"The enemies will still follow a three-stage, step-by-step increase in strength. The first batch will be armored mechanical soldiers, skilled with cold weapons, while also possessing decent long-range suppressive firepower. The second will be a mini-boss. Its image can be based on the spider robot from the original work. As for the third... I'll create an original character. Her identity will be the official heir of the Schnee Dust Company, and also Weiss's older sister. She'll enter the Schnee Dust Company's secret weapon—a pure white sports car-shaped 'RWBY' version of a Transformer."
"As for the mechanical transformation issue, Chinatsu clearly isn't good at this kind of design. In other words, I'll have to handle it personally again."
"The male lead Adam's weapon is a spear, so what kind of ability traits and skills would be cool enough without stealing the spotlight?"
"For the final scene where Blake shoots the arrow from the mountaintop, the shot can use a bullet-time effect that moves from far to near."
Inside his mental space, whenever Kamiyā Yuu conceived something, the things he imagined would simultaneously appear beside him. Sometimes it was the body design of a Transformer, sometimes the change in a particular shot, and sometimes the subtle shift in Blake's eyes as she said farewell. As his thoughts continued, shattered, or reorganized, he constantly refined the details in search of the best result he envisioned.
The high-speed flow of thought made Kamiyā Yuu sink completely into the joy of design. In a daze, more than ten hours passed. The many ideas he had conceived changed endlessly before finally merging into the image closest to the effect he wanted.
······
Another week passed, and many things happened during these busy days.
First was the first expansion of the 'Yosuganosora' Animation Studio. Yūki Chinatsu invited old members from Kyoni Animation Company's former 3D department to join. Because of this, Yūki Chinatsu had no choice but to contribute her "bedroom" and could only sleep in the office she shared with Kamiyā Yuu.
This personnel increase wasn't too troublesome, since they were all veterans and not difficult to teach. In just three days, the three new members became familiar with operating the MAYA 3D modeling software.
Miyauchi Ema was a capable woman with neat, ear-length short hair. In less than three years after joining Kyoni Animation Company's 3D department, she had already earned a good reputation.
Majima Hana was a mature woman with a proud figure, and also the former deputy director of Kyoni Animation Company's 3D department.
Matsuoka Taira was a timid-looking man. Although he appeared unreliable, his learning ability and practical application skills were unexpectedly good.
With these three new members joining, the pressure on Kamiyā Yuu and Yūki Chinatsu finally eased considerably.
Next, Kojima Toshio officially obtained the game licensing rights for 'RWBY' from 'Yosuganosora' Animation Studio at the price of ten million yen, and he was expected to release a small-scale, low-budget game within three months to test the waters.
Finally, Kamiyā Yuu, who had finished the storyboards, published the key visual preview for the third character trailer on Fakebook. In it, the long, straight black-haired version of Blake stood atop a mountain peak, gazing heavily and coldly into the distance as a train departed. The devastated mountains were covered in mechanical wreckage, and countless blood-red maple leaves were swept into the sky by waves of heat.
Once this key visual was released, 'RWBY' fans immediately cheered and were shocked again.
'Yellow—Ashen Paradise' could still be explained as Yosuganosora having stored up material, which was why two animations could be released in such a short span of time. But why had the preview key visual for the third character trailer already come out now? It hadn't even been a week since Christmas. For a studio positioned as a non-professional animation company, this speed was practically rocket-like.
Of course, for them, this was an enormous good thing.
The influence caused by the first two character trailers of 'RWBY' was growing larger and larger, especially since the aftermath of 'Yellow—Ashen Paradise' still had yet to fade. For action lovers, the fight scenes inside were enough for them to rewatch again and again, until every movement was etched into their minds. Every rewatch made their blood boil.
Because of the evaluation from the famous Chinese-American director Long Liu, 'Yellow—Ashen Paradise' had attracted Hollywood's attention. There was even a well-known Hollywood animation company that had already extended an olive branch to Kamiyā Yuu.
The use of lens effects and action design in 'Yellow—Ashen Paradise' shocked many professionals in the film and television industry. If animation could already possess such expressive power, what would happen if these shots were used in a movie?
At this point, the growth in the number of fans for the 'RWBY' series stabilized. Those who cared about this field had long since followed 'RWBY', while those who didn't care about it simply had no contact with 'RWBY' at all.
Therefore, compared to the tsunami-like impact the first two works had created on Fakebook's animation section, the influence of the third character key visual seemed relatively calm.
Was this a bad thing?
No.
Because this meant that 'RWBY' had officially built up its own foundation and found its own target audience.
······
"So that's the president of 'Yosuganosora', Mr. Kamiyā Yuu. I heard the first 'RWBY' character trailer, 'Red—Crescent Rose', was entirely produced by him alone. No wonder he can open an animation studio."
New member Matsuoka Taira watched Kamiyā Yuu's back disappear after passing by, then quietly started a conversation with Miyauchi Ema beside him. During this week, the 'Yosuganosora' Animation Studio had already given him countless surprises.
Miyauchi Ema, who was still rendering the maple forest scenery for 'Black—Leaping Shadow', stopped her work. After stretching her body, she sighed.
"I know him. Before Kyoni Animation Company dissolved, he was just an ordinary member of the key animation department. Well~ leaving aside the 3D animation side, what truly surprised me is this MAYA 3D modeling software developed by the president. Do you know what this software means?"
Matsuoka Taira hesitated for a moment, then awkwardly laughed and answered:
"Uh... this software really is easy to use."
"Blockhead." Miyauchi Ema glared at him and commented.
At that moment, the mature woman Majima Hana, who was typing while drinking coffee on the other side, glanced at Matsuoka Taira and said calmly:
"The functions of this 3D modeling software are extremely complete. Its overall rating is far higher than the mainstream 3D modeling software currently in use. If the president were willing to release this software publicly, forget 3D animation—the film and television special effects industry would also be shaken by it. In terms of value, this software alone would be enough for the president to enter the ranks of billionaires."
Matsuoka Taira opened his mouth in shock. He had never known that the software he was using possessed such tremendous value.
Miyauchi Ema pondered and said:
"The president really is mysterious. Speaking of which, did you all read the storyboards and detailed proposal the president handed out yesterday?"
Matsuoka Taira's face instantly lit up with excitement.
"Ahh! Of course I read them! The president's key animation skills are really impressive. Those storyboards are less like storyboards and more like key visuals. Honestly, I was really moved! Just the key visuals alone were enough to make me completely absorbed, especially the final sequence where the car transforms into a robot. The president drew that part in extreme detail! It was so precise that every single component could be seen clearly. I studied just that section for several hours yesterday. I really don't know how the president thought up the transformations of all those parts. I'm one of the fans of 'RWBY', and just from seeing these storyboard key visuals, I already know the finished third work definitely won't be much worse than the first two!"
Miyauchi Ema nodded.
"I'm currently responsible for the scene model arrangement and rendering that the president mentioned. Thankfully, this huge project has the help of the MAYA 3D modeling software. Otherwise, I don't even know if I could finish the task in half a year."
Majima Hana shook her head and laughed.
"Looking at it this way, Kyoni Animation Company dissolving wasn't entirely a bad thing. At least it allowed us to come here. Work, work. If we keep chatting, we won't be able to keep up with the progress the president requested. Hasn't the president already started planning the storyboards for the fourth work? We can't slack off either, or the one who loses face will be Chinatsu."
"Why isn't Chinatsu in the same office as us?" Miyauchi Ema complained.
Majima Hana exchanged a smile with her.
"After all, she's such a cute mascot."