The second character promotional animation for 'RWBY'.
Should he choose Weiss Schnee, who appears noble and aloof but is actually a sharp-tongued tsundere?
Or Blake Belladonna, who is calm, intelligent, and quiet, yet secretly a bit of a goofball?
Or perhaps Yang Xiao Long, who is passionate, outgoing, and optimistic—the very image of an all-American sunshine girl?
Kamiyā Yuu didn't care much about the order before, but this time was different. The second promotional animation would determine whether he could push that character's key animation to the top of the monthly popularity rankings—and whether he could bring Uehara Etsuki into his animation studio.
It wasn't that the studio couldn't function without Uehara Etsuki, but losing her would be a significant setback. Whether it was her skill as an outstanding key animator or her industry reputation as a master of Japanese gothic-style artwork, she would be immensely valuable to Kamiyā Yuu. Most importantly, someone with such exceptional ability also happened to embody the elegance of a perfect Yamato Nadeshiko. Even in a "collection game," this was the kind of talent you absolutely wouldn't let slip away.
The number one spot in the "FakeBook" animation section's key animation popularity rankings wasn't easy to claim. That space was dominated by major animation studios and famous artists. For a newcomer with no background to even make the rankings was already something to brag about for a lifetime. Even 'Giant Wolf Sif and the Girl Ruby,' which rode the wave of its anime's popularity, could only reach fifth place despite its high like-to-view ratio—its popularity still only amounted to one-tenth of the first place.
"The choice of character… this battle hinges on the choice."
Staring at the document on his laptop, Kamiyā Yuu hesitated briefly before typing the name of the second promotional character:
Yang Xiao Long.
Why her?
He recalled data he had seen in his previous world—Yang ranked first in 'RWBY' popularity polls in the United States, far surpassing Ruby Rose in second place. This suggested that Western audiences favored this kind of bright, energetic female character. After all, in Hollywood films, the most popular female characters often fit this archetype.
For reference, Weiss ranked third, while Blake came last. Blake was probably the least prominent character in 'RWBY,' making that popularity poll essentially a "screen presence ranking."
Yang (Yang Xiao Long) had a bold and lively personality—her presence was undeniable.
Ruby, the "little red hood," was adorably clumsy, and as the protagonist with the first promotional animation released, her influence ran deep.
Weiss's character design alone was enough to attract a wave of devoted fans.
As for Blake… compared to the others, she simply didn't stand out.
The original 'RWBY' production team likely recognized this and added a "foodie" trait to her character. In Kamiyā Yuu's view, that was actually a misstep—not because the trait itself was bad, but because Blake's portrayal ended up too similar to Ruby's absent-minded, food-obsessed behavior.
If Blake were to have a foodie trait, it would be better expressed as elegant and composed, yet inexplicably fast when eating, maintaining contrast rather than overlap.
"Character decided… then what about the style of the promotional animation?"
Kamiyā Yuu fell into deep thought again. This time, the goal wasn't to meet his own ideal creative standards—it was to capture the hearts of Western animation audiences, even drawing in people who had never watched anime before.
Achieving that with just a short 3D animation was nearly impossible.
'Red—Crescent Rose' had reached unprecedented heights because of its improved visual quality, content, and its break from the stylistic constraints of this world's animation. To be honest, if the second promotional animation failed to innovate again and grab attention, it might not even surpass the first one in popularity.
"Take a completely different approach."
"It has to feel stunning, exhilarating, and leave people wanting more."
"It doesn't need a complex plot or heavy atmosphere."
"It needs intensity—pushed to the extreme—beyond ordinary imagination. Let music and motion dance together, creating combat scenes that awaken instinct."
"In simple terms, it should make viewers shout: 'Cool! Cooler! Coolest!'"
"And all of that… within about ten minutes."
"Is it possible?"
Kamiyā Yuu pondered.
To achieve that level, it wasn't just about fight choreography. Music, pacing, camera work, visual effects, characters, composition, and even minimal narrative elements all had to come together seamlessly.
For example, the "bullet time" effect he used in 'Red—Crescent Rose' had already attracted attention from professionals. This world didn't have 'The Matrix,' so while similar techniques had appeared before, they had never been refined into something truly striking. As a result, few directors had seriously explored it.
Because of that, his use of "bullet time" had already become something of a textbook example for those interested in the technique.
And yet, in his previous world, that level of execution would only be considered beginner-level in Hollywood.
"What if I show this world what 'professional' really means? What does a true action spectacle look like?"
His heart stirred.
He began recalling those once mind-blowing film scenes and visual techniques from memory. If he could recreate that level of impact, not only would he take first place in the rankings—he might even reshape the course of this world's film industry.
But what about feasibility?
The workload required wouldn't even be comparable to 'Red—Crescent Rose.' He would need to dedicate himself entirely—studying those techniques within his mind space, and in reality, pouring all his energy into refining every detail.
After all, he was the only one who had ever seen those techniques.
Which meant he was the only one who could bring them into this world.
"It's not a question of whether it's possible…"
Kamiyā Yuu exhaled slowly, his eyes burning with determination.
"It has to be done."