Bonus Chapter at 900 PS
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In the animation industry, information tends to travel at light speed. It was only early afternoon when the official tracking agencies published the first-week sales figures for the Puella Magi Madoka Magica Volume 1 Blu-rays.
Everyone in the business knew the numbers would be explosive, but the actual data, 478,069 copies in a single week, left veteran animators and producers in a state of total psychological shock. It was not just impressive; it was bordering on the preposterous.
If the first week was already pushing half a million, it was virtually guaranteed that the total sales for the first volume would break the one-million-copy threshold.
Consider the pricing.
The Limited Edition Blu-ray was 9,900 yen, the Standard Edition was 6,900 yen, and the DVD was 4,900 yen. Even if you calculate based on the pre-tax prices and assume the production studio receives a 40% cut after accounting for manufacturing costs and retail margins, the profit for the first volume alone would be a staggering sum. That single volume's revenue was enough to cover the entire production budget of the television series plus the cost of the prime-time slots on Tokyo TV's Channel 1.
But that was only the beginning.
An anime has multiple revenue streams. For most series, even if they are profitable, the disc sales rarely cover the initial production costs on their own; companies usually rely on merchandise and licensing to bridge the gap. Yet here was an anime that had broken even with its very first disc.
What kind of monster had Haruto created?
This meant that the revenue from the remaining four volumes, the two theatrical Blu-ray sets, international licensing, and the vast sea of merchandise would be pure profit.
These numbers caused the producers behind the other summer season hits, many of whom were still struggling to see a return on their massive investments, to grind their teeth in pure frustration.
It is a common human trait.
People do not usually mind seeing someone else make money, but seeing someone they consider lesser strike it rich is more painful than losing money themselves. The industry was suddenly suffering from a severe case of red-eye jealousy.
Since they could not deny the success of the television series, many industry insiders turned their sights on the upcoming movie.
The history of theatrical sequels is a minefield of disappointment. Countless classics have had their legacies tarnished by a poorly conceived movie that felt like a shallow cash grab.
Soon, while the mainstream media was busy reporting the record-breaking sales, a wave of negative expert opinions began to flood the news cycles.
[A famous critic stated in an interview that he remains skeptical of the upcoming movie, The Rebellion Story.]
[A senior scriptwriter claimed during a live stream that the TV ending was already complete and that any theatrical sequel is clearly a cynical move to milk the fans with substandard content.]
[A veteran children's animator, when asked about the Madoka Phenomenon on a variety show, dismissed it as a stroke of luck, predicting that the show's legendary status would crumble once the movie was released.]
[A growing number of fans express anxiety over the August 22nd release, fearing the movie might ruin the reputation of their favorite series.]
Even though the autumn season had officially begun and new shows were airing, the shadow of Madoka Magica still loomed over the market. The fans were caught in a dilemma. They desperately wanted more content, but the expert warnings were making them second-guess their excitement.
On the AniSphere anime forums, the Madoka sub-board was a whirlpool of conflicting emotions.
"What are we going to do, guys? I managed to snag the Limited Edition of Volume 2 today, but I am terrified for next month. What if the movie is a disaster? I do not want the show's legacy to be ruined by a bad sequel."
"Do not listen to those idiots. That is just pure jealousy from the other studios. They see how much money Haru-Yuki Animation is making and they want to tank the sales of Rebellion by spreading rumors."
"But they have a point! The TV ending was absolute perfection. I literally cannot imagine what else there is to say. Anything they add now feels like it will just be painting legs on a snake and dragging the quality down."
"I feel the same way."
"I was so happy when they announced the movie, but after hearing what those big-name producers said, I am starting to think they are right. Sequels usually suck."
"You guys are overthinking it. The Warrior of Love is not going to destroy his own brand. If he is making a movie, it is because he has a story worth telling."
"Sigh, the problem is that the Warrior of Love has no track record. We do not know if he is a one-hit wonder. Nine out of ten anime movies are hated by the fans. If we get through this without the original being ruined, it will be a miracle."
"Stop talking. You are making me even more nervous."
The coordinated campaign by the rival studios, had successfully split the fanbase into two camps.
The hopeful and the terrified. Haruto followed the discussions with a sense of grim amusement.
He knew exactly what the Big Three were doing. They were projecting their own business models onto him. Because they loved releasing low-effort movies to squeeze more money out of a hit, they assumed he was doing the same. However, their attempts to warn the fans were actually doing him a massive favor. They were building an incredible amount of tension and hype for the release.
If The Rebellion Story had been a mediocre film, these warnings would have killed its sales. But the reality was the exact opposite.
By having the fans argue about the quality a month in advance, the industry was essentially keeping the series at the top of the trending topics for free. Haruto decided it was time to throw a bucket of gasoline onto the fire.
He logged into his Warrior of Love account, which had been silent for over a week, and posted a single update.
"On August 22nd, Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Rebellion Story will be released across Japan. It is a story of the entanglement between gods and demons. I promise you a narrative that rivals, and perhaps even surpasses, the original series in its entirety."