Veteran artist Akane Ikegami, known for her work as an illustrator and character designer on numerous galgames since her debut with Liebe ~Omoide no Okurimono~, recently kicked up a storm on X (formerly Twitter) in a truly bizarre turn of events.
Ikegami, the character designer and original artist for the game My Eyes Can See It All! An Unknowable Future and a See-Through Fate, announced that the title was "confirmed for an anime adaptation." But in a shocking twist, the rights holder swiftly issued a statement just hours later denying the claim. The incident quickly devolved into a case of fake news started by the artist herself, with Ikegami later posting an apology admitting it was all a "one-woman show."
My Eyes Can See It All! An Unknowable Future and a See-Through Fate is a galgame developed by HULOTTE, released on July 28, 2023.
The story follows protagonist Kuse Shinra, who lives as a slave to the "Witch of the Forest." Instead of being taught magic, he's treated like a servant. His only skill is the one piece of "x-ray vision magic" he learned, which he uses to—you guessed it—stare at the naked bodies of the girls around him. Peeping on his childhood friend's developing body has become a daily routine for Shinra.
The drama began on January 31, when Ikegami posted on her personal X account that My Eyes Can See It All!, the game she designed, was "finally getting an anime adaptation." She even shared a brand-new illustration and linked to what appeared to be an official X account for the anime, sending fans into a celebratory frenzy.
She followed up by claiming the illustration was "commissioned by the production committee" and that she would fully support the anime. She also urged fans to refrain from contacting related companies for more information until further notice.
However, that same evening, the game's rights holder, HULOTTE, dropped an "Important Notice," explicitly stating that the news circulating on social media about an anime adaptation was false. The company denied any such plans, officially slamming the brakes on the rumors.
Following the official denial, the online community exploded. Some users wondered if it was all a misunderstanding over a "fan animation project," while others worried the artist might have been scammed, noting the whole affair was "so well-packaged it felt suspicious."
The truth finally came out on February 2, when Ikegami posted a formal apology. She confessed that the anime announcement was not official but was an action based on her personal "wish to see the work get an anime adaptation." The so-called "official anime account" was created by her, and her claim about being "commissioned by the production committee" was false, as no such organization existed. She apologized to all parties for the confusion she caused.
Netizens were quick to point out that while Ikegami is the game's character designer and artist, the copyright belongs to HULOTTE, not her. The announcement was made without the rights holder's consent. Many found it difficult to comprehend her decision to "act as if an anime project was confirmed," with some calling the situation "pretty bad."
Because the fake announcement came complete with new art, a dedicated account, and specific claims, many fans initially believed it without question. After the truth was revealed, some supporters couldn't hide their disappointment, saying they "never expected a controversy like this from one of my favorite artists" and expressing shock and regret over the whole affair.
After all, an announcement from the official character designer and original artist is usually a highly credible source. Given that Ikegami is a veteran in the industry, her decision to "animate" the work through a self-directed fake news campaign was a massive and unfortunate surprise for her fanbase.
via： togetter