Tokyo Sound

"Add some blue-green light here, and some light spots with brushstrokes, but the main thing is the atmosphere." The Polish brother said in an authentic old Tokyo accent, pointing out Cheng's taste and preference.

"I will render an extra black and white draft when exporting, and save it for adjusting the depth of field in PS." Yin Ze said, "This process reminds me of a Russian painter named Arseniy, who also does Japanese-style paintings, which are very detailed, refreshing and clean, and are definitely the favorite of the client. If you have time, you can search for his pictures, his modeling and post-production skills are very impressive."

The drawings produced in this way are efficient, rigorous and unified.

But there is no beauty in formulaic painting, and Yin Ze will not become a puppet of the tools. Although he rarely moves, he has already been "painting" since he started dragging the value bar with the mouse and operating the light and shadow and atmosphere.

Makoto Nido was very satisfied, he knew that this was a sure thing, and he left with a happy face. Quickly clean up the folding bed for the teacher, so that we can sleep side by side tonight and discuss art together.

A long time later.

Inoue Toshizhi also walked over with his waist slightly bent and his hands behind his back.

Although I have met many people who are good at painting, there are few who can feel the possibilities.

"Do you have any advice for me, senior?" Yin Ze immediately stood up.

"Nothing, just taking a break." Inoue Toshishi smiled and looked at the image on the computer screen again. "Everything is changing and improving. Many people of my generation are gradually unable to keep up. Whether it's the painting style, technology, or aesthetic awareness, they are out of touch with the times. So every time I see talented young people like you working, I want to absorb its essence."

"But I probably won't learn anything this time. I don't know how to use these modeling software." Inoue Toshishi was distressed.

"What's converted are just the tools. With your strength as a senior, you should be able to control them easily." Yin Ze said sincerely.

Talent does exist.

As one of the representatives of realistic painting, veteran painters like Inoue can show the unconscious shaking details of the characters, the sense of weight, quality, spatial correctness, and the ability to convert reality into animation. No matter how much training ordinary people have, they can never reach the level of such top painters.

"I've tried before, but I couldn't do it. People of my generation have been drawing on paper for too long." Inoue Toshishi sighed, "Maybe one day my presbyopia will be so severe that I can't see clearly without digital enlargement, and then I will use it."

"This is a fair exchange." Ando Masashi also stopped writing, turned his chair and looked over, jokingly, "The Akira generation led by you has occupied the high-quality theatrical animation scene for too long, and the barriers are too thick. The next generation can't do anything and can't show itself. Now the suppression relationship is reversed."

"Looking back now, it seems that there was such a period," said Inoue Toshiji worriedly. "I evolved with Japanese animation in the 80s, but the newcomers in the 90s faced huge challenges all of a sudden, and I had no such awareness at the time. When I was making "Werewolf", I was indignant, "Why aren't there young people keeping up?" "Japanese animation is going to end."

Although others did not stop writing, they were all listening, and many of them smiled good-naturedly at such old news.

"If I had to draw the same high-quality original paintings of myself in my thirties when I was twenty, I would have been in pain." Inoue Toshishi gently circled the advanced painting scene and sighed, "The ones who can escape the curse of our generation are the people who are active during this time... Everyone draws really well."

Except for a few elderly people, everyone present was a backbone of people who were at the peak of their physical strength and creativity. When they heard these words, they all felt an inexplicable and warm emotion in their hearts.

……

During dinner, Yin Ze took the initiative to deliver the hot lunch box to Inoue Toshishi who was still revising the original painting.

"Thanks."

"Haha, you're welcome. Can I take a look?"

"Of course." Inoue Toshishi stepped aside.

Yin Ze picked up the draft and savored the precise line drawing that had reached perfection. Motion capture, 3D rendering, rotoscoping... On top of these technologies, he pursued an ideal, perfect dynamic conception, a reality in an imaginary state. It was hard to imagine how much effort it took to get here. Even if he had talent, that talent should have been redeemed, or even overdrawn.

"How is it?" Inoue Toshishi opened the lid of the bento.

"It won't get any better." Yin Ze said honestly. Without a doubt, this is the end of this school, this road.

"Want a challenge?"

"Then I am somewhat confident."

"The young man is very confident." Inoue Toshishi laughed.

"The main point is honesty, but we're not sure if it can go beyond that." Yin Ze also smiled, pulled over a chair, and started eating.

"It's better not to do it. We should spend our energy on more creative things. This style has been explored to the limit. 'Reality' is actually a precious and cheap thing." Inoue Toshishi said, "Times are changing. Simple middle cuts can be replaced by technology. Through deep learning, AI may even be able to be responsible for original drawings. For example, by inputting the strength of wind, the hardness and mass of materials, it can automatically produce swinging animations."

"This..." Yin Ze hesitated.

"If that day really comes, I might choose to retire. There are systems that can turn photo materials into print styles, but they are just works that look similar in appearance. They are not made by people who really love prints. From a cultural perspective, they are something else. Just like rotoscoping is not animation to me, even if I use it as a reference, I think it is just something similar but different in essence." Inoue Toshishi smiled, "Haha, it's just an old man's feeling. Just treat it as old-fashioned paranoia."

"I can totally understand that." Yin Ze nodded. "Overthinking is a common problem among artists, and anxiety is the norm. Forget about advanced technology. Just opening the account and browsing the pictures of the big guys will make me sad."

"It's true. After you've finally made some progress, even better people will pop up from the corners of the Internet like mushrooms after rain." Inoue Toshishi said, "If I were a rookie now, I would probably be burned out by the competition. For someone like Mr. Miyazaki, it doesn't matter if I lose, but if there are several of you or Okiura around, your mental state will definitely be affected."

"You really love Okiura." Ando Masashi walked over while eating with his lunch box in his arms, unable to help but say, "Why are you talking about such a heavy topic with a young person? It's rare for you to have mastered such skills and have such experience, so just let go and be an old man, and spend your old age happily."

"How did you know I wanted to make comedy and adult animation?" asked Inoue Toshishi.

"Tell me more about adult animation." Yin Ze's eyes lit up and he quickly answered. Isn't it a blessing for a master of realistic painting to do 18+?

"It's not a Japanese-style lolita animation, but a more hardcore adult one," added Toshishi Inoue.

"...I don't think you need to explain this sentence any further." Ando Masashi hesitated.

"There are very few works like "The Sad Story of Belladonna". I really want to make one carefully and send it to the world," said Toshishi Inoue.

"Is the intensity so high?" Yin Ze was slightly stunned. That was an official competition work at the Berlin International Film Festival.

"Of course, what else?" Inoue Toshishi said confidently.

Yin Ze kept smiling. He definitely couldn't say "juicy hentai" at this moment.

In fact, there have been dreamers in hentai. There was once a company that took the first part too seriously and aimed for state-of-the-art quality, but the investment was too huge and the company went bankrupt. The next part was hopeless and only existed in dreams.

"I remember at the previous animator expo, you and Okiura Keiyuki made a "Travel Robot", does that count?" Ando Masashi recalled.

"Of course not. Besides, that short film is just Okiura's one-sided interest." Inoue Toshishi shook his head in disdain.

After hearing this, Yin Ze, who had been bound by chains of resentment in the prison of his heart for a lifetime, opened his eyes, secretly added it to his viewing list, and pinned it to the top.

Three people of completely different ages and qualifications sat together and finished their dinner while chatting.

Before leaving, Inoue Toshizhi turned around, took a good look at the young man, and said with emotion.

"Decades have passed, and I still don't know what the so-called ideal painting is. The goal I pursued was achieved in "Werewolf", but when I really got there, I always felt that something was missing..."

"With the ideal reality created by human efforts, in the right space, with the right drawing, you can make a movie with the right authenticity, but the really important things for animation seem to have been forgotten. Even if it is not dense and realistic, as long as it looks comfortable, the acting is accurate, and what you want to express is conveyed, it's fine."

“Maybe animation has already been completed, and what we did in the 80s and 90s is redundant.”

Yin Ze always kept listening.

"I really envy you."

The smile of Inoue Toshizhi, who was standing outside the gate, overlapped with that of Kinoue Yoshiharu, showing kindness, expectation, and a little envy and relief.

“Because the answer is still in the future.”

Chapter 73 Don’t Say It

After the meal, Yin Ze did not leave in a hurry. He began to deal with a bunch of pending backgrounds submitted by Urbanovice and others. As the production supervisor, he was a middleman and was responsible to Makoto. If Makoto was not satisfied, he would send the feedback back to the original artist, or he would start to modify it himself until Makoto smiled.

The skills of a production supervisor are not necessarily better than those of an original artist, but he certainly understands what supervision requires. With Master Yin's aesthetic skills and the original unity of digital production, he quickly grasped the key points and was able to give full play to his talents.

A main artist who is not a drag will be a huge addition to the team. Internally, he will motivate and guide team members to make progress. Externally, he will be able to communicate with the client in a roundabout way. If the company engages in small group struggles and sees injustice, he will confront them head-on. If a newcomer to the industry can meet such a big brother, he should just hold on to him.

If R&D is like the regular army that specializes in a few subjects, then outsourced workers are mercenaries who eat anything.

I'm working on the two-dimensional world in the morning, conceiving a Q-version plan at noon, refining a realistic avatar in the afternoon, and thinking about mechanical design at night. I'm very schizophrenic, and am often forced to face my own fears - furries are all very kind, those with dense fears have to face the densely arranged designs, those with deep-sea fears have to tremble and analyze and refine the design elements of ugly deep-sea animals, and those with insect phobias have to tearfully search for high-definition photos of arthropods for reference.

Master Yin will never forget the realistic biological illustrations he made. He managed to get through the toads, spiders, scorpions, and caterpillars, but when he saw the isopods and the oil-thief turning over and kicking their legs, his eyes went dark and he almost fainted.

Only when you wear the mask of pain on your face will you realize that there is no love in the world.

How can one not become stronger after going through such an inhumane training?

As an old mercenary, Yin Ze is used to fighting tough and difficult battles. He is not very picky about the jobs he takes now. Because of his excellent background, everyone seems to have forgotten that he cannot be said to have a specialized background.

Thanks to all the cockroaches in the past, the future is still fate’s mortal enemy.

It's so beautiful. Cheng's work is simply refreshing. There is a city with sunny days after rain, pure love, and beautiful girls with blushing faces and deep feelings. It's so cute.

"Teacher, you're still drawing. Why don't you take a break and go have a drink?" Makoto Nidu came over and greeted him.

"The director came at the right time to take a look at this batch of revisions." Yin Ze said.

"Let's leave it alone for now. We've been tired all day. Look, the moon has risen outside." Makoto Nido smiled.

"Okay, then let's confirm it tomorrow. I'll go back first." Yin Ze nodded and left work immediately.

"Hey, it's your first day in office, teacher, and we haven't been properly welcomed yet. I know a nice pub, let's go there and have a few drinks to relieve our fatigue." Nido Makoto hurriedly invited.

"Oh, the prices at the stores around here must be quite high. I don't have much money with me today." Yin Ze touched his trouser pocket.

"Haha, it's okay, it's my turn to treat." Nido Makoto waved his hand.

“But I came here on a motorcycle.”

"It's a small problem. It's locked here. It won't be lost. Just come and get it tomorrow."

"Then I have to walk back tonight."

"That won't work. Ah, that definitely won't work. I'll call a taxi to take the teacher home."

"Then let's get going quickly." Yin Ze laughed. The director is still very capable.

The tavern that Cheng Ge mentioned is actually on the 25th floor of the Grand Hotel, with a magnificent view of Tokyo City. It is open 3 hours a day and has a lounge and a retro lounge, providing guests with different bar services. A series of surprising drinks will allow you to appreciate the Japanese flavor and spirits craftsmanship.

Originally, I didn't want Cheng Ge to spend money, but the other party was so enthusiastic that we held hands and even intertwined our fingers. And when I thought about the fact that Cheng Ge was actually a rich second-generation, I felt much more at ease when I entered the door.

He opened the wine list, which was all in foreign languages ​​and he couldn't understand it. But Yin Ze was always a pragmatic person, so he politely asked the waiter, "Translate it."

"This 'Bai Mei' is our signature cocktail. The taste of gin is mellow and strong, and it smells refreshing. The mouthfeel is light, but the aftertaste is strong, with a slightly bitter and numbing aftertaste. But it is easy to get drunk. If you can't drink it, I suggest you order the next one 'Nashi', which is made of bayberry and rum. It is palatable, sweet and sour, and slightly tipsy." said the waiter.

"Sounds good, let's take this one." Yin Ze was sure.

"I can't drink much, so let's go with the second option." Nido Makoto doesn't have that worldly desire to win.

Let's order the classic roasted bird skewers, which are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, fat but not greasy, and the chicken is cooked to perfection. The garlic beef is also fragrant and oily.

"Come, have a toast with the teacher." Makoto Nidu actually raised his glass.

"Okay, okay." Yin Ze suddenly realized that it seemed like it had been a long time since anyone had taken the initiative to clink glasses with him, so he happily responded and drank and ate to his heart's content.

"As the saying goes, you should drink in moderation. Don't get drunk, otherwise you will have to stay in the studio for a night." There was something else in Nido Makoto's words, as if he was hiding some kind of plan.

"That's right, that's right." Yin Ze agreed symbolically and continued to eat the chicken skewers.

"Teacher, you have put your heart and soul into the movie, so I have to toast you." Makoto Nido raised his glass again.

“You’re welcome.” Yin Ze responded happily.

After several rounds, the cup was empty.

"The atmosphere is right. You're drinking so fast, how about a few more drinks?" asked Makoto Nidu.

"Need I say more?" Yin Ze smiled proudly.

after an hour.

Yin Ze walked steadily with the unbalanced Makoto Niwa to the street, called a taxi, and asked the driver to drive slowly to take the director home. Huh? Why did you say again? Oh, the last time at the barbecue restaurant, it ended like this.

Brother Cheng is really a bad guy and he gets drunk after just a few drinks.

Although his mind was clear, he just drank. Yin Ze did not go to look for the little foreign horse. He took a walk to enjoy the night view and walked back home.

Master Yin, who had always been in high spirits, started swaying from side to side as soon as he went upstairs, looking drunk.

"Oh, why are you so tired?" Asamiya Kazuki noticed something was wrong and jogged to the corridor in her slippers, holding on to an actor who had the potential to be a movie emperor.

"I'm busy with work. Look, I didn't lie to you, did I?" Yin Ze sighed, his clothes stained with the smell of expensive cocktails. This was the last round of his lies.

"It's so dangerous to walk back when you're so drunk. What if you fall down on the way? Remember to call me next time to pick you up." Asamiya Kazuki scolded as he took the actor back to his small apartment.

"I've been drinking so much that I haven't eaten anything. I'm hungry." With Yin Ze's dubbing skills, it's easy for him to imitate the accent of a thick tongue.

"What do you want to eat?" asked Asamiya Kazuki.

"Just make a soup and rice, it doesn't have to be too much trouble." Yin Ze thought for a moment, "Remember to use shredded pork, tomatoes, oyster mushrooms, ham, pork liver, and cucumber to cook it to bring out the flavor."

"Okay, go lie down. I'll call you when it's ready." Asamiya Kazuki put Ge Laoguan on the sofa, went to Qingshui, and went to cook.

With this bowl of midnight snack, Meimei replenished the energy consumed in the corridor of life, and soon fell into a sleep like a baby.

Still arrived at the studio at 10 o'clock.

Shindo Makoto felt a little frustrated at this moment. Why was he sent home by a cat car twice, while the other party looked calm and unharmed? Could it be that the elegant Gao Yanshang's teacher was a drunkard? Impossible, absolutely impossible.

Yin Ze continued to supervise the background, and selflessly shared some of the valuable parameter settings he had accumulated with the 3D class. These operations were also obtained from others or accumulated by himself. As the saying goes, what you earn should be given to others, and what you learn should be taught to others. It has to be said that making animation is actually a boring thing. You have to work on it one by one. Everyone is so focused that no one talks. The only sound in the whole space is the sound of keyboards, air conditioner fans, and the rustling sound of pens.

Even with such harmony, some people still wear headphones to get into the mood.

Yin Ze used to wear it, but now he goes for brain broadcasting.

Kawamura Genki also came to the studio and found the director for a routine discussion, "What is the current status of production?"

"The progress is very good, and the speed is even faster than the planned time." Makoto Nido said. Toho has experience in making big movies, and all the steps are arranged in the planning stage. In addition, various big names are invited, so there will be no such thing as a production crisis.