After completing the side competition games, the 'Kosupure' event's initial competition began, challenging participants to embody their cosplayed roles shamelessly.
Many struggled with embarrassment, but a handful embraced their characters unabashedly. Surprisingly, the ultimate winner was a foreigner portraying Ash Ketchum, alongside his girlfriend cosplaying Pikachu. The Japanese middle-aged man in a Mario costume claimed first place, while Yugi Mutou secured the second spot.
"I can't believe it... The foreigner took the win..." remarked viewers at home, shaking their heads.
"Japanese... We get embarrassed so easily..."
"Well, what can you expect from a group of video game geeks..."
Some households couldn't resist discussing it, with some feigning confidence in their ability to excel in the competition. However, if placed in the same situation as the Japanese cosplayers, they would likely succumb to embarrassment.
"They're still not used to it..." observed Shin, watching alongside Mira, who nodded in agreement.
"It's normal to feel embarrassed... We are Japanese, after all," Mira remarked.
"Well, they'll soon get accustomed to this... For now, let's see how they perform in the other games," Shin said with a wry chuckle.
The foreigner cosplaying Ash Ketchum and his Latina girlfriend, cosplaying Pikachu, received a 'Kosupure Masquerade Dramatic Performance' award along with KS1, video games, merchandise, and a 100,000 yen cash prize. Additionally, the first-place winners received a monetary reward of 40,000 yen, KS1, and merchandise, while the second-place winners earned 20,000 yen and merchandise.
"Damn! I didn't know there was a KS1 and video games reward besides the 100,000 yen..."
"Well, we better perform well in the next competition..."
"I'm confident I'll win the next competition that doesn't involve acting..."
"I'll be content with 40,000 yen..."
"As if you'll ever win first place..."
Some people couldn't resist discussing among themselves.
Later, the next competition involved participants walking around the stage to showcase their cosplay costumes and strike poses like models.
Many joined, thinking it would be easy, just strolling around. However, they were mistaken; as some walked, the crowd, including those cosplaying but not participating, couldn't help but laugh at their walking styles.
"Hahaha! What was that? He walked like a woman..."
"That guy before him also walked like a penguin!"
"Hahaha!!!"
Even the judges, who were fashion and design experts, couldn't help but shake their heads, while some joined in the laughter with the crowd.
When female cosplayers appeared, some men in the audience couldn't help but whistle.
The participating women cosplayers showcased a fit physique, embodying characters known for their allure from either anime or video games. Consequently, many young men in the crowd couldn't help but be enthralled.
Shin, engrossed and stroking his chin in the room with Mira, received a pinch from her. He turned his head to Mira in confusion.
"What?" Shin asked.
Mira pinched him again and, pointing at the television screen, said, "Are you so captivated by them? You look like you might devour them at any moment!"
Shin, taken aback, defended himself, saying, "What are you talking about? I'm just watching peacefully here..."
Mira snorted, remarking, "Yeah, peacefully watching females with most of their skin showing, especially close to their private parts, displaying their bodies for all to see..."
Shin couldn't help but feel helpless as he continued to explain to Mira, who eventually calmed down.
The 'Kosupure Costume Construction and Stage Presence' competition concluded with a woman wearing a sexy Super Metroid costume emerging as the winner. The first place went to the middle-aged man in the Mario costume, who had also secured the first place in the previous event, and the second place was awarded to Zelda.
The female winner received the 'Kosupure Masquerade - Costume Construction Award,' along with the same rewards as the first competition event.
Afterward, it was finally the final competition games, focusing on the overall performance award—evaluating costume, stage presence, and acting performance.
Despite some women being attractive with fit figures and others donning well-made costumes, it proved insufficient to clinch victory in the final competition. The same held true for other cosplayers; a good acting performance was also essential.
While some cosplayers performed admirably, the ultimate winner was the middle-aged man cosplaying as Mario.
Despite being a bit short, portly, and stocky, he exuded an unassuming charm. However, his portrayal of Mario was exceptional—his voice mimicked Mario perfectly, and his appearance amused both the on-site crowd and viewers at home.
Surprisingly, his ordinary middle-aged appearance, coupled with his shorter stature, didn't hinder his performance. In fact, it enhanced his portrayal of Mario, as Mario shares a similar body type.
His costume was also noteworthy, being the latest Mario attire from KiShin Merchandise.
With that, he secured victory in the competition, earning the coveted 'Kosupure Masquerade - Overall Performance' award. Additionally, he received a monetary prize of 100,000 yen and other rewards from KiShin Merchandise.
And so, the 'Kosupure' event competitions finally came to an end.
Shin and Mira took the stage once more to express a few closing words. Despite the late hour and some attendees having already returned home, the venue remained vibrant with colorful lights.
"Good night, everyone! Thank you for participating in this event!" Shin concluded after a series of remarks. Subsequently, he and Mira returned backstage to the room.
"We'll definitely come again if there's another event like this!!!"
"It was so much fun!!!"
"Please take me home, Shinro!!!" shouted some women.
Meanwhile, a group of young men who became friends during the event discussed among themselves.
"I hope I win next time..."
"Me too... Just a first place, and I'll be satisfied..."
"Yeah, same..."
"Look, that guy won two first places and ultimately clinched the victory!" A guy pointed at a distance, indicating the middle-aged man cosplaying as Mario, who was surrounded.
"Yeah, he's a true winner..." his friend said with a nod.
"I hope I win again next time..." The middle-aged man as Mario expressed as he found himself surrounded by a small crowd.
The middle-aged man who cosplayed as Mario was actually going through a challenging phase in life. Without a family and unemployed, he relied on instant noodles to sustain himself and lacked a suitable living space.
His ability to participate in the 'Kosupure' event stemmed from borrowing money from his brother, who is a family man and a salaryman. Despite his hardships, attending the event turned out to be a positive choice for him.
A year ago, when he was employed, he developed a passion for Mario and even practiced mimicking Mario's voice. Little did he expect that this skill would lead him to victory in the competition, earning him around 180,000 yen.
He felt it was finally sufficient to afford some non-instant ramen for a change.
"I hope I win again next time," the middle-aged man couldn't help but say as he was surrounded by a small crowd.
--
Following the cosplay event's conclusion, Shin recognized that the middle-aged man who cosplayed as Mario would be a suitable candidate to hire. He could act as Mario in various events, including video game competitions, providing entertainment to people.
Whether the man would accept the offer depended on his decision.
--
Takagi Goda, the middle-aged man who cosplayed as Mario, received a surprising letter from KiShin. Realizing he was hired to cosplay as Mario, he promptly went to the KiShin Merchandise branch to accept the offer.
This was his opportunity, after all.
--
Meanwhile, after a few days had passed, Shin noted that the round of funding for Cadabra was fortunately secured by KiShin.
He managed to secure the necessary funding for Cadabra, totaling 2 million dollars.
Given that Jeff was just starting, it wouldn't yield immediate profits. In fact, Jeff informed Orio Masayoshi, the KiShin representative, that Cadabra, Inc. wouldn't be profitable in its early stages.
Although Orio Masayoshi struggled to comprehend Shinro Suzuki's plan once again, he faithfully followed Shin's instructions. Consequently, 2 million dollars were invested, leaving Orio Masayoshi feeling uneasy about what seemed like a substantial amount of money wasted. He couldn't fathom why Shinro Suzuki would be willing to spend such a significant sum on an ordinary online bookstore.
To be frank, in Orio Masayoshi's view, KiShin could have established its own online bookstore.
Well, Orio Masayoshi's perspective wasn't entirely off base. If Shin desired, he could have created his own Amazon. However, he lacked the same level of drive and time commitment as Jeff.
Developing the algorithmic data framework of Amazon would be time-consuming, especially given that it relied on customer preferences on the internet. Considering the internet was still in its early stages with only several million users, and Amazon might only attract a hundred or even fewer visitors each day initially, success would take time. Only someone like Jeff, who was also successful in Shin's previous life, could propel Amazon to success. Jeff had the necessary dedication and time to invest.
--
In late August in the USA, a trailer for the 'Mortal Kombat' film aired on some TV channels.
Initially, it didn't garner much attention. However, when people realized it was produced by KiShin Pictures, it caught the interest of many 'Jurassic Park' fans. Given its theme of fighting and martial arts, some anticipated it to be reminiscent of Hong Kong films similar Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee films.
The trailer even made its way onto some Disney channels...
The other major film studios of the big six sensed that Walt Disney was establishing closer ties with KiShin.
Why?
Primarily because 'The Lion King' had achieved monumental success.
Some Disney executives themselves didn't hold much hope for the animated film. On its first day, the box office was only around a few hundred thousand dollars. However, they were surprised when, on the second day, it earned 5 million dollars. The film continued to gain momentum in box office numbers as word spread.
In just a month, 'The Lion King' box office surpassed a hundred million dollars.
Even some film studios among the big six were surprised since they knew that Disney hadn't put much effort into marketing 'The Lion King'. Yet, it turned out to be a winner for the year.
After about two months of screening, the animated film earned at least 296 million dollars. While it couldn't quite compare to 'Jurassic Park', it was a huge success for a film with a budget of 45 million.
Because of this, some Disney executives felt that their marketing of 'The Lion King' was a huge success, and KiShin Merchandise, the toy manufacturer of 'The Lion King', also played a part in this success.
Due to this success, the president of KiShin Merchandise in the USA negotiated with Walt Disney for the licensing rights to 'The Lion King.' This allowed them to produce additional characters from the animated film. Recognizing the significant role KiShin Merchandise played in the success of 'The Lion King,' Disney sought to establish good relations with KiShin and granted them the license.
With the triumph of the Disney animated film, sales of KiShin Merchandise's 'The Lion King' soared, benefiting both KiShin and Disney.
As the relationship between KiShin and Disney strengthened, Disney also supported KiShin Pictures' second film, 'Mortal Kombat,' serving as its film distributor in the USA. Some film studios, like the previous distributors of 'Jurassic Park,' regretted missing out on KiShin's new film.
Simultaneously, they harbored disdain towards Walt Disney for poaching their partners. However, their disappointment was tempered as 'Jurassic Park' continued to generate revenue through tape sales.
Now, with Walt Disney's backing in marketing KiShin Pictures' 'Mortal Kombat,' an increasing number of people became aware of the second film from KiShin Pictures.
KiShin's connections expanded further through a strong relationship with Walt Disney.
Shin recognized Disney's expertise in film management, particularly in animated and hero movies. Disney's extensive network with talented directors and writers was perceived as valuable, especially for potential adaptations of Marvel Comics characters.
The support from Walt Disney for KiShin's new film didn't sit well with the other major film studios, especially Warner Bros. and Universal Studios. They were uneasy about KiShin, a company they were not pleased with, gaining backing from Disney.
Little did they know that Disney's higher-ups were merely toying with KiShin's ego. The executives at Disney were aware of the ambitious goals of KiShin Pictures' parent company, KiShin Rules. They assumed that Shinro Suzuki, the owner of KiShin, and other leaders within the company were likely proud individuals. As KiShin continued its global growth as a private company, Disney saw the value in establishing connections with KiShin, beyond the success of 'The Lion King' film.
Should Walt Disney perceive a potential downfall for KiShin in the future, they could leverage the established connections to their advantage.
In September 1994, Warner Bros. experienced success with films like "Arizona Dream" and "Rapa Nui," overshadowing the less noticed "Trial by Jury." Simultaneously, Universal Studios found modest success with "Timecop" and held expectations for the upcoming film "The Wild Rider."
Amidst their successes, both studios closely monitored the next venture of KiShin Pictures in collaboration with Walt Disney.
Despite KiShin Pictures having only one movie, 'Jurassic Park,' it was a massive global success. It wouldn't be surprising if KiShin decides to create sequels for 'Jurassic Park,' as each installment is likely to generate a substantial amount of revenue.
However, both the big six and Hollywood critics perceived KiShin as somewhat of a perfectionist, meticulously crafting films. Despite being established for about a year, KiShin Pictures had only produced one film, 'Jurassic Park.' This approach garnered disapproval from industry insiders, who believed that a studio of KiShin's magnitude should invest in a more prolific film output.
In the film industry, success hinges on luck and audience reception, and the prevailing sentiment was that taking risks with numerous films each year was crucial. The big six studios understood the financial gamble inherent in filmmaking, yet they embraced it as a necessary risk to thrive in the industry. Conversely, KiShin's cautious and perfectionist approach was seen as a potential hindrance, risking its standing in the industry if it continued down this path.
However, unbeknownst to them, KiShin Pictures, or Shin, was taking a financial risk with the production of 'Mortal Kombat.'
Despite the box office success of 'Mortal Kombat' in Shin's previous life with a budget of 20 million dollars, Shin opted to increase the budget for improved CGI, script enhancements, and better performances in the current iteration.
Shin understood that merely replicating the previous 'Mortal Kombat' film, including its scripts, cast performances, and relatively tame CGI with reduced violence, would likely yield similar box office results as in his previous life. However, Shin was determined to avoid such a scenario.
Shin aimed to enhance the CGI, character scripts, and performances in the 'Mortal Kombat' film, refusing to impose limits on the level of violence. Only by comprehensively elevating the film's overall quality did Shin envision the possibility of a different box office outcome.
Despite the increased risk, Shin remained uncertain about the success of this approach. He wasn't sure whether it would match the box office of the previous 'Mortal Kombat' film or potentially surpass it, or if it might even face failure due to KiShin's decision not to tone down the violence. This decision also entailed age restrictions for film screenings, aligning with Shin's ambition to surpass the box office performance of 'Mortal Kombat' in his previous life.
Shin didn't mind the possibility of failure; he had sufficient funds to support such an endeavor, and the prospect of taking risks excited him.
Initially concerned about how Disney would receive a film with unabated violence like 'Mortal Kombat,' Shin was surprised to find that the 1994 Walt Disney was not as soft as the future Walt Disney from Shin's previous life.
In Hollywood, critics were already lambasting the violence and dark themes in the successful 1994 Disney animated film 'The Lion King,' and despite some gruesome scenes that even American audiences found intense, Disney disregarded the criticism.
For Disney, as long as profits rolled in, criticism was a normal companion to success.
--
With 'Mortal Kombat' jointly marketed by KiShin and Disney, KiShin had already produced toys featuring characters from the film. Some video game fans in Japan were already aware of KiShin's KS1 video game, 'Mortal Kombat,' creating an atmosphere of anticipation.
In Japan, 'Mortal Kombat' was titled Shinken Kōrin Densetsu. While this alternative name was recognized locally, the prominence of the 'Mortal Kombat' title meant that foreigners visiting Japan often remembered it more.
KiShin's adaptation of a video game into a film piqued the interest of these visitors, prompting them to share the information with friends and family. The concept of a video game being adapted into a film intrigued many, and within a few weeks, news of KiShin's venture became somewhat well-known, especially within the video game community.
Even rivals in the video game sector, Tora and Suzuki, became aware of KiShin's endeavor and were curious about the outcome of the film adaptation.
Itori Tanaka, having played 'Mortal Kombat' in KS1, observed the opening story intro, noting the violence and impressive special effects. He couldn't shake the feeling that these scenes might be borrowed from KiShin Pictures' upcoming film, 'Moral Kombat.' If so, Tanaka thought, KiShin could likely reap profits from the film, given the quality of the scenes in the video game's opening story intro.
Meanwhile, the Suzuki Group successfully acquired Image Comics for a substantial amount. Soon after, Suzuki Pictures Entertainment announced its intention to bring Image Comics characters to the big screen.
This move mirrored a previous strategy employed by KiShin Pictures. The prospect of comics being adapted for the cinema excited fans within the comic book community.
Some fans harbored doubts about whether these film studios, especially Japanese companies, could truly meet the expectations of comic fans when it came to adapting comic book material into films.