Animation Producer in a Fantasy World

Recently, the citizens residing in the empire were feeling that something unusual was happening.

The imperial family had been bestowing a certain artifact to most small and medium-sized cities lately.

It was a strange artifact that looked like nothing more than a glass box on the outside.

But people knew all too well what this artifact was used for.

Because it was something that existed in places like government offices or town halls without having to go far.

So, roughly speaking, it seemed to be a communication artifact used by the imperial family whenever they needed to urgently contact each city.

Of course, as with that kind of artifact, there were far more days when it wasn’t used than days when it was used out of 365 days a year.

So much so that some people thought of it as just a strangely shaped ornament rather than an artifact.

But now that the country was suddenly distributing this artifact, which had little presence until now, to every city, people couldn’t help but feel that something was amiss.

“What’s going on? What’s about to happen?”

“Could it be that they’re distributing this for emergency communication in preparation for war?”

“But there hasn’t been a war in decades. And I know our diplomatic relations with other countries are very good…”

While the commoners were wrapped in inexplicable anxiety like this.

Unlike the commoners, the nobles weren’t feeling any anxiety at all.

No, rather, they were waiting for this artifact to be distributed throughout the empire as soon as possible.

Because they roughly knew the reason why the empire was distributing this artifact called ‘television’ through the nobles’ unique information network.

“Finally… the time has come.”

“I’ve been counting the days for this moment. I’m a hardcore fan who has watched ‘The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel’ three times.”

“Hoho, are you boasting in front of me with just that much? I’ve watched ‘The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel’ seven times. Not only that, I even succeeded in collecting all the souvenirs and dolls sold only in the special shop inside the theater.”

“Ugh, that…! How frustrating! If I had just a little more time and budget, I would have watched the anime and collected goods to the extent that you wouldn’t even be able to show your face!”

“Hmm, a new work by the creator of ‘The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel’. This is absolutely irresistible.”

“I bought one of those artifacts called television because my daughter was pestering me so much. She said she wants to watch the original broadcast on time no matter what.”

That’s right.

Recently, in noble society, watching “The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel” had gone beyond being a trend and had become established as a culture.

While they might not care if someone hadn’t seen an opera or play, they would treat someone who hadn’t seen “The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel” as uncultured.

A new saying even emerged: “Don’t associate with those who haven’t watched ‘The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel’ at least three times.” What more needs to be said?

The nobles were paying attention to when the creator of “The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel” would release a new work.

That’s why they didn’t miss the fact that the imperial family was planning to broadcast a new work made by the creator of “The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel” through an artifact called ‘television’.

“By the way, I’m very curious about what the new work by the creator of ‘The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel’ will be. I can’t find any way to know because the imperial family is controlling the information.”

“Hmm… Actually, I have a few people who have connections to the imperial family. So I know a few pieces of information related to the anime he’s releasing this time.”

“Is that true! Can you possibly share that information with us?”

“Well, it’s nothing much… I hear that the new work he’s going to release this time will be broadcast over 50 times, with each episode being about 30 minutes long.”

“…Broadcast a 30-minute animation 50 times? That’s really… an enormous amount.”

“It’s an incredible amount that makes the two-hour ‘The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel’ look like child’s play.”

“Then I think I should buy one of those artifacts called television like you did. With that, I’ll be able to sit comfortably at home and watch the animation for 50 days.”

So the nobles were whispering about the artifact called ‘television’ and the new work of “The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel”.

And soon, even the commoners were able to hear such news.

It wasn’t as if the nobles were plotting some kind of conspiracy, so there was no reason to speak in secret, and before long, the story started to reach the ears of the commoners.

“‘The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel’? I’ve heard of it. Isn’t it some kind of picture story that the noble lords have been enjoying watching recently? But why?”

“What? So… you’re saying the creator of ‘The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel’ plans to broadcast animation for free through that strange artifact?”

“This can’t be. That means we can watch this thing called animation for free just by going to where that artifact is installed, without having to pay money…!”

It goes without saying, but commoners also had the desire to enjoy the cultural life that nobles enjoyed.

It’s just that they were suppressing that desire as much as possible because they couldn’t afford to waste money on unnecessary things when it was hard enough to make ends meet day by day.

But now they have the opportunity to watch this thing called animation, which the nobles are currently obsessed with, for free?

“Damn, then of course we should watch it. If the noble lords watch it well, why shouldn’t we?”

“So when is this animation supposed to start broadcasting? I want to watch the animation quickly too!”

Just as interest was focusing on the new work created by the producer of “The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel”, regardless of whether they were nobles or commoners.

Teaser released for “Machine God Chronicles”, a new animation created by the producer of “The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel”.

Ahead of the full-scale broadcast of the animation, a preview of “Machine God Chronicles” was suddenly released through television.

As usual, people are living their peaceful daily lives.

The scene is so peaceful that they thought this peace would continue forever.

That’s right.

Until the day they suddenly descended upon this world.

Outer Gods.

Terrible monsters with bizarre and hideous appearances that can hardly be thought of as the same living beings.ity pours out every method they have to subjugate the Outer Gods.

And the Outer Gods, against which humanity’s attacks have no effect at all.

They easily neutralize all armies as if swatting flies, and just keep walking somewhere as if looking for something.

The scenes of the empire’s cities being devastated and a man staring blankly at the Machine Gods sleeping somewhere overlap.

And that man mutters in an ice-cold voice towards a boy.

[…Their goal is right here. If they arrive here, humanity will be destroyed.]

[Get in the Machine God, Kai.]

[Board the Machine God and defeat the Outer Gods. That’s the only reason we brought you here.]

Along with Kai’s face looking conflicted about something, the scene changes.

A red-haired girl smiling confidently while boarding a Machine God.

A blonde girl sitting on the shoulder of a Machine God, looking at the stars in the night sky.

A black-haired girl crying while looking at a Machine God quickly flashes across the screen.

And as the image of the commander smiling sinisterly overlaps above it-

[I’ll do it.]

With those words, the screen switches back to a scene where an Outer God and a Machine God are facing each other.

As if acknowledging each other as mortal enemies, at the moment when the fists of the Machine God and the Outer God clash as they reach out towards each other.

Bzzt-

All the sounds coming from the screen disappear in an instant.

And a blackout.

Following that, one sentence appears on the screen.

[“Machine God Chronicles”, scheduled to air at 9 PM on October 4th.]

“…..”

“…..”

As the Emperor showed a blank expression while watching such a preview, Kaya, who was beside him, smiled and opened her mouth.

“What do you think, Your Majesty? The preview of ‘Machine God Chronicles’ that Ragna has newly created. Wouldn’t even people who knew nothing about animation feel quite interested after watching this preview?”

That’s right.

Just before broadcasting the preview of “Machine God Chronicles” on television, Kaya had come to show it to the Emperor first.

Because just as Duke Grinewald was the sponsor of “The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel”, the Emperor was also the actual investor of “Machine God Chronicles”, so this was a very natural thing to do.

Also, there was an ulterior motive to show the preview to the Emperor in advance so that if there were any elements he was uncomfortable with, they could be modified beforehand.

But.

“Um, Your Majesty?”

“…..”

The Emperor’s reaction was a bit strange.

The Emperor, who at first was just looking at the preview of “Machine God Chronicles” with an indifferent expression, was now widening his eyes towards the end.

“…Kaya. There’s one thing I want to ask you.”
“What is it, Your Majesty?”
“The content that just appeared in the preview, does it appear as is in the main anime?”
“…Pardon? Ah, yes. That’s right. The content of the preview is taken from part of the main story after all.”
At Kaya’s answer, the Emperor clicks his tongue as if displeased about something.
“…Haa, that’s really not to my liking.”
At that moment, Kaya felt her heart sink as she heard the Emperor’s mutter.
What she had been so worried about had happened.
For some unknown reason, the Emperor currently doesn’t seem to like “Machine God Chronicles”!

Is it because the empire’s cities being destroyed by unidentified monsters offended the Emperor?

Or is it because the empire’s army is shown to be helpless and just keeps retreating?
‘Then… does Your Majesty intend to demand modifications to “Machine God Chronicles”?’
But even if the storyline of “Machine God Chronicles” contains content that seems to belittle the empire, is it really right for the imperial family to suppress culture in this way?
Just as Kaya was inwardly sighing like this.

“…Kaya.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor called Kaya in a very low voice.

“So… this animation called ‘Machine God Chronicles’, how much of it has been made so far?”

“…Pardon? Ah, as far as I know, about 5 episodes worth have been made…”

“…Bring it.”

“Pardon?”

“I said bring me the 5 episodes worth that have been produced right now! How can you show me such a preview and expect me to wait until the broadcast date! And make sure to bring each new episode to me first as soon as it’s made!”

“…..”

And that was the moment when it was confirmed that the uncensored, uncut version of “Machine God Chronicles” would be broadcast on television.