Totoro Premiere
"Snap."
A soft sound broke the silence.
It was Nakayama Hayao; he gently placed the pen he was holding on the table.
He glanced at his son, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration and pride, then turned to all the board members.
"So, does anyone have any further comments?"
If not, let's begin the vote.
Director Yoshikawa, who had been in charge of liaising with third parties, cleared his throat, and his statement set the tone for the meeting.
"I agree with the executive director's view. Such attempts at courting should either be undertaken ruthlessly or thoroughly. Petty maneuvers are not only meaningless and a waste of time, but they also make Sega appear weak and cause others to look down on us."
Director Yoshikawa's words were met with nods of approval from many people.
The vote has begun.
Although several directors, due to their conservative nature, abstained from voting, ultimately, not a single vote was cast against the motion.
Nakayama Takuya's amazing performance over the past two years, his extraordinary long-term vision, and his current logically sound and courageous plan have earned him everyone's trust.
A blitzkrieg aimed at disrupting the entire gaming industry has officially begun.
For two consecutive weeks after the "Blitzkrieg Campaign" began, Sega Headquarters was transformed into a war machine operating at full capacity.
The "Third-Party Special Strategy Department," established specifically for this campaign, occupied half a floor and was brightly lit day and night.
The telephone rang sharply, tearing through the air, the fax machine hummed incessantly as it spat out documents, and hurried footsteps filled the air.
Nakayama Takuya was at the center of this chaotic storm.
His eyes were bloodshot, yet a burning, almost frenzied light shone deep within his pupils.
On the huge whiteboard in front of him, the names of dozens of third-party manufacturers were listed in dense detail.
Behind each company, different colored Mark were used to update the negotiation progress, the other party's core demands, and the personality weaknesses of key figures in real time.
This information, like flowing blood, sustains the life of this battle.
At 9 p. m., a piercing telephone ring shattered the brief silence.
It was an urgent call from the team responsible for planning the Osaka Capcom campaign.
"My lord, the situation is a bit troublesome."
The voice on the other end of the phone betrayed an barely suppressed anxiety.
"CAPCOM's top management still harbors deep doubts about the MD's 2D graphics processing capabilities."
"They worried that the Mega Drive wouldn't be able to perfectly reproduce the large characters and smooth animation frame rates of Street Fighter."
Nakayama Takuya rubbed his temples, but there was no sign of panic on his face.
While calmly reassuring the team on the front lines, he had already connected directly with the core technical experts in the hardware R&D department via internal phone.
His instructions were clear, precise, and without the slightest hesitation.
"Immediately, pack up our internal demo, which is specifically used to demonstrate MD's scroll layering technology and giant sprite handling capabilities, overnight, and send it to Capcom Headquarters in Osaka."
After hanging up the phone, he gave final instructions to the strategy team.
"A thousand verbal promises are not as effective as letting them witness MD's muscles firsthand."
"Tell them this is just the Yamaichi. Our engineers will assist them throughout the entire process, squeezing every last drop of potential from this machine."
His calm and decisive action instantly stabilized the wavering morale of the troops at the front lines, demonstrating his professional competence far exceeding that of ordinary managers.
April 16th, evening.
The last batch of battle situation reports for the day was delivered to Nakayama Takuya's desk.
His gaze swept across the whiteboard, and after the names of several manufacturers such as TAITO and JALECO, he personally drew a green checkmark to indicate "signing intention reached".
The nerve that had been taut for half a month finally got a brief respite.
He glanced at the beautifully designed invitation on the corner of the table.
Ghibli Studio, premiere of "My Totoro".
He decided to take a brief break from this war without gunfire.
Nakayama Takuya did not go directly to the venue.
He first went to a high-end, elegant barbershop.
The warm coin on my face washed away the fatigue from staying up late for days.
The barber's skillful hands tidied his slightly messy hair to perfection, and even the stubble from his days of working overtime was meticulously shaved off.
He then returned to his apartment, changed out of the shirt that smelled of tobacco and coffee, and chose a well-tailored dark gray casual suit.
Post-screening reception at the Tokyo Imperial Theatre.
The fragrance of clothes mingles with the shadows of people, their plans intertwined.
Nakayama Takuya's appearance did not cause much of a stir in this social arena frequented by cultural celebrities.
However, when a bearded man walked towards him, the surrounding air subtly changed.
It's Miyazaki Hayao.
This animation master directly pulled Nakayama Takuya into his core social circle.
He patted Takuya on the shoulder without any hesitation and, in his booming voice honed from reprimanding subordinates in the studio, introduced him to his friends:
"Everyone, let me introduce you. This is Nakayama Takuya from Sega, a very talented young man!"
"I used to think that game developers were all about fighting and money."
"But he was the first game producer who could discuss character arcs and emotional delivery with me in depth!"
This weighty "certification" is like a pebble thrown into a calm lake.
Many people present immediately cast curious Nakayama Takuya.
Miyazaki Hayao introduced them to each of them.
Until they were right in front of the two of them.
"This is Mamoru Oshii, and this is Hideaki Anno."
A hint of surprise flashed in Nakayama Takuya's eyes.
Takuya smiled and extended his hand to Mamoru Oshii, shaking his hand.
"Mr. Oshii, your exploration of the boundary between 'reality and illusion' in your works has always deeply inspired me."
Then, his gaze turned to Hideaki Anno.
"Mr. Anno, the unique mechanical aesthetics in the details of your ' Royal Space Force ' are truly unforgettable."
There wasn't a single word of flattery; every single sentence struck precisely the softest, most cherished spot in the hearts of the two creators.
A barely perceptible hint of surprise appeared on Mamoru Oshii's usually stern face.
Hideaki Anno's slightly evasive eyes suddenly shone with the brilliance of someone who had found a kindred spirit.
By the end of the reception, the atmosphere had become quite harmonious.
Nakayama Takuya happily exchanged business cards and contact information with Anno and Oshii.
He smiled and Hideaki Anno:
"I've heard that Gainax Studio is full of incredibly talented and eccentric geniuses, and I'm very interested in that."
"If the opportunity arises, I hope to pay you a visit."
Hideaki Anno agreed almost without hesitation.