Animation Producer in a Fantasy World

In the past, there was a time when a question in a Korean textbook, “Is it really justice to privately kill someone who has committed a crime?” became a huge topic worldwide.

Just looking at this, it seemed like a common sentence that wouldn’t be a problem even if it appeared in a textbook.

But if the reason this sentence was included in the textbook was none other than a manga, the story becomes a bit different.

That work which made all people living in modern society deeply contemplate what justice and evil really are.

And now, I was planning to produce an animation based on that work.

“Do you know about the existence called ‘Shinigami’ (Death God)?”

“…Shinigami?”

“Uh… Do you mean that being that appears in fairy tale books? You know, the one that always goes around covered in a cloak to harvest the souls of dead people?”

“The story of judging the dead while holding a large scythe in one hand and a book of life and death in the other is very famous.”

Listening to Serika and Kaya’s words, I slowly nodded.

“But here’s the thing. If we assume that a Shinigami drops a book of life and death in the human world that can bring death by writing a human’s name, what kind of things would happen?”

“…Pardon?”

Thus, I explained the story of the so-called “Book of Life and Death”, which was benchmarked from… no, ripped off from ‘that work’, to Serika, Kaya, and my master.

“…Hooh.”

“Hmm, that’s…”

After hearing my explanation, the three showed different reactions.

First, Serika made an extremely impressed expression as soon as she heard my explanation.

“As expected, Ragna. You’re amazing. To think you could sublimate Father’s idea into such an incredible story. At this level, couldn’t we say you’ve newly created the story?”

“…..”

Even so, won’t the Duke be a bit hurt if you speak like that?

I felt slightly relieved that the Duke himself wasn’t present here.

Meanwhile, Kaya shows me a very surprised expression.

“…Excellent. Indeed, if you make a work like that, it seems it would be very interesting. And it’s very novel. How on earth can you come up with such brilliant ideas?”

“…..”

Hearing such high praise from Kaya, I realized that I had grown considerably compared to the past.

If I had heard such words in the early days of making anime, I would have felt extremely embarrassed.

Now, perhaps because I had excessively used clichés and rip-offs while making “Machine God Chronicles”, I only felt indifferent.

“But… the story of that… ‘Book of Life and Death’, was it? That animation’s story you explained, Director, is interesting, but I see many flaws in the setting.”

“What kind of flaws do you mean?”

“For example, that scene you mentioned where the protagonist and the detective trying to catch him first confront each other. Just looking at that scene, the setting doesn’t seem very realistic.”

Kaya opened her mouth in a very calm tone.

“You said the detective broadcasts a provocation across the continent saying he will catch the protagonist, and the protagonist, falling for that provocation, can’t stand it and commits murder, thus starting their full-fledged confrontation, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“But the artifacts currently being used to broadcast animations are artifacts only used in the Empire. Other countries don’t widely use such artifacts. Don’t you think the setting seems unrealistic from this point?”

“Hmm.”

Certainly, Kaya’s point was not wrong.

No, from some aspects, it could be said to be a very sharp observation.

As long as ‘that work’s’ background is 21st century modern society, “Book of Life and Death”, which is based on it, would inevitably have various holes in its setting.

But.

“Ah, I forgot to mention one fact.”

“What is it?”

“The world appearing in “Book of Life and Death” is, by setting, a world where technology has developed a bit more than the reality we live in. For example, it’s a world where everyone carries around a portable artifact that allows them to talk to others anytime, anywhere.”

“…Pardon? But that’s-”

It seems Kaya wanted to say that doesn’t make sense, but.

Unfortunately, it does make sense.

How to construct the world view in the animation was a matter that depended solely on the producer’s mind.

So when producing animation in a fantasy world, couldn’t we make an anime with a background where magical engineering is a bit more developed?

Come to think of it, even the world view of “Machine God Chronicles” could be said to be an SF world view rather than a fantasy world view.

Thus, I explained various items that could be called essentials for modern people.

‘Ah, this is what’s called a cell phone. If you want, you can talk to someone hundreds of kilometers away.’

‘Ah, this is called grilling. It means that when you cook meat over fire, the meat becomes more delicious.’

Well, something like that.

Fortunately, there were several similar items among the artifacts used by magicians, so everyone here easily understood my explanation.

Of course, understanding my words easily and looking at me with admiring eyes were completely different stories.

“…Amazing. Even great magicians needed at least decades to come up with such concepts, but you can talk about such things as if you’ve really used them…”

“It’s amazing. If someone who doesn’t know anything sees it, they might mistake the Director for having really lived in such a world. As expected, you’re a genius, Director.”

“…..”

I’m sorry. Actually, I’m not a genius, I really lived there….

Thus, leaving behind the various misconceptions and misunderstandings of people towards me.

The production of the second TVA animation, “Book of Life and Death”, officially began.

The first thing Ragna did as soon as the production of “Book of Life and Death” was confirmed was to inform the Duke of this fact.

After all, it was thanks to the Duke’s idea that Ragna was able to plan a work called “Book of Life and Death”.

Naturally, the Duke, upon hearing this fact from Ragna, immediately fell into a crucible of madness.

“What? That Ragna said he would make an animation out of the idea I came up with!”

“Yes. But he didn’t use all of your ideas, Father. For example, he said he doesn’t really like using the name ‘Ruanox’ as the protagonist’s name.”

“…Hmm. Is that so. Well, it can’t be helped then.”

Surprisingly, the Duke accepted that fact very coolly.

To begin with, the Duke himself didn’t even expect his ideas to be 100% animated.

In fact, from a macroscopic point of view, what does something like the protagonist’s name matter?

Also, there was a decisive reason why the Duke allowed Ragna to change the protagonist’s name at will.

That was.

“Also, Ragna said he would provide you with the preview copies of “Book of Life and Death” 2 weeks in advance in return for using your ideas, Father.”

“Wh-What?”

At Serika’s words, the Duke widened his eyes.

In the past, during the time when “Machine God Chronicles” was airing.

The absolute source of power that made the Emperor rename all nobles as Undine, the water spirit.

The privilege of being able to watch the animation 2 weeks in advance.

Is he saying that he will now give that privilege to the Duke, not the Emperor, this time?

“Kuhahahahaha!”

Finally, the Duke burst into laughter looking at the sky… well, the ceiling of the mansion.

But that was only for a moment.

“…No, this is not the time.”

The Duke had the kind thought that he should not enjoy this good news alone, but share it with someone else.

Isn’t joy something that becomes twice as joyful when shared with others?

So he went to visit.

The Emperor, who had thoroughly spoiled the contents of “Machine God Chronicles” in front of the Duke in the past.

“…What brings you to seek out this emperor, Duke?”

“Well, it’s nothing too significant, Your Majesty.”

The Duke opened his mouth with an attitude that was very smug, although he tried to hide it in his own way.

“That Ragna said he would provide me with preview copies of the animation that will air as the successor to “Machine God Chronicles”.”

“Wh-What!”

At that moment, the Emperor’s pupils shook greatly.

Because the Emperor had currently lost that privilege due to the incident related to the true ending of “Machine God Chronicles”.

When he heard the news that Ragna had now given that privilege to the Duke, the Emperor finally let out a sigh towards the sky.

‘Why did heaven give birth to me and then give birth to the Duke!’

Seeing the Emperor’s expression become severely distorted like that, the Duke felt the need to give a carrot to the Emperor at this point.

“Would you like to know?”

“…What?”

“Just as Your Majesty bestowed the grace of informing us in advance about the contents related to “Machine God Chronicles” in the past, if Your Majesty wishes, I too can inform you about the contents related to “Book of Life and Death”. Of course, it would need Ragna’s permission.”

“…!”

The Duke’s proposal was extremely sweet and at the same time truly humiliating for the Emperor.

Because what the Duke was doing now closely resembled the teabagging the Emperor had performed on the Duke in the past.

But.

‘I… can no longer live a life without that pleasure…’

In the past, the thrill felt when teabagging in front of the nobles with content related to “Machine God Chronicles” was literally like a drug.

What more needs to be said when even now, his body would tremble just recalling the dopamine felt at that time?

In the end, there was only one thing the Emperor could say to the Duke at this moment.

“…I accept your proposal. I will accept it, Duke.”

“A wise decision, Your Majesty.”

Saying so, the Duke suddenly extended his hand towards the Emperor.

“Then please return them.”

“…Hm?”

“The limited edition figures of “Ellie and Hamel’s Disappearance” and “Machine God Chronicles” that Your Majesty took in the past. You must return them now.”

“…..”

And so.

Ellie’s awakened version figure and the 1/144 scale Unit 0 figure that were placed in the Emperor’s secret exhibition hall.

All confiscated.