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Educational Value of Manga In The UK

Date: 2004 November 16 18:33 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

The Times Education Supplement (a Times newspaper for teachers and people working in the education sector) are running a story about the educational value of manga, interestingly enough they make the same common misconceptions about manga - "Mangas depict wide-eyed heroes, often in varying states of undress". The Reading Agency, an organisation that promotes literacy, is encouraging schools to buy Manga comics, it seems they want to get as many children to get into reading by introducing them to manga. They've compiled a list of 150 recommended Manga titles, deemed suitable for teenagers and are sending them to all libraries and schools. The Otaku News crew imagine that this will help TokyoPop UK's already very healthy sales figures! ^_-

Souce: TES

Manga Animates New Millennium

Date: 2004 November 14 17:00 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

The Japan Times Online has a very interesting article about anime and manga, it starts talking about Astroboy and then goes on to Garo, an underground manga magazine with "dark, satirical narratives and weird, surrealistic imagery".

The article then continues to talk about Psionic Distortion a multi-media exhibition which runs at the SuperDeluxe event space in Roppongi, Tokyo, which from Nov. 10-30 a 5-minute walk from Roppongi Station on the Hibiya Line.

Souce: The Japan Times Online

Strong Yaoi Sales on Amazon.com

Date: 2004 November 14 08:34 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

ICv2 are reporting an interesting trend with Amazon.com's manga best seller list. Apparently Yaoi is three of the top five, four of the top ten and six of the top fifteen manga titles. ICv2 point out that these sales are only on Amazon.com as the American Bookscan list doesn't not match with these sales figures, with only Del Rey's Tsubasa Volume 3 appearing at the top of both lists.

ICv2 speculate that people purchasing Yaoi prefer the privacy and relative anonymity that on-line reatilers offer and that the two main Yaoi publishers Digital Manga and CPM Manga don't have the marketing clout or number of titles compared to other publishers with titles at the top of the graphic novel lists.

Souce: ICv2

NEO Magazine UK

Date: 2004 November 09 17:46 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Retail

Charlie from Crazy Ninja has sent us a the details about NEO Magazine. Neo Mag's publicity states that they are the UK's only newsstand magazine dedicated to Anime, Manga, videogames, gadgets, and all things Japanese.

Their market overview text states "Anime and Manga have been popular in the UK for over 10 years now, and the market has never had a dedicated quality publication which appeals to the core fan, and also provides for the broader mainstream markets". I always thought that this was part of Manga Mania / Max's brief.

Neo Magazine is due out on 25th November, with a Dead Leaves Cover and features articles on the American remake of The Grudge, Tekken, also interviews with Chiaki Kuriyama (of Battle Royal and Kill Bill fame), and voice actress Monica Rial.

Souce: Crazy Ninja

eigoManga Release Sakura Pakk

Date: 2004 November 08 17:41 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

eigoManga have just sent us a press release for their latest pseudo manga for girls. It's a bit odd, because they've sent it to us almost a month late. Their pseudo manga is called Sakura Pakk and is out now.

Carol Fox On CLAMP

Date: 2004 November 03 18:10 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

Fans of manga studio CLAMP (Chobits, X, Tokyo Babylon, Card Captor Sakura, Angelic Layer to name a few) will want to check out a recent article on Sequential Tart. They interview Carol Fox the girls' manga editor for TokyoPop. The article focuses on CLAMPs 15th anniversary and has some nice tidbits that every otaku should like, including TokyoPop's intention of releasing CLAMP no Kiseki: The Ultimate Collection from spring 2005, it's a 12 volume collection with interviews highlights photos and so on.

Souce: Sequential Tart

Watching Anime, Reading Manga a Book By Fred Patten

Date: 2004 November 03 17:54 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Although it's old news, I'm sure many of our readers are not yet aware that Stone Bridge Press have published a new book by anime and manga guru Fred Pattern, - Watching Anime, Reading Manga. The book has 63 articles covering all aspects of anime from fandom and the industry, it also has articles on the first ads in America to current day mainstream hits like the anime sequence in Kill Bill and anime inspired live action films like The Matrix. If you want to know more be sure to check OnlyPubjab.com's write up.

Souce: Stone Bridge Press

International Manga and Anime Festival Launches

Date: 2004 October 27 18:20 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

We've just got a press release from a group called IMAF, who will be holding an international competition to find the best manga and anime talent in the world, entrants stand a chance to win big bucks with a total prize fund of $75,000!

The entrants work will be shown at London County Hall from 16th - 19th December. Judges include Koike Kazuo who is best known for writing Lone Wolf and Cub and Crying Freeman.

GoManga.com Goes Live

Date: 2004 October 26 18:18 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

Recently we ran a press release about Seven Seas producing original manga. Now their site Gomanga.com is live. So far they've got details of four titles on their site - Amazing Agent Luna, Blade for Barter, Last Hope and No Man's Land.

TokyoPop and Sweatdrop Attract Interest At London Comic Festival

Date: 2004 October 23 17:51 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

The Otaku News Crew have just returned from the London Comic Festival, an event that focuses on the British Comic Book industry, it consists largely of underground/independent UK comic book publishers. Representing the UK manga/anime scene were professional manga publishers TokyoPop UK and original UK manga studio Sweatdrop. It was nice to see the interest and enthusiasm both groups generated. All the exhibitors there had a fair number of visitors to the their tables, I didn't do a proper count or survey, but throughout the day it was clear that both TokyoPop and Sweatdrop generated a large amount of interest, more so than any of the other comic book publishers.

Souce: Otaku News

More Anime and Manga Write ups in Mainstrem Press

Date: 2004 October 23 17:13 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Some publications have discovered anime and it seems that they want to write lots of details about it. The on-line edition of Australian Newspaper The Age (registration required) have just published a great article covering recent events in Japanese anime, it has quotes from various figureheads in the industry and mentions Mamoru Oshii, Production I.G, Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki too. This one of those articles that is good to show to your friends who think that anime and manga is not taken seriously by the mainstream press.

Souce: The Age

Newtype USA subscription offer - Get a Cosplay Cap and pay $7.50 per issue

Date: 2004 October 22 16:31 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Retail

Newtype USA have just sent us the details of a cool subscription offer. They'll be offering Cosplay Caps along with the 40% off subscription rate for 12 issues brining each issue down to $7.50

Cosplay Photographic Exhibit in LA

Date: 2004 October 20 17:42 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Art

LA otaku are in for a treat from October 28 to November 26 The Perfect Exposure Gallery will be hosting an exhibit on cosplayers or "Photographic portraits of costumed anime fans" to be more exact. Shot at anime conventions around the US and Canada in 2003 and 2004, it sounds a bit like A Fans View only off-line!

Newtype USA Celebrates Its Second Anniversary

Date: 2004 October 18 18:04 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

The good folk at Newtype USA have sent us a press release regarding their second anniversary. To celebrate the popular anime magazine will bring back it's free DVD insert, which became a subscriber only bonus item. We've heard that Newtype USA stopped the free DVD due to retail issues, original store clerks removed the free DVD to pass on to friends, this in turn meant that the opened issue could not be sold. It seems that the people at Newtype have been listening to their readers. We welcome the return of the DVD since it means more free anime! ^_^

US Army Troops Get Anime Goodies

Date: 2004 October 18 17:54 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Press Releases

In one of the more unusual press releases we received this week eigoMANGA have announced that they are sending anime and manga care packs to U.S. Army Troops destined for Iraq.

Apparently there is an anime club formed by the Army troops in Colorado Springs base called "A.N.I.M.E. Club". Independent media and publishing company eigoManga are asking for local otaku to donate anime and manga gifts to the anime fans in the US army.

Samurai History Papers - Quarterly Newsletter

Date: 2004 October 16 16:03 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

We've just got details in from Ridgeback Press, apparently they will be launching Samurai History Papers, a quarterly newsletter from Romulus Hillsborough (whose research on the history of the Meiji Restoration spans over twenty years). It focuses on the facts behind many samurai anime series, such as the Shinsengumi (central to Peacemaker Kurogane and Rurouni Kenshin).

Jonathan Clements Launches New Website

Date: 2004 October 16 13:26 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Websites

Jonathan Clements, writer, translator, co-author of the Anime Encyclopedia, The Erotic Anime Movie Guide, The Dorama Encyclopedia and I Love My Tamagotchi (under the name of Bronwen Komatsubara), has just e-mailed with some details regarding his new website -

"Don't know if this counts as news or not, but if it does, there is much anime goodness to be found at my website, including the English version of my Afterword to the deluxe edition of Akira, the unpublished Afterword to the Anime Encyclopedia, and several anime columns from Newtype and the Sci Fi channel."

Considering how much Jonathan Clements has done in the anime industry, I think it does count as news, so go on and have a look at his website. I'm off to find Schoolgirl Milky Crisis.

Souce: Jonathan Clements

Yuri Revolution Tokyo

Date: 2004 October 05 19:11 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

The good girls at Yuricon have just sent us their press releasing detailing the Yuri Revolution event in Tokyo

"We'll be touring the anime and manga centers of Tokyo, visiting Tokyo Tower, museums and other Tokyo attractions.We'll top it all off with an all-yuri event in the home of yuri manga, the Nichoume in Shinjuku, where we can embarrass ourselves by trying to speak Japanese with well-known yuri mangaka." This is just for starters.

To attend all you have to do is get to Tokyo on April 12-17, 2005, remember you have to sort out your own flights and accommodation though.

Seven Seas To Produce Original Manga

Date: 2004 October 04 17:58 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

I've just got hold of the press release from Seven Seas, a new LA based publishers dedicated to producing manga for the international market.

Although it isn't exactly clear, it seems that the company won't be licensing and translating manga, but actually getting artists outside of Japan to produce work in a manga style. This has been successful before with artists such as Adam Warren (Dirty Pair and Starwars manga to name a few), and Fred "Piro" Gallagher of MegaTokyo fame, it will be interesting to see if a company can work with such a specialist policy, personally I'm curious as to which artist they'll be using and if any of them are already well known in anime/manga fandom.

Newtype USA, Volume 3, Issue 10 Out Now

Date: 2004 September 30 17:43 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Retail

ADV USA have just sent us the details for the latest issue of Newtype USA. The anime/manga mazagine which is easily the best English language magazine out there.

I suggest you check out the Paranoia Agent article (Satoshi Kon can do no wrong in my book), as well as the Xebec feature. What's odd is that the press release doesn't mention that there's also a feature on L'Arc~en~Ciel too!

Viz To Begin Publishing Rurouni Kenshin Manga Monthly Beginning October

Date: 2004 September 23 15:34 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

Sales of the Rurouni Kenshin manga have been doing so well that the US publisher Viz have decided to release the title monthly, previously it was published bi-monthly, but due to the successful sales figures and the demand from fans, Viz have decided to narrow the gap between releases.

This is great news for fans who can't wait for the next instalment of the popular series, but also bad news for my wallet! ^_-

Sweatdrop Launch Free Webcomics

Date: 2004 September 20 15:52 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Webcomics

Talented up and coming British manga artists Sweatdrop Studios have just launched a webcomics section. They've posted comics by Dock, Laura Watton, Emma Vieceli, Selina Dean, Fred and Sonia Leong.

Even if you're not in the UK, it's always nice to check out some of their lovely artwork.

Souce: Sweatdrop

Tokyopop Announces Six New Titles For 2005

Date: 2004 September 16 10:57 | Posted By: Spike

Category > Manga

For those of you who love your Manga, Tokyopop will be adding six new titles to its range in the coming months. For release in February:

Planet Blood, a story about a futuristic warrior who awakes on a medieval planet.

Gundam Seed Astray R, which is a companion novel to Gundam Seed Astray

Liling-Po, where a master theif recovers treasures for the Chinese Imperial Palace

And in March:

Dead End, a horror drama.

Qwan, a ancient China fantasy series

Sorcerer Hunters, which is being re-released in the "authentic" $9.95 package

Souce: ICV2.com

Ghost In The Shell hits Cinema Screens, TV, DVD, comic shops and PS2

Date: 2004 September 11 16:02 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

We've just been sent a very interesting press release for the Ghost In The Shell franchise, it's well known that the movie Ghost In the Shell 2: Innocence it will be hitting US cinema screens on September 17th and that Manga Entertainment and Bandai Entertainment are jointly releasing the DVDs for Ghost In The Shell Standalone Complex series. However what they also point out is that Standalone Complex will be aired on Cartoon Network's late-night Adult Swim from early November!

The press release also mentions that Dark Horse is republishing Shirow's Ghost in the Shell manga as Ghost in the Shell 2nd Edition, it features extra materials not published in previous US editions and will be printed in it's original Japanese size.

It also mentions the new PS2 game. So it looks like US anime fans will be able to get Ghost In the Shell in every single format they could want!

Manga Live! At The ICA In London

Date: 2004 August 30 14:14 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

I've just found out about an event at the ICA in London. It's called Manga Live, and is divided into two events Manga Live (Fri 03 Sep) and will discuss if Manga can take off in the UK.

The second event (Sat 04 Sep) is the Manga Live! Manga Masterclass which forms a practical demonstration and workshop. The masterclass will also have a special preview screening of Rogue Farm.

Learn Japanese by Reading Manga

Date: 2004 August 28 10:21 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Press Releases

Washington Otaku will be pleased to know that the Japanese Language Center will be running a course that focuses on learning Japanese by reading manga!

Japanese research shows 7% of Otaku are anime fans, while 35% into manga.

Date: 2004 August 26 10:55 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Fandom

According to the results of a study released by Nomura Research Institute in Japan on the 24th, there are 2,850,000 people considered "otaku" in Japan, with a combined market power of around $2.6 billion. 35% are into Manga, 28% for Games and Idols, 7% for Anime, and 2% into PC construction.

Souce: Anime.org.uk

Anime News Network readers unhappy with Newtype DVD change

Date: 2004 August 24 17:57 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Fandom

The Anime News Network have just published an article regarding a recent reader poll. The poll asked readers for their opinion on Newtype USA's decision to remove the free DVD from non subscription issues of the magazine.

eigoManga to make Cable TV show

Date: 2004 August 24 07:16 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > TV

With ADV creating The Anime Network it seems that everyone wants a slice of anime on TV. We've just been sent the press release from eigoManga, they're going to produce a weekly anime news magazine.

Slam Dunk Author Takehiko Inoue Thanks Fans

Date: 2004 August 14 18:48 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

On 10th August to thank all the fans of his hit basketball manga Slam Dunk, Takehiko Inoue has placed full page adverts in the morning editions of Japan's six main newspapers (Yomiuri, Asahi, Mainichi, Nikkei, Sankei, and Tokyo). The adverts simply read "Thank you for 100 million volumes sold". Each newspaper carried a different advert / sketch with a different message. The sketches can be seen on the special commemorative site.

Apparently this type of thank you message is a first with a staggering estimated cost of 160 million yen.

Also take a look at the Slam Dunk 100 Million Volumes Sold Commemorative Site.

Souce: Animaxis

Learn Japanese: The Manga Way

Date: 2004 August 12 15:05 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

Anime Insider are running an interesting article about the new Stone Bridge Press book. "Learn Japanese The Manga Way: An Illustrated Guide to Grammar and Structure" written by Mangajin writer Wayne P. Lammers the book uses actual manga published in Japan to show how the language is used in real life. So does this mean readers will end up speaking like comic book characters? Hmm....

Souce: Anime Insider Online

Penguin Group USA Inks Deal with Digital Manga Inc. to Publish Manga for Children and Adults

Date: 2004 August 08 16:49 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

It appears that Digital Manga and Penguin Group USA have joined forces to publish manga for both children and adults.

eigoManga Reissue Rumble Pakk

Date: 2004 August 06 16:17 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

The people from eigoManga have just sent us details about the reissue of their Rumble Pakk manga series.

Sweatdrop Studios Announces New Anthology

Date: 2004 August 04 12:21 | Posted By: Azure

Category > Fandom

UK based manga studio Sweatdrop is set to release a new anthology. It's their largest and most ambitious yet. "Sugardrops" features art from 15 artists on the theme of cute.

Dark Horse Comics Seeks Kanji Writers

Date: 2004 May 24 22:05 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > DVD

Manga Publishers Dark Horse Comics have posted a request for people who can write kanji to help them out at Comic-Con in San Diego this year. The successful candidate will get paid $150 and given a four-day exhibitor badge. They will however have to pay for their own travel and accommodation.

Viz Impressed with Rurouni Kenshin Manga sales

Date: 2004 February 24 20:20 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

Viz have just posted a press release detailing their sales of popular Kenshin Series.

This comes as no surprise to regular fans of the Anime and Manga.

Dark Horse Buys Studio Proteus

Date: 2004 February 08 17:45 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

Dark Horse Comics has announced it will purchase manga publishing and production house Studio Proteus under a pending agreement. Dark Horse has worked with Studio Proteus co-publishing manga since the publication of Dark Horse's Outlanders in 1988, and together they have produced nearly 60,000 pages of material. The acquisition will also include all Studio Proteus manga previously published with Eclipse and Innovation. Studio Proteus's Toren Smith will retain the company's name.

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