Full-time cartoonist - #163 - Chapter 161

Although the Meiji Basketball Team was able to enter the national competition, they lost to the Tokai Basketball Team, their former loser, which made them very depressed.

Hirota had been dreaming about it and couldn’t sleep the whole night last night. All he could think about was that after winning the qualifying championship, he would be bathed in the lights and enjoy the cheers of the audience.

But now, this cheer belongs to others.

Looking at Tori Akino at the scene, he didn’t dare to step forward to ask for an autograph.

Fengnan suppressed the sadness in his heart and called his teammates to gather together and shake hands with the Donghai basketball team.

“We will definitely beat you in the national competition.” Hirota said. He took one last look at Hibiki Higashino and disappeared in the aisle.

Hirota made up his mind to win the national championship. At that time, he could also ask for Akino Tori’s autograph in the future.

…

Hibiki declined the dinner party, and after bidding farewell to Takehiko Orimo, he checked the time and hailed a taxi on the roadside.

After waiting for more than ten minutes, there was no empty car.

He was getting more and more irritated. Time was precious and was wasted here.

“It’s time to take the driver’s license test.” Hibiki thought.

This is quite troublesome for him because it takes a lot of time.

The short-term dormitory system requires you to live in the driving school, which makes it impossible to work.

If you squeeze in half a day every Sunday to practice driving during the day school system, it will take about half a year.

This must be done.

Hibiki Higashino has driving experience, and it won’t take long to switch from left-hand drive to right-hand drive, but the process cycle of driving training makes him speechless.

With this in mind, this year is almost over and Hibiki Higashino still hasn’t taken the driver’s license test.

Without a private car, Higashino Hibiki’s life has become increasingly inconvenient.

Another ten minutes passed and finally there was an empty car.

Higashino Hibiki told Shueisha’s address.

What we are here to discuss is the animation of “Slam Dunk”. The editorial department has determined the production company to be Toei Animation after dividing the interests.

The person who needs to communicate now is Miku Akino, the original author.

If the deal is settled with him, then the animation of “Slam Dunk” can be announced.

Sasaki originally planned to take the producer and supervisor to visit Hibiki Hibiki, but Hibiki calculated the distance and time and simply made an appointment at Shueisha.

Along the way, Higashikata thought about it for a long time.

In the previous world, there was a slight friction between Inoue Takehiko and Toei Animation because he decided to finish “Slam Dunk” after the King of the Mountain National Competition.

This little friction can actually be avoided on Higashino Hibiki’s side.

Hibiki decided to make it clear in advance and let Toei make the decision.

If you can’t stand the end of a hit, then don’t make Slam Dunk.

Before the serialization of “Slam Dunk”, Mr. Inoue was a pure newcomer and was incapable of negotiating with Shueisha.

Before Hibiki Higashino serialized “Slam Dunk”, he already had “The Soul of the Game”, a hugely influential work.

As a very popular author, he has an agreement with Kazuhiko Toshima about the “right to complete the work.”

Facing both the magazine and the author, the animation company that has not officially entered the market can naturally understand its position.

…

Higashino Hibiki got out of the taxi in a hurry, only to find that Sasaki and his party were already waiting at the gate of Shueisha.

He trotted over quickly, “Sorry, I wasted some time.”

“We arrived earlier, ten minutes before the agreed time, which surprised you, Mr. Tori Akino.”

One of the strangers said to Hibiki Higashikata.

Finally, he looked at Hibiki Hibiki with eager eyes.

This was probably the supervisor. Hibiki Higashino quickly stretched out his hand: “Hello, I am Tori Akino Mirai, the author of “Slam Dunk”.”

“I’m Kaede Inoue,” the other party shook hands with Hibiki Higashino, “I’m an employee of Toei Animation Production Company.”

He handed Higashi Hibiki a business card, and sure enough it was the title of supervisor.

“Come into the conference room,” Sasaki said.

The wind outside in December was like a bone scraper. Seeing everyone trembling, Higashikata felt guilty in his heart.

When he walked into the conference room, there was hot coffee on the table. Kazuhiko Torishima also came over. He was holding an ornament in his hand, looked into the conference room, and smiled.

Higashikata hurriedly pulled him in. Now was the time to use the things we had agreed upon.

Unexpectedly, Mr. Supervisor was not in a hurry at all. Inoue Kaede took out the single volume and asked Hibiki Higashino to sign it as the first priority.

He glanced at the signed booklet with satisfaction and carefully put it into his pocket.

“When I was a kid, I saw a cartoon called “Big Rice Bucket” on TV when I was still in my hometown of Kagoshima. It was a baseball cartoon created by Mr. Mizushima Shinji.” Inoue Kaede said: “This animation has deep roots in my heart. I was deeply attracted to it, it turned out that sports animation is so interesting.”

In Higashino Hibiki’s eyes, Inoue Kaede said with familiarity: “When I was in elementary school, I hoped to become a supervisor and produce a sports-themed cartoon.”

“When I was in junior high school, I joined the basketball team. At that time, or maybe I am the same now, before sports themes, I limited myself to the word basketball.”

“It’s just that basketball cartoons are too rare, and it’s impossible for original basketball animations to pass the company’s plan. At this stage, I can only improve myself. I have produced a lot of cartoons.”

“For example, Mr. Hojo Tsukasa’s “Cat’s Eye Three Sisters” and “City Hunter”.”

Higashino Hibiki looked at him blankly. He didn’t expect that the “Three Cat-Eye Sisters” that made him so excited was the work of the man wearing glasses in front of him.

From this point of view, Inoue Kaede is indeed a senior supervisor.

“At the beginning of this year, I saw “Slam Dunk” on Jump. The painting style was very similar to Mr. Hojo’s painting style, with a realistic charm. This gave me a big surprise. I had a hunch that in the first half of my life, I was born for this work.”

“Tori Akino-sensei, please, please leave “Slam Dunk” to me to produce. I will try my best 100%!”

Not long after meeting Higashino Hibiki, this supervisor said such sincere words.

Hibiki Higashino was so moved that he felt he loved “Slam Dunk” more than himself.

Moreover, Higashino Hibiki had a hunch that what the supervisor said was true.

He also has the craftsmanlike temperament of an artist, the type who polishes his works carefully and has strict requirements.

Dong Yexiang opened his mouth and wanted to agree immediately.

It would be rude to refuse him.

At the last moment, under Inoue Kaede’s expectant eyes, Higashino Hibiki closed his mouth.

Suddenly, his eyes became disappointed.

Sasaki coughed and told Toei Company’s conditions.

The production funds are absolutely sufficient, and the work is broadcast on TV Asahi in prime time.

The promotion of “Slam Dunk” will be carried out simultaneously through all channels.

As for the content of the work, employees with first-class abilities are employed.

Even the outsourced content will be strictly controlled.

What appears in front of Higashino Hibiki will be seriousness visible to the naked eye.

It is rare for Toei to produce such a guaranteed vote, which shows their enthusiasm.

The main reason is that time is so important. It is the end of 1996, the lowest point of Jump. For Toei, there is no longer the gold magnet of “Dragon Ball”.

Although “Dragon Ball GT” produced at the beginning of the year is also a hit with an average ratings of 14%, after the completion of “Dragon Ball GT”, there will be no animated works of the Dragon Ball IP in a short period of time.

So Toei has set its sights on “Slam Dunk”. “Slam Dunk” can definitely get the treatment that “Dragon Ball” received in the past.

Higashino Hibiki is very satisfied with these quite attractive conditions.

The author himself, of course, hopes that his work will be treated well.

So he looked at Torishima Kazuhiko.

Torishima Kazuhiko was watching the excitement, the ornaments in his hands were topsy-turvy. At this time, following Hibiki Higashino’s gaze, everyone in the room looked at him.

“???” Torishima Kazuhiko was confused.

But it didn’t take long for him to understand Higashino Hibiki’s thoughts.

Although he felt that Higashino Hibiki was unfounded, he still coughed twice and revealed all the previous agreements with Higashino Hibiki.

“Jump’s circulation has exceeded 5 million, and Tori Akino-sensei has met the original requirements. Shueisha has no ability to stop him from completing the manga.”

What he said here was to tell Higashino Hibiki that he would keep his promise.

“How could this be?” The producer, who had been silent all this time, patted the table and stood up.

He felt that Shueisha was no longer reliable.

The author is the one who is being exploited, and he is too lenient towards Tori Akino and Torishima Kazuhiko!

“On behalf of Toei, I can definitely agree!” Inoue Kaede felt warm in her heart and stood up.

Hibiki Higashino, who has such an idea, is the author who can produce “Slam Dunk”!

Not compromising the integrity of the work because of profit, this made Inoue Kaede worship Higashino Hibiki who had just grown up.

“Inoue-san, it’s better to contact the president first.” The disgraced producer tugged on Inoue’s clothes in distress and scolded his teammates in his heart.

“There is absolutely no need. It is impossible for Toei to give up “Slam Dunk”. Faced with the current situation, the president will definitely agree.” Kaede Inoue said.

“I know…” The producer was speechless.

Although the supervisor in front of me is talented, he is too single-minded.

With this excuse, can’t we use the topic to our advantage and gain more benefits?

The result was that he agreed so easily, which was simply unreasonable.

“Mr. Inoue is so refreshing,” Hibiki Hibiki nodded, “That’s it, I agree that the “Slam Dunk” animation was produced by Toei.”

“Great!” Inoue Kaede held Higashino Hibiki’s hands tightly, “I will give you a satisfactory answer sheet.”

Torishima Kazuhiko applauded, and then the entire conference room burst into applause.

The two people in front of me are both strange people. They put aside their interests and only care about their works.

It’s rare, but such an innocent heart may be the reason why he can produce classic works that touch people’s hearts.

After everything settled, Higashikata smiled and said, “There is one more thing I want to trouble you with.”

That’s when “Comical Manga Hiyori” was released.

After learning about this incident, the producer said distressedly: “Now the schedule of the show has been decided…”

Afterwards, he learned that one episode was only five minutes long, and it was set in the night time slot, so he patted his chest and made sure.

“It will be broadcast on January 10th, but it has to be sent to TV Asahi a week in advance.”

“Thanks for your hard work.”

After signing the two contracts, Hibiki Higashino breathed a sigh of relief and all the trivial matters were taken care of.