"Ex—Executive Director, this money—"
"For Cowboy Bebop's production specifications, I'm not saying you have to raise everything to OVA level, but tighten up the pacing of the story. Keep that laid-back cowboy vibe, but you can bring out the level of pacing control Gundam X had in its final stretch, can't you? Everyone saw the results in the end. It isn't asking too much to hold you to that standard, is it?"
Nakayama Takuya rose to his feet and looked down at them, his tone carrying the swagger of capital.
"Give them more leeway with the number of animation frames, and go to Yoko Kanno for the music! Don't begrudge the money. You can still recoup it later by releasing records, so there's no need to worry too much."
Nakayama Takuya smiled.
"Since you want to make a masterpiece, don't pinch pennies over money. Sega has nothing in abundance except money."
He walked over to Hideo Kojima and gave his shoulder a hard pat.
"Learn well. Thoroughly digest Sunrise's animation production pipeline. When you go back to Sega to make your next game, I want to see these experiences turned into value. Don't disappoint me."
Hideo Kojima nodded heavily, his eyes even growing a little hot.
"Understood!"
Nakayama Takuya turned and headed outside.
There was no need to worry about amateurs directing professionals, nor to fear the project would be stillborn.
With Hideo Kojima and Shinichiro Watanabe working together, Yoko Kanno's god-tier score, and Sega's ample funding backing them up—
Cowboy Bebop would absolutely blow Japan's animation market, and even the global market, sky-high!
Nakayama Takuya stepped out of Hideo Kojima's smoke-filled meeting room and headed deeper into the office area along the corridor.
Sunrise's interior felt somewhat cramped. Stacks of cels and discarded drafts were piled along both sides