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Chapter 657 Zaboru's Insane Request to YaDo
🕑 Added 2025-09-20 03:13:58 +0000 UTCMonday, 5 April — YaDo Offices
Right now, Zaboru and Yasu Domachi, the owner of YaDo Animation, are sitting face-to-face in the meeting room. The reason for this meeting is a special request from Zaboru. Recently, the YaDo Subscription Channel has been performing incredibly well—millions across Japan have already subscribed to their service. The success has been so phenomenal that YaDo is now planning to expand into China and Korea later this year. Everything seems to be running smoothly. However, at this very moment, Zaboru is making a bold request that causes Yasu’s eyes to widen in disbelief.
"What? Zaboru-san, that's insane!" Yasu exclaimed, eyes wide with disbelief. Zaboru, however, simply grinned. "It is insane, yes—but not impossible," he replied confidently. He leaned forward, his tone firm but excited. Zaboru was asking YaDo not just to continue its current momentum, but to push further—much further. He wanted YaDo to commit to producing six additional anime series on top of their current lineup. And as if that wasn't enough, he also proposed that starting next year, YaDo should release one or even two full-length anime movies annually. His vision was bold, his ambition clear: he wanted YaDo to not just grow, but to dominate.
“But we’re already big enough,” Yasu protested, running a hand through his hair. “Honestly, the work we’re doing now is already impressive. With additional studios under our wing—like Tatsunoko and Green Leaf—we’ve managed to maintain a solid output. We can comfortably handle the current number of shows airing. But if you want to expand even more…”
Zaboru leaned back in his chair with a grin. “Listen here, Yasu-san. When I bought YaDo a couple of years ago, do you remember what you said to me?”
Yasu scratched his cheek, smiling sheepishly. “Yes, I remember. I said I wanted ZAGE to help make YaDo one of the biggest animation companies in the world.”
“Exactly!” Zaboru snapped his fingers. “Right now, YaDo is producing more anime than almost any other studio in Japan. But I’m not satisfied with just being on top—we need to stay there and keep climbing. Are you satisfied, Yasu-san?”
Yasu let out a long sigh before breaking into a grin. “Fine. I’ll do it, Zaboru-san. Next year, YaDo will increase its anime production by six full series. And not just that—we’ll also aim to release one or even two anime movies annually.”
Zaboru’s eyes lit up as he nodded enthusiastically. “That’s what I’m talking about! And don’t worry about the budget—I’ll handle it.”
Yasu gave a final nod, determination in his eyes. The challenge was accepted.
Then the meeting continues. Finally, it ends. Yasu and Zaboru finish up and part ways, with Zaboru returning to his ZAGE office, still grinning. In front of his desk are six folders, each with a different title. He grins as he looks at them.
“These will be the six anime series airing next January. Honestly, 1997 is going to be a special year for us,” Zaboru said, still smiling. Indeed, 1997 would be monumental for ZAGE—not only would the ZAGE Tower in Japan and the ZAGE HQ in Silicon Valley be fully operational, but ZEPS 3 would also release, and YaDo’s TV channel would expand significantly.
The six folders are titled: Death Note, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Shaman King, Eyeshield 21, Black Lagoon, and Rurouni Kenshin.
These will be the next anime to air on YaDo. Zaboru wants to introduce slightly more mature content to the audience. He believes these anime are perfect for that purpose and expects the audience to love them. Of course, there will be appropriate age ratings—13+—to avoid any issues.
Death Note is a masterpiece, and for Zaboru, it's both an inspiration and a challenge. He wants to reproduce the anime under the technological limitations of 1997—an era slightly behind the time when the original Death Note was actually released. Despite the technical hurdles, Zaboru remains confident that he can make it work, believing the story’s intensity and psychological depth will still captivate audiences just as powerfully in this retro-inspired version.
For Neon Genesis Evangelion, Zaboru wants to introduce this emotionally intense, surreal, and often disturbing mecha anime to a broader audience. He finds the series both deeply compelling and thematically rich, delving into psychological trauma, identity, and existential dread in ways that are rarely explored in the genre. Zaboru has always admired how Evangelion blends action with philosophical introspection, and he genuinely loves this series for its uniqueness and its daring narrative choices. He believes that despite its heavy themes, or perhaps because of them, Evangelion has the potential to leave a lasting impression on viewers and spark important conversations. Bringing it to life under the YaDo banner is both a passion project and a strategic move to elevate the studio's reputation for producing meaningful, thought-provoking content.
As for Shaman King, Zaboru sees it as a compelling and emotionally resonant story. What truly sets it apart in his eyes is the unique power system centered around shamans who can summon and merge with spirits. He finds the concept both mystical and deeply personal, especially when the protagonist forms a bond with a spirit he holds dear. This combination of spiritual connection, heartfelt themes, and action-driven storytelling makes Shaman King one of Zaboru's favorites, and he believes it will resonate strongly with audiences seeking both excitement and depth.
Eyeshield 21 brings the exciting world of American football to a Japanese audience, using wildly exaggerated techniques and over-the-top plays that defy the laws of physics. Zaboru finds its energetic storytelling and unique take on sports anime both refreshing and entertaining. The series showcases underdog spirit, teamwork, and determination in a way that resonates deeply with him. In fact, it's one of his favorite anime from his previous life, not just for its action, but for how it made American football feel epic and emotionally compelling—even to viewers unfamiliar with the sport.
As for Black Lagoon, Zaboru believes it’s a gripping, high-octane series filled with intense gun battles, morally complex characters, and thrilling action. What stands out most to him is the character Revy, whose fierce personality and dynamic presence elevate the series to another level. The gritty, realistic tone combined with explosive action sequences makes it an ideal candidate for YaDo’s push into more mature and impactful storytelling. Zaboru is particularly excited about how this series will resonate with older teens and adult viewers who crave fast-paced action grounded in gritty realism.
As for Rurouni Kenshin, ZAGE is already in developing the video game adaptation, so creating an anime version to complement the game feels like a natural and strategic move. Zaboru sees this as a perfect opportunity to bring the samurai story to a wider audience while building synergy between the two media formats. The blend of sword-fighting action, emotional storytelling, and historical drama makes Rurouni Kenshin an ideal addition to YaDo’s growing lineup.
“Hehehe… this is going to be good,” Zaboru chuckled to himself, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He couldn’t wait for everything to unfold. It wasn’t enough for YaDo and ZAGE to simply release safe, conventional anime that appealed to the masses—Zaboru wanted more. He wanted the studios to take risks, to dive into uncharted territory and craft bold, daring series that explored the darker, more psychologically complex sides of storytelling. In his mind, the anime industry needed to evolve, and he would be the one to lead that evolution.
But that wasn’t all. Zaboru’s ambitions stretched even further. In just a couple of months, he planned to launch his own one-shot manga series through Hakushensha, ZAGE’s manga publishing subsidiary and the manga name.. Well it still secret.
To be continued…
