The literary era since 1979

After several days of consideration and discussion, Shangmei Film Studio finally agreed to the investment cooperation plan for "Spirited Away".

However, when it came to the specific investment amount, Yan Dingxian looked embarrassed and was too shy to speak.

"Teacher Fang, you know our Shangmei factory well."

"Even if the yen depreciates significantly in the second half of the year as you said, our factory's current financial situation will not allow us to take out much money and we can only borrow money from the bank. This may affect the daily operation of the factory next year and even prevent us from completing the animation production task targets."

"According to Director Yan's opinion?"

Fangyan also has an idea of ​​this.

"We know that this may be a bit excessive, but we really can't think of any other way."

Yu Dajin said with a stiff upper lip: "Can you please help Shangmei Factory again?"

"What do you want me to do? Individuals or private enterprises are not allowed to lend money to state-owned units."

Fangyan mistakenly thought that Yan Dingxian and others hoped that he could step in and get one or two loans to Shangmei Factory to solve its urgent problems.

Yu Dajin said: "No, we hope that Mr. Fang will create a script for an animated film for the Shanghai Animation Studio."

Fangyan raised his eyebrows and smiled without saying anything.

Yan Dingxian took Hasbro's "Transformers" as an example. Shanghai Animation Studios is also preparing to launch a long-form animated series and earn generous copyright fees from the broadcasting rights. However, if this cartoon is produced by a dialect, the price of a single episode will not be as cheap as five or six thousand yuan, and may even double it.

"95 episodes? I can't write a script that long."

Fangyan refused without thinking.

"No, no, it doesn't need to be as long as Transformers, about 30 episodes or so."

There was a hint of humility and urgency in Yu Dajin's tone.

Seeing Fangyan remained silent, Yan Dingxian gritted his teeth and explained that the Shanghai Animation Studio had previously been producing cartoons with 10 to 15 episodes, such as "Calabash Brothers", "Shuke and Beta", and "Black Cat Sheriff", which all had very high ratings and reputation.

However, due to limitations in production capacity and quantity, these popular cartoons failed to generate enough profit for the Shanghai Animation Studio.

"So you are planning to follow the example of Transformers and Astro Boy and expand the number of episodes to more than 30, right?"

Fangyan touched his chin.

"Yes, we are also planning to apply the Japanese animation production model that Teacher Fang taught us to this cartoon."

Yu Dajin said that the previous production model of the Shanghai Animation Studio was to complete the animation from start to finish before selling and broadcasting it. Now they plan to set up a special animation working group at the Shanghai Animation Studio to trial run the "weekly update" model, which can both keep pace with international standards and train the art team.

"Have you thought about what subject you want to do?"

Fangyan looked around, "Martial arts, science fiction, adventure, fantasy..."

"Martial Arts!"

Yan Dingxian directly stated the conclusion reached by Shangmei Factory after a long discussion.

Yu Dajin added that although the martial arts craze today is not as strong as it was in the early 80s, martial arts novels are still the best-selling genre in popular literature. There are a large number of martial arts fans across the country, from the elderly to children. This is the potential market potential of martial arts animation.

"So you guys are interested in "Xuan-Yuan Sword"?"

The dialect is neither a smile nor a joke.

Everyone looked at each other, with more or less embarrassment on their faces.

Yan Dingxian coughed a few times to cover up, "To be honest with Mr. Fang, we did think about adapting Xuan-Yuan Sword at the beginning, but we gave up in the end because the style of Xuan-Yuan Sword is not what Shanghai Animation Studio is good at, nor is it the style of Shanghai Animation Studio."

Fangyan was amused. "Director Yan is right. Animation and comics are twin flowers, with the same roots but different styles. Comics use static images to show the storyline and artistic style, while animation uses dynamic images and rich colors to create visual effects. Both have their merits and there is no distinction between good and bad. However, if we want to adapt comics into animations, we must not only respect the original plot, but also respect and inherit the original style of painting." Yu Dajin said, "We gave up on "Xuan-Yuan Sword" because of this consideration."

"Besides Xuan-Yuan Sword, is there nothing else in the Fairy Tale World or Anime World that you like?"

Fangyan gave a playful smile.

"We are also interested in Ma Rongcheng's "Wind and Cloud".

Yan Dingxian said that apart from the painting style that is inconsistent with that of American studios, the current content of the "Feng Yun" comics is not yet sufficient for animation.

Yu Dajin helplessly and feebly asked: "Teacher Fang, I wonder if you can help Shangmei Factory? Help us?"

Faced with the people's burning gazes as if they were looking at a life-saving straw, Fang Yan did not agree to take action. After all, his appearance fee was very expensive.

The current situation of the above-mentioned American factories is definitely not something they can afford, and domestic policies and systems do not allow them to enjoy the right to profit from cartoons.

However, he did not completely refuse, but handed the business over to the company and to Zheng Yuanjie, Wang Shuo and others.

Especially Yu Hua, he participated in writing many cartoons in his previous life, such as "The Magic Chef Xiao Fugui", "The Adventures of Qiqi and Keke"...

Of course, Fang Yan has already thought of completing the martial arts animation "Legend of the Seven Heroes of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit" requested by Shanghai Animation Studio.

"This……"

Yan Dingxian, Yu Dajin and others looked at each other, full of doubts.

"Don't worry, I will be the chief screenwriter and will control the outline and direction of the script."

Dialects speak out their bottom line.

Everyone present had no objection. After all, they were not related to each other, and it was the utmost that Teacher Fang could do by doing this.

"If you agree, please send a representative to come with me to Yanjing."

Fang Yan said: "Sit down with Yu Hua, Wang Shuo, Yuan Jie and others to discuss what kind of martial arts cartoon to write."

"I'll go!"

As the head of the animation business department of Shanghai Animation Studio, Yu Dajin stepped forward and volunteered.

Yan Dingxian cast an admiring look and said, "Then Director Yu, please trouble me to go to Yanjing with Teacher Fang."

………………

After leaving Shangmei Factory, I did not go home immediately, but took a detour to the post office.

Fang Yan made a phone call to the villa in Repulse Bay. If nothing unexpected happened, the person who answered the phone was Gong Xing, who had already returned to Hong Kong.

Gong Xing's tone was filled with a hint of resentment, "You, a busy man, finally thought of calling me."

"Miss me?"

Fang Yan smiled and said, "I will go back to Hong Kong in a few days."

Gong Xing hummed, "It just so happens that the editing of In the Mood for Love is almost finished. I'll wait for you to come back and watch it together to see what needs to be changed."

"Okay!" Fangyan reminded Gong Xing and the others to prepare for "In the Mood for Love" to be exhibited at this year's Venice Film Festival.

Seeing Gong Xing chatting enthusiastically with Fang Yan on the other end of the phone, Zhu Lin sighed quietly, with an inexplicable sadness between his brows. (End of this chapter)