Animation Producer in a Fantasy World

“…The Empire wants to extend the airing of ‘Book of Life and Death’?”

When I first heard the news from Kaya, the emotion I felt was nothing but bewilderment.

Well, that’s understandable, isn’t it?

No matter how much this fantasy world runs on a dirty caste system and class-based society, are they now interfering even with whether to air anime or not?

Well, really, it’s so dirty.

But that was only for a moment.

After hearing from Kaya about the conversations that took place at that day’s meeting, I realized that the Empire wasn’t just making unreasonable demands to me.

“So… the crime rate in the Empire has dramatically decreased due to the airing of ‘Book of Life and Death’?”

“Yes. To be honest, it’s something I find hard to believe too… but according to the Chief of Public Safety, that’s the case. He has no reason to lie to me, so it must be true.”

“…..”

To be honest, it felt somewhat absurd, but.

Thinking calmly, it wasn’t entirely impossible.

Because hadn’t various animations already proven this multiple times on Earth?

If it goes beyond just being well-made and reaches a position that can be called a ‘masterpiece’.

That work can break free from the position of a simple animation and have a huge influence on the entire society.

The work that became the motif for “Machine God Chronicles” was like that, and so was the work that became the motif for “Book of Life and Death”.

Both in different directions, but didn’t they make a mark in history to the extent that even people with no interest in animation at all would at least know their names?

Of course, I’m not saying that the works I’ve made in this world are on the same level as those works, but.

“If it had been an unreasonable request like with ‘Machine God Chronicles’, I would have stopped it at my level… but this doesn’t seem to be such a case. So I decided to leave it to the Director’s judgment.”

Saying so, Kaya showed an expression of leaving the choice to me, but.

‘No, what am I supposed to do?’

Even I didn’t have any good solution.

To be honest, I did want to extend the airing of “Book of Life and Death” a bit more since Kaya was speaking like this, but.

The problem was that forcibly extending it like that would only result in lowering the quality of the work.

I wanted a clean ending with a clear introduction, development, turn, and conclusion for “Book of Life and Death” more than any other work.

‘Damn, if this was on Earth, it would be a simple matter of branching out into other media mix.’

On Earth, when a work becomes a big hit, they endlessly create spin-offs and side stories, trying to maintain that IP in any way possible.

But in this underdeveloped fantasy world, there’s no decent subculture except for the animations I’ve created, so that’s impossible-

‘No, wait a minute.’

Branching out into other media mix?

Hmm.

That doesn’t seem impossible, actually?

After the appearance of ‘animation’ in the Empire, people became completely immersed in animation and became enthusiastic about it alone.

On the other hand, other cultures except animation were being completely marginalized.

Theater, opera, musical.

Various cultures that had dominated the Empire’s culture until then had now become cold rice, with hardly anyone seeking them out.

Of course, it didn’t mean that theater or musical had completely failed just because animation appeared.

Because even on Earth, while animation and movies are the most popular, it’s not like there are no people going to see theater or musicals.

Many people in the Empire had enjoyed theater or musicals from before, so they were maintaining their lineage in their own way.

But it was undeniable that due to the sudden appearance of animation, the number of people coming to see theater or musicals had greatly decreased compared to before.

“Ugh…! If it weren’t for that Ragna, that Ragna…”

“Why did the heavens give birth to theater and opera, and musicals, and then give birth to animation again?”

Naturally, people working in the fields of theater or musicals couldn’t have good feelings towards Ragna.

But what was even more frustrating was that the animations Ragna created were too interesting.

From “Elli and Hamel’s Disappearance” to “Machine God Chronicles”, and to “Book of Life and Death”.

The radical stories and settings that never existed in existing theater or opera, musicals were such that even they had to admit.

In the end, they realized.

That in terms of pure fun, and in terms of accessibility, theater and musicals were falling behind, and it wouldn’t happen that they would surpass animation in the future.

Therefore, people making theater or musicals made every effort to contact Ragna somehow.

They thought that if it was Ragna who could effortlessly create such fresh stories and excellent settings, it wouldn’t be impossible for him to write scripts that could make people enthusiastic about theater or musicals once again.

However, despite their countless efforts, Ragna had never once responded to their proposals.

As several months passed like that, just when they had finally let go of all hope.

“Hello. I’m Ragna Tersion, the director and producer of ‘Machine God Chronicles’ and ‘Book of Life and Death’.”

For some unknown reason, Ragna suddenly called them and then came to make a proposal.

“I’ll get straight to the point. I hear that recently, due to the animations I make, theater, opera, and musicals aren’t doing well in terms of box office?”

“…Ahem.”

“Well, that’s…”

For a moment, the industry officials made uncomfortable expressions at Ragna’s words.

Certainly, it wasn’t wrong, but it was definitely not something they wanted to hear from the very person who created this slump.

But then.

“In that sense, I’d like to make a proposal to you all. Are you interested in adapting ‘Book of Life and Death’ into a play or musical?”

“Pardon?”

“What did you just say?”

The words that came out of Ragna’s mouth were beyond their imagination.

“Well, to be frank, I think there’s no one here who doesn’t know about ‘Book of Life and Death’ that’s currently being aired on television.”

Well, how could anyone working in the cultural field not know about “Book of Life and Death”?

Although they weren’t expressing it outwardly due to pride, everyone gathered here had watched “Book of Life and Death” up to the latest episode.

“And I’m thinking of concluding the work ‘Book of Life and Death’ at this point. Because I think it’s right to tie it up here for the completeness of the work.”

“…Oh my, is that so.”

“The conclusion of ‘Book of Life and Death’. It’s a bit sad, but I guess it can’t be helped.”

At Ragna’s sudden words, the officials made expressions of surprise, but.

They didn’t show as violent reactions as the nobles did at the state council meeting not long ago.

Because they were producers before being viewers of “Book of Life and Death”, and.

They could roughly understand Ragna’s feelings of wanting to conclude it at this point to increase the completeness of the work.

“I gave a lot of thought to how I could conclude ‘Book of Life and Death’ with completeness, and after much consideration, I was able to decide how to end it. However, the other endings I thought of during the process of consideration were a bit too good to just throw away.”

Of course, Ragna was a person who made anime through copying, so he didn’t experience any pain of creation at all, but.

The officials, not knowing this fact, unknowingly sympathized with Ragna.

“So I’d like to make a proposal to you all. How about adapting ‘Book of Life and Death’ that I created into a play or musical, but with a slightly different version of the ending from the animation? I think many people would definitely show a lot of interest in a play or musical of ‘Book of Life and Death’ then.”

That’s right.

This was the answer Ragna came up with to Kaya’s words.

Even the work that became the motif for “Book of Life and Death” was adapted into all sorts of media mix from animation to movies, dramas, plays, and musicals.

He judged that it wouldn’t be impossible to adapt “Book of Life and Death” into a play or musical in this world as well.

“Hmm…”

“The story develops similarly to the original… but slightly twists only the ending part…”

“It’s a good idea. I think even viewers who have watched the animation to its conclusion would definitely show interest then.”

The officials also showed positive reactions to Ragna’s words.

Given that “Book of Life and Death” has already become a huge hit throughout the Empire.

If news spreads that this is being adapted into a play or musical and performed, it’s clear that viewers of the original would show considerable interest.

But.

“We’ll certainly accept Ragna’s proposal. There’s no reason to refuse. But… will this really make money?”

“…Pardon?”

“It’s embarrassing to say, but recently, there are hardly any people who want to see plays or musicals. Even if there are fans of the original ‘Book of Life and Death’, I think it will be difficult to make people come to see plays or musicals…”

Someone said those words to Ragna’s proposal as if really embarrassed, but.

Ragna had already prepared a way to solve such a problem.

That was.

“Official merchandise for ‘Book of Life and Death’ is planned to come out soon, do you know?”

“…By merchandise for ‘Book of Life and Death’, do you mean related products like figurines of the characters?”

“Yes. But unlike with ‘Machine God Chronicles’, we’re not producing that much merchandise. So this time, I’m thinking of changing the sales method a bit.”

Changing the sales method?
How?

“I’m thinking of distributing lottery tickets, and through those lottery tickets, people can apply and those who win will get the merchandise. Of course, if you have multiple lottery tickets, you can apply multiple times.”

Naturally, the lottery tickets for the merchandise weren’t something given out for free.

“And I want to distribute one lottery ticket for merchandise to people who watch the play or musical of ‘Book of Life and Death’.”

“You’re going to distribute lottery tickets for merchandise like that?”

“To think such an evil method exists in this world!”

The officials widened their eyes at Ragna’s words.

But to be honest, Ragna couldn’t understand their reactions.

This kind of business tactic was nothing more than mild Jin Ramen in Korea.

So Ragna decided to unravel a bit more of the know-how of the proud K-game industry for them.

“Also, if you collect 10 lottery tickets, I’m thinking of upgrading… no, exchanging them for a ‘Super Lottery Ticket’. It’s a lottery ticket with much higher priority than the existing lottery tickets.”

“…Super Lottery Ticket?”

“No, honestly that’s a bit…”

“But if there’s no ceiling for this kind of gacha, people might complain calling it a shit game. So if someone collects 10 Super Lottery Tickets, we plan to give them merchandise unconditionally. What do you think? Wouldn’t this make many people go to see plays or musicals?”

“…..”

“…..”

For some unknown reason, there was no one who answered Ragna’s words.

And thus.

Dog meat… no, K-charging model in the fantasy world.

Soon to be ready for opening.