Wow, it feels like forever since I made one of these; hard to believe it’s almost been 2 years!
So much has happened, yet at the same time, there’s not all too much to fill you all in on. Actually, that’s mainly the reason I paused these blog updates. Aside from the usual pandemic-level nonsense that has taken over our world, a lot of the latest MillEx happenings have all been revolving around the business / “back of house” stuff that I fear doesn’t make for an interesting read.
Nevertheless, let’s see if I can catch you up to speed. :)
Millennium Exile Pitching Commenced.
Firstly, let’s pick back where we left off.
With a lot of my materials prepped and ready for presenting, I eagerly marched forth - bright-eyed and bushy-tailed; ready to start pitching to studios around the world! I networked with some truly amazing people; one of which had a lot of industry experience and was able to get me in front of some people with the power to greenlight my story. I was really excited.
After conquering so many hardships and overcoming so many hurdles, I thought that I was no longer the naïve man that I once was.
I thought to myself:
“There’s no way they can say no…not with all that I have to present”
Here I was…an outsider, looking to make an anime, and right when the “anime original” boom was happening.
I had a fantastic story that was well thought out, with compelling characters and amazing artwork.
I had a demo reel that was dubbed by some of the industry greats in the field, and top-shelf music.
Everything was prepped. All I needed was for someone to see the value in my product and we’re ready to go…right?
Well…as it turns out, it’s right when you think you know shit, that life makes you realise…that you don’t know shit lol.
Timing is everything in this industry, and my timing wasn’t as impeccable as I first thought.
It’s not as though I had a bad product though, not at all. But the resistance came from 1 of 2 reasons:
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The company was investing in known IP’s that have a fanbase already.
That makes sense, it’s a business after all. You take higher risks from unknown creators and Millennium Exile isn’t
exactly an 8-13 episode mini-series that seems to be the flavour these days. It’s a shame though because becoming overly cautious in this regard, soon finds us making the 17th iteration of He-Man. Meanwhile, some amazing, original works just sit about, collecting dust and waiting for another company to scoop them up.
To that point, how do you think the 12 publishing houses that rejected Harry Potter must feel?
The other side to this mentality is what you do with said, “known IP” once you adapt it.
In my opinion, there's no point in picking up the next big manhwa, if you aren’t going to do the production justice. The title might have millions of fans on Webtoon, but you only end up pissing them off and doing damage to your own reputation by rushing the production - thus betraying the very fans that you’re so reliant on drawing in.
TLDR: If you’re going to do it, do it right and for the right reasons.
Don’t make a show just for the profit. Make it for the passion - then the profit will follow.
Anime isn’t the juggernaut that it is because of how lucrative the industry is…majority of the animators are being criminally underpaid. The shows look as good as they do, because of passion. There’s nothing wrong with injecting more $$$ into the business…but let’s make sure it’s going to the right places :)My show wasn’t the “genre” they were looking for currently.
I’m really not sure what they meant by that, as shonen battle anime are some of the heaviest hitting shows in the entire industry. Are you telling me that the adventure of Hunter X Hunter, mixed with a magic and power system reminiscent of Bleach and Fate Stay Night…and centred around a Final Fantasy world, isn’t something that would be appealing to anime fans?
I was an anime fan long before I was attempting to make one, and I've woken up in a cold sweat and a suspicious wet patch in my sheets dreaming of an anime like that :P
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By no means have I pitched to everyone yet, I mean…I only have so much reach, and I’m still a nobody. A lot of the “big boys” like BONES and Ufotable or Mappa and the like are simply unreachable for my pale white, Australian hands.
I’m still trying and trust me. BONES is my ideal studio for this production with Takuya Igarashi to direct (at least, that’s the dream).
But I really thought I had a better chance with English speaking anime companies such as Crunchyroll or Funimation,
What’s that I hear you say?
”But Ty, those companies are a single entity now…”
Remember when I said that my timing couldn’t have been poorer?
At least I could still try Aniplex….does anyone have their number? Heck, maybe I could knock on their door with flyers in my breast pocket - asking if they’ve been saved by our lord and saviour Millennium Exile?
Anyone think that would work? No?
So how do I plan to overcome this hurdle? More on that later in this blog :)
Guest Speaking, Appearances & Interviews.
Lil’ ol Ty’s still been making the rounds - getting invited to speak at schools and conventions all around the place.
I’ve even had to offer ZOOM appearances to combat COVID, and also because schools from other states are wanting to get me talking to the kids :)
It’s always such rewarding work and the kids absolutely LOVE it. It’s still so strange to have such passionate fans before I’ve even released anything yet. Kids taking selfies with me, getting my autograph….its a strange feeling to be sure!
I also had a life-sized Millennium Exile banner hung up at the Supanova anime & pop culture convention.
This was actually really cool, mainly because I wasn’t even the one who made it or requested that it be hung!
Long time fan and supporter of the project Zombster asked permission if they could create a banner and hang it in a space that they rented for the convention weekend. Absolutely thrilled, I said yes and it…did not…disappoint.
New kid on the block, Let’s Go Akamaru opened doors to their own store quite recently, and business has been booming.
So much so, that they decided to hold their very own anime convention called Akacon!
Yours truly was invited to speak and be interviewed live on stage :3
And to top things off, I was featured in 2 interviews.
One was by Let’s Go Akamaru in the lead-up to Akacon
https://letsgoakamaru.com.au/blogs/news/millennium-exile-interview
The other was part of a podcast called “In Conversation”. A series about trans-media IP’s and other original creative works.
New Artwork
Just because I’m no longer gathering pitching materials, doesn’t mean to say that I’m no longer getting rad artwork drawn up! :)
These amazing scenes were brawn by the great and mighty Sinlaire.
This bad boy of Vincent - drawn by @saikyo_drawing
And I updated the websites landing page with this reworked masterpiece from Hary!
A Millennium Exile light novel series yo!
Okay, on to the final piece of news.
Thanks to whoever has read this far, and many of you might already know - but Millennium Exile is getting released as a series of light novels. Volume 1 is a hair’s breadth from an official release, and I’m so very excited to share it with you all.
Why just sit around and wait for the blind “money-men” to see the value in my project, when I have a loving fan base who already do?
For that reason, I decided to just go all out and release my story however I damn please…and one of those ways is through a series of light novels. Below is the cover art for volume 1 - drawn by the talented Elmer Damaso!
More updates on that to come ;)
Well, that wraps up what I fear has been a longer blog than most of you will read.
But trust me, I cut a tremendous amount out…such as the various illnesses and injuries that had fallen upon me, my 9-5 job, various hangouts and even the intruder who broke into my house while I slept - Creepy!
Anywhoozles, thanks to all who read this all the way through.
The next time you hear from me, I should have a book for you all!
Much love, Ty (Finchzero).
