed.

The host's impassioned tone.

"Congratulations...you have won the Best Artistic Itasha Award at this comic convention. Our special guest judge, Professor Zhou from the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, commented that this car is a highly artistic creation with a paint job that evokes a sense of pain...May I ask, are all the images on this car your own creations?"

"Uh...yes."

"What was your mindset when you created this itasha (decorated car)?"

When asked about this, Li Shi had mixed feelings.

"How to put it... I was just frustrated and unsuccessful. I created works out of love for a long time, but no one read them, and I had no money. Looking back on that experience, it was still quite painful."

...

Who is the person you would most like to thank for this award?

"I want to thank this car and the car company that produced it, because I was so poor that I had to be stingy to buy a car for commuting. After buying it, I didn't have the money to paint it... It was this car company that launched an official modification service at a very affordable price, which is why I was able to have this itasha."

Li Shi took a deep breath and spoke truthfully.

Regardless, he was still very happy to receive the award!
It's like something you've always loved finally getting recognition.

at the same time.

Passersby in the audience.

"This car is so beautiful!!"

"My goodness, this is the purest form of itasha creation! A small car worth tens of thousands of dollars, using the lowest cost to express what you love, instead of competing on whose car is more expensive. When I walked in, I thought I had entered a supercar exhibition!"

"Well, actually, I saw the paint job on this car outside the exhibition. The artistic level is quite high, but nobody noticed it."

"Come on, you only think that way because the judges from the art academy said so. If they hadn't said so, you wouldn't know anything about painting."

"This car company, is it called Starry Sky...? That's really generous, they even offer official modification services? And it only costs tens of thousands of yuan? They're a lifesaver for poor anime fans!"

"Oh no! This is really affordable, I'm tempted to buy it!!"

...

online.

Soon after, someone edited and uploaded footage from the comic convention to a video website.

In particular, the incredibly eye-catching "chopped chili fish head" was placed next to several luxury sports cars, creating a stark contrast. Its abstract style garnered an exceptionally high number of clicks.

The following are suggested titles:
[A car for otaku's enjoyment: a supercar displayed in a sheer fabric booth]

Who brought my family's chopped chili fish head to the anime convention?!

[Enjoyment for seniors x, enjoyment for tough guys √]

[Guide: A car company that provides official customization, teaching you step-by-step how to build your first itasha (decorated car)!!]

……

"Holy crap! I love it, I want it!!"

"This car is outrageous. It already gets a lot of attention on the road, but with this paint job, it gets even more attention."

"2333, the socially conscious and happy car."

"Looks good, the most handsome guy on the street!!"

"I really want to buy this car."

"At first, I thought 'the first car for young people' was just a simple slogan, until this car company actually launched a modification service..."

The related videos saw a surge in views and spread widely.

This has also brought more attention to the Star Auto brand to a wider range of young people.

Many anime fans who aren't rich have eyes that light up with excitement after watching the video.

Although itasha culture is not accepted by the mainstream, these anime fans are really willing to spend money if they are interested!
A few days passed.

Abstract images of itasha (decorated cars) adorned with stars, along with an officially recolored "macho pink chopped pepper fish head," gradually began circulating online.

Orders for Starry Night Mini have surged.

……

For the past two months.

Wuling Motors has seen a significant increase in marketing expenses for a single model, with one notable expenditure being online promotion for the Wuling Mini EV.

It can be said.

In the first month, the effect of this traffic injection was very obvious.

Wuling has arranged a lot of car forums, video websites popular with young people, and car reviews.

The results are also very significant!
Thanks to its huge channel advantages and marketing efforts, sales reached 8,000 units in the first month alone!

The company is quite satisfied with these sales figures.

As expected of a hit product category, this thing is truly loved by young people!

After conducting market research, they discovered that the Wuling Mini's positioning was absolutely killer for urban youth and young women!

If it weren't for the eye-catching Starry Mini bag, they doubted that it wouldn't have been impossible for them to break 10,000 units in sales in the first month!
Jiang Ze made a strategic plan:
"They can promote their Star Mini and launch a fierce attack on young people, and we can do the same with our Wuling Mini! We will continue to increase our marketing efforts, and we will sell it the same way as the Star Mini, bringing them down to our level, and then using the advantages of a big brand to defeat them!"

It can be said.

They were absolutely certain of victory. Their traditional brand had a huge channel advantage. If consumers didn't choose Wuling with similar configurations, why would they choose a startup brand?
However, this is the expectation.

The sales figures for the Wuling Mini in its second month have been released.

The staggering figure of "8700 units" was a resounding slap in the face to Jiang Ze!

Everyone is stunned!

No child—

Damn it.

Their marketing expenses nearly doubled in the second month.

Why is the new car still stuck in sales?
What happened to the promised sales exceeding 10,000 units? And continued growth?
……

　Writing spicy food, writing spicy food... I'll post 4,000 words first to give it a boost, and the next chapter will be finished before 12 PM today.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)