As Yuuya saw the news about the production crew for Mizushiro's anime Code Geass, he couldn't wait for the release. He had been waiting for June ever since the project was announced, and now the week felt like it was dragging forever. Work kept him busy, but the days seemed too long, and his mind always went back to the same thing: when would the teaser drop?
Finally, the day came. The teaser would release at 1:00 pm, and Yuuya couldn't stop checking the clock. At work, he kept his phone close, pretending to focus on his tasks, but his eyes were always sneaking toward the time.
As he took his 15-minute break, he stepped outside the building, walking with quick, eager steps. His heart raced with the simple thrill of finally seeing the teaser he'd been waiting for. With only two minutes left before the release, the excitement shooting through him was hard to contain. He didn't even know what kind of work it would be or what direction Mizushiro would take, but that didn't matter. Just the thought of seeing the first look was enough to make him restless.
Those last two minutes felt like an eternity. It was the same as the past week: time dragging, seconds stretching, his thumb refreshing the page over and over until finally...
Two boys, maybe eleven or twelve years old, were running up a mountain path. When they reached the clearing, the screen widened to show the sky filled with strange, massive airship-like machines.
A voice-over began:
"August 10th, in the year 2010 of the Imperial Calendar, the Holy Britannian Empire declared war upon Japan. On the far east side, where the two superpowers had remained neutral, tension broke over underground resources. Diplomatic friction reached its peak, and in the decisive battle for the mainland, Britannia introduced the humanoid autonomous battle armor known as Knightmare Frames. Their overwhelming power shattered Japan's defenses. In less than a month, Japan was defeated. Stripped of its freedom, its rights, even its name, Japan was reduced to Area 11."
The screen cut between flashes of war: the chaos of collapsing cities, soldiers falling, tanks overturned like toys, and Knightmares towering above the wreckage. The narration carried a heavy tone.
Then, amidst the aftermath, the two boys appeared again, sitting on a rock near the ruins. One of them stood up, fists clenched, and declared:
"Suzaku… I swear, I'm going to obliterate Britannia."
The screen cut to black.
Bold letters flashed:
CODE GEASS: LELOUCH OF THE REBELLION
PREMIERING JUNE 1st
Yuuya froze, staring at the screen even after the trailer ended. His heart was pounding, and he had to take a deep breath to let it all sink in. As the video finished, it didn't show much. Just the setting and the main character as a kid, probably a flashback. But somehow, that was enough to get him excited. And when he heard that one line from him, it hit him. Just like that. That pushed Yuuya beyond hyped.
He returned to work, though he knew he'd analyze the teaser thoroughly later. He was already thinking about watching it again after work. Maybe more than once. Though, by the time he got around to it, fans online would probably have already broken it down frame by frame. He could always watch their analyses when he had the chance.
While Yuuya had responsibilities, like work, students and other fans of Mizushiro or anyone involved in the production were losing their minds over the teaser. It had only been out for five hours, but people were already calling it the start of anime of the year.
Both Evermark's and Mizushiro's official and fend accounts were being flooded with messages, theories, and reactions.
"Did you see that??"
"Yay baby!! Mizushiro's making a mecha anime!!"
"If a minute-long teaser can hit this hard, the full anime is going to destroy us."
"That line... 'I'm going to obliterate Britannia'... I got chills."
"Mizushiro never misses. June can't come fast enough."
As for the industry, they had all been paying close attention. Every studio and network had collectively stepped back, giving Evermark Productions the clear space to release Code Geass in June. It was a calculated move. Some called it smart. Others said it was overcautious.
Executives and producers all checked the trailer the moment it dropped. The general consensus was the same: the premise looked intriguing, and the themes carried that timeless weight an anime could thrive on. But no one in the industry had actually read the source material, so they couldn't predict the impact with certainty.
For now, they could only wait for June to arrive. Still, even before the first episode, the attention Code Geass had already gathered meant the gamble was paying off. Even if the story turned out weaker than expected, the hype alone would drown out other new shows. That's why the entire month had been cleared of any major releases.
If it hit big, Evermark would dominate the conversation for weeks. If it failed, the damage would be contained. One month of hype, then the noise would fade. Either way, the attention Code Geass had pulled in was undeniable.
On the other side of the ocean, Michael Harris sat at home with his laptop open, replaying the teaser over and over. He was analyzing it, frame by frame. The visual formatting, the cut of the narration, the pacing.
It was still a teaser, so of course it wasn't the final product. But even from this, he could get a rough approximation of what Evermark was going for. And what he saw made his chest tighten with both nerves and excitement. The art direction, the cinematic feel, the way the Knightmare designs moved on screen — it had Wes's fingerprints all over it.
Michael leaned back in his chair, running the possibilities through his mind. Their own project was scheduled for October, and compared to Code Geass, it was still months away. They would have a longer production period compared to Wes, who only had six months.
"Best Visual Award... this might be our year," he muttered to himself, a grin tugging at his lips. He could already picture it: standing under the stage lights, trophy in hand, flashbulbs going off, the press writing headlines about a new visual king of anime. And most of all, Wes, sitting in the audience, forced to clap. Just imagining it made Michael's blood pump faster.
Competition was coming. And Michael Harris couldn't wait.
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