hollywood system: art

Chapter 36: cartoon network



-Come on, Billy, let's go to the pool. Don't be boring, - said Richard Carson, slightly flushed from the eventful day he had. Since 10:00 AM, he had walked the numerous streets, played pool, and had some drinks with tourists at the bar. They also went to the corner to have some tacos, as recommended by the bartender.

The best day of his life! His wife only allows him to go out to watch soccer with his lifelong friend, Francis Patt, and on many occasions, he gets scolded when he comes home smelling like beer. These ten days are his chance to go anywhere he wants, like a free bird.

- Grandson, I have to work on a model guide, - said Billy.

-Well, do it after the pool, son. The sun will set in an hour, and at dinner, you can do whatever you need to do. Accompany your old man to the pool. I didn't have my sweet grandson with me this afternoon, - said Richard.

His grandfather's smile is contagious, and at seventy years old, he makes it hard for Billy to refuse.

-Well, let's go to the pool,-the young man responded. It's also good to get some fresh air after a day of non-stop drawing and painting. The water was cold, and the atmosphere was pleasant. The hotel had a characteristic luxury.

-Grandpa, Grandpa, those aren't Larry Bird and Kevin McHale from the Boston Celtics, - Billy replied.

-Ah, your old man only likes American football, but go and ask. If they're well-known, you can ask for an autograph, - said Richard.

-Well, I don't have anything to write on, - Billy wondered.

-Don't you have anything in your suitcase? Maybe some papers you brought from the studio? - Richard asked.

-Well, I could use those, - Billy replied. He got out of the pool with excitement. He was just a few meters away from the legend Larry Bird, one of the best shooters in history, along with the winner of numerous NBA three-point contests, known for his excellent techniques.

-Well, I think I have my sketchbook, but ah, whatever, I can use a blank page I haven't used,- said Billy.

He took out his special sketchbook, which consists of four notebooks featuring some of his creations or new designs for projects he's currently working on. Larry Bird, along with McHale, was having a conversation at a table under an umbrella, and there was someone to their right whom Billy couldn't recognize.

-Excuse me, sir, could I have your autograph? - Billy asked.

The sports star turned to look at him and nodded.

-Sure, little buddy, - said Larry Bird.

-Great, sign right below this page,- Billy said.

Mr. Bird signed just as instructed. He looked up at his companions and said, -Will you also sign? -knowing Billy's thoughts and wanting to finish signing and continue their conversation.

-Pass that over here,- said the person Billy didn't recognize.

-You can sign on the other page at the bottom,- Billy interrupted.

He didn't pay much attention and signed on to the other page.

-I guess on the other page, - Kevin McHale responded, anticipating and adding a touch of humor, to which Billy nodded vigorously.

He had three signatures from three basketball personalities, and although he had no idea who the second one was, he would do some research. He could check the special magazines about the Boston Celtics players.

-Thank you very much, -replied Billy, who ran to where his grandfather was sitting in a reclining chair with his beer in hand.

-Did you get them? -Richard asked.

-Yes, it was worth it. It's the Celtics superstar, - Billy said, adjusting himself and letting out a sigh of relief.

-Let's grab something to eat. Your old man is hungry, and he can't eat later. -

He couldn't find any presence of the Boston Celtics. He looked at the calendar, and they didn't have any games in California, let alone Los Angeles.

The days passed in the blink of an eye. He colored the fifty-seven used acetates for the introductory chapter of the anime, created the sequence of the twelve frames per second, and added a futuristic style.

Through his friends, George Sydney obtained an explanation about the animation techniques the studios used to print their anime with such detailed features without spending excessively. The drawings painted on celluloid paper were developed using twelve to thirteen frames per second for animation. For more important moments, the number of frames would increase to thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen frames per second.

That's twelve frames per second and thirteen. The work changed, and this information was a relief for Paul Higgs as the production time was reduced by one-third. Later, they put the drawings in special animation cameras that guide the entire animation sequence or in a special scanner that transfers the drawings into a digital plane. Using an advanced program for the time, the images are organized and the animation is run. Billy was amazed by the multiple techniques used by Paul. The entire reel is adjusted using the animation camera and then through the digital program.

The first opening was completed, combining elements from the first and second parts. The first part of the clouds was extended, and there was an intercut of the four main characters in static images. Then there was a transition of each of them, showing some of their special abilities, along with an image of Yusuke, the protagonist, performing his spirit gun.

For ten days, they worked on the 45-second animation, even fixing the details of the model guide, and they planned the production of the first episode. Each episode has a total of 30 minutes, which is different from the 22 minutes usually seen in anime. The fifteen million dollars for the first twenty-five episodes is entirely reasonable. This is a major production. What Billy didn't know is that the butterfly effect would cause many of Warner's upcoming series to have more rigorous production, and Cartoon Network would receive more love from the Warner network after the success of the designs created in Yu Yu Hakusho/Ghost Report.

-What do you think of this design?- Paul Higgs asked Iwao Takamoto, Tony Benedict, and Eb Benedict, the leaders of Hanna-Barbera.

-It's excellent work, - responded Iwao Takamoto in his concise and pronounced English.

-And you, Tony and Ed, what do you think of the work? - Paul Higgs repeated.

-It's good. It was Billy, the boy, who did the storyboard, characters, and settings, - Tony questioned.

-Yes, the young man has a special ability for development. Although we expected exceptional skills, what he has achieved is beyond reasonable. He's a genius in animation without a doubt. I worked closely with him, teaching him all the skills I've been learning for the past ten years, and this is the result... nothing to envy. Even our visually stunning Batman series can be overshadowed by young Billy, - said Paul.

-How do you think we should proceed, George? - Tony asked.

-Let's send the work to the Warner executives. After all, we're now a subsidiary company, - George said.

-Once they see the caliber of this animated series, they might increase our budget for other series we're reviving, -George added.

-Agreed, - they all said.

-On another note, we can collaborate with young Billy again during the first week of January. The whole team needs to see the quality of his work. This time, Tony will participate and teach young Billy. This series could be the future of our Hanna-Barbera network, - George said.

-Paul, talk to Miss Sullen and have her arrange Billy's next visit to the studio, - George instructed.

The meeting concluded, and the video reached the Warner Media executives two days later, especially Betty Cohen, who rushed to win the network's approval to launch Cartoon Network. The executive thought to herself as she made her way in with the sound of her high heels, leaving the office in complete silence upon Betty's arrival.

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the story is already taking a little bit of the direction I want to give it, although I feel it will be a little long, I keep writing, I'm 24 chapters up in my Patreon, and I keep writing, thanks for reading my dear readers.


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