Animation Producer in a Fantasy World

With the completion of the character and machine god designs and various settings, the full-scale work began.

If we were making animation on Earth, this part would be the most tedious and grueling.

From creating storyboards to the layout work commonly called L/O, followed by the creation and supervision of key frames and in-between animations, tracing, and coloring.

Ordinary people wouldn’t even need to know about these various intense tasks that need to be performed.

But at least I wasn’t afraid of this work at all.

Because as I’ve said before, I could finish all those numerous processes with just a few ‘clicks’ using fantasy magic and copy magic.

The work isn’t difficult.

I just need to output various scenes of the animation that come to mind using fantasy magic and then replicate them countless times with copy magic.

And then use magic to make the pictures move, and that’s it.

Compared to how animation was made on Earth, it might seem like an incredibly easy method.

But at the same time, this work had one fatal drawback.

The number of key frames used in a typical animation ranges from a minimum of 300 to as many as 2000.

This meant that an enormous amount of magical power was consumed in the process of pulling the images from my head into reality.

Even if I could produce key frames and create anime with just a click, it meant I had to do this work at least 300 times.

That’s why Kaya hired a few more magicians besides me for the animation production team.

Rather than me alone becoming a fantasy magic output printer, it was much faster to work together with machines that could be used freely… I mean, other excellent magicians.

“Hmm, so this is how it was. The process of you making animation, Ragna.”

And now, next to me was an incredibly seductive-looking magician who appeared to be in her late 20s, smiling at me with her eyes.

Normally, this would have been enough to trigger the delusions typical of a loser, like ‘Is this woman interested in me? How many children should we have later?’

Regrettably, I didn’t feel my heart flutter looking at her appearance.

By the way, this wasn’t because my preferences had suddenly changed to something like marine literature.

In other words, to be more precise.

“…Please don’t tease me too much, Master. This disciple has never properly dated a woman, so I’m not immune to such things.”

That’s right.

The identity of this magician supporting me by my side was none other than my master who taught me at the magic tower.

Her name was Aris Lenoa.

She was currently the master of the Sky Tower and also considered one of the most outstanding magicians in the empire.

…Well, to me, she just looked like a nagging old lady who clung to my pant leg begging me to become an official disciple to continue the magic tower.

“Hoho, are you perhaps feeling fluttery towards me? Well, I may be older than you, but since there’s only a three or four year age difference between us, it’s not entirely impossible for us to be together.”

“…As far as I know, the age difference between you and me isn’t three or four years, but six or seven-”

That’s when it happened.

Crack!

The table where the master had been resting her hand split in half.

“That’s enough. Men who carelessly mention a woman’s age aren’t popular, you know?”

“…Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”

If I had continued to run my mouth here, she looked ready to throw a fireball at my head, so I had no choice but to keep my trap shut.

“By the way, I’m sorry. After bringing you all the way here, Master, all I have you doing is this simple repetitive work.”

Originally, anime viewers watch it all in 20 minutes and then get possessed by their inner critic, talking about key frames and character deterioration and all sorts of nitpicking.

In reality, the people making the animation have to suffer for days and days to produce the anime that those viewers watch in 20 minutes.

And the fact that I was making my master, of all people, do this grueling work made my conscience, full of K-Confucian spirit, feel uncomfortable.

But fortunately, the master just smiled gently at my words.

“It’s alright. I was also very interested in how animation is made. Moreover, isn’t it only natural for a master to help her one and only disciple?”

“Master…!”

I felt even more overwhelming emotion than when I heard the line “My foolish disciple… but I’ll love you anyway…” from my master.

“If you’re grateful, make an animation with a magician as the protagonist later. That way, new slaves… I mean, magicians with considerable talent will flock to our magic tower after watching that animation.”

“…..”

Anyway, with the cooperation of various magicians including my master, I was able to quickly complete the production of in-between animations and backgrounds.

And based on the completed in-between animations, the voice dubbing began in earnest.

The Commander-in-Chief looked at him and spoke in a voice devoid of any emotion.

[Get in the machine god, Kai.]

[Pardon?]

[I said get in the machine god, Kai. And defeat the Outer Gods invading this place. That’s the only reason we brought you here.]

[Th-That’s-]

At that moment, Kai unknowingly bit his lip as he heard the commander’s words.

[The reason I came here was because I was told you would tell me the whereabouts of my missing sister. But suddenly you’re telling me to ride this thing and defeat Outer Gods?]

[If you’re going to ride it, get on quickly, and if you’re not going to ride it, get out of here. The choice is yours.]

[…No, I’ve never seen a machine god in my life. How on earth do you expect me to control this thing!]

But then, at that moment.

[That guy is right, Commander. There’s no need to put such a dimwit in a machine god. I’ll pilot Unit 00.]

It was a girl.

A fragile girl whose entire body was wrapped in bandages, with blood seeping through that she couldn’t possibly hide.

She seemed to be struggling just to walk on her two feet, gasping for breath with each step.

She looked like she was on the verge of death to anyone who saw her, but the commander looked at the girl with ice-cold eyes.
[Didn’t you just lose in the battle against the Outer Gods, Saya? A loser wants to pilot Unit 00?]
[…But since that idiot won’t get in the machine god, I’m the only option left. Isn’t that right?]

[Yes, then there’s no choice. Saya, you get in the machine god instead of that guy.]

[No, what are you…! You’re going to put a patient with that level of injury in a machine god?]

As Kai said this with his eyes wide open, the commander raised the corner of his mouth looking at him.

[Then, do you have another way? Outer Gods can’t be killed without machine gods, and if Outer Gods invade here, humanity will be destroyed. You’re just throwing a tantrum saying you can’t do anything yourself, yet you’re trying to lecture others. It’s really ridiculous.]

[…!]

At the commander’s words, Kai bit his lip hard as if he had been hit right on the mark.

But after a moment, Kai opened his mouth with a determined expression as if he had made up his mind about something.

[…I’ll do it.]

[Hm?]

[I’ll pilot the machine god in her place! Well, it’s just a matter of giving it a try, isn’t it!]

“…Cut! We’ll take a short break.”

The dubbing ended with my shout.

And at the same time, the staff who had been watching the dubbing work as if they had spilled something also came to their senses.

“G-Good work, everyone! A-And you too, Serika-nim!”

As Liz, who played the role of Kai, bowed her head to the voice actors standing next to her, Serika, who played the role of Saya, also seemed to come to her senses and made a startled expression.

“Huh? Ah… Good work, Liz-ssi.”

“Ehehe, it’s nothing. I just recited the lines as they were in the script.”

Liz said this with an incredibly innocent smile.

But at that moment, I could clearly see Serika’s face hardening as she heard those words from Liz.

‘…She’s a monster.’

I clicked my tongue inwardly as I looked at Liz.

‘How can she be a rookie who just started voice acting? I’d believe it if they said she was a veteran with 20 years of experience in this field.’

That’s right.

Although she was a newcomer I had personally discovered through auditions.

Liz’s acting ability was incredibly outstanding, beyond what I had imagined.

Just now, didn’t all the staff, including Serika, look at her as if enchanted by Liz’s voice acting?

With a little exaggeration, Liz’s acting just now showed a synchronization rate as if Kai had burst through the screen.

But then.

“…Um, Director.”

“Yes? What is it?”

For some unknown reason, Liz approached me with a very hesitant attitude and started to look nervous.

“Am I… doing well? I tried my best in my own way, but the reactions of the others just now seemed a bit strange…”

“…?”

Of course, I couldn’t help but show a bewildered reaction to Liz’s response.

She had just turned Serika and all the other voice actors into ordinary people with her acting alone, yet what is she saying?

“Of course, you’re doing well.”

“…Really?”

“Of course. I’d even like to take you for the next work if possible, that’s how well you’re doing.”

“Ehehe. I’m really happy.”

At my answer, Liz showed a shy smile as if she was somewhat embarrassed.

Just as Liz and I were filming some kind of heartwarming youth drama together.

“Hm?”

I suddenly turned my gaze.

And there, Serika was quietly staring at Liz beside me with some incomprehensible look.

“…That was supposed to be mine. It’s mine.”
“…?”
Why is her expression like that again?
And what does that muttering towards Liz just now mean?

‘…Well, she’s probably just feeling competitive towards Liz as a fellow voice actor.’

I dismissed Serika’s behavior as nothing significant.