Full-time comic artist

Beyond the significance of the work itself, the use of paneling in the *Millennium Actress* manga was also groundbreaking.

"The smooth transitions in the comic panel layout allow the next story to begin without you even realizing it, like a kaleidoscope where a new world unfolds with each turn."

"The technique of blending 'reality' and 'illusion' is seamlessly integrated, using film as a medium to easily traverse time and space, thus accelerating and enriching the narrative pace."

"It encompasses stories from all the major eras, from the Sengoku period to the Edo period, the Taisho period, and the Showa period; it also covers all types of Japanese films, including historical dramas, war spy dramas, postwar period dramas, and science fiction dramas. It is truly a fantastic and amazing work."

After watching "Millennium Actress", Akira Toriyama talked on and on for a long time. It was clear that he had been holding back for a long time and finally came to today to confide in Hibiki Higashino.

This was completely unexpected by Higashino Hibiki.

Even Akira Toriyama didn't have such a strong reaction to his drawing of "Slam Dunk".

“Especially this ukiyo-e print in front of us,” Akira Toriyama said, touching the panel in a daze, “war, women, swords, guns, all blended together perfectly.”

Chapter 241 My Father-in-Law's Different View

Akira Toriyama viewed Hibiki Higashino with new respect.

Or rather, ever since he met Hibiki Higashino, this young man in front of him has been constantly pushing the boundaries of his understanding.

He initially accepted Hibiki Higashino as his assistant because of the spirituality in the drawings of elementary school student Hibiki Higashino.

When they met, Akira Toriyama's understanding of Hibiki Higashino was limited to the fact that he was a very hardworking young man.

Even though he's just a high school student, he can complete the tasks he assigns himself.

Although I complained a lot at first, I persevered.

Among young people, Hibiki Higashino's drawing skills are quite good, and he may become a manga artist who specializes in drawing.

However, just two months after the summer vacation, Akira Toriyama saw Hibiki Higashino's work, the manga called "Hikaru no Go".

"Hikaru no Go" can be considered a classic, and readers will still talk about it decades later.

This greatly surprised Akira Toriyama, just like Goku transforming into a Super Saiyan, his battle power skyrocketing instantly.

This made him exclaim in amazement, "This kid is terrifying!"

Afterwards, Akino Mirai easily ended "Hikaru no Go," which made him very unwilling. Why was his "Dragon Ball" stuck for so many years?

However, Akira Toriyama was pleased that Akino Toriyama abandoned the then-popular "Hikaru no Go" and started a new serialization.

Jump is a business magazine, driven by profit.

It's truly remarkable that Tori Akino was able to break free from the pursuit of profit.

Not long after Hikaru no Go ended, Slam Dunk took the stage.

Akira Toriyama has been reading this manga.

Slam Dunk is an admirable manga, and in Slam Dunk, Akino Mirai underwent a complete transformation.

When he was serializing "Hikaru no Go", his drawing skills were quite good.

But now he is one of the top players in Jump.

Through the experience of serializing "Slam Dunk," Mirai Toriyama's drawing skills and panel layouts have grown to an extraordinary level.

Akira Toriyama could no longer understand his growth.

Bird Akino's future growth path is rapid and comprehensive, which both shocks and gratifies him.

He took over his position, took the reins of Weekly Shonen Jump, and became a respected national-level manga artist.

……

“I thought I knew you well enough,” Akira Toriyama said, looking at Hibiki Higashino with a smile. “But you’ve shown me a completely new side of you.”

"Millennium Actress is not a shonen manga. Within 200 pages of manga manuscript, it contains a lot of information and allows readers to understand the message it conveys, which is remarkable."

"This is something I could never do even if I drew comics for decades more."

Akira Toriyama returned Hibiki's praise to him, leaving Hibiki both amused and exasperated.

"You flatter me, teacher."

"I'm telling the truth."

"Alright, alright, you've made me feel so good, teacher."

"Hahaha."

Of all Hibiki Higashino's manga, Akira Toriyama's favorite is "Millennium Actress".

He marveled at the storyboard of "Millennium Actress" and chatted with it for a long time. Higashino Hibiki didn't have anything important to do, so he chatted with him for a long time.

About an hour later, Sasaki came to find Hibiki Higashino, saying that the opening ceremony was about to begin.

……

Outside the Makuhari Messe exhibition hall, countless people were waiting.

Akemi Akimiya and Mr. Akimiya also arrived.

She contacted Nanase Yui to discuss where to meet.

Nanase said she overslept and was still on her way, repeatedly apologizing and telling Akemi not to wait.

Akemi Akemi decided to go in first. She glanced at the crowd and whispered, "I'll contact him. It's snowing now, Father..."

"It's alright." Mr. Akimiya stopped Akimiya Akemi from taking out her phone.

He contacted the person in charge of the exhibition hall and was soon respectfully invited inside.

"You should have notified me in advance if you were coming, so I could have made preparations," the person in charge said with a smile.

Masters like Mr. Akimiya are usually invited to participate in exhibitions, and the appearance fee is quite substantial.

Announcing it in the newspaper beforehand can elevate the quality of the exhibition.

Mr. Akimiya said, "It's already a great favor that you've allowed me to enter the venue ahead of time."

He glanced sideways and saw Akemi Akemi secretly giving him a thumbs up, which made him even more smug.

I'm much better than that brat Higashino, why should I ask him for help?

……

Mr. Akimiya chatted with the person in charge for a few minutes, and the person shrewdly left.

The father and daughter gradually arrived at the Tori Akino Mirai Storyboard Exhibition Hall.

"This painting..."

Mr. Akimiya stared at Higashino Hibiki's painting, somewhat astonished.

In 96, he saw Akira Toriyama's original manuscripts. His unique creativity and the powerful impact of his comics on society made him realize the artistry of comics.

Akira Toriyama's paintings transcend the realm of shonen manga, reaching a higher dimension.

That's why Mr. Akimiya has come here with high expectations.

He was not disappointed; in fact, his performance exceeded his expectations.

The first thing he saw was naturally the Slam Dunk storyboard at the main entrance.

This kind of comic based on realistic themes, which doesn't offer much creative freedom, still gave Mr. Akimiya a great surprise.

"The composition is quite unique," he said, carefully admiring an original sketch of Sakuragi Hanamichi's slam dunk. "It's very expressive, with a sense of 'movement.'"

Unlike his ukiyo-e prints or other works, the original manuscript of "Slam Dunk" only has one sheet, but you can still see the dynamic posture, which gave Mr. Akimiya a lot of inspiration.

After reading other original manuscripts, he gained a deeper understanding.

"These original manuscripts give me a positive and uplifting energy, which is very valuable."

Akemi Akimiya explained, "Higashino once said that shonen manga has a strong attraction and charm for teenagers, and they will spontaneously learn from the content of manga."

"Works like Slam Dunk surpass other comics and are more captivating."

"Therefore, it has a very strong influence on society."

"This is unfortunate, so he has to draw out the positive influence and give the readers a positive impact."

Mr. Akimiya nodded. "He's right. It's really good that he recognizes this."

Now, Mr. Akimiya has a different opinion of Hibiki Higashino.

He read many original comic book manuscripts.

For example, The Garden of Words.

The original manuscript of "The Garden of Words" is unique in its delicacy.

In a painting, tree trunks, streams, shadows, and so on all have their own value.

For example, the pavilion where Yukino and Takao often met.

The position of the small pavilion pillar in the comic reflects the distance between the two people's hearts.

From unfamiliarity to familiarity, and then to the emotions that are about to be expressed, you can feel the plot from the details of the panel layout even without reading the comic.

How long did it take you to draw this comic?

Akemi Akemi blushed. This was from "The Garden of Words," where Hibiki Higashino had confessed his romantic feelings to her. Now, Mr. Akemi was watching it closely, which made her very ashamed.

"How long did you spend drawing this?" Mr. Akimiya asked again.

“Yes,” Akemi Akemi recalled, “while drawing “Hikaru no Go,” it took her about a month to draw “The Garden of Words.”

"You've drawn so many in just over a month..." Mr. Akimiya couldn't understand.

He was amazed by the talent and perseverance he displayed in creating each original drawing with such care and speed.

He was prepared to study Hibiki Higashino's original manuscript carefully.

From "Hikaru no Go" all the way to "Millennium Actress".

"The progress is tremendous, it's like a complete transformation."

If the other party were not his son-in-law and had taken away his precious daughter, Mr. Akimiya would praise him without hesitation.

After watching "Millennium Actress", he felt the sublimation of Hibiki Higashino.

The original manuscript transcended the confines of shonen manga and took the form of an artwork.