Tokyo Sound

"Ok?"

"Nothing, two more servings of beef tenderloin. No more wine, just a bottle of drink."

The Hida region is large, but the city of Hida is small, and it only takes half an hour to walk around it.

Yin Ze took the opportunity of filming to visit several remote places, and he really experienced the difference between Tokyo and the countryside. You will have a sense of time stagnation, thinking that even after a few decades, there will still be no change here, as if it is a cycle.

The local infrastructure is not bad, but even in places like train stations, there are only a few people walking around, and the flow is low, and the frequency of trains is also low. If you don’t have a private car, you will be forced to stay at the transfer station for several hours on the way to Tokyo if you are not careful.

No wonder Brother Kashiwaji, who can't bear loneliness, would go to Beijing in seclusion.

Moreover, it is the killer of long-distance relationships. If there is really a girl or a boy who can go to Tokyo to meet each other, and go back and forth on the same day, it can be called infatuation.

Yin Ze wandered around for two hours, digesting the blood and flesh of his own people, and found that there was a library here... Although he was not really here to do research, there might be ancient books or something. He could get some material, and if the dean knew that he was going to make a movie again, he could also have a way to change the topic.

Takayama City is right next door, and the JR line is only 15 minutes away. But the trains are too infrequent, so the advantages of self-driving tours are reflected at this time.

A stone staircase is buried in the middle of the towering forest. At the starting point, a vermilion torii gate stands in front of the stairs. It is just an ordinary red-painted wooden product, but it instantly adds a Shinto atmosphere to the forest. Together with the moss-covered stone steps, it also becomes deep and mysterious, as if it is the path to an audience with the mountain god.

On the way there, you can still see quite a few tourists.

Yin Ze was in a dilemma at this time. He was not going to climb the mountain, he just came here to ask if there was any wine for sale - but he couldn't really stop the priestess who was sweeping the leaves over there and ask her how much a bottle of Kuchikazushi cost, right?

The next day, the famous voice actor became a trending topic due to harassment.

However, the research route of top students is still strong. In front of someone's student ID card, the part-time shrine maiden who sweeps the floor tells him in detail that there is no place to buy chewed sake now, but if you must experiment, you can try to make it at home. And you won't have any psychological burden when drinking it, after all, you made it yourself.

"I see." Yin Ze knew that he had no chance to taste this ancient wine, so he sighed and took off the bracelet on his wrist. "Meeting is a blessing. Thank you for your explanation and introduction. This is a small gift to express my gratitude. Please accept it."

The part-time witch covered her mouth in surprise and took the bracelet that must have been with her for at least eight years. She didn't expect that she could have a romantic encounter while working. She also wanted to exchange contact information and follow each other's social accounts. But when she saw the other party's Twitter account with seven-digit fans, she was stunned for a few seconds, and then she remembered.

"Are you the ex-husband who was killed by Kenshin?" The witch exclaimed, not caring about the modesty required by her part-time job.

"Yes..." Yin Ze tilted his head. He thought that his sister's trembling voice made it seem like she was not talking about her ex-husband who was murdered, but her adulterer who was murdered.

"I often watch your cuts, but it's a pity that you haven't appeared in many dramas." The witch was a little excited and said quickly, "I was thinking before that we were a bit similar, but I always felt that it shouldn't be right. How could I meet like this?"

"I also didn't expect that there would be fans of movies and TV shows." Yin Ze said honestly.

"Are you really dead?" the witch asked curiously.

"His intestines are all perforated, of course he's dead." Yin Ze nodded.

"Ah? So there won't be a sequel?" The witch felt disappointed.

"Not necessarily. I might still come out." Yin Ze gave a serious answer.

"Huh? Isn't he dead?" the witch was puzzled.

"In this world, there is something called nostalgia..." Yin Ze's expression finally revealed a trace of sadness. He had heard rumors from director Keishi Otomo. He said that he was the bond between Kenshin and Tomoe Yukishiro's tragic fate and must not be forgotten. Therefore, the tragic and beautiful death scene had to be flashed back many times to maximize its use.

The people who made this live-action movie are really evil. Elredo died in the same way many times, while Kiyosato Akira died in the same way many times.

Master Yin is now a public figure, but he has no baggage and is happy to interact. The shrine maiden also borrowed the shrine's instant camera to take a photo with him, and he signed his name in person. Since he was already here, Yin Ze thought he might as well climb up the mountain to see the scenery. The shrine maiden watched this handsome man disappear step by step among the green leaves, as if he had transformed into a human-shaped fairy fox and returned to nature, and she felt that he was truly out of this world.

Little did they know that when someone climbed halfway up the mountain, he squatted on the side of the mountain path like a dog to rest, completely losing his composure.

The forest was damp, and when you looked down from the platform on the top of the mountain, you could see a thin layer of fog. It was also a coincidence that it was already afternoon, and the unique orange color of dusk had quietly seeped into the edge of the clouds, outlining a faint golden edge.

The few tourists were taking photos.

One of the middle-aged men caught his attention because everyone else was holding a digital camera, but this man had an easel in front of him.

It turned out to be sketching.

The aesthetic master became interested and couldn't help but walk over. The paper on the drawing board was covered with various paints and showed signs of drying, so it should have been completed for a while. The content of the painting is exactly the scenery overlooking the platform, but the clouds and sky are more freehand and romantic. Bright and open, it reminds people of the summer full of beautiful memories. It is not realistic, but a painting that is mixed with one's own emotions.

Painting is the exploration of imagination by human beings. A perceptual painting must have a perceptual painter. Behind the moving colors of each painting is a burning emotion and the self-narration of an idealist.

Yin Ze didn't comment on it, but he admired it secretly.

The middle-aged man stood with his hands on his hips and took a break, then slowly began to pack up. He wore a pair of glasses, and the slight beard added a bit of intellectuality, making him look somewhat elegant. The gray outfit made him look like a college counselor, the kind of salty counselor who often patted his head in the office because of students skipping classes.

The middle-aged man put the easel under his arm and turned to go down the mountain. During this time, he took a photo with someone.

Yin Ze politely stepped aside.

Middle-aged man passed.

Yin Ze put his hands behind his back and looked at the scenery again.

The middle-aged man came behind him quietly.

"Uh, yes, what's the matter?" Yin Ze was in the corridor, his senses were up and he could detect any movement, so he immediately turned around alertly.

"No, um, excuse me." The middle-aged man was carrying his bag, adjusting his glasses, and looking someone up and down.

"Could it be that we know each other?" Yin Ze was very curious.

"Maybe it's just that I know you, and it's possible that I'm wrong, so..."

The middle-aged man mustered up his courage and finally spoke.

"Excuse me, what is your name?"

Chapter 15 Change is a good thing

The countryside of Nagano Prefecture is surrounded by mountains, with late sunrises and early sunsets. A young boy could lie on the hillside, resting his head on the green grass, and stare at the clear sky all day. He rode his bicycle home from school, the clouds were so low that he could touch them, and the sunset was no longer an old lover that he could only look at from afar, but a warmth that he could hold in his hands. He felt that he was merging with the world, and in the wind that was blowing in his face, he was always inexplicably moved and couldn't help crying.

There is a comic book called "The Secret of the Universe". In it, there is a female astronaut who is the first girl he falls in love with. He even bought a telescope and looked up at the stars in the middle of the night, trying to find his first love wandering in the Milky Way.

One day when he was in the fourth grade of elementary school, he happened to see a computer, which was still a new product in the early 80s, on the street, and honestly asked his father for one.

"Wow, 70 yen, you're really brave enough to ask for it?" The old man looked at the price on the flyer and said that he was so bold that he was not afraid of feather dusters. You know, the family company hasn't bought this thing yet. But thinking of his son's poor academic performance, he had an idea, "If you get first place in the class in the next exam, I will buy it for you."

"Great."

Then the elementary school student got first place in the exam.

Dad looked at the results and couldn't help but fall into deep thought, wondering if this was a trap for him. The previous failure was just a cover-up for a bigger victory. But since the words were already spoken, he had no choice but to fulfill his promise and get that damn expensive thing.

A seed was quietly planted.

The MZ-2000 all-in-one machine looked a bit pathetic from the perspective of technology decades later. But when the green text appeared on the CRT monitor, the boy was so shocked by the cool scene that he was speechless. It was not until later that he understood his feelings.

——'This thing may contain the future.'

Instead of being attracted by the fun of programming and mathematics, I embarked on the path of pursuing visual expression.

In short, I never get tired of it.

Of course, there is also the fate that every boy will experience, falling in love with games.

When he finished his studies at a famous private university in Tokyo and was about to finish his university life, his father promptly introduced him to a construction company opened by a friend, saying that he should go there to train and gain experience before returning home to start taking over the business.

however.

"Dad, I'm sorry, I think if you don't do some things when you are young, you will miss the chance..."

"?"

The young man even changed his last name to show his determination. Finally, he went to work next to the construction company and entered a game company as a part-time worker. He got his wish and worked in the game development department. He was assigned to the art team and was responsible for the RPG packaging design.

The first time I used Mac and PhotoShop, I was shocked again that this thing might contain the future. Even the 2.5 version of PS can still use nearly 1600 million colors, plus the tablet, pen pressure sensor and other things, I am more and more obsessed with these. As for civil engineering, I have forgotten everything!

For quite a long time, the young man maintained a strong enterprising spirit. He actively communicated with colleagues, learned about other jobs, and tried to ask for advice. He was busy making original animations when he got home at night. During his tenure, he participated in 17 game projects in different positions. Due to the characteristics of small companies, employees often have to take on multiple duties and work more, and he was naturally no exception, ranging from art, opening animation, document management to publicity operations.

In Eternal Ys II, the young man was in charge of the OP, which is the opening animation. Finally, I could put my favorite game songs on screen. When I reached this step, I felt a sense of relief as if I had lost all my energy.

Although burning oil over a raging fire is fierce and intense, there will always be times when you feel tired and breathless.

After realizing the dream, the essence of life has not changed. Just like the New Year is just a happy day set by people, turning over the New Year is just a way of expressing one's mood. Life is still the same, commuting to and from work in silence, dealing with endless tasks, returning to the rental house late at night, and eating the lunch box with assembly line flavor just bought at the convenience store downstairs. These were originally covered by the emotion called passion. When the passion for responsibility fades, the burden of the body comes like a tide, and confusion will also bring irritability.

On the road he walked every day, in the meaningless commuter car, he secretly thought that this would not work and he had to do something.

Now I can do the opening animation by myself, so what if I make it longer?

As soon as this thought arose, it penetrated deep into my bones and became irresistible.

The young man cast his eyes toward the sky again. He thought of the blue sky of his hometown, the wind that made him cry. Seagulls flew upwards to the sun, the halo of the sun stretched and flickered, and stardust danced.

The young man resigned and stayed in his rented apartment without going out. Every night, the light from the screen would turn his greasy face into a pale white.

He became what is known as an independent animator.

And they actually made a complete short animation called "Voices of a Star".

After the animation was released, the response was unexpectedly good. Not only did it attract widespread attention, it even won an award.

Although the young man was reserved, he believed that there were many animators who could create such a work completely independently, but many of them were not as eager and serious as he was, not to mention quitting their jobs to do it. However, a little bit of reserve was not enough to offset the sense of accomplishment and the desire for animation that had just been satisfied and became even more hungry.

Every creator thinks he is unique at first, until he is thrown into the abyss by reality, and then he truly understands what kind of spiritual wasteland he is heading to.

Makoto Nito is still walking on this wild plain. The scars cut by thorns are a symbol of his perseverance.

Hydrangeas are in full bloom, and youth will last forever.

……

Hida beef is not something you can just eat for one meal.

Two people sat by the window. The pots had just been heated up, and the burly shop owner was serving the dishes. The catering business at the foot of the shrine was not booming, but it was not too quiet either. Groups of tourists in pairs or threes were scattered in the barbecue restaurant.

The easel was leaning against the inner seat, and the middle-aged man wearing glasses maintained eye contact with the bulk idol voice actor.

"Have you been in Ys?" Yin Ze suddenly showed awe.

Although Red-haired Atrus is not as well-known as Mario Foreman and Link, in the long and ongoing history of games, the Ys series and Atrus can still be regarded as classics of Japanese ARPG, passed down in the river of time.

"Not bad..." Nito Makoto nodded silently. Although it was a perfect fate and a perfect time to sit down and talk, he always felt that the other party seemed to have missed the point.

"It's pretty good." Yin Ze sighed. "Eternal Ys 1+2" is also the memory of a generation.

"Actually, my main focus is animation." The middle-aged man with the temperament of a counselor couldn't help but add.

"Yeah, I know." Yin Ze kept an eye on turning the barbecue over and said, "I've seen your work, too. It's very powerful and has a personal style."

The Japanese animation industry has many great or genius directors. The industry's prosperity and ceiling are all attributed to these old men. There are also many talented people in the younger generation, among whom the man sitting opposite should be one of the representatives. Although the output is not large, the quality and reputation are very good.

"5 Centimeters per Second" made a group of innocent otaku feel so upset that they wanted to turn into bombers and blow up the train. "The speed of cherry blossoms falling is centimeters per second, so how long does it take for two hearts to get close" has also become the signature of many ACG literary youths on their social accounts. In addition, the almost paranoid pursuit of picture information and beauty also left a deep impression on the audience, and he deserves the title of "mad demon" on par with "old thief".

In fact, as a voice actor, and a very popular one at that, Master Yin felt that he had a high chance of meeting these outstanding directors. But he didn't expect that he would start a conversation with them in a passing way today...

"Excuse me for interrupting you, but I really didn't expect to meet you here." Nido Makoto pushed the frame of his glasses with the second knuckle of his index finger. Although he was older, his words and tone were very humble.

"Have you heard my story?" Yin Ze wondered.

"No, but your works are full of stories." Makoto Nido nodded and said sincerely, "I have seen the last episode of Hyouka."

Master Yin understood, it turned out that it was not related to film and television, nor to dubbing, but he was just a fellow art enthusiast!

Although as an artist, Minotaur Chieftain has only assisted in Kyoto Animation's animations, the rest of his time is spent in the game field, especially in the resource update of Final Fantasy, and the rest is to draw illustrations for Shimazaki Nobunaga's novels. In short, as an artist, his focus is on the game industry.

However, based on Kyoto Animation's achievements alone, he has been accepted and recognized by the animation industry. Part of the reason is that Yoshiharu Kigami, such an old senior, helped to speak up and praised him, which made him feel more present. Another part of the reason is the miracle episode in the last episode. The efficiency and quality were too exaggerated, and three people made an episode in one week, which can only be said to be crazy. To this day, this episode is still regarded as the wall of quality for TV serial animation by the audience. At that time, due to the popularity of the tap water of the animation supervisor, the company also saved some advertising operating expenses.

Due to the popularity of the animation, the tourism business of Takayama City in the Hida region, which is the prototype of the background, has also increased greatly. Even after many years, there are still kind-hearted otakus who come to visit the holy land. This shows the endurance and influence of "Hyouka".

Until now, whenever a certain person has participated in an animation, those who are interested will carefully look through the staff list at the end of the film to see if this person has come up with something new. It's a pity that the animation supervisor has not appeared in a long time.

"As far as I know, 'Voices of a Distant Star' was made entirely by Mr. Nido alone," Yin Ze said politely.

"You can't compare." Makoto Nido smiled bitterly, "If you count the time I spent, you've drawn more than one episode."

It is precisely because I have experienced such a hard-working production that I can better appreciate the strength of this young teacher in front of me.

Perhaps because of his childhood in the countryside, Makoto Nido has a special feeling for the scenery, including in his later photography. When adjusting the colors, he would inadvertently approach the childhood feelings in his memory. And with the advancement of technology, the light perception that was once only hand-painted can also be obtained with the assistance of software. It is precisely this ability to master painting, software, programming and other aspects that can realize the construction of animation alone.

And Makoto Nido is quite clear about what level of tentacle monster the painter is who can control light and shadow at will without any external objects.

Shadows are an essential element in creating a sense of volume. Beginners learn about light and dark boundaries, shadows, occlusions, etc. in order to analyze objects in nature and find exactly where their shadows should be.

Where there is shadow, there is light, and accurate shadow will bring accurate light. Being able to easily draw solid human bodies, animals, buildings, natural objects, or easily sort out non-solid smoke, water flow, and flames all show that the artist has understood the composition of these things and has refined them. Lines are just another way to output these experiences.

In the development of fine arts, light has gained an idealistic expansion. Light and color are inseparable. In order to be more beautiful, it is entirely possible to create a light source that violates the physical perspective, which has a greater subjective effect and a stronger emotional impact.

Mastering light and shadow means mastering existing painting.

In this way, we have reached the pinnacle of technique.

The rest is left to the unremitting soul, fate, and history books.

"I really like your paintings." Makoto Nido said directly.

"Thank you, thank you." Unlike being praised for his acting skills, Master Yin fully accepted this compliment.

"I don't know, teacher, what do you think of my work?" Makoto Nidu was silent for a while, then suddenly asked a more straightforward question.