Creating a Birthday Surprise: Mulan

The children's entertainment in this world was not good.

Damian let out a sigh as he leaned back in the capsule, watching the floating panel in front of him as he entered the virtual space.

Since arriving in this world, he had noticed how neglected children's content was. Not because it didn't exist, but because no one seemed to take it seriously.

There were two types of creators in this industry: those who looked down on children's content, fearing it would harm their careers, and those who, aware of its market potential, produced cheap, effortless material, underestimating their audience's intelligence. With no real competition, kids had no choice but to settle for what was available.

For someone like him, who remembered children's series and movies that even adults could enjoy, this was an insult. On Earth, many of these stories transcended generations thanks to their quality, featuring memorable characters and messages that didn't treat children like fools. The thought of his sister growing up without something like that was unacceptable.

That's why he had already decided on her birthday gift: an animated movie.

Next Friday. That was the time he had before Lía's birthday. Not much, considering he also had to work on Firewatch at the academy, which meant he could only dedicate his afternoons to the movie. He would have to plan carefully.

In front of him, the system projected a list of options. He applied the filters: Movies → 2D Animation → Free.

The available options appeared on the screen.

— Cinderella

— Doraemon: Nobita and the Dinosaur

— (Other irrelevant titles)

— Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron

— Mulan

— …

Damian crossed his arms. He had already decided which movie to make.

Princess movies probably weren't the best choice for Lía. While she didn't dislike them, they weren't what caught her attention the most.

Doraemon was a solid option, but it required some prior knowledge of the series to be fully enjoyable.

That left two strong contenders: Mulan and Spirit.

"Spirit is a hybrid between 2D and 3D, which means more technical work. If I had more time and resources, it would be worth it, but… right now, it's not viable."

Mulan, on the other hand, had several advantages. The story was great, the characters were charismatic, and the pure 2D animation made the process easier. Plus, Aoi could help him with voice actors, and the system would provide all the necessary information, saving him a lot of work.

And, most importantly, it was the best choice for his sister.

The protagonist was a strong young woman who fought for her family and her own destiny. Lía was still little, but Damian felt this story would resonate with her more than any other.

The decision was clear.

—Mulan it is, then. Spirit can wait for another time.

With that, he selected the movie.

The moment he confirmed his choice, a surge of information flooded his mind. Settings, characters, script, dialogues, studies on Chinese culture, original history, soundtrack… Everything settled in his head as if it had always been there.

He closed his eyes for a moment, processing the details.

"This world wasn't as culturally diverse as Earth, where each civilization had its own distinct charm: the philosophical depth of Confucianism in China, the grandeur of the Italian Renaissance, or the vibrant passion of Latin American folklore. I wonder how my family will react when they see these cultures in my future projects…"

Once the initial excitement faded, he opened the drawing AI.

The software was called AstraDraw, a tool designed to assist in creating detailed illustrations based on mental images and visual references.

But here was the problem: there was no 2D animation software in this world. The closest thing was advanced video editors, so he would have to improvise.

"Well, I'll figure that out later. First, I need to test this tool. Let's start with the cover."

He activated AstraDraw and visualized the image in his mind. The AI instantly interpreted his intent, sketching the first outlines. Damian observed the process, adjusting details in real-time.

Mulan's silhouette took shape—her firm stance holding a sword, wearing her iconic outfit. Then, the AI outlined Mushu, the small red dragon with an exaggeratedly proud expression. Cri-Kee was there, too, perched on her shoulder.

After the initial sketch, AstraDraw began adding colors, shadows, and final details, following Damian's instructions.

In just a few minutes, the cover was ready.

Damian analyzed it with a critical eye, ensuring everything was in place. After making a few minor adjustments, he finally smiled, satisfied.

…

Damian barely glanced at the screen as the words appeared instantly, transcribed directly from his thoughts. He didn't need to move a single finger—the AI converted his ideas into text with flawless precision. The drawing tool had worked even better than expected, but the most important part was the script.

He knew Mulan was a great movie, but he also saw room for improvement. Especially in the ending, which had always felt a bit forced and too childish. It didn't seem entirely logical.

As he analyzed the original story, he found a few aspects he wanted to refine. At the same time, he recalled the live-action remake. He hadn't liked it nearly as much as the animated version, but it had a couple of ideas worth salvaging.

"Shan Yu…"

That was the villain's name.

In his version, Mulan would return to the capital with her group of soldiers after revealing she was a woman. Upon arrival, they would find that the enemy had already infiltrated the city. The emperor, prepared to fight, would fall into a trap and be captured.

That's when the final battle would take place.

Shan Yu wouldn't hold back against Mulan. He wouldn't see her as a woman, but as a real enemy. The fight would be much more intense. Mulan would give it her all, fighting until she managed to free the emperor, and together, they would take down the villain.

Then would come the recognition—the commendation, the honorable return home. Her soldier friends visiting her, and a subtle hint of romance at the end.

No mystical chi powers, no forced attitude shifts. Just her and her determination.

After one final review, Damian finished writing the script and saved it.

The next step was working on the animation, so he spent the next few hours creating scenes and playing with camera movement to achieve a three-dimensional effect in 2D. Smooth panoramas, focus shifts, dynamic framing. With the capsule's tools, everything was incredibly intuitive.

He didn't even notice how much time had passed until the system notified him of shutdown. He had set a timer—he didn't want to get home too late.

Stretching as he stepped out of the capsule, Damian turned his head and noticed Aoi sitting nearby. She was wearing comfortable home clothes, absorbed in her panel, watching some series.

Barely smiling, Damian tapped her shoulder.

Aoi flinched and looked at him in surprise.

—"When did you get out?"

—A few seconds ago.

—You could've said something instead of giving me a mini heart attack.

Damian simply sent the script file to her panel.

—Here it is. I also detailed the actors I'm looking for.

Aoi glanced at the file and skimmed through it.

Thanks to the capsule's tools, a single person could record multiple voices and then edit them to change the tone or gender. That meant he didn't need too many voice actors, just those with good acting skills.

The only other thing he needed was a singer.

"Aileen would be the obvious choice… but she's busy with the exam. I'm not going to distract her."

Aoi carefully reviewed the information and nodded.

—It's not much. Yeah, I can handle this.

She smiled and stood up, putting away her panel.

—I'll check the script later. First, I'll take you home.

Damian didn't argue. He simply followed her as they left the building together.

---

The next day, Clara worked on the map with greater fluidity. Her natural talent for environmental design was evident in the way structures, trees, and hills took shape in the virtual world. She was fascinated by this new visual style. Unlike the dominant hyperrealism, this artistic direction gave her more freedom and creativity.

Meanwhile, Damian had already contacted a voice actress who collaborated with the academy. Her name was Monica, and their meeting took place in the capsule's virtual space. There was no need for her to come in person, which was a considerable advantage.

They were both seated in a virtual office that Damian had created in a separate area of the game's map. He didn't want anything to leak too soon.

Monica appeared to be in her thirties, with a calm and professional demeanor. However, Damian noticed a hint of curiosity in her gaze.

—Is something wrong? —he asked.

She gave a slight smile.

—Not really. It's just unusual to be requested like this.

—Why?

—Well, most students are focused on creating virtual experiences around this time… and they rarely include voiced characters.

Damian nodded, understanding.

—I'm an actress too, by the way —she continued—. Am I playing a character, or do you just need my voice?

—Just your voice.

She nodded, assuming she'd be recording a few lines for a secondary NPC in some virtual experience. She had no idea what Damian was really planning.

When he handed her the script, her expression subtly changed.

It was quite thick.

Monica held it in her hands and began reading in silence.

A few minutes later, she looked up with slight unease.

—Is this… for a movie or something?

Damian gave a vague smile.

—Something like that.

He didn't go into detail, and she didn't press further. She just had to do her job.

Calmly, Damian explained the voices, tones, and personalities of the main characters: Henry, the ranger with a past marked by guilt and loneliness; Delilah, his sarcastic and enigmatic supervisor; and the few lines for the girls at the lake.

Monica listened attentively and began practicing. Her experience was evident. With each attempt, she adjusted the intonation, rhythm, and emotion until Damian was satisfied with the direction.

Since the recording would take several days, Damian planned to oversee the process regularly to ensure everything was perfect.

So, he let her work and focused on his own tasks.

---

Time passed between programming logic, animations, and recordings.

Firewatch was quickly taking shape. While Clara finished designing the vast map and detailed environments, Damian worked on refining the dialogues, conversation mechanics, decisions, and object interactions.

Meanwhile, Monica continued progressing with the recordings. Damian constantly reviewed her work, correcting small details when necessary.

But that wasn't all.

In secret, he was also making progress on his Mulan film. He worked on animation sequences, adjusted scenes, and edited the soundtrack. However, work with the voice actors had been delayed since he had to prioritize delivering Firewatch.

Aoi looked like a kid receiving candy when she finished reading the script and saw some reference images. She felt like they were making history with this film.

By the time Thursday arrived, the priority was clear: finishing the Firewatch project.

That day, Damian focused more on working with Monica, polishing the final lines of dialogue. There were only two days left before the deadline.

---

On Friday morning, Damian received a message from Aoi.

"I finally got the voice actors for the movie. When can you meet them?"

He replied quickly.

"This afternoon. Schedule a meeting in the virtual capsule."

At the academy, he saw that Clara was finishing the last environment. It was the game's first setting: an elevator and a parking garage basement where Henry's truck was located.

—Done —Clara said with satisfaction—. I think that's everything.

Damian checked the details and nodded.

—Good work.

A few meters away, Monica had also finished.

—That's all —she said, stretching a little after hours of work.

Damian reviewed the last recordings and confirmed that everything was complete. Her work was perfect.

—Thanks for your effort.

She gave him a small, amused smile.

—I don't know what you're making for your exam… but good luck.

She disconnected from the virtual space without saying anything else.

Damian leaned back in his seat, exhaling calmly.

"Most of the work is done… only a few details remain."

—What's left? —Clara asked enthusiastically, glancing at the map.

—Just some UI details, the scenery outside the playable area, and finally, testing the game and fixing any bugs —Damian replied, stretching a little after hours of work.

Clara nodded energetically and then, with a curious look, asked:

—Can I test the game?

Damian observed her for a moment before smiling. He knew Clara was intrigued by what they had been developing over the past few days. Even though she had a rough idea of the concept and story, she still couldn't clearly picture the full experience he called a game.

—Yes, you'll be the one to test it. I'll analyze the entire process in real time while you play —he said, giving her the go-ahead.

Clara immediately got to work. She wanted to finish the distant landscapes of the environment as soon as possible, immersing herself in the details with remarkable concentration. They worked until the end of the day, refining every aspect until they finally decided to stop.

Only Saturday remained—their last day to finish the game.

---

The room was well-lit, with a calm atmosphere. The capsule installed in Aoi's grandmother's house emitted a soft hum in the background. Damian was sitting on the couch next to Aoi, who had handed him the information on the voice actors she had found for his project.

He reviewed the names while Aoi continued explaining:

—We don't have the budget to pay professional actors, so I could only find those looking for experience without compensation.

Damian looked up with curiosity.

—Are they reliable?

—Yes, both have good references. They are students from the Grand Luminaris Academy, —Aoi clarified.

Damian recalled that academy from his memories. It was one of the most prestigious, similar to the Grand Solís Academy, but located in a different region.

—Why would someone from another region work here? —he asked, intrigued.

Aoi smiled, understanding his doubt.

—Their situation in that region is a bit complicated, so they were looking to collaborate with someone from outside. But don't worry, that won't affect you at all.

Damian nodded in understanding and went back to reviewing the files. They were about a pair of siblings, Lucian and Sienna Whitaker. He was 17 years old, and she was 18. Lucian was an actor, while Sienna, in addition to acting, was also a singer.

—Lucian is in his second year of high school, just like you. Sienna is in her third year and about to graduate, —Aoi added.

Damian processed the information. They didn't sound bad.

—Alright. I'll talk to them.

He settled into the capsule and, before closing the interface, glanced at Aoi.

—See you later.

—Yeah, I'll stay here for a while, resting, —Aoi said lazily, relaxing in her seat.

Damian just sighed and entered the virtual space where the production of Mulan was taking place. As soon as he arrived, he saw a couple of notifications requesting a meeting. He created a separate space, just like he had done with Monica, and accepted the requests.

The Whitaker siblings appeared.

Sienna was the first to speak, wearing a fake smile:

—Nice to meet you. I'm Sienna Whitaker, and this is my brother, Lucian.

Both were attractive, blond, and blue-eyed. Sienna seemed to take the lead in the interaction, as expected from the older sibling. Lucian, on the other hand, had a nervous demeanor but remained attentive.

—Take a seat, —Damian said kindly, gesturing to the couch in front of him.

Damian felt that these two weren't ordinary. Something about the way they moved and spoke gave off the vibe of rich kids.

The siblings sat down, maintaining their professional demeanor. The conversation started with the most important topic: the terms of collaboration.

—To be clear, we won't charge any fee for this work, —Sienna explained.— We are committed to giving our best effort, but in return, we want to be credited in the film and have your permission to use it as a reference in our experience. As for the revenue if it gets commercialized, we have no intention of claiming anything.

Damian intertwined his fingers, considering the proposal. It was a reasonable request, and he saw no issue with it.

—That's fine, —he responded straightforwardly.— When the project is complete, I'll send you a copy.

Sienna and Lucian exchanged a quick glance, satisfied with his response.

—By the way, what made you accept this job? Not many people give up their share of a film's profits, —Damian asked with interest.

Sienna was the one to answer.

—Aoi Ross is an acquaintance of ours, —she explained.— She told us this project could give us a big boost and help our careers. She didn't give details but assured us it would be worth it.

Damian let out a faint smile.

"So Aoi used that approach… Not bad at all."

He knew Mulan wouldn't be shown to the public right away. For now, only his family would see it, and based on their reactions, he would decide whether to release it to the world. But he was certain that an animated film would be something never seen before in this world. Its impact was inevitable.

Of course, he had a plan. He would handle the distribution of Mulan and all his future projects anonymously, ensuring he controlled every aspect of their release.

"As for the Whitaker siblings… I just need them to sign a confidentiality agreement regarding my identity and the disclosure of the film. Other than that, I have no problem sharing credit with them."

...

Sienna was analyzing the young man in front of her. His expression remained neutral, but inside, she was more than surprised.

"Is this the one responsible for the project?"

She had expected to meet some creative in their thirties, considering how highly Aoi had spoken of him. But instead, she was facing a boy who didn't seem much older than her brother Lucian. And yet, his demeanor was entirely different. There was something about the way he carried himself, the calmness with which he handled the situation, that gave him an air of maturity beyond his age.

Damian extended his hand in a gesture of agreement, and Sienna, without hesitation, did the same. Immediately after, he projected a contract in front of them.

—Before we begin, I need you to review this.

Sienna took the file and quickly skimmed through it. It didn't take her long to notice a particular clause that almost made her raise an eyebrow: confidentiality regarding Damian's identity.

"Why would he need to hide his identity?"

It wasn't a common requirement, especially since people always sought recognition and fame for their projects. However, she said nothing about it. Instead, she opted for another question.

—Are you a student at Solís Academy?

Damian nodded without hesitation.

—Yes.

Sienna kept her expression impassive, but her mind kept processing the information.

"A simple Solís student asking for confidentiality… why?"

It didn't make sense. She understood protecting the rights to his film, but his identity? That was quite unusual. There was also something else that piqued her curiosity: Damian hadn't shown the slightest reaction to her last name.

"Does he really not recognize us?"

The Whitaker family was quite famous. Even in this region, they had some influence. But she liked that—at least it had been worth leaving and working outside her city.

Despite her doubts, she signed the contract without hesitation. She wasn't someone who got involved in others' affairs unless necessary. Lucian, on the other hand, signed without even reading it, which didn't surprise her at all.

Once they finished, Damian handed them several files.

—Sienna, you'll be playing the protagonist and will also handle the music. Lucian, you'll voice the other characters.

Sienna slightly furrowed her brows.

—Wait… we won't be acting?

In her experience, voice acting was usually secondary. Yes, there were cases where only a voice was needed, like for CGI characters, NPCs in virtual experiences, documentaries, or narrations, but in cinema, acting normally involved the full performance of the actor.

"What kind of movies does this guy make…? Are all the characters computer-generated creatures or something?"

Curious about the format, she figured she could still do her job regardless. Without wasting more time, she opened the script and began reading.

And as soon as she did, she realized something.

"Some details are missing… He's hiding information on purpose."

It wasn't hard to notice that Damian had omitted several elements. Even so, what she had in her hands was enough to understand the story and the tone she needed to convey with her voice.

As she read further, she became increasingly absorbed.

The themes in the story surprised her. Currently, cinema was dominated by war films, pretentious philosophical cinema, or pessimistic romances. But this…

"Self-discovery, social roles, action, some fantasy… spirits? And what's a 'dragon'?"

It was a completely different approach from what she was used to. Yes, there was a war conflict, but it wasn't the central focus of the story. Moreover, the protagonist was female, which was rare in this type of film, as women were usually relegated to comedies or romances.

Sienna paused her reading and looked up at Damian, who was watching her calmly.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

She hesitated for a moment before answering.

"No, it's just... I'm processing a few things."

She couldn't deny it—she had underestimated Damian.

She had assumed this would be another one of those pretentious but boring films. However, Damian proved to be exactly the kind of creative talent everyone was looking for lately: someone capable of producing high-quality works without losing sight of entertainment. That perfect balance between art and fun was what made him stand out.

Beside her, Lucian frowned as he reviewed the script.

"I don't know... I'm having trouble imagining how the events play out," he said thoughtfully.

Sienna sighed.

"I more or less understand what Damian is going for. I'll help you with the interpretation."

Damian, unfazed by Lucian's confusion, simply nodded.

"If you need visual references, I have some previews ready."

With a simple motion, he activated a screen in the virtual space. Sketches of the scenes appeared before them. They didn't show the final character designs exactly, but they made the composition and progression of each sequence clear. There were also labels with information about the setting and the characters.

Sienna barely reacted, but internally, she was impressed.

"Everything is structured. This isn't just a half-finished project… it looks like he already has every detail well thought out and refined."

Sienna felt a bit uneasy about the working method. She was used to acting in a film, not following a visual guide. However, she knew she had to adapt. She was a professional, after all.

"Start with the voices," Damian said, interrupting her thoughts. "We'll leave the music for last."

Both of them nodded without hesitation, ready to begin.

With one last glance at the sketches, Damian left the virtual space, leaving them in charge of bringing the characters to life.

Sienna took a deep breath, refocusing on the script. Let's see how well we can do this, she thought, clearing any doubts from her mind.

Determined, she prepared to begin her performance, just as Lucian was already reviewing his lines.