89 KiShin's two surprising announcements

[Tokyo]

In Tokyo, a group of young friends engaged in an animated discussion about the 'Metroid' video game.

"Hey, did any of you catch the ending of 'Metroid'?" inquired Ike Dai, who was an enthusiast of KiShin, Tora, and Suzuki video games, as they strolled along the sidewalk.

Tora's supporter among them responded with a hint of disdain, "Oh, that challenging game? I seriously contemplated quitting while playing."

Suzuki's fan nodded in agreement, stating, "Absolutely! That video game is incredibly tough and quite intricate."

"Yeah, why does KiShin assume we can figure it out without any instructions?" added the Tora supporter.

Ike Dai felt that his friends were somewhat narrow-minded, shaking his head as he said, "I respectfully disagree with your opinions. For me, it's precisely because 'Metroid' is challenging, complex, and demanding that I adore it!"

The Tora supporter snickered, suggesting, "Dai, you're just a KiShin fanatic, aren't you?"

The Suzuki fan joined in, taunting, "Dai, give 'Ninja Master' a try sometime."

The Tora supporter chimed in, "And 'Rampage Tengu' is an absolute blast, Dai, you should try it," he said with a grin.

Ike Dai smiled wryly and responded, "Let me tell you guys, I've already played those games, and 'Metroid' is in a league of its own compared to those straightforward ones."

His two friends fell into silence at that point.

Ike Dai continued with enthusiasm, "Let me tell you, guys! 'Metroid' offers some truly unexpected surprises, especially with its ending."

His two friends remained puzzled by this statement. The Tora supporter, who had only played 'Metroid' briefly, inquired, "I've only played 'Metroid' for a short time. What's so surprising about the ending?"

Ike Dai couldn't help but giggle as he observed his friends' confusion. He replied with a proud gleam in his eyes, "You wouldn't believe it! If you make it to the end of 'Metroid,' you'll discover just how fascinating the ending can be!"

The Suzuki fan frowned and pressed further, asking, "What makes the ending of 'Metroid' so interesting?"

Ike Dai wore a mysterious smile and stated, "You'll find out when you play the game." He paused, noticing the curiosity in his friends' eyes, and added, "I can only say that 'Metroid' offers multiple endings, and they are quite surprising."

The Tora Supporter and Suzuki Fan exchanged dismayed glances.

It seemed they needed to experience the 'Metroid' video game for themselves to truly understand its various endings, as Ike Dai's words had ignited their curiosity.

---

The video game 'Metroid' had become a major talking point not only in Tokyo but also in various regions across Japan.

Its popularity was such that 'Metroid' saw a staggering increase in sales, with 40 thousand copies sold in a single day!

Notably, other KiShin video games like 'Super Mario Bros' and 'The Legend of Zelda' also enjoyed a significant boost in sales, while Tora and Suzuki Video Games experienced an all-time low in sales.

This turn of events left them incredulous.

With KiShin having released just one game, 'Metroid,' their previously intense rivalry seemed comical now.

In a KiShin advertisement, the two rival companies were playfully referenced, with a humorous scene: a ringing telephone was answered by a man, a minor celebrity played the role of a father, saying, "Suzuki Mushi (Bug)? Ah, it was Tora-san!"

This light-hearted mockery drew laughter from viewers, especially since KiShin could now afford to advertise on major broadcasting channels like TBS, Nippon TV, and NHK.

Upon seeing this, one of the Suzuki executives exclaimed, "Let's make sure that actor never gets another opportunity in the entertainment industry!"

"Yeah! Our connections run deeper than KiShin... He picked the wrong side," nodded another executive in agreement.

Tora followed a similar approach, effectively closing doors for the small-time actor within the entertainment industry.

However, what they didn't know was that the actor had anticipated this move and had already requested a substantial sum from KiShin. His plan was to launch a small street food business in bustling tourist spots...

---

December 10, 1990.

[Japan, Tokyo]

Just when everyone believed that the phenomenal 'Metroid' video game marked KiShin's final contribution to the gaming world, and the buzz surrounding KiShin's dominance in the gaming community and industry was starting to cool down, KiShin surprised everyone by making two significant announcements.

The first announcement was that KiShin would be releasing a new video game on December 11, 1990.

This news sent ripples of concern through Tora and Suzuki, along with their devoted fan bases.

However, the most astonishing news wasn't directed towards their two competitors.

Indeed, it was aimed squarely at the entertainment industry itself.

KiShin Entertainment had just made a groundbreaking announcement: they were in the process of producing a new anime set to release in a few months. However, the exact release date was yet to be announced.

When this news reached the ears of viewers, particularly those who were fans of 'The Legend of Zelda' anime, many experienced a mix of disappointment due to the lengthy wait and anticipation for what was to come.

Many initially believed it might be the highly awaited season 2 of 'The Legend of Zelda.' However, their hopes were dashed as the creative director, Hikaru, clarified during the press conference, "No, it's not the season 2 of 'The Legend of Zelda,' that's for certain."

A reporter inquired, "Really? 'The Legend of Zelda' was a tremendously successful series. Why didn't KiShin continue with it?"

Ishigi Nurakami, the studio director, responded with a chuckle, "Hehe, we did consider that option, but the young owner of KiShin had a different vision, and he wanted to create a brand new anime."

The reporter, surprised, asked, "Oh? So, it was the mysterious young owner of KiShin who made this decision? Is it a directive from KiShin's parent company?"

Other reporters became increasingly intrigued, hastily jotting down notes as they prepared to delve into the story further.

Ishigi Nurakami nodded and playfully complained, "Yeah, whether we like it or not, the young owner of KiShin actually led the animation for 'The Legend of Zelda.' That's why we have faith in his decisions," he concluded with a smile. He continued with fervor, "Moreover, I believe the anime written by the young owner of KiShin will be so incredible that it will reshape the anime industry!"

A TBS female reporter gasped in astonishment and asked, "Wow, really? That's quite a bold statement! Can you share any details about the type of anime it will be?"

Studio Director Ishigi Nurakami and Creative Director Hikaru exchanged knowing glances, both wearing smiles.

Indeed, according to the wealthy young owner, Shinro Suzuki, creating hype was essential—more hype meant more popularity for their anime, along with heightened anticipation and expectations.

Ishigi Nurakami then teased, "I wouldn't want to give away too much, but I can say it will surely be adored by pet lovers. Hehe," and he ended with a cheerful laugh.

"Pet lovers?" the male NHK reporter said, clearly puzzled, as he glanced at his fellow reporters. He followed up with a question, "You mentioned that it will reshape the anime industry. How confident are you about that?"

Ishigi Nurakami smiled and chuckled, saying, "The young boss was certainly confident enough."

Creative Director Hikaru nodded and added with a grin, "After all, the young boss acquired three additional animation studios and invested a substantial amount of money to collaborate on this anime." He continued with unwavering confidence, "That fact alone should underscore just how confident both we and the young boss are, don't you think?"

The journalists and reporters exchanged perplexed glances.

Meanwhile, 'The Legend of Zelda' fans couldn't hide their profound disappointment. 

Conversely, Suzuki and Tora, who had recently been stressed due to KiShin's new video game 'Metroid' and their own upcoming releases, reveled in KiShin's audacious and ambitious move. 

They were pleased that KiShin had halted production on the successful anime 'The Legend of Zelda.' Their anticipation was that KiShin's lofty ambitions, combined with the release of a new video game, would lead to a spectacular failure, making it difficult for KiShin to re-enter the entertainment industry. The acquisition of several animation studios was seen as a reckless financial loss.