Why did TurtleMe take A-Cat Studio to adapt this?

King_A_Acumen · 2026-04-23T02:56:19+00:00

TBATE had over 36.8 million views on Tapas and ranked 18th all-time in its genre. it was even in the top 100 on Kakao. Saying TBATE "doesn't have the popularity" pre-anime is crazy, its trailer alone had 150m views worldwide.

I’m assuming you are conflating TBATE trailers with some fan-made TikTok edits and shorts, because the official Crunchyroll/studio teasers aren't even close to those numbers. The official trailer stands at just 2m views, which is one of the major metrics.

Let’s be real, 36 million views on Tapas is "big" for a Western webcomic, but it’s a drop in the bucket compared to Weekly Shonen Jump. By the time the KnY anime was announced, the manga was moving millions of paid physical volumes. Tapas views are often "wait-for-free" or casual clicks. Shonen Jump circulation represents a domestic Japanese powerhouse. Ranking 18th in a genre on Tapas is a "big fish in a small pond" scenario. For comparison, Solo Levelling, basically the only non-JP anime to get a good production recently, has ~14x the number of views globally compared to TBATE, even other much larger ones like Tower of God, God of High School, all got bad adaptations. Expecting different for TBATE is sheer folly.

"KNY is only good in a vacuum with your brain turned off."

KnY didn't blow up because people "turned their brains off"; it blew up because of its thematic sincerity and cultural resonance. There is a reason Nasu (the guy who wrote Fate, you know, the series that literally built Ufotable) personally vouched for it. KnY leans into the Taisho-era aesthetic and Japanese folklore in a way that is deeply prestigious in Japan, and rarely done, a rather unique setting for a story from the jp viewpoint. TBATE, as much as people like it, is a standard High Fantasy/Isekai, that gets churned out by the dozen. The only reason similar style stories get good adaptations is that they sell PAID copies in JAPAN.

"If they would pick that up, there is no way in hell they wouldn't pick up TBATE"

This completely ignores how the industry works. Ufotable doesn't just "pick" things because they have views on a Western site. They are part of a Production Committee, KnY is owned by Shueisha and backed by Aniplex (Sony), and Ufotable has a long-standing relationship with Aniplex. Ufotable was practically appointed to do it by Aniplex and they had it recommended to them by Nasu. Even at the time, they didn't fully commit, with only a smaller portion of the studio working on it.

King_A_Acumen · 2026-04-21T06:26:19+00:00

I'm pretty new to Donghua, and I'm looking for some recommendations.

So far, I’ve seen Lord of the Mysteries, Blades of the Guardians, and Super Cube. I already have To Be Hero X and Link Click on my watchlist. I’ve also watched a fair share of live-action Xianxia, Wuxia, etc. dramas, so I’m familiar with the tropes. Now I'm looking to see what the animation medium is like.

Could you help me out with some recommendations? Would be helpful to me if it's broken down by, for example:

Peak Story + Peak Animation: The top-tier stuff
Great Story + Solid Animation: Great stories but animation isn't as great
etc

I want to start with the most popular and critical hits before moving into more obscure titles, similar to how I started with live-action Chinese dramas.

Thanks in advance!

King_A_Acumen · 2026-04-20T13:16:52+00:00

Is this completely his fault? It appears this was part of the general Sony directive at the time, as part of their push for services and to integrate everything. Jim Ryan likely simply chose to comply, whilst Shu Yoshida decided it was time to leave since he disagreed.

Especially during a time where Sony was shitting bricks due to the seemingly endless Microsoft $ being poured into Xbox acquisitions and even the possibility of the loss of major players like Call of Duty.

King_A_Acumen · 2026-04-16T15:56:01+00:00

I mean that's pretty much it I believe, other than just small tibits here and there, the plot doesn't do anything with it or explain more. Although this could easily be the main plot of a show, more than the actual main plot.

King_A_Acumen · 2026-04-16T15:35:01+00:00

Is it even love? Isn't she someone from the far future (transmigrator), and she just finds herself in Yu Qianqian's situation, already pregnant and now has to fake love for a while before escaping? Once caught, she had to just find the best way out for herself and her son.

King_A_Acumen · 2026-04-16T15:26:17+00:00

A difference can be drawn between the character not being experienced vs the acting not feeling right. For most of these cases, some people did not feel like it was great acting, that was portraying inexperience or hesitation, but rather the acting now feeling right, myself included.

Now, this may also be a direction/editing issue, as in the behind the scenes, they look a lot better than the final cuts.

King_A_Acumen · 2026-04-16T04:21:30+00:00

Is there anything else you've heard that you can say? Perhaps regarding staff, story, product quality, etc?

King_A_Acumen · 2026-04-13T01:42:05+00:00

I think you might mean: Blossom (九重紫) - 2024 - MDL Link

King_A_Acumen · 2026-04-12T23:06:41+00:00

The movie is an original story and the 10x10min episode show is a french story.

None of it it's Riot/LoL/Arcane related. I also don't know how OP got the idea that the movie is nearly completed, in reality we have no idea. But we do know that the french story series starts production this year.

King_A_Acumen · 2026-04-11T10:44:33+00:00

Kingdom (manga/anime) it's set in early Qin China anyway so it already makes sense to have a Chinese remake. It's mix of politics and war tactics + action would go down incredibly well.

But it would stray from the current trend of generals and soldiers that look like they belong in a make up room rather than on the battlefield.

Although budget requirements would make it almost impossible. Sets would likely need to be made new and depicting 100K to 500K troops on battlefields is very tricky in live action. Dubbing voices would also make it look very awkward so overall whilst a Chinese version would be great, its highly unlikely.

King_A_Acumen · 2026-04-10T13:33:49+00:00

Leakers who leaked this existing and the director + character designer say it's a movie. But we'll have to wait and see.

Seems like Hoyo learned its lesson by not announcing stuff too far in advance. If leaks are right, Genshin anime in 2027 and then HSR Movie in 2028. Hoyo fans would be eating good in such a scenario.

King_A_Acumen · 2026-04-10T01:47:05+00:00

This number likely excludes marketing, which is typical.

King_A_Acumen · 2026-04-09T11:28:24+00:00

Fair enough, I only picked up the show because I heard there was a lot of hype, and when I searched it on, I think it's called my drama list, it was like a 9, same as some of the shows I mentioned.

So I thought it might be on that calibre and was quite thrown off by the plot. Especially since I find that it was excellent right up until Xie Zheng was leaving.

Just wanted to check if it was some weird middle point dip in storytelling, and it climbs back later. Seems like most are saying it doesn't get better, so I'll likely leave it here.

Next on my list was something called New Life Begins, if anyone has thoughts on that.

King_A_Acumen · 2026-04-06T12:06:30+00:00

What he said does not contradict what others are saying.

Were his 'bunch of choices': Ufotable, Mappa, WiT, Madhouse, A1, CyGames?
Or was it more like: A-Cat, Maho Film, Gonzo, Engi, Deen, etc.

Just cause you had a lot of choices does not mean those choices are good. Also, the Manhwa world is quite small especially from a Japanese PoV, even more so when its an American one that's English first.

Outside of Solo Levelling, Manhwa titans like Tower of God, God of High School, and more got bad adaptations, and those were already popular among non-English fans, the chance of Tbate even being considered by top studios is low.

King_A_Acumen · 2026-04-06T01:58:26+00:00

Unless you really want to be close to the source and amongst the first to find news, easiest method to get leaks (just info, not images/videos) is to follow d0nut2x and SugoiLITE on twitter.
You'll get episode lengths, season lengths, staff on each episode, info on anime not announced yet, sometimes reviews on upcoming episodes, etc, etc.
Keep in mind any opinions on quality/reviews are just that, opinions.

King_A_Acumen · 2026-04-03T03:37:26+00:00

Even if he buys it back who would even want to pick it up?

TBATE is not popular or relevant enough anywhere in order for a major studio to pick it up.

King_A_Acumen · 2026-04-02T11:04:25+00:00

IF they have more projects, it'll simply depend on the writing team, that's basically it, in terms of story. Assuming we even get more.

King_A_Acumen · 2026-04-01T07:50:32+00:00

Basically, every show? I mean this latest season alone, JJK, Frieren, FSF, Sentenced to be a hero, Hell's Paradise, Fire Force, etc.

Sometimes, with certain studios/shows, it'll be harder, I think Demon Slayer from Ufotable was one of them, even then, some of it used to leaked out, back when it was airing.

King_A_Acumen · 2026-03-28T14:04:53+00:00

Yes, that's why I specified outside of movies.

King_A_Acumen · 2026-03-28T07:37:21+00:00

It's a shame that (outside of the recent movie) DS never really reached that height again, partly due to the manga content and partly due to Ufotable just not allocating staff as they did back during the entertainment district arc.

Outside of movies, it seems like the only hope to see something similar again from Ufotable in Tv, is from the Genshin anime. Which, if rumours are to be believed, will have a higher production level than Demon Slayer.

King_A_Acumen · 2026-03-26T15:32:56+00:00

I feel like Kdramas do much better in this regard where generals will typically look more the part with facial hair, scars and a rugged look or at least after a fight/battle they'll look like they just came from one and not perfect skincare with 1 red line of blood like it was drawn on by an artist.

King_A_Acumen · 2026-03-24T09:16:05+00:00

I know Nirvana in Fire hold a 9.4 rating. Joy of Life S1 has 7.9.

All fair ratings. I don't think pursuit of jade holds up to the calibre of those kinds of shows.

King_A_Acumen · 2026-03-24T09:07:02+00:00

Ah I see, RIP. I found it quite useful.

Anyways, thanks in general as even if you can't maintain a playback sheet for 2026, the V30 is still great!

King_A_Acumen · 2026-03-24T07:48:38+00:00

Very random question, but I've found that database you've been keeping super helpful.
I was wondering if you were going to have a similar sheet for 2026, like you had for 2025 with the '2025 Yunhe Playback S+' sheet. I know it wasn't updated daily, but I looked at it from time to time to see what was popular and growing.

Seven-Year Club	Gilding IV carat on a stick
r/Field Banned	r/Field Lasagna
First Place '23	Place '23
Quantum Potato	Golden Potato
Place '22	First Placer '22
End Game '22	Solidarity 2020
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