Chapter 121: A New Perspective

Chapter 121: A New Line of Thought

Manager Wang was a veteran of the animation industry, with an exceptionally keen grasp of the market. If Yang Xin’er had not called in a few favors and made use of her connections, he might never have taken a small film and television company like Xinle seriously.

“You drew this?” Manager Wang asked, looking at Lin Ye.

“Yes!” Lin Ye nodded, then shook his head almost at once. “I drew it, but Brother Le came up with the concept, and he created many of the characters. I...”

“All right!” Zhang Le cut him off and turned to Manager Wang. “Do you think it has potential?”

Manager Wang looked at Zhang Le, then at Lin Ye, and finally fixed his gaze on Zhang Le. “If I am not mistaken, Director Zhang already has a plan in mind—and a very ambitious one at that. I understand now why a newly established film and television company would create an animation division.”

Zhang Le looked at him with a faint smile.

“Comic publication, animated productions, and the toy sales that would follow—these are probably all part of your effort to build momentum for your films, aren’t they?” Manager Wang looked at Zhang Le and continued, “But you have clearly underestimated the animation market, as well as the profits this work could generate through merchandise. The returns from those ventures may be no less than what you earn from making films. Take the cars in this story, for instance. Turn them into toys and they will certainly sweep across the world, becoming the toys every boy dreams of owning. This is practically a license to print money.”

“I’m only concerned with the film side of things. The rest is for you, the manager of the animation division, to worry about. Xinle Pictures’ animation division may have only just been established, but I want this work to become an instant sensation. Within five years—at most five years—I want to see it popular throughout the entire world. What do you think, Manager Wang?” Zhang Le smiled.

“It won’t take that long!” Manager Wang declared confidently.

“I mean every corner of the world,” Zhang Le said.

At that, Manager Wang’s expression grew considerably more serious. In his view, making something popular worldwide would not be difficult. But reaching every corner of the earth was an entirely different matter.

Even so, he nodded, accepting the task. Then he asked, “What is this work called? It seems you haven’t given it a name yet.”

When Lin Ye noticed Manager Wang looking at him, he hesitated. Instead of answering, he turned to Zhang Le.

“Transformers,” Zhang Le said.

“Transformers. That’s a fine name.” Manager Wang’s eyes lit up.

“Xiaoye, are you planning to...” Zhang Le looked at Lin Ye, momentarily unsure how to phrase the question. Should he ask Lin Ye to come work in the animation division, or have him remain at home drawing Transformers?

“Brother Le, I’ll work in the company’s animation division.” Lin Ye immediately understood what Zhang Le meant and hurriedly answered.

“Good. From now on, follow Manager Wang and learn as much from him as you can.” Zhang Le smiled, then turned to Manager Wang. “I’ll have to trouble you to guide Xiaoye. He has a great deal of potential in this field.”

“You’re too kind, Director Zhang.” Manager Wang smiled. Turning to Lin Ye, he extended his hand. “Hello. My name is Wang Lun. I’m a few years older than you, so just call me Brother Wang. Everyone in the department does. Welcome to the animation division.”

“Wang Lun? You’re Wang Lun!” Lin Ye said excitedly. Realizing that he had been rude, he quickly reached out and clasped Wang Lun’s hand tightly.

Zhang Le was stunned for a moment, then smiled. Apparently, Wang Lun had quite a reputation in the animation world.

“I am Wang Lun.” Wang Lun smiled. He had a favorable impression of the young man before him. It was not merely because Lin Ye had a connection to Zhang Le, his employer. After looking over the drafts, Wang Lun could see that although the concept had come from Zhang Le, Lin Ye truly possessed the potential Zhang Le had described.

Lin Ye finally released Wang Lun’s hand, but then stood there awkwardly, unsure what to do. The excitement on his face had not faded. It was the unmistakable expression of someone meeting his idol.

“Learn as much as you can from Manager Wang, and draw Transformers well. Don’t disappoint your sister,” Zhang Le told him.

“Br-Brother Le, I have an idea. I don’t know whether it would work.” Lin Ye glanced at Wang Lun, then at Zhang Le.

“Go ahead,” Zhang Le said with a smile.

“Does the company have professional screenwriters? Could they write the story for Transformers while I focus solely on the artwork? That would not only ensure a faster pace, but also make the story more compelling. I’m really not very good at writing stories. I’m afraid I’ll hold you back, and waste the concept you came up with.” After speaking, Lin Ye looked nervously at Zhang Le, then at Wang Lun.

At that moment, Lin Ye felt an enormous weight on his shoulders.

Zhang Le’s eyes lit up when he heard this. He immediately looked toward Wang Lun.

Wang Lun stared at Lin Ye in surprise, then turned to Zhang Le and nodded. It was certainly a good approach, though he had not expected Lin Ye to be willing to let go.

This was destined to become a work known throughout the world. If Lin Ye completed it alone, then although the concept had originated with Zhang Le, everyone would call it Lin Ye’s work.

What an extraordinary honor it would be to create something that conquered the world.

But if the story were written by screenwriters while Lin Ye only handled the drawings, it would no longer be possible to call the work his alone. It would belong to an entire team. Even if he remained the central figure, the glory would be diminished considerably.

Yet Lin Ye was willing to step aside rather than claim all the credit. Such composure surprised Wang Lun. Putting himself in Lin Ye’s place, Wang Lun was not sure he could have done the same.

“Very well. The people in the writing department are probably bored stiff anyway. Giving them something to do will be good for them.” Zhang Le smiled.

After settling Lin Ye in, Zhang Le picked up Yang Xin’er and the other two and took them out for a meal. It was a simple gesture, but it also served as a welcome dinner for Lin Ye.

Lin Ye’s suggestion had opened a new line of thought for Zhang Le.

There were so many animated works from his former life that had taken the world by storm, along with the films adapted from them. He could simply produce all those concepts at once, draw up general outlines, have the writing department develop them, and then let the animation division turn them into comics and animated series.

Whenever Zhang Le thought of Disney spending tens of billions of dollars to acquire the rights to Marvel’s properties, his heart burned with excitement. And that was not even counting the enormous profits those properties generated after being adapted into films.

Now that the film studio had become a full-fledged film and television company, Zhang Le felt that he ought to contribute to its growth.

He had been reborn into this world with a cheat of his own. Was he really going to do nothing more than remake—or, to put it bluntly, plagiarize—the classic films of his former life in order to help the company develop?

Thinking of all the effort Yang Xin’er had devoted to the company, Zhang Le suddenly felt ashamed.

Apart from directing two films himself and having Tang Xiao direct two others, thereby earning profits for the company, he seemed to have contributed very little else.

The company’s establishment, the recruitment of talent, even the selection of its location—Yang Xin’er had apparently handled everything herself.

He had always believed that he was the company’s greatest contributor, responsible for bringing it to its current position. But now, looking back, he realized that Yang Xin’er had quietly done so much for the company.

And what had he done? Whether it had been the former film studio or the current film and television company, he had treated it as little more than a platform built to serve his own filmmaking.

Everything Yang Xin’er had done for the company had been her silent, unquestioning support of him.

The company could be said to embody the efforts of both him and Yang Xin’er. Yet he had constantly taken from it, while Yang Xin’er had continued to give without complaint.

The success of his films was merely the return he received after taking from the company—and he had used that success to achieve fame and recognition. But what had Yang Xin’er received for all her silent sacrifices?

She had continued to give quietly and support him without asking for anything in return, while her presence had gradually faded beneath the dazzling success he now enjoyed.