In early April, Ren found himself unable to draw the manga he wanted.
Meanwhile, Year Hare Affair had recently concluded. This series achieved significant success domestically, receiving mentions from numerous official media outlets. It's worth noting that the current era is different, and the traditional methods of spreading national defense history education are not particularly effective with today's younger generation. The situation is further complicated by the prevalence of poorly produced dramas, known as "thunder dramas," that frequently emerge. These shows feature absurd elements, such as grenades disguised as steamed buns, characters tearing apart enemies with their bare hands, or sharpshooters hitting targets from miles away. Such nonsense has left audiences disillusioned with this genre, severely damaging the reputation and appeal of historical education through media.
However, Year Hare Affair took a different approach. Rather than presenting China's historical struggles in a stark and direct manner, it infused elements of anime that young people enjoy, using the development of several families to symbolize the progression of human society. The show managed to balance humor with poignant moments, creating a series that appeals to all ages and offers a lighthearted yet engaging viewing experience. The dialogue in the series is also very relatable, featuring lines like "Every bunny dreams of a powerful nation" and "No regrets being born in China; I would choose it again in my next life." These quotes have trended online, with various related videos, books, and toys becoming fan favorites both online and offline, resulting in impressive sales.
Unfortunately, the series only extended to its fifth season, as it had in Ren's past life, so he ended the story there. While Ren could have used his knowledge and research to continue the series by incorporating additional historical elements, he ultimately chose not to—largely out of laziness.
That doesn't mean he's been idle, though. He's been busy with another project: the Fate series. Last year, he acquired Fate/stay night (FSN) and decided to produce the Heaven's Feel route. Recently, the production was completed, and Picca Comics launched an extensive promotional campaign.
"The Fifth Holy Grail War, Fate/stay night [Heaven's Feel], is coming to theaters soon!"
Fans were ecstatic.
"Really? This time it's not a manga; it's animated?"
"Wow, Picca is amazing! For a series with such epic battles, it absolutely needs to be animated. I've been dying to see the scenes with Saber in action!"
"The news is confirmed! The official announcement was just posted on the official website and social media ten minutes ago. The release is set for mid-April!"
Back when Fate/Zero (FZ) was released, it left fans with a massive cliffhanger, leading them to eagerly anticipate the continuation of the story. They were especially curious about the fates of Kirei, Gilgamesh, Kiritsugu, and the child Kiritsugu saved at the end of FZ. However, some fans soon raised a concern.
"But isn't the Holy Grail War introduced in FZ supposed to happen every sixty years? Even if Kiritsugu's child survived, wouldn't he be sixty or seventy years old by now? This Holy Grail War might not be a direct sequel but a new story altogether."
"No Saber? No Irisviel? Everyone knows that Saber's sword leads the way! Without Saber, *Fate* just isn't the same."
"Missing Irisviel? That's just weird. What are you, a fan of married women? You're just like those infamous homewreckers!"
"Exactly! Without the original cast, the story won't be as compelling. FZ left so many questions unanswered!"
Then a fan chimed in, "Come on, guys. The Porter obviously has a plan for those plot points. I'm sure everything will make sense."
"Seriously, stop acting like you know everything. I'm just asking questions!"
On April 6th, Fate/stay night [Heaven's Feel] released its first official trailer. Fans everywhere, whether on their computers, TVs, phones, in cinemas, or in malls, saw this highly anticipated preview. To build hype and spread positive word-of-mouth among fans, the trailer was an impressive five minutes long—almost too long for a typical teaser.
The trailer featured a familiar figure—a girl with red twin-tails facing off against a man in a blue bodysuit on a rooftop. The man, wielding a two-meter-long red spear, suddenly lunged at the girl, who narrowly dodged the attack and swiftly jumped over a wire fence. The blue-clad man pursued her with ease, like a trained hunter, intent on taking her down.
"Die!" he shouted as he thrust his spear at the girl.
It was clear that the man's target was the girl herself. At this point, fans began to guess that the man must be a Servant, while the girl was likely a Master. In the world of the Holy Grail War, battles between Masters and Servants are inevitable.
Just as the girl seemed cornered, a white-haired man in a red coat appeared to shield her from the spear-wielding assailant. The clash of weapons and the sparks that flew heightened the excitement for everyone watching.
Both Servants leaped back, regrouped, and charged at each other again, their weapons clashing in a blaze of sparks. The title Fate/stay night [Heaven's Feel] appeared on the screen, followed by the release date.
With the massive promotional push, the FSN trailer quickly became a hot topic across the internet by midday. Fans were thrilled by the stunning combat scenes and the appearance of the familiar twin-tailed girl. Since this was a film by the Porter, expectations soared.
"Wait, isn't that the daughter of Tohsaka from FZ?"
"I think so too! She looks just like her!"
"But the real issue here is, wasn't the Holy Grail War supposed to be sixty years later? How is this girl still so young?"
"No idea. But I'm sure it'll all be explained when the film comes out. The Porter never disappoints with his plots."
"Wow, those fight scenes were incredible!"
"+1!"
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