Anime Production, Starting with Healing Viewers

As Fang Zheng spoke, he put down the documents in his hand and looked at Zhang Siyu.

The membership system is the main paid model currently adopted by most video websites. After all, running a company is not charity, and Fang Zheng also needs funds to circulate to pay his employees.

He couldn't sustain the company solely on the ten million he won back then; that was simply impossible.

Therefore, Fang Zheng planned to launch the membership system during the broadcast of "Akame ga Kill!", where members could watch the latest anime updates first, send exclusive bullet comments, and so on.

Although doing so would be unfair to viewers who didn't pay, that's just how reality is. If people pay, they should enjoy different treatment.

If there's no difference between paying and not paying, why would viewers pay to become members and be suckers?

"Director Fang, establishing a membership system is necessary, but I think we shouldn't set the price too high, to avoid disgust from the viewers," Zhang Siyu said.

Hearing Fang Zheng's words, Zhang Siyu also frowned. As the company's CEO, no one understood the company's financial situation better than she did.

Fang Zheng had invested five million to start the company, but by today, more than half of it had been spent on various expenses. If the company couldn't generate revenue, it might not even make it through the year-end, and the company would have to declare bankruptcy.

However, Zhang Siyu also had her own considerations regarding the membership system proposed by Fang Zheng.

The first issue was the amount of payment. Too much would definitely make the viewers disgusted and lead them to say they were too greedy. Too little would not generate enough revenue for the company.

This was a matter of balance that needed to be controlled well, so as not to offend the viewers while ensuring the company's fund turnover would not have problems.

After a discussion between Fang Zheng and Zhang Siyu, they decided to divide the membership system into three tiers: monthly, quarterly, and annual. Monthly members would pay fifteen yuan per month; quarterly members would pay forty yuan per quarter; and annual members would pay one hundred and thirty yuan per year.

Additionally, the ACG community would regularly launch activities, such as discounts and free giveaways, to maximize user retention and maintain user goodwill.

"By the way, Director Fang, there's one more thing."

After discussing the payment matters, Zhang Siyu looked at Fang Zheng before leaving, a strange smile on her lips, and said, "Director Fang, you'd better buy a life insurance policy before seven o'clock tomorrow~"

After speaking, Zhang Siyu walked out of Fang Zheng's office with her high heels, her figure swaying, leaving Fang Zheng sitting on his chair, dumbfounded.

After a while, Fang Zheng, with a bad premonition, shakily opened the laptop on his desk, clicked on the ACG community, and looked at the comments below the anime.

"Akame ga Kill! gives me a very strange feeling. The super intense battle scenes should be exhilarating, but why do I always feel a strange sense of oppression?"

"Yeah, I felt the same way after watching it. I just don't know what went wrong."

"Damn, that guy who's as fat as a pig is the minister? Is this emperor out of his mind!"

"Night Raid—All villains! Group darling—Tatsumi!"

Fang Zheng looked at the comments and messages under the anime, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.

It's right that you feel strange. It would be truly bizarre if you felt everything was normal~

Fang Zheng muttered to himself, feeling both worried and amused.

He was worried because he couldn't imagine how these viewers would react if they saw the later plot developments, and he found it amusing watching a group of fans still in the dark; that feeling was incredibly satisfying.

"Isn't that normal? If an assassin doesn't kill, are they still an assassin?"

"Exactly! Big Shot Fang even said in the program that this is a super exhilarating battle-type anime. He wouldn't be wrong!"

"Just watch, there will definitely be a plot twist later. I believe in Big Shot Fang's creative ability!"

"Although what you guys are saying makes sense, I just don't believe it. Big Shot Fang has been letting loose on Weibo, so he's clearly not a decent person~"

Gulp!

Fang Zheng's Adam's apple bobbed, and he took a deep breath.

In a sense, the fans leaving these comments were all telling the truth.

If an assassin doesn't kill, they can't really be called an assassin, but as the saying goes, he who lives by the sword dies by the sword, so the end for assassins is often tragic.

Furthermore, he did say it was a battle anime, but he never said a battle anime couldn't also be a depressing anime. There's no rule stating an anime can only have one label~

And there will indeed be a plot twist later, in the very next episode, which is tomorrow.

But Fang Zheng believed that these fans would not be willing to accept that plot twist.

He felt unworthy of these fans' trust. As the saying goes, the deeper the love, the sharper the criticism. Once the truth comes out, he would undoubtedly face the fiercest storm.

"Bang!"

Fang Zheng slammed his hand on the armrest of the chair, feeling completely unsettled. No wonder Zhang Siyu had reminded him to buy insurance earlier; she already knew about what was happening online.

"No, I absolutely cannot just sit here and wait to die!"

Fang Zheng got up from his chair. Some astute fans had already noticed that something was amiss. If the scene of Shiru being beheaded were to be released tomorrow, wouldn't these fans explode on the spot?!

"Buying insurance is impossible, it will never happen in this lifetime!"

Although "Akame ga Kill!" was a great success at its premiere, and the ACG Culture Company was foreseen to become a hit, the price was his own personal safety being compromised.

"Serves you right for being so cheeky! Serves you right!" Fang Zheng patted his own mouth, regretting it slightly. The thought of walking home and suddenly being surrounded by a few grinning fans in a back alley made Fang Zheng shudder uncontrollably.

"System, is there any way I can become a martial arts master?"

"No!"

"Then are there any high-tech means to protect my life?"

"No!"

"Then can you at least get me two android bodyguards?"

"Sorry, Host, this one isn't available either!"

"..."

Fang Zheng felt like his life was a lie. Other people's cheat systems offered auto-aim, health locking, wall-piercing, and the ability to fly or burrow through the earth – they could do anything! Why was his cheat system only auto-aim?

"Then what can you do?"

Fang Zheng was on the verge of exasperation.

"This system can help the Host establish a membership system on the ACG Community~"

"I'll be damned!"

Fang Zheng slumped into his chair, feeling the world's malice directed squarely at him.

Finally, with no other options, Fang Zheng pondered for a long time and came up with a plan that would satisfy everyone.

He logged directly into his Weibo account and composed a post.

"To all my wonderful fans, hello! Today, the premiere of 'Akame ga Kill!' surpassed seven million views within its first hour. I want to express my deepest gratitude for your incredible support. Without you, I wouldn't be where I am today. Thank you all!"

"Secondly, to create 'Akame ga Kill!', I've been working over twelve hours a day, which has left me feeling extremely fatigued. Due to my personality, I'm also very easily startled. Therefore, I've decided to take a break. The duration of this break will depend on the attitude of you, my esteemed fans."

Finished. Click. Send!

Fang Zheng looked at his post with satisfaction, a faint smile on his lips.

He immediately declared 'Akame ga Kill!' a massive success, attributing all the credit to his fans. It didn't matter if it was entirely true; the important thing was to praise them first.

As the saying goes, you don't hit a smiling face. If he was flattering them so much, would they really have the nerve to come after him after watching the sixth episode of 'Akame ga Kill!' tomorrow?

After elevating his fans, it was time for him to play the victim.

To let his fans see the anime 'Akame ga Kill!' as soon as possible, he worked over twelve hours a day, practically collapsing from exhaustion.

He was working so hard, trying so diligently, all for them. So, before they lost their minds tomorrow, he wanted them to think carefully about everything he had sacrificed for them.

The last sentence was particularly subtle. He was feeling unwell, easily startled, and needed to rest. The length of his rest would depend on their attitude.

In plain terms, Fang Zheng wanted to tell his fans that he was a timid person. If they dared to threaten him, he would just keep resting.

"I'm so clever~" Fang Zheng couldn't help but chuckle smugly at the thought.

If the fans didn't understand his message now, it was fine. By tomorrow, they would definitely grasp his underlying meaning. Then, if any individual fans wanted to 'persecute' him, they'd have to consider whether they could withstand the wrath of the other fans.

'Akame ga Kill!' garnered over seven million views in its first hour, a feat that left many traditional directors and screenwriters utterly astonished.

Seven million views in one hour was something they couldn't even imagine. Even using the hottest young idols as a gimmick wouldn't achieve such results.

The fans of young idols and the fans of anime were fundamentally different. After all, what's the difference between brain-dead fans and true fans?

Seeing both the success and critical acclaim of 'Akame ga Kill!' explode, many people were green with envy.

Fang Zheng's achievements proved the limitless future potential of anime as a new cultural industry. Suddenly, many companies with capital and capabilities began planning and preparing to enter the anime industry.

Just as many creators were getting ready to try their hand at making anime, Fang Zheng's ACG Community platform announced news about its upcoming membership system.

"Shocking! Is Company A finally trying to make money?"

"What the heck? We have to become members to watch the latest anime episodes? Non-members have to wait a whole day?"

"Big Shot Fang, I really love anime, but I have to say, your greed is showing too much!"

"Amazing. They're starting to charge for anime on the second day of its release. Don't they have to be so hasty about cutting the leeks?"

"..."

As soon as the ACG Community's membership system was launched, many users of Company A exploded. They flooded the forums, denouncing Fang Zheng and accusing him of holding viewers hostage and trying to cash in immediately after achieving some success.

The widespread negative comments plunged the newly emerging ACG Community into turmoil.

News of what happened at the ACG Community quickly reached Zhang Siyu, causing her a great headache.

Although she had anticipated that ACG users might react negatively to a paid system, she never expected the backlash to be this intense.

Looking at the almost one-sided public opinion online, Zhang Siyu felt annoyed and quite indignant.

This was the age of knowledge. As global stability increased, countries placed greater emphasis on the development of their national cultures. Especially in an economic era where the real economy was sluggish, the cultural economy became particularly prominent.

The most direct result of the leap in the cultural economy was the increased importance of property rights. Looking at all the major video platforms, which one was free?

If other platforms could charge for their services, why was Company A being treated like a criminal for doing the same?!