'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' had created an impossible myth.
Since the 1990s, domestic ratings for Japanese anime had rarely surpassed the 10% mark. Even works produced during the so-called golden age of animation had gradually become nothing more than one option for audiences to pass the time amid increasingly abundant entertainment and television programming.
By now, after experiencing the peak period of animation's development, the industry had entered what could be called a low point. The anime market share was weak but stable. To put it bluntly, the entire industry was lifeless, struggling through hard days while desperately producing works that catered to the market and audience tastes just to survive.
This was why the Japanese anime industry Kamiyā Yuu inhabited was filled with restlessness.
It was a vicious cycle. Yet because supply and demand still existed, the industry continued hovering between collapse and painful survival.
To break this situation, either the industry's rules had to be completely shattered and rebuilt, or better animated works had to be created to awaken the industry's vitality and escape its difficult circumstances.
'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' had accomplished the latter.
Not only had it succeeded within the field of Japanese animation, but it had also become a true phenomenon-level anime, causing an intense social response.
On the one hand, it stimulated the industry's development. On the other hand, it allowed more viewers to become aware of anime's existence, changing the current mainstream impression of:
"Anime? Isn't that just something for children and disgusting otaku?"
This world had not produced animation masters like Hayao Miyazaki, Satoshi Kon, Makoto Shinkai, or Katsuhiro Ōtomo, creators capable of calming the industry's restlessness and giving audiences a completely different experience.
Although Japan in this world was still an animation powerhouse, ironically, the status of anime was extremely low.
From the harsh overall industry environment to the difficulties faced by animation studios, extending even to discrimination against anime viewers themselves, Japanese society was filled with hostility toward the animation industry.
Changing the environment of the anime industry was not something that could be done overnight, nor was it something Kamiyā Yuu could accomplish alone.
What he could do was guide the direction of the anime industry as much as possible, pushing animation toward greater sincerity and diversity.
Were the anime industry something that could be changed all at once, it would not be called an "industry."
'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' was an astonishing work that broke the structure of anime.
Why could even a magical girl anime become popular?
Why could anime evolve into a social phenomenon?
Where exactly did 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' excel?
Why was it pursued by so many people?
Should creators continue producing insincere works, or burn their bridges and create original works like 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica'?
Even if it only sparked a tiny flame, that would be the best encouragement for the industry.
That was probably the greatest influence 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' could bring to the industry.
The industry was filled everywhere with statements of total disappointment from insiders:
"Anime is finished."
"What future is there in making anime?"
"The industry can last five more years at most."
At a time like this, an anime whose ratings broke 20% was practically encouragement for every disappointed industry insider.
Leaving aside the creators at the bottom of the industry, at the very least, it allowed other animation directors and producers to see the untapped potential still hidden within the anime industry.
"The final episode's rating was 28%, huh? What an exaggerated number."
Kamiyā Yuu sat in his office chair with his arms crossed, silently staring at the ratings data displayed on the computer screen.
Naturally, he felt proud and delighted that 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' had succeeded in this world.
In his previous world, 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' had been a late-night anime. Before Episode 11, its ratings had basically remained at 2% or below. It was only the storm of public discussion created during the one-month broadcast suspension in October that increased the anime's audience. When Episode 11 aired, the ratings tripled and barely broke 6.7%. Episode 12 maintained similar figures.
In this world, the ratings for Kamiyā Yuu's reset version of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' exceeded the original work by merely a fraction of its total.
The biggest factors were not only that Kamiyā Yuu had expanded the original twelve-episode anime into twenty-four episodes, but also his major reconstruction of the entire work and an anime industry that was more restless than in his previous world, one that yearned even more for the appearance of such a work.
Kamiyā Yuu hesitated briefly, then continued typing the name 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' into the search bar.
After refreshing the page, what he saw were all kinds of eye-catching news articles from the media.
"Famous anime critic Mr. Shimazu Ryōta praises 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' for achieving rare innovation in animation!"
"Creating a ratings myth? An analysis of an unbelievable anime."
"'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' receives rave reviews overseas—the savior of Japanese anime?"
"Random street interview: one hundred students randomly asked about 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica', and the results were completely unexpected!"
The social response caused by the astonishing ratings of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' was far greater than imagined.
If a national-level drama achieved such results, it might receive media praise.
But when an anime achieved such results, it was no longer merely a matter of praise. It became surprise and suspicion.
Both audiences and media were curious. Why would a mere anime have such exaggerated ratings?
Added to this was the good reputation accumulated by 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica', along with the unprecedented viewing experience the final episode gave audiences.
It was like throwing a torch into an ocean made of gasoline.
The entire sea instantly ignited, blazing fiercely.
Social response and social topicality were also targets pursued by the media.
Moreover, contrast created impact.
The contrast between 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' and the lifeless anime industry.
The contrast between it and ordinary anime.
The contrast in the quality of the work itself.
Less than a week after 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' ended, the mass media had already crowned it with titles such as [the anime with the greatest social impact of the twenty-first century], [the favorite work of audiences from the latter half of the ten-year-old age range, fifteen and above, to those in their thirties], [the most innovative anime], and [one of the most influential anime since the birth of animation].
The media did not care whether the anime was truly excellent.
They only wanted to attract attention.
They invited so-called anime critics to evaluate 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' as a whole, or brought up baseless criticism to draw eyes.
No matter what, all of these actions were pouring oil onto the sea of fire.
It was already possible to foresee that, for some time to come, 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' would not be limited to media discussion alone.
It would sweep wildly through every anime-related award in Japan.