Bab 101: Screening for Pokémon
Eiichiro Oda held the piece of paper he had in his room.
What he didn't tell Shinro was that he had actually already written a pirate adventure story, similar to Shin's story outline, in a notebook during his seventh grade. He had always dreamt of creating a series centered around pirates and the sea with extensive world-building.
However, due to the limited pages available in Shounen Jump, he couldn't squeeze his pirate adventure manga concept into a one-shot.
Now, though, he had been granted the opportunity to bring his envisioned series to life.
His excitement surged, prompting him to immediately start writing and drawing on a blank sheet of paper.
A similar feeling was coursing through Kira Toriyama and Masato Kishimoto.
---
[KiShin Headquarters]
It was already May, and the company was steadily growing.
The local presence of KiShin in East Asia, excluding China and a few other countries, has been steadily growing.
KiShin harbored ambitious plans to expand into the USA and European retail markets, aiming to make its mark in the Western market.
However, Tora's and Suzuki's connections seemed exceptionally strong, with only a handful of smaller or moderately-sized retail companies expressing interest.
What truly caught Shin's attention was the world of e-commerce, exemplified by the still-nascent Boston Computer Exchange.
E-commerce remained a novelty not just in his current world but also in his past life, with companies like Amazon and eBay having found remarkable success through this retail model.
While many other companies appeared to overlook e-commerce, Shin was already preparing to seize this opportunity. Mail-catalog retailing was still relatively new, but Shin was gearing up to capitalize on it.
In addition to the retail companies expressing interest in KiShin, such as Best Buy and RadioShack, Shin had already prepared for the release of the Pokémon anime, which would soon air in Japan and various other countries.
His primary objective was to make Pokémon as successful as possible, recognizing its pivotal role in driving sales for Gameboy and Pokémon video games.
KiShin Entertainment, featuring Shiruu and various other artists' albums, had also been distributed in East Asia, and Shiruu's songs, in particular, gained popularity in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
Tora, Suzuki, and several other companies began to take note of KiShin's gradual expansion in East Asia. However, they didn't see it as a significant concern since, in their opinion, KiShin only possessed a weak gaming console, except for its collection of interesting and entertaining video games.
In terms of technology, they believed they could easily outmatch KiShin. While KiShin may have had a factory dedicated to producing FamiCom components, it wasn't something to brag about.
Tora Corporation excelled in motor and other electronic technologies, while Suzuki surpassed Tora and other companies in motor, semiconductors, and other electronics. Suzuki even had its own cellular phone technology gaining popularity in foreign markets.
In fact, apart from cars and their new video games, the most profitable venture was their robust cellular phone sales. This was why Suzuki focused heavily on cellular phones, as did other companies like Tora, as they developed their own mobile phone technologies.
Although the cellular phones of the current era could only receive calls, send texts, and store contacts, they were considered a luxury to own. This is why KiShin's emerging video game consoles, despite lacking cellular phone functions, sold rapidly due to the entertainment they provided, catching the attention of these major corporations.
---
[Tokyo, Japan]
On May 15, 1991,
KiShin Entertainment held a small press conference, and many reporters were already on the scene.
Studio Director Ishigi announced to the press, "We're excited to reveal that our major anime project will have its premiere screening on May 29, 1991, at Shibuya Cinema, Ikebukuro Cinema, Roponggi Cinema, and Ginza Cinema."
A curious reporter inquired, "Is this the anime that KiShin invested a significant amount of money in?"
Both the Studio Director and the Creative Director nodded in confirmation.
The same reporter pressed further, "Could you disclose the title of the series?"
Studio Director Ishigi grinned and replied, "The title is 'Pokémon.'"
Upon hearing "Pokémon," the name raised eyebrows among the press.
TBS's male reporter questioned, "KiShin seems very confident to invest heavily in screening a mere anime. How can you assure people it won't be a waste of money to buy a ticket for just an anime?"
Studio Director Ishigi and Creative Director Hikaru exchanged amused glances. Studio Director Ishigi then responded, "We may not have concrete proof to offer, but I can confidently say that our new anime, Pokémon, is well worth watching, especially if you're an animal lover."
Creative Director nodded in agreement and added, "Not only that, you'll have the opportunity to watch the first three episodes during this screening."
Upon hearing this, one of the reporters remarked, "You've mentioned that it will appeal to pet or animal lovers..." He paused briefly before asking, "Is it safe to assume that the Pokémon anime revolves around animals in some way?"
Studio Director Ishigi responded with a smile, "That's a great question, but you're only half correct..." He paused, his smile growing, and then added, "As for the answer, you'll just have to wait to find out."
The reporters, having expected this response, diligently jotted it down in their notes.
---
[Tora Electronics]
Kenji Tanaka, who watched the press conference on the office TV while seated on the couch, casually asked Taki, the senior manager beside him, "What are your thoughts? I'm quite curious. Do you want to buy a ticket?"
Taki smiled wryly and nodded, saying, "I'll definitely get a ticket. My child has become a KiShin fan and is eager to watch the latest anime produced by them."
Kenji chuckled, as he too was interested in the new anime. He had been a fan of 'The Legend of Zelda' anime, which unfortunately ended prematurely. Now, the prospect of a new anime rumored to surpass it piqued his interest.
---
[Suzuki Financials]
Shiko mused, "KiShin is genuinely passionate about the animation entertainment industry, considering they're willing to invest such a substantial amount of money."
Seki offered a wry smile and remarked, "Well, they're wealthy now, so they can afford it." He spoke with a hint of regret.
Shiko chuckled and teased, "Could it be that you still regret not investing in KiShin?"
Seki nodded and replied, "I do, indeed. Just imagine, earning hundreds of millions by simply investing in such a company without lifting a finger."
Shiko chuckled again and said, "It's certainly a missed opportunity."
---
Meanwhile, many people in Tokyo had already purchased tickets for the screening of the anime 'Pokémon.'
Tora and Suzuki observed this and couldn't help but anticipate what might happen if the anime failed to meet the high expectations of the audience. It could potentially impact KiShin's overall sales, creating an opportunity for them.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
NewComer714
NewComer714 P@treon.com/NewComer714.
[I'll change the bonus chapter rewards when the novel rises in the rankings in the next reset on Monday:
Top 15: +1 chapter √
Top 10: +2 chapters
Top 5: +2 chapters
Top 1 - 3: If we reach the top 3, there will be +2 chapters. If we maintain a top 1 or 3 position, the daily chapter updates will increase to 3 chapters. If we reach the top 1, there will be an additional 2+ chapters!
I apologize if I reduced the bonus chapters. I might have to post all the stock chapters if I release 10 or 15 chapters simultaneously unless I adjust the rewards, aside from the standard 2 chapters per day. I made this change to ensure a consistent 2 chapters per day. If we maintain a top 1 or 3 ranking, the daily updates will increase to 3 chapters per day! I hope this will satisfy our readers.]
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