June to July was the period when Kamiyā Yuu completed the seven 'Fate/zero' side-story novels. It was also when the anime 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' reached its finale.
As Kamiyā Yuu was drawing the illustrations for Lancelot's novel 'Knight's Elegy', 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' had also reached the broadcast date of its final episode.
On the afternoon of June 28, inside Kamiyā Yuu's private office at Yosuganosora Animation Studio.
Ring, ring, ring, ring—
The desk phone interrupted Kamiyā Yuu as he was drawing illustrations for 'Knight's Twilight'.
This landline was Kamiyā Yuu's dedicated work phone. The business cards he handed out externally all listed this number.
In the past, to avoid disturbing his work, incoming calls would first be screened by Morishita Aoi before being connected to him. After Kamiyā Sora joined Yosuganosora Animation Studio, she took over that duty.
As soon as Kamiyā Yuu picked up the receiver, he heard Kamiyā Sora's brief and clear explanation.
"Yuu, Miss Kuroda from Tokyo TV."
Miss Kuroda from Tokyo TV?
Kamiyā Yuu thought for a moment and quickly identified her. She should be one of the main representatives at Tokyo TV, responsible for receiving Yosuganosora Animation Studio. Previously, the company had always negotiated projects with Tokyo TV through her.
Speaking of Tokyo TV, Kamiyā Yuu's expression turned rather odd.
Whether in his previous world or in the world where he now lived, Tokyo TV was probably one of the most famous Japanese television stations in the world.
Not because its programs were especially good, but because this station was so pure. So unaffected.
When earthquakes happened in Japan, other showy television stations would solemnly interrupt their programming to broadcast earthquake news. Only Tokyo TV upheld its own philosophy and continued airing anime, food programs, and tokusatsu films.
Even during the second-anniversary memorial coverage of the Great East Japan Earthquake, NHK, Fuji TV, TV Asahi, and every other station expressed silence and mourning. Only Tokyo TV remained so pure, so unaffected, and aired... a horror movie.
When a certain person was elected president of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, every other Japanese television station reported it seriously, while Tokyo TV halfheartedly displayed the information on a scrolling ticker.
When the northern cosmic-origin country caused trouble, Tokyo TV, as always, continued airing anime.
When Japan's Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries died by suicide, Tokyo TV was still broadcasting a European or American film.
This persistence and style left Japanese viewers utterly amazed.
A series of legendary feats had already made Tokyo TV's conduct an extremely famous meme in Japan.
In Kamiyā Yuu's previous world, the live-action zombie film adapted from the Japanese manga 'I Am a Hero' included such a scene.
In the movie, a zombie outbreak erupted, and everyone fell into panic. When the male lead got into a taxi, he saw news broadcasts on various television channels. Every station was reporting on the zombie outbreak.
Only Tokyo TV remained pure and unaffected, still airing the anime 'Engaged to the Unidentified'.
Seeing Tokyo TV's persistence, the male lead let out a huge sigh of relief.
"Great. As long as Tokyo TV is still airing anime, that means things are fine for now."
The moment he said that, on the taxi's small television screen, Tokyo TV very seriously interrupted its broadcast with news about the zombie outbreak.
The male lead immediately looked as if he had lost all hope.
"No way..."
······
After a brief exchange of greetings, Miss Kuroda from Tokyo TV quickly explained why she had called.
"Mr. Kamiyā, I'm contacting you this time regarding the broadcast schedule for the final episode of your company's anime 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica'. The popularity of your company's anime is truly astonishing. Many viewers of our programs have written in requesting that we move it to a prime-time slot. Therefore, our station would like to discuss with you whether the broadcast time for 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' can be moved to 8:00 p.m. Of course, our station will bear the consequences of changing the schedule without prior arrangement. This will not have any negative impact on you regarding the contract."
A schedule change.
From late-night programming to prime time!?
This was practically a pie falling from the sky.
In Kamiyā Yuu's previous world, the only anime that seemed to have received this kind of treatment was the 2007 phenomenon-level anime 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion'.
It had likewise changed time slots because its popularity was too high. However, that schedule change seemed to have been the result of the production company actively negotiating with the television station.
Now Tokyo TV had personally come to discuss changing the schedule, giving Kamiyā Yuu a pleasant surprise.
It was the most direct proof of the terrifying popularity of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica'.
Kamiyā Yuu was delighted inwardly, and even his tone carried a hint of a smile as he answered:
"Of course. Moving to prime time is something any program would hope for. However, 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' does have age-related broadcast restrictions. Would this cause trouble for the station?"
"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Kamiyā. Tokyo TV has already discussed this matter. We are currently sending personnel to explain the situation to the Broadcast Ethics Program Improvement Organization."
Miss Kuroda replied politely, clearly indicating that Kamiyā Yuu did not need to worry. Tokyo TV would shoulder all consequences of the schedule change.
Bold enough. I like it!
Kamiyā Yuu sighed in admiration inwardly, though on the surface, he still replied politely:
"Then I'm relieved. Since everyone at Tokyo TV has already made arrangements, we have no objections on our side. Thank you very much, Miss Kuroda, and thank you to Tokyo TV for valuing the anime produced by our company."
······
The call ended.
"Changing from a late-night slot to prime time. Tsk, tsk."
Kamiyā Yuu excitedly patted his own face, a pleased smile appearing on his face.
At present, the late-night ratings for 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' were 17%, with a share of 45%.
Ratings referred, of course, to the program's overall daily audience rating. Share refers to the proportion of viewers watching that specific program during the same time period.
Among all late-night programs airing at one in the morning, 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' occupied half the market. Its results were truly horrifying.
Historically, there had even been anime with ratings of 70%. However, at that time, television was the only form of entertainment, and the number of available channels was limited. Therefore, popular anime could achieve such astonishing ratings.
With the rise of modern entertainment, even the hottest anime in prime time would find it difficult to break 10% ratings.
Yet 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica', despite airing late at night, had done exactly that.
During late-night slots, most office workers and students were asleep, yet these viewers happened to be the main audience for 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica'.
If the final episode of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' were broadcast in prime time, the chain reaction that followed could be imagined as something comparable to a chemical explosion.
"Conservatively speaking, the ratings might break twenty percent. Forget anime—ratings like that wouldn't even be possible for a national drama airing in prime time during a public holiday."
"The final episode, huh. After spending so much effort making it, it's about time to harvest the results."