Tokyo Sound

Kigami Yoshiharu calmed down and slowly flipped through the pages. Although there were quite a few pages, he finished reading them quickly. However, the old painter did not say anything but read them again from the beginning. He read them three times in silence. When reviewing the drawings, he exuded the majesty and seriousness of an old senior, which made people dare not offend him.

When Master Yin saw that the other party was silent with a frown on his face, he immediately thought of the Party A representatives and department managers who came to check the results. This situation was so similar that he couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

If there were any problems with the specifications, they should have been pointed out when looking at the first 10 pictures.

He hasn't said anything for such a long time... Could it be that the quality is poor, causing this old painter who always talks to him in a friendly manner to wonder in his heart how to say it in a more tactful and less hurtful way?

The man's expression turned serious. He tried hard to recall whether he had been slacking off last night. He dug up that experience in the Corridor of Life and reviewed it quickly. In the end, he admitted that he had been a little lazy during the process, but he did not perform badly.

"You..." Kigami Yoshiharu finally spoke slowly, his eyes were extremely sharp, "How long did it take?"

"Two, two hours?" Master Yin said cautiously, and at the same time glanced at Taishi Nishiya who was standing next to him, trying to get some details from the expression of this brother who had the temperament of a college roommate.

And Taishi Nishiya's expression was also very serious, with the corners of his mouth tight, clearly showing his attitude as if he had encountered something unusual.

Are the standards of the animation industry so high?

Master Yin felt surprised and bitter at the same time. He never expected that with Schrödinger's Corridor of Life by his side, he could understand the essence of classics and reach the realm he had always dreamed of. However, he still stumbled because of a moment of carelessness.

I was too arrogant. I should have made full preparations, such as starting with analyzing Ukiyo-e, and then going down the stream and delving into the core of Japanese art.

"It only took two hours?" Kigami Yoshiji asked in a teacher's questioning tone, similar to the way a teacher explains a typical wrong question.

Yin Ze sat upright, ready to admit defeat. He was not a naturally rebellious person. On the contrary, he had walked step by step. On the road of painting, no one can be carried away by success. There is no excuse or cover-up, because this wandering road of art does not sympathize with tears, and it is all about the works.

"Sorry, I should have polished it more carefully..." The man lowered his head.

"It only took you two hours? Normally, this should be four hours of work." Yoshiharu Kigami said quickly.

"?"

"Are you sure it's two hours?" Kigami Yoshiji frowned and asked urgently, "Did you remember the time wrong?"

"Well, that should be correct." Yin Ze scratched his head. There were two variety shows playing on the computer, each lasting an hour.

“That’s really amazing.”

After getting a definite reply, Yoshiharu Kigami slowly stroked the paper with his hand, and his words showed his satisfaction at seeing beautiful things and excellent descendants.

"…The movements are truly soulful, the lines seem to be breathing. Manuscripts like this are not common."

"Yeah." Nishiya Taishi also nodded in agreement and said admiringly, "I feel a lot of pressure to hand in such a finished product in almost half the time. You are worthy of being the excellent employee who made Mr. Yoshida Tomoki say, 'Maybe you can make one more episode after you finish it.'"

"I'm not a member of AQUARE ENIX." Yin Ze said again. He felt that Yoshida-san's intentions were known to everyone, and he was going to do something despicable, and by telling everyone that he was his subordinate, he turned himself into an active naturalized person!

"I know, I know. You've resigned." Kigami Yoshiharu said he understood.

"I have never held office..." Yin Ze said.

"That doesn't matter. Do you have any thoughts on changing jobs? Going from game art to animation is not really a career change. You can still make full use of your talents. I am one of the directors and can offer you a better salary package for someone with the same qualifications. Of course, it may not be comparable to AQUARE ENIX."

Mugami Yoshiharu spoke patiently and persuadingly.

"But working in a big company isn't always smooth, right? The huge profits mean that the power structure there is complicated, and even technical talents will inevitably encounter some unhappy things. But Kyoto Animation is very simple and has a harmonious atmosphere. You are young and suitable for exploring your own possibilities. You should seriously consider it."

"Let's finish the commission on hand first..." Yin Ze found that the old man was sincere in saying these words, and decided not to reveal the fact that his current company is I'm Enterprise for the time being.

"Okay, this is a good opportunity to do some work here, get a feel for it first, and then talk about the future." Kigami Yoshiji nodded and said, "If you have any questions later, just ask Taizhi. I'll help you with today's accommodation problem. Can you stay here for the next few days? Otherwise, although the Shinkansen is fast, it's too tiring to travel seamlessly."

Master Yin did not object. He came here today specifically for the painting of Hyouka, and there was no conflict in his schedule. He did not have any voice acting work at the moment. So according to the original plan, he will record his own drawings on the set in Tokyo soon...

"You sit here for a while, we'll talk after dinner later." After saying this, Yoshiji Kigami left the studio and went to find a familiar friend at a nearby B&B. His brisk steps showed the old man's happy mood.

"I still have some unfinished business over there. Teacher Yin, if you have anything to say, don't mind. Come upstairs to find me. My workstation is behind the fourth row." Nishiya Taizhi lost his shyness and said, "There are free snacks here. You can have some if you are free. There are also special magazines for you to read."

"Okay, go ahead and do your work. I'm fine. I can still play Fleet Collect on my phone." Yin Ze lowered his head and signed the contract first.

"Are you playing too? Add me as a friend later?" Taishi Nishiya was surprised.

"Okay, okay." Yin Ze agreed happily.

"That game is good. It's becoming more and more popular. I heard that there was a guy who used dark alchemy to decompose a destroyer to get a guaranteed bonus. But it was seamlessly fixed by the official, and the operation is still going well. Don't you think it's interesting?" Taishi Nishiya said with a kind smile and went upstairs to work.

"..."

Master Yin opened the fleet collection with an indescribable feeling and began the routine collection of expedition resources.

More than ten minutes later.

The pocket-sized automatic glass door opened, and a man walked in carrying a bag of energy drinks. His dark circles were very conspicuous, and he exuded a determination to never give up, as if he was going to fight to the death with the villain in the next second. He started with the domineering and fearless attitude of a man as long as heaven and earth.

"Hey, isn't this Wu Ben-san? How come you've turned into a panda after not seeing you for a few days?" Yin Ze raised his hand to greet him.

The soldier with dark circles under his eyes turned his head and was stunned when he saw a familiar figure curled up on the sofa, playing with his mobile phone.

half an hour.

"I must have been too tired from working overtime, so I had hallucinations. Not only did I see other people's illusions, but I also heard voices that shouldn't exist." Takemoto Yasuhiro looked sad. "I should get some sleep after this."

"You're not mistaken, I'm alive." Yin Ze was speechless.

Yasuhiro Takemoto was unmoved. He rubbed his eyes as if he had seen a ghost, then walked forward doubtfully, touched the man's face, feeling the real body temperature and touch, but was finally defeated. He deflated like a punctured ball and collapsed on the sofa.

"It's over. Even the voice actors have come from Tokyo to my house to urge me to come." The director's tone was empty. "It's over. Kyoto Animation's reputation will start to fall apart from me..."

"Don't worry, I'm just here to help. There will be absolutely no problem this time." Yin Ze couldn't help but cheer.

"It's over, it's completely over. Even the main character has been affected and has gone insane. A voice actor stopped reading the script and instead read the Berriman human body structure book and took the initiative to draw."

The supervisor's figure gradually became transparent and his voice became vague.

"I am the biggest sinner since the company was founded. Now that this is over, I will become a dark history in the company's history."

"..."

Chapter 45 The next spring will come as promised

Young people are wondering when the new tomorrow will begin, while office workers are wondering when the old today will end.

After a fulfilling day, the town was still quiet at dinner time, except for a few elderly people who were out for a walk, and short-legged dogs followed them, wagging their tails. The sky gradually darkened, and then the lights of thousands of houses came on.

The restaurant was busy at dinner time, the range hood continued to make noises, the chef with a big head and thick neck was wielding the wok like a master, and there was laughter and joy in the front hall.

"Boss, I'll give you 10 skewers of the same stuff on the order." The way Takemoto Yasuhiro raised his hand and shouted looked like a business tycoon who doubled the price at an auction, extremely elegant and dignified.

"So generous? That's too expensive. You can't finish if you order too much. Just order as you go." Yin Ze advised kindly and decided to eat as much as he wanted.

"It's okay. There are only two kinds of skewers in this restaurant." Takemoto Yasuhiro remained calm. "Four more grilled cod and a refreshing beer."

"The dark circles under your eyes already have the texture of smoky makeup. Since you are not in a good mood, you should not drink." Yin Ze still chose to be kind.

"It's okay, it's just a few drinks. And since the construction period is not a problem, I can put my mind at ease and sleep soundly."

When talking about this, Yasuhiro Takemoto sighed repeatedly.

"I never thought you were the 'Yin Ze' that has been discussed recently in the game art circle, a practical person who can change Yoshitaka Amano's mismatched products into perfect products, who can undertake the design of styles and produce hundreds of UI icons per month. You have several large perspective compositions, which I have also admired. However, such a skilled old tripe who has been boiled in a hot pot, but no one in the industry knows his origins, which is really strange... It's a bit like a user nicknamed Master suddenly logging into a Go platform and rising up the rankings."

"Haha, is there really an ancient soul coming back to life and writing?"

"Why, how could that be, haha."

"I have never paid attention to the disturbances of the secular world, but now that I have mentioned it, I would like to ask all the masters how they praised me?" Yin Ze pretended to be reserved but actually enjoyed it. "Don't be shy, please repeat it boldly!"

"Some people guess that you are an academic genius who just returned from overseas, some people say that this is a pseudonym used by low-key people in major European and American companies, and some people say that you are actually the ACE of AQUARE ENIX's other regional branches and were sent here to lend a helping hand." said Yasuhiro Takemoto.

"Who spread the last rumor?" Yin Ze frowned.

"This kind of secret is naturally accessible to AQUARE ENIX internal employees, so it should be your colleague. Although I am surprised, I can also feel at ease. There is a legend in your circle that you create 120 man-days a month. Even if you give a discount and count it as 90, it will already make the boss happy and the project manager ecstatic." Although Yasuhiro Takemoto still felt surprised, he felt at ease.

"So you are the famous 'Yin Ze'." Nishiya Taizhi, who was sitting next to him, suddenly realized, "Several cartoonists I follow have also retweeted your account."

"...Boss, add 20 more skewers of each kind on the list." The man raised his hand.

"Aren't you worried that you won't be able to finish it?" asked Yasuhiro Takemoto.

"I can pack it up." The man said calmly. He felt that the world's evaluation of him seemed a little distorted, and he could only use this way to express his hurt.

He actually cares more about fearless work efficiency than extraordinary talent. How abominable!

"Beer is here." The turbaned waiter came over with a tray and said familiarly, "Animei-san, how are you today?"

"The situation is very good." At this moment, Takemoto Yasuhiro was like Cao Cao who had obtained the Guan Yu experience card. He was in high spirits and felt that there was no formation that he could not charge into.

"Really? Come on! My nephew follows your animation every day, and he hopes there will be more campus romance between the hero and heroine." The waiter presented the delicious grilled chicken skewers.

"I'll think about it carefully."

"Oh, thank you for your hard work."

It is always happy and relaxing to have a drink with trustworthy people. The glasses filled with beer sway under the light and make crisp clinking sounds.

"Do the residents nearby know you?" Yin Ze held up a skewer and finished it in a few bites. He didn't eat anything on the Shinkansen today.

"Maybe it's because most of our company are young people who can't sit still and are always doing some activities. In winter, we will make simple decorations for the studio, put on colorful lights and hold singing parties, and some elderly people will come to see the excitement. Occasionally, fans and people who are filming a show will come to hang out." said Taishi Nishiya.

"It's infused with a subtle youthful vibe, just like in your work." Yin Ze smiled and nodded, "So Ani-Me-Sang is the nickname given by the residents?"

"Animation is abbreviated as Anime in Japanese, and Anime-san roughly means animation people." Kigami Yoshiji, who had been happily listening to the young people's conversation, said, "By the way, do you know the origin of the word animation?"

"Is there any story behind this?" Yin Ze asked.

"Anima comes from the Latin word, which originally means 'life' or 'soul'. To give life and soul to inanimate objects, to make them move and come alive, this is the original intention of animation." Kigami Yoshiji folded his hands and said kindly, "Of course, this is a very laborious task, so you must have perseverance and passion from beginning to end."

"I don't mean to offend you... but after talking with you today, I feel that with these, we may be able to make one or two films, but can we keep going?" Yin Ze said slowly, "The industry seems to be prosperous, but many production companies are walking a tightrope."

It's not uncommon for a work to be tragically adapted into an animation, let alone being original, let alone carving out one's own path.

"No good will come to those who go against money." The man muttered to himself, his hand resting on the cold handle of the glass.

"Indeed."

As a cultural and creative staff member, Yoshiharu Kigami did not refute and also raised a chicken skewer.

"Thirty years ago, I participated in "Nobita's Dinosaur" and "Do You Remember Love?" I remember that I spent all my salary in less than a week, and I had to continue to live a tight life. Even today, my savings are still not rich. I have been studying one thing for decades, but I can only get the results I have now. I can only say that this job is really not profitable."

“Not only that, the rules of the game in the painting industry have been set by predecessors. You have to learn their language and vocabulary, follow their standards one by one, and then continue to use the same rules to suppress the newcomers. Then when you are 30 or 40 years old, you find that no matter how good your paintings are, your body can’t bear it and your income is not stable.”

Yoshiji Kigami chewed in small sips and smiled peacefully.

"If I hadn't come to Kyoto Animation in 1990, this might have been my end. After all, I felt that I lacked the ability to be a smooth and sophisticated person, and I also lacked the talent to tell stories as a supervisor. I only had the technology to draw images."

"The master craftsman is so humble that it makes us students feel ashamed," said Taichi Nishiya with emotion.

"No, it's the truth."

Yoshiharu Kigami took a long sip of beer and let out a long sigh.

"My life is actually very simple. Although this is true for the general public, I should be more simple. At that time, I was moved by Osamu Tezuka. I liked painting since I was old enough to understand. Once I started to paint, I forgot the passage of time. I would paint from Friday after school until the next morning. When I entered society, I found that there was no place around me that would allow me to continue painting, so I went to Tokyo to continue painting by working part-time, and finally arrived here. Rather than saying that I was moving towards this field with a goal, it is better to say that I just kept painting around me and ran here naturally."

"Where is Mr. Takemoto?" Yin Ze asked.

"Of course I have burning dreams and ideals... No wonder." Takemoto Yasuhiro rubbed his dark circles and said, "When I was in high school, I didn't want to be a salaryman, so I looked into the employment situation in the art field. I found that cartoonists are easy to die. Although illustrators are good, only a few can stand out. Finally, I found that at the end of the animation, there are always a lot of people on the staff list. I thought that if there are so many people, the competition should not be fierce, and I should be able to get in, so I got in. But I found sadly that although there are many people, almost all of them are very strong."

"It's so stale, just like your lines in the past." Kigami Yoshiji commented seriously, "It's still the same now, you need to keep improving your abilities."

"Yes, yes." The supervisor, who has become a father, replied obediently.

"If you talk about money and social status, this is not a valuable profession. But for someone like me who is as boring and thin as paper, it is perfect. If I work in a big company or enterprise, I will be depressed all day long, exhausted by the complicated calculations of human hearts."

The old man sighed and turned to Yin Ze.

"Now I can continue to paint, and I can also pass on my skills to others, which is my only pride. Even though my body has aged and I can no longer hold a pen all night long like before, the characters I painted in the past are still vivid and can be seen on the big screen from time to time. Although I cannot be compared with people like Osamu Tezuka, I have left my mark on the times.

"Everyone has desires, and businessmen are always chasing for greater profits. I am also greedy. Even now that I have lived half of my life, I still want to have works and stories that will be passed down through the ages. I want to pass on the emotions I had when I was young to the next generation, the next generation, a hundred years later, and a thousand years later.

"I am greedier than any businessman in the world."

"I don't know how to answer. Maybe the essence of life is a mess - I am still not rich, not respected by many people, and what I do are ordinary things, but I no longer have any regrets. This is my personal answer to your question." Yoshiharu Kigami said seriously.

Taishi Nishiya and Yasuhiro Takemoto both seemed to agree with this.

The man heard the gossip of the people at the next table and the sounds and crying of some young children.

"The food here is really good." Yin Ze said happily.

……

The restaurants in the town offer good food at low prices and large portions. Chef Yin has eaten so much that he has a beer belly. When he saw the bill, which was barely enough to cover his pocket, he suddenly had other thoughts and even wanted to stay there right away.

Isn't it common? Working in a high-income city and living in a low-consumption city.

A man once dreamed that he had obtained a portal to anywhere. He was so happy that he immediately started a grand plan. He washed dishes in New York during the day and went back to Nepal to build a house in the evening. It was so refreshing. Finally, when he woke up from the daydream, he realized it too late and leaned on the bed in silence.

I have a magic door, but I am still thinking about working and buying a house... What on earth killed my romance?

"What a leisurely place." Yin Ze stood outside the chain convenience store. He looked at the small bridge and the river in the evening. The egrets were all flying home. He sighed, "Humans are really easily affected by the environment. In the crowded and prosperous city, the towering buildings are always busy. Listening to the full rails rushing by, my heart began to get anxious. But here, the gears jumped out of the system, and the swollen desires were calmed. I also want to live like this in the future."