The “Tobuzhou International Animation Week”, a major event in the Chinese animation industry that ended last week, invited Japanese heavyweight animation director Masaaki Yuasa to talk with Masao Maruyama, founder and representative of MAPPA and Studio M2. However, Masaaki Yuasa’s masterpiece “Ping Pong” was played on the stage. 》Pirated animation, the subtitle group has a blue disclaimer at a glance.
The theme of the 5th Tobuzhou International Animation Week “Animation for the People” encourages animators to gather original strength. The highlight of the lecture is “The Inner World of a Genius Director”, which includes “Mind Game”, “Ping Pong” and “Dog King” directed by Masaaki Yuasa. 》Animation explores his creative concepts and thinking, while chatting with animation giant Masao Maruyama about the current situation of Japanese animation.
However, in front of everyone, the projection screen behind the stage where the guests gathered actually showed a pirated animation of “Ping Pong”. The disclaimer flashed, “This subtitle is only for learning and communication. If you like this work, please actively buy the original version.” Dialogue Also through the official bilibili live broadcast (It has been removed from the shelves and only backups are left.）。
Maybe Yuasa Masaaki didn’t notice it because he wasn’t familiar with Chinese, but in front of the director himself, pirated content of his works was directly played, even in a public place where professionals gathered, and many local animators must have been sweating.
The animation “Ping Pong” (ピンポン), which premiered in 2014, is adapted from the manga of the same name by Taiyo Matsumoto. It is directed and written by Yuasa Masaaki and produced by Tatsunoko Production Company. It tells the story of youth friendship among high school students with the theme of table tennis. In 2021, it was awarded by the Japanese government The highest recognition in academic, artistic and sports fields”Medal with Purple Ribbon」。
Yuasa Masaaki is not only known as a “genius director”, but also one of the representative original animators in the Japanese animation industry. In addition to the aforementioned works, he has directed many movie versions of “Crayon Shin-chan” and also directed “SPY×FAMILY” The anime MV for the opening theme song “Kura Kura” of the second season of the anime “Family Wine” is recommended for readers who have not seen it.
It is reported that Yuasa Masaaki did not express his position on this incident, but that night when he checked in at the China Hotel, he encountered a leaking fire sprinkler. He took a plastic bag to cover it and couldn’t sleep all night. The hotel did not send someone to solve it until 3 pm the next day, and attached a Japanese Small card + steam eye mask to apologize.
— Masaaki Yuasa (@masaakiyuasa) November 2, 2023
The master will come to repair pic.twitter.com/UKTHRe2iOD
— Masaaki Yuasa (@masaakiyuasa) November 3, 2023
— Masaaki Yuasa (@masaakiyuasa) November 3, 2023
Screenshot taken from BILIBILI
