Miyazaki Hayao's Final Approval

With Hoshino and Sugiura bowing their heads and beginning to liquidate their highly leveraged assets, the financial threat that could have shaken Sega's foundation at any moment was temporarily averted.

Nakayama Hayao and his son Nakayama Takuya finally breathed a sigh of relief.

With the storm settled, Nakayama Takuya declined his father's suggestion to rest for a few more days and almost immediately plunged back into the final stages of developing the <My Totoro> game.

Finally, after countless sleepless nights and repeated polishing, the game that carried all his promises and ideas— Harvest Moon: Encounters in the Forest—was completed.

There was no internal celebration party, and the company's senior management was not even notified.

Nakayama Takuya personally carried a Mega Drive and a game cartridge with a simple outer packaging, and drove alone to Ghibli Studio in Musashino.

At this moment, Yoshita was immersed in a tense yet orderly creative atmosphere.

Everywhere you look, there are concept art and storyboards for a little witch in a black dress riding a broom.

The air was filled with the scratching of pencils and the occasional hushed conversations of the artists.

The production of "Kiki's Delivery Service" is about to enter the final dubbing stage.

In Miyazaki Hayao's office, the animation master sits amidst a mountain of original drawings, his brow furrowed.

His serious demeanor softened slightly when he saw Nakayama Takuya.

"Is it finished?"

"Yes, Director Miyazaki, I have not failed you."

Nakayama Takuya opened the wooden box and connected the special MD cartridge, along with a brand-new MD player, to the office television.

As the game screen began to appear on the TV, he handed the controller to Miyazaki Hayao.

As Miyazaki Hayao looked at the strangely shaped plastic contraption covered with buttons, a hint of unfamiliarity and resistance flashed in his eyes.

He had spent his entire life working with paintbrushes and paper; this was the first time he was going to play video games.

After hesitating for a moment, he took the controller.

The game has begun.

The music, composed by Hisaishi Joe, is accompanied by the melodious sound of the wind and the distant chirping of cicadas.

On the screen, a little girl made of pixels appears in a lush summer countryside.

Miyazaki Hayao subconsciously pushed the directional key, and the little girl started running on the ridge of the field.

He saw the wind blowing across the rice paddies, creating layers of green waves.

He saw tadpoles swimming in the clear stream.

Everything is similar to the world in his animations, yet completely different.

Because this time, he is personally driving this world.

After a long while, Miyazaki Hayao finally put down the controller.

He didn't speak immediately, but instead took off his glasses, pressed his fingers firmly against his brow, and then exhaled a long, long breath.

There was surprise, relief, and an indescribable sense of being touched in that tone.

"Lord Nakayama."

"I really love the various unexpected and heartwarming encounters you designed in the forest in the game. That's exactly the feeling I wanted to express in ' My Totoro '."

"Moreover, the game is very easy to pick up; even an old guy like me who has never played games before can play it very easily."

He put his glasses back on and stared intently at the young man in front of him.

"It finally has a touch of art."

Upon hearing this comment, the huge weight that had been hanging over Nakayama Takuya's heart for months finally lifted.

He smiled, a genuine smile from the bottom of his heart.

"It's my honor that you like it," Nakayama Takuya said sincerely. "However, it's still somewhat rough around the edges. With current technology, it's still too difficult to express more delicate emotions. The expressive power of games is still far behind that of movies and animation."

"Temporarily?" Miyazaki Hayao keenly caught the word, his interest completely ignited. "You mean, in the future—games can catch up with animation and movies?"

"It's not just about catching up."

Nakayama Takuya's eyes shone with a light from the future.

"Director Miyazaki, please imagine it."

Nakayama Takuya patiently guided Miyazaki Hayao's thinking.

"We are no longer drawing a two-dimensional world, but using computers to 'sculpt' a three-dimensional world."

He didn't use any obscure technical terms, but instead chose a method that Miyazaki Hayao could best understand.

"It's like you're sculpting a clay model of Totoro yourself."

"Once the model is complete, you can observe it from any angle, and light it with the light of dawn, noon, or dusk."

"This 'clay model' made of data can even make any movement you desire, no matter how subtle."

Nakayama Takuya spoke slowly, but each word was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples in Miyazaki Hayao's heart.

"And players will no longer be watching as bystanders."

"He can truly 'step into' the world you created from a first-person perspective."

These words struck Miyazaki Hayao like a thunderbolt!

He clenched his fists instinctively, leaned forward slightly, and for the first time, his eyes, which had seen it all, revealed a mixture of disbelief and longing!

Nakayama Takuya continued narrating, his voice seemingly possessing a magical power, slowly unfolding a picture of the future before him.

"By then—"

"When players stand atop the mountain you designed, what they will feel is the wind you wanted to convey—the wind that brushes against their 'cheeks'!"

"When players personally pilot the aircraft of their imagination, soaring through the clouds, what they will see are the towns, forests, and oceans they designed."

Even the Castle in the Sky is right beneath his "feet"!

"That sense of immersion created through active player participation and hands-on experience -"

Nakayama Takuya smiled slightly, dropped the final bombshell, and brought the conversation to a close.

"It will bring a completely new, ultimate gaming experience, unlike any other existing medium!"

Miyazaki Hayao was completely captivated by these words.

He sat there, stunned, as if he had seen a gate leading to the realm of the gods.

Behind the door lies the dream world he pursued throughout his life, a world where people could truly "live in and experience it firsthand."

He pointed to the original artwork for "Kiki's Delivery Service" on the table. "Is this technique also useful for animation?"

"Of course," Nakayama Takuya nodded. "Some complex shots, such as panoramic city views or parts that require a lot of repetitive work, can be done with computer assistance, allowing you and your team to focus more on the core creative aspects. For example, creating a character like Kiki riding a broomstick, guiding her through this three-dimensional city, and all you need to do is set up a tracking shot for Kiki to generate the movement, and this shot can be adjusted freely."

"It's even possible to create animated films with a three-dimensional feel."

"Viewers can perceive a sense of depth and speed on the screen through specially designed polarized lenses. This will bring an immersive experience far exceeding that of a flat screen. It's as if a little girl on a broomstick is actually flying past you from afar. That three-dimensional feeling is also part of 3D technology."

Miyazaki Hayao fell silent.

He picked up an original sketch of Kiki flying across the city on a broomstick and stared at it for a long time.

After a long while, he spoke in an almost dreamlike voice.

"Be sure to let me know when the technology is mature."

"If... if it can really achieve the effect you described."

"This old body of mine might have to start learning from scratch."