After the fortunate strike in August, September, and October, Lux Comics somehow opened three market lines. The first one with Warner Media, the second with Nike, and their collaboration with the NBA, a product of the commercial sponsorship relationships and the comic "Slam Dunk." Furthermore, when sports superstars join forces with comics, part of Nike's sponsorship call is exposure to other market areas. Peter Ruppe's study on the Lux Comics brand gave him the certainty that this relationship is beneficial.
Lastly, although not fully agreed upon yet, there is a race for the video game industry. Somehow, it is desired that one character from the chain becomes part of the gaming industry within the next three years.
On the other hand, the beginning of the second industry bubble is fermenting with Ronald Perelman's newly printed film and his media management of Marvel Comics. Ronald Perelman, an American businessman, and CEO of Revlon Inc through his investment group, spent $82.5 million to acquire Marvel Comics.
This purchase is set to close in December, but there are already newspaper announcements about Ronald Perelman's acquisition that destroyed Marvel's integrity and profited from his pockets. This means that the profits and market share gained by Lux Comics may decline, and they may follow the path of many unfortunate small companies that went bankrupt during that period.
This information is partially unknown to our young Billy, who knew about the great bankruptcy of companies but didn't have in-depth knowledge about the development of this bubble that would burst in 1993 and continue until 1998, followed by the internet bubble, which caused disastrous situations.
The year 1989 is a year of process with multiple company acquisitions that will foster future changes for different businesses. On one hand, the Walt Disney Company negotiated a merger with Miramax Films, a company led by the Weinstein brothers, in June. It would later be acquired in 1993. Typically, these companies buy small portions and acquire companies through the drowning tactic, which involves constant investment and capital injection. One company can acquire another as long as the latter doesn't have the means to match the investments. What matters is the vision of those who dominate Miramax. They are excellent producers with a keen eye for profits.
In the industry, having a discerning eye to detect talent or brilliance is important. If they see details that others are not willing to see, their success may be based on those details that many people overlook initially.
The purchase of Columbia Pictures by Sony in November of this same year is causing a lot of discussion because it represents the entry of the East into the US market. Sony Pictures Entertainment is established, which over the years serves as a starting point for their other industries such as video games, music, and appliances.
What tactics will Billy use to combat the comic bubble and the sweeping changes in capitalism? He has had the idea of tapping into the established manga reading culture in the Japanese economy. If he manages to gain readers in that culture, it's possible to recover some of the sales losses here in the United States. Therefore, it was proposed to Mike to target the Japanese market as a way to sustain income in the face of future challenges, through partnerships with Japanese publishers for collaborative efforts and publishing their works in that market.
Mike has already set his sights on this industry and in 1988, he started with the work 'Akira' by Katsuhiro Otomo. It is interesting to try to open small sections through Slam Dunk, Yuyu Hakusho, and Hellboy. Slowly, without rushing, giving the necessary space for the acceptance of Lux Comics in Japan, they will enter gradually without causing a sensation. As they are not well acquainted with the attitude of the Japanese audience towards Dark Horse Comics. However, Billy's main works have a similar level of technical quality, so a less receptive market is expected.
Mike will try to communicate with some individuals to establish a meeting with publishers and publish under their names, but nothing is certain. The aim is to seek partnerships with magazines not only through investment but also through showcasing their works.
-Anne, has there been any news from Electronic Arts? - Billy asked.
- I haven't received any news, but I could make a call. I haven't sent the plans and designs you made for the games yet, to have a chance to talk to someone from the company, - Anne said.
-You haven't done it! - the young man exclaimed in surprise.
- No, your father said you performed perfectly and caught the attention of the company's executives. I thought of giving it a week and then sending them to discuss with the folks at Electronic Arts, - Anne said.
-If you send that, could we have another conversation about their potential proposals? - Billy asked.
- Hmm... yes, but first they need to send the document stating all the innovative ideas presented by Lux Comics, - Anne said.
- Well, go ahead and do it, - Billy said. He had been feeling insecure about Electronic Arts for a few days now. He didn't know of any other companies that could meet his requirements, and Nintendo is quite dominant when it comes to hiring people. Certainly, they won't negotiate without the copyright.
-I'll get right on it. Your father requested that I teach you how to read financial statements, so young sir, once I'm done with these issues, I'll have you review the accounts, - Anne said.
-Anne, what if we tell him that I already learned how to read financial statements? Then you wouldn't have to bother, - Billy said.
- Your father told me you would say that, so I'll see you in an hour, - Anne said. - Besides, it's preparation for the restaurant they plan to open in the food boulevard. It's not just important to have good business ideas, but also to understand the flow of money. Honestly, I'm surprised that you lasted four months without a manager. You lost some dollars in pointless endeavors, - argued the young manager of Lux Comics, who came in to straighten out all the mistakes made by the Carsons. Running a company is no joke.
-Alright, I'll be there in an hour! - he exclaimed.
As the winter season of 1989 begins, preparations are underway to release the animated story of The Lion King, along with the upcoming titles of Pinky and the Brain and Samurai Jack. The plan is to publish the comic and present a proposal for an animated Lion King film to Disney. Everything comes back full circle, and the company earns some dollars that will be profitable for future ventures.
The Lion King is an animated film that started production in 1991. However, its copyright wasn't published until 1994, when the entire work was completed. The production of the film began in early 1989 to kickstart the cinematic development of the movie in 1991.
With the high anticipation surrounding the film, which was generated not only as a reaction to Pixar's designs but also due to Disney's evident animation crisis, Disney executives sought to give this film a fresh start for the Disney project. Four screenwriters were needed to unify the plot of the series, and it turned out to be a successful move. The staging of the film draws inspiration from biblical tales such as Moses and Joseph, as well as William Shakespeare's play Hamlet.
However, if you look closely, the script was crafted in a way that it can be viewed differently depending on the age of the viewer. It contrasts a story of personal growth and finding one's path with the critique of ideas like imperialism and socialism. There's a clear contrast of political ideas veiled within the film, tailored for those who like to watch movies with a different perspective.
The idea was initiated by Jeffrey Katzenberg, Roy E. Disney, and Peter Schneider, and it was later produced by Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers. Behind the scenes, the entire series had an enormous team of professionals who created an animation masterpiece that continues to be discussed even twenty years later.
That's why Billy wants to publish The Lion King a year before Disney begins its production to avoid significant complications. The copyright for the story, consisting of about thirty pages and sketches, is registered under Billy Carson since June 1989, and the work will be published on December 4, 1989. With almost a year of difference, no common connections, and completely unknown to Disney's plans, only the higher-ups know about this project. So, it's time to bite the bullet.
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