姜周
北京時(shí)間4月12日凌晨,中日合制的動(dòng)畫(huà)片《Butlers~千年百年物語(yǔ)~》(以下簡(jiǎn)稱《物語(yǔ)》),在日本六大電視臺(tái)以及愛(ài)奇藝和芒果TV同步播出日語(yǔ)版。評(píng)論里是不少網(wǎng)友興奮的聲音:從小到大看了這么多日本動(dòng)畫(huà)片,這次終于可以讓日本小朋友追一部我們?cè)瓌?chuàng)的爆款動(dòng)畫(huà)了!
《物語(yǔ)》是日本出版界三巨頭之一角川首次投資中國(guó)國(guó)產(chǎn)IP的動(dòng)畫(huà)化,而這個(gè)IP最早出自杭州姑娘徐文總策劃的國(guó)漫《男神執(zhí)事團(tuán)》(以下簡(jiǎn)稱《男神》)。
《物語(yǔ)》開(kāi)播前的3月24日,日本角川把它作為這一季主推作品,送上了全球最大動(dòng)畫(huà)展——東京AnimeJapan的大舞臺(tái),白天展臺(tái)現(xiàn)場(chǎng)被二次元(漫畫(huà)迷的統(tǒng)稱)粉絲圍得里三層外三層。晚上試映會(huì),在東京池袋一家電影院的檢票處,徐文背著雙肩包站在那里,笑嘻嘻地看著排著長(zhǎng)隊(duì)等待入內(nèi)的觀眾。
這位土生土長(zhǎng)的杭州姑娘,原先住在小營(yíng)巷一帶,杭二中高中畢業(yè)后考進(jìn)了上海華東政法大學(xué),2006年畢業(yè)去了美國(guó)工作,2012年回國(guó)發(fā)展前年薪已相當(dāng)于200萬(wàn)元人民幣……這一路她拿的都是學(xué)霸的“劇本”。
但對(duì)于“學(xué)霸”的名頭,徐文卻有些不置可否:“畢竟我是個(gè)從小就讓父母頭疼的小孩啊。每天想盡辦法看電視,天塌下來(lái)都擋不住我?!?/p>
那會(huì)兒父母為了阻止徐文看電視,拔插頭,鎖電視,甚至媽媽在電視上放頭發(fā)監(jiān)視她的招數(shù),都被她一一破解,“我拿著放大鏡把每根頭發(fā)拿下來(lái)放在白紙上編號(hào),看完電視再放回去?!?/p>
這么大費(fèi)周章,主要就是為了看動(dòng)漫和電視劇。
大學(xué)雖然學(xué)的是法律,但徐文沒(méi)放棄對(duì)漫畫(huà)的愛(ài)好,她甚至和幾個(gè)好朋友一起做了全亞洲最大的《新世紀(jì)福音戰(zhàn)士》的粉絲站。
其實(shí),吸引她的都是那些二次元角色身上無(wú)限的可能性。這份愛(ài)好支撐著她,“誘惑”著她,讓她最終放棄國(guó)外高薪工作,徹底投入打造精品國(guó)漫的世界。
《男神》這個(gè)作品的由來(lái),源自徐文一次腦洞大開(kāi)——2014年夏天,開(kāi)始做手游(在手機(jī)上玩的游戲的統(tǒng)稱)的徐文,在廣告片場(chǎng),看到很多女生圍著男主角拍廣告片,突然想到:為什么不能做一個(gè)帥哥圍著女生轉(zhuǎn)的作品?
當(dāng)時(shí)那個(gè)廣告的導(dǎo)演程亮,聽(tīng)完她的想法當(dāng)場(chǎng)就說(shuō):我覺(jué)得OK。
得到肯定的徐文,當(dāng)時(shí)就興奮了:這是一個(gè)機(jī)會(huì)。
很快,她成立了淺夏動(dòng)漫(Summer ACG),兩個(gè)月后,推出了漫畫(huà)《男神》,在“有妖氣”上線連載,一周點(diǎn)擊量破10萬(wàn),評(píng)論齊刷刷地在催促更新。徐文明確了淺夏未來(lái)的發(fā)展方向:做原創(chuàng)IP。
“一開(kāi)始公司里除了畫(huà)手和編劇這些技術(shù)工種,其他人真的什么都不懂?!?/p>
但當(dāng)時(shí)這個(gè)團(tuán)隊(duì)目標(biāo)很一致:做國(guó)漫,打造精品。
這注定不是一條輕松的路,甚至可以說(shuō)是“一年活三歲”。因?yàn)樾袠I(yè)發(fā)展太快,前人看似成熟的商業(yè)模式,轉(zhuǎn)眼就過(guò)時(shí)了,這是一個(gè)沒(méi)什么“套路”可循的行業(yè)。淺夏這一路,交的“學(xué)費(fèi)”也不少。
在醫(yī)院里打著點(diǎn)滴,上午跟心急變現(xiàn)的投資人見(jiàn)面,下午跟作者對(duì)劇本,這些都是那段時(shí)間徐文的常態(tài)。父母一度勸她放棄,在長(zhǎng)輩們心里,女兒其實(shí)可以不用這么累的?!暗夷氖沁@么容易被勸住的人”,徐文笑道。
幸運(yùn)的是,《男神》和淺夏動(dòng)漫的成長(zhǎng),正好和國(guó)內(nèi)二次元行業(yè)的成長(zhǎng)同步。2014年,正是國(guó)漫領(lǐng)域開(kāi)始發(fā)力發(fā)展的時(shí)間?!赌猩瘛沸疫\(yùn)地趕上了市場(chǎng)的爆發(fā)點(diǎn),淺夏也和大環(huán)境一起蓬勃往前。
《男神》漫畫(huà)上線后2個(gè)月,和北京樂(lè)華圓娛文化傳播有限公司合作開(kāi)發(fā)的同名網(wǎng)劇開(kāi)拍;2015年7月上線播出后,在沒(méi)有任何宣傳的情況下獲得了全網(wǎng)超兩億次的播放量,有效點(diǎn)擊率不輸同期熱播的偶像劇《花千骨》。
6個(gè)月后,《男神》同名手游上線,下載量達(dá)到400萬(wàn)次。2016年底的時(shí)候,“有妖氣”上的漫畫(huà)就已經(jīng)點(diǎn)擊量破億,微博話題量超過(guò)4.5億。
“這些成績(jī)讓我們備受震撼!”2016年,日本角川集團(tuán)動(dòng)畫(huà)企劃部部長(zhǎng)工藤大藏在接觸到《男神》時(shí),這樣形容道。
角川作為日本出版業(yè)“三巨頭”之一,很少和國(guó)外企業(yè)合作。
2016年4月,在《男神》的IP運(yùn)作進(jìn)程表中,到了該“動(dòng)畫(huà)化”的時(shí)候。淺夏也循動(dòng)漫界的合作慣例,廣發(fā)英雄帖。萬(wàn)萬(wàn)沒(méi)想到,剛被人推薦到日本,就被角川動(dòng)畫(huà)企劃部制作人田村先生撞上了。他當(dāng)即表示“很喜歡這個(gè)故事和人設(shè),希望可以合作”。
過(guò)去,“中日合作”的國(guó)漫,都是以中方企業(yè)掏錢,雇傭日本團(tuán)隊(duì)制作動(dòng)畫(huà)環(huán)節(jié),這種模式下,日方基本不會(huì)讓中方人員參與到內(nèi)容的創(chuàng)作過(guò)程中。而主動(dòng)向中方伸出合作橄欖枝的動(dòng)作,此前從未有過(guò),徐文將信將疑去了日本。
2016年4月,雙方在東京角川大樓第一次見(jiàn)面?!耙婚_(kāi)始是跟動(dòng)畫(huà)企劃部部長(zhǎng)工藤大藏在聊,突然來(lái)了一位老先生,進(jìn)門(mén)就鞠躬然后說(shuō)日語(yǔ),我其實(shí)也聽(tīng)不太懂,后來(lái)翻譯跟我說(shuō),這是角川的社長(zhǎng)井上伸一郎?!苯谴ǖ暮献髡\(chéng)意給徐文留下了深刻的印象。
會(huì)議結(jié)束后,雙方的合作開(kāi)始推進(jìn)。
每周3小時(shí)的網(wǎng)絡(luò)劇本會(huì)討論劇情走向,以及每個(gè)名字、每張圖、每個(gè)角色、角色名單上面的顏色等,這些都是由淺夏和角川共同商議選擇的?!斑@樣的合作方式,不僅僅讓我們能夠深度地參與到項(xiàng)目開(kāi)發(fā)中,更能將日本動(dòng)漫工業(yè)成熟的技術(shù)和制作經(jīng)驗(yàn)積累到自己手中?!?/p>
如果在雙方討論中出現(xiàn)與原作非常不符的設(shè)定,淺夏動(dòng)漫有一票否決的權(quán)力。8個(gè)月后,《男神》變成了《物語(yǔ)》。
日本的動(dòng)漫工業(yè)流程是很嚴(yán)謹(jǐn)?shù)?,哪怕是角川自己IP庫(kù)里的作品,通常也要經(jīng)過(guò)3年的研究評(píng)判,才會(huì)決定是否要?jiǎng)赢?huà)化,而真正完成,需要的時(shí)間更久。
在保持原版人設(shè)不變的情況下,角川抽出骨干力量負(fù)責(zé)劇情的再創(chuàng)作,同時(shí)邀請(qǐng)了日本著名的動(dòng)畫(huà)制作公司SILVER LINK.(株式會(huì)社SILVER LINK.)承制動(dòng)畫(huà),Lantis公司(Lantis Records Co.,Ltd)創(chuàng)作音樂(lè)。這兩家公司,在日本甚至全亞洲的動(dòng)漫界都有著極高的認(rèn)知度。特別是Lantis,屬于超一線公司,即使日本本土公司想要與其合作都需要排隊(duì)等候。
所有的一切都朝著徐文夢(mèng)想的方向前進(jìn),整個(gè)IP的投資,達(dá)到數(shù)千萬(wàn)元級(jí)。
“2014年決定做這行,那時(shí)我兒子5歲,在家看電視,要么是喜羊羊,要么是熊出沒(méi),要么就是日本動(dòng)畫(huà)片,沒(méi)有其他選擇,我覺(jué)得這不對(duì)。”因?yàn)楣ぷ鞑坏貌辉诤贾?、上海、北京、東京等地連軸轉(zhuǎn)的徐文,雖然失去了很多陪伴孩子的時(shí)間,但入行時(shí)的初心卻一直沒(méi)變。
3月24日晚11點(diǎn),《物語(yǔ)》試映會(huì)結(jié)束后,走在東京街頭的徐文陷入了回憶。“我不想兒子長(zhǎng)大以后聊起來(lái)只有這些,我想讓兒子有更多屬于精品國(guó)漫的記憶?!?/p>
“動(dòng)漫其實(shí)不是只做給小孩子看的?!毙煳恼f(shuō),“一部《棋魂》,日本多了400萬(wàn)圍棋手。動(dòng)漫也可以向孩子們輸出勇敢、堅(jiān)強(qiáng)、團(tuán)隊(duì)的價(jià)值觀和很多傳統(tǒng)藝術(shù)”,在她心里,中國(guó)有那么久的歷史和豐富的文化,就應(yīng)該有硬氣到讓日本人都羨慕的國(guó)漫精品。
徐文和淺夏動(dòng)漫還掌握著《黑白無(wú)雙》、《大宋提刑官》、《詭水疑云》等優(yōu)秀大IP,打造著《文明之光》等文化向手游,締造屬于自己的二次元文化圈?!拔覀円龅牟恢皇恰赌猩瘛罚幌抻陂_(kāi)發(fā)游戲和影視,我們要推動(dòng)中國(guó)的二次元文化從‘進(jìn)口變成‘出口。杭州是中國(guó)的動(dòng)漫之都,這可能是我作為一個(gè)杭州人,能為打造真正的國(guó)漫精品所做的最大努力吧?!?/p>
入夜的櫻花美到讓人懷疑真實(shí)性,走在東京街頭的徐文卻無(wú)心欣賞,創(chuàng)業(yè)路上的困難很多,“其實(shí)我沒(méi)有幾天睡過(guò)完整的覺(jué),哪怕是做出了爆款,也有很多意想不到的狀況不斷發(fā)生,感覺(jué)每一天都是升級(jí)打怪?!?/p>
在她的計(jì)劃表里,玩具、公園、文創(chuàng)產(chǎn)品、跨次元偶像等等,依然還有很多沒(méi)有完成的內(nèi)容,“這些都是動(dòng)漫行業(yè)在國(guó)內(nèi)的空間和方向,所有的都才剛起步,我們作為一份子,愿意陪著這個(gè)行業(yè)慢慢走下去?!?/p>
, a China-Japan anime co-production, hit six TV channels in Japan and Tencents video website in the wee hours of April 12, 2018. The page views on v.qq.com topped 100 million within 12 hours after the release. For anime fans in China, the thrill came from the fact that this time they were watching an anime adapted from an amazing storyline dreamed up by a Chinese girl named Xu Wen.
tells the story of a girl who has to finish 10 missions commissioned by 10 ‘guardians to find her missing boyfriend. The adventure opens her eyes and makes her realize the mystery of life. is also the first time Kadokawa Pictures, one of Japans ‘Big Four film studios, invested in the production of an anime that is based on a ‘made in China story.
Kadokawa Pictures started promotion of about three weeks prior to the release, featuring the anime at AnimeJapan, the worlds largest anime consumer show. Anime fans waited in a long queue at the ticket counter of a cinema in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, for a preview of . The queue made Xu Wen, who was standing nearby, truly happy.
Xu Wen went to the US in 2006, after graduation from East China University of Political Science and Law. Back in China in 2012, she had an established career and an enviable salary. “I never saw myself a ‘straight-A student; I was kind of a problem child and brought endless headaches to my parents, every day racking my brain to get a chance to watch TV.”
She chose law as her major at college, but her passion in anime never waned with age. During her undergraduate years, she built an Evengelion fan community, the largest one in Asia. “The infinite possibilities created by whats called the ACGN world are always fascinating me, bringing me back to my own country to be part of it.”
Inspired by what she saw at an advertising filming site in 2014, Xu Wen shared a story idea with a director and launched Summer ACG later that year. She had started her own mobile game business. was released only two months after, serialized on an online platform and winning 100,000 hits within a week. The success of the manga pointed out the direction of Summer ACG.
“Most of the team members were newbies, knowing little about ACG; but we set the goal big and clear, that is, to build a truly Chinese brand in the Japan-dominated ACG industry,” Xu Wen recalls, adding that it was a process of trial and error, and the ceaseless worrying about falling behind the latest business trends was a test of everyones anti-pressure ability.
“I was too busy to squeeze in time to see a doctor. I had no time for my son, who was turning 5 when I had just started my ACG dream. I had to deal with impatient investors and spent hours after hours working out details with script writers. It was a tough time, and my parents were worried about their ‘derailed girl, but I was determined.”
It turned out that was born at the right time. The mobile game of the manga achieved four million downloads.
The sensational success of led to the cooperation between Summer ACG and Kadokawa Pictures, and eventually led to the release of . Discussion of all details regarding the anime production took eight months, during which a three-hour online meeting was held weekly.
Silver Link and Lantis Records Co., Ltd, both ranking among the best in Japan, contributed to the anime.
“Animation is not just a babysitter. What I want to do is to boost originality in the ACG industry of China.”
Related Readings
ACG: The ACG is an abbreviation of “Anime, Comic and Games”, used in some subcultures of Greater China. Because a strong economic and cultural connection exists between anime, manga and games in the Japanese market, ACG is used to describe this phenomenon in relative fields. The term refers in particular to Japanese anime, manga and video games, with the video games usually referring to galgames. The translation of the term into Chinese is literarily “two-dimensional space”.