He asked Takuya several questions regarding the animation's expressive style, target audience, and budget scale.
"Nakayama-san," Ooba Jutarou's voice broke the silence of the conference room, "What kind of style do you hope this animation will present?"
"Is it a realistic fighting style, or an exaggerated expression leaning towards superpowers?" he continued to press, his gaze sharp.
Takuya answered without hesitation: "I hope this animation can both show the realism of fighting and incorporate some superpower elements, like abilities derived from fighting techniques and bloodline inheritance."
"What about the target audience?" Ooba asked again.
"Mainly teenagers, but we also hope to attract a wider audience." Takuya's tone conveyed confidence.
"From Sega's side, how much budget is planned for the production of this animation?" Ooba's gaze still hadn't left Takuya.
"Sega is willing to invest 220 million Japanese Yen to produce the first 13 episodes." Takuya's voice was firm, showing his emphasis on this project.
After hearing this, Ooba Jutarou's anticipation turned into joy. He nodded, clearly satisfied with the project's potential and Sega's investment. "Nakayama-san, I am very interested in this project. If Sega trusts my ability, I am willing to serve as the Director of this animation."
Takuya's heart swelled with joy, and a smile appeared on his face. "That's great, Director Ooba, with your participation, I believe this animation will be incredibly exciting."
Just then, Kurumada Masami rushed in, holding several newly drawn sketches, his face full of excitement. "Nakayama-san!" He practically ran to the conference table, his voice tinged with urgency, "I've decided! I'll take on the character design for the fatal fury animation!"
He spread several drawing papers on the table. On the paper were several character sketches, with wild lines and hurried brushstrokes, outlining figures dressed in strange armor-like equipment, striking highly dynamic fighting poses, with traces of energy seemingly flowing around them. Although extremely rough, that familiar aura was clearly the shadow of the future saint seiya.
He looked at Takuya with burning eyes, filled with the excitement of finding a breakthrough. "Your settings, especially the concepts about the 'essence of power' and how to visualize it, are simply...enlightening! It enlightened me, showing me a brand new direction, perhaps allowing me to express something I've always wanted to but couldn't grasp!" He nodded forcefully, "It's not just about fighting, it's something deeper, a manifestation of will, a...source of power!"
"Thank you very much!"
Takuya's heart was churning. Good heavens, he just wanted to make a fatal fury animation, but it seemed like he inadvertently ignited the inspiration for saint seiya? This butterfly effect was a bit too...exciting. He secretly clicked his tongue, this was truly an unexpected surprise.
He showed a look of pleasant surprise and genuine honor. "To bring even a tiny bit of inspiration to Caruda Teacher's new concept is an honor for our project. Your participation, for fatal fury, your settings will definitely be the finishing touch!"
He turned to Ooba Jutarou, who merely nodded slightly, his gaze behind his glasses sweeping over Caruda's sketches, then returning to the design drafts Takuya provided, seemingly evaluating how his style and Kurumada Masami's character art style could be integrated. "Caruda Teacher's enthusiasm makes one full of anticipation for the final visual presentation." His tone was calm, yet also conveyed a hint of recognition for the strong collaboration.
"Then," Takuya struck while the iron was hot, looking at the two masters, "is the cooperation intention initially agreed upon?"
"I have no problem." Ooba Jutarou answered decisively.
"Of course!" Kurumada Masami was already somewhat eager to go back and continue refining his new ideas.
The hands of the three parties clasped together, symbolizing the preliminary establishment of this heavyweight cooperation framework.
Suzuki stood by, feeling somewhat unreal. He looked at the excessively young Takuya Nakayama in front of him, and with just a few words, in the time it took for a meal, he had pulled two animation industry giants, with completely different styles and who were not easily persuaded, onto Sega's war chariot? And seeing Caruda Teacher's excited expression, it seemed the inspiration he gained was absolutely extraordinary. Suzuki felt he was just a "lying-win dog" this time.
The meeting drew to a close in an excited and harmonious atmosphere. Subsequent matters such as contract drafting and communication of creative details would naturally be followed up by a specialized team.
Takuya stood up, smiling broadly as he saw off the two masters. He knew that for the "K" project, he had successfully leveraged two of the most crucial and weighty external engines. This first battle was won beautifully.
North America, Redmond, Washington, Nintendo of America Headquarters.
The summer sun cut alternating light and shadow patterns on the long conference table through the blinds, but it couldn't dispel the low pressure in the air.
Minoru Arakawa sat at the head of the table, his face as gloomy as the thunderstorm clouds outside the window. His gaze was like a knife, piercing directly at the Market Department manager in front of him. The manager lowered his head, his voice hoarse, as if every word carried a heavy burden.
"President, several mainstream media outlets recently... have started questioning our publicity strategy." The manager spoke cautiously, afraid of angering his strict superior.
"They believe that defining the NES as a 'Family Entertainment System' is deliberately avoiding the term 'game console,' and is suspected of misleading consumers." He paused, then continued: "Some commentary articles even directly pointed out that this is a... deceptive promotion."
"Deceptive?" Minoru Arakawa suddenly looked up, his eyes sharp as knives, as if able to penetrate all falsehood.
"Bang!" He slammed his fist on the table, making the water in the cup slosh. Anger surged in his heart, "A bunch of bastards!"
The manager's voice grew lower and lower, almost not daring to look into Minoru Arakawa's eyes. Minoru Arakawa's anger was like a volcano about to erupt, "To avoid the negative impact of the Atari shock, we packaged the NES as a brand new, harmless home entertainment device. Now, they are actually using words like 'deception' to describe our efforts!"
He stood up, leaning his hands on the table, his voice low but full of authority, "What do they want? Do they want the NES to fail in North America?"
"Get moving immediately!" He pointed at the Market Department manager, his tone resolute, "At all costs, suppress these negative voices!"
"Contact those media outlets, give them money, and make them shut up!" Minoru Arakawa's eyes flickered with a ruthless light, "Increase GG Delivery! We will use overwhelming propaganda to tell everyone what the NES is! What it can bring!"
At the same time, San Francisco, Sega of America Headquarters.
David Rosen's office seemed much calmer. He leaned back in his large leather chair, listening to his subordinate report on the troubles Nintendo was encountering, a slight smile playing on his lips, as if watching a good show.
"Oh? The reports we pushed were bought off?" He slowly repeated, his fingers gently tapping the armrest, seemingly pondering something.
"Yes, sir. I contacted some media outlets, and they hinted that 'Nintendo paid too much.'" The subordinate replied respectfully.
David Rosen nodded slightly, a hint of calculation flashing in his eyes, "Minoru Arakawa is still too young. He thinks he can solve everything with money, how naive."
He leaned back in his chair, the smile on his lips becoming more pronounced, as if anticipating the dramatic developments to come. Nintendo's predicament was their opportunity to rise. He secretly calculated how to seize the opportunity and win in this competition.
Can money solve problems?
Nintendo tried to numb the market with the sugar-coated bullet of "entertainment system," but underestimated the media's keen sense and even more, the deep scars left by the Atari shock.