Chapter 277: Personal Style
After the broadcast of the first episode of Ryuki, the reception was very positive.
The main reason was that Ren, as the head writer of Kamen Rider Ryuki, attracted many fans.
This, of course, improved the ratings of the first episode quite a bit.
At that moment, Masao Tsumura was in the conference room of Toei Company with a group from the Kamen Rider Ryuki production team. They watched the broadcast of the first episode together and waited for the next news.
Finally, the phone rang.
Masao Tsumura nervously reached out, picked up the receiver, and answered:
"Hello... this is Tsumura."
Anxiously, he activated the speakerphone mode and asked.
"Congratulations, Mr. Tsumura," said the television network director with a smile. "Kamen Rider Ryuki has a 12.8% viewership in Japan, ranking second among national programs in the same time slot. It has a 1.3% viewership nationwide, ranking 27th nationally."
These words left Masao Tsumura stunned for a moment.
Director Tian Qi, producer Kazuo Marui, and others present were also stunned.
Then, they were filled with joy. These premiere ratings... were a complete record!
Remember, the previous Kamen Rider series had only a 9.9% viewership in Japan and 0.8% nationwide.
This series of Kamen Rider Ryuki reached a 12.8% viewership in Japan and 1.3% nationwide!
The national ratings increased by almost 3% and the national ones by 0.5%!
The reason for this increase in ratings was, of course, Ren's additional fame, added to his personal promotion.
The public admired the screenwriter of Kamen Rider Ryuki, Ren.
The initial success of the series was entirely due to Ren's fame.
However, whether Kamen Rider Ryuki can continue to generate this surge in popularity will depend on the quality of the series.
Not only the script, but also the costumes, combat design, directing skills, and the actors' performance will influence the future success of the series.
Masao Tsumura dedicated considerable effort to the production of Kamen Rider Ryuki, recruiting talented directors such as Ryuta Tasaki, Hidenori Ishida, Takano Nagaishi, and Kenmitsu Sato.
Furthermore, the actors of Kamen Rider Ryuki were carefully selected. Although they were relatively new or unknown actors, their acting skills and their compatibility with the roles were carefully considered during the selection process.
And most importantly… Masao Tsumura was also incredibly ruthless. This time, a large amount of money was invested in the post-production special effects of Kamen Rider Ryuki.
The deficient special effects of the Riders' stand, initially criticized by the local public, are completely absent in Kamen Rider Ryuki. This demonstrates the dedication of the Shin-Tokyo special effects department.
It remains to be seen how Kamen Rider Ryuki will fare with the public in the future.
However, after hanging up the phone with the television network director, Masao Tsumura burst out laughing.
"Everyone! The launch of Kamen Rider Ryuki was a complete success!".
He waved his hand and declared, "Let's celebrate tonight at an izakaya!".
Whatever happens, the success of Kamen Rider Ryuki is undeniable.
There's a saying, "Drink today, and the rest won't matter!". Out, out! The show had never started so well!
Time to pop the champagne!
"Yes!".
The production team and staff present at the show applauded loudly.
Meanwhile, the rumor about the premiere began to spread, starting with the Japanese fans, who, after watching it, began to comment on it in the Kamen Rider forums.
"I don't really understand the setting of this new Rider. There's a world inside the mirror, and the knights can only fight in it?" they asked.
"The mirror world shown on the official website is a mirror world opposite to the real world. Ordinary people completely decompose upon entering. Even Kamen Rider only lasts for a short time. Only imaginary monsters can survive."
"And didn't they say that this Rider is a battle of knights? Why are they still fighting monsters?".
"Should it be a battle of knights in the final phase, and the initial phase is a battle for points by killing monsters?".
"Not bad. The plot is very fluid, but I almost thought Ren Akiyama was the protagonist."
"The protagonist is Shinji Kido. I read the introduction on the official website. He is the transformer of Kamen Rider Ryuki. And look at the name of this Kamen Rider?"
"I think this Kamen Rider Ryuki is quite good, especially the initial transition, and the opening is really exciting."
"Knowingly, the opening song is written and composed by Mr. Amamiya, and the opening was also directed by Mr. Amamiya."
"No wonder it's so good, and the camera work in the opening's inner monologue is great, worthy of a psychopath!"
"By the way, they're starting to panic."
"Yabai! I forgot that the head writer of this Kamen Rider is Mr. Amamiya, so won't it be very cruel later?"
"I'm starting to worry about Ren and Yui. As the second male protagonist and female protagonist, they won't end up like Aki and Power in Chainsaw Man, will they?"
It's very possible. Ren Akiyama really looks like Aki Hayakawa!
But it's clear that he smells of autumn... It scares me.
Since Ren did not modify Aki Hayakawa, his Japanese origin is practically confirmed.
Of course, important human characters like Denji and Himeno have non-Japanese names, so it is assumed that they are from the Republic.
But devils like Makima, Power, and Beam, of course, are devils, so what does nationality matter?
Aki Hayakawa's identity has made him incredibly popular in Japan.
Among Rider fans, there are also many fans of Chainsaw Man, who now remember the horror of their beloved characters being ruthlessly stabbed by Ren.
Back in the Republic, many of Ren's fans also went to see the first episode of Kamen Rider Ryuki.
However, most had never seen special effects like those of Kamen Rider, and instead found them quite novel.
"It's very similar to Ultraman. They both wear leather suits, but these look more like armor, which is interesting."
"Can this armor protect the body? There's a large empty space in the belly, and the leg armor can't protect the vital parts."
"The body of Kamen Rider is not only defended in those protruding parts, but also in the parts covered by the leather suit."
"Speaking of which, this special effects film is too normal. It's not like Ren's style, the old rogue. The beginning is so normal."
"This is a work for children... What else do you want? Like the beginning of Chainsaw Man with blood and guts everywhere?"
"Hahahaha, right. Kamen Rider has always been a work for children, but it's for children, how can it be so bloody?"
"It must be said. The anime Edgerunners that airs on the children's channel is simply a children's cult."
"It's okay, the kids love to watch it, so organize more!"
"One can only say that the work for children limits the condition of Ren, the old rogue. In fact, I'm looking forward to the Kamen Rider series doing a work with a lot of blood, for a change."
"Impossible! Think about it. Kamen Rider is just a dead person, just ketchup."
Although the Kamen Rider series is not particularly popular in the Republic, it still has a following. They have taken it upon themselves to explain the premise of the series to others online.
Meanwhile, the first episode of Kamen Rider Ryuki has received good reviews and positive feedback.
At least there are no criticisms, but it's only the first episode, so it's hard to know. And with Kamen Rider's work, you never know what he'll come up with until the end...
So let's wait and see.
...
Ren's Apartment.
After everyone finished eating, they began to review Kamen Rider Ryuki, whose head writer was Ren.
"It feels good, but it's completely different from your usual style," said Ayumi, somewhat bewildered.
"My usual style?" asked Ren with curiosity. "What do you mean by my usual style?".
"It's just that... you usually like abrupt, direct, and brilliant beginnings," said Yuka.
As people who had spent time with Ren, they all knew his personality well and didn't mind speaking their minds.
So they offered their comments directly.
"Yes, like the beginning of Edgerunners..." said Sakura. "It seems to me that that scene at the beginning where the Cyberpsycho and the NCPD exchange fire with the braindance was very sudden, but also very impressive."
"The same goes for your recent work Parasyte."
"You could have started with the protagonist's daily life," agreed Akutami Yuta. "But you planned for the beginning to be a Parasyte attacking people."
Ren scratched his head, thinking it over, and it made sense...
Edgerunners began with David's opening words and the braindance battle scene. Fire Punch began with Agni sacrificing himself to save the villagers and the final scene of Doma going up in flames. Chainsaw Man began with an even more direct and bloody scene...
Parasyte also had a bloody and terrifying beginning that contrasted with the protagonist's daily life.
But...
Ren blushed. This wasn't his plot design; he was just a plagiarist.
I can only say, isn't it just a coincidence?
The four works selected by Ren begin with a bloody and terrifying meaning.
- - - - -
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