Chapter 34: Bringing Juniors to the Show

The choice of the magical girl theme was the result of Nanaya's careful consideration, because his main opponents this time, "Kamen Rider" and "Super Sentai", are two top IPs in the field of special effects since the Showa era.

Apart from Tsuburaya's "Ultraman", there is no other heroic special effects drama that can compete with it.

Although Nanaya has watched many heroic special effects dramas, they basically all belong to the three major special effects series. The only ones outside the three major ones, "Dinosaur Express Ks-X" and "Ultraman Grid", have already been completed by Tsuburaya.

Although there is also an option of "SSSS.Gridman", considering that the story and world view are inherited from "Gridman" itself, there will be a lot of trouble if it is really changed.

The same goes for the works of the three major series produced after 2000. Leaving aside the Ultraman series, which has been selling nostalgia since the failure of "Ultraman Nexus", the elements of the "Super Sentai" and "Kamen Rider" series are too iconic. Whether it's the transformation belt or the combined robot of the Five Colors Sentai, they are basically synonymous with them.

If it's just a minor change, anyone with a discerning eye can tell that Nanaya is copying these two series. If Nanaya is still the unknown little director he was half a year ago, it would be fine, and he would probably be praised for paying tribute properly, but now that he has a movie with a box office of 2 billion, he will be criticized if he does this again.

As for major changes, Nanaya said, if I have the energy, why don't I just shoot a new one myself?

After failing to pursue the heroic special effects route, Nanaya had no choice but to choose other special effects themes.

What genre is the most popular in Japan besides heroic themes?

Of course it's a magical girl!

As the most popular theme in Japan, magical girls have always been an evergreen in Japanese anime and fantasy works. From the early "Flower Fairy" to the first generation of the cute king Sakura Kinomoto, who laid the foundation for the major elements of the magical girl theme; and "Pretty Cure" which has been released for 14 seasons; and "Magical Girl Nanoha" which pushed the magical girl theme to the peak; and "Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha", the peak work of healing (causing) depression, "Puella Magi Madoka Magica".

Moreover, the role of magical girls is constantly changing, from elementary school students aged 11 or 12 at the beginning, to girls aged 15 or 16, and then magical girls with blurred genders appeared. Later, brothers, aunts and even grandmothers in their 80s can become magical girls.

Just like Hollywood can stuff any theme into superhero movies, the Japanese can also stuff any kind of story into magical girls.

After deciding on the subject matter, Nanaya began to choose which magical girl movie he should shoot. At first, he considered the works that impressed him the most, including Pretty Cure, Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and Magical Girl Illya.

Considering that TBS only left itself about 26 episodes for two seasons, he simply gave up on the super long series "Pretty Cure".

Among the remaining three, Nanaya took into consideration that "Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha" was derived from the restricted game "Eternal Love Song 3: Lilica's Toy Box", which was ready to be released next year, so in order to avoid a conflict, he also passed Nanoha.

Between "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" and "Magical Girl Illya", Nanaya chose Illya without hesitation. Not only because the leading actors were already available, but more importantly, the plot of "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" was too obscure and dark, and was not suitable for children at all.

If TBS had given it a late-night slot for Seven Nights, they might have used this, but as a Saturday evening slot with children as the main audience group, showing them something like "U-Turning Senior" would probably result in the show being cancelled due to complaints from parents.

Even if it hadn't been cancelled, the ratings would have dropped to around 1%. By then, Nanaya would have been hung on the flagpole at the top of the TBS building by Director Takeda to dry.

During this time period, the ratings of children are the basic audience, and only by ensuring the ratings of this audience can we impact the higher levels. Trying to attract older audiences with obscure plots is wrong in itself.

"Ultraman Nexus" four years later proved this to everyone. No matter how profound the plot was, it was beyond the comprehension of children and lacked the signature features of special effects dramas such as exciting fighting.

If they don't like it, they don't like it. After all, children don't have any pursuits. If it's not good-looking, it's not good-looking. They are the audience group that is most likely to vote with their feet.

Although Director Takeda mentioned that he would not force ratings, it is just for show. If Nanaya took it seriously, he would be really stupid.

As for crushing "Kamen Rider Kuuga"... well, Nanaya said that his brain is not broken. It's okay to say that defeating "Kamen Rider Kuuga" is a slogan, but it's too stupid to think that you can make your dream come true.

That? But it's "Kamen Rider"! Using a new IP to go head-on with a popular series that has been at its peak since the Showa era is no longer ignorant and fearless.

Nanaya estimated that as long as his work could get a viewership rate of around 5%, it would be acceptable, and if it could reach 10%, it would be considered an overachievement.

However, it is too early to talk about ratings now. What he needs to do now is the preliminary preparations for "Magical Girl Illya".

The first is the issue of actors. There is no doubt that the number one female role, Illya, will be chosen, but the choice of the number two female role, Miyu, needs to be considered.

However, what surprised Nanaya was that a sudden invitation temporarily interrupted his plan to select actresses.

He, Nanaya Kiryu, received an invitation to a show.

This program was an invitation to TBS's variety interview program "Best Filmmaker". Nanaya was not sure whether there was such a program in Japan in the previous life, but even if there was, it would be completely different from now.

The reason is very simple, the host of this program is actually called Fujimura Taiga!

This show should actually be called Tiger Dojo! Illya, where is your gymnastics uniform? ! Go play Disciple No. 1!

However, this program is very popular among Japanese audiences. Fujimura Taiga makes this program very interesting with her optimistic and cheerful personality and crosstalk-like eloquence. Many artists in the film industry like to be on her show.

But Nanaya would definitely not be among these people. Although the name of this program is so serious, Nanaya can guess what the tone of this program is after seeing the name of the host. Especially after watching one of the programs, Nanaya has become more determined in his opinion.

This is a variety talk show with Japanese characteristics.

What are Japanese characteristics?

In fact, it is a program that digs deep into the gossip of artists and uses it as a selling point. This type of program is very popular among Japanese audiences. Due to the huge pressure of life and work, they are particularly fond of entertainment gossip and various rumors. This is why things like urban ghost stories are particularly popular in Japan.

Although people all over the world are interested in digging out gossip, it seems to be particularly popular in Japan, so some gossip magazines sell particularly well in Japan.

"Best Filmmaker" is a typical example of this type of program that digs deep into celebrity gossip.

Of course, with Fujimura Taiga's personality, which is not sure whether he is really stupid or pretending to be stupid, the artists on the show will not care too much even if they accidentally dig up some information.

However, for someone like Nanaya who pays more attention to privacy, he is reluctant to be on this show. What if he says something that he shouldn't say?

However, what Nanaya couldn't refuse was that the name of his teacher, Hanai Ryuichi, was already on the invitation of the program given by the TV station. In other words, this was a task given to him by his teacher.

More importantly, this program is a live broadcast.

"What a joke! Isn't this a treatment only for big-name film talents? Can't this newcomer just record it?"

Facing his disciple's complaints, Ryuichi drank hot tea and explained slowly: "So this is the condition I fought for you, so you just work hard and don't lose my face. This is a great opportunity to promote "Kara no Kyoukai" to hit the 3 billion box office and promote your new drama. I know you don't like to be on the show, so I only picked this one with the most weight."

"How can this be..."

Nanaya complained unwillingly. He knew he had no right to refuse the teacher's request, but it was not his style to just surrender.

Coincidentally, Nanaya saw Ori hiding behind the teacher and covering her mouth with her hands and laughing.

"It's decided. Ori will be on this show with me!"

"Huh?!"