Anime Production, Starting with Healing the Audience

The attacks against them had just begun, but they came like a storm, a barrage of blows that caught everyone off guard.

"TT Group only has these tricks up their sleeve, releasing some hype, hiring trolls to spread propaganda, and smearing us. It's all to be expected."

Fang Zheng waved his hand dismissively, clearly aware of TT Group's predictable tactics.

"I'm not worried about TT Group's smear campaign, but rather the attitude of those above."

"Those above?"

Zhang Siyu was taken aback for a moment before quickly understanding.

As the CEO of the company, her judgment was sharp. Hearing Fang Zheng's words, she keenly grasped the core of the issue.

"Akame ga Kill!" was in an awkward position. After Professor Yang's declaration on Weibo, it felt like the series was being put on the pyre.

They claimed "Akame ga Kill!" was anti-state, its intentions deserving of death. But conversely, they could also argue that "Akame ga Kill!" represented the spirit of resistance.

Didn't a great man once say, "Where there is oppression, there is resistance"?

The stance and intent of "Akame ga Kill!" entirely depended on the attitude of those in power. Their fierce battle with TT Group could be settled with a single word from above.

How it would be officially classified still depended on their decision, which was why Fang Zheng felt worried.

"Then, what about the online commentary...?"

Zhang Siyu understood, nodded thoughtfully, and then looked at Fang Zheng, wanting to ask if their side should retaliate appropriately.

"Let's just wait and see. Until the authorities make a statement, the company will proceed with the original plan. 'Akame ga Kill!' will be updated as scheduled."

"Understood!"

Zhang Siyu left the office to handle the upcoming matters.

Meanwhile, online discussions intensified. What started as criticism of Fang Zheng personally had now spread to the entire ACG Culture Company and the 2D circles that enjoyed anime.

In a way, this was a full-blown clash between the traditional film and television industry and the emerging anime industry!

The fans who enjoyed anime, caught in the crossfire, were like fish in a pond whose pond caught fire.

"Comrades, I've returned, returning with scars all over me!"

"Wuwuwu, I've been insulted. I just genuinely like anime, what's wrong with that? Why are they cursing me?"

"Damn it, this feels so stifling!"

"Top Fanboy, where are you? We need you~"

In Fang Zheng's largest fan group, countless fans were crying out.

The online incident had begun to affect their real lives. Friends around them were looking at them with strange eyes.

Many people were even anonymously insulting them through chat apps~

Facing the targeted harassment from those around them, they felt deeply wronged.

They simply enjoyed anime, the fun of watching shows with fellow netizens.

But at this moment, they felt the world was full of malice towards them, as if everyone was excluding them and speaking ill of them.

Helpless, they could only return to the fan group to complain, because only here could they find like-minded comrades and receive brief solace.

"Brothers, I've heard about everything. I just have one question for you: do you trust Big Shot Fang?"

In the fan group, under countless mentions from fans, the Top Fanboy they spoke of finally emerged, his username being 'Top Fanboy Under Big Shot Fang'.

Seeing the Top Fanboy's post, countless fans fell silent.

Although their beloved Big Shot Fang was a notorious procrastinator, liked to tease them, argue with them, and even tricked them into believing "Akame ga Kill!" was a shonen battle anime.

But all of that didn't matter. As their fan group's slogan stated, "Big Shot Fang hurts us a thousand times, but we treat him like our first love."

"Top Fanboy, we know Big Shot Fang's character well. 'Akame ga Kill!' is definitely not as bad as they say online!"

"Yeah, even though Big Shot Fang likes to tease, isn't that why we like him?"

"Top Fanboy, just tell us what to do?!"

"Yeah, we'll listen to you!"

Please, esteemed experts, give us your support~~~~~~~~~*

In the fan group, the Top Fanboy looked at the fans' replies and nodded with great satisfaction.

"Alright then, though I'm not talented, I will lead everyone to charge into battle!"

"First, A Company is definitely our base camp. There are many like-minded comrades there who are stubbornly holding on. Before A Company completely falls, we must reclaim our base camp!"

Many fans in the group read the Top Fanboy's post and nodded in agreement.

Undoubtedly, A Company was the focal point of today's online war, and it was their base camp. They absolutely couldn't afford any accidents there!

Otherwise, they would truly lose~

"Damn it, my single-twenty-years-of-practice hand speed finally has a place to be useful!"

"Charge, charge! I've been annoyed by that pack of mad dogs for a long time!"

"A Company army, advance! Gods and demons, retreat!"

"Damn it all!"

The fan group was in an uproar, and the Top Fanboy had a hard time calming down the agitated fans.

The online attacks were fierce, coming from paid commenters, curious onlookers, and others with ulterior motives looking to stir up trouble.

As a result, the fans of A Company were isolated, with no allies besides themselves.

The Top Fanboy urgently contacted the leaders of other fan groups, calling on them to join the fight.

At precisely 7 PM, A Company's "Akame ga Kill!" began airing.

"Trash anime still has the nerve to air? Just wait until it's banned~"

"I'm just laughing. Why are you all watching an anime with such strong anti-national sentiments so enthusiastically?"

"Watching this kind of anime, how can you have the face to call yourselves citizens of Xia Country?!"

"Trash anime, trash author, get out of Xia Country as soon as possible!"

As soon as the anime started, countless dense bullet comments flooded the screen, all filled with abusive and morally manipulative remarks, severely impacting the viewing experience.

Many users, seeing these bullet comments, went from a great mood to completely miserable. Several agitated fans angrily closed the player, preparing to head to the A Company forum to argue with those brainless trolls.

However, when these agitated fans, who had switched over from "Akame ga Kill!", prepared to unleash their fury, they discovered someone had beaten them to it. A chaotic battle was already in full swing.

"Hey, you keyboard warriors, look over here! Your grandpa here just loves anime, loves 'Akame ga Kill!', loves Big Shot Fang! Come at me if you dare~!"

"You guys are all blowing things out of proportion. I'm just watching anime, and you're bringing up patriotism? You guys watch Marvel all day, and I don't see you calling yourselves traitors!"

"A bunch of hypocrites who don't even know what anime is, what the hell are you even spouting here~!"

"They say Big Shot Fang is a spy. Now that the country is vigorously developing its cultural economy, and Big Shot Fang introduced the concept of anime, I think some people are just jealous~!"

"..."

The one-sided opinions on the A Company forum stunned everyone.

Especially some of the bizarre actions by A Company's users, which were both laughable and absurd.

A Company's users, having gone through the paid membership controversy, knew that ACG Culture Company's finances might not be great. So, they had all activated their memberships to varying degrees, showing their support for Big Shot Fang.

Those paid commenters and curious onlookers who had come from elsewhere wouldn't bother activating memberships just to spew hate.

This resulted in a flood of colored and bolded text from A Company's fans, with many posts even requesting official highlights.

With A Company's official intention to play favorites, those paid commenters watched as the screen was filled with the opposing side's messages, while their own comments were squeezed into the most inconspicuous positions.

They were utterly dejected!

Who were they?

They were paid commenters! They always attacked others; when had they ever endured such humiliation?

But the paid commenters, who were invincible online, were defeated at A Company. In the end, they had to withdraw from A Company in disgrace, slinking away with their tails between their legs.

Yang He, upon hearing the report from the paid commenters he had hired, gritted his teeth in anger.

His hired paid commenters were actually driven out by the fans of a video platform like stray dogs??

Are you sure you guys are the paid commenters, and not the other way around?!

Yang He angrily hung up the phone. Although he was frustrated, he didn't dwell on it too much.

Even though A Company had suffered a setback, he still held absolute initiative online.

Yang He opened Weibo, wanting to check the popularity of his latest post.

But the moment he opened Weibo, he was stunned.

[Only we can criticize Big Shot Fang, who the hell are you!]

Pfft~

Seeing this title, Yang He spat out a mouthful of blood.

What was going on? How did this post reach the top of the trending searches?

What about his post? Did the other side also pay to buy trending topics?!

A series of questions arose in Yang He's mind. He had spent a fortune to get on the trending list before.

Yang He, extremely frustrated, clicked on the post.

"Today I saw someone saying Big Shot Fang has a corrupt character. I just want to ask, which dog's eyes did you use to see that?"

"Scammed by Big Shot Fang? None of us fans have said anything, but you're the first to bark like a dog chasing a rat. Did your backer pay you a lot of money, huh~"

"And then there are those who say 'Akame ga Kill!' is anti-national. Have you even watched the anime? You say 'Akame ga Kill!' is anti-national, and I say 'Akame ga Kill!' eulogizes the rebellious spirit of our ancestors~!"

"It's our freedom to like anime or not. In my opinion, Big Shot Fang's anime leaves those brainless movies and TV shows a hundred streets behind. Are we supposed to be patriotic by chasing those young idols all day like you brainless people?!"