"You know what to do about the outsourcing," Takuya Nakayama said, setting down his teacup and tapping his fingers lightly on the table. "Don't sacrifice quality to rush the schedule. That's like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. How's the voice acting coming along? That's the heart and soul of this project."
At the mention of this, Prince Hiroi, who had been slumped on the sofa, instantly sprang to attention, his excitement surging even higher, his eyes practically glowing.
"Managing Director, that Chisa Yokoyama you insisted on hiring against all odds is nothing short of a miracle! She was born to play Sakura Shinguji!"
Hiroi pulled a cassette tape from his bag. Though he couldn't play it there, his expression said it all. "We just started recording the first two episodes. The moment she opened her mouth, the whole studio fell silent. She captured that innocent, rural girl's awkwardness upon entering the big city, and the steely resolve when she draws her sword—she nailed it perfectly."
Takuya nodded slightly, his expression calm.
In his previous life, Chisa Yokoyama had been the very soul of Sakura Shinguji. Naturally, she wouldn't disappoint in this life either.
"What surprised me most was her explosive power," Prince Hiroi gesticulated wildly as he spoke. "During the audition, I had her try a passage with intense emotion. I thought her sweet voice wouldn't be able to handle it, but you know what happened? Her voice deepened, and she actually managed to convey the dignity of a mature woman! Though still a bit youthful, her versatility is incredible—she doesn't seem like a newcomer at all."
Takuya chuckled inwardly. Chisa Yokoyama's vocal potential was immense; she would undoubtedly be able to handle any mature female role in the future. Of course she had the foundation for it.
"Now that Sakura Shinguji is confirmed, what about the others?"
"I selected them all according to your standards. Each one is excellent." Prince Hiroi counted on his fingers. "Michie Tomizawa, who's playing Sumire Kanzaki, has this aristocratic air that makes me want to kneel and call her 'Queen.' And Mayumi Tanaka, who's playing Kanna Kirishima, has such a powerful voice she could blow the roof off the studio. With this lineup, we're practically guaranteed success."
At this point, Prince Hiroi's expression softened slightly, and he scratched his head with a hint of regret, his voice growing softer.
"Regarding that live stage play project... so far, only Chisa Yokoyama has signed the intent agreement."
"Oh? Are the others hesitant?" Takuya wasn't surprised; he'd anticipated this.
"Exactly. After all, voice actors stepping onto the stage to act—and wearing those... uh, rather anime-ish battle costumes—most just can't let go. Plus, the agencies are worried about damaging the actors' images, so they're all watching and waiting." Prince Hiroi sighed. "Especially veterans like Tomizawa and Tanaka, asking them to sing and dance on stage like idols is really pushing it. They see it as a gimmick that might not amount to anything."
"That's fine. No rush." Takuya waved his hand, his tone relaxed. "Having Chisa Yokoyama be the first to take the plunge is enough. How was her performance at the audition?"
"Perfect!" Prince Hiroi gave a thumbs-up. "The moment she puts on that red-and-white kimono, she is Sakura Shinguji. That meta-breaking, dimension-defying feeling... just one glance gives me goosebumps. Her conviction on stage surpasses many professional actors."
"Perfect. When we restart preparations for the Flower Troupe stage play, we'll start by establishing Sakura Shinguji as our flagship talent." Takuya stood up, walked to the window, and gazed down at the bustling traffic below. "As for the other roles, once the game is released, the anime airs, and 'Sakura Wars' becomes a cultural phenomenon, suitable actors will be eager to join."
He turned to face Prince Hiroi. "Take your time refining the stage play script. There's no rush to cast anyone besides Yokoyama. We're fishing for big game here, so we need to use the right bait and have plenty of patience. Forcing anyone into the project now would only show our lack of confidence."
Prince Hiroi looked at the much younger Managing Director and nodded firmly. "Understood! I'll have Yokoyama practice his stage presence and singing more. We'll sharpen this blade."
"Now that we've maxed out our progress bar, we don't need to hold back anymore." Takuya circled April on the calendar. "The anime will debut as a spring 2024 series, airing prime time on TV Tokyo."
Prince Hiroi froze for a moment before breaking into a radiant smile. "Managing Director, this backdoor maneuver of yours is awfully... straightforward. What about TV Tokyo—?"
"We're using our own resources. Why let them go to waste?" Takuya waved his hand dismissively, his tone matter-of-fact. "I'll mention it to my father-in-law later and secure the best time slot for us. When the game releases right after the anime's climax, I want every otaku—ahem, every gamer—in Japan to see Sakura Shinguji on their TV screens and in every store."
"That's saturation-level bombardment!" Hiroi rubbed his hands together, clearly thrilled by this audacious, deep-pocketed approach. "What about merchandise? The game and anime alone won't recoup their costs anytime soon."
"That's where our old friend Bandai comes in."
Takuya pulled a faxed document from his drawer and tossed it onto the table.
"This is the model design supervision draft just sent by Bandai."
Prince Hiroi leaned over to take a look, his eyes widening in astonishment.
The blueprints clearly showed the disassembled "Kōbu" mecha, its plump yet steampunk aesthetic intact. Detailed molding plans were also provided for the "Flying Whale Maru" mothership and the high-speed transport boat, "Thunderbolt."
"This is insane! How long has it been since we finalized the designs?" Hiroi exclaimed, tongue-tied. "Do those Bandai guys never sleep?"
"That's just how Bandai rolls. Give them a blueprint, and they'll churn out a design in no time." Takuya pointed to the intricate details on the blueprints. "I've already told Bandai that the Kōbu cockpit must open and accommodate a scaled-down figurine of the pilot. We want players to buy this not just to display, but to play with."
"The craftsmanship required is top-notch. The cost—"
"The customer pays for it all. Just make it exquisite and charge a premium. These days, for love, who cares about a few thousand yen?"
Takuya spoke casually, while Prince Hiroi nodded repeatedly in agreement.
This is how big business is done, Hiroi thought. Not just selling games, but emptying players' wallets—and making them shout "This is amazing!" in the process.
"Alright, since Bandai is being so cooperative, we can't drop the ball on our end." Prince Hiroi gathered the documents from the table, carefully inserting the model supervision draft into his folder. "I'll give Madhouse a hard push too. Oh, and Managing Director, the first two completed episodes will be ready by the beginning of next month. Old Man Maruyama asked me to invite you over to review them."
"That's easy enough." Takuya stood up, straightening his suit jacket. "I want to see for myself what we're getting for all that money we've invested. If the quality is subpar, I'll be pounding the table right there."
"Don't worry a single bit!" Prince Hiroi slapped his chest, radiating confidence. "Those visuals will make you feel every penny was spent exactly where it should have been. Just remember to bring tissues."
"Why bring tissues?"
"To wipe away the tears of emotion!" Prince Hiroi laughed heartily, grabbed his briefcase, and stormed out of the office with a flourish.
Takuya shook his head with a smile, watching the door slam shut.
The old man's still full of energy.
But if the animation quality truly lives up to his claims, this "Sakura Wars" bombshell will likely explode a few years earlier than it did in my previous life.
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