You Said You Would Make a Bad Movie, But You Made JOJO?

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Chapter 34. When Will Zeppeli Die?

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If the first impression of the Phantom Blood OP left audiences amazed and delighted with its many Easter eggs, industry professionals focused on the OP's ability to captivate viewers and whether they could create something similar.

Phantom Blood had paved a new path for them, relying on the OP to expand its audience rather than famous actors or storyline. This method had never been considered or used before.

Actually, the strategy of using an OP to attract viewers had been thought of before. Collaborating with famous singers and composers to create a classic song that would, in turn, boost the work's popularity seemed like a brilliant idea. Initially, those who tried this method succeeded in creating a rare classic song that many enjoyed.

And then... nothing happened.

The reason was simple: people only liked the song. They had no interest in the work associated with the song, resulting in wasted efforts and resources.

No one wanted to repeat that mistake, so the industry stopped focusing on OPs. A work's OP might gain popularity if the work itself became a hit, but never the other way around.

So, why did Phantom Blood succeed?

This question puzzled industry professionals as they observed the OP's success. The key was to see if Phantom Blood's earnings matched its popularity.

If it was only praised but not profitable, they would abandon the OP strategy and warn others against it. But if the earnings justified the expenses, they would embrace and promote this new approach.

Thus...

"So, Director Pucci, tell me, when is Zeppeli going to die?" Jolyne Cujoh asked Pucci seriously.

Initially, she was surprised by Phantom Blood, the script she personally chose, as well as the unexpected talents of Shinbo Akiyuki, formerly Minamizawa Jyuhachi, and Studio Kamikaze.

Who could have guessed a well-known director at Tatsunoko Production would secretly make action romance films? Or that Studio Kamikaze, with their superb skills, would enjoy making bizarre content?

Having been deceived by these talented yet tricky individuals, Jolyne Cujoh realized that Pucci, with his straightforward resume as a nearly graduated college student, was the only trustworthy person in Green Dolphin Studio.

Everyone else couldn't be trusted.

As Phantom Blood progressed to the plot where DIO kills George Joestar to activate the Stone Mask, Jolyne Cujoh noticed the viewers' hopeful reactions despite the OP spoilers. The harsh reality shattered their hopes, causing quite a stir, which made her eyes light up.

Yes, Phantom Blood was a tragedy written by Pucci, not just George Joestar's death. Even Zeppeli, who teaches JOJO Hamon, and JOJO himself would die during his honeymoon with Erina at the hands of the resurrected DIO.

Jolyne Cujoh didn't believe that normal viewers could endure or enjoy such a plot. No matter how skilled Shinbo Akiyuki and his team were, they couldn't change the story's outcome!

This renewed hope led Jolyne Cujoh to visit the Phantom Blood set and ask Pucci about Zeppeli's death.

"It should be soon," Pucci replied after checking the script's progress. "In the story, Zeppeli has taught JOJO everything he can. But like Guan Yu's defeat at Maicheng, if there weren't the Peach Garden Oath, the Battle of Hulao Pass, crossing five passes and slaying six generals, flooding the seven armies, and earning the world's respect, would Guan Yu's defeat still be so heart-wrenching?"

"So, for Zeppeli's death, I want the audience to love him first. This way, his death will leave a lasting impression on them."

"..."

Is this even human speech?

Jolyne Cujoh knew very well how heartbreaking Guan Yu's defeat was. The Japanese version of Romance of the Three Kingdoms even cut out this part!

And that was precisely what she wanted! Ah, the sense of reliability. Entrusting everything to Pucci was truly comforting!

"But..."

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A/N:

Some context in case you're confused to understand better.

Guan Yu is a famous fictional military general character from the Chinese historical novel, "Romance of the Three Kingdoms."

Maicheng: This is the place where Guan Yu was defeated and beheaded by Sun Quan's forces.

Peach Garden Oath: This describes the oath of brotherhood taken by Guan Yu, Liu Bei, and Zhang Fei in the novel.

Battle of Hulao Pass: This is the battle between Lu Bu and the three brothers.

Crossing five passes and slaying six generals, and flooding the seven armies: These events showcase Guan Yu's military prowess and loyalty in the novel.

So, basically, what Pucci is trying to say is that he wants to develop and make the audience love the character before killing him off, just like Guan Yu.