Crossover: Pen name: Dazai Osamu, Omega Kasumigaoka

Makoto Shinkai, born in 73, is 33 years old this year.

Two years ago, he completed his first feature-length animated film, "The Place Promised in Our Early Days".

Although this animation won the 59th Mainichi Film Awards for Animation.

But it didn't splash much water.

It could even be described as completely uneventful.

He won't truly make a name for himself in the animation industry until he creates the animated film "5 Centimeters Per Second" next year.

Therefore, Makoto Shinkai is still a relatively unknown figure in the anime industry.

However, those who know about this man in later generations cannot ignore the power he possessed.

"Your Name" grossed 251 billion yen in Japan and 3.5 million US dollars worldwide, breaking the box office record of "Spirited Away" by "the god of animation Hayao Miyazaki" and becoming the highest-grossing animated film in Japan worldwide.

"Weathering With You" grossed 142 billion yen in Japan, while "Suzuge's Journey" grossed 147.9 billion yen in Japan.

He is hailed as the man most likely to succeed Hayao Miyazaki.

When Kitahara Makoto was sizing up Shinkai Makoto.

Makoto Shinkai was also sizing him up.

When he received the invitation from NicoNico Animation, his first reaction was surprise.

He never expected that NicoNico would invite him to be an anime director.

This sounds a bit unbelievable, considering he's still a nobody in the anime world.

However, driven by his passion for his dream, Makoto Shinkai still approached the project with a degree of skepticism.

Then, when he arrived at Beidouxing Animation and saw Kitahara Makoto, he was completely dumbfounded.

Yes, Makoto Shinkai knows Makoto Kitahara.

Because I am an animation director, a storyteller.

Maintaining good reading habits is essential.

Makoto Shinkai has read both "No Longer Human" and "Norwegian Wood".

I've also read reports about Kitahara Makoto and seen his photos.

Even more interesting.

His dream is to create animation.

But when he was in college...

I studied at the Department of Japanese Literature, Faculty of Letters, Central University of Toyo!

Therefore, he always held literature in high esteem.

I have great admiration and respect for Kitahara Makoto, who has achieved such brilliant success in the literary field at such a young age.

Comparing this to my own life in my thirties, where I have accomplished nothing, I feel even more admiration for him.

"Teacher Kitahara."

"Director Makoto Shinkai, please don't be shy, have a seat..."

Kitahara Makoto stood up and invited Shinkai Makoto to sit down on the sofa.

The secretary brought over the freshly brewed coffee.

Kitahara Makoto said with a smile, "I read your 'She and Her Cat.' Although it was a short read, it was very interesting, and it's clear that the author put a lot of effort into it."

Makoto Shinkai quickly replied, "Thank you for your compliment."

"Actually, I've also read your novels 'No Longer Human' and 'Norwegian Wood,' and I really love both of them. You might not know this, but I majored in literature in college..."

After exchanging a few compliments, seeing that the time was right, Kitahara Makoto got straight to the point.

“Beidouxing Animation is my company. The purpose of inviting you here should have already been explained to Director Makoto Shinkai by my subordinates.”

"What have you thought about it?"

When it came to serious matters, concerning his own dreams, Makoto Shinkai's expression began to turn serious.

"In principle, I am very willing to do this."

"But I don't know exactly what kind of animation you want me to make, Kitahara-sensei?"

Seeing that Makoto Shinkai had taken the bait, Kitahara Makoto smiled inwardly, got up, took a book from the drawer, and handed it to him.

The large white cover had several large characters written on it:

Jun's name

In Chinese, it means: Your Name!

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Thank you so much for the monthly votes, brothers!

Listen to me, thank you... (doge emoji)

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Chapter 51: Bo Ya Meets Zi Qi

"Teacher Kitahara, are you really going to let me film this script?"

In the president's office of Beidouxing Animation.

Makoto Shinkai looked at Makoto Kitahara with excitement and asked.

At this moment, his admiration for Kitahara was like a surging river, endless and boundless.

This notebook is really well written.

It perfectly captured his heart.

It was as if everything was tailor-made for him.

After reading this script.

A thought suddenly occurred to him.

He wants to film this.

You absolutely must take a picture.

I absolutely have to film this!

Otherwise you'll definitely regret it!

Makoto Kitahara was not surprised by Makoto Shinkai's performance.

Because this was originally Makoto Shinkai's own idea.

It would be strange if it didn't fit his aesthetic standards.

Kitahara Shin said with a smile.

"Since I showed you this script, I meant I intended to entrust it to you for production."

"However, because our company is still a small company and we don't have enough manpower, we can only start one project for the time being."

"The company has already started a project called 'How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend'."

"So I hope you'll direct this project first. Once that project is finished, we'll immediately move on to 'Your Name,' and you'll still be the director. I can give you the most authority!"

As a future master of animated films.

Although Makoto Shinkai didn't watch the complete film directly like he did.

However, given Makoto Shinkai's abilities, producing a mere harem romance anime is entirely a piece of cake.

It's like asking Yu Hua to write essays for junior high school students.

Furthermore, Kitahara Makoto had already written all the plot points.

The character designs and everything else are all done.

Given Makoto Shinkai's abilities, it's even less likely that he'll run into problems.

Therefore, he felt very reassured entrusting "Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend" to Makoto Shinkai.

It's a bit of a shame that we couldn't start the project right away.

However, Makoto Shinkai also understands the difficulties of making an excellent anime film.

It requires a lot of human and financial resources.

Moreover, Kitahara Shinya promised him that once this project was completed, "Your Name" would be launched immediately, and he would be the director.

Out of trust in Kitahara Makoto, the 'national writer'.

Makoto Shinkai eventually agreed to take on the job.

Kitahara Shinichi had his secretary bring over the signed contract.

This contract is very lenient; for someone as obscure as Makoto Shinkai, it could even be described as 'luxurious'.

The annual salary is a fixed five million yen, and additional remuneration for projects produced by the production company is calculated separately.

As for projects, the company has its own projects, and he receives a certain percentage of the director's commission.

The company will invest in the projects he develops himself.

As for constraints, there are practically none.

Kitahara knew that even if he wanted to use a high penalty for breach of contract to bind Shinkai Makoto, it wouldn't be possible.

Don't let Makoto Shinkai's lack of fame fool you.

But he is not short of money.

This guy is a genuine rich kid.

The family business is a construction company that has been passed down for nearly a century.

He was also the eldest son in his family.

The person most qualified to succeed as president.

Yes, it's that kind of clichéd template from the entertainment industry where if you can't become famous, you have to go back and inherit a fortune of billions.

So trying to tie him down with a high penalty for breach of contract is simply impossible; he's not short of money, nor is he stupid.

The only way to keep Makoto Shinkai in the company is to respect him, support him, and make him develop an emotional attachment to the company. This is the only long-term solution.

Moreover, considering the value that Makoto Shinkai can create in the future.

Even if he only makes one movie for the company, it would be enough for the company to pay him an annuity for hundreds of years.

The small amount of money he's paying now is nothing compared to the future profits he'll generate; it's simply not worth mentioning.

And even if we could get him to sign a contract with a high penalty for breach of contract right now.

But after "Your Name" was released, he became a household name.

Naturally, the flaws in this contract will become apparent.

They will definitely ask for contract amendments at that time.

If they disagree, then it's a complete falling out, and they'll never speak to each other again.

Rather than falling out later, it's better to relax the conditions now.

Even if they part ways amicably in the end.

It will not affect future cooperation.

Kitahara really doesn't want to lose such a lucrative opportunity as Makoto Shinkai.

Of course, he dared to do this because he knew of Makoto Shinkai's future achievements.

But Makoto Shinkai didn't know that!

When he saw that Kitahara had offered him such a generous contract.

I was completely shocked.

He hadn't expected Kitahara Makoto to value him so much.