"Wu, do you remember a long cartoon character with naturally curly hair and a mustache?" Shima Saki asked.
"Isn't that the mascot of our high school cycling club?" Shima Wataru answered casually.
After hearing Shima Wataru's answer, Shima Saki finally remembered. No wonder he always felt that Hu Zilang's image was very familiar.
"Mascot?" Upon hearing this, Shima Rin immediately focused his attention.
"But the mascot doesn't seem to be called Hu Zi Lang? Isn't it called Hu Zi Uncle?" Shima Shizuo said.
He did not associate Hu Zilang with a bearded uncle. Although he had seen Hu Zilang's image on TV, it was still far from the mascot of the cycling club.
"Yeah, I also remember that he was called Uncle Beard." Shima Saki said.
"Mother, do you know who designed that bearded uncle you are talking about?" Shima Rin couldn't help but ask.
It is normal for an anime character to have some changes from the initial design to the final design, and in many cases, the design is completely re-designed.
Now that Uncle Beard and Hu Zi Lang have so many similar design points, Shima Rin can already confirm that Uncle Beard is the prototype of Hu Zi Lang.
"It was designed by our president at the time. Last month, he came to our house to drink. Rin, don't you remember?" Shima Saki said.
"Is it...Uncle Hayatsu?" Shima Rin asked.
"That's right." Shima Saki smiled.
"Is Uncle Hayatsu a cartoonist?" Shima Rin couldn't help but blink. She hadn't expected that Hayatsu Takeo, who had always had contacts with her family, might be the original author of Hu Zi Lang.
"I don't know? After graduating from high school, he worked at the post office for a few years, and then he resigned and stayed at home." Shima Saki said.
She and Shima Wataru have always been curious about where Hayatsu Takeo's income came from. Now when they heard Shima Rin say that the other party might be a cartoonist, they finally realized what was going on.
Isn't that what cartoonists do? They often stay at home and are always busy with their manuscripts.
?
If Takeo Hayatsu is really a cartoonist, then his income problem would be easily solved.
"Why don't you call the president yourself, Rin. Your father and I are not sure about this." Shima Saki said.
"Well, I'll hang up first." Shima Rin responded.
"Bye-Bye."
"bye."
After hanging up the phone, Shima Rin couldn't help but blink her beautiful eyes.
Although she had almost confirmed in her heart that Takeo Hayatsu was the original author of Hu Zi Lang, she still needed to make a phone call to confirm it.
After all, if I guessed wrong, it would be too embarrassing.
However, Shima Rin was a little hesitant about whether it was appropriate to suddenly call Hayatsu Takeo.
Although it was a bit presumptuous to call suddenly, after thinking about it, Shima Rin still dialed Hayatsu Takeo's number.
On the other side, Shirasaki Hana is still looking forward to it!
"Hello, Rin? Why are you calling me suddenly?"
The call was quickly connected, but Hayatsu Takeo's tone was somewhat surprised. On weekdays, apart from some relatives, friends, and comics editors, when had he ever seen anyone call him? Not to mention the younger generation like Shima Rin.
"Uncle Hayatsu, good morning." Shima Rin was still a little embarrassed for having taken the liberty of calling Hayatsu Takeo, so she couldn't help but greet him proactively.
"Good morning, Rin, what's going on?"
Chapter 2173 Shima Rin's Return Gift
"Uncle Hayatsu, are you the author of the Huzilang comics?"
"Huh? Rin, how did you know?" Hayatsu Takeo couldn't help but be a little surprised when he heard Shima Rin's question.
I probably haven't told anyone else that I draw comics.
Although the anime "Hashiro" is well-known throughout Japan, in fact, Hayatsu Takeo is not well known.
Most people only know the character Hu Zilang, but don’t know the author of Hu Zilang.
Occasionally, some people know the author of Hu Zilang, but they only know a pen name, not Hayatsu Takeo himself.
Takeo Hayatsu himself is still very low-key. When he occasionally accepts interviews, they are only online.
When he was interviewed online, he never showed his face, and at most he would appear briefly in a Hu Zilang doll costume.
Therefore, Hayatsu Takeo was quite shocked that Shima Rin was able to guess that he was the author of Hu Zi Lang.
Although he was shocked, Takeo Hayatsu did not deny it. Since it had already been guessed anyway, he might as well admit it directly.
For him, he just doesn't like the feeling of living in the spotlight, not that he has to keep the fact that he draws comics strictly secret.
"I saw the pattern of the bearded man designed by you, Hayatsu-san, at home. Then I remembered an interview in which the author of Hu Zilang announced that he was from Minobu, so I thought of it."
Shima Rin thought about it and decided to adjust her wording slightly, so that Hayatsu Takeo would be more receptive.
"So that's how it is. It's rare that you can see the connection between the two!" Hayatsu Takeo couldn't help but laugh.
The current image of Hu Zilang is actually very different from the original image of the bearded uncle he designed, but a few core elements are still retained.
"Uncle Hayatsu, why don't you continue to use Uncle Beard's design?" Shima Rin asked.
"No! The editorial department said that the name Uncle Beard will screen out many audiences, and the image of Uncle Beard is too vulgar." Hayatsu Takeo couldn't help but say.
In fact, he himself prefers the design of the bearded uncle, but there is no way. When a cartoonist enters the industry, his job is in the hands of the editorial department.
According to the editorial department's suggestions, Hayatsu Takeo changed the somewhat creepy bearded uncle into a funny bearded man. Unexpectedly, he became an instant hit.
Now that Hu Zilang has become a national IP, it is impossible to correct it to "Uncle Hu Zi".
"So, Rin, you called me just to confirm my identity?" After thinking for a while, Hayatsu Takeo said.
He is still quite busy and is working on his manuscripts every day.
The fact that Hu Zi Lang has been serialized for so many years without a break is actually closely related to the diligence of Hayatsu Takeo.
Nowadays, most cartoonists have their own studios and many things are handed over to assistants, but Takeo Hayatsu has a more traditional style and draws all the comics by himself.
Fortunately, Hu Zilang's design is simple and relatively quick to draw, otherwise it would be difficult for Takeo Hayatsu to stick to it for one issue without missing one.
"There is one more thing." Shima Rin blinked and glanced at Yushan Kazuto.
Previously, Kazuto Hayama helped her get the personal headphones of her idol, Mai Sakurajima, and she has always wanted to repay Kazuto Hayama a little.
It’s just that Yushan Kazuto doesn’t seem to be a fan, and Shima Rin has never found a suitable opportunity.
Now that Shirasaki Hana likes Huzilang, and her family happens to know Huzilang's original author, Shima Rin thinks that if she helps Shirasaki Hana get a gift from Huzilang's original author, Hayama Kazuto should also be happy.
"Go ahead." said Takeo Hayatsu.
He has a good relationship with the Shima family, so he would not refuse Shima Rin's small request.
"I know a little girl who is a big fan of Hu Zilang. She is watching the animation reruns of Hu Zilang right now! I wonder if Uncle Hayatsu can give me a signed painting. I want to give it to her."
Shima Rin thought for a moment before speaking.
She was relatively able to grasp the scope, and the request for a signed painting was not too excessive, and Hayatsu Takeo should not refuse.
"Is that so? No wonder you called, Rin." Hayatsu Takeo couldn't help but blink.
"Yeah." Shima Rin responded. She called Hayatsu Takeo, not only to confirm the other party's identity, but most importantly to satisfy Shirasaki Hana.
"I agreed to this matter, but I don't have the original painting at hand now, so I may have to wait for a few days. Is that okay?" said Takeo Hayatsu.
"Of course." Shima Rin said quickly.
Even if Takeo Hayatsu has the original drawing now, Shima Rin can't turn around and get it, right?
When the time comes and I get the original painting, I will send it to Shirasaki Hana.
Anyway, Shima Rin also knows where Shirasaki Hana lives, so there is no problem in sending it directly to Shirasaki Hana's house.
"So, do you want a pseudonym or a real name?" asked Takeo Hayatsu.
"It's all right." Shima Rin said quickly.
She didn't dare to ask for any more about this matter.
"Then I'll sign them all." After thinking for a while, Hayatsu Takeo said.
"Please send me the name of my little fan later, and I will write her a paragraph as a blessing." said Takeo Hayatsu.
He was still quite thoughtful. After all, she was his little fan and also knew Shima Rin.
While satisfying the little fan's wish, he could also give Shima Rin some face, for which Takeo Hayatsu was very happy.
"Thank you very much, Uncle Hayatsu." A smile appeared on Shima Rin's face. He didn't expect to have an unexpected gain.
"Then I'll hang up first. I still have to finish the manuscript!" said Takeo Hayatsu with a smile.
"Sorry to bother you, Uncle Hayatsu." Shima Rin couldn't help but say.
Originally, Shima Rin was worried that calling so early would disturb Hayatsu Takeo's rest, but she didn't expect that the other party had already gotten up to finish his manuscript.
"It's okay, it's okay. I'm also very pleased to know that my work is so popular among my little fans!" Hayatsu Takeo couldn't help but say.
"Oh, by the way, Rin, are you with your little fan now?" Suddenly, Hayatsu Takeo remembered that Shima Rin had just said that Shirasaki Hana was watching the rerun of "The Bearded Man", and couldn't help but ask.
"Yes, next to me." Shima Rin responded and looked at Shirasaki Hana.
"Then give her the phone and I'll talk to her for a few minutes." Hayatsu Takeo said with a smile.
Shima Rin couldn't help but blink, walked towards Shirasaki Hana, and handed her the phone: "Hana, Hu Zilang, the original teacher, wants to talk to you."
Hearing this, Shirosaki Hana's expression couldn't help but be a little surprised. She originally thought that it was already a big deal that Shima Rin's family knew the identity of Hu Zilang's original author, but she didn't expect that the other party could actually talk directly to Hu Zilang's original author!
Chapter 2174 Miss Baozi
"Please, is this Mr. Hu Zi?" Shirosaki Hana held the phone in her hands as if it were a treasure, and spoke excitedly.
"It's me! Mr. Beard!"
Takeo Hayatsu's pen name is Mr. Hu Zi, which reveals his identity and means that he is the "father" of Hu Zilang.
"Teacher Hu Zi, I didn't expect it was really you!"
Hearing Hayatsu Takeo's voice, Shirosaki Hana's eyes lit up. Shirosaki Hana never missed an interview with Hayatsu Takeo, and the other party did not deliberately change his voice during the interview, so Shirosaki Hana recognized it immediately.
"It seems that you are very familiar with my voice?" Hayatsu Takeo said in a deliberately funny tone.
"Yes, I will listen to every interview you give," said Shirasaki Hana.
Apart from Yushan Kazuto, the person that Shirasaki Hana is most obsessed with is the virtual character Hu Zi Lang.
"What a loyal fan you are! Can you tell me your name?"
"My name is Shirosaki Hana, and you can call me Xiaohua, Mr. Hu Zi." Shirosaki Hana said.
"Xiaohua? I can tell you're a very cute child." Hayatsu Takeo couldn't help but smile.
"I'm very happy to have a lovely child like you, Xiaohua, as a loyal fan of Hu Zilang. Thank you very much for your support." After clearing his throat slightly, Hayatsu Takeo's voice finally became a little more formal.
Although he was very happy to be able to communicate with a loyal fan like Shirasaki Hana, he still had to rush to finish his manuscript, so Hayatsu Takeo was destined not to be able to communicate with Shirasaki Hana for too long.
"No, no, I should thank Mr. Hu Zi for creating such an impressive anime character like Hu Zi Lang." Shirasaki Hana couldn't help but say.
Listening to Shirasaki Hanato's words, Hayatsu Takeo couldn't help but smile.
The first character he created was "Uncle with a Beard". However, if "Uncle with a Beard" had really passed the review of the editorial department, there would probably be no "Uncle with a Beard" who is so popular in Japan today.
"Thank you very much for your compliment, Xiaohua. I will continue to create, and I hope you can continue to support Hu Zilang." Hayatsu Takeo said with a smile.
"I will definitely continue to support you." Shirosaki Hana said with certainty.
In fact, Shirasaki Hana can be considered as a core fan of Hu Zilang. She will buy almost every time Hu Zilang releases new peripheral products, and sometimes even in large quantities.
Although it is not as much as the core fans of those idols, for a cartoon character aimed at children, such support is already very impressive.
"Next, I will give you a mysterious gift, but this mysterious gift requires some time to prepare, so let Miss Baozi hand it over to you!" said Hayatsu Takeo.
"Ms. Baozi?" Bai Sakihua couldn't help but blink slightly.
However, after looking at Shima Rin's bun hairstyle, Shirosaki Hana felt that the title "Miss Bun" was very appropriate.
When Yushan and others heard the name "Miss Baozi", they couldn't help but smile.
Before, Toumori Sanae had also given Shima Rin a similar nickname, although it was stopped by Hayama Kazuto, but it has to be said that it is actually quite vivid.
