After Kamiyā Yuu finalized the crowdfunding project details with Robert, the head of the "Fakebook" animation section, Robert personally launched the campaign the very next morning and closely monitored its progress. He had anticipated that this uniquely styled work would attract attention, but he hadn't expected the impact to spread so wildly and rapidly—like a viral outbreak.
Although the crowdfunding for 'Red—Crescent Rose' was quickly completed and closed, the buzz it generated swept through the animation section like a tidal wave. Combined with Leonid—a well-known online streamer—making a one-time donation, it greatly amplified the drama and attention surrounding the campaign.
Originally, aside from a small banner ad in the animation section for trial promotion, only users who followed Kamiyā Yuu's Yosuganosora account even knew about 'Red—Crescent Rose'. However, when Leonid, who had over a hundred thousand live viewers, watched the PV, his stream instantly lost over ten thousand viewers—and where those viewers went was obvious.
In an animation section dominated by American animation in both market share and discussion, 'Red—Crescent Rose' was like the only shining star in the night sky. It wasn't a matter of whether it attracted attention—there simply wasn't another star that could compete with its brilliance. Especially in a world where Japanese animation was so weakened, its distinct and unconventional style stood out even more.
The gothic character designs by Uehara Etsuki, the master key animator behind 'Violet Blooming Garden'.
A 3D visual style that wasn't top-tier but possessed a unique charm.
Unreserved praise from the renowned animation critic Robert.
Intense combat scenes like thunderous storms, suffocating in their ferocity, embody the very essence of violent aesthetics.
The buzz generated by Leonid, a famous streamer, was repeatedly watching it and donating over twenty thousand dollars in one go.
When all of these elements came together, a work that could be called "faith-level" in this world's animation scene created a massive sensation on "Fakebook."
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"Dear Yosuganosora user, your account has gained 4,857 new followers."
"You have received 5,200 private messages. Would you like to check them?"
"You have been mentioned 1,023 times. Would you like to view them now?"
"Your Yosuganosora account has been officially verified as the creator of 'Red—Crescent Rose'."
"Your work, 'The Giant Wolf Sif and the Girl Ruby' has received 5,000 likes and has been featured in the keyframe art section's premium showcase."
"Your work, 'The Giant Wolf Sif and the Girl Ruby' has surpassed 100,000 popularity points and has been awarded the Popularity King badge."
"Your work 'The Giant Wolf Sif and the Girl Ruby' has ranked 5th on this month's keyframe art popularity rankings in the animation section, earning the Silver Key badge and monthly rewards. Please contact a moderator to provide relevant information."
"Your work 'Little Red Riding Hood' has received 3,000 likes and earned the Red Maple Popularity badge."
"Your…"
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When Kamiyā Yuu returned home that evening and logged into "Fakebook" on his laptop, he was stunned by the flood of notifications—and they were still increasing.
"Damn, the response is this huge!" Kamiyā Yuu was both shocked and delighted as he clicked to view the official system messages.
First, the speed at which the crowdfunding project was completed had completely exceeded his expectations. He had been confident that, given the uniqueness of 'Red—Crescent Rose', it could raise $30,000 within a week. Yet in less than an hour, a wealthy donor had covered most of the funding.
Even as he felt happy, there was also a slight sense of emptiness—finishing the goal so quickly made it feel somewhat unreal.
Secondly, due to the release of 'Red—Crescent Rose', the popularity of the Ruby Rose keyframe art he had previously uploaded was skyrocketing. Many users were leaving comments under his artwork, speculating about the hidden story behind the project.
["So this is the heroine from that PV? Finally seeing her appearance—she looks so cute! Though the style feels a bit different. — Princess Awakened by a Dwarf's Kiss."]
["Of course. 'Red—Crescent Rose' is a 3D animation, while these are Japanese-style keyframes. — The Prince Watching Nearby."]
["The usernames of the two above are hilarious—on purpose? Seeing how cute the protagonist looks in the artwork puts me at ease. Looking forward to the finished work. PS: I changed my name — The Astonished Queen."]
["It feels like there's a lot of hidden information in these keyframes. — The Hunter in Love with the King."]
["Is the PV an adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood? — The Heartbroken Magic Mirror."]
In particular, the artwork 'The Giant Wolf Sif and the Girl Ruby' had already surpassed ten thousand comments by the afternoon. Many users noticed that the ferocious black wolf appearing at the end of the PV clearly corresponded to Sif in the illustration.
["So the majestic white wolf here is the same as the black wolf at the end of the PV? Somehow, the black one looks even cooler. — The Wolf Beaten Up by Grandma."]
["Totally agree! That final scene where the black wolf bites down on that blue greatsword was seriously shocking! It's the coolest moment I've ever seen in 3D animation—I've already taken a screenshot and set it as my wallpaper. — The Strong Grandma."]
["Looks like renaming is trending on 'Fakebook' lately. I'm more curious about the relationship between the white wolf and the black wolf—probably the same one? — Gloating Little Red Riding Hood."]
["Compared to the upcoming 3D blockbuster 'Cloud Giant Castle' releasing in three months, I'm actually more excited for this Japanese-style 3D short. I think I'm addicted. — A Lonely Riverside Stone."]
With an excited smile, Kamiyā Yuu continued reading the comments. Aside from a small number questioning the crowdfunding amount, almost all of them were overwhelmingly positive—praising the visuals, the style, the intense combat, and the character designs. For the first time, Kamiyā Yuu truly felt like he was creating an animation. The recognition and praise for 'Red—Crescent Rose' were the best proof of his efforts during this period.
"I'm getting more and more motivated. Reading these comments, I feel like I'm not going to sleep tonight!"
"Animation fans all over the world are hyping 'RWBY'. Good thing it's my own work—I don't have to worry about it getting overhyped to death. If it gets a Blu-ray release, maybe it could sell 88,000 copies?" Kamiyā Yuu chuckled to himself.