Full-time comic artist

"But..." she looked around, "there are so many people..."

The movie tickets were sold out, all the seats were filled, and many other eager viewers were standing, just like me.

What is the magic of this movie?

She became curious.

One hundred minutes later, the screening of "Paprika" ended, and the audience erupted in enthusiastic applause.

Inoue Kazumi noticed that her boyfriend's palms were red from clapping, and his face was full of excitement.

"The production quality is amazing! It's like the comic book came to life, and the background music is also stunning. It's totally worth it!"

Xiao Fusheng chattered happily, all of it his own thoughts.

Inoue Kazumi looked completely bewildered; she couldn't understand it.

She was hit with a bang right from the start of the movie.

In the subsequent content, she also felt that the production team was deliberately creating suspense.

However, this animation is indeed a visual feast, with many exquisite scenes and an extraordinary imagination. As she watched the story, she always saw scenes that moved her.

For example, a red chili pepper transforms into a flower fairy and walks through a cavity entwined with tree roots. Finally, the camera rises to reveal the body of an ice chamber.

After a moment of sudden enlightenment, a sense of macroscopic terror suddenly sets in.

"Yes...yes." Inoue Kazumi nodded awkwardly.

Not only her boyfriend, but all the other audience members in the theater were also chatting enthusiastically; the movie had given them a great surprise.

Many people are planning to watch it again.

Xiao Fu was intrigued. "Shall we watch it again?"

"Ha... I think I'll pass."

"Okay, that makes sense. I still need to watch 'Love You 99 Minutes'."

They waited for another showing, and then entered the screening room.

The movie had a much lower attendance rate, with many seats empty.

"Everyone will be very happy to receive these resources from 'Paprika', right?"

Inoue Kazumi couldn't help but think.

After the movie started, she suddenly became distracted and couldn't concentrate, her mind filled with scenes from "Paprika".

A captivating opening sequence, fantastical dreamlike visuals, and a celebration procession of discarded furniture, dolls, statues, and torii gates moving from the desert to the city...

Each and every one of them was so incredible to her.

In comparison, "Love You 99 Minutes" is too ordinary.

She could predict the rest of the story: the male and female leads would clear up their misunderstandings and get back together.

"Shinji, take another look!" Inoue Kazumi said very seriously.

“Ah,” Nobuyuki Kofuki resisted strongly, “why…why?”

"I must understand this." Inoue Kazumi clenched her fist.

"Isn't it easy to understand?" Xiao Fusheng pointed at the screen, trying to dissuade his girlfriend. He didn't want to watch this kind of predictable movie anymore; every minute longer was torture. "Lovers separated due to misunderstandings, reunited after longing for each other..."

This movie is two hours long, and with the time spent watching Paprika, they've already been in the theater for almost five hours.

Xiao Fusheng patted his stomach; it was time to eat.

"No, no! That's not what I meant!" Inoue Kazumi crossed her arms. "It's Paprika."

"Let's go! What are you standing there for?"

Nobuyuki Kobuchi stood up and, before Kazumi Inoue could react, walked into the corridor and spoke to his girlfriend.

……

"Over two days, the three cinemas saw a total of 6371 moviegoers, generating 9556500 yen in revenue. The occupancy rate was the highest among cinemas during the same period."

Masao Maruyama told Hibiki Higashino about the results.

This result surprised him.

Higashino Hibiki was also very surprised; he realized that his judgment was wrong.

He always thought that "Paprika" was the kind of film that would be critically acclaimed but not commercially successful, but he never expected that it would have a large following and achieve unexpectedly high box office results.

It's clear that the viewing threshold for "Paprika" is exceptionally high.

"Everyone here has such a keen eye for detail," was all Hibiki Higashino could say.

“It’s all because of you,” Masao Maruyama said. “A survey of moviegoers found that 63% of them were readers of the Paprika manga and came to see the movie after hearing about its release.”

"This achievement was brought about by Tori Akino Mirai; otherwise, it wouldn't have been so successful."

"It's because Mr. Yasutaka Tsutsui's original work is so wonderful, and it's also because of the hard work of Mr. Maruyama and others, and the strict requirements for the animation production. Only by combining these factors can it win the favor of the audience."

"Haha." Maruyama Masao chuckled, cutting off any further formalities.

Because of the outstanding performance of "Paprika", Sony began to increase the number of theaters and the screening range is gradually expanding.

This is Hibiki Higashino's first animated film adapted from a manga, and its successful debut has set a precedent for "Rebellion Story".

At 9 p.m., the production team of Paprika organized a party to celebrate, and Hibiki Higashino was also present.

"This is Mr. Tori Akino. The success of Paprika is entirely due to him. It was a truly exquisite script."

Producer Taro Maki, seated at the head of the table, pointed to Hibiki Higashino, who was sitting to his right, and began to applaud.

This producer is highly capable, primarily responsible for commercial aspects, including managing operating funds and handling external affairs.

Then came thunderous applause.

Higashino bowed slightly.

The celebration was very relaxed; everyone chatted with familiar friends and drank wine sip by sip, soon piling up a small mountain of bottles.

"Teacher Akino, have a drink." Maki Taro raised his glass and bowed to Higashino Hibiki.

“I’m sorry,” Higashino Hibiki waved his hand, “I don’t drink.”

"Oh, worried about it affecting your brain?" Taro Maki put down his glass, the wine swirling slightly. "You great writers certainly have these kinds of worries."

"Tori Akino-sensei's brain is worth hundreds of billions of yen, haha."

"You flatter me," Higashino Hibiki smiled slightly. "It mainly depends on the efforts of people like you to monetize it."

"Where."

……

Everyone present was happy, except for one person: Tetsuro Araki, an outsider.

"I clearly didn't participate in the production of Paprika, so why did Mr. Maruyama bring me here?"

He was very upset.

Seeing his colleagues having so much fun made him feel suffocated.

Will "The Rebellion" be as successful as "Paprika"?

If he fails, he will be too ashamed to face anyone.

It would be terrible if the anime, which was initially met with little hope, achieved huge commercial success, while the highly anticipated "Rebellion Story" flopped.

"No, I can't breathe."

He sat up, opened the door, and felt a cool breeze from the balcony.

Araki Tetsuro immediately perked up.

"Now there's only one path: success. There's no time for leisure. Keep going, keep fighting!"

He looked at the moon, and his mind became clearer and clearer.

"That's probably why Mr. Maruyama invited me to the celebration party for Paprika."

After thinking it through, he left the balcony, came to Higashino Hibiki, bowed and said earnestly, "Tori Akino-sensei, may I bother you for a moment?"

Higashino Hibiki paused for a moment, then nodded kindly, "Of course."

He couldn't stand the smell of alcohol in the room anymore, so getting some fresh air was a good idea.

The two walked to the next room and sat down. When they closed the door, the room fell silent, and the whole world became quiet.

"Is there a problem?"

"I'd like to discuss 'The Tale of Rebellion' with you again."

Tetsuro Araki took out a notebook and a pencil. "The core of this movie is the word 'rebellion,' isn't it?"

“That’s right, you’re absolutely right,” Hibiki Higashino nodded. “The manga and anime depict Madoka Kaname’s selflessness, sacrificing herself to save the magical girl from her tragic fate.”

As Higashino Hibiki spoke, Araki Tetsuro took notes, which caused Higashino Hibiki to slow down his speech.

After Tetsuro Araki finished writing everything down, Hibiki Higashino continued, "The movie is about selfish desires that transcend the universe. Homura Akemi broke the original choice of magical girls sacrificing themselves for Madoka Kaname, which is the meaning of the word 'rebellion'..."

At night, under the lamplight, one person tells a story in detail, while another listens attentively, recording everything regardless of whether they understand it or not.

On one side, there was a joyous banquet; on the other, there was a request for advice.

The two unique sides are actually just one in front and one behind.

……

After the celebration banquet, the others wanted to have a second gathering, but Higashino Hibiki went home.

At midnight, Akemi Akimiya was still waiting for him.

“Sniff,” she said, walking over to Higashino Hibiki with her hands behind her back. She wrinkled her nose and asked in confusion, “Why can’t I smell any alcohol?”

"I haven't drunk alcohol in a long time." Higashino Hibiki raised his hands so she could smell them clearly.

“That’s not what I meant,” Akemi Akemi said, handing a steaming towel to Higashino Hibiki before adding, “In such a small room, there must be many people drinking, yet you don’t smell of alcohol at all. That’s suspicious…”

"What exactly did you go to do?"

Higashino Hibiki thought about what happened that night and couldn't help but smile bitterly, "I never expected that I would go out to eat and drink well, but end up working all night."