Hong Kong variety show: The mastermind behind the scenes is emerging.

February 10, 1983, the 2th day of the twelfth lunar month.

There are only three days left until the Spring Festival.

This year is destined to be unforgettable for the children of Hong Kong.

Over the past year, ATV's "Armor Hero," "Balala the Fairies," and "Blazing Teens" swept through all primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong like a tornado.

Today marks the official conclusion of the first season of "Blazing Teens".

"Ugh... how did it end like that?"

Did Li Fei win the championship or not?

Countless young viewers sitting in front of their televisions felt unsatisfied, and even a little disappointed. As usual, the next segment would either be a rebroadcast or some boring educational program.

However, ATV never plays by the rules.

4:30 PM.

Just as the ending theme of "Blazing Teens" ended, an unprecedented opening theme, with extremely vibrant colors and an extremely upbeat rhythm, suddenly blared out.

A boy wearing a red and white hat and a blue vest suddenly threw a red and white ball.

"I choose you! Pikachu!!"

Accompanied by a golden flash of lightning, a yellow electric mouse with long ears, a lightning bolt tail, and two red blushes on its cheeks jumped out of the ball, letting out an adorable squeal:

"Pika! Pika! Chu——!!"

Five large, colorful characters appeared on the screen—

Pokémon

"What is this? An animated film?"

Amin, who was sitting in front of the TV and about to change the channel, paused for a moment.

……

ATV Building, General Manager's Office.

Lu Chen sat on the sofa, watching the first episode of "Pokémon: The Birth of Pikachu" playing on TV.

A satisfied smile curved his lips.

He had been planning for this day for a full six months.

It's important to know that in 1983, the animation market was still stuck in the era of "Popeye" or the crudely drawn "Astro Boy".

As early as the initial development of the JF version of Pokémon, he secretly acquired a Japanese animation studio that was facing bankruptcy and poached a group of top voice actors from TVB. Using the aesthetic and technical standards he brought from later generations, he invested heavily in producing this animated series.

He knows all too well how Nintendo made its fortune.

Games are just the foundation. To ensure the long-term success of an IP and turn it into a money-making machine, it is essential to establish a "game + animation + merchandise" triad.

"From your perspective, what do you think of the picture quality?"

Lu Chen turned to look at Huang Xizhao, who was standing to the side.

"Boss, to be honest, it's amazing!" Huang Xizhao exclaimed sincerely. "The art style and the smoothness are so much better than those old Japanese anime that TVB bought. Especially this... Pikachu mouse, it's so cute! My daughter saw the preview a few days ago and wouldn't let go of the TV, insisting that I buy her one."

"Cute is key." Lu Chen took a sip of tea. "Cute is productivity."

On the television, the plot is unfolding.

Episode 1: "It's You, Pikachu!"

The protagonist, Li Xiaozhi, was late because he overslept and missed out on the starter Pokémon (Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur), and could only get a disobedient Pikachu instead.

When Ash, dragging his disobedient Pikachu, shielded it with his body amidst the attack of a flock of Spearow; when Pikachu, with tears in its eyes, unleashed that earth-shattering "Thunderbolt".

In front of the television, countless children stared wide-eyed.

An unprecedented sense of bond struck their young hearts.

"Pikachu!!!"

That passion for pursuing dreams, that bond between humans and elves—for children, it's an attraction of nuclear weapon level.

more importantly……

The interlude in the animated film was GG.

It's no longer just ordinary snacks; it's two kids holding JF game consoles, connected together with a data cable.

Want to own your own Pokémon?

[JF Exclusive Title: Pokémon Red and Green Now Available!]

Trade! Battle! Evolve! Collect all 151 Pokémon in your Pokédex and become a Pokémon Master!

"boom--"

After this series of attacks, Amin, watching on TV, went completely mad.

He actually had a JF console, which his father bought for him after he ranked in the top ten in the final exam, but he only bought one game, Contra.

Now, watching those magical creatures on TV that can breathe fire and spew water, and then that game console in the movie that "can put elves in your pocket."

"I want to buy! I want to buy Pokémon!!"

Amin jumped up from the sofa, grabbed his piggy bank, and rushed outside, yelling, "Mom! I want to buy cassette tapes!!"

With Pikachu's adorable cry, a new era has begun.

……

"Boss, it's a hit!" Huang Xizhao exclaimed, holding the newly released ratings report in disbelief. "Even though it was the premiere, the ratings soared to 85% in the children's time slot! It broke the previous record set by the finale of 'Blazing Teens'!"

"And..." Huang Xizhao swallowed hard, "The phone at the GG department just kept ringing off the hook. Toys "R" Us and department stores are all asking when the Pikachu plushie will be available, and other Pokémon merchandise too."

Lu Chen turned around, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

"Ratings and revenue are minor matters." Lu Chen walked to his desk and picked up a Jiahe JF TV.

"More importantly, this animated film will become fuel for our money-printing machine."

This is precisely Lu Chen's ambition.

Leveraging the high viewership of the animated series, a world-building strategy is established, fostering children's affection for Pokémon. Once they fall in love with Pikachu and Charmander, they'll discover—if you want your own Pokémon, if you want to personally command them in battle, you can buy a JF machine!

This is not just entertainment; it's a "closed loop of IP ecosystem."

"How are the data from JF's sales department?" Lu Chen asked.

"It's insane," Li Tian, ​​general manager of Golden Harvest Entertainment, took a deep breath, his voice trembling. "Within half an hour of the cartoon ending, half of the JF console inventory at all fifty Golden Harvest stores in Hong Kong was sold out. Many parents were dragged there by their children, who said they 'wanted to buy Pikachu's house.'"

"At this rate, our stock of 100,000 JF machines will not last until the end of the Spring Festival."

"very good."

Lu Chen nodded, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. "Notify the contract manufacturers to pay them five times their normal wages during the Spring Festival, with three shifts, so that the machines never stop running and the supply must be guaranteed."

"in addition……"

Lu Chen pointed to the world map on the table.

"Old Huang, you have a very important task ahead of you."

Lu Chen pointed to several areas on the map—Japan, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and further afield, Europe and the United States.

"I need you to immediately assemble a team to export the copyrights overseas. Take the Pokémon sample footage and data and go talk to TV stations in these countries."

"Remember, price is not an issue." Lu Chen turned around, his eyes sharp. "Even if we have to take a slight loss, there's only one condition: it must air during prime time!"

"Huh?" Huang Xizhao was stunned. "Boss, this is an animation we spent a lot of money to make. If we don't sell the copyright enough, we won't be able to break even."

"Old Huang, you still haven't seen through it."

Lu Chen smiled, picked up an exquisite Pikachu plush toy from the table, and then picked up a JF cassette tape.

"My animated film is essentially a 25-minute long-form 'GG'."

"We don't make money from selling animated films. That's what we want to make money from."

Lu Chen shook the cassette tape and the figurine in his hand.

"If all the children in the world fall in love with Pikachu and want to become trainers, then our game consoles, our game cartridges, our toys, our school bags, our clothes..."

"Those are the real gold mines." Lu Chen's eyes gleamed with ambition. "I want to use this yellow rat to knock on the door of every family in the world and plant the Golden Harvest flag all over the globe."

Huang Xizhao was stunned. In an era before Transformers were even released, the idea of ​​making an animated film just to sell merchandise was far too ahead of its time. However, as the first to try it, the results were immediate.

"Understood, boss! I'll assemble the team right now!" Huang Xizhao saluted excitedly. "I'm going to let those foreigners taste what it's like to be culturally invaded!"

"Go ahead. Also, the design of card games (TCGs) can be put on the agenda; that's another gold mine." Lu Chen turned to Li Tian and gave him the next instructions.

"yes!"

……

After seeing Huang Xizhao off, Lu Chen sat back down in his chair.

The streetlights outside the window were already on.

Looking at the dazzling night view of Victoria Harbour, Lu Chen breathed a sigh of relief.

In terms of his business, whether it's television stations, clothing brands, Hong Kong Electric, or now the gaming industry, all have entered a period of rapid growth. Once the new mobile phones and new media players successfully enter trial production next year, his business empire will expand even further.

Everything was running perfectly according to his script.

"Ring ring—"

Just then, the phone on the table suddenly rang.

Lu Chen picked up the phone, saw the caller ID, and his tone softened: "Feed?"

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone.

Only slightly rapid breathing could be heard.

"Amei?"

"...Ah Chen." Ruan Mei's voice was very soft, like a mosquito's buzz, and trembled slightly. "Are you...are you busy?"

"I'm not busy. What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"No... I'm not feeling unwell." Ruan Mei's voice was barely audible, trembling slightly, and you could feel her hands twisting the hem of her clothes even through the phone line.

"I...I...I haven't had my period this month."

Lu Chen was stunned for a moment.

As his bedmate, he certainly knew what "that" referred to.

"Haven't come? How long has it been?" Lu Chen's voice turned serious.

"It's been delayed... for two weeks now."

Ruan Mei's voice trailed off, "I went to buy that... test strip today and got tested."

"The result... was two bars."

"I am pregnant."