Chapter 426: *District Nine* English Version Shocking Release

Arriving at the production workshop where *Black Cat Detective* was located again, there were fewer people than usual. After the factory's decision was issued, some senior employees in the team felt there was no future and joined other production groups.

However, Dai Tielang was quite optimistic. Although a few people were missing, this was already a mature team, and he still had the confidence to put all of *Black Cat Detective* on the screen before the end of this year for the little audience to watch to their heart's content.

"The only thing that makes me uncomfortable is that the scripts for the first ten episodes were already written before, and ending at the tenth episode gives a feeling of abruptness, appearing headless and tailless," Dai Dao said.

Wei Ming looked at the script. At the tenth episode, One-Ear was still escaping, and the rookie police rabbit Judy and the yuppie fox Nick had just appeared, but they hadn't had any eye-catching performance yet.

Seven episodes had already been filmed, and the scripts for 8, 9, and 10 were also written well. Dai Dao felt heartache deleting any episode.

So Wei Ming said: "I'll talk to Factory Director Te Wei later to see if we can add one or two more episodes, at least catch One-Ear, which can be considered a perfect ending."

Dai Tielang smiled: "Why don't we do this? Film until One-Ear escapes from prison. I think the one you wrote about One-Ear escaping from prison is quite interesting, which can be considered establishing the character of One-Ear. Children probably haven't seen such a witty villain."

Wei Ming didn't know what to say. Dai Dao, you are too bad. Filming until One-Ear escapes from prison, the little audience will definitely want to see Black Cat Detective catch him again, but the series ends abruptly. You aren't afraid of receiving razor blades from the audience?

Regarding this, Wei Ming said: "I'll help you ask the factory director for two more episodes. As for what to film, you decide."

Dai Dao Tielang nodded happily, feeling more motivated, and he believed that Wei Ming, a great writer who could help the factory earn foreign exchange, had more face than himself.

Actually, Dai Dao was only in his early 50s, right at the peak of an animation director's creation. However, there were too many directors in the Shanghai Animation Er Yingchang, and many old directors in their 50s or 60s were waiting to move up. He had also waited for many years before waiting for *Black Cat Detective*, a work that made him famous in one fell swoop.

After this film, it was estimated that the factory wouldn't assign him any heavy-duty tasks. It was time to add some burden to other comrades.

This was undoubtedly also a regrettable waste of manpower.

That evening, Wei Ming met Factory Director Te Wei. The cooperation on *Transformers* could continue. Factory Director Te Wei and Director Wang Bairong specially invited Wei Ming to dinner at a restaurant outside to thank him for the role he played in it.

Actually, Wei Ming and Factory Director Te Wei met in Xi'an. He was also a Golden Rooster judge, but time was hurried, and they didn't say much.

This time it was just the few of them. Wei Ming chatted about why the Golden Rooster Award didn't set up animation-related awards.

"If feature films can't be gathered, we can gather a short film award, just like the Oscars," Wei Ming suggested. Due to production issues, the Oscars didn't have a Best Animated Feature Film now, but there was a short film award.

Te Wei met a soulmate: "That's right, I also made this suggestion, but it hasn't been passed yet. They feel that I am the only one among the Golden Rooster judges who is engaged in animation. If an animation award is set up, it will become my one-man show."

After speaking, Wei Ming clinked glasses with Factory Director Te, and then the two looked forward to the beautiful future of *Transformers* and *Heavenly Book*.

When the atmosphere became incomparably harmonious, Wei Ming was about to bring up the issue of *Black Cat Detective*, but unexpectedly, Te Wei brought up *Calabash Brothers* first.

"The attempt of *Black Cat Detective* is very successful, and the response in the hearts of children across the country is very good. CCTV and major TV stations have also successively sought to purchase this kind of animated series broadcast on TV, so we immediately thought of your *Calabash Brothers*."

*Calabash Brothers* had already concluded, and the length was just right. It would take about ten episodes to explain this story clearly, and it wouldn't be endless. Te Wei was very tempted by this, and there were already several old directors in the factory who wanted to volunteer to lead this animation.

Wei Ming naturally had no opinion on this. With the popularization of television sets, the influence of television would definitely far exceed that of books. *Black Cat Detective* was now the undisputed number one fairy tale in the country, and animation was indispensable.

Later, the influence of Zheng Yuanjie's *Shuke and Beta* could compete with his most proud *Pipi Lu and Lu Xixi*, also because the Shanghai Animation Er Yingchang filmed the animation series of *Shuke and Beta*.

However, since Factory Director Te mentioned this, Wei Ming took the opportunity to say: "It won't be that it won't be allowed to be filmed halfway, and it will be hung there, right?"

Factory Director Te was a bit embarrassed. Wang Bairong smoothed things over: "No, no, *Black Cat Detective* is a special case."

Wei Ming: "It is indeed a bit special, but I think readers like to watch it, so I keep writing. There are too many interesting little stories worth popularizing in nature, how could I finish writing them? However, you really have to consider more problems when making animation."

Te Wei nodded: "It's good that you can understand."

Wei Ming said again: "However, I read the script for the tenth episode written by Dai Dao, and ending there is really not up or down. Factory Director Te, look, is this okay? Let him film two more episodes to give Black Cat Detective a phased ending. This can be considered an explanation to the little audience across the country. What do you say?"

Two episodes? Factory Director Te weighed the money and manpower needed to film two episodes. It seemed acceptable, and he had just talked about cooperating with Wei Ming on *Calabash Brothers*, so it was not good to reject his face at this time, so he nodded.

"Good, then give him two more episodes to end it well."

Hearing the factory director speak, Wei Ming immediately raised his glass to toast him.

Tomorrow, Wei Ming would go to the Shanghai Animation Er Yingchang again to formally chat with Factory Director Te about the cooperation on *Calabash Brothers*, as well as the copyright issue of *Black Cat Detective*.

At this time, copyright was not standardized, but the story of *Black Cat Detective* was written by Wei Ming, and the images of the main characters were drawn by Wei Ming. Now the Shanghai Animation Er Yingchang didn't intend to continue filming, so Wei Ming needed to confirm that he had the right to continue filming.

Once this series stopped at the Shanghai Animation Er Yingchang, it would be difficult to start again. It was a huge pity for this IP that could have achieved a lot.

After eating and returning home, Gong Ying was watching TV, watching the drama *Water Margin* filmed by the Shandong station, which was now broadcast on the Shanghai station. In the 80s, many people had a deep impression of this version, especially the *Wu Song* chapter.

This could be considered the earliest systematic adaptation of the Four Great Classical Novels in the mainland. Although limited by the era and investment, it didn't look as exquisite as the CCTV version, but the Shandong people filmed *Water Margin*, and the taste was very authentic.

Wei Ming hugged his girlfriend and asked: "Is it going well today?"

"It's going quite well. Factory Director Shi and Director Bai Chen both know Zhou Lijing and are very optimistic about him," Gong Ying said, "But why do you strongly recommend him? Are you very familiar with him?"

Wei Ming: "Not familiar. But he has a girlfriend he loves very much, and I trust his character."

Gong Ying gently hammered the little man: "So you don't trust me."

Wei Ming kissed Sister Xue's little mouth: "I don't trust other single handsome men. Our relationship can't be made public, so as to avoid someone pestering you."

This explanation was considered to have passed. Gong Ying told him: "I'm not leaving today."

Wei Ming hugged tighter: "You can't leave today either!"

Then Gong Ying was picked up and headed straight upstairs.

The next day, Gong Ying wanted to see her eldest sister. Wei Ming gave her some foreign exchange coupons again, letting her buy things for her eldest sister's family or give them directly to her eldest sister.

He first went to the Post and Telecommunications Building to send a telegram to Wei Lingling in Hong Kong, telling her that the first three episodes of *Transformers* had passed smoothly, and also showed concern about the arrangement for the listing of Transformers toys.

Because he knew how profitable this toy series was in his previous life, Wei Ming was really looking forward to how much power his little aunt could achieve with this Hong Kong toy company.

Afterward, Wei Ming went to the Shanghai Animation Er Yingchang and chatted with Factory Director Te about the filming of *Calabash Brothers*. Beside him was a new face. According to his introduction, this middle-aged man was Director Zhou Keqin.

Wei Ming understood as soon as he heard it. This should be the director of *Calabash Brothers* selected by the Shanghai Animation Er Yingchang, and this person was also the factory director of the Shanghai Animation Er Yingchang who would succeed Te Wei in the future. He was also a young and strong faction of the Shanghai Animation Er Yingchang, only 40 years old this year. Last year, he independently directed the paper-cut animation *Monkey Fishing for the Moon*.

Of course, he wasn't the only director of *Calabash Brothers*. There were too many old directors who wanted to get involved, so there were two other veteran directors in their 50s participating above Zhou Keqin.

However, the reason why only Zhou Keqin received Wei Ming this time was because of Te Wei's consideration of the filming method of *Calabash Brothers*.

"Teacher Xiao Wei, this time we plan to use the paper-cut animation method to show *Calabash Brothers*, and Director Xiao Zhou is an expert in this area."

"Paper-cut animation, *Pigsy Eats Watermelon*, right?" When paper-cut animation was mentioned, the first thing Wei Ming thought of was this pioneering work, and then there were works such as *The Fisherman's Child* and *The Golden Conch*.

And *Calabash Brothers* was the pinnacle of paper-cut animation. It could be said that no animation could surpass it later.

Te Wei laughed: "That was the craft of more than 20 years ago. You can tell it's paper-cut at a glance. Now it's different. Xiao Zhou, tell him about it."

Then Director Zhou Keqin told Wei Ming about the "pulling hair" paper-cut craft recently developed by the Shanghai Animation Er Yingchang.

"In order to make the edges of the characters not as stiff and obvious as ordinary paper-cuts, we will soak the paper and tear out the outline, and then process it. In this way, the edges will produce natural fiber burrs, appearing softer and more textured, and will also make the picture more layered."

In order to get the recognition of Wei Ming, the original author, Director Zhou Keqin made preparations, and it was clear that he had been prepared for a long time.

He made a paper-cut of the Calabash Brothers many days in advance, and the joints of this Calabash Baby could all move.

He also made a background of Grandfather's house, clamping it with two pieces of glass. Don't say, it was really different from the previous paper-cut animation, and even had the texture of hand-drawn animation, but the cost of this thing was cheaper than hand-drawn animation. ===== CHAPTER 427 =====