<h4>Chapter 180: Cartoons</h4>
(Arthur POV)
The TV screen zed with footage of our burning <i>Angel City</i> branch, reporters swarming like vultures around the scene.
As I watched, rage bubbled through my veins. My eyes burned hot, and suddenly my vision sharpened to crystal rity. Every detail on the screen stood out with uncanny precision, my senses heightening to an almost painful degree. The sensation passed quickly, leaving me puzzled but too angry to dwell on it.
"What led to today''s events?" A reporter thrust her microphone at our USE president, <strong>Marcus</strong>. His usual sleek feline appearance was gone, reced by a disheveled figure with singed suit and soot-stained fur.
His eyes glistened as he fought to maintainposure. "This... this is just a misunderstanding between demons and humans! We can resolve this!" His voice cracked with exhaustion.
<i>Sigh</i>
I clicked off the TV, disgust rising in my throat.
"And here I thought <i>Empiricans</i> in this world had more sense than my previous life." I shook my head, bitter disappointment settling in my chest. The way <strong>Walter Mouse</strong> had manipted them so easily, turning ''<i>anime</i>'' into some kind of cultural battleground - it was both pathetic and infuriating.
They''d actually resorted to arson against mypany!
Though something felt off - perhaps this fire wasn''t just angry protesters. Someone might be pulling strings behind the scenes. But regardless of who lit the match, the damage was done.
My fingers drummed against the desk as I plotted my response. No, I wouldn''t go flying off to Empirica to pummel Walter Mouse and his mob like I did with <strong>Caleb</strong>. This required a more... elegant revenge.
I''d crush <i>Mouse Entertainment</i> the same way I''d built my empire - through pure entertainment dominance. Walter Mouse wanted to cry about demons ''stealing'' animation? Fine.
I''d flood Empirica with their precious "<i>cartoons</i>" first - the ones from my previous life. Then I''d release a wave of new anime series. The contrast would be impossible to ignore. The whole world would see that "cartoon" and "anime" were distinct art forms, not some demon plot to steal human culture.
Let them learn the difference through entertainment itself.
***
In the massive warehouse, my operation hummed with focused energy. A hundred clones filled theics and manga section, while therger area hosted an army of 800 clones - some hunched over drawing tables with precise brush strokes, others manipting animation frames on theirputer screens.
Creating 800 clones wasn''t my original n, but Walter Mouse and those gullible Empiricans had forced my hand. Speed was now essential.
My clones worked tirelessly on cartoons that had defined entertainment in my previous life. <i>"Bugs Bunny"</i> with his wisecracks, the pstick chaos of <i>"Tom & Jerry,"</i> the spinach-powered adventures of <i>"Popeye,"</i> and the silentedy of <i>"The Pink Panther Show."</i>
The voice acting situation actually worked in our favor. These ssic cartoons relied more on visualedy and simple dialogue - perfect for a world still developing its voice talent pool.
I could handle the basic male voices: <strong>Bugs Bunny''s</strong> wisecracks, <strong>Tom''s</strong> asional outbursts, <strong>Popeye''s</strong> mumblings. The <strong>Pink Panther</strong> just needed some grunts and snorts - easy enough for a clone to manage.
The anime projects demanded more patience. <i>"Pokémon,"</i> <i>"Naruto,"</i> and <i>"Sailor Moon"</i> sat in various stages of development, awaiting voice actors from our recent auditions. Theirplexity meant a longer production time, but that would only help highlight the distinction between mediums.
Looking over the bustling warehouse, I smiled grimly. Soon, everyone would understand the fundamental difference between cartoons and anime. Those who''d used me of "stealing" animation were about to get an education in entertainment evolution.
"Keep the pace steady," I called out to my clones. "We''re not just making shows - we''re making a point."
"Oh, look who''s acting all high and mighty! Why don''t you pick up a pencil and help us draw?" One clone shot back, waving his pencil usingly.
"Hey, focus on the goal here!" Another clone jumped in, adjusting his sses. "We need to show those thick-headed Empiricans and everyone else the clear difference between anime and cartoons!"
"Why can''t we just do a press conference and exin everything?" A third clone groaned, slumping over his desk. "All this drawing is killing me!"
As the debate heated up, I tried to restore order. "Come on, everyone! Give it your all, and I''ll reward you with cookies!"
My clones responded with collective snorts before returning to their work, muttering under their breath.
<i>''And this is why clone management is such a headache.''</i> I sighed internally. Each clone developed their own personality and opinions - great for creative work, terrible for workce harmony.
Still, I''d take the asional attitude problem in exchange for this level of productivity.
***
(3rd Person POV)
The controversy over demons "stealing" and "rebranding" animation continued to dominate headlines. What started in human territories now spread like wildfire through elven forests and dwarven mountains.
Media outlets hounded <strong>Arthur</strong> for a response, but he remainedrgely silent, offering only cryptic statements: "I will address this matter in a few weeks. Patience, everyone."
His vague response sparked widespread spection. <i>The Evening Star</i> ran the headline: <i>"Arthur Pendragon Dys Response - Strategic Silence or Admission of Guilt?"</i>
Critics seized on his apparent reluctance to speak, interpreting it as weakness. But those who knew Arthur''s pattern of calcted moves wondered - what was the demon prince nning this time?
Two weeks of controversy had begun to quiet, though plenty still condemned Arthur for supposedly stealing and rebranding cartoons as anime. His continued silence only fueled his critics.
Walter Mouse and his fellow media moguls celebrated what they saw as victory, watching <i>Hellfire Network''s</i> ratings slip with smug satisfaction.
Then came August 26, 1273 - Arthur dropped his bombshell announcement. Within a week, Hellfire Network would premiere both cartoons and anime, including a new series called <i>"Naruto."</i>
The announcement sparked fierce debate among industry insiders. On street corners, confused citizens voiced their doubts: "I don''t understand - I thought cartoons and anime were the same thing? Why is Arthur suddenly using both terms?"
The answer came on September 1, 1273. As early morning sunlight crept over Empirica, Hellfire Network aired its first episode of <i>"Tom & Jerry."</i>
The screen exploded with pure cartoon chaos - a cat and mouse locked in an endless chase through a house, their bodies defying physics with every crash and tumble. Tom''s expressions stretched to impossible lengths, while Jerry''s clever escapes drew delighted gasps from viewers.
In his mansion''s viewing room, Walter Mouse sat stiffly on his leather armchair, remote clutched tight as he watched hispetitor''s creation. His family gathered around, drawn by themotion on screen.
"Dad, look! Look!" <strong>Walter Jr.</strong> doubled overughing as Tom ttened like a pancake after another failed chase. "The cat''s face!"
Walter barely heard his son''s joy. His eyes were fixed on the screen, watching something that shouldn''t exist - a cartoon that rivaled, maybe even surpassed, his studio''s best work.
Earlier, he''d dismissed Hellfire''s cartoon venture with a wave of his hand. "They''ll fail," he''d told his board confidently. But now, watching his own family captivated by this...
He felt sick to his stomach. He''d been wrong. Terribly wrong.
***
September 1, 1273 carved itself into entertainment history as Hellfire Network revolutionized programming across time zones. In <i>Empirica</i>, the morning hours filled with cartoons, while the pre-news noon slot debuted <i>"Naruto."</i>
Before "Naruto" began, thework announcer made a deliberate point: "And now, Hellfire Network presents our second anime series..."
The distinction between cartoons and anime had puzzled Empiricans until that day. But as they witnessed "Naruto" following their morning of pstick cartoons, thenpared it to <i>"Dragon Ball,"</i> the differences became stark and undeniable.
Across <i>USE</i>, many viewers finally understood - these weren''t simply different terms for the same thing. The storytelling styles, art, and themes stood distinctly apart.
While the western continent enjoyed their morning entertainment revolution, the <i>Anatolia</i> region experienced the same programming as their evening schedule, thanks to the time difference. What was breakfast entertainment in Empirica became dinner viewing in the East.
This simultaneous worldwide broadcast of both cartoons and anime on September 1 marked a turning point in global entertainment.
Yearster, USE would immortalize this date as <i>"Fantastic Friday Morning"</i> - celebrating the day cartoon chaos first brightened their mornings. Meanwhile, the East fondly remembered it as <i>"Magical Friday Night"</i> - when both western humor and eastern storytelling found their ce in their evening hours.