The King of Huayu Science Fiction

Chapter 314 Skyhawk Warrior
Xu Wenshen did not pay much attention to the animated film "Your Name". As the CEO of DreamWorks, although he was also a senior producer, he still pays more attention to commercial success.

Whether it is to acquire Tianhe Animation and merge it into China, or to start these animation projects, it is Chen Jingxing's decision alone. He himself does not think much of the commercial value of animation.

Even last year, "Battleship", "Evolution" and "Star God II" all achieved very rare commercial success-this is almost the first time in the domestic non-sub-supplied animation field, but this profit is still far away. It is far inferior to live-action film and television dramas. Of course, with the development of peripheral authorization, especially books and toys, there are still a lot of income. Up to now, the three animation dramas have earned more than [-] million in peripheral copyright and authorization. .

Compared with the "low" production costs of these three animated series-the lowness here is of course compared to other DreamWorks film and television dramas, not compared with the investment of other animation companies-especially it is equivalent to disguised Three animation IPs have been developed. Judging from the current and long-term income, the profit margin is indeed very considerable.

However, animated films are relatively uneconomical, especially 2D animated films. The production cost is much higher than that of animated series, but the upper limit of box office is extremely low.

At present, in the domestic film market, the highest-grossing 2D animation film is only in the early 2 million, and it is still a very well-known animation theater version of Dongying. It is equivalent to the top stream in the animation circle, but it is nothing more than that. Anime fans simply cannot afford it. At the box office, passers-by have a firm stereotype of animation, and the stereotype of [-]D animation will double.

For Chen Jingxing's dedication to the animation field, Xu Wenshen can only attribute it to the fact that his boss may really have feelings. Domestic films have made rapid progress under the leadership of DreamWorks in the past two years. The only thing that has not made much progress is the animation films. , he felt that Chen Jingxing might have some kind of "savior complex".

Therefore, although Xu Wenshen was full of praise for this movie on the surface, he regretted it in his heart. He felt that if "Your Name" was a live-action movie instead of a 2D animation, the box office potential would be several times higher.

With such a regretful mood, he agrees with Xu Sheng's idea of ​​"taking advantage of the IP popularity of "Signal"". Since the box office of animation-themed movies is limited, he should try to add as many buffs as possible. up.

Moreover, "Your Name" is indeed the type of "Signal" in terms of story structure and sci-fi setting. It just replaces the intercom or TV communication between two time and space with "dream", or swaps bodies, But the essence is still the same, and it is similar to "Mirage".

It's just that in "Mirage", the future heroine saves the little boy from the past, and turns out to be her husband.

"Your Name" is about the hero of the future saving the heroine of the past, and then saving and becoming a lover.

That kind of romantic and fresh love is also very similar to "Mirage", if the horror and crime plots in the early and mid-term of "Mirage" are removed.

However, Chen Jingxing did not agree with this proposal that seemed beneficial to the box office results.

"It's not appropriate. The setting of crossing time and space is actually a big easter egg in "Your Name". It is the same as the identity of the policeman in "Mirage". He is closely related to the movie-watching experience we can bring to the audience. Just try not to spoil it." Chen Jingxing was still very insistent on this point, of course, this was also the reason why DreamWorks was not short of money, which could give him "willful" capital.

Xu Wenshen persuaded: "Boss, animation films have little appeal in our country's market. The production cost of "Your Name" is more than 5000 million. It is not easy for a 2D animation film to get a box office of 1.5 million. What's more, this is not a well-known IP. If it is the theatrical version of "Star God", I would not worry about it. "Your Name" is an original animation film..."

Xu Wenshen is actually not worried about the loss itself. Even if he lost 5000 million yuan, he would not blink his eyes. Dreamworks just sent out 5000 million yuan in red envelopes.

However, it would be a pity that Dreamworks Films' glorious record of never losing money would come to an end.

In particular, DreamWorks has already started to promote the IPO work in Hong Kong. A DreamWorks film, even if it is just an animation hit the box office, will have some impact, and the negative impact may be far greater than 5000 million.

The IPO scale of DreamWorks is likely to create a record for Huaguo Film and Television and even media companies. The fundraising will be at least 40 billion, which is actually very restrained. Chen Jingxing does not want to release too much equity, and the market value will be at least Tens of billions of levels.

It's best not to have any money-losing movie projects before completing the IPO.

"I didn't expect anime fans to support the box office. It doesn't matter if it's IP or not." Of course, Chen Jingxing had a comprehensive consideration: "The announcement of "Your Name" can be a romance movie."

The promotion of "Mirage" is the main science fiction setting, and love is an easter egg.

And "Your Name" focuses on love, and the sci-fi setting that spans time and space is an easter egg.

Chen Jingxing didn't expect other people to open his eyes, so he could only be arbitrary: "Don't keep staring at the box office of animation lovers, my goal is not just [-] to [-] million. If you want to eat, you can eat the box office of romance movies. I think this The movie will be scheduled until Qixi Festival!"

"Qixi Festival? Are you too nervous?" Xu Sheng was a little worried.

This year's Qixi Festival is on August 8th. If you want to consider the release on the weekend, you have to advance to August 9th. It is only half a month away from now, and there are three love movies for Qixi Festival, plus "Your Name," as well as the summer movies themselves, are overcrowded.

Even Xu Sheng, who has never been a producer, feels that this is almost equivalent to suicide. He is not worried that the hit of the movie "Your Name" will affect DreamWorks or Mo, but it is Mo's first independent production. Animated movies, even if they can't make a lot of money, it's better not to lose money.

"Whether it's crowded or not depends on the quality of the movie. Isn't the Spring Festival this year crowded? Those movies that are scheduled for Qixi Festival don't mean they can get the box office of Qixi Festival." Chen Jingxing said confidently.

He really doesn’t pay much attention to these so-called love movies in China that focus on sadness and feeding shit to the audience. A romance movie of the quality of "Love in Seattle" has been seen for several years, and it is scheduled for Qixi Festival. Several romance films have already entered the publicity, and he has learned about them one by one, and he has no worries at all.

Even if Chen Jingxing has become the boss of a film company, he still can't figure out why the domestic film studios are so keen on releasing tragic movies on Valentine's Day, not to mention amnesia, everyone has cancer, and those without cancer are car accidents and other accidents. Every film basically has a tragic ending. Either life or death is separated or the whole army is wiped out. Does the producer have a grudge against the couple?
Or rely on the just-needed consumption of couples watching movies on Valentine's Day, and have nothing to fear?
Since domestic filmmakers love to feed shit to couples so much, don't blame me for using "Your Name" to reduce dimensionality.

Chen Jingxing's decision is equivalent to an "imperial decree" in DreamWorks. Xu Wenshen didn't care if he couldn't be persuaded. Although the time for announcement was tight, he didn't feel too much pressure. schedule.

Other films that have already been scheduled for Qixi Festival will definitely scold DreamWorks for its sudden airborne landing, but that’s all. No one will avoid it. After all, who would avoid a cartoon?Even if this animated film is produced by DreamWorks.

After the "acceptance" of "Your Name", Chen Jingxing learned about the progress of another animation film "The Return of the Great Sage". This 3D animation is the animation film that Mo has invested most of his resources and energy in. 1.3 The production cost of [-] million is considered the highest-invested animation in domestic history, and this cost is considered a big production in a live-action movie.

The production of "The Return of the Great Sage" is also going well, and it is expected to be completed by the end of August.

This means that most of Mo's manpower and resources will be vacated. With the newly recruited employees this year, Mo's computer animation department seems to be the largest animation team in China.

Xu Sheng is actually worried about the expansion task that Chen Jingxing has never called to stop. At present, there are nearly 400 employees in the computer animation department in Mo alone. With so many talents, he is afraid that there will not be enough projects to digest. The newly recruited employees have been idle for a long time because they missed the project team formation of "Your Name" and "The Return of the Great Sage".

Regarding Xu Sheng's worries, Chen Jingxing came this time to reassure him.

Chen Jingxing brought four projects in one go this time, which will definitely allow Mo's current manpower to move at full capacity, and even continue to expand.

The first is the animation series. After the development of the two animations "Battleship" and "Evolution", it seems that this road can be passed. As long as the cost is well controlled, animation series can also be profitable on the video platform.

""Skyhawk Warrior"? "Special Investigation Team"?"

Wu Han, the director of the animation project team of "Your Name", looked at the thin script Chen Jingxing took out, as well as some mecha design drawings and some weird concept drawings, and expressed doubts: ""Skyhawk Warrior" looks like a subcontractor. animation?"

Chen Jingxing has made so many movies, and the level of storyboards has been improved a lot. Although a master animator like Wu Han still looks amateurish, the sense of design is still good, and he can see at a glance that each The characteristics of the design drawing.

From the concept map, it looks like the animation theme of mecha or summoning mecha. This kind of theme is not uncommon at home and abroad. There are similar low-quality 3D works in China, such as summoning warriors and armored warriors, most of which are subcontractors. The animation, coupled with the name Skyhawk Warrior, is quite visual.

He naturally doesn't like to make sub-directed animations, and it seems that Chen Jingxing doesn't like to make sub-directed animations. Last year's "Battleship" and "Evolution" illustrate this point. "Cosmic Super Battleship" is the first This is called by many netizens and film critics as the first work in China to discuss serious propositions with animation themes.

for money?It's even more impossible. It's true that it's not difficult for the sub-supply animation to make a profit. Maybe his former employer, Tianhe Animation, will be greedy, but DreamWorks may not be interested in this little money.

Chen Jingxing replied with a smile: "It looks like, um, it sounds like it, but it's really not. These two are science fiction themes. Since others think that we can use animation to discuss serious propositions, then we will naturally have to make persistent efforts."

(End of this chapter)