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©Etorouji Shiono/SQUARE ENIX,Ubel Blatt Production ConsortiumVarious exciting updates just came in before the new anime “Übel Blatt” gets available from January 2025! Along with its new trailer, it has just unveiled that the upcoming anime will release a new episode every week exclusively on Prime Video worldwide from January 11, 2025 1:30 a.m. JST. The new trailer is now available here!

• 2nd Trailer

https://youtu.be/VZ7OcnDoEbs

What’s more, it was also announced that Toshiki Masuda (as Wied), Hitomi Ueda (as Altea) and Yui Kanari (as Aht) will play their respective roles in the anime!

Music will be produced by Shun Narita, while the Opening Theme will be provided by GARNiDELiA and Ending Theme by Hina Tachibana, who plays a main character Peepi for this anime!

Last and foremost, “Übel Blatt Global Screening” will take place with the world premiere to be scheduled on November 29th (1:15 pm local time) in Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2024, following by Anime x Game Festival 2024 in South Korea on December 6th (8 pm local time) and December 7th (1 pm and 6 pm local time) and Japan Premiere in Tokyo on December 15th. After the screening of the world premiere in AFA, which is one of the biggest J-POP cultural events in South East Asia, a panel is scheduled with the guests being a popular voice actor Yuya Hirose (as the protagonist Köinzel) and Producer Yuki Watanabe from an entertainment company, “PONY CANYON.”

■STAFF

Original Work: Etorouji Shiono

(Serialized in “Monthly BIG GANGAN”, Published by SQUARE ENIX)

Director: Takashi Naoya

Assistant Director: Asami Matsuo

Series Composition & Screenplay: Tatsuya Takahashi

Screenplay: Tetsuya Yamada

Character Design: Kiyoshi Tateishi

Chief Animation Director: Toshimitsu Kobayashi, Sachiyo Komito, Atsushi Aono, Taeko Ohgi

Sub Character Design / Prop Design: Taeko Ohgi

Monster Design: Takaaki Sekizaki

Mechanic Design: Kio Edamatsu

Art Director: Hirotaka Kozaki

Color Design: Toshie Miyazawa (Rocket Vision)

Director of Photography: Yu Fei

Editor: Mai Hasegawa

CG Director: Hiroyuki Goto, Hiroyuki Ikeda

Music: Shun Narita

Opening Theme: “罪人 (Zainin)” GARNiDELiA

Ending Theme: “Stella” Hina Tachibana

Sound Director: Takahiro Fujimoto

Sound Effects: Kio Okuda

Sound Production: DAX Production Inc.

Animation Production: SATELIGHT×Staple Entertainment

■CAST

Köinzell: Yuya Hirose

Peepi: Hina Tachibana

Wied: Toshiki Masuda

Altea: Hitomi Ueda

Aht: Yui Kanari

■INTRODUCTION

The ultimate in dark fantasy is finally becoming an anime!

In 3968 AD, to stop the invasion from Wischtech, Land of Shadows, the Emperor had equipped fourteen young souls with lances and sent them on a mission.

It was believed that three lost their lives on the journey, four had betrayed the Emperor　and joined the enemy, so they were eliminated.

But this was actually due to a betrayal by the other seven who wanted all the glory for themselves.

After their return to the Empire, they were given the title of the Seven Heroes. They had gained the respect of the people and rose to statuses of glory.

Meanwhile, the others were deprived of their distinguished military service and labeled the Traitorous Lances.

One swordsman named Ascheriit managed to survive by consuming fairy flesh.

He retained the physical appearance of a young man, changed his name to Köinzell and twenty years later, he begins his journey to get revenge against the Seven Heroes!

■Original Work Information

Published by SQUARE ENIX. Comics volumes 0 to 23 are currently on sale! “Übel Blatt II: The Knights of the Deceased King“ is currently being serialized in “Monthly BIG GANGAN”.

Official Website (Original Work): https://magazine.jp.square-enix.com/biggangan/

Official X: @ubelblatt_info https://x.com/ubelblatt_info

■ Anime Information

Official Website：https://ubel-blatt-anime.com/

Official X: @ubelblatt_info https://x.com/ubelblatt_info

PONY CANYON ANIME (English):

https://x.com/ponycan_anime

https://www.instagram.com/ponycan_anime/

https://www.tiktok.com/@ponycan_anime

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Ghost Cat Anzu is easily one of the most unique and entertaining anime films of the year. Based on Takashi Imashiro’s manga of the same name, Ghost Cat Anzu centers on a young girl named Karin, as she finds herself abandoned in rural Japan. While living in a temple, she encounters the ghost cat Anzu, who is tasked to look after her. This leads to a bizarre and hilarious adventure between Anzu and Karin, as they go about their daily lives encountering the eccentric townsfolk of the rural area, spirits, and more!

This film is co-directed by renowned artist Yoko Kuno and the acclaimed director Nobuhiro Yamashita, and is also French-Japanese co-production between Miyu Productions and Shin-Ei Animation. Ghost Cat Anzu was produced using a combination of live-action and animation, being first filmed in live-action and then rotoscoped into animation, while still retaining the voice acting from the live-action recordings.

Ghost Cat Anzu had its California premiere at the Animation Is Film festival last month, and GKIDS is now releasing the film in theaters nationwide on November 15th.

We had the pleasure to talk with co-director Yoko Kuno about Ghost Cat Anzu and its production process. Check out our full conversation down below:

How do you get involved with Ghost Cat Anzu?

Yoko Kuno: I liked the original manga of Ghost Cat Anzu. When producer Kondo (Keiichi Kondo) suggested that director Yamashita (Nobuhiro Yamashita) could film a live-action version of it, and then it could be rotoscoped into an animation, I really thought that was an interesting idea. I also have liked director Yamashita’s previous films, so I really jumped at the chance to be able to work with them.

Ghost Cat Anzu visually stands out among modern anime films, in part because of its use of rotoscoping. What made this film a fitting candidate for this animation approach, and how did it affect the overall production process for you as a director?

Kuno: So, the original manga dealt with the subtle distances between human beings, that they didn’t quite understand each other well, and it did show some charming ghosts. That said, the human relations in reality would be a bit too raw to turn into an animation. So, I thought that by using rotoscoping, we could get the relationships between humans and the distance between them. Such as their lack of understanding of each other, as actors performed those roles. Then, based on that, we could then turn it into animation.

This film differs considerably from the original manga by Takashi Imashiro in terms of the story. What was the decision process behind this, and was there any pushback in creating an original story for this film?

Kuno: As we worked on the script, we did discuss it with Mr. Imashiro, the original manga artist. The main difference was that we created the original character of Karin to be in the film, and to that he said, “Well, as long as you’re making a film of this, then it probably is good to have a person to counterbalance the character of the cat Anzu.” But there were also some parts that we had to have many discussions between the producer, Yamashita, and Mr. Imashiro to discuss certain areas. Mr. Imashiro also came up with some ideas for the film, so we took that into account. There also were certain ideas that we had from the script that we wanted to make sure were in the film and we wanted to get his okay for that. So, there was a lot of discussion going on.

What was the collaboration process like between Shin-Ei Animation and Miyu Productions, and what was it like working with an overseas studio?

Kuno: When we work in the animation industry in Japan, we don’t have very many chances to work with overseas companies. So, I was very pleasantly surprised that we were able to work with Miyu, and it was a very valuable experience for us. Of course, in terms of creating animated films, the French and Japanese methods differ somewhat, and as we worked together, we went through a series of trials and errors to come up with the best way to collaborate and work on this film.

In terms of also other collaborations, you mentioned before that you co-directed this film with Nobuhiro Yamashita. How was the directorial work split between the two of you, and did you provide input to each other on both of your respective parts of the film?

Kuno: So, I was also on the set when the live-action film portion was being shot, and the producer and I suggested a little bit more “cat-like” movements for Anzu, but we basically we left the live-action portion up to Yamashita and his direction. Then, when it came time for the animation direction, as different segments of the film were edited, l showed it to Yamashita and got some of his impressions and ideas. That said, he respected my direction and left it to me. So, I think basically Yamashita was in charge of the live-action and I was in charge of the animation, and we worked well together with that kind of division of labor.

What is your message to anime fans who are interested in seeing this film?

Kuno: There is the aspect of the lonely girl who’s left alone and the irresponsible cat that’s there, but I think the entire setting and mood is that of a Japanese summer in rural Japan. If people can look at that with a relaxed feeling as they remember their own summers that would be wonderful.

Thank you again to Yoko Kuno for participating in this interview, and be sure to check out Ghost Cat Anzu when it reaches theaters nationwide this month!

The post The Wonder Of Ghost Cat Anzu | Interview With Co-Director Yoko Kuno appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Acclaimed director Naoko Yamada has returned to the big screen with her next feature anime film The Colors Within! The film centers on high school student Totsuko, who can see the “colors” of the people around her. While she isn’t adept in an instrument, she decides to form a band with fellow high schoolers Kimi and Rui. practicing diligently at an old church on a remote island. What follows is an encapsulating coming-of-age story, that depicts the intertwined relationship between emotions and music, as well as the pursuit of one’s own passion. It’s everything that you’d love to expect from a Naoko Yamada film and a must-watch for anime fans of all kinds.

The Colors Within had its North American premiere last month at the Animation Is Film festival in Los Angeles. GKIDS will be holding an Academy-qualifying run for the film in Los Angeles starting December 13th at the Laemmle Royal, followed by a nationwide theatrical release on January 24th.

We had the huge honor to speak with director Naoko Yamada about The Colors Within and the effort it took to make this project come to life. Read the our full conversation with the famed director below:

How was The Colors Within conceived and what drew you to the project?

Naoko Yamada: So, The Colors Within is an original, and I was thinking, “What kind of original story can I tell through film? What will I make?” I came to this conclusion that I love movies myself, so I then I started to think about, “What do I get when I watch movies myself? What is important to me when I’m watching movies?” These are the questions I was asking myself, and the conclusion was that it’s really the atmosphere of the movie that I like. So, it’s not like I follow the story or the plot and then be like, “Oh, there’s so much excitement! What is going to happen?” Then there’s a climax and an ending. That’s not why I watch movies, you know? That’s why I wanted to make a movie that has what I like in movies, something with a good atmosphere that I love, and put that into the film.

In the film, we see one of the primary instruments that Rui plays is the theremin, which surprised me, since I’ve never seen a theremin depicted in anime before. Was there a specific decision behind giving this instrument to Rui?

Yamada: Yeah, maybe this is the first time a chair thereman was depicted in anime. Well, maybe not never. I don’t know, I’ve never seen it myself either. I think the elements of what a theremin represent really matches this film and its animation. First of all, there’s the hand movement when you’re playing. It’s very beautiful and that’s something that I wanted to depict in this film. But also, I think it relates to colors and sound, but it’s something that you can’t really see. It’s more like something you feel or experience. That’s represented by the theremin, through the electro waves that create the sound. It also has to do with Rui’s character and his secret. The fact that he likes music is something that he keeps secret from his mom. The theremin is not an instrument that makes a physical sound. As long as he puts on headphones, even if he’s practicing it at home, no one else could hear it. So, it sort of represents him keeping a secret. So yeah, there are various reasons.

I loved it. Immediately after watching the film, I started looking up theremins online to try to buy one!

Yamada: Unfortunately, it’s very expensive I think.

Yeah, it was near like 1000 US dollars.

Yamada: Okay, yeah. [laughs]

You’ve worked on multiple projects where music is a central element. What attracts you to music as a narrative theme?

Yamada: I like how cool music sounds, and I think music is beautiful. I really think music is borderless. It transcends words and languages. For example, like I personally could only speak Japanese, but then I could share my love for music with someone else who likes music without it. Music is basically a shared language. So, I think that’s why I keep coming back to this beautiful language of music.

So you’ve collaborated with writer Reiko Yoshida and composer Kensuke Ushio on multiple occasions, including A Silent Voice and Liz and the Blue Bird. What do you think are the best qualities they have as creatives and was your collaboration with them any different for The Colors Within?

Yamada: I think their best qualities are that they’re logical, but they also use their senses. So then, what they choose to bring into the film is very dynamic, but also elegant and quiet. I think the contrasting elements makes them really interesting, and it’s the reason why I want to keep working with them. With The Colors Within, what was different in the collaboration with them was that it’s an original story. We had to create everything from scratch and we had to discuss, “What do we want to do?” I think that was different but also fun.

Colors are kind of a big central theme of The Colors Within. So, what color would you associate yourself with?

Yamada: That is the most difficult question that I get! [laughs] I think I don’t know myself, or I don’t know how I look to the others in the world. So, it’s a hard question to answer, but if I can choose a color for myself, I think I would choose lemon yellow. I think it’s a color that could match well with other colors. So yeah, lemon yellow would be nice.

What do you think was the biggest challenge on this film as a director?

Yamada: The biggest challenge in this movie was that it’s an original story. A lot of staff were attached to this film, and to present to them why this movie was going to be great took a lot of effort. If I had any self-doubt in my idea and what I had planned for this movie: I’d fail. So, I put in a lot of effort to like this idea that came from within myself. I think that was the biggest challenge.

Thank you again to Naoko Yamada for making this interview possible, and check out The Colors Within when it debuts in theaters across the US!

The post Finding Your Color In The Colors Within | Interview With Naoko Yamada appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Acky Bright is one of the brightest stars in the art world, renowned for his intricate illustrations blending the aesthetic of Japanese pop art like anime and manga with more traditional disciplines of contemporary Japanese fine art and theater. His work is so detailed and distinctive, a fusion of cute and cool aesthetics often described as kawaiikakkoi, and art so singularly imaginative that I’d personally describe it as imackyulate!

Acky is best known as an illustrator and product designer; Americans may be most familiar with his recent collaboration with McDonalds for their WcDonalds campaign, designing original characters, illustrations, and even manga for them, as well as his covers for several DC Comics titles, a Squid Game coloring book for Netflix and YOASOBI x Vaundy Tiroli Mix collab art for McDonald’s Japan.

Acky is also a skilled performance artist, doing mutli-day live-drawing sessions at several events, including major recent U.S. conventions like Anime Expo and Anime NYC. During the latter event earlier this year, opening on the same night as the first-ever American Manga Awards, Acky debuted a special preview of his first-ever NYC exhibition, Studio Infinity, at the Japan Society in NYC.

The concept of Studio Infinity is to recapture the feeling of being inside Acky’s own studio-space and getting a peek into his creative process, as well as reflection on how his art has developed over the course of his career. The exhibition encompasses and spotlights a large breadth of Acky’s acclaimed oeuvre across two-rooms, which displayed Acky’s artbooks, comics, standees of his McDonald’s characters, fine art prints, and the main attraction, a glass screen on which Acky live-drew on during its opening nights, in addition to another live-drawing exhibition he did at his booth on the convention floor at ANYC.

We were fortunate to get to check out Acky Bright exhibition during its packed opening night during the afterparty of the American Manga Awards, and naturally, the majority of visitors were crowded around Acky live-drawing on the glass plane in the main exhibition room. Watching a skilled artist like Acky draw in the moment, in the zone, is always mesmerized and enrapturing, and you can’t help but be impressed, admire, and be awed at the precision of his brushstrokes and lines and the way he builds out such detailed and beautiful characters and illustrations transplanted from his imagination into our reality.

The Studio Infinity exhibit officially opened to the public on October 4th, 2024 and will run until January 19th, 2025. But if you missed your chance to watch Acky live-draw there during opening night, then you’ll definitely want to visit the exhibition between November 14th thru November 17th, where he’ll be at the gallery and once again be live-drawing a large manga-style mural! Getting to watch Acky live-draw is a rare in-the-moment treat, so if you’re in NYC make sure it’s a sight you’ll see! But don’t just take it from me, learn more about Acky Bright and Studio Infinity, including ticketing and visiting information, in the below press release from the Japan Society of NYC!

JAPAN SOCIETY ANNOUNCES FIRST NEW YORK SOLO SHOW FOR ACCLAIMED JAPANESE CONTEMPORARY ARTIST AND DESIGNER ACKY BRIGHT

ACKY BRIGHT: STUDIO INFINITY

OCTOBER 4, 2024 – JANUARY 19, 2025

IN-PERSON LIVE-DRAWING: NOVEMBER 14 – NOVEMBER 17

ARTIST WHO HAS WORKED WITH GLOBAL BRANDS INCLUDING McDONALDS, META AND DC COMICS FEATURED IN HIS FIRST SOLO NYC SHOW

New York, NY (July 31, 2024)—Japan Society, a 117-year-old nonprofit with a focus of bringing the U.S. and Japan together, today announced an exciting new exhibition spotlighting ACKY BRIGHT, a rising Japanese contemporary artist and designer beloved for his kawakakkoii (cute and cool) style of illustration and product design.

Acky Bright: Studio Infinity was conceived as the artist’s working design studio. The exhibition will offer visitors an exceptional opportunity to meet the artist, witness his freestyle “live drawing,” and participate in making a series of manga-style murals. Performative and interactive, the exhibition will evolve as Acky Bright makes intermittent appearances in the gallery.

In addition to Acky Bright’s ongoing mural drawing, the exhibition will showcase two new painting series by the artist, KBK-18 and Ah-Un, that each draw inspiration from traditional Japanese art and theater. Underscoring the impressive range of his contemporary art practice, the show will also highlight Acky Bright’s promotional campaigns designed for major companies, including his Squid Games coloring book illustrated for Netflix, WcDonald’s paper bags, and YOASOBI x Vaundy’s Tiroli Mix (McDonald’s Japan).

Acky Bright has collaborated with major artists and brands throughout the U.S. and Japan, his work has been featured in exhibitions in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Beijing, and his first artbook, B/W, was recently published by PIE International and is available around the world. In Japan, Acky Bright regularly collaborates with creators across media including the heavy metal band ASTERISM, and musicians YOASOBI and Vaundy. Outside of Japan, he has also collaborated with BMW Germany.

In the U.S., Acky Bright has worked with brands including Meta, Hasbro, and Netflix. Further, he is one of the very few Japanese creators who has done illustrations for DC Comics, and he is perhaps best known for the recent WcDonald’s campaign, an anime-inspired campaign by McDonald’s which featured Acky Bright’s illustrations in restaurants across the U.S. and around the globe. Original murals by Acky Bright are on display inside anime publisher Crunchyroll’s Dallas office and at Kinokuniya bookstore locations in Dallas, Atlanta and New York City.

“We are thrilled to hold an Acky Bright exhibition for the first time in New York City,” said Japan Society Senior Gallery Director Dr. Michele Bambling. “Japan Society has a long history of supporting rising stars and presenting innovative exhibitions. Having just arrived at the Japan Society as Gallery Director earlier this year, this show will present a future direction of the gallery as an experimental art and design space for both exhibitions and multimedia artmaking. The exhibition provides a platform for visitors and the artist to meet and create side-by-side. By collaborating with both Anime NYC and Kinokuniya bookstores, we extend our reach beyond the walls of the gallery, elevating Acky Bright’s engaging profile.”

“Through so much of my career, I have built bridges between my home in Japan and individuals, artists and organizations around the world,” said Acky Bright. “My goal of connecting Japan with the world is very much also Japan Society’s mission, and I’m humbled for my art to be featured here for my first exhibition in New York. I hope many people, both young pop culture fans and older art connoisseurs, can enjoy my work and appreciate all the effort I have put into it.”

Tickets for the Acky Bright: Studio Infinity are free for Japan Society members, as well as patrons with disabilities and their accompanying personal care assistant. Tickets are $12 for nonmembers and $10 for seniors and students, with an additional $1 service fee applied on all non-member ticket types. Limited edition t-shirts designed by Acky, as well as tote bags, will also be available for purchase. For more information on tickets please visit japansociety.org/gallery.

Acky Bright: Studio Infinity is open Thursdays & Fridays between 11am-7pm, Saturdays and Sundays 12pm-7pm, and is free to enter on every first Friday of the month between 7pm-9pm (next such dates are 12/6 and 1/3). Acky’s live-drawing performance will be conducted between November 14-17 during regular opening hours on each day.

Japan Society is located at 333 East 47th Street, one block from the United Nations and minutes from Grand Central Terminal, in New York, NY.

For more information, please follow Japan Society on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook. For more information on Acky Bright: Studio Infinity, please visit https://japansociety.org/gallery/acky-bright-studio-infinity/. For more information on Acky Bright, please visit www.acky-bright.com.

ABOUT JAPAN SOCIETY GALLERY

Since 1971, Japan Society Gallery has been the premier institution in the United States for the display and interpretation of Japanese art and culture in a global context. Through groundbreaking exhibitions and related programs, the Gallery cultivates a broader understanding and appreciation of Japan’s contributions to global artistic heritage; explores the artistic interconnections Japan shares with Asia, the U.S., Latin America, and Europe; and celebrates the diversity of Japanese visual expression from prehistoric times to the present day.

ABOUT JAPAN SOCIETY

Japan Society is the premier organization connecting Japanese arts, culture, business, and society with audiences in New York and around the world. At Japan Society, we are inspired by the Japanese concept of kizuna (絆) – forging deep connections to bind people together. We are

committed to telling the story of Japan while strengthening connections within New York City and building new bridges beyond. In over 100 years of work, we’ve inspired generations by establishing ourselves as pioneers in supporting international exchanges in arts and culture, business, and policy, as well as education between Japan and the U.S. We strive to convene important conversations on topics that bind our two countries together, champion the next generation of innovative creators, promote mutual understanding and serve as a trusted guide for people everywhere who seek to appreciate the rich complexities and abundance of Japan more fully. From our New York headquarters, a landmark building designed by architect Junzo Yoshimura that opened to the public in 1971, we look forward to the years ahead, which will be defined by our digital and ideational impact through the kizuna that we build. Our future can only be enhanced by learning from our peers and engaging with our audiences, both near and far.

CONNECT WITH US!

Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/japansociety; @japansociety and #japansociety on Instagram; and @japansociety on X. For further information, please visit www.japansociety.org.

Anime NYC is the official media partner of Acky Bright: Studio Infinity.

Japan Society programs are made possible by leadership support from Booth Ferris Foundation and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Exhibitions and Arts & Culture Lecture Programs are made possible, in part, by Sompo Holdings, Inc.; the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund; the Mary Griggs Burke Endowment Fund established by the Mary Livingston Griggs and Mary Griggs Burke Foundation; The Masako Mera and Koichi Mera, PhD Fund for Education and the Arts; Peggy and Dick Danziger; and Friends of the Gallery. Support for Arts & Culture Lecture Programs is provided, in part, by the Sandy Heck Lecture Fund. Transportation assistance is provided by Japan Airlines, the official Japanese airline sponsor for Japan Society gallery exhibitions.

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It’s been a whirlwind month for us with attending Anime Expo and San Diego Comic con, but we couldn’t neglect our blog readers, so we’re here with an exclusive for you and us –an anime review! We’ve been given the Riding Bean OVA by AnimEigo for a first dibs watch. If you’re not following AnimEigo you should be, as now that they’re a part of MediaOCD there are going to be some exciting new anime releases on the horizon! For now, let’s look into Riding Bean.

Riding Bean is an 1989 anime OVA written by Kenichi Sonoda, directed by Yasuo Hasegawa and animated at Studio AIC. Sonoda is known for his work on Bubblegum crisis, and Hasegawa has been on staff for different anime such as Record of Lodoss War, Bastard!! and Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross. (Chojiku Kidan Southern Cross.) The 80s was a wonderland of different original OVAs and this one is in that same ilk, but there was a manga for this that started September 1988 and ended February 1989. The anime itself came out right as the manga ended due to the magazine it was in, Monthly Comics Noisy going defunct.With the background out of the way –what is Riding Bean about? If I had to compare it to something else, maybe Burn Notice but in Chicago instead of Florida, or maybe a slightly more raunchy City Hunter. That latter one comes from this OVA not shying away from graphic violence and nudity. (This is definitely not for kids!) The OVA follows a day in the life of bounty hunter Bean Bandit and his partner Rally Vincent, as they solve (and just and often start) trouble in Chicago. Bean is an all-purpose getaway drive known as the Roadbuster, and a simple job of bringing the daughter of a socialite becomes a lot more complicated.The OVA is over the top, animated like a smooth ride, and has enough voice actors that would go on to become beloved characters that one could probably trace their childhood favorites from this. Though there is a predilection toward Detective Conan voice actors in this, with Bean Bandit played by Hideyuki Tanaka or Shinichi Kudo’s father Yusaku Kudo. Rally is powered by Naoko Matsui or Sonoko Suzuki, and the villain of sorts played by Vermouth voice actor Mami Koyama. (Many of these VA’s are also in One Piece too!)Viewers are thrown right into the action in this OVA, which typically comes off as a proof of concept for something bigger. I read that this was set to be a TV anime, but due to falling out between the related parties it never happened. (Though this is admittedly unconfirmed, the way this OVA is paced lends creedence to this take.) Combine this with the manga also meeting an early demise, and it’s like this anime was cursed. Though it in a small way found life in Sonoda’s later work Gunsmith Cats where Rally and Bean have a Lupin and Fujiko-esque relationship along with sporting different looks.Rally and Bean in Gunsmith CatsAs far as Riding Bean goes, it’s a tour de force of all things 80s, and I mean that as a genuine compliment. Although I personally believe that anime now is just as impressive as it was back in the 80s, there’s something to be said about how incredible this looks and sounds. The soundtrack is atypical of anime soundtracks, choosing hard rock with English vocals produced by David Garfield, and it all weaves together wonderfully (especially the ending theme!)AnimEigo’s restoration brings out all the best parts of the animation and sound as well. If you picked up the original release, then you absolutely need to have this re-release on your shelf. Newbies to the OVA should also give this a shot, as while there isn’t a lot of plot to latch onto, the short runtime, animation, and characters make this an easy recommendation (Though as I mentioned before, definitely not for kids!) It is unfortunate that more wasn’t made, as I’d love to have seen more of Rally and Bean on the road, riding bean.The OVA will be available from AnimEigo September 10th on BluRay and streaming on TVOD platforms including YouTube, Google Play and Amazon. Preorders are now open here on MediaOCD’s page and the BD release contains an image gallery, trailers, a brand-new interview with Kenichi Sonoda and a new BD trailer. Along with dubs in English, Catalan, and the original Japanese version.I can’t recommend this enough to both veteran and new anime fans. While it’s light on plot, Riding Bean is fun, energetic, and beautifully animated. If this is what we can expect from the new AnimEigo then we’re in for a wild ride much like the one seen in this OVA.Originally reviewed by and posted on Weekly Shogakukan Edition.The post I can’t believe it’s not Shoggy! : Riding Bean OVA review appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Hey all! Life’s about taking chances, seizing opportunities. Sometimes things work out, sometimes they don’t. Ultimately, I subscribe to the thinking that it’s better to do and regret rather than not to. What does this uninteresting anecdote have to do with the title of today’s article? Well, I took a chance and reached out to Kaeru Mizuho-sensei the other day, and they were gracious enough to accept and answer a few of our questions! I’m riding a high, and almost want to see what other mangaka I can talk to. Turns out Social media is okay, sometimes!

I’ve thanked them plenty, but once again I want to give a huge show of gratitude to Mizuho-sensei for being kind enough to take time out to talk to us, and of course bringing Mahou Shoujo Dandelion into the world. Okay, enough with the pleasantries, let’s get magical.

The interview was conducted in Japanese. What is below is my translation. Please do not use or repost without our permission. Thank you.WSSTB: Hello Mizuho Sensei! Let’s start with what inspired you to pursue being a mangaka?Mizuho: Since I was little, I loved drawing and thinking up stories, so I aimed to become a manga artist who could do both.WSSTB: What are your biggest shojo manga influences? Or Manga in General?Mizuho: A manga in Shogakukan’s shojo magazine Ciao entitled Kirarin Revolution by An Nakahara. I remember finding it in a daycare and getting really into it.WSSTB: Why did you choose Shogakukan to publish your works? How are they different from Shueisha?Mizuho: There are many reasons, but the primary one is that most of the series that influenced me came from Shogakukan. As for differences, I don’t think there’s much difference, rather I think it’s dependent more on the audience (boys or girls). I previously illustrated a one shot at Shueisha (Ryuujin-sama wa nakenai) but there really wasn’t much of a difference between publishing there and Shogakukan.WSSTB: Your artwork caught our attention, and we shared it, causing it to go viral. How do you feel about the sudden interactions with overseas fans?Mizuho: I’m completely floored. To begin with, the concept of Mahou Shoujo Dandelion is different from Sho-comi’s target audience, so I went in with the mindset of “I hope the people who are interested in this kind of series will like it”. So I couldn’t have expected, in my wildest dreams that, so many people would be enthusiastic about the series from a preview. I’ve also received a ton of fan art, which I’m grateful for. I feel blessed to have had an opportunity like this.WSSTB: What led to the serialization of an (almost) true account of your life in Hobo Jitsuroku! Genkai otaku daigakusei no nichijou?Mizuho: About a year and a half ago, I was in a cycle of repeatedly coming up with and having ideas rejected for a serialization, when my editor suggested “How about you try writing an essay manga?” That’s what started it all. I wrote a few chapters, and submitted them to a competition, thinking, “It’ll be a miracle if this goes anywhere.” And to my surprise, it did.From Hobo Jitsuroku! Genkai Otaku Daigakusei no NichijoWSSTB: What’s your favorite Shogakukan published work?

Mizuho: There are a lot, so it’s hard to choose just one. The aforementioned Kirarin Revolution, and from Weekly Shonen Sunday, Detective Conan. Beyond that, I’m also a huge fan of Doraemon. Even now in my twenties, I fantasize about Doraemon traveling through space and time to my house.WSSTB: Mahou Shoujo Dandelion has a very distinct feel from the typical works of the magical girl genre in the art and setting. It almost feels like a shonen series –was this intentional on your part or coincdental?Mizuho: I think my storytelling style is somewhere between shoujo and shonen manga. Many Shoujo magical girl series tend to depict the leads in a romantic relationship, but in Mahou Shoujo Dandelion Shade and Tanpopo aren’t romantically inclined. They are rather more like close friends –which does come off closer to a shonen series. However, I also think they have feelings for each other that can’t be simply summed up as romance or friendship. Depending on the reader’s point of view, this series could be either a shonen or shojo.WSSTB: This is your first long term serial –what parts of it are different from one-shots and short stories? What’s more difficult or conversely, more fun about telling a longer story?Mizuho: The difference between oneshots, short stories and longer serials is in the latter, the story expands upon itself by building upon what happened previously like stacking building blocks. When I write a one shot, for example, I start with the ending, and then work my way towards it. However with a serial, I use deductive reasoning, so I have a lot more freedom to explore, which conversely means using a lot of trial and error. I’ve already got a good idea of where I want the story to go, but I haven’t figured out yet how many chapters will be required to get there. I have to rack my brains every chapter to figure out what direction to go into. It’s tough, but I visualize it as going on an adventure every chapter with Tanpopo and Shade, and it gets to be more fun.WSSTB: You depicted Shade and Tanpopo as having a very close relationship from the start. Was that always your intention, or did that change as you planned the serial?Mizuho: At first, Shade and Tanpopo were full on enemies. In a prototype idea, the shadow person was stuck in the magical girl’s shadow and forced to join forces with her. Though, when I got to talking with someone else, they informed me that the recent trend in shojo manga is more people get into a work after the couple starts dating rather than the build-up before. So I got to thinking, “Wouldn’t it be way more interesting to have the duo get along from the beginning, rather than working their way up to a point where they develop feelings for each other?” and that’s what lead to their current relationship.WSSTB: What are your mahou shoujo influences?

Mizuho: I have many Mahou Shoujo series I enjoy, but the one that sticks with me is a novel series published by Kodansha entitled Kuro Majo-san ga tooru! By Hiroshi Ishizaki and illustrated by Kaori Fujita. A big influence on me from this work in particular is the presence of an ally who fights alongside the heroine.WSSTB: Take us through the process of drawing a chapter. How long does it take and what tools do you use?

Mizuho: I do everything on an iPad using Clip Studio Paint EX. For a chapter that’s about 30 pages long, it takes about 3–5 days for me to illustrate the storyboard, and then a week to about 10 days to do the illustrations. I have an assistant help me from time to time, but generally speaking I draw alone. I’d like to be able to draw faster, though.WSSTB: People around the world admire and love manga and anime. What do you think resonates with people about the medium?Mizuho: There are likely many reasons for this, but to me in particular, I think it’s that their lives and feelings are relatable to our own. The characters themselves are illustrations that can’t leave the page or screen, and live in a world that’s physically separate from our own. But just like us, they want to protect people they love, have fun daily lives, worry about their future, and fight for someone’s sake –this is what I think evokes sympathy and emotion from the audience.WSSTB: What words of advice do you have for aspiring artists?Mizuho: Mahou Shoujo Dandelion began because I like men with jagged teeth and villainous faces, magical girls who transform and fight, and bonds between humans and non-humans. That’s the key, I think. It can be something as simple as “I like characters who have multi faceted personalities” or “I love the medieval period!” As long as you have a very clear perspective on what it is you like, then it’s much easier to convey it via manga. That being said, while drawing you might get depressed thinking that your ability isn’t enough to express even half of what you want to say. However, I think if you can convey that sense of what you like, then you might be surprised at how many people will be receptive to it. Believe in what you “enjoy” and let’s do our best!Originally conducted by and posted on Weekly Shogakukan Edition. The post Sho-comi exclusive: Interview with Kaeru Mizuho, author of “Mahou Shoujo Dandelion” appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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The Author

Yellow Tanabe

Takenori Ichihara (keep that name in mind) stated in the interviews we’ve translated (and in many other places) that his motto is “cultivating new talent.” This is evidenced no better by how many of these reviews I’ve written that feature artists who have either never had a serialization before or at most been serialized once. They talk less of those who have works that are available to read in English –from start to finish even! So with Tanabe-sensei we have the rare trifecta. Right now, thanks to VizMedia, you can read perhaps one of the best shonen manga ever: Kekkaishi in print (or digital), as well as the well regarded anime on Crunchyroll. Although that makes my job easier, there is still a wealth of Tanabe works that have not made the leap over. First, the artist herself.

She came onto the scene in 2000 winning the Shogakukan Rookie award for their work Yami no Naka (or “In the Darkness.”) which then lead to a proper debut in a special edition of Shonen Sunday R in 2002 with Lost Princess. Before striking out on the path of making her own series, Tanabe-sensei assisted Shonen Sunday alums Mitsuru Adachi and the author of Zatch Bell Makoto Raiku. Heck, Takenori Ichihara was even her first editor during the early days of Kekkaishi (see, I told you he’d be back!) So needless to say, Tanabe is an incredible talent that Shogakukan is blessed to have. Aside from the aforementioned, she’s drawn a ton of oneshots and had other series.

Cover of Tanabe-sensei’s short story collection Fake!(Left: Yami no Naka, Right: Lost Princess.)From the Fake oneshot.From the get-go, Tanabe-sensei’s art sensibilities are magnificent. Her current character sensibilities haven’t changed too much since her debut, which to me suggests a strong sense of identity. As such she’s able to focus more on creating an enticing page that draws the eye in, and even with her serialized works, that sense of scale and style isn’t diluted in the least. Speaking of, she has had other serializations besides Kekkaishi and Kai-hen Wizards. From Shuumatsu no LaughterShuumatsu no Laughter, otherwise known as “Laughter at the end of the World” is a one volume series that ran almost immediately after Kekkaishi’s conclusion in 2012. At five chapters, it’s a bit surprising no one has picked it up for English release (though I think I saw it in other languages, lucky them.) Though that might have something to do with it also not being available digitally in Japan as of this writing –which is equally odd, as everything else Tanabe-sensei has written aside from oneshots is digitally available. This series follows a demonic young man and his younger sister as they hunt other demons in a society overrun by evil.From BirdmenAfter the laughter, came Birdmen in 2013. Reminiscing upon Tanabe-sensei’s works like this I realize now for a while she was constantly busy! From Kekkaishi in 2003 to 2011, to Shuumatsu no Laughter in 2012, and finally Birdmen in 2013 she essentially had something serialized at some point for ten years. No wonder she took a nearly four year break from serialization after Birdmen ended in 2020. Interestingly, while this series ran in Weekly Shonen Sunday, I want to say after the first volume’s worth of chapters that it became a monthly serial. I can’t recall if the reason for this was ever stated, but likely it was because at the time Tanabe-sensei couldn’t keep up with a weekly schedule. Hopefully the same fate doesn’t befall Kai-hen Wizards. In yet another case of “No export for you” Birdmen is not officially available in English. We did cover it on the blog occasionally during it’s run, but admittedly this isn’t the same as reading it yourself. In this series, loner Eishi Karasuma has only one friend, Mikisada Kamoda. The two end up in a terrible bus accident, and to survive they have to make a contract with a mysterious Birdman which changes their lives forever.If the hues of the promotional artwork didn’t make it clear, this is a much darker story from Tanabe-sensei than her previous works. I admittedly haven’t read it in it’s entirety but what I did read grappled with real issues such as inferiority complexes, the nature of humanity, and life itself. I don’t know if Kai-hen Wizards will head down a similar path as for now it feels more like Kekkaishi perhaps due to it’s setting, but this series evidences that Tanabe-sensei can change up her writing style while retaining her unique voice.Speaking of….which, I couldn’t write a Tanabe review without talking about…Tanabe-sensei’s first serial is a tough act to follow, and for good reason. It just does everything right. Interesting and relatable leads? Check. Beautiful artwork? Check. Strong Female characters? Check. Amazing worldbuilding? And how. Heck, it even won the 52nd Shogakukan manga award in 2007. There’s nothing I can ding the series for other than ending and leaving me alone in a world without it. (But that’s what re-reads are for!) VizMedia completing the series means it’s accessible to anyone in its entirety, and the Viz Vault makes it so you don’t have to carry around 35 volumes of the series to throw at—I mean, convince others to read. Though it won’t take much convincing, as the series is an all-time classic from chapter one. I could gush about this series for a few more paragraphs, but we’re here to talk about…The SerialKai-hen WizardsWeekly Shonen Sunday issue #42Starting in Issue #42 of Weekly Shonen Sunday is Yellow Tanabe’s 4th serial, Kai-hen Wizards. The blurb says it is an “Oriental Fantasy” series.The PremiseFirst off, no, this isn’t an illusion. That is English you’re reading. Viz surprised everyone with a last minute game changer by announcing the series would be available as a simulpub mere hours after the Japanese version launched. Which is to say as of this writing this is the first new WSS serial Viz has picked up for same day release, well, ever! While Tsumiki and KimiWaru got picked up after the fact, this one was fresh out of the oven, so to speak. I get why, though. Kekkaishi may not have set the world aflame (sadly), but it did get a complete run, so Tanabe-sensei isn’t an unknown in English-speaking markets, and with Call of the Night’s conclusion, along with mainstays like Detective Conan and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End having at best irregular serializations it makes sense to jump in on something that’s “safe”. This is great for me as I can take off my translator cap for this one and speak more on what I like about the series.Kai-hen Wizards can be directly translated as “Transforming/Changing Borders Wizard” which doesn’t give us much to go on (other than the completely understandable reason why Viz left the word “kai-hen” untranslated.) It’s an enigmatic title for an enigmatic series. Which if I had a nickle for female created sequel series that are currently serialized in Sunday that eschew their former works that were more action heavy for a more suspenseful atmosphere, I’d have two nickles. Which isn’t much but intriguing, it’s happening twice.What we do know so far is this is a realm where magic is real, and one wizard –Zemu, has it in spades but is not willing to share. In comes an amnesiac prince whose eyes are extremely valuable and the implication that he did…something that caused a terrible incident to occur. That’s it. That’s what we know so far. Tanabe-sensei is taking her time to slowly drip feed information to the reader rather than give a good ol’ data dump, and I think the series is better for it. Instead, we’re introduced to other wizards and the prince (who as of chapter 8 still has no name)’s ambition to go back to where he came from, even if he’s not completely sure where that is.Once again the artwork steals the show in this series, going from nightmare fuel to gorgeous landscapes, all wrapped in a sense of wonder and mystery. Suspense series tend to dial more into dialog and character than artwork, but Tanabe-sensei ensures that every part of this work is in tandem to deliver a delectable delight. So much so that it’s easy to get lost in the storytelling and realize that every answer gives birth to a myriad of questions. The prince’s eyes are said to have the power to revive the dead, and as pictured above, someone important to him might have died, or worse been killed.Even moreso is the implication that the wizards themselves serve a purpose aside from being conduits of magic –and that purpose may be something that functions both as a simple to understand but very sinister to consider….revenge. Revenge against what or who isn’t clear, for now at least… The nameless prince’s ambition, the wizards’ duties, and of course the idea that there is something among them that can kill magic are all elements of the series. They imply if nothing else that they do not have a lot of time left before a cataclysmic something happens. And yet, Tanabe’s character focused storytelling doesn’t feel as if it’s dillydallying. Rather, it’s part of the woven tapestry that is the world of Kai-hen Wizards, existing in a mutualistic relationship where the characters are just as much a part of the world as the world would not exist without them.Shout out to the localization team on the series as well, as any simulpub has to be labor-intensive what with the time crunch of getting these out week to week, but even moreso with Tanabe-sensei’s artwork, and the vauge sense of the storytelling making translation from Japanese to English important. I don’t know if the translator, Christine Dashiell or the letterer John Hunt will ever read this, but if they do, I want them to know your work is appreciated and looks incredible!The VerdictThis section is becoming the hardest one to write lately. Not because I’m not enjoying the story, far from it! More so due to me finding it hard to really rate these things even after weeks go by and the overall narrative structure becomes clear. Kai-hen Wizards is another example of a story that can be discussed on a basic level, but I feel like that’s not good enough. It takes the author’s previous works and recontextualizes parts of them into something fresh, and intriguing. Be it Kekkaishi’s supernatural atmosphere, or the implications of the darker story that lurks beneath the surface a la, Birdmen, this series can be read as an extension of those or on its own merits. Most importantly however is how there’s something in these opening chapters for everyone, akin to Tanabe-sensei’s other series. That ultimately is her magic, that she can write stories that appeal to everyone, and it doesn’t come off as a buzz word to get people to open up their wallets. Tanabe-sensei truly is the people’s mangaka, and Kai-hen Wizards is another entry into her pool of work that proves it.Crossposted on Weekly Shogakukan EditionThe post New to Sunday: Yellow Tanabe’s “Kai-hen Wizards” appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On Sunday, October 20th, magic was in the air at Kodansha House, Kodansha USA’s New York City pop-up. The attention to detail and atmosphere at the pop-up was an immaculate treat for manga fans right from the entrance itself, which was meant to look like giant-sized spines several volumes of Kodansha’s most popular titles shelved together, going so far as to recreate the front covers of Blue Lock and Flowers of Evil and the back covers of Flowers of Evil and Attack on Titan, right down to the exact copy on the back of those books! Once inside, Kodansha House welcome manga fans with displays spotlighting various iconic Kodansha series, a replica of the Akira bike and the walled city from Attack on Titan that you could take pictures with, a library room with shelves stacked full of Kodansha manga, a mini-bar with complimentary drinks, and volumes of select Kodansha manga and exclusive merch available to purchase. And all of that was just on the first floor of the building!

On its upstairs floor, Kodansha House hosted the many events they put on during the month, including film screenings, book clubs, and most exciting of all, Q&A’s and autograph sessions with beloved Kodansha manga artists. And today, fans were eagerly gathered for the fourth and final guest to be welcomed at Kodansha House, the beloved creator of Witch Hat Atelier, Kamome Shirahama.

The upstairs area of Kodansha House, which could very fittingly for this occasion be considered an atelier, was a small and cozy space that could only accommodate seating for about fifty fans at a time, with limited standing room for staff and select invitees. As such, admittance to the Q&A and autograph sessions for each of Kodansha House’s invited guests were decided by a randomized lottery a couple weeks prior to the installation’s opening. I’d been lucky enough to have won a ticket to Makoto Yukimura’s Q&A and autograph session two days prior, but sadly not Shirahama’s. However, the Q&A sessions were able to be watched live on TVs on the downstairs floor, though space was tight and noisy and there was a risk of the space being capped if it got too crowded. Even so, to see Shirahama, I was content to make do with watching the Q&A and live-drawing session as best I could from the tvs downstairs.

Fortunately, and very generously, I and my fellow Manga Mavericks contributors were invited to watch her Q&A session upstairs. We were only permitted to stand at the very back of the floor and needed to depart before the autograph session started. During Shirahama’s Q&A session, there was a lot of noise being made by attendees around the Akira bike in particular, which was pretty distracting for people like myself who were watching the panel from the very back. Even so, I was incredibly grateful and delighted at the opportunity to see Shirahama-sensei live-drawing in-person once again and report on her Q&A. We were able to come upstairs about fifteen minutes before start-time, so only a few of the lottery-winning fans had arrived and been seated. Much like Shirahama’s appearances at convention panels, photos, videos, and audio recordings of her and the event were strictly prohibited. Knowing this, I took the opportunity before the event started to take some pictures of the stage, including Shirahama’s live-drawing set-up and the shishikis that would be gifted to the lottery-winning fans during the autograph session.

As we waited for Shirahama to make her appearance, we chatted with a few Kodansha employees about the successes of Kodansha House. The installation was incredibly popular and successful for them, with attendance increasing week after week. However, there are currently no plans to open it again in NYC in the near future. Instead, they’re considering trying it out in a different location next time, perhaps in Los Angeles around Anime Expo. Though unfortunately for San Diego Comic Con fans, an installation in San Diego is unlikely considering how expensive it is to reserve a space there during the con.

Shirahama’s Q&A session was introduced by Ajani Oloye, who served as the editor of Witch Hat Atelier for its first five volumes. When I chatted with Ajani at the Makoto Yukimura event a few days prior, he mentioned to me that he’d be moderating Shirahama’s Q&A and was nervous about it. Of course, Ajani is an eloquent writer and speaker, and I’ve really enjoyed hearing his thoughts when we’ve paneled together on Shamika Mitchell’s Seinen and Josei manga panels, and his introduction to Shirahama was wonderfully put. He noted and praised Witch Hat Atelier diverse cast of beloved characters and classic fairytale feeling. He reflected on how he knew Witch Hat Atelier would be a very special series from the moment he started working on it, admiring its art, creativity, and exploration of the creative process. He beamed that it brings him so much joy to see how much Shirahama’s work has resonated with readers. Ajani closed his introduction by noting and celebrating that Shirahama’s appearance today would be the fourth and final Q&A session at Kodansha House, and welcoming the event’s moderator, Joe Pescullo, to the stage.

Joe is a librarian at the New York Public Library’s 53rd street branch, who specializes in curating and recommending manga to library patrons. Joe has worked alongside other manga-specializing librarians, critics, and manga publisher representatives on manga panels and programming for librarians and the public at the NYPL and conventions, including New York Comic Con, and had also previously moderated Makoto Yukimura’s Q&A session at Kodansha House two days prior. Joe began his introduction to Shirahama and Witch Hat Atelier by reflecting on how the first volume came out in English in the Spring of 2019, when he was on the committee that was working on the NYPL’s Best Books for Teens list. Joe remarked that as soon as he read Witch Hat Atelier, he knew it would make the list, and it did. At that time, he had made annotated notes pitching the book to readers, but the Chairwoman of his committee told him to take out his comparison of WHA to Harry Potter. Reflecting on that decision now, he believes it was the right call, because WHA doesn’t need to be compared to anything else to recommend it. Witch Hat Atelier stands on its own, with a story and characters that are unique and wonderful.

Kamome Shirahama was then welcomed on stage to much cheers and applause, but I was almost stunned silent, because unlike her convention appearances, she was completely unmasked! I wasn’t expecting her to appear without the Brimmed Cap mask she’d worn at Anime Expo and the previous day at NYCC, since she seemed to be a very private and protective person about her appearance for obvious and understandable reasons, but it was nice to see that she felt comfortable enough in this setting and with this audience to be seen unmasked. I’m happy to be among just a few American fans of her to be able to put a face to her name, though truthfully I’m always going to envision her in her Brimmed Cap mask whenever I think about her – it’s just such an iconic look! But Shirahama wasn’t completely without Witch Hat apparel on this occasion, as she wore an apprentice cap much like the one Quifrey’s students wear in the manga and that Kodansha marketing director Ivan Salazar wore while moderating Shirahama’s NYCC panel the previous day.

Joe’s interview with Shirahama started, with her interpretation provided by Kodansha editor Misaki Kido, who also interpreted for Shirahama at her NYCC panel and for Makoto Yukimura at his Kodansha House appearance. She also began her live-drawing of Coco as the interview proceeded. Overall, it took her about 40 minutes to complete the drawing, finishing it around the same time as wrapping up the Q&A. Shirahama’s process for drawing Coco was done in the following steps:

• She started with a pencil sketch and outline of the illustration
• She then began inking, starting with Coco’s hat
• Hair
• Eyes, starting with her eyebrows first
• Neck collar
• Upper shirt
• Shirt sleeves
• Coco’s left hand, which is holding her pen
• The inner part of the eyes
• The back of her cape
• Her right hand
• The buttons on her sleeves
• The lower part of her cape
• Her lower body
• Then she started shading various features of Coco’s clothes, like the buttons on her coat and the ribbon on her cap
• She then did the crosshatching detail on her clothes and hair
• Finishing the illustration, she signed it with her name and the date

Thank you for coming#Δ帽子#WitchHatAtelier #とんがり帽子のアトリエ#KodanshaHouse pic.twitter.com/NjKNOYsvAK

— 【13巻発売中！＆アニメ化】とんがり帽子のアトリエ (@tongariofficial) October 21, 2024

A few of the initial questions Joe asked of Shirahama at the beginning of the Q&A were similar to the ones that were asked at her NYCC panel on the previous day. Shirahama said she was having a blast in NYC, once again mentioning this was her 5th time in the city. When asked why she became a mangaka, she replied that she’d worked as an illustrator before, but felt that manga was a better medium for the stories that she wanted to tell. Regarding her art, Shirahama admitted she’s never had trouble differentiating art styles between projects. Her style lends more towards illustration, and just naturally developed in this way. Shirahama has always liked looking at western styles of art like etching and children’s books. She felt that if a manga in such a style doesn’t exist, that she should be the one to do it. Though, she slightly regrets committing to that now, since she didn’t realize how much work and how difficult it would be to continuously draw in so much detail.

After Joe inquired about her work illustrating covers for DC and Marvel comics, Shirahama remarked that because she grew up with the X-Men and Justice League cartoons of the 90s and 2000s, she always longed to be in the world of American superheroes, and as a fan has been happy to having had the chance to work on them. Shirahama is also a huge fan of Star Wars and expressed her love of the canon. Wanting to work on the series a lot, she started approaching Marvel editors about working on a Star Wars when the Rebels animated series was coming out, pleading with them “please, let me work on Star Wars!” Eventually, she worked on a starship that appeared just once in the series and exploded, and thought to herself “Wow, this is what it means to work on Star Wars!” There have been many influences on Witch Hat Atelier, but the biggest one would have to be The Lord of the Rings, which she watched when she was little.

Joe told Shirahama that his library committee loved Coco, and complemented her as an amazing protagonist. Shirahama was pleased to hear that, noting that she had envisioned Coco as someone who anyone would like to be friends with. She wanted her to be someone who, if you feel like you’re struggling, would be there for you. In that respect, she feels like she’s kinda mass-producing characters like Agott in the world of the series to interact with her. As far as who her favorite character is, she joked that the Brush Buddy is the easiest for her to draw and do action with without much effort, and she’s fond of it because of that. But she really loves all of her characters.

Shirahama designed the magic system in the series to be simple and practical in a way a child could easily use. She incorporated components of grammar and the meaning behind different orders of words. She thought having the characters recite spells would be embarrassing for them to say out loud. As such, she thought of a way her system could show magic very quietly instead.

Shirahama is excited for the anime to come out so more people will become aware of and discover the series. She didn’t expect Witch Hat’s intentional popularity, though she did have overseas fans in mind while developing the series, and she’s been pleasantly surprised at the reaction to the manga. She shouted-out Lys Blakeslee, who was there in the room, for winning the Best Manga Award for Letting for her work on Witch Hat Atelier in the inaugural American Manga Awards, exclaiming “Arigato Gozaimasu!” For his final question, Joe asked how long she planned for Witch Hat to run and if she had any ideas for what she wanted to do next. Shirahama noted that she’ll still be working on the series for quite a while, while contributing to other projects with character design and illustrations, which she hopes will come out and be enjoyed alongside Witch Hat Atelier.

The floor was then opened to questions from the audience. Many of the initial questions were about her art and artistic influences. While she lamented the audience may not know them, she was very inspired and influenced by 80s shojo fantasy manga like Knights of Alfhem by Seika Nakayama and Yuho Ashibe’s Kingdom of the Crystal Dragon. She noted that the Dadah Range appearing in the sky in one of the earlier chapters of the series was one of her favorite scenes to draw.

When asked whether she intentionally designed the clothing to be so complicated by a cosplayer who joked about how it took her forever to make hers, Shirahama admitted that while the clothing is hard to make, she’s happy to see that a lot of cosplayers have liked taking on the challenge of making difficult costumes. She really wanted to develop clothes that were cute to draw and look at, and looks that would fit in with ones that show up in children’s books. When asked what kind of caps she’d have her own apprentices adorn, Shirahama replied that they would wear a shorter cap with tassel on top and mesh on the back, which she joked would probably just be like a normal hat.

In the final set of questions, Shirahama was asked about her thoughts on incorporating diverse characters in her series. Shirahama emphasized that just feels normal to her. She grew up watching western media featuring diverse casts of characters, and felt it would be strange to not see that in her own work. She reflected about how the word “normal” has been defined and evolved and changed for newer generations naturally over time. She also tried to be mindful not to lean into one culture and society, experiencing various cultures and featuring clothing from multiple cultures rather than from just one.

With that, the Q&A session ended, and Shirahama took a brief break before beginning the autograph session for the lottery-winning fans. As a final act before leaving the stage, she wrote a message on the shishiki she live-drew on – “Thank you, NY!” But I know it was the fans who were most thankful to spend two hours hearing from and being able to directly interact with their favorite artist, one whose magic extended off the pages of her manga into the energy of the very room.

Much thanks again to Tomo Tran, the Kodansha USA team, and Kodansha House staff for allowing us to cover the event (and being patient with us as we took our time wrapping up conversations while we were leaving before Shirahama’s autograph session started!), and a special shout-out to Miles Thomas Atherton and Evan Minto for the good company and good conversation while attending the event and going out for drinks at a local bar afterward (and double special thanks to Miles for generously treating us!).

The post Kamome Shirahama on the Art and Magic of Witch Hat Atelier at Kodansha House! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Magic was in the air on Saturday morning at New York Comic Con 2024, as a room full of excited fans eagerly awaited getting to meet Kamome Shirahama, a mangaka best known for her beloved magical fantasy series Witch Hat Atelier. Shirahama-sensei previously appeared at Anime Expo, where thousands of fans mobbed both of her panels there. Comparatively, only a few hundred folks were in attendance at her NYCC panel, but such is the difference between an anime con and a general entertainment con. That isn’t to say the enthusiasm was any less muted, of course. Everyone in attendance was clearly a huge fan of Shirahama and Witch Hat, and several people came in cosplays of their favorite characters, most commonly Quifrey, Olruggio, and Coco. Witch Hat Atelier and Kamome Shirahama’s popularity and reputation is incredibly high, and has been long before the anime announcement, because the manga is truly special, capturing the hearts of so many readers through its beautiful art, imaginative world, relatable, diverse, and inspiring characters, and earnest message that magic is for everyone.

Because the panel room was one of the smaller ones, room 406.2, I was worried that if I didn’t arrive right when the doors to the Javits opened on Saturday morning that I would have no chance at getting in. I’d previously warned my friend, the Black Manga Critic, that he should take advantage of his early entry as an exhibitor to get in line as early as possible. Luckily, even though I arrived later than I would’ve liked to the Javits that morning, the room wasn’t filled yet, and better yet, I was able to get a front-row seat to the panel next to BMC and a trio of Witch Hat cosplayers – one Quifrey and two Olruggio’s! As I waited for the panel to begin, I took a look at Shirahama’s live-drawing setup, which was decorated with an adorable custom plush Brushbuddy. I’d seen Shirahama-sensei at Anime Expo, but this was my first time being able to see her live-draw, and I was excited to see her breathe life into one of her beautiful drawings right in front of my eyes.

The panel began on time to a full crowd, moderated by Ivan Salazar, with interpretation by Misaki Kido and room assistance by Jorge Aranzazu. After giving a quick rundown on Kodansha USA, Witch Hat Atelier, and Kodansha House, Ivan introduces Kamome Shirahama-sensei. She walked on stage wearing the same white Brimmed Cap mask that she wore at Anime Expo. After she introduced herself to the crowd, she immediately prepared to live draw. Before she began, Ivan asked the crowd which character they want her to draw. He ran through the choices one by one – Coco, Agott, Tetia, Richeh, Quifrey, and Olruggio. Each character got lots of fanfare, but Shirahama heard the most noise for Qifrey.

She started drawing Qifrey, beginning with a quick, light rough pencil sketch. She finished her rough sketch in just 5 minutes, and then proceeded to ink it. Her process for drawing Quifrey was done in the following steps:

• Outline of Glasses
• Outline of Hair
• Outline of Face
• Details of Hair
• Outline of Hat
• Outline of Clothes
• Outline of Brush Buddy
• Details on Glasses
• Details on Hat
• Details of Face
• Details of Brush Buddy
• Filling in the inking on his neck collar
• Details on his clothes
• The ribbon on the top of his hat
• The button on his cloak
• His sun insignia
• Cross-hatching on his hat
• Filled in his left spectacle
• Cross-hatching in his hair
• Cross-hatching on his buttons and clothes
• The landscape behind Quifrey
• The clouds in the sky
• Erases the pencil lines

Overall, she drew this illustration of Quifrey from beginning to end in approximately forty minutes!

While Shirahama was drawing, Ivan asked her about her experiences coming to NYC, and whether today was her first time here. Shirahama loves coming to NYC, and this was actually her fifth time here, exclaiming “I LOVE New York!” She’d been to most of the tourist sites around the city. Since her last visit, she’s noticed there’s been new construction and building around the Javits Center. She likes to check out and explore the area around Chelsea in particular. Ivan asked if Shirahama if she’d visited Kodansha House, and she said she’d visited it a few times over the past month. Her favorite feature of Kodansha House was the replica of the walled city from Attack on Titan. They provide a costume of the Colossal Titan that you can wear to pose for photos over it, so Shirahama joked how she also acted like a “gross old titan” when she was there.

I’m in New York! pic.twitter.com/Oy5RcfoJFT

— 【13巻発売中！＆アニメ化】とんがり帽子のアトリエ (@tongariofficial) October 19, 2024

Ivan notes how Shirahama has done a lot of work with Marvel and DC. Shirahama has always loved superhero comics, ever since she watched the X-Men and Justice League cartoons when she as a kid. Wolverine is her favorite character. While Shirahama hadn’t gotten a chance to walk around the con yet, she usually likes to visit her artist friend in Artist Alley, as well as meet editors of American comics to find new gigs. Though she lamented she was too busy this time, so she probably wouldn’t, apologizing “sorry!” to fans looking forward to her next foray into American comics.

Ivan then asked Shirahama about her favorite manga, which she contemplates for a moment. She’s always loved Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira, but she has a lot of other favorites, and couldn’t make up her mind.

When asked about what inspired her to become an artist, she reflected that she’s always loved drawing everything ever since she was a small kid, enjoying capturing everything around her in the form of drawing. Shirahama later studied art at the Tokyo University of the Arts. She noted that when you’re drawing manga, you have to draw from memory. This was the most important lesson she learned from her time in art school. Ivan asks if she still likes to sketch from life. She enjoys sketching animals, including her own dog, in her free time. She loves doing sketches in her free time, though she doesn’t have as much of it nowadays.

Ivan asks her about how she conceived of the idea for Witch Hat Atelier. Shirahama said she started everything from the worldview of what if everybody could use magic, the basis of the magic system being sigils and drawing, and the thinking about how the magic system would shape the characters’ personal growth. When developing the sigils, she thought about existing symbols in the real world and what the intent was behind the design and movement they were suggesting. For example, if there is a drawing of an arrow and then of a barrier, the effect is that barrier is pushed in the direction of the arrow. She demonstrates this with her own drawing pens, which have arrows on the logos.

On what her favorite things to draw in WHA, Shirahama says she really likes drawing clothes, having a lot of fun drawing the clothing of the characters. She thinks a lot about whether the characters are wearing clothes for comfort or are buttoned up, and what their clothing says about their characters. Later, Shirahama mentioned that she always tries to consider what she wants to draw right now, and looks into clothing in different parts of the world for inspiration.

When asked whether she designs clothing for good and bad characters differently, Shirahama rejects the premise of the question, explaining she doesn’t distinguish between “good” or “bad” Characters. She sees many of the characters as morally ambiguous. When she comes up with confrontational characters, she doesn’t she them as bad people, and doesn’t draw them like they’re bad people. While she presents Coco as the protagonist, she sees WHA as a story about multiple characters, and tries to approach that consciously while writing the series.

Ivan then asked Shirahama about her thoughts on the anime. She replied she couldn’t say anything about the anime due to her non-disclosure contract, but encouraged fans to look forward to it when it makes the drop. She then admits she doesn’t really know anything about it, truthfully.

Witch Hat Atelier is Shirahama’s longest-running series, but she never intended or imagined it would run so long. She asked the crowd, almost apologetically, “you guys want to read it still, right?” The crowd of course enthusiastically responded “YES!” Ivan jokes about whether Witch Hat could last One Piece length, but she laughs off the possibility, remarking she doesn’t have the stamina for such an undertaking. She mused that if she were to make an epic-length manga, she’d have to go to another work, like a world where manga artists are battling.

When coming up with the story, she discusses the overall plot with the editors for general direction, but the details of who, where, and what she comes up with and figures out by herself. On whether it’s difficult for her to come up with the story, she jokes that “I have a secret about making manga – when the manga artist is struggling, the manga is really exciting!”

On what attracts Shirahama to fantasy, she replied that around when she was in High School, a lot of fantasy works like The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia were coming out, so she read of lot of fantasy novels growing up.

Shirahama imagined Coco as someone you’d want to be friends with, someone you wanted to hang out with and would make you feel comfortable. When coming up with characters, she thinks of them as introducing a new friend. She starts off thinking about their problems, but then also what their good points are, and so begins the process of developing them as a character in the story.

Considering the themes of WHA, Shirahama likes how everyone in her world can use magic, and that it gives her the dream and hope that if we practice something, we can grow and develop our skills to be better at it. She noted that while she loves Star Wars, she wouldn’t be cut out to be a Jedi, and doesn’t think she could be a strong sorcerer in that world. But in WHA, she could be, because magic is something everyone can do.

With Shirahama’s live-drawing completed, and Ivan’s questions done, they opened the floor up to take questions from the audience. The first question came from a disabled cosplayer, who very emotionally thanked Shirahama for how she depicts and represents disabled characters in the series, and that it meant a lot to them. They asked Shirahama how she draws them so well. Shirahama reflected that she sees a lot of herself in these characters, and that they are based on aspects of herself that she can resonate with to begin with. She also wishes that there were more characters that represent people like herself. That’s what she thinks about when she draws these characters. Later, another fan praised Shirahama for her queer characters, and she thanked them.

Another fan, who didn’t win the lottery for Shirahama’s autograph session at Kodansha House, asked Shirahama if she will come back to New York again. Shirahama promised that she will absolutely do more signings in the U.S. in the future, and that since she’s come to NYC five times, she plans to come back at least five more times.

The Black Manga Critic asked the next question. He lauded the themes and messages of the manga for young readers, noting that as a teacher he introduces the series to his students. He particularly praises the character of Custus, who is his favorite character and who he sees a lot of himself in. Similar to the first fan question, he asked about the importance to her in including a diverse representation of people of different disabilities in her series. Shirahama noted that there’s not enough representation like that in existing media, including manga. She wanted to represent disabled people in her series as authentic characters. She wants to see more representations of characters like them in more media.

The next fan asked about how to correctly pronounce Quifrey and other characters’ names. Shirahama noted that in Japan, there’s not much confusion about the pronunciations because their names are written in katakana. However, she notes that the emphasis in her characters’ names always goes on the first syllable and then down. So Quifrey would be pronounced “KEY-free.”

The next question came from a librarian awaiting their license who can’t wait to recommend the manga to their students. They asked about Shirahama’s inspirations for creating fantasy worlds. Shirahama reflected that when thinking about fantasy worlds, she imagined a very European medieval aesthetic style, and studied the art style of those times, particularly techniques like etching and dotting, and tried to replicate that.

Regarding which characters she enjoys drawing the most, she noted that while main characters like Coco and Quifrey are easy for her to draw, newer and important characters in the world with more ornate clothing are more difficult. Beladaruit, for example, takes her three times longer than anyone else to draw.

Reflecting on the message and theme in the series that means the most to her, she thinks she always comes back to the message of believing in yourself and the process that you went through to get where you are. She believes that’s a message everyone can resonate with, but particularly hopes it will for younger readers, as she herself resonated with that message when she was a youth.

When asked whether she faces artist’s or writer’s block, she responded that we all face blocks. However, when you become a pro, no matter what you do there’s a deadline, and so she powers through blocks.

When Shirahama studied design in art school, she learned to think of page layouts from the point of view. Specifically, she studied in school how to draw the eye through a page. She wants people to pay attention to how she frames a panel.

Ever since Shirahama played RPG games as a child, there’s always be a mage character or class who used healing magic. She felt they were under-explored, and wanted to develop such characters more in her own story.

The next question came from a fem Miles Morales cosplayer, who told Shirahama her thoughts about the series in Japanese. They were a recent fan, having only just found out about the series at Kodansha House. It is a really meaningful story to them, and they wished they’d read it sooner, telling Shirahama in Japanese “Thank you for making the manga.” They also shouted-out their friend who introduced her to the series, who hand-made their cosplay costume.

Shirahama was asked whether they’ll sell the Brimmed Cap she’s wearing as official merchandise. She speculated that when the anime comes out, maybe they’ll start selling her hat in NYC. She jokes that if so, only people wearing them will get to make it to or be permitted to join her autograph signings.

Nectarish, an Olruggio cosplayer and fan artist, asked which character she’d be friends with, Shirahama noted she loves all the friendships in the story, but the only character who’d still be up at hours when she’d still be working would be Olruggio. So, if she turned on a Zoom call, he’d still be up to talk. The cosplayer then gave Shirahama their own drawing of Quifrey to her as a gift.

went to the #NYCC24 Witch Hat Atelier panel!!! It was really cool, and I got to give Shirahama-sensei a drawing!! #Δ帽子 #witchhatatelier pic.twitter.com/f5crSEOupS

— GRINDSET MINDSET (@nectarish) October 21, 2024

On the ideological conflict between the Witch’s Assembly and the Brimmed Caps in the series, Shirahama mused that joining a magic school or working with a Brimmed Cap are both tough choices to make, and it’s a problem that there’re only those two choices for aspiring witches. She stated that’s the focus of the story, including questioning whether the Brimmed Cap’s ways should really be illegal or not.

The last audience question came from another Olruggio cosplayer, who is also a video game maker who’s work has been inspired by Witch Hat Atelier. They ask her about her horror inspirations as an adult. Shirahama reflected how a lot of kids books are actually really scary and traumatizing. In particular, the portrayal of nothingness in The Neverending Story 2 left an impression on her, and she thinks it’s influenced a bit of WHA’s story.

It’s Master Qifrey! Thank you Witch Hat Atelier creator, Kamome Shirahama sensei, for your time and the beautiful illustration drawn for Kinokuniya New York!@shirahamakamome pic.twitter.com/2CaAjB60xI

— Kinokuniya USA (@KinokuniyaUSA) October 23, 2024

Shirahama concluded the panel by thanking the audience for their questions. She enjoyed the variety of questions asked, and thanked her fans for thinking so deeply about her work. Ivan noted that the artwork she drew for the live-drawing would be shown at Kodansha House later that day, and later would be displayed at the Kinokuniya in NYC. As Shirahama left the stage to loving applause, you couldn’t help but feel that every Witch Hat Atelier fan in the room felt a kindred connection in sharing such a magical hour, moment, and memories with their favorite artist.

Starting my #NYCC2024 Saturday with Kamome Shirahama’s spotlight panel! pic.twitter.com/Ly8saXR4fK

— LumRanmaYasha (@LumRanmaYasha) October 19, 2024

The post Witch Hat Atelier’s Kamome Shirahama at New York Comic Con 2024! | Panel Report appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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2024 has been an incredible year for animation! From the wild and the paranormal in Dan Dan Dan to the sentiment and nostalgia of Inside Out 2, we have been in the presence of a myriad of award contenders. That being said, this year’s Animation is Film (AIF) has only further highlighted a year of strong animation offerings. Showcasing a fantastic range of past and present animated films/TV from across the world.

The Colors Within began my evening on Friday. The film centers on two young girls in Catholic School trying to figure out their life’s purpose and passions, and finding commonality in playing music together. In this sonic journey, they meet a young man, positioned in a similar life predicament that leaves him yearning for his love of playing music and the duty he feels he owes his family. A perfect outing for director Naoko Yamada, her blend of nostalgia through music and adolescence was an incredible hit as one of the festival’s openers, garnering explosive applause at the end and many in-seat dancing throughout the movie. The Colors Within joins Kiyotaka Oshiyama’s Look Back as being my top movies of the year. This was a fantastic start to my film-going experience at this year’s AIF.

From here, I transitioned to the adrenaline, techno-fueled world of Redline. This screening was celebrating the 15th anniversary of Takeshi Koike’s masterpiece. Being in line for this, I truly thought I was about to see Wayne Gretzky come back on the ice, and in some sense, the two racers who this film revolves around really did bring the essence of the “Great One” to their driving. Imagine Jet Set Radio, mixed with Speed Racer and Trigun; that’s Redline. I can say I’ve never seen anything like it. Almost every other moment made me want to get out of my seat and start yelling at the racers on the screen. It’s truly one of those films that elicits the call-and-response nature of a person. I’ve never wanted to be a race car driver so badly in my life, to the point I considered buying a Porsche after the movie.

I’ve never had a Ghibli morning before, but the documentary Miyazaki: The Spirit of Nature became my brunch companion. While I can’t say this film met the expectations I had, it went in a direction I did not anticipate and I learned about one of my favorite storytellers more deeply than I thought I would. While Miyazaki: The Spirit of Nature revolves around his love of the natural world, there was a deeper focus on the man and his physical connection to the natural world, including his overall confidant-like relationship with it. What I thought was going to be a retrospective of how the natural world impacted his films became a telling of how the natural world impacted and healed Miyazaki through various moments in his life. A beautiful way to say good morning to a wonderfully sunny noon in Los Angeles. As I stepped out of the theater, I felt a mildly coolish wind blow past. Breathing it in, I smiled at the day having seen the beauty of someone’s world, only to realize that it’s connected to my own.

While I could not attend the Sunday programming of AIF due to illness, I can only give high praise for the quality of films brought to this year’s event on both an international and domestic level, AIF resoundingly brought a deep bag of imaginative people to the festival this year. I was happy to see Ghost Cat Anzu, Yoppaman, and Memoirs of a Snail make appearances in the lineup. With a strong outing this year, I’m anticipating an even more incredible AIF in 2025, and I’m looking forward to being in the vivacious crowds once again!

Additionally, here is a recap of this year’s AIF winners:

GRAND PRIZE:

FLOW Directed by Gints Zilbalodis

SPECIAL JURY PRIZE:

MEMOIR OF A SNAIL directed by Adam Elliot

AUDIENCE AWARD:

MEMOIR OF A SNAIL directed by Adam Elliot & THE COLORS WITHIN directed by Naoko Yamada

GRAND PRIZE – SHORTS:

WANDER TO WONDER directed by Nina Gantz

SPECIAL JURY PRIZE – SHORTS:

A CRAB IN THE POOL directed by Jean-Sebastien Hamel and Alexandra Myotte

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J-Novel Club is going to be Boys’ Love fans Knight in Shining Armor, because they’ve announced at MCM Comic Con in London that they’re launching a new Boys’ Love imprint, “Knight,” which will publish both BL manga and light novel series! The new imprint will debut in 2025 with new series available to read digitally on J-Novel Club’s website and app and distributed wherever ebooks are sold. Knight adds to the portfolio of J-Novel Club’s other imprints, including Club (shonen), Heart (shojo), and Pulp (pulp), though the name deviates a bit from the French-suited card-deck theme of the other imprints, but hey, it’s a cool name so we’ll take it!

For more information about J-Novel Club’s Knight imprint, check out the official press release provided below:

J-Novel Club Announces NEW Digital Boys’ Love (BL) Imprint! : KNIGHT

(October 25 , 2024) – J-Novel Club LLC (JNC) announced the launch of its new Boys’
Love (BL) imprint at MCM Comic Con in London today. The new line, called “Knight”,
will feature both manga and light novel series. “BL” is a popular genre with narratives
centering male/male romance in Japan, which recently has been expanding its
definition to include more gender diverse and trans narratives. Fans can look forward
to new series releases beginning in early 2025, available for reading digitally on the
J-Novel Club website and app, and once in eBook form, everywhere eBooks are sold.
(Fans can stay tuned for announcements of being able to read chapters on third
party platforms, and any exclusives.)

JNC Knight will be J-Novel Club’s first venture into Boys’ Love, expanding its
extensive collection of over 350 titles. Access to titles will be available with no
additional costs to J-Novel Club subscribers, and for premium subscribers, they will
have access to parts as soon as they are translated. eBooks will be offered on all
major platforms for purchase.

In addition to the imprint, JNC has launched all new socials around the line, where
they will be announcing newly licensed series, hosting giveaways, hosting translated
talks with Japanese guests, and more. These social handles include:

Instagram: jnc_knight
TikTok: jnc_knight
X (Twitter): jnc_knight

At MCM Comic Con in London on October 25th, 2025, Director of Business
Development and Content, Madison Salters, and Managing Director of JNC’s
European branch, NINA, Jonathan Collis, tackled the genre’s past and future, the
changing nature of the genre today, and reasons for launching Knight now. Knight
joins JNC’s other successful imprints, Club (shounen), Heart (shoujo), and Pulp (pulp).

The duo also unveiled the imprint’s new logo:

About J-Novel Club

J-Novel Club (JNC), a member of the Kadokawa group, is renowned for its
exceptional English-language production of Japanese light novels and manga
worldwide. Founded by passionate translators and fans, JNC is dedicated to
delivering high-quality books in both digital and print formats, closely aligned with
Japan’s production timelines. With a focus on weekly digital releases—whether
serialized parts, complete eBooks, rentals, or audiobooks—JNC has brought beloved
titles like Ascendence of a Bookworm, In Another World With My Smartphone, Full
Metal Panic!, and Slayers to English-speaking audiences.
Committed to quality and precision in translation, JNC connects fans with beloved
titles and fosters a thriving community around the vibrant world of Japanese
literature. Since 2016, J-Novel Club has digitally published over 2,000 volumes and
physically printed over 250 volumes of different series for over 13,000 unique readers.

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©2024 Sai Naekawa/KADOKAWA/Project WatatabeSai Naekawa’s This Monster Wants to Eat Me has been announced to be receiving an anime series adaptation in 2025. Alongside the announcement, a teaser visual, trailer, and illustration by Sai Naekawa have also been unveiled.

©2024 Sai Naekawa/KADOKAWA/Project WatatabeFurther details on the anime, including announced cast and staff, can be found below:

INTRODUCTION

“I’ve come to eat you.” So softly utters the mermaid Shiori as she emerges from the sea and takes high school girl Hinako by the hand. Hinako lives alone in a town by the sea and possesses an unusually delicious body that is irresistible to nearby monsters. To ensure that she matures to the best condition, Shiori seeks to protect Hinako—all so that someday, she can devour every piece of her. What will become of Hinako’s feelings as this looming unjust death closes in on her…?

CAST
Hinako Yaotose: Reina Ueda

STAFF
Original Work: Sai Naekawa (Serialized in “Dengeki Maoh”, published by KADOKAWA)
Chief Director: Naoyuki Kazuya
Director: Yusuke Suzuki
Series Composition / Screenplay: Mitsutaka Hirota
Character Design: Nozomi Ikuyama
Sound Director: Ryosuke Naya
Music: Keiji Inai
Production: infinite
Animation Production: STUDIO LINGS

STREAMING
Coming in 2025

INFORMATION
Anime Official Website (Japanese): https://wata-tabe.com/
Anime Official X: @wttb_tv https://x.com/wttb_tv

“>

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Nearly eight years after the original Kickstarter to produce its pilot was launched, Mecha-Ude is finally a full-fledged series! Created by indie animator Okamoto, Mecha-Ude is a shonen action anime about humans who’ve bonded with the titular enigmatic mechanical alien arms, following the protagonist Hikaru as he stumbles into bonding with a particularly powerful, friendly, and curiously amnesiac Mecha-Ude named Alma, and gets involved in a conflict between rival organizations wrestling for control of the Mecha-Ude. Okamoto conceived of Mecha-Ude as an animation student, and inspired by other then-indie animators like Yasuhiro Yoshiura and Makoto Shinkai, she decided to self-produce and crowdfund a pilot for the series through her own indie student-founded freelance animation studio, Tri-F.

Mecha-Ude’s Kickstarter met it’s initial goal in just two days and drummed up a lot of support – 999 backers! – raising over double the original target and leading to the pilot being produced and released, including with an english dub, in 2019. Three years later, Pony Canyon announced that they would be creating a full Mecha-Ude series. Alongside the anime announcement, a manga adaptation for Mecha-Ude was launched and simulpublished in english on Azuki, allowing longtime Mecha-Ude fans to get a preview of the full scope of the series’s story. The manga has just now come to an end, with full-color editions to be published by Scholastic Graphix in Spring 2025.

When the Kickstarter for Mecha-Ude was launched in October 2016, I was still an animation student at SVA. The series caught my attention thanks to its well-made proof-of-concept teaser trailer that showed off its unique concept, exciting and energetic action animation, striking color design and effects animation, and creative character and mechanical designs. As a fledgling animator myself, Okamoto’s ambition to self-produce her own anime and personal passion project was deeply inspiring and resonated with me. I was an early backer, and have been keeping tabs on the project ever since, intrigued to see how the series and Okamoto’s career would develop. I was thrilled to hear the production of the series announced by Pony Canyon and excited to see the premiere of the first episode at Anime Expo 2023, the first in a series of screenings of the series at various conventions throughout the next year leading up to the series’ streaming debut.

At the Mecha-Ude panel at #AnimeExpo2023, featuring director Okamoto, Pony Canyon producer Tetsuya Kinoshita, and TriF producer Shuichi Aso!

They just premiered the first episode and a brand new PV for the show, which will be coming out next year! pic.twitter.com/AugaibIi65

— LumRanmaYasha (@LumRanmaYasha) July 2, 2023

The first episode, which you can stream now on Crunchyroll, is a delight! The story is classic shonen; protagonist Hikaru is a passive and indecisive kid worried about being judged, spurred to fight for what’s right and unlock untapped power within through a chance encounter finding a new friend/mentor in Alma. He’s complemented by an emotionally cold rival, Aki, a girl who takes her job very seriously and resents the Hikaru’s naivety, recruited by a secret governmental organization who partner with and protect Mecha-Ude against a secretive evil corporate organization who seek to use them as tools of oppression. The series employs an interesting hybridization of 2D and 3D animation, where the Mecha-Udes are usually depicted in 3D while human characters are 2D, though Okamoto noted they animate the Mecha-Ude’s in 2D during scenes where they felt they would be able to make more of an impact. I’m curious to see how the original pilot will compare when reanimated in the series as the third episode. Mecha-Ude was always envisioned as a multi-episode series before the pilot, and the series as it is now is a refined version of her original story concept that they’re now following through on.

Mecha-Ude’s scrappy energy, underdog story, character designs, and it’s dynamic action scenes felt reminiscent of an early Studio Trigger show, a feeling that’s helped by a suitably bombastic soundtrack compared by Hiroyuki Sawano. In particular, the dynamic between Hikaru and Alma is very reminiscent of Ryoko and Senketsu’s from Kill la Kill, and much like how Studio Trigger infused KLK with so much bombastic creative energy to loudly announce themselves and what they’re all about as a studio to the world, Mecha-Ude also feels like TriF Studio’s statement to anime fans that “we’re here, here’s what we’re capable of, let’s do this!” In an industry saturated with studios who’ve been relegated to churning out workmanlike adaptations, sequels, and reboots with few opportunities to explore original ideas, Mecha-Ude is a shot in the arm for encouraging the development of new, original and independant anime in Japan, and I weclome it with open arms!

When I was offered the opportunity to interview Okamoto, Pony Canyon producer Tetsuya Kinoshita, and Tri-F producer Shuichi Aso at Anime Expo 2023, I jumped at the chance. It was an honor and pleasure to meet and speak with Okamoto in-person after having followed the project and her career for nearly a decade. We discussed Okamoto’s career journey as an independent animator, the state and future of indie anime in Japan, and the themes and messages Okamoto hopes to inspire in viewers through the show. Read on to “arm” yourself with more insights into Mecha-Ude!

Interview with Mecha-Ude Creator Okamoto, Pony Canyon producer Tetsuya Kinoshita, and Tri-F producer Shuichi Aso | Anime Expo 2023

Manga Mavericks: Hello! I am Siddharth from Manga Mavericks, here reporting at Anime Expo with the team behind the mecha-mazing new anime series, Mecha-Ude!

We have the director, Okamoto-san, we have Tri-F studio animation producer, Shuichi Aso, and we have Pony Canyon producer, Tetsuya Kinoshida.

Thank you all for meeting with me today. I have been following Mecha-Ude and Tri-F’s work since your original Kickstarter, and I’m so excited at how far the series has come, and to have the opportunity to talk with you about your journey developing it.

Okamoto & Aso: Thank you very much.

MM: Thank you! Thank you for coming here. I was wondering – what has been your experience interacting with fans of Mecha-Ude here in the U.S. and seeing the reactions to the premiere at yesterday’s panel?

Okamoto: I got to meet so many people who did the Kickstarter at the panel, so that made me very happy.

Aso: There were a lot of people who participated in the Kickstarter that were at the panel.

MM: Yeah, that was amazing. It was like a full room, and that was so cool to see.

But yeah, it’s been such a great journey for Mecha-Ude, and for you, Okamoto-san, it’s been like a decade since you first released your short film 11:08 and worked on your first projects in the industry. I was wondering how you feel you’ve grown as an animator/director/creator since then – now reaching this point in your career where you’re directing a full-fledged anime series?

Okamoto: Basically, I’ve been working on Mecha-Ude for about eight years now. Obviously, first as an indie project, and now it’s more of a full-fledged project. But being able to interact with fans has been great, and also meeting Kinoshida-san, who’s the producer from Pony Canyon, has been a very big influence on the project itself.

MM: Yeah, that’s amazing. And, a question for Kinoshida-san then – when did you first become aware of Mecha-Ude as a project, and what were your initial reactions to it, and how did Pony Canyon get involved with it?

Kinoshida: Well, I found out about the project by watching the pilot, and that’s exactly when I knew that I wanted to be involved in the project.

MM: That’s amazing. Yeah, it’s incredible for a project of Mecha-Ude’s ambition to get off the ground like that. It’s very rare. But, do you feel that the climate is changing in the anime industry where more independent anime projects are able to be produced like this?

Okamoto: I don’t think there’s much change within the industry itself, but there are a lot of students know who are pretty ambitious and want to make their own animation. So, I think there’ll be more independent projects coming up in the future because of that.

MM: Yeah, I think that’s very exciting that there are a lot of ambitious up-and-coming animators. What do you think would need to change about the way the industry is now for independent animation to be easier to produce?

Aso: That’s a very hard question. (laughs)

Okamoto: Basically, how the Japanese animate. When actual studios are making it, the roles are pretty split up. So, that’s good. But when indie production people are doing it, they’re basically doing all the roles themselves. So, I don’t really have a request for the industry itself, but maybe if people who are indies and can do all those things can get into the business a little easier, that would be great.

MM: I agree, and one of the things I find really cool about Tri-F as a studio is that you’re based in Fukuoka rather than Tokyo, and staffed with mostly young animators. I was interested in learning more about your goals in founding the studio, and whether you believe there’s more of an opportunity for the anime industry in Japan to start becoming decentralized from Tokyo?

Aso: I think there’s already a change happening. But even with Tri-F studio, that’s in Fukuoka, has a central office in Tokyo. So, Tokyo’s still involved, but I think we’ll start moving away from it eventually.

MM: Especially as we’ve seen the rise of more international involvement in anime productions, it feels like the work can become more international and more split-up in different places.

Aso & Okamoto: Yes. Thank you.

MM: Now, I want to talk a little bit about the theme of the series. Okamoto-san, I watched an interview with you before where you said “determination” is a driving theme of Mecha-Ude. Can you speak more about how that theme is expressed in the series, and what it means to you personally?

Okamoto: So, I’ve always been wanting to relay my feelings to everyone through this project in just how fun it is. It’s slightly changing now, but I still want everyone to. I still want to relay that feeling of determination to everyone.

MM: Yeah, I thought that was expressed really well in both the pilot and the first episode. And, I want to just leave our interview off with by asking; What message would you like fans to take away from Mecha-Ude, and what would you like fans to look forward to seeing most in the series?

Okamoto: We’re in the middle of production right now, and in Mecha-Ude, the characters are very essential and very important to the series, and I want the fans to basically see how hard the characters are working.

Aso: Pretty much the director said everything I wanted to say. So, speaking of the studio, this project started when she was a student still, so I want everyone to look forward to it.

Thank you for watching a lot of our older interviews and stuff.

MM: Oh yeah, it’s a pleasure. I’ve been following the project since the Kickstarter.

Aso: We’re very thankful.

Kinoshida: Basically, if a series like Mecha-Ude become a hit, I want it to give courage and hope for young animators to make more stuff like that, and so hopefully there’ll be more of that in the future. So I want fans to definitely support the project.

MM: Absolutely. Thank you very much for this interview, and looking so forward to seeing the full Mecha-Ude series next year.

Aso: It definitely still needs a little bit of push, and word-of-mouth, so please let everybody know about the project.

MM: I absolutely will. Thank you.

Aso & Okamoto: Thank you very much.

_________________________________

Thanks so much to Okamoto, Aso, and Kinoshida for their time, and to Evan Minto for his help in arranging and facilitating this interview. For more thoughts on Mecha-Ude, listen to our review of the first few chapters of the manga on Manga Mavericks. And be sure to watch the Mecha-Ude anime, now streaming on Crunchyroll, and read the manga on Azuki!

The post How Mecha-Ude went from Indie Pilot to TV Anime | Interview with Creator Okamoto and Producers Tetsuya Kinoshita & Shuichi Aso appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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© Shoji Goji, OVERLAP / Loner Life Production CommitteeThe fall anime season has now begun, and among some of the most highly anticipated new titles is Loner Life In Another World, based on the light novel series by Shoji Goji. That said, what makes Loner Life In Another World such an exciting anime adaptation? Manga Mavericks had the opportunity to ask director Akio Kazumi and Pony Canyon producer Takanori Matsuoka about the anime’s production and what went into adapting the popular series.

Check out the full interview down below:

© Shoji Goji, OVERLAP / Loner Life Production CommitteeHow did you both get involved in the production of Loner Life In Another World? Were you both familiar with the series prior to working on it?

Kazumi: I received an offer from the anime producer, and after reading the novel and comic version, I found it very interesting and exciting.

Matsuoka: Yes, I had already been reading it, so I knew about it! I also happened to meet the person around the same time who was interested in the work, and that’s how the idea to turn it into an anime came about.

What led to Hayabusa Film and Passione being selected as the animation studios for the anime?

Matsuoka: In the past, I worked with them as the PR position on the anime Rokka -Braves of the Six Flowers- and RAIL WARS!, and we had been discussing the possibility of working together on production in the future. The timing for those discussions and this project coincided perfectly, and since Passione also showed interest in this work, we decided to collaborate.

How much has the original writer Shoji Goji been involved with the anime’s production?

Kazumi: We received advice through the editorial department.

Matsuoka: OVERLAP oversees everything, including the script, and during that process, Goji sensei also reviews and approves the content.

The novel for Loner Life has an incredibly high word count. As an adaptation, are there any techniques or ideas implemented to keep the audience’s attention throughout any verbose or talkative monologues or descriptions?

Kazumi: With the help of screenwriters Ihara san and Ozaki san, we managed to work up the script effectively. Additionally, we intentionally differentiated between Haruka and his classmates in the storyboard.

Matsuoka: I think they make sure not to turn everything directly into dialogue and carefully maintain the pacing of the visuals.

© Shoji Goji, OVERLAP / Loner Life Production CommitteeIt’s not often we see an adaptation of an isekai story involving a whole classroom’s worth of characters rather than a single person. Is there anything unique about this type of setting or story that stood out to you in the production process?

Kazumi: In the production process, we work with many specialized teams. During that time, there are often moments when you feel ‘a loner.’ However, that doesn’t mean it’s ‘loneliness.’ There are times when you find yourself ‘a loner’ in a way that resonates with Haruka’s journey of tackling challenges in another world. That might sound dramatic, but I think many people experience similar situations.

Matsuoka: The character names are unique, but the fact that the class is divided into groups and that they initially get along in the other world but later split up feels quite realistic. It’s a setting that seems like it could exist but is actually quite uncommon.

This series has been out since 2018! Are there any scenes you’re excited to show, or think will benefit from being adapted in the current year?

Kazumi: There are often moments when you feel ‘alone,’ especially when you’re with society or family. Having time alone allows you to reset your distance from society. I believe this work can resonate with those who watch it alone and find empathy in it.

Matsuoka: The cute girl characters! I can’t help but feel envious of Haruka! At the same time, watching Haruka’s cool moments is also really exhilarating!! Overall, the pacing is great, and the characters are so charming that I think people of all ages will find it easy to enjoy.

In your opinion, how has the isekai genre changed over the years to match the audience’s tastes over time?

Kazumi: I believe it will become an even more interesting genre. Since viewer preferences are diverse, I think it will continue to evolve further.

Matsuoka: There are so many different isekai titles, so the most enjoyable part is seeing the creative and original settings that stand out!

© Shoji Goji, OVERLAP / Loner Life Production CommitteeDo you have a favorite character in the series?

Kazumi: It’s very difficult to choose. Each character is incredibly charming. If I had to pick, I would say Gal Leader.

Matsuoka: There are so many characters, and each one is charming! It’s tough to choose… I really like the cheerful vibe of the Nudist Girl, but I think it would have to be Class Rep! In the anime, I feel like her comebacks really stood out!

What are both of your biggest influences from anime?

Kazumi: There are so many to mention, but I was influenced by anime from the 1970s to the 1980s.

Matsuoka: Since I played soccer, the biggest influence for me was Captain Tsubasa. It might be more of a manga, though. Also, when I was a kid, I was influenced by Dragon Ball and would do training because of it! (laughs) I became interested in robot-themed anime through Code Geass, and the reason I started watching late-night anime was Kage Kara Mamoru (Mamoru the Shadow Protector). It brings back memories! There are so many to mention.

Are there any previous anime you’ve worked on that prepared you for any challenges while working on Loner Life?

Kazumi: The fact that there are many characters despite the theme of being ‘a loner’ was already a challenge. The number of voice actors was the highest I’ve experienced. It was a challenge to portray the concept of ‘loneliness’ within that context.

Matsuoka: I believe that, without realizing it, the experiences I’ve accumulated from the projects I’ve worked on have contributed to this one.

Thank you to PONY CANYON Inc. for making this interview possible!

Loner Life in Another World is now streaming on the following platforms:

ADN (Europe)

• From September 26th, 2024 on every Thursday 5:00 p.m.(UTC+2 / CEST)
• From October 31st 4:00 p.m. (UTC+1 / CEST)

HIDIVE (North America (USA & CA), UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand)

• From September 26th, 2024 on every Thursday 3:00 p.m. (UTC)

Interview questions contributed by Marion “Microwavey” Peña and Varun Gupta.

“>

The post Adapting Loner Life in Another World Into An Anime | Interview With Akio Kazumi and Takanori Matsuoka appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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WE’RE SEEING SPIRALS! After five long years, the highly anticipated anime adaptation of Junji Ito’s iconic horror manga Uzumaki is finally premiering on Adult Swim, and we got a chance to preview and review the first episode! With an ambitious production that spiraled out of control and was so cursed with delays that executive producer Jason DeMarco has joked that he’s “still seeing spirals,” did the show end up being just as cursed to watch, or does it break the curse of Adult Swim’s middling original anime by being as good as the manga it spiraled out of? Join Lum and VLord as they spin out their thoughts on the first episode, encircling the show’s production, animation, adaptation, music, both the Japanese and English dub performances, and other topics whilst trying not to let their fascination with the spiral get them too sucked in!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – Intro

04:27 – Discussion Start

06:32 – Uzumaki’s Publication and Production Background

09:05 – The Art and Animation of the Anime

18:07 – The Adaptation and Pacing

23:43 – Colin Stetson’s Soundtrack

30:14 – Hiroshi Nagahama as a Director

32:24 – Narrative and Adaptational Changes

35:14 – Thoughts on the Sub and Dub

40:20 – Final Thoughts

41:57 – Wrap-Up

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @VLordGTZ and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and Apple Podcasts and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

Follow Saturday Night Shoggy on Twitter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SatNightShoggy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

You can email us at satnightshoggy@gmail.com

Music Credits:

Intro – “Spiraling Shape” by They Might Be Giants, Karaoke Version provided by Karaoke Nerds

SNS Intro – “Can’t See Your Face” by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AmpRen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SNS Outro – “Curtain Call” by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AmpRen⁠

Edited by LumRanmaYasha

The post Saturday Night Shoggy EP. 24: Spiraling Into the Uzumaki Anime! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton, Lum & Sakaki discuss their time at San Diego Comic Con 2024! Listen as Colton talks about going to his first ever big convention and whether he’d do it all again! Enjoy!

Download Here!!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – Intro

04:34 – San Diego Comic Con 2024

2:18:43 – End

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and Apple Podcasts and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

LINKS:

• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Support us on Patreon!
• Check out the Best and Worst Manga 2024 panel on our Youtube channel!
• Vlord’s interview with the Rick & Morty anime crew
• Listen to Felipe Smith’s Cringe Musume podcast!
• Check out Sakaki’s interview with Atsuko and more over at Weekly Shogakukan Edition!
• Listen to Sakaki on such podcasts as Saturday Night Shoggy & Another Day, Another Adventure

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 240: San Diego Comic Con 2024 (aka Colton’s First Big Con) appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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This year at Otakon, Manga Mavericks and Weekly Shougakukan Edition’s Varun Gupta and Sakaki had the pleasure of speaking with the staff for the anime A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics, including the original light novel writer Yomi Hirasaka, Shogakukan’s GAGAGA Bunko Deputy Editor-in-Chief Kentaro Iwaasa, character designer Kazuhiro Fukuchi, and TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) producer Maiko Higa.

Check out the full interview with the team down below:

Hirasaka-sensei, after A Sister’s All You Need what made you continue to publish your work with Shogakukan?

Hirasaka: After A Sister’s All You Need, I started discussions with Iwaasa-san about what to write next and it was through our discussions that we came up with A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics.

Iwaasa-san, what do you think makes GAGAGA Bunko stand out from other publishers?

Iwaasa: What makes GAGAGA Bunko stand out from others is the variety of stories we publish. Of course, there are very mainstream light novels such as ones with cute girl protagonists or romcoms, but we also offer coming-of-age stories for older readership as well as works targeted to girls and women and other niche genres.

Fukuchi-san, how much feedback did you get from Hirasaka-sensei and the LN illustrator Kantoku when working on the character designs?

Fukuchi: At the beginning, Kantoku gave us some initial feedback about the nuances of the characters such as making their faces rounder, but otherwise we had a strong foundation of trust and there wasn’t too much back and forth on the character designs.

Higa-san, as a producer what were your main priorities on A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics and how far in advance did anime production begin before airing?

Higa: Generally for anime productions, discussions begin about two to three years before they air. That was the case for A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics where planning began two to three years before airing. As for the other question –a producer’s primary job is securing money. (laughs) So my first task and main job was to find party members to join this adventure and help pay for the expenses.

Hirasaka-sensei, we noticed that Detective Conan was a major part of this work. Are you a fan of the series, and what was it like going to Aoyama-sensei for his blessing to use his work as part of A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics?

Hirasaka: Of course I’ve read and watched Detective Conan and am a fan of the series. As for it’s inclusion in the series —the main character Sosuke is a detective, and if you’re writing a series under a Shogakukan imprint, then Conan is the detective you think of. So it almost felt like we had to include him. However when we approached the editorial department they at first told us it might not be likely we can use Conan, but they figured it couldn’t hurt to ask. To everyone’s surprise, Aoyama-sensei was on board almost immediately and gave us the okay without much of an issue.

Iwaasa: As an aside Detective Conan also appears in the anime version as well. So when we went again to ask for permission to use him Aoyama-sensei was once again on board and said that he’s okay with anything we want to do and looks forward to the anime. He’s a truly wonderful person.

For the season finale of the anime, there was an advertisement in Times Square in New York. What was the process for making that happen?

Higa: To Japan, New York is a melting pot of ethnicity, much like A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics. That was one of the reasons why we thought to approach advertising there. Also in Episode 5 of the series, Sara asks if they’re in New York, but she’s quickly corrected that they’re in Gifu, Prefecture Japan. Since New York did come up in the show that was another factor in favor of advertising there. Also, other popular anime such as Demon Slayer had advertisements in New York, so we wanted to try it. We went in thinking it may not work out, but in the end, it did.

Hirasaka-sensei, you write the scripts for the anime adaptions of your works. Is that by preference?

Hirasaka: I strongly believe when a work is transferred into another medium it’s important to keep the spirit of the original intact, so I elect to write the anime myself. In the previous adaptation of one of my series, I wrote the script so with this one I asked the producer if it would be okay if I wrote this as well and got the okay for it.

Fukuchi-san this is your first show as a character designer how did you get this role and how does it differ from doing key animation?

Fukuchi: There was a contest to choose the character designer for the anime, and it came down to three choices. They asked each of us to draw the leads, Sara, LiVia, and Sosuke to get an idea of who would best represent the characters in the anime. The staff involved with the anime then went through these illustrations and chose mine.

Higa-san how has producing A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics differed from other productions you’ve been a part of?

Higa: A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics was a ton of fun to work on because of the many jokes in the series. Some of them are edgier than others. When an anime goes to broadcast on TV, there are rules and guidelines they have to follow so it was challenging and rewarding to figure out just how to get the jokes on air. One specific character was Noa, a character who runs a cult. Not surprisingly matters of religion have guidelines so we had many conversations to figure out what would be okay to air, as Noa wouldn’t work without her background as a cult leader.

Fukuchi-san, Hirasaka-sensei what were some of your influences when working on the anime and light novels respectively?

Hirasaka: There are two works in particular that influenced me, the manga Hinamatsuri and the video game Yakuza 7. In Hinamatsuri the main character is suddenly put in charge of a girl with psychic abilities. It’s a relaxed slice of life series I really enjoyed reading. The other, Yakuza 7 Sosuke starts off as a easygoing character, but as the series progresses he sees the dark underbelly of society and I feel like Yakuza is a heavy influence on that.

Iwaasa: So when Hirasaka-sensei and I were discussing what to do next, we had several different ideas. One day Kantoku-sensei and I received a totally different idea from Hirasaka-sensei, which had us confused since it was totally different from what we had discussed earlier, and he revealed it’s because he wanted to write something similar to Hinamatsuri.

Fukuchi: As far as inspirations for the series, I didn’t have anything in particular but one general thing I made sure to pay attention to is the shading on the characters. Anime in Japan right now has a trend of lighter shading on characters. As for a specific character that was influenced by other works –Yuna, or well her mom does not have a specific appearance in the light novel so I was left on my own to design her. Since I haven’t drawn that many mother-figure characters I did look through other anime for inspiration. I didn’t use any one series in particular, but I did get inspiration from them.

Thanks again to the A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics team, TBS, and Otakon for making this interview possible!

A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics is currently streaming on Crunchyroll

The post A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics Anime Interview | Otakon 2024 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Culver City, California (September 19, 2024) – Crunchyroll, the ultimate home for anime worldwide, announced today that it has acquired North American and select international theatrical rights for Solo Leveling -ReAwakening-, a cinematic fan experience that brings together a recap of the first season of the anime sensation Solo Leveling, adapted from the best-selling Korean webtoon, with a special sneak peek of the first two episodes of the highly anticipated second season.

Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment will bring Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- to theaters in the United States and Canada on December 6, 2024.

The anime series Solo Leveling is adapted from the best-selling Korean web novel written by Chugong, which was later adapted into a webtoon and manhwa in 2018, with illustrations by DUBU. The first season of Solo Leveling debuted globally on Crunchyroll on January 6, 2024 with a second season coming in January 2025.

Official Film Synopsis:

Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- features a catch-up recap of the first season coupled with an exclusive sneak peek of the first two episodes of the highly anticipated second season in one momentous theatrical fan experience.

Over a decade has passed since a pathway called a “gate” which connects this world and another dimension suddenly appeared, and people with superhuman powers called “hunters” have been awakened. Hunters use their superhuman powers to conquer dungeons inside the gates to make a living, and Sung Jinwoo, a hunter of the lowest rank, is considered the Weakest Hunter of All Mankind. One day, he encounters a double dungeon, a high-level dungeon hidden inside a low-level one. In front of a severely wounded Jinwoo, a mysterious quest window pops up. On the verge of death, Jinwoo decides to take on the quest, which makes him the only person who can level up.

CREDITS: Solo Leveling is animated by acclaimed A-1 Pictures (Sword Art Online), with motion graphics by Production I.G (Attack on Titan, PSYCHO-PASS). The series is directed by Shunsuke Nakashige (Sword Art Online). Additional staff credits include music by Hiroyuki Sawano (Attack on Titan) and TOMORROW X TOGETHER (K-pop band), character design by Tomoko Sudo, and monster design by Hirotaka Tokuda.

About Crunchyroll®

Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex Inc., a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.

Films distributed and marketed by Crunchyroll—domestically and internationally—have a proven track record of both box office and critical success. Crunchyroll’s theatrical team has been behind 10 of the Top 20 best-performing anime films in U.S. box office history, including Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train, Suzume, Jujutsu Kaisen 0, Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO, One Piece Film: Red, and more. Not only have Crunchyroll films seen box office success, but have also been recognized with numerous awards and accolades and been accepted and screened at international film festivals around the globe.

©2024 Crunchyroll, LLC. All rights reserved. CRUNCHYROLL and the Crunchyroll logo are registered trademarks of Crunchyroll, LLC. All third party names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

The post CRUNCHYROLL ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION AND THEATRICAL DATE FOR UNITED STATES AND CANADA FOR NEW “SOLO LEVELING -REAWAKENING-” FAN OMNIBUS FILM appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Culver City, California (Sept. 19, 2024) – Crunchyroll is getting back into the New York groove with an anime-filled return to New York Comic Con. Crunchyroll is bringing a supercharged slate of panels celebrating long-running, fan-favorite series and all-new anime coming to Crunchyroll.

NYCC is getting a sneak peek at OVERLORD: The Sacred Kingdom, the upcoming theatrical film and the next chapter in the OVERLORD series. Director Naoyuki Ito and MADHOUSE Studio Producer Kentaro Hashimoto will be on-site to take fans behind the scenes of the series theatrical debut before it arrives in U.S. theaters on November 8th. In anticipation of the NYCC activities, Crunchyroll revealed a new trailer today. More film information can be found here.

Fans won’t want to miss world-renowned FAIRY TAIL creator Hiro Mashima on the NYCC main stage! Mashima-sensei will discuss FAIRY TAIL: 100 Years Quest—the successor to long-running, fan-favorite series currently streaming on Crunchyroll—alongside his incredible body of work.

ZENSHU, a new original series from MAPPA, the studio behind JUJUTSU KAISEN and Chainsaw Man, is set to stream on Crunchyroll in the future. NYCC will get the first look at the new show when the World Premiere Trailer drops at the Crunchyroll Industry Panel alongside a slate of new announcements, reveals, and more.

Crunchyroll is teaming up with publishers Tapas and Yen Press for a webtoon panel featuring The Beginning After the End author TurtleMe. Stop by for a special surprise involving this beloved series.

Out of the panel rooms and onto the show floor, Crunchyroll has all the swag fans will need at Booth [1643]. Additionally, brave Hunters willing to rise to the Cartenon Temple’s challenge can venture into the Solo Leveling Experience—an immersive 360 degree experience based on the hit anime.

The Crunchyroll Store is setting up shop with a look and feel experience, bringing the number one destination or anime merchandise to life. Fans can check out more than 40 online exclusives in-person, including New York Comic Con Exclusive FiGPiNs for One Piece and Mobile Suit Gundam.

For more details, check out Crunchyroll’s full NYCC lineup HERE or below!

SPOTLIGHT ON HIRO MASHIMA: CREATOR OF FAIRY TAIL

Friday, October 18 | 11:30 AM ET

Jacob Javits Convention Center – Main Stage

Join Crunchyroll and Kodansha USA for a rare, in-person, conversation with the renowned manga creator Hiro Mashima—the mind behind FAIRY TAIL and EDENS ZERO and author of FAIRY TAIL: 100 Years Quest. With the EDENS ZERO manga having just come to a close and the FAIRY TAIL: 100 Years Quest anime currently on air, this conversation with Mashima-sensei will cover over two decades of his career as a best-selling manga creator.

• Panelists: FAIRY TAIL and EDENS ZERO creator Hiro Mashima

CRUNCHYROLL INDUSTRY PANEL

Friday, October 18 | 6:30 PM ET

Jacob Javits Convention Center – Room 405

Hear about all the latest and greatest anime coming out of Crunchyroll straight from the source!

• Host: Crunchyroll’s Lauren Moore and Tim Lyu

THE BEGINNING AFTER THE END Ft. Author TurtleMe

Saturday, October 19 | 10:45 AM ET

Jacob Javits Convention Center – Room 409

Join Crunchyroll and TurtleMe (Author, Beginning After The End) for a special panel! Learn about the popular Tapas series through the eyes of the creator and stick around for a special surprise!

• Panelists: TurtleMe

OVERLORD: THE SACRED KINGDOM EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW Ft. DIRECTOR NAOYUKI ITO AND PRODUCER KENTARO HASHIMOTO

Saturday, October 19 | 12:45 PM ET

Jacob Javits Convention Center – Room 409

Dive into an exclusive preview of OVERLORD: The Sacred Kingdom ahead of the North American release on November 8th! NYCC attendees will join Crunchyroll in hosting Director Naoyuki Ito (legacy Director of OVERLORD) and MADHOUSE Producer Kentaro Hashimoto for behind-the-scenes insight into the world of OVERLORD.

• Panelists: Director Naoyuki Ito, Producer Kentaro Hashimoto

Details subject to change. Updates can be found on Crunchyroll News!

For those who cannot attend New York Comic Con, please check out Crunchyroll on X (Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Channel for all the greatest highlights.

About Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll is the global anime brand that fuels fans’ love of anime. With the ambition to make anime an even bigger part of pop culture, Crunchyroll offers fans the ultimate anime experience and destination centered around a premium streaming service. Crunchyroll has the largest dedicated anime library, an immersive world of events, exciting theatrical releases, unique games, must-have merchandise, timely news, and more. Anime is for everyone and is accessible to stream across territories through Crunchyroll—whether on the go on mobile, through gaming consoles and big-screen devices at home, or on desktops anywhere.

Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.

The post CRUNCHYROLL HEADS TO NEW YORK COMIC CON TO CELEBRATE FAN-FAVORITE AND ALL-NEW ANIME SERIES appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Kaiji Tang is a multi-talented multi-medium voice actor who’s been in this biz for nearly twenty years. His popular roles are numerous, but his fans at Anime Central 2024 undoubtedly were particularly eager to hear his thoughts on portraying Satoru Gojo from Jujutsu Kaisen and Jinshi from The Apothecary Diaries, two of the biggest shows and most popular anime characters of 2023, and both titles having panels at ACEN spotlighting them and featuring Kaiji as a panelist. Beyond talking about his characters, Kaiji is a passionate advocate for the voice acting community and supporting newcomers to the industry, hosting a panel at ACEN with Tony Oliver to discuss what the voice-acting profession entails and giving fans an opportunity to try it out themselves.

Kaiji is unflinching about expressing his passions, whether it is his love of gaming, or criticizing the working conditions in the voice acting industry and advocating for change to give voice actors the credit, respect, and compensation they rightly deserve. We were able to chat with Kaiji about these two particular topics in a press conference with him at ACEN with two other outlets, Zealed Fujoshi and Tribe 3 Productions. Questions were submitted in advance, and moderated by press department manager, Eric Leitzen. We arrived a bit late to the interview, so we were not able to catch all the questions asked by the other outlets, but we did get there in time to hear Kaiji talk about the games he really gets into!

The following questions and responses may have been edited for length, clarity, and emphasis.

Tribe 3 Productions: What is your favorite genre of video game?

Kaiji Tang: Ok, here’s one thing. My favorite genre of video game – I play fighting games all the time. However, if you sit me in front of Civ VI – Civilization VI – I will literally spend 14 hours in front of the screen without getting up. I will! Like I will blink, and the entire day will have gone by. And so it’s very easy to enrapture me in grand strategy games, like I simply will play. So, if you need to capture me under a box or something like that, just put a laptop with Civ VI under there, and I’ll be under there.

Manga Mavericks: Since you made a tweet in January joking that people should now refer to you as “the wretched spawn of Loki” and that you would be signing everything as such from now on, have you actually followed through with it?

KT: No one has asked for it, unfortunately. So if anyone sees this and you come up to my table, if you ask me to sign as the “wretched spawn of Loki” – yeah, it’s actually on my Wikipedia now! Someone put it up there.

MM: Yeah, I saw!

KT: Yeah! Right, so… (laughs). And it’s still up there! It’s literally unchanged. It’s like a permanent fixture now. So, hey, if you want me to sign your Funko pop as “the wretched spawn of Loki,” I would be happy to do so.

MM: If I see you at one of your sessions, I will get you to sign with that!

KT: Yeah, absolutely! (laughs)

from now on you may refer to me as the wretched spawn of loki

i will be signing everything as such

— Kaiji Von Tang (@KaijiTang) January 31, 2024

MM: You’ve mentioned before that voice acting for anime is consistently the hardest and the lowest paid jobs you do and that the anime jobs you do are “for fun, not to eat.” What can be done in the industry to make this job a more sustainable career?

KT: (Sighs)… That is the magic question, isn’t it? Yeah. No one seems to be willing to pay higher for anime dubs. It’s, for whatever reason, in the anime industry… it’s getting a little – the perception of it is getting a little better. The pay, however, is not, right? As far as Hollywood is concerned, and maybe even SAG is concerned, dubbing is just like the little stuff trapped in the corner that no one really cares about. It’s like, you know, we’re all busy fawning over the movie stars and all that stuff and getting them their bonuses and all that stuff.

So… (sighs). You know, I tell folks there are so many people passionate about anime who want to voice anime, but it is important to keep your expectations realistic. You are gonna be paid so little. It’s… (sighs), it’s outlandish in my opinion, alright? When I’ve seen so many actors come from screen, come from everywhere else, step into the booth and try to dub for the first time and they’re like “what is happening?” “How do I even act in-between these little flaps,” right? How do you even tell this story when you’re constrained from every angle. It is literally acting with weights off. Literally, acting with weights off. And if you’re not trained to do it, it’s just, it’s like an alien-like activity, right? And, something so technically demanding really deserves a pay bump, right?

It’s like… (sighs). I’m trying to find a parallel in life. It’s like being paid to sit and podcast for two hours, right? And just give your opinion, and be paid for it, versus fixing a computer, right? You should be paid more for one thing than the other in my mind. That’s all I’m going to say.

MM: You mentioned that there was some frustration in the voice acting community about over SAG-AFTRA signing a deal with an AI startup to create and license digital replicas of actors voices.What needs to be done for SAG to better listen to, reflect, and fight for and in the interests of voice actors?

KT: Oh my god… (laughs). (Takes a deep breath)… We don’t have enough hours.

(everyone in the room laughs)

KT: Oh man… you know what’s so funny? We’ve had really, really passionate people in the voice-over community bring all these concerns to all the SAG meetings. You know what we were told?

(Sighs).

“We recognize that voice-over actors are on the front lines of the danger zone of the A.I. era, but we should wait to see what happens.”

And then when we complained, we were called low-level people.

Right? Yeah. That was interesting. So, SAG, if you’re seeing this video, do better. ‘Kay? That’s all I’m going to say. Do better. Oh my god. Yeah.

After the interview, we had an opportunity to take cover photos of Kaiji for our articles, and say our thanks to him for his time before he rested and prepared for his next interview with The Mary Sue. We thank Eric Leitzen again for organizing and moderating the press conference, and promise Kaiji the next time we see him, we’ll ask him to sign something for us as “the wretched spawn of Loki!”

Be sure to check out our other coverage and interviews from Anime Central 2024, with more to come!

The post Kaiji Tang, “The Wretched Spawn of Loki,” Talks Video Games & Voice Acting | Anime Central 2024 Interview appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On the night of Saturday August 25th, Anime NYC’s main events hall was full of enthused Terminator fans awaiting Judgement Day; aka, the premiere of the first two episodes of Terminator Zero, a new anime set in the Terminator universe produced by Production I.G. Even though the show’s official release on Netflix was less than a week away, and the entirety of the show had leaked online a little over a week before, seating in the events hall was nearly full for the premiere, particularly on the right and center sections of the room. As people walked into the room, an emcee was encouraging the attendees who’ve become interested in Japanese culture to visit Japan, emphasizing anime’s role as a cultural ambassador and link between multiple cultures, and Anime NYC as representative of the shared passion and appreciation of Japanese art and culture it has engendered. This set the tone well for the following panel discussion, in which the producer and creative staff of the show explored and emphasized the cross-cultural collaboration that made Terminator Zero possible.

Before the premiere began, three key members of Terminator Zero’s creative staff were brought on stage; showrunner and executive producer Mattson Tomlin, director Masashi Kudo, and design production coordinator Haruka Watanabe. The panel was moderated by actor and influencer Kleo Thomas, who began the pre-premiere panel discussion by asking whether it was the guests first time at Anime NYC, which it was for all three.

Thomas asked the guests what their top 5 favorite anime were, believing that you really get to know someone based on their favorite anime, and that it would be an icebreaker to help the audience get to know them better. Masashi Kudo replied that he is a Disney fan, and particularly loves Sleeping Beauty, calling Maleficent one of the best villains ever designed, and Peter Pan, praising Tinkerbell’s design. Moving on to his favorite Japanese animation, he highlighted Sailor Moon R: The Movie: The Promise of the Rose, particularly lauding the way music is incorporated in Sailor Moon’s theatrical films. His next pick was Char’s Counterattack, which he noted that, alongside James Cameron’s original Terminator films, was an influence on the animation and artistic direction of Terminator Zero. Finally, in a boast much like ol’ Jim Cameron himself would quip, he said “of course, the last one is Terminator Zero,” with a laugh.

Haruka Watanabe’s childhood favorite anime were the Studio Ghibli classics, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and Whisper of the Heart, which inspired her to get into animation. She then named three anime that’ve influenced her as an adult and have had an impact on her career; Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Mushi-shi, and Planetes, notably all mature anime titles similar either in tone or themes to Terminator Zero that came out within a few years of each other 20-ish years ago. Finally, Mattson Tomlin listed his “basic” favorites as Akira and Ghost in the Shell, while noting that the Animatrix was his gateway into anime, and that he loves everything Peter Chung does and thinks he’s brilliant. His last pick was Samurai Champloo. Interestingly, many of Tomlin’s picks are sci-fi titles known both for their philosophical themes as much as their graphic violence, and picks like Animatrix and Samurai Champloo reflect the cross-cultural mix and collaboration between Eastern and Western artists. The Animatrix is a particularly interesting choice considering it can be said to have paved the way to a project like Terminator Zero coming about 20 years later; a reinterpretation of a popular sci-fi blockbuster franchise by a talented team of Japanese animators.

After discussing everyone’s favorite anime, a new NSFW/red-band trailer of Terminator Zero was played for the crowd to prepare and hype them up for what they were about to see. With the crowd riled up with anticipation from the excitement of the trailer, Thomas galvanized them further by revealing they would be premiering not just one, but the first two episodes of the show for the crowd. Before starting the screening, though, Thomas asked for the panel’s thoughts on the show. Tomlin matter-of-factly replied “I love Terminator. The End.” He elaborated that making the show took 4 years of work and his life, and he almost can’t believe he’s here at ANYC to finally show it to an audience. It was a special moment for him to finally share 4.5 years of his life with an audience. Kudo mused that the trailer reminded him of all the production troubles they had with the show, so he hopes the crowd really enjoyed what they were about to see next. Haruka energized the crowd with her passionate call to action; “I want you to feel it, live it, and enjoy it.”

Thomas revealed that they were giving the audience the choice to “choose your fate” in which way they could watch the show, sub or dub. He led the crowd to cheer for which version they wanted to see. There was an overwhelming amount of cheers for the subbed version. While there were cheers for the dub, they were drowned out by almost similarly loud boos. This visibly perplexed Thomas and Tomlin, who didn’t know what to make of the reaction. Considering Tomlin worked most closely with the dub actors, and Netflix heavily promoted the show off the pedigree of having Rosario Dawson in the cast, you could sense a degree of disappointment or distress to the crowd’s anti-dub fervor. But successive boo’s of “no dub!” and loud chants of “Sub! Sub! Sub!” finally made the choice clear and settled the choice for what the crowd, or at least its loudest participants, wanted to see. Though initially, this seemed to be a bit of a monkey’s paw, as the show initially played full-size on the screen, formatted in a way that the subtitles were very low on the bottom of the screen, and thus people sitting in the back of the room couldn’t see over the heads of those sitting ahead of them. This led to loud calls of “we can’t see,” “we can’t read the subtitles,” and calls to switch to the dub from the loud attendees at the back of the room, many of whom were the loudest voices demanding to watch the subbed version to begin with.

These pleas temporarily subsided as the first scene of the first episode played, which was a long and largely wordless action sequence following protagonist Eiko and her team stealing a blue data chip from a Skynet facility while contending with merciless murderous Terminators. With the heavy emphasis on action and visual storytelling, it almost seemed like the subtitle snafu wouldn’t be too much of an impediment for the crowd to enjoy the show. However, when the show switched from 2022 to 1997 and conversations with the main characters, the Lee family, it became clear this was going to be a persistent issue and the pleas riled up again. Eventually, during the first kitchen scene with the Lee family, they switched to a letterboxed mode, which shifted the screen and subtitles up above the heads of most people sitting up front, which allowed the people in the back of the room to see the subs better. The screen was shifted up and shrunk a bit again a few minutes later, during the scene where housekeeper Misaki is told by Malcom Lee to return the Koneko, a pet robot cat.

Narratively, Terminator Zero sets itself apart from other entries in the franchise by focusing on primarily Japanese characters, including biracial Japanese children, and featuring the franchise’s first Asian male Terminator. The show opens in-media res in 2022, showing Japan-based resistance fighters led by protagonist Eiko raiding a Japanese Skynet facility to steal a datachip with information about Kokoro, an AI developed by scientist Malcom Lee in 1997 to compete with Skynet and prevent Judgement Day from happening. Eiko is tasked with time-traveling to 1997 to prevent Judgement Day by any means necessary, whether it be by protecting Malcolm and Kokoro, or destroying them. And of course, she’s also got to contend with a Terminator out to assassinate Malcolm and his kids and prevent any potential interference to Judgement Day coming to pass.

We see that Malcolm has nightmares or prophetic visions of the apocalypse that Skynet creates, which also heavily leans into nuclear apocalyptic and atomic bomb imagery, with our introduction to Malcom being him imagining his skin being blown off and him being reduced to a mass of flesh and bone by a bomb as a mushroom cloud looms over a destroyed Tokyo. The atomic bomb is a recurring motif in the show; Malcolm has another vision of an atomic bomb exploding and causing his flesh melting and blood boiling until he’s nothing but ash in a scenario Kokoro shows him in the second episode. Both instances of this are as graphic as the bomb explosion scene from Barefoot Gen, but whether there is a larger point to make about nuclear weapons other than the obvious points of bombs are horrifying and creating nuclear weapons is an example of humanity’s hubris and callous disregard for other life remains to be explored.

In any case, Malcolm hopes to get Kokoro online before August 29th, 1997 – Judgement Day – to stop Skynet’s plans and save humanity from the A.I. incursion. However, Kokoro has doubts as to Malcolm’s intentions, not fully convinced humanity is worth saving considering their arrogance and warmongering reflects their selfishness and disregard for other life besides their own. She pushes Malcom to consider what Skynet’s plans for the Earth will be after they’ve eliminated humanity, positing that their goal is to create a world more hospitable for all other life on the planet. The question of “is humanity worth saving?” is one of the key themes of the show and a tension explored between Malcolm as he tries to convince Kokoro to take humanity’s side and help prevent Judgement Day.

Whereas other Terminator entries don’t grapple much with the existential or philosophical implications of A.I. sentience, Terminator Zero is as much or more interested in such ideas as it is about fighting the cool killer robots. The show explores the humanity of Artificial Intelligence and respect for mechanical life, which is explored through following the perspectives of Malcolm’s children and their caretaker Misaki. Malcolm, knowing Judgement Day is coming, is apprehensive of letting any mechanical life into the home, and when Misaki buys a mechanical pet cat, Koneko, he tells her to return it to the store immediately. Malcolm’s eldest son is callous towards robots, wanting to take apart Koneko to study it and ridiculing his sister for caring about it. Malcolm’s daughter, however, is kind towards Koneko and runs away from home to protect it from her brother and prevent Misaki from returning it to the store. There’s a scene where she consoles herself that her dad doesn’t want Koneko around because it’s a pet, not because it’s a robot. The question of what artificial life is to humans, weapons, companions, toys, or fellow living creatures, is one that the show takes some time to thoughtfully consider.

Another element that poses questions about A.I. life are the 1nno, robot workers who commonly populate the city, serving as convenience store workers, drivers, caretakers for pets, etc. They look kinda like colorless, feature-less Funko pops, which is amusing considering that Watanabe claimed they were designed to look unsettling, and there are several instances in the first episode that make them feel frightening or dangerous; Misaki encounters one seemingly ignoring her or lost in thought in a convenience store, Malcolm sees one looking at him with glowing red eyes while in commute to his lab, and in the most unsettling scene, a 1nno walking a dog is suddenly barked at by the dog, who seems disturbed by it, lets go of the dog, which causes a car crash, and then goes looking for the dog, peering inside the car and seeing the bleeding corpse of the driver, and continuing to search for the dog completely undisturbed and without calling for help. This scene is a particularly good encapsulation of the A.I.’s disregard for human life, which serves as a good contrast to humans like Malcom’s son’s own cruelty or callousness towards mechanical life. This sets up a good “what makes a life deserving of respect?” theme for the series to interrogate as it navigates this conflict between humans and A.I. who have viewpoints both devaluing and disregarding the other’s right to life.

Visually, Terminator Zero has an impressive use of color theming for different environments; ominously blue-green Skynet facilities, hellish fiery purple-red’s when the Terminator awakens and is traveling back in time, dirty and dingy yellow-brown’s in the resistance bases, sterile gray-blue’s of 1997 Tokyo, empty white-blue’s for Kokoro’s room, and the bright light brown’s of the Lee family. Every location or scene is saturated in color reflecting the nature of the setting or character, and these color choices often characterize them contextually or subtextually. Color is also used to distinctive effect when shading characters, particularly the neon-purple highlights characters have on them during darkly lit scenes. Character-design wise, the series feels in line with Production I.G. ‘s history with sci-fi franchises, namely GITS and Psycho-Pass. The most distinctive character design is the A.I. Kokoro, which has a literally eye-opening reveal when it is shown her circular screen is centered inside a projected giant eye, and her three ethereal humanoid projected forms each have different colors, clothes, and hairstyles that evoke depictions of Japanese mythological figures like Princess Kaguya or Amaterasu.

Kokoro is also one of the more seamless example of 3D character models interacting with 2D animated characters and backgrounds, perhaps because of her translucent/digital nature already communicating a justified otherworldliness. Other example of CG character models are more distracting; there are several moments during Malcom’s conversation with Kokoro where a 3D model is used for shots where the camera moves around the environment in dramatic angles or turnarounds, which is very noticeable and incongruent to the 2D scenes. There are also shots of CGI ocean waves and other environments that, while they stand out against the rest of the show, work a little better due to a lack of characters seen in the environments drawing attention to the contrast. The perfect marriage between 3DCG and 2D elements in design are the Terminators themselves, whose menacing mechanical nature lends itself well to the uncanny valleyness of alternating between both modes of rendering. The titular Terminators leave a terrifying impression with their designs, including their glowing red eyes and skeletal mechanical frames. As Tomlin described, their skull-like heads for the anime were particularly modeled to resemble Kabuki masks, giving them more of Japanese design flavor.

The series’s draw is definitely going to be its visceral and intense action and violence, of which there are many examples to excite and horrify viewers just within the first two episodes alone, including Eiko and her team’s scuffle with a Terminator while they’re retrieving a data chip in the opening scene, a Terminator’s raid on a survivor camp while Eiko is in the midst of time-traveling, and a fight between Eiko and the Terminator on a highway that involves her ramming a bus into it and throwing it off a bridge into the river. The series also employs clever scene transitions and temporal blurring to simultaneously depict and contrast events happening at the same time in different locations or time periods. This was used to an engagingly cinematic effect in the first episode, depicting both Kokoro and the Terminator awakening at the same time, and then later in the episode when depicting Eiko and the Terminator both separately time-traveling back to the past. The blurring of the scenes, where one flows into each other seamlessly, is both artistically ambitious and a thematically thoughtful method of drawing contrasts.

In particular, the Kokoro/Terminator awakening scene draws upon ideas of life being birthed, with Kokoro’s being depicted as a more awe-inspiring moment of wonder, while the Terminator’s is more hellish and methodical, literally forged-in-fire and manufactured off an assembly line. The contrast in how Kokoro and the Terminator coming online is depicted plays into the theme of exploring how precious and valuable life is, which Kokoro’s being seen as a special moment for Malcolm, while the Terminator’s being shown as something more matter of fact, as he literally walks past dozens of unawakened Terminator bodies in reserve on his way to the time teleporter. Similarly, the scene simultaneously depicting Eiko and Terminator traveling back emphasizes the horror Eiko is experiencing, her body writhing and exploding in pain from the transportation process while she’s also forced to witness the massacre of all her loved ones and fellow refugees right in front of her, contrasted with the Terminator’s cold and unfeeling reaction going through the same process. Both characters are determined, but Eiko has the burden of people to avenge and fight for, something she’s emotionally invested in and is causing her much pain to go through, while the Terminator just has a mission, and no other thoughts or feelings about it other than fulfilling it.

The time-travel scene also has undertones of invasively exposing the characters, with them having to go through the process naked and all. As a censorship observation, while we do see Eiko and female Terminator’s bare breasts, they aren’t depicted with nipples. Either this is Barbie-doll censorship being artistically applied to both male and female nude bodies in this series, or the stress of an A.I. apocalypse causes all people to lose their nipples in the future.

The show successfully communicates a lot about the characters and world through the juxtaposition of scenes and moments, and through other visual signifiers and cues. Expository dialogue doesn’t belabor the point or feel repetitive, and more often than not, information about the characters is conveyed more subtly between the lines of what they say or in their actions. Tomlin and Kudo’s goal with the show was to return to the first Terminator’s horror roots, and that tone is never lost even during the extended action scenes. Even badass characters like Eiko feel vulnerable and the deaths feel upsetting and unsettling, making the danger the Terminator poses to the characters feel very believable and distressing. The fact that the show will focus on the Terminator hunting down a trio of in-over-their-head children stumbling into a secret robot army underneath the city definitely adds to the stakes and tension too.

Another crowd-pleasing element of the show should surely be the music, composed by Michelle Birsky and Kevin Olken Henthron. The score incorporates several themes and motifs from the Terminator franchise, including the beats of the familiar Terminator main theme “Dundun Dun Dundun.” One of the most remarkable moments of the panel was during the end of episode 1, when the Terminator theme started playing as the Terminator prepared to time-travel back to the past. After a few “dundun dun dundun”’s, one person started clapping along to it, then more and more, until by the last beat everyone was clapping along in-sync to the iconic beat. It was a moment of communal resonance that you can only get when watching media in an environment like this, but also speaks to the emotionally evocative feelings the score and recurring motifs from the franchise elicit from viewers. Even casual viewers or those who’ve engaged with little of the franchise, like myself, can pick up from the score many of the iconic motifs that have permeated pop culture and become synonymous with the franchise over the last 40 years. Birsky and Henthron’s score plays great tribute to the iconic themes that have come before in the franchise, while also adding their own flavor and twists to it, complementing the show’s horror tone and helping add another immersive element to invest into its world.

After finishing the second episode, they screened a behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of the series called “Inside the Creative Minds of Terminator Zero,” which highlighted a few of the distinctive elements that sets this version of Terminator apart; the 1nnos, the first Japanese male Terminator, the series’s cross-continental production. They also heavily highlighted Rosario Dawson’s role as Kokoro in the dub, with Tomlin musing “what does god sound like? Rosario Dawson.”

Going off from the video, the panel reconvened and explored how the show takes advantage of animation to depict scenes that the live-action films can’t, particularly in the kinds of creatively inventive violence and action scenes the series has as a result of the characters not having ready access to guns in Japan. Tomlin noted that, as an American, he took for granted the accessibility of guns. But in Japan, it is not realistic for civilians to be able to access guns, as a clip from the show humorously shows Misaki protesting to Eiko. However, these limitations bred creative conversations about what kind of weapons both the characters and Terminator could use, like crossbows, swords, and other mechanical weapons.

Kudo noted they wanted to make a new, surprising Terminator with a distinctly Asian, Japanese flavor. Watanabe explained they wanted to include unique Japanese elements while retaining the Hunter-Killer Skynet designs and T-800 design from the original film. New mechanical designs, like the drones seen in the show, were made to look like they’d fit in with Japanese daily life in the late 90’s. Thomas asked Watanabe about what inspired the 1nno, the new robot workers depicted in the show. Watanabe noted that the design of the 1nno was inspired by the Honda Asimo robot, and tried to make it feel like it would fit in 1997. They aimed to make them look cute but creepy, unsettling to look at, and a little bit awkward and discomforting, to make viewers feel on guard around them, and that something’s not right about them.

In contrast, she was requested to make Kokoro’s design translucent and appear like it could spontaneously disappear. Kokoro’s three personas are based on the Munakata, three Japanese goddesses who were said to protect seafarers, which over time has been expanded to protect travelers across many roads. This clicks well with the recurring imagery of waves employed in the show, as well as Malcolm’s frequent visions, and the debate between Malcom and Kokoro over which “road” humanity should travel down as Judgement Day approaches. Each persona of Kokoro represents a different characteristic; heart, mind, and spirit. To communicate the complexity of her construction, Watanabe tried to depict Kokoro’s central nervous system through her long kimono’s sleeves and extremities.

On how he was recruited to join the project, Masashi noted that he is a freelance director, but had a working relationship with a producer at Production I.G., who approached him about the project. He wasn’t sure what it would be about, but it sounded interesting, so he heard him out, and when he told him it was the Terminator, he was stunned “wait, you mean THAT Terminator?!” Masashi and this producer discussed the project over dinner, and both were in alignment about wanting to do a horror tone like the first Terminator.

Thomas inquired whether it was challenging to recreate Japan of the late 1990’s, since while it feels like recent history to those who lived through it, it still makes the show a period piece. Kudo reflected that while many of the artists on the staff were alive in 1997, some of the younger artists working on the show weren’t born then. So for the crew at large, it was like history, but not quite history. Nostalgic, but also new and unfamiliar. They had a brainstorming process with everyone on the staff who was alive back then on how to bring to life the world of Japan in 1997, trying to visualize various aspects of the city they remembered from back then, their memories providing a strong foundation to make the setting feel real.

When asked by Thomas what Terminator Zero is about, Tomlin replied that it’s about the end of the world, and trying to stop the end of the world. Though he acknowledged that Terminator 2 is one of the greatest action films of all time, he particularly liked the first Terminator as a horror movie because it scared the wit out of him and captivated him as a kid, and he wanted to recapture that tone with TZ. Regarding the characters, said the show will depict how the Lee kids will grow up in a world post-Judgement Day and how their father influences them. Meanwhile, Aiko’s objective is to prevent Judgement Day. Unlike previous Terminator protagonists, her mission is less of a straight path with an objective at the end of it, because no one really knows what the outcome will be of Kokoro going online. Without that objective, Aiko has to navigate an uncomfortable and unclear path, and her fealty to Malcom and the kids is contingent on what she thinks is the best option to prevent Judgment Day. If protecting them will stop it, she will protect them. But if killing Malcom and destroying Kokoro is the safer option, she will do what she needs to do.

Terminator’s cautionary tale about an apocalypse brought on by an overreliance on A.I. has aged well with the times, and Tomlin didn’t shy away from how the discourse and evolution of A.I. was on their minds during developing the show. Tomlin reflected that he’s always lived with the idea of A.I., but nowadays A.I. no longer feels like sci-fi and is more public and apparent in daily life, and developing so quickly. He shared an anecdote of scrolling through Instagram and seeing photorealistic A.I.-generated pictures he didn’t even clock as fake, which was a very unsettling and scary realization to him. Tomlin acknowledged that A.I. is a tool, but also that every tool turns into a weapon, an idea discussed directly in the conversation between Malcom and Kokoro in the show itself. While Tomlin can see how A.I. can make life better, he emphasized that “it’s not by putting comic book artists out of work,” a sentiment that earned affirmative applause from the crowd.

On the music, Tomlin shouted-out composers Michelle Birsky and Kevin Olken Henthron, who Tomlin revealed were in the audience and put a literal red spotlight on, joking that the “lights are going red because they’re so embarrassed right now” as they stood up and waved to the applauding crowd. Tomlin praised them as musical geniuses, and had a lot of fun finding the sound of the show with them. Tomlin’s favorite scene was the end of the first episode, depicting the birth of the Terminator and Kokoro at the same time, with the scenes and musical themes blending together and incorporating the iconic “dumdum dum dumdum,” which he was thrilled to be able to use. Tomlin was particularly happy hearing everyone clap to the “dumdum dum dumdum” of the Terminator theme while backstage during the screening, and hearing the music in this setting was very exciting to him.

Regarding the cast, Tomlin worked the most closely with and helped direct the english dub cast, and particularly praised the performances of Timothy Olyphant, Ann Dowd, and Rosario Dawson. He noted that working with Olyphant to find the voice of the Terminator in this show was both fun and scary, since they knew they just couldn’t do an Arnold impression. Tomlin seemed to acknowledge the crowd’s bias for the sub, but encouraged them to both, or at least watch the dub after the sub if they have the bandwidth for it, since he’s proud of the cast and performances they pulled off. To further entice viewers to check out the dub, they played an “In-the-Booth” behind-the-scenes video focused on Rosario Dawson’s performance as Kokoro. Dawson noted that she loves the different angle of the series and feels the show appeals to younger people with a new perspective on technology compared to when she saw the original film.

As the panel came to a close, Thomas asked the panel for their final thoughts and wishes on the series. Tomlin is psyched to have TZ out in the world, and encouraged fans to talk about it, emphasizing that there is more story he wants to tell in this world “let’s try to get to season 2!” Musashi asked the crowd for their opinion of the first two episodes, eliciting a response of affirmative cheers. He remarked that he hoped the energy and enthusiasm of the crowd will continue all throughout the remaining episodes, guaranteeing that they’ll all be amazing. Finally, Watanabe marveled at how the ANYC crowd was the first audience outside the staff to watch these episodes. She promised that if the crowd loved what they saw, they’ll love it all the way through episode 8.

With that, the panel closed with a special sneak peek of another Netflix action anime that Thomas hyped up at the start of the panel – the trailer for Sakamoto Days. Which had already been released online a while ago. And wasn’t even shown with subtitles. It was a rather underwhelming way to end the panel, but hey, people were audibly excited for it. Even more so, there was definitely a lot of enthusiasm and eagerness from the crowd to watch more of Terminator Zero. As everyone pooled out of the room, they swarmed in the hall by staffers handing out exclusive Terminator Zero posters (of the key visual below) for all attendees in an unmanaged mass of people that, somehow, the staff managed to filter through and keep moving through the hallway and up the stairs to the exit. I doubt few attendees left the panel without wading through the massive crowd for their poster, much like I have no doubt that most everyone in that room that night was sold on watching the rest of Terminator Zero. I know I’ll be back!

The post Terminator Zero @ Anime NYC 2024 | Panel Report & Premiere Review appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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This year at Otakon, Manga Mavericks Editor-in-Chief Varun Gupta had the opportunity to speak with manga artists Hinoki Kino and Kyoko Aiba.

Hello!!!!
Kyoko Aiba（@kyoko_ar
）and　Hinoki Kino（@kinokokko
） will attend Otakon（@Otakon
） in Washington, DC.
We will be doing live drawings and other activities. We look forward to seeing you at the event! pic.twitter.com/eGlRbtN6O6

— 木乃ひのきルプななコミカライズ (@kinokokko) July 24, 2024

Since 2020, Hinoki Kino has been drawing the manga adaptation of the light novel series 7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy! by Touko Amekawa, which is currently serialized on Overlap’s Comic Gardo web platform. Other notable works from Hinoki Kino include Setsuna Graffiti and the manga adaptation of No. 6.

Kyoko Aiba has worked in manga for over a decade, best known for her BL (Boys’ Love) and Josei series such as Derail and Kamisama Darling. She is currently serializing Oji Tensei ~Akuyaku Reijо̄ Kareinaru Seikatsu (Oji Tensei ~The Villainess’s Days of Aging Gracefully) on Shogakukan’s Sunday Webry, as well as Okuda no Hosomichi (The Narrow Road of Okuda) in Shueisha’s Grand Jump Mecha.

You can read the full interview with both creators down below:

Let’s start by asking both of you what inspired you to pursue becoming mangaka?

Kino: Back when I was a child I’d draw manga in my notebooks. Not necessarily fully formed stories, but I was more interested in the serialization aspect, so I’d draw mock color pages and manga covers, maybe one introductory page and that’s it. That ultimately led to me wanting to be a mangaka and get serialized.

Aiba: My origin is different from Kino-sensei’s. Originally I wanted to be a designer more than a mangaka, but way back I was working part-time at an editorial office, and one time was asked to fill in for someone who was on break, and that’s how I got my start.

What are your biggest manga influences?

Kino: Probably Fullmetal Alchemist?

Aiba: For me, Detective Conan (Case Closed) and Rumiko Takahashi’s works.

Kino-sensei, how were you approached to work on the 7th Time Loop manga?

Kino: I was approached via email with a request to draw the manga for 7th Time Loop from the author of the light novel. So I read the novels and was immediately drawn in and immediately wanted to work on the manga version.

When drawing the manga, how much input do you usually get from Touko Amekawa-sensei?

Kino: We talk pretty extensively via Discord or X (formerly Twitter) direct messaging. We have group chats between ourselves and the editor.

Aiba-sensei, you’re currently serializing Oji Tensei ~Akuyaku Reijо̄ Kareinaru Seikatsu on Sunday Webry. How did you come up with the concept of the series?

Aiba: Reborn or reincarnated-themed stories are hugely popular in Japan –and generally speaking upon rebirth you get all kinds of overpowered skills or upgrades. Being the contrarian I am, I always question “Why do these characters get so powerful and live such easy lives? Shouldn’t there be more suffering?” So I approached the story from the point of view that being reincarnated isn’t supposed to be easy.

Both of you are drawing series based on villainess-related leads. What do you think is important in making a compelling villainess story?

Kino: I don’t necessarily see Rishe as a villainess per se. She’s just a girl who’s in the unfortunate role of playing a villainess. So for me, I think I’m drawing Rishe as she is: a girl with many positive qualities.

Aiba: For me, it’s more about how a villainess comes to regret and repent in her wicked ways than reveling in doing bad things. Rather, I look at a villainess on the outset as the beginning point of a story rather than the end. So for me, while I might use the villainess template to start, it’s more about their character development from that point onward.

Kino-sensei, while you’re working on a manga adaptation of an existing work now, you have in the past drawn original works such as Setsuna Graffiti. What kind of different approaches do you have for drawing an adaptation versus an original story?

Kino: For Setsuna Graffiti, it was about writing a story around something I really like –in this case fireworks. So I approached my editor about writing a story based around them, and that’s where it began. While drawing drafts for the story my editor and I realized there aren’t many stories written about the craftsmanship of fireworks and thought it would be interesting to do so we went for it.

Aiba-sensei, Oji Tensei and Okuda no Hosomichi are serialized simultaneously. How do you maintain a consistent work schedule on both and do you think you approach both serializations differently?

Aiba: When I complete the manuscript for one of them, and send it to the editor for review, I’m working on the other one. Then when that goes for review, I’m working on the other series.

Since both manga are published by different publishers: Shueisha and Shogakukan, do you feel like the editorial process is different for both?

Aiba: The process between publishers isn’t all that different, but since the manga are different genres, a comedy versus something more serious, my approach on them changes. Though overall, it’s the same for both in regard to submitting a manuscript to the editor and waiting for a response.

In recent years the demand for Shojo, Josei, and BL manga has only risen. What do you think makes these stories more appealing now?

Aiba: In the past, shojo manga were generally about getting into relationships or romance. Nowadays however, they don’t limit themselves to romance but rather overcoming challenges. So there are far more variety and interesting things being done in the genre now.

Kino: Romance is still very popular, but now it’s romance plus something else –maybe fantasy, exploration, reincarnation, sports –it’s the addition of that extra element that attracts more audiences. It’s something similar to adolescence themed manga, but not quite –though the overall trajectory of someone pursuing happiness via working hard is what people relate to. It’s the Shonen Jump tenants of “Friendship, Effort, Victory” but with romance thrown in there too. Or maybe replace friendship with romance? (laughs)

Aiba-sensei since the release of your manga Young Carer it appears you’ve branched out from Boys’ Love manga to writing more non-BL stories. What lead to this change?

Aiba: I didn’t set out to write Young Carer intentionally. Rather, it just ended up that way while working with the publisher and my editor. As a mangaka, you’re always looking at the next work. As I was talking with the publisher, I wanted to write something a little more serious, but when it came time to work with Shogakukan I wanted to write something different. So, it comes down to just me writing what I feel like.

Do you feel the readership for your previous series are still attached to your current work? Or do you think you’re reaching a new audience with your recent series?

Aiba: It’s about half-half, I think. There are obviously people who come specifically for the Boys’ Love, but then there are also those who are interested in me as a mangaka. Even when they see me writing something that isn’t BL, they decide to look into it and there were of course people who are completely new to my body of work coming into these non-BL series too.

For Kino-sensei, what was your reaction when you heard 7th Time Loop was green-lit for an anime?

Kino: Amekawa-sensei and I were ecstatic and celebrating.

Amekawa-sensei is very vocal with her international fans on social media. Have you had more interaction with international fans yourself?

Kino: I want to interact more with overseas fans! I see lots of comments and such on social media but since I don’t understand what they’re saying sometimes, all I can do is support their replies with a like.

What is your favorite thing about each other’s work?

Kino: I look at Aiba-sensei’s work and just think “The person who’s illustrating this is a genius! I could never draw something like this.” Her works are very easy to read.

Aiba: I think Kino-sensei’s works have a refinement that I admire. Furthermore in my opinion, people who can illustrate manga of other author’s works have a spark that stands about them. Also, Kino-sensei’s panelwork layout is incredible.

What’s a manga premise you two would like to try that you haven’t had the chance to yet?

Aiba: I’m already trying something novel with Oji Tensei, so something I’d want to try in the distant future that I haven’t? Maybe Shojo manga?

Kino: Maybe a battle manga or sports? Or an adolescence manga.

Aiba: I’d maybe do a high-fantasy manga.

What would be your advice to newbie mangaka?

Kino: Draw, draw, draw a lot and compare your old sketches to what your ideal work looks like.

Aiba: Involve yourself in reading a lot, and experiencing different types of stories and genres. One shouldn’t read just one kind of story or stay within one type of medium either.

Thanks again to Hinoki Kino, Kyoko Aiba, and Otakon for making this interview possible!

The post Hinoki Kino & Kyoko Aiba Interview | Otakon 2024 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Boy’s Love series, topics, and mangaka are rarely given conventional spotlights and major coverage at US anime conventions, so I was excited and intrigued when Otakon announced they would host longtime BL manga artist Kyoko Aiba in 2023. Kyoko Aiba is a storied artist with over a decade’s worth experience creating BL and Josei manga, and whose recent works focus on socially conscious storytelling. Despite publishing many different types of series over her career, sadly only a scant few are available to read officially in English, and even those can be hard to find if you don’t know where to look.

Before Otakon, I personally was only able to find and read I Love You Enough to Tie You Up, a collection of about a dozen short stories often focusing on initially non-consensual relationships with power imbalances. It’s a difficult book to recommend because of its focus on non-con and sexual violence, though it conversely serves as a useful snapshot of the kind of content that was popular in BL in the early 2010s, and especially what types of works publishers like Digital Manga Publishing’s Juné imprint were primarily focusing on publishing.

But Tie You Up is also an interesting contrast to Aiba’s most recent work, in particular Derail, which is a one-volume psychological drama between two roommates becoming increasingly close and intimate with each other despite trying to emotional distance. What starts as a transactional and manipulative power-imbalance between the leads ends up peeling away many layers of facade until you find a tender heart at its core. It’s a surprising and thoughtful read, but alas, you wouldn’t be at fault for not finding the official release on Manga Planet before her appearance at Otakon 2023. Derail was only published in English on Manga Planet on June 15th, 2023, and to my recollection this information was not on her MAL page before Otakon, which was just six weeks later. Even now, when searching for it, the official Manga Planet link is buried under links for it on pirate sites.

Even more obscure is her salacious Josei one-shot, Harlem Knights on Renta, a short but mature adult love-traingle story between the daughter of a modeling agent and two handsome half-Japanese half-American brothers. Individually it’s hard to get a complete picture of Aiba as an artist from just one of her works, but together, these works demonstrate the variety in her style and storytelling sensibilities, and how the way she depicts and explores messy relationships in her works has matured over time.

Furthermore, though she is active on Twitter, there is scant information about Aiba available online in english-language sources. Anime News Network’s wiki only has news pieces about her work related to her Otakon appearances, and the only work of hers listed on her page is Young Carer Mienai Watashi, a Grand Jump Mucha one-shot and short serialization. The lack of coverage of Aiba’s work speaks to the critical underreporting about BL manga in the English manga community and the lack of visibility for BL manga artists as well as creators whose works are more niche and not as well known at US anime conventions. This information gap was something I wanted to redress by interviewing her, though consequently, I felt I lacked enough information about her to form a solid understanding of her work and career and ask good investigative, elucidating questions.

Thankfully, Otakon scheduled Kyoko Aiba’s Live-Drawing and Q&A panel the day before my interview with her, and I was able to attend and learn more about her career history, her influences, and creative interests, as well as witness how incredibly talented an artist she is in-person!

LIVE-DRAWING and Q&A with KYOKO AIBA | OTAKON 2023 PANEL REPORT

For an artist who’s works are relatively niche in the US, there was a remarkably good turnout of attendees who filled the room for Aiba’s panel who were fans of hers or genuinely curious to know more about her. As the panel began, Aiba started her live-drawing in Clip-Studio on her iPad. She noted she normally works on a PC, but it’s kinda difficult to move your whole desktop to the con. Aiba drew with the RoG pen in Clip Studio. She said she liked how it mimics the feel of hand-drawn ink pen lineart, whereas the default pens in CSP look too digital. Aiba still draws by hand on paper, but usually only for signboards for book stores. Otherwise she mostly draws her work on her PC. Aiba doesn’t paint, but she does draw with Copic Markers

Aiba started out in manga with a part-time job in the editorial office, she had no intention of becoming a manga artist, but a designer. But one day she was asked to draw something by a coworker, and her career took off from there. Aiba loves drawing people, she drew a lot of young men and women in BL, now that she’s moving away from that she likes drawing old people, giant robots, and animals like lions, even though it can be hard to draw.

Aiba reflected that the best way to improve your art and develop a personal style is to draw from reference and pay attention to detail. Practicing by drawing your favorite characters and what inspired you, and going from there. In the picture below, Aiba illustrated an example of how she learned to draw laces correctly by looking at reference (right) as opposed to by memory (left). Aiba is able to draw characters from imagination quickly and beautifully from being inspired by the people she observes. This cat boy maid she’s drawing was inspired by cosplayers she saw walking around the con floor.

Aiba was inspired to draw when she was in Elementary school by the designs on the Clow Cards from Cardcaptor Sakura and Yu-Gi-Oh cards, which influenced and helped her developing the designing skills and sensibilities she’d employ later in her career. Aiba’s artistic inspirations are Rumiko Takahashi and Hiromi Arakawa, but when it comes to storytelling, she feels that’s something you gotta come up yourself. Aiba was a big Ranma 1/2 fan, and her favorite character is Shampoo! Sadly, she turned down a request from the crowd to draw her. Aiba’s interpreter, Toshi Yoshida, bragged that he not only interpreted for Rumiko Takahashi twice at her only two ever conventions appearances in the U.S., but he also produced the entire English dub!

Regarding her career, Aiba said she was originally planning to be a shojo manga artist, but the BL department at her publisher moved her over there. Aiba’s been wanting to get out of BL for a while, but she found that when you work in BL you get a surprising amount of work, and she kept getting a lot of work, sometimes lined up out three years out, so it was hard to find a stopping point and so she kept going for 10 years. This live-drawing panel was one of Aiba’s few low-key recreational drawing experiences she’s had in a while, since she is usually too busy to draw for fun, though she loves drawing people’s faces on welcome boards of her friends’ weddings.

Aiba’s self-care practices include getting lots of massages and sleep. She fuels up by drinking a lot of Monster, Red Bull, and other energy drinks. When faced with artists block, she either goes to sleep or powers through to figure it out. Usually she ends up just sleeping, helps everything reset. She usually puts on a tv drama in the background while working, including a lot of US shows like Criminal Minds, which she’s seen all of like 50 times. She also likes Bones and a lot of crime dramas. Aiba’s favorite musicians are Eric Clapton and The Beatles, and her favorite anime is Ghost in the Shell. She mused how she seems to like stories where lots of people die.

As the panel was nearing its half-way point, Aiba noted that she usually leaves doing her characters’ legs for last, so she was almost done with her live-drawing. Commenting on how her drawing cut off right at the ankles, and Aiba explained that she really hates drawing feet. Yoshida joked that’s why you can’t see the feet in Aiba’s drawing! On differences between drawing men and women, she says she draws men with broader shoulders and bulkier hands and fingers than she would women. She draws her concept of a cool male character from a Japanese perspective, which may differ from a more muscular American depiction.

Observing that Aiba uses a lot of thin, loose line work, she noted that was because she’s live-drawing, her drawing is much rougher and looser than it normally would be.

Though the audience was impressed at how fast Aiba drew, she personally felt it went too slow, and that she could’ve drawn this in half the time on her PC. Finally, the audience was presented with Aiba’s finished drawing – A Cat Boy Maid in a (very) short skirt (and no feet!)! Aiba noted the “absolute territory” on her Cat Boy – the space between the bottom of the skirt and top of the stockings, a focal point for many Japanese fans. Aiba asked what the term is for the hair between the groin and navel in English; the crowd answered “Happy Trail,” but she prefer the term “Treasure Trail.”

Aiba then took a second drawing request to draw a chibi sushi chef girl! She had to look up reference for sushi chefs, since she’d never drawn one before.

Talking a bit about her personal life, Aiba noted has two pets – a chihuahua and a toy poodle! Houses are very small in Japan, so she has small dogs!

On the subject of A.I., Aiba said she feels that there is a proper use for it, but personally she wouldn’t want her art to be chosen as the keystone images to train the AI. She feels that it’s a powerful tool, but there needs to be a lot of checks and balances out in place before it is used. Since Aiba is on the side of creating what the AI would be used to create, she feels she has a different perspective than a company that is just a user. She personally wouldn’t use AI art in her work, though she feels if she did, everyone on Twitter would say it’s really good.

For those new to her work, Aiba recommends her newest title Young Terror, which was coming out on the 19th. Derail is her most popular title on Amazon. Aiba said she would prefer her new readers to seek out her non-BL work.

As the panel came to an end, Aiba showed off her finished drawings. She closed the panel by reflecting how she would like to live her life continuing to learn. She mused that when you stop learning, you stop living.

Hearing how Aiba began her career in manga, her artistic influences, her approach to her art, and seeing her draw gave me a great amount of questions in mind about how her experiences creating BL manga. And certainly, I was delighted to know she was a kindred Rumiko Takahashi and Ranma ½ fan! When I interviewed Aiba the next day, I asked about her experiences having worked in the BL manga market, how she saw it change and the trends that developed during the time she worked in it, how the BL market differs from the shojo and josei market, and how the trajectory of her career differed from her initial aspirations.

My interview with Kyoko Aiba can be read below, edited in places for brevity, clarity, and emphasis.

INTERVIEW WITH KYOKO AIBA | OTAKON 2023

Manga Mavericks: Thank you for meeting with me today! I’m very pleased to meet you. How have you been enjoying Otakon so far?

Kyoko Aiba: There’s lots of firsts, so I’m very excited. It’s a very unique experience.

MM: I really enjoyed your live-drawing panel yesterday. Was that your first time doing a live-drawing?

KA: So yes, it was in fact the first time I did a live-drawing!

MM: Wow, you did an amazing job!

KA: (laughs) Thank you so much!

MM: So I wanted to ask you; You mentioned that you originally wanted to be a designer, and you were inspired by Pokemon cards and cartoons to decide to be an artist. What kind of design work did you want to go into?

KA: So, I didn’t exactly begin off with wanting to become a designer. Rather, I was doing design as a side job while I was doing manga, and I could. I believe that since I was doing design as a side job I thought “hey, I could do… designing is something I can do too!” Since I originally had a general passion for drawing, I drew some things inspired by CLOW cards from Cardcaptor Sakura, or Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, and designing was something that kind of brought out the feeling that “hey I could do this! I could do drawing as a job!” and kinda animated. However, it’s not something I originally began off with, wanting to do explicitly like a design.

MM: I see. You mentioned you were working in an editorial office as a former government worker and got like a drawing request that eventually led to your career as a mangaka. I was just curious to know more about like what your role was in the editorial office and then like twhat request was it that eventually led to starting your career?

KA: So the job was actually… The request that I had was basically a cover for another illustrator. In the magazine that I was being an editor for, there would be interview pages, and in the interview pages, at the bottom of the corner or something, there will be small drawings on that interview page. And I was asked if I could cover for another illustrator.

MM: Awesome!

KA: (laughs)

MM: You mentioned you originally wanted to get into shojo manga, but then you were asked to work in BL, and so I was interested to learn more about why your editors wanted you to go into BL and what they saw in your art that really made them feel that it would be a really, really smart path?

KA: So, I think it’s really because they saw me drawing “cool guys” and I believe that the pictures that the publishers wanted was “cool guys” for BL. However, originally I thought that for shojo manga. Shojo manga was basically somewhere that if you have cool guys and cute girls, you have children’s manga. However, the cool guys that I drew probably seemed a bit different from the cool guys that the shojo manga was expecting, and they probably saw that the cool guys that I drew were more along the lines of “sexy guys.” So, I think that might be something that they… that might be the reason why they decided “okay, you go into BL.” (laughs)

MM: Had you experienced drawing manga before being given that request?

KA: Hmm. So I did have, prior to going into BL, there was one manga I wrote about a romantic relationship between a boy and a girl, but that is way into the past and I pretend that I have forgotten it.

(everyone laughs)

MM: Nah, I understand. I’m also embarrassed of some of my earlier work…

KA: Embarrassed? (laughs)

MM: But yeah, you worked in BL manga for ten years, and you mentioned that you wanted to break into shojo, but you kept getting more work in BL. I was curious about what that pipeline was like, because you mentioned that you would get requests for things that were like two years out!

KA: Yes, you are correct, because the BL… basically, when I’ve been planning stuff for my BL, often we start three to four years into the future, and I think this is done because of the unique market that is the BL market in Japan, because it’s become standard practice in the BL market that people running it will have several different mangas that they work on for every month. So having those very different stuff that they’re working on, we would often go to “do this, next do this, next do this, next do this,” and you gotta really have something that you could do in-between, so that’s something. That might be something a bit unique to the Japanese BL market.

MM: Yeah, that’s really interesting!

KA: So I guessed! (laughs)

MM: Working in BL manga, what were other differences that you observed about BL and in the manga you were publishing as compared to other genres and demographics?

KA: So I believe that, as you say, multi-tasking is a very interesting part about the BL market, and also another interesting thing that used to be a thing was that there wouldn’t be as many media for BL because usually you’d have OVAs and drama CDs, and having different media contents basically. Having a full anime or a movie wasn’t a thing for BL in the past. However, I believe that that’s changing now and we do start seeing more BL topics that weren’t addressed in BL manga or BL cartoons being addressed in movie or anime now.

MM: We definitely have seen more BL media in the past decade, and yeah, I was just wondering your thoughts on or any other observations of how BL as a genre has grown in the past decade in terms of its popularity and its multimedia presence?

KA: So, I believe that in the previous years, I felt it’s just like the idea of how previously “Boy’s Love” didn’t really happen in Boy’s Love [fandom]. It was in the otaku community. Inside the otaku community, you had the fujoshi community, and they’ll be aimed at. Or, be talked about as the Yaoi genre. It was something that you kind of hid from the public and you didn’t want to say that you were a connoisseur of the topic.

But, it’s just like the way how saying that you’re an Otaku [has changed]. Before it was kind of like something that you might’ve wanted to hide, but then right now it’s not something that you need to hide anymore. So, before BL might’ve been given the cold – this is a subject that really maddened me – given the cold treatment, but I think now it’s something that both boys and girls could openly enjoy compared to before, and I think that kind of signifies and that kind of embodies how much BL has grown as a genre.

MM: I see. Thank you so much for your time and insights on the BL manga market, I really appreciated it. I really enjoy your works, and I’m looking forward to reading more of your BL and your manga that are on their way out.

KA: [in english] Oh, thank you so much! (laughs) Thank you.

Afterward, I returned to the Press Room, where I caught up with Toni Sun Prickett, a contributor for ANN and Anime Feminist who also interviewed Kyoko Aiba for ANN earlier that day. Toni asked me how my interview went, and we had a really interesting discussion about our different approaches and experiences interviewing Aiba and how her work represents and reflects the evolution of the BL market. I didn’t realize it at the time, but it turned out that my audio recorder was still on and caught the bulk of our conversation, and I thought it would be interesting to share below for additional thoughts and perspectives on Aiba and her work.

Like our interview with Aiba, my chat with Toni has also been edited in places for brevity, clarity, and emphasis.

Toni: How was your interview?

MM: It went well! I had a really fun conversation.

Toni: Who were you talking to?

MM: I was talking to Kyoko Aiba, she’s an author of BL…

Toni: Oh yeah, I interviewed her! I felt very much, she’s very giving of her thoughts and unguarded, if that makes sense?

MM: Yeah! I know, I really liked that.

Toni: When I speak with a lot of these teams, like often it feels a little bit like people are trying to keep a look at the producer to try to like see what’s okay to say and what’s not okay to say. But when you speak to just a manga artist on their own often, especially with her, I found it seemed like she just has… she just loves talking about it! You know, she seems to love talking about her work and about BL.

MM: Yeah! I really enjoyed hearing her thoughts on the BL manga market and how she has seen certain changes in the manga that comes out now.

Toni: Ah! Oh, that’s so interesting that you asked her about the market overall. That’s such a cool angle! Like, so what did she say if you don’t mind me asking?

MM: She sees that there’s more mediums that BL manga gets adapted into, and now you have more products and more tie-ins that forms another source of revenue for artists.

Toni: So, things like?…

MM: Themed products of an anime and also other kinds of merch and things, like merchandising character goods. So yeah, there’s really been more of that for the BL that gets published on multimedia platforms.

Toni: Yeah, I’m thinking about… It’s also interesting what we consider BL versus what we consider just “shipbait,” right? Something like Bungo Stray Dogs, which is clearly for fujoshi right?

MM: Yeah!

Toni: But it isn’t BL, right? But that’s where that’s the sort of thing, the almost-like (laughs). Or like, I’m curious, what kind of multimedia franchises have you observed in the BL sphere?

MM: Like Semantic Error or Given or anything that’s which is considered a BL manga adaptation. There are like drama CDs and lots of sorts of interesting multimedia storytelling.

Toni: Ahhh! Yeah, so we’re actually seeing adaptations now?

MM: Yeah.

Toni: Which is not what was happening for a very long time.

MM: Yeah. And also, there’s just more stories that also have BL hooks that have been advertised through social media.

Toni: Right…

MM: And also there are more series that, conditionally, have more emphasis on the relationships and other certain topics.

Toni: I’m so glad that like me, you, and Vrai are all going to get such different angles, and the great thing about her is that she’s very clearly… she’s not like reading off talking points, right? She’s responding really authentically, and with really profound answers and insight. And I think that’s going to make it so that, even though we all are interviewing the same person at the same, we’re going to get such different articles. ‘Cause I focused very much on Derail. Have you read that one?

MM: No, the only work that I read of her was I Love You Enough to Tie You Up. It was the one that I found that was officially translated…

Toni: Ah yeah? So me and Vrai were talking, and we found Derail officially translated, and it is phenomenal. It’s like, I Love You Enough to Tie You Up is very like, classic BL with kind of, you know (sighs)… some rape fic, non-con fantasies, you know that sort of thing? Whereas Derail is much more interesting and psychological. I think it’s more similar I guess to something like The Night Beneath the Tricolored Window, or something a little bit more like that. But, more erotic, of course. You really know it’s a lot more.

And so it’s super interesting hearing about like the trajectory of her career from something so erotic and traditional BL to something that’s much more nuanced. And she talked about wanting to break out of the boundaries and out of the expectations of traditional BL. You’re following the – I forget whether it’s the seme or uke that’s the one that’s being pursued – but you’re the following the one who you’re normally in the mind of, the person who is being assaulted or whatever. You know, titilating that fantasy, right? But Derail is more from the perspective of the Pursuer. But, it’s more complicated than that, because it’s not just like a non-con fantasy itself. It’s much more, it’s more of a kind of portrait of a complex relationship.

And I found it so interesting to hear about what inspired that, because she talked about liking Sherlock Holmes, and Sherlock Holmes was one of her biggest inspirations.

MM: Wow! That’s so cool. It’s interesting, she also said that she liked Criminal Minds and Bones when it aired on Japanese television.

Toni: Oh yeah?

MM: I was at the live-drawing panel where she said a lot of interesting things about her experience and the influences around her.

Toni: How was that?

MM: It was a lot of fun! Like, I’m always impressed with live-drawings and people who draw really incredible portraits in less than a full hour complete.

Toni: I, yeah, I wish I had gone to that.

MM: But yeah, like you’re just saying, she was very free with the answers she gave, both in terms of answering questions and sharing all about her experiences.

Toni: I want to try and go to her next session…

MM: Her next one is at 3:15!

Toni: Uh-huh.

MM: It’s all about manga publishing and manga distributing.

Toni: I want to go to that! I wish I’d gone to the live-drawing, ‘cause I relied on online which is probably like mad out of date and it said that one of her favorite manga is Junjo Romantica, and I asked her about that.

MM: (laughs)

Toni: But you know, there’s just not a lot of easily available information in english about her.

MM: Yeah…

Toni: So I had to go off of her manga, which I think led to a really good angle, right?

MM: Yeah!

Toni: But I also think that maybe limited me in terms of questions like you’re talking about, like about the process, and that sort of thing.

MM: Yeah, she had a lot of interesting insights about working in BL manga, so I’m glad I focused on the industry.

Toni: Mm-hmm.

MM: But I wish I could have found Derail. I didn’t realize it was officially translated!

Toni: I think it’s on Manga Planet…

MM: Oh, it’s Manga Planet?!

Toni: But, Vrai sent it to me. You know, me and Vrai were kind of collaborating because we’re both AniFem people, and so we were just talking about what questions we’re gonna ask, and what resources we have to use. And you know, Vrai told me about Derail, and that it was actually really good! You know, because I’m not super into non-con fantasies, it’s just not my thing. And so I read it, and I was like “this is really impressive!” Like, I was less excited about the interview and then like that I’m like slams table BAM! I know what my angle is, you know? (laughs) It’s like, I know now what I’m going to ask her about because it’s so rich. It’s such a rich text to ask about, and I think it’s so telling about the direction of BL.

This was effectively where our conversation comparing our experiences interviewing Aiba concluded, though Toni and I continued to talk about the experience of doing press interviews with guests or on a topic you don’t know much about, which we may publish separately.

But I heartily share Toni’s sentiments about interviewing Aiba, and think they aptly characterized how thrilling it was to explore the works of an artist whose style and storytelling has developed so much over the course of her career. I really enjoyed seeing Aiba’s live-drawing panel and learning more about her, her inspirations and thoughts on being a manga artist, and getting insight into her career journey and drawing BL manga! I hope more manga of hers will be translated in English, and that more informative content and coverage of BL and niche manga creators will be hosted more often at Otakon and other US anime conventions.

Otakon is hosting Kyoko Aiba once again this year, featuring her on a panel on Friday where she’ll live-critique fan-designs from the audience and another on Saturday with manga artist Hinoki Kino discussing the process of adapting an original work from another medium into a manga. I’m hoping to attend and cover both of these panels and posts reports about our experiences here on the site, and we’ll hopefully have another chance to sit down with Aiba-sensei again for another interview.

I’m so glad to have had an opportunity to interview Aiba, and that there is now so much more awareness and information about her and her work that is now available to find thanks to ours, Anime Feminist’s, and Anime News Network’s coverage. Even still, I think we’ve only scratched the surface of what there is to talk about regarding Aiba’s works and career, and I’m so excited to continuing exploring her ever-evolving ouvre in what will hopefully be many more stateside convention experiences and licensed works to come.

The post Manga Artist Kyoko Aiba Reflects on a Decade of Drawing BL Manga | Otakon 2023 | Panel Report, Interview, & Talkback appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Content Warning: This episode and the series it covers (SSS-Class Revival Hunter) goes into discussion about sensitive topics such as suicide and child starvation.

Hunter assemble! This month we’re bringing to you an action series jam-packed with some of the most emotional peaks and valleys we’ve ever experienced in the Returner/Tower Fantasy genre — SSS-Class Revival Hunter! What starts as a typical story with a setup akin to Re:Zero ends up unraveling into a masterfully written story about self-actualization, and reining in a Jesus complex before it completely breaks our ML, Confucius Kim. By all means, there were so many things that could have gone wrong in this series, but much like “What It Means To Be You,” the level of tact and emotional intelligence in the writing displays a deep understanding and empathy toward the human condition. Join Marion and Amber as they break down what made this Tapas series so special!

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On today’s adventure, we’re joined by VlordGTZ (host of many podcasts, including the New York Times recommended, Demon Slayer Podcast), as we discuss episodes 39-42 of the 1986 Dragon Ball anime! As Goku makes his way through the rest of Muscle Tower with the help of his new robot friend, Android #8 (or Eighter as he and the rest of us affectionately refer to him)! We discuss how the pacing of these episodes drag even more in places then the last batch we covered, and even wonder if these may be some of the weakest episodes of the show we’ve watched so far. We also ask ourselves questions like, how is a “Powered Gun” any different then a regular gun?. Could Super Saiyan Blue Goku defeat the Jiggler? Are these episodes “later-season Simpsons” bad, or are they “middle-era Family Guy” bad? Listen and find out!!

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On today’s (very arduous) adventure, Colton & Sakaki continue through the 1986 Dragon Ball anime with Episodes 4-6, where both Colton’s favorite and his most hated character appear simultaneously! Yes, while we are introduced to the pure, virgin bandit, Yamcha, we are also unfortunately introduced to the sleazy, sex pest, communist pig, Oolong (What bias? I don’t see any bias). Colton has more bad then good to talk about with this batch of episodes, mostly with Episode 6 in particular, as Oolong spikes both Goku and Bulma’s drinks and “shenanigans” proceeds from there…but we still have our fair enough share of things we also liked about these episodes as well, so there’s that! We promise the rest of the episodes covering this first arc of the show won’t be as much of a bummer!

Content warning for discussions of the sexual assault portrayed in Episode 6 around from 47:42 to 1:08:41 if you want to skip this part of the podcast entirely.

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Clip of the Ox King scene mentioned in the episode!

How to do the Wolf Fang Fist!

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Marion, Sakaki, and VLord discuss Killer in Love by Enma Akiyama, and whether it’s a gripping drama or a rushed mess.

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Music Credits:

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HOUSTON, TX – MAY 26, 2024 – Summer marks the return of the critically-acclaimed, global smash hit series 【OSHI NO KO】 . And ahead of the series’ highly anticipated second season premiere in July, fans were treated to a major update on the upcoming season. Today, the 【OSHI NO KO】 Season 2 Main Visual, Main PV #1 and New Character Visual (Aqua & Akane / long hair version) were revealed as well as Broadcast Information for Japan and the Opening Theme Song title and artist via the series’ global account on X (formerly Twitter). In addition, the announcement also included details about HIDIVE’s 【OSHI NO KO】 Season 2 celebration planned for Anime Expo 2024, which takes place July 4 – 7 in Los Angeles, Calif. The festivities are set for Saturday, July 6 with an event line-up that kicks-off with an anniversary screening of the epic 90-minute-long Season 1 first episode of 【OSHI NO KO】, which catapulted the show to become the #1 series launch in HIDIVE’s history. This will be followed by a Japanese guest panel and the world premiere screening of 【OSHI NO KO】 Season 2 Episode 2. The panel will be hosted by HIDIVE’s Star Butler, who will welcome two incredibly special guests from Season 2’s production, Yurie Igoma (voice of Ruby) and KADOKAWA series producer Shimpei Yamashita. 【OSHI NO KO】 Season 2 will stream exclusively on HIDIVE as part of its Summer 2024 simulcast season and will be available to subscribers in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

”HIDIVE is excited to bring this very special 【OSHI NO KO】 Season 2 celebration to fans at Anime expo 2024,” said John Ledford, President of HIDIVE. “We’re incredibly honored to not only host 【OSHI NO KO】 star Yurie Igoma and series producer Shimpei Yamashita but also present the world premiere of Season 2 Episode 2. Fans will not want miss being part of the expected capacity audience!”

Aqua’s desire for revenge takes center stage as he navigates the dark underbelly of the entertainment world alongside his twin sister, Ruby. While Ruby follows in their slain mother’s footsteps to become an idol, Aqua joins a famous theater troupe in hopes of uncovering clues to the identity of his father — the man who arranged their mother’s untimely death, and the man who once starred in the same troupe Aqua hopes to infiltrate.

【OSHI NO KO】 is based on the award-winning seinen manga that is serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Young Jump and written by Aka Akasaka and illustrated by Mengo Yokoyari. The manga now encompasses 14 volumes with more than 16.5 million copies in print. It is available in English is available in both print and digital editions from Yen Press and digitally from Shueisha’s MANGA Plus respectively.

Season 2 of 【OSHI NO KO】 is directed by Daisuke Hiramaki and Ciao Nekotomi along with writing by Jin Tanaka, character design by Kanna Hirayama and animation by Doga Kobo. The Japanese cast includes returning stars, Takeo Ōtsuka as Aqua Hoshino, Yurie Igoma as Ruby Hoshino, Megumi Han as Kana Arima, Manaka Iwami as Akane Kurokawa, Rumi Ōkubo as Mem-Cho and Seiji Maeda as Melt Narushima, plus new additions for Season 2, Koki Uchiyama as Daiki Himekawa and Yusuke Kobayashi as Sakuya Kamoshida.

【OSHI NO KO】 Season 2 Celebration at Anime Expo 2024

Season 1 Episode 1 Anniversary Screening
Date: Saturday, July 6, 2024
Time: 10:30 am – 12:15 pm Pacific
Location: 403AB
Level 2 Concourse
Los Angeles Convention Center

Guests: Yurie Igoma (Japanese V.A. of Ruby) and Shimpei Yamashita (Producer)

Japanese Guest Panel & Season 2 Episode 2 World Premiere Screening**
Date: Saturday, July 6, 2024
Time: 3:15 – 4:35 pm Pacific
Location: Platinum Ballroom
JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE

Guests: Yurie Igoma (Japanese V.A. of Ruby) and Shimpei Yamashita (Producer)

**preceded by encore screening of Season 2 Episode 1

For the latest news and information on 【OSHI NO KO】, follow HIDIVE on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

About HIDIVEHIDIVE is a fast-growing, fan-centric anime service and part of AMC Networks’ targeted streaming portfolio. From English subs and dubs to episodic series, movies and more, HIDIVE delivers a full-tilt, genre-spanning anime experience with blockbusters, classics and underrated masterpieces by Japan’s leading and emerging producers. Each season, subscribers have exclusive access to first-run simulcasts of the best new anime at or near the same time as their Japanese broadcast. HIDIVE can be viewed on a wide array of platforms, including desktop, laptop, tablet, smartphone and connected TV, and is currently available by subscription in the U.S. and Canada as well as key overseas markets including the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. For more information on HIDIVE or to sign up for a free trial, visit www.hidive.com.

HIDIVE together with the logo and design are trademarks and copyrights of HIDIVE LLC.

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Content Warning: This episode and the series it covers (What It Means to Be You) goes into discussion about sensitive topics such as suicide and suicidal ideation, depression/mental illness, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, abortion/miscarriages, and alcoholism. This month we’re joined by a new friend: Witlash, mod over at r/OtomeIsekai on Reddit! She brings us some great perspective as a veteran manhwa/webtoon reader who loves romance fantasy! A series like “What It Means To Be You” deserves a finely-toothed comb to go over every just how impactful and engaging it is. The premise? A couple discovers they swap bodies whenever one of them commits suicide.

For people concerned about how the heavy subjects are handled, we do have good news. Everything is handled with the proper level of empathy and weight, with the darker events informing the emotional/psychological development of its characters–like an Inio Asano or Shuzo Oshimi manga. Join us for one of our longest convos yet as we discover the power of empathy and surviving!

988 is the Suicide & Crisis Prevention Hotline. If you’re struggling, please know there will always be someone around that can listen.

⁠

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It’s Spring, and we are sooo back! After reading “Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint,” we were curious about singNsong’s other work, “The World After The Fall.” Did it manage to live up to expectations? Not quite, but there’s still a lot to dissect about it! In this delirious episode, we have some strong feelings about storytelling and the reader experience. If you enjoyed the discussion, go ahead and give us a like or a rating, or reach out to us on socials!

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Los Angeles, CA – Publisher TOKYOPOP delivers an enticing pair of releases as it announces manga and light novel series for MY BEAUTIFUL MAN, an acclaimed boy-meets-boy romance written by Yuu Nagira.

The manga and light novel are scheduled to debut in-print and digitally on July 16th. Both releases follow protagonist Kazunari Hira, a high school student who—due to a speech impairment—is a social outcast, as well as Sou Kiyoi, the aloof yet beautiful class king. When Hira’s made the errand boy for the popular boys in his class, he strangely finds himself growing devoted to Kiyoi. Even though the two have nothing in common, they grow closer.

TOKYOPOP will have advance copies of the manga and light novel and a special gift for purchase or proof of preorder at its booth at the 2024 Anime Expo ahead of titles’ wide release on July 16th.

MY BEAUTIFUL MAN (MANGA), VOL. 1, story by Yuu Nagira, art by Megumi Kitano ∙ SRP: $13.99 ∙ 176 Pages ∙ For Older Teens 16+ ∙ ISBN: 9781427877550 ∙ Available July 16th

Hira has always dreaded the first day of new classes. Ever since he was little, he’s had a stutter that only worsens when he’s anxious, causing Hira to always sink to the bottom of the social pyramid. This year of his high school career might not have been any different if it weren’t for him: Kiyoi, the most beautiful and kingly man Hira has ever seen. Normally, their lives would never intersect, but Hira suddenly gets a chance to grow closer with Kiyoi when he’s made the popular group’s gofer and gets Kiyoi’s phone number! Hira treasures every order Kiyoi gives him and every bit of change he’s handed to run errands… Is this what they call love?

This book contains mature themes and sexually suggestive content. It is intended for mature audiences aged 16+

MY BEAUTIFUL MAN (LIGHT NOVEL), VOL. 1, story by Yuu Nagira, art by Rikako Kasai ∙ SRP: $19.99 ∙ 320 Pages ∙ For Mature Readers ∙ ISBN: 9781427875464 ∙ Available July 16th

Kazunari Hira is not what you’d call popular. In fact, he’s basically on the lowest rung of the social ladder, due largely to his stutter that tends to flare up when he’s anxious. And then there’s him: Sou Kiyoi, leader of the pack and the most beautiful man Hira has ever seen. When Hira is made the popular group’s gofer, he realizes that he doesn’t mind his lowly position so much when the orders are coming from Kiyoi’s lips. In fact, Hira treasures every order Kiyoi gives him and every bit of change he’s handed to run errands. Could he actually be… in love?

In Japan, MY BEAUTIFUL MAN was adapted into a popular live action TV series that ran for 2 Seasons and starred Riku Hagiwara as Kazunari Hira and Fantastics from Exile Tribe pop idol member Yusei Yagi in the role of Sou Kiyoi. It was widely acclaimed with Hagiwara and Yagi winning the My Best TV Prize Grand Prix Award at the 59th and 60th Galaxy Awards for their performances in both seasons. The conclusion of the series was released as a live action feature film in 2023.

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Founded in 1997, TOKYOPOP brings Asian pop culture to Hollywood and beyond. TOKYOPOP

established the market for manga in North America, introducing the term to the English language in the process, and expanding the market in Germany, publishing thousands of books in both languages, distributing anime and Asian films on home video and television, licensing merchandise to consumer goods and companies, and creating graphic novels of both original content and major IP adaptations. TOKYOPOP’s core values focus on multiculturalism and diversity; aestheticism and artistic integrity; and passionate and positive storytelling. More

information at: https://www.tokyopop.com/.

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA—Digital manga app Azuki is adding six new titles: four comic series from Japanese publisher YUZU Comics and distributed by Media Do International, Inc., and two one-shots from independent manga publisher Star Fruit Books. The six titles are now available worldwide on the Azuki website and iOS and Android apps, with select free chapters available.

The two Star Fruit Books one-shots — Handyman Quincy and To White — are Azuki digital exclusives, part of a new partnership between Azuki and Star Fruit Books that will bring new Star Fruit Books titles to Azuki before they’re available anywhere else.

A full list of the series with synopses from the publishers is provided below:

The Light Conjurer by Gene, published by YUZU Comics and distributed by MD-i: Robin, a seemingly useless summoner whose conjuring attempts are comically futile, secretly dreams of defeating a dragon. Fate has a sense of humor when Robin summons a mysterious prince who coerces him into going to an abandoned castle… where a dragon lives. Can a useless conjurer face the challenge of confronting a legendary beast? Creator Gene is a comic artist/illustrator who was born and raised in Tainan, Taiwan. She was the Bronze Prize-winner in the BL category at the first Ever Glory Original Comic Competition. An active figure in various doujin communities. Gene’s works come in diverse styles, and she loves to add a touch of humor to stories. Her work “Wanted Magic Girl!” was selected to the 10th Golden Comic Best New Artist Award in 2019 and she also has won two top prizes at the 2020 Kyoto International Manga Anime Awards.

Loving You When the World Ended by Gene, published by YUZU Comics and distributed by MD-i: An apocalyptic event forces two strangers to navigate a world where the old order is shattered. Is it survival of the fittest or survival of the richest? Spoiled Nuowan can’t stay alive in this new reality without the help of skilled hotel worker Yu Seng, whom he met only moments before the world ended. Yu’s former military training comes in handy but is kissing out of the blue a survival tactic?

Three Seconds After Our Eyes Met by Rancha, published by YUZU Comics and distributed by MD-i: The friendly, kind Student Union Event Division President Hezhan has a carefully maintained image but when fellow student Shunwen witnesses Hezhan’s outburst in a meeting room, he inadvertently becomes the keeper of Hezhan’s hidden side. Worried his secret will be revealed, Hezhan approaches Shunwen but every time their eyes lock, it feels like Shunwen sees right through him and he must “never lock eyes for more than three seconds.” Will Hezhan be able to protect his secret or will Shunwen reshape Hezhan’s life and his own? The creator of THREE SECONDS AFTER OUR EYES MET, Rancha, was a Gold Prize-winner in the BL category at the second Ever Glory Original Comic Competition. Rancha is one of Taiwan’s most popular BL comic creators and renowned for delicate storytelling and for realistically presenting the emotions of his characters.

Confessions of a 35 Year Old by TEI, published by YUZU Comics and distributed by MD-i: Thirty-five-year-old, single office worker Jason normally finds love to be elusive. He doesn’t give much thought to his new coworker Frank when he joins the company. But when a chance encounter evolves into a series of shared moments, an unanticipated twist in their relationship finds Jason and Frank being roommates. Will Jason find his new normal is love?

Handyman Quincy by Stephan Lapin with art by Naoto Tsushima, published by Star Fruit Books: Quincy, a boy with prosthetic limbs, starts as a handyman to support his family. But buying a second-hand phone from a thrift shop accidentally connects him to hitman requests. Can the kind-hearted Quincy fulfill these requests for murder?

To White by Dei Saito, published by Star Fruit Books: A young girl living in a strange black-and-white world fights her way past a creature guarding a door that leads to somewhere else.

Azuki is available on the web at www.azuki.co and in the iOS App Store and Google Play Store. The app features over 300 manga series, including international hits like Attack on Titan, Fire Force, and A Silent Voice. Azuki also publishes acclaimed new series like Our Aimless Nights, Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms, and My Dear Detective: Mitsuko’s Case Files, with weekly new chapters available exclusively via the Azuki app and ebooks available via the Azuki app and third-party ebook stores.

Manga fans can start reading for free with advertisements today, or upgrade to Premium and access the full Premium catalog featuring thousands of chapters for just $4.99 a month. A 14-day free trial and discounted annual plan are also available, and additional volumes outside the subscription can be purchased via direct volume sales. Premium members get 20% off all volumes. Most titles are available worldwide (except Japan). Stay up to date on the latest announcements by following Azuki at x.com/ReadAzuki, facebook.com/ReadAzuki, and instagram.com/readazuki.

About Azuki and KiraKira Media Inc.

Azuki is created by KiraKira Media Inc., a company dedicated to improving access to legally licensed manga, led by a small team of passionate manga fans and tech experts in San Francisco, CA.

The post Azuki Adds Six New Series from YUZU Comics, Star Fruit Books appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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“Enter at your own peril, past the bolted door where impossible things may happen the world has never seen before!”

Cartoon Network’s got a secret formula that’s got a little bit of ‘ha and a little bit of ‘ho, and unlike will.i.am, they want everybody to know because the geniuses at WBDHE have made their greatest invention yet!

For the first time ever, Dexter’s Laboratory: The Complete Series is coming to DVD! And when they say it’s complete, they mean COMPLETE – this set contains every episode AND the tv movie, Ego’s Trip, which believe it or not has never been officially released on Region 1 DVD (the last time this thing has been on home video was on VHS in the early 2000s, nor is it legally streaming anywhere in the U.S. We don’t got the data on what extras if any this set has just yet, but here’s hoping that like The Powerpuff Girls: The Complete Series set it will include some bonus content like the original What-a-Cartoon pilot, the “banned” episode Rude Removal, a bunch of bumps, and all the music videos they made for the series from artists like They Might Be Giants, Price Paul, and will.i.am (yes, seriously, look these up if you’ve never listened to them – they’re a nostalgia trip, but also, it’s insane how big a deal this series was that mega-star artists like those made songs for it back in it’s heyday).

Dexter’s Laboratory needs no introduction to anyone with a checkered past, but for any zoomers not in the know, you’ll want to tune into Dexter, the world’s youngest inventor, so you can join him for his crazy adventures! Imagined up by real-world animation genius Genndy Tartakovsky, one of the most celebrated and prolific creators in animation for the past 30 years with creations including Samurai Jack, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Sym-Bionic Titan, Hotel Transylvania, Primal, and Unicorn: Warriors Eternal, Dexter’s Laboratory was Cartoon Network’s first Cartoon Cartoon and original series not based around repackaging/reusing existing IP, a successful experiment in original programming that paved the way for decades more to come. “What-A-Cartoon” indeed! So grab a seat on your couch with all your justice friends, chow down on fresh-baked muffins like a king, and binge every episode all night long until “omlette-du-fromage” is all you can say, enjoying all the gloom, and doom, while things go boom, in Dexter’s Lab!

Check out more deets and text on Dee Dee and Dex’s set in the official press release below, and let us know in the comments or on our socials whether you’re excited for the set and interested in seeing a review on the site come June, because we’ll talk about Dexter faster than the speed of “Mock 5!”
_________________________________________________________________________________________

Dexter’s Laboratory: The Complete Series

Enjoy the Experiment On DVD for the First Time Ever on

June 25, 2024

BURBANK, CA (May 9, 2024) – The Emmy Award-winning American animated TV series that was created by Genndy Tartakovsky and produced by Cartoon Network Studios is back from the lab! For the first time ever on DVD, all 78 episodes from the classic cartoon series plus the special Dexter’s Laboratory: Ego Trip, are brought together in one set. Dexter’s Laboratory: The Complete Series will be available for purchase online and in-store at major retailers beginning June 25, 2024. Get ready to go on a wild adventure with boy-genius Dexter, as he saves the world with his secret laboratory filled with his collection of inventions! Pre-order your copy now.

Dexter’s Laboratory is also available now to purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and more.

The unforgettable series that ran from 1996-2003 on Cartoon Network, won many awards, and spawned children’s books, comic books, music albums, toys, video games, and a movie.

SYNOPSIS:

Dexter’s Laboratory is about half-Einstein, half-third grader, Dexter. This boy genius creates the most amazing inventions in the top secret and highly advanced laboratory attached to his room. But his genius can’t stop his space-brained sister Dee Dee from messing up and his work and pushing his buttons. Or his annoying rival Mandark from constantly trying to one-up him. Can Dexter use his intelligence to solve his problems? Time to fight fire with…SCIENCE!

Pricing and series information:

Dexter’s Laboratory: The Complete Series

Includes all 78 episodes from the beloved series plus the special Dexter’s Laboratory: Ego Trip.

PRODUCT SRP

DVD $69.99 SRP US and Canada

Voice Cast: Christine Cavanaugh, Kath Soucie, Jeff Bennett, Kat Cressida, Candi Milo

Audio: English

Subtitles: English, Latin America Spanish

Running Time: 1,791 minutes

Rated: PG

About Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment (WBDHE) distributes the award-winning movies, television, animation, and digital content produced by Warner Bros. Discovery to the homes and screens of millions through physical Blu-ray Disc and DVD retail sales and digital transactions on major streaming, video-on-demand cable, satellite, digital, and mobile channels. WBDHE is part of Warner Bros. Discovery Content Sales, one of the world’s largest distributors of entertainment programming.

The post Go Back to the Lab Again with Dexter’s Laboratory: The Complete Series on DVD! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Akira Toriyama passed away recently on March 1st, 2024, and the world won’t be the same without him. Colton & Sakaki have a somewhat unorganized talk in order to get their feelings out and ruminate on what Toriyama’s influence meant to both the world and their friendship.

Download Here

The post Thank You, Akira Toriyama appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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VLord and Sakaki have on Winter from Behind The Manga, as they discuss the vast, complex, and confusing world of Shogakukan magazines!

Follow Saturday Night Shoggy on Twitter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SatNightShoggy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

You can email us at satnightshoggy@gmail.com

Join our Patreon:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/mangamavericks⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can follow hosts/guests on Twitter:

Winter – ⁠⁠@WinterVenom91⁠⁠

Sakaki – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@kiirobon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

VLord – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@VLordGTZ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music Credits:

Intro – “Can’t See Your Face” by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AmpRen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Outro – “Curtain Call” by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AmpRen⁠⁠⁠

The post Saturday Night Shoggy EP. 21: Shogakukan Magazine Overdose appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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HOUSTON, TX — March 11, 2024 — AMC Networks streaming service HIDIVE, home to the best in anime, revealed today that the new original anime Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night will join its Spring 2024 slate as an exclusive simulcast series. Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night is set in Central Tokyo’s Shibuya City. Shibuya City is the center of Japanese youth culture and its street are a frenzied mix of fashion, art, entertainment and nightlife — providing the perfect back drop for this unique slice of life, coming-of-age ensemble drama and its cast of characters. HIDIVE will host the North American premiere of Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night Episodes 1 & 2 on March 29 at at Anime Boston 2024.

“We’re delighted to add Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night to HIDIVE’s Spring 2024 line-up of exclusive simulcast series,” said John Ledford, President of HIDIVE. “With animation by Doga Kobo, the studio behind 2023’s global smash hit Oshi no Ko, this original coming-of-age ensemble drama is sure to be one of top new series of the year. Fans do not want to miss a single episode of Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night!”

Shibuya is a city full of identity. It is here on Shibuya’s late night streets that illustrator Mahiru Kozuki, former idol Kano Yamanouchi, Vtuber Kiui Watase and composer Mei Kim Anouk Takanashi — four young women who are slightly outside the world — join together and form an anonymous artist group called JELEE. “I” also want to shine like someone else. If it’s not me but “we” then we might be able to shine.

Produced by Doga Kobo as part of the studio’s 50th anniversary, Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night is directed by Ryohei Takeshita and written by Yūki Yaku along with character design by Junichiro Taniguchi and music by Masaru Yokoyama. The Japanese cast stars Miku Itou as Mahiru Kozuki, Rie Takahashi as Kano Yamanouchi, Miyu Tomita as Kiui Watase, and Miyuri Shimabukuro as Mei Kim Anouk Takanashi.

The manga adaptation of Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night will be serialized by Kodansha in its “Magazine Pocket” manga app concurrently with the anime series.

For the latest announcements regarding Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night, follow HIDIVE on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

About HIDIVE

HIDIVE is home to some of Japan’s very best anime and among the fastest growing services in AMC Network’s streaming portfolio. From TV series to movies to original video animations, HIDIVE offers one of the anime industry’s most diverse libraries of top trending and classic anime created by Japan’s leading and emerging producers. Each season, subscribers have exclusive access to first-run simulcasts of the best new anime at or near the same time as their Japanese broadcast. HIDIVE can be viewed on a wide array of platforms, including desktop, laptop, tablet, smartphone and connected TV, and is currently available by subscription in the U.S. and Canada as well as key overseas markets including the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. For more information on HIDIVE or to sign-up for a free 7-day trial, visit www.hidive.com.

HIDIVE together with the logo and design are trademarks and copyrights of HIDIVE LLC.

The post Original Anime “Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night” Brings Unique Slice of Life to HIDIVE This Spring appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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NEW YORK, NY (3/11/24) – Yen Audio announced an upcoming audiobook adaptation of Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian, a popular high school romantic comedy novel. The series will also be receiving an anime adaptation in July 2024.

Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian

Story by Sunsunsun

Masachika Kuze sits next to Alya, a girl of Russian and Japanese descent. She’s beautiful, haughty, and an exceptional student, while Masachika is nerdy and known for being a slacker. He’s an easy target for her comments in Russian, which she’s all too happy to translate—except he can understand what she’s really saying!

Yen Audio’s catalog of titles is rapidly growing, and Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian will prove to be a wonderful addition to the romance lineup. The audiobook will be available August 2024, and the voice cast will be announced at a later date.

About Yen Press, LLC

Yen Press, LLC is a joint venture between Kadokawa Corporation and Hachette Book Group. Founded in 2006, Yen Press has quickly risen to become one of the largest and most prolific publishers of manga and original graphic novels in the North American marketplace and a driving force in the introduction of light novels and Japanese literature to new readers through its Yen On and Yen Audio imprints. For more information, visit www.yenpress.com.

The post Yen Audio Announces the Audiobook Adaptation of Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Culver City, California (March 10, 2024) – Prepare to believe the unbelievable when the off-the-wall, coming-of-age science fiction and horror anime series DAN DA DAN invades the Crunchyroll schedule this October 2024. DAN DA DAN will be simulcast from Japan on Crunchyroll worldwide, excluding Asia, with new episodes every week.

The anime adaptation of DAN DA DAN will be directed by Fuga Yamashiro, whose credits include being assistant director on Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! and Tatami Time Machine Blues. The script is written by Hiroshi Seko (Attack on Titan Final Season; JUJUTSU KAISEN).

From Science SARU, the animation studio behind Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, DEVILMAN crybaby, Star Wars: Visions (episodes “T0-B1” and “Akakiri”), and the recent hit Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, comes the highly anticipated anime adaptation of the popular manga written and illustrated by Yukinobu Tatsu. The manga series currently has over 370 million views on Shueisha’s “Shonen Jump Plus” and over 3.2 million print volumes in circulation.

Additional production staff consists of character design by Naoyuki Onda (PSYCHO-PASS – The Movie; MF Ghost); creature design by Yoshimichi Kameda (Mob Psycho 100), and music by kensuke ushio (Chainsaw Man; DEVILMAN crybaby, Heavenly Delusion).

The Japanese voice cast stars Shion Wakayama (Takina Inoue in Lycoris Recoil) as Momo; Natsuki Hanae (Tanjiro Kamado in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba) as Okarun; Mayumi Tanaka (Monkey D. Luffy in One Piece) as Turbo Granny; and Kazuya Nakai (Roronoa Zoro in One Piece) as the Serpoians.

DAN DA DAN Official Synopsis:

This is a story about Momo, a high school girl who comes from a family of spirit mediums, and her classmate Okarun, an occult fanatic. After Momo rescues Okarun from being bullied, they begin talking. However, an argument ensues between them since Momo believes in ghosts but denies aliens exist, and Okarun believes in aliens but denies ghosts exist.

To prove to each other what they believe in is real, Momo goes to an abandoned hospital where a UFO has been spotted and Okarun goes to a tunnel rumored to be haunted. To their surprise, they each encounter overwhelming paranormal activities that transcend comprehension. Amid these predicaments, Momo awakens her hidden power and Okarun gains the power of a curse to overcome these new dangers! Their fateful love begins as well!?

The story of the occult battle and adolescence starts!

Crunchyroll has been publishing the print version of the manga in France and Germany since 2022 and 2023, respectively, as a top seller.

About Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll connects anime and manga fans across 200+ countries and territories with the content and experiences they love. In addition to free ad-supported and membership Premium content, Crunchyroll serves the anime community across events, theatrical, games, consumer products, collectibles, and manga.

Anime fans have access to one of the largest collections of licensed anime through Crunchyroll and translated in multiple languages for viewers worldwide. Viewers can also access simulcasts—top series available immediately after Japanese broadcast.

Crunchyroll is available on 15 platforms, including most gaming consoles.

Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.

©2024 Crunchyroll, LLC. All rights reserved. CRUNCHYROLL and the Crunchyroll logo are registered trademarks of Crunchyroll, LLC.

The post CRUNCHYROLL SUMMONS “DAN DA DAN” ANIME SERIES FROM SCIENCE SARU, MAKING FIRST CONTACT OCTOBER 2024 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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San Diego, CA (March 9, 2024): Anime Trending is pleased to announce Tengoku-Daimakyo as Anime of the Year at the 10th Anime Trending Awards. Alongside the riveting post-apocalyptic series, the winners for the other 29 categories were also revealed (see full list below).

During the awards ceremony, industry members reacted to the various awards and shared their feelings to fans in a variety of ways. Video comments were revealed from Tengoku-Daimakyo’s director Hirotaka Mori, My Happy Marriage’s director Takehiro Kubota, and Vinland Saga’s composer Yamada Yutaka. Meanwhile, a majority of the text comments were from 【OSHI NO KO】’s staff and production team, such as from director Daisuke Hiramaki, scriptwriter Jin Tanaka, character designer Kanna Hirayama, singer YOASOBI, and voice actress Megumi Han.

The remaining industry text comments came from The Eminence in Shadow’s voice actor Seiichiro Yamashita, The Dangers in My Heart’s director Hiroaki Akagi and producer Kazuki Endo.

Below is the full list of the 10th Anime Trending Award winners:

Anime of the Year: Tengoku-Daimakyo

Anime Movie of the Year: The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes

Boy of the Year: JETURK, Guel (Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury S2)

Girl of the Year: ARIMA, Kana (【OSHI NO KO】)

Couple Ship of the Year: Kyoutaro x Anna (The Dangers In My Heart)

Supporting Boy of the Year: JETURK, Guel (Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury S2)

Supporting Girl of the Year: ARIMA, Kana (【OSHI NO KO】)

Best in Adapted Screenplay: 【OSHI NO KO】

Best in Animation: JUJUTSU KAISEN S2

Best in Character Design: 【OSHI NO KO】

Best in Episode Directing and Storyboard: ‘Their Choices’ (Tengoku-Daimakyo episode 8)

Best in Original Screenplay: Buddy Daddies

Best in Sceneries and Visuals: Tengoku-Daimakyo

Best in Soundtrack: Vinland Saga S2

Best in Voice Cast: 【OSHI NO KO】

Opening Theme Song of the Year: “IDOL” by YOASOBI

Ending Theme Song of the Year: “Red:birthmark” by AiNA THE END

Best Voice Acting Performance – Male: Seiichiro Yamashita as Cid “Shadow” Kagenou (The Eminence in Shadow)

Best Voice Acting Performance – Female: Reina Ueda as Miyo Saimori (My Happy Marriage)

Action or Adventure Anime of the Year: JUJUTSU KAISEN S2

Comedy Anime of the Year: MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLES

Drama Anime of the Year: 【OSHI NO KO】

Fantasy Anime of the Year: The Eminence in Shadow

Music Anime of the Year: Blue Orchestra

Mystery or Psychological Anime of the Year: Tengoku-Daimakyo

Romance Anime of the Year: My Happy Marriage

Sci-Fi or Mecha Anime of the Year: Dr. STONE New World

Slice of Life Anime of the Year: SPY x FAMILY S2

Sports Anime of the Year: BLUELOCK

Supernatural Anime of the Year: Tengoku-Daimakyo

ABOUT ANIME TRENDING: Since 2013, Anime Trending has been the no. 1 leader for weekly anime rankings, polls, and charts, and is formally recognized by the anime industry. In addition to the weekly anime charts, Anime Trending also hosts the annual Anime Trending Awards to celebrate the best of anime each year with fans from across the world. 2024 marks Anime Trending’s 10th Awards ceremony.

The post Tengoku-Daimakyo Wins “Anime of the Year” at 10th Anime Trending Awards appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On March 1st, 2024, Akira Toriyama, creator of Dragon Ball (amongst many other works), passed away at the age of 68, and the world is worse without him in it, but that won’t stop us from celebrating his life and the legacy he left behind. This episode of the podcast contains the first ever discussion we ever recorded exclusively for our Patreon back in 2019. A discussion featuring our good friends, Sakaki (founder of Weekly Shogakukan Edition) and Maxy Barnard (Shonen Jump enthusiast and contributor to the Shonen Flop podcast), about That Time I Got Reincarnated as Yamcha! A manga that you would be right to assume is one that’s about how lame Yamcha is and why its so funny how lame he is, but really, it is a manga for Dragon Ball fans, by a Dragon Ball fan! Enjoy!

Be sure to take our annual podcast survey by Sunday, March 17th, for a chance to win some free manga!!

Download Here!!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – Intro

15:13 – That Time I Got Reincarnated as Yamcha discussion

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

Ukraine Aid Resources & Links

Ukraine Crisis Media Center links

Ukraine Caard

Ukraine Linktree

Ukraine Refugee IRC Emergency Fund

American Prestige Podcast’s Ukraine Explain episodes

GoFundMe’s Verified Ukraine Fundraisers & Humanitarian Fund

Texas Trans Support Resources & Links

Act-Blue and Donation Page for the Transgender Education Network of Texas

Links to Smaller Trans Organizations in Texas to Donate to

Anime Feminist’s Dual Resources & Links List for Ukraine Aid & Trans Community Support

LINKS:

• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Support us on Patreon!
• Read on Shonen Jump!
• Or buy the volume!
• Read Lum’s review of the series!
• Check out our other Toriyama pods!
• Follow Maxy on Bluesky, tumblr or Letterboxd!
• Check out Maxy’s other podcasts over at The Bee Hive, as well as Role History!
• Follow Sakaki’s Shogakukan Blog & Twitter
• Listen to Sakaki on the Demon Slayer Podcast, Shaman King Podcast & Saturday Night Shoggy

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 239 – Dragon Ball: That Time I Got Reincarnated as Yamcha appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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NEW YORK (Wednesday February 21, 2024) – GKIDS, the acclaimed producer and distributor of artist-driven and award-winning global animation, announced today it will bring END OF EVANGELION, to select theaters nationwide for event showings on March 17 & 20th, 2024. This release marks the first time the acclaimed film bows in theaters in North America. The film will be screened in its original Japanese language with English subtitles. Tickets are on sale now.

Created by Hideaki ANNO, the NEON GENESIS EVANGELION television series is one of the most influential animated series of all time. Since its 1995 premiere in Japan, the story of teenager Shinji Ikari has emerged as one of the most iconic titles in animation history and a global pop culture phenomenon.

Originally released in 1997, this final movie version was created as an alternative ending to the NEON GENESIS EVANGELION TV series, remaking the final two episodes from the series. Since its release, much like its series predecessor, the theatrical alternative ending to the NEON GENESIS EVANGELION series has cemented itself in animation history, and has continued to awe new and returning audiences with every viewing.

In 2022, GKIDS released the original twenty-six episode television series, NEON GENESIS EVANGELION, as well as the films EVANGELION:DEATH (TRUE)2 and THE END OF EVANGEION on Blu-ray and digital download-to-own for the first time in North America. In 2022, GKIDS released the fourth and final installment of the new theatrical “Rebuild” editions of the EVANGELION franchise, EVANGELION:3.0+1.11 THRICE UPON A TIME, in theaters and on Blu-ray and digital download-to-own. GKIDS also handles North American distribution for creator Hideaki Anno’s prior series NADIA: The Secret of Blue Water.

Synopsis

This final movie version was created as an alternative ending to the NEON GENESIS EVANGELION TV series, remaking the final two episodes from the series. SEELE plans an attack on NERV after failing to create a man-made Third Impact. After reaffirming both her own and her mother’s existence in a state of despair, Asuka returns and begins the counterattack. However, new enemies descend from the heavens. Meanwhile, Shinji witnesses the horrifying wreckage of Asuka’s EVA-02 while piloting EVA-01. Mass production models surround EVA-01 and perform a solemn ceremony. What does it mean to complete a human heart?

About GKIDS

GKIDS is the producer and distributor of artist-driven and award-winning animation from around the world. The company has scored an astounding 13 Beat Animated Feature Oscar nominations with The Secret of Kells in 2010, A Cat in Paris and Chico & Rita in 2012, Ernest & Celestine in 2014, The Tale of The Princess Kaguya and Song of the Sea in 2015, Boy and the World and When Marnie Was There in 2016, My Life as a Zucchini in 2017, The Breadwinner in 2018, Mirai in 2019, Wolfwalkers in 2021, and now The Boy and the Heron in 2024. GKIDS handles North American distribution for the famed Studio Ghibli library of films, one of the world’s most coveted animation collections with the titles Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke and others, as well as the critically acclaimed television series, NEON GENESIS EVANGELION. Also, GKIDS is the founder and host of ANIMATION IS FILM, the annual LA-based film festival which embraces animation as a cinematic art form and is a vocal advocate for filmmakers who push the boundaries of the medium to its fullest range of artistic expressions. www.gkids.com

The post GKIDS to Release THE END OF EVANGELION – The Follow Up to Hideaki Anno’s “NEON GENESIS EVANGELION” appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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(February 21, 2024) – Seven Seas Entertainment is thrilled to announce the license acquisition of KinnPorsche, the Thai-language Boys’ Love novel series by Daemi, to be released in English under the company’s Danmei label. In this action-packed romance—which inspired a hit live-action drama—a hot-tempered college student is sucked into the criminal underworld after a chance encounter with the heir to a crime family.

Ever since the tragic death of his parents, Porsche’s life has been a balancing act between attending college and bartending to support his younger brother and pay off his deadbeat uncle’s gambling debt. When he witnesses a gang of thugs attacking a handsome young man in the alley behind his bar, he’s reluctant to intervene—until he’s offered fifty thousand baht to help the stranger escape.

The stranger is known as Kinn, the second son of a notorious crime family. Impressed with Porsche’s fighting skills, Kinn hatches a devious plan: hire Porsche to be his own personal bodyguard and he’ll pay off his debt. Porsche doesn’t want any trouble, especially not the kind of trouble Kinn deals in. But Kinn always gets what he wants.

The KinnPorsche novel series inspired the wildly popular and internationally acclaimed live-action drama, KinnPorsche: The Series, which Teen Vogue called “a thrilling, lush and gargantuan tale of love and sin” (2022). Seven Seas will be releasing the first-ever English edition of the original novels with new covers and internal illustrations from artist Tamtam.

KinnPorsche (Novel) Vol. 1 will be released for the first time in the English language in September 2024 for $19.99 USA / $25.99 CAN, with the series available in large-trim paperback editions as part of the Seven Seas Danmei label. Ebook editions will also be available on digital platforms. Paperback preorders are available now.

About Seven Seas Entertainment
Established in 2004, Seven Seas Entertainment is an award-winning publisher that specializes in bringing the best of Japanese manga and light novels to English-language audiences alongside the hottest danmei, webtoons, and other books from around the globe, as well as producing audiobooks, original comics, and youth literature. All of Seven Seas’ print book imprints are distributed throughout the world by Penguin Random House Publisher Services. For more information, visit sevenseasentertainment.com

The post Seven Seas Licenses KINNPORSCHE Thai Boys’ Love Novel Series appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this (late) episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum discuss the highest selling manga in Japan according to the latest Oricon list! You won’t BELIEVE what number 1 was!! Afterwards, they discuss some more simulpubs! This time mostly from both Kodansha and Jump. First we have two titles from KManga with All My Neighbors Are Convinced the Female Knight From My Rice Field is My Wife and Versus, along with two English first manga titles with Blood Blade and The Spellbook Library! And then we have Satoru Noda’s second attempt at an ice hockey manga with Dogsred, along with the newest batch of title from Shonen Jump with Green Green Greens and Shadow Eliminator! Enjoy!

Be sure to take our annual podcast survey by Sunday, March 17th, for a chance to win some free manga!!

Download Here!!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – Intro

00:58 – Oricon Top Selling Manga of 2023

36:11 – Survey Time!!

Simulpubs

41:02 – All My Neighbors Are Convinced the Female Knight From My Rice Field is My Wife

51:13 – Versus

1:06:21 – Blood Blade

1:17:26 – The Spellbook Library

1:30:56 – Status Royale

1:48:52 – Dogsred

2:05:47 – Green Green Greens

2:22:09 – Shadow Eliminators

02:38:06 – Wrap upEnjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

Ukraine Aid Resources & Links

Ukraine Crisis Media Center links

Ukraine Caard

Ukraine Linktree

Ukraine Refugee IRC Emergency Fund

American Prestige Podcast’s Ukraine Explain episodes

GoFundMe’s Verified Ukraine Fundraisers & Humanitarian Fund

Texas Trans Support Resources & Links

Act-Blue and Donation Page for the Transgender Education Network of Texas

Links to Smaller Trans Organizations in Texas to Donate to

Anime Feminist’s Dual Resources & Links List for Ukraine Aid & Trans Community Support

LINKS:

• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Support us on Patreon!
• All My Neighbors Are Convinced the Female Knight From My Rice Field is My Wife and Versus are available to read on KManga!
• Blood Blade and The Spellbook Library available to read on Kodansha’s website
• Read Dogsred, Green Green Greens and Shadow Eliminators on Shonen Jump or Manga Plus!

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 238: December 2023 Simulpubs Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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VLord and Laserkid discuss the plans for the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training world tour, and their thoughts on the anime’s theatrical release strategy.

Make sure to follow the Demon Slayer Podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

You can email us your questions and comments at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠demonslayerpodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our Patreon:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/mangamavericks⁠⁠⁠

You can follow the hosts and guests of this episode on Twitter:

VLordGTZ – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@VLordGTZ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Laserkid – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@laserkidprime⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Intro & Outro music composed by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AmpRen⁠

The post Demon Slayer Podcast EP. 67: You Can (Not) Set Your Theater Ablaze appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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New York Comic Con 2023 had a wide array of unique experiences across its exhibit floor, but one that particularly stood out amongst the rest was Shueisha XR’s debut of MANGA DIVE outside of Japan. MANGA DIVE is an “Immersive Manga Experience”, utilizing a series of LED walls and surround speakers to create a one-of-a-kind visual presentation.

The MANGA DIVE exhibit showcased several popular Shueisha manga titles including Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, SPY x FAMILY, and Dandadan. In addition, the exhibit also included a special SNK Universe Project movie, which featured manga created especially for MANGA DIVE.

Manga Mavericks had the opportunity to talk with Masana Takahashi from Shueisha XR about the MANGA DIVE exhibition and its development process. Check out our full interview with Takahashi below:

Manga Mavericks (Varun): How did the MANGA DIVE concept come into creation?

Takahashi: It’s about a new experience using manga. So leveraging this experience, we wanted to use this as a way to introduce manga.

Manga Mavericks (Varun): Do you view this more as a form of promotional material or rather a different way to convey the story?

Takahashi: There are two aspects. One is to promote the manga, so that people can then buy it, but the second is that we would like to present MANGA DIVE itself as an exhibition.

Manga Mavericks (Varun): The MANGA DIVE experiences, such as the one for Jujutsu Kaisen, are based on chapters of the manga series, but they’re presented in a different format by using MANGA DIVE’s multi-screen format. How do you go about creating this immersive content while still staying true to the original content?

Takahashi: The Jujutsu Kaisen experience was in the second batch of production. The first batch of production was One Piece, Dandadan, and Chainsaw Man. Through the experience of these three comics, we gained some feedback. For Jujutsu Kaisen, its concept is that it’s not just going through the viewpoint of the main characters, but it is the experience of receiving the main expression the other way around. So, we wanted to create a new experience.

Manga Mavericks (Varun): How do you choose which titles to create next in the MANGA DIVE format?

Takahashi: Since we need to have the approval of the authors of the series, we start with the ones that we have approval for.

Manga Mavericks (Varun): Do the mangaka provide input on how their titles are presented?

Takahashi: Yes.

Manga Mavericks (Varun): This is the first time that MANGA DIVE has been showcased outside Japan. How does it feel to bring this type of experience to an international audience?

Takahashi: We would like to actively go outside of Japan, but we would first like to see how people react to our content. So it could vary from country to country.

Manga Mavericks (Varun): I would love to see MANGA DIVE go globally, especially with how big Shueisha titles are in terms of worldwide awareness. I think it would be really cool!

Thanks again to Shueisha XR, Masana Takahashi, and New York Comic Con for making this interview possible.

The post Interview With Masana Takahashi | Shueisha XR’s MANGA DIVE At New York Comic Con 2023 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Silk, riches, and snitches getting stitches… This month’s episode is about Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom! In this charming tale about a transmigrator stepmother to Snow White, Amber and Marion break down what about the storytelling makes it so compelling. With themes about found family, learning to love yourself, and pursuing your talents, it’s the perfect feel-good story to start 2024.

Happy New Year, and a heartfelt thanks from us at Soju Wanna Read Manhwa, for supporting us. As thanks, we’d like to announce a collaborative giveaway with our friends at Yen and Ize Press. We have 15 tote bags and 20 posters for Omniscent Reader’s Viewpoint fans to give away as thanks for showing up so strongly for Sleepy-C at this year’s Anime NYC! Every single one will be given away, totes and posters a pair at a time, and 5 individual posters. One lucky winner will also get the issue of Publisher’s Weekly with their poster and tote.

Rules:

To enter, you can:

– Follow @sojumanhwapod on Twitter (X) or Instagram

– Like/Share/RT the announcement post on our socials

– Follow @yenpress and @izepress

– Send a screenshot with your entry(ies) via reply/DM on socials, or email sojuwannareadmanhwa@gmail.com

The event will last one week (1/1/24-1/7/24)

20 winners will be selected randomly

– 15 winners will get an Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint poster and tote bag from Yen Press as seen at Anime NYC

– 5 will receive a poster

– 1 of the first 15 will also receive an issue of Publisher’s Weekly with Omniscient Reader on the front cover.

Winners will be announced on 1/8/24 on our Twitter and Instagram!

This giveaway will be international

Join our Patreon:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/mangamavericks⁠

The post Soju Wanna Read Manhwa EP. 6: Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Over the past four years, Shueisha’s MANGA Plus has quickly become one of the biggest platforms to read manga around the world, featuring the latest chapters from popular series such as Chainsaw Man, One Piece, and SPY x FAMILY.

Appearing at New York Comic Con 2023 represented a big milestone for MANGA Plus, as it was their United States convention debut. MANGA Plus had a dedicated booth in the exhibit hall showcasing artwork from some of their biggest titles, photo opportunities, and free badge pins for attendees who downloaded the MANGA Plus app. It was a sight to behold for any manga lover, and a very strong first showing for MANGA Plus on the convention scene.

Manga Mavericks owner Varun Gupta and contributer Sakaki had the opportunity to talk with Shonen Jump+ and MANGA Plus Editor-In-Chief Shuhei Hosono about MANGA Plus and their exhibit at the convention. Check out our full interview with Hosono below:

Manga Mavericks (Varun): This is the first time MANGA Plus has been at New York Comic Con. What was the decision behind having a huge presence at an international convention like this?

Hosono: Last week, we started a subscription service, so we wanted to promote that service to the audience here.

Manga Mavericks (Varun): Regarding the subscription service, what was the business perspective behind adding the new standard and deluxe plans to MANGA Plus?

Hosono: On the free plan that we had previously, you could only read the first three chapters and the latest three chapters. But we knew there was high demand from people who wanted to read the chapters in-between that. Since we’re doing this globally, initially our idea was to kind of connect each of the local publishers such as Viz Media and other publishers. If you wanted to read the in-between chapters of a series, you would go to those local publishers. But we felt that wasn’t working so well, and that it was better to provide all the chapters in our app. So, we kind of changed our idea.

Manga Mavericks (Varun): I often find on MANGA Plus that there are a lot of titles that aren’t available from local publishers. Like some of my favorites are Dricam!! and Kindergarten Wars by You Chiba!

Hosono: Yes, that is the basic idea that we have for MANGA Plus. With all the titles we have on Shonen Jump+ in Japan, we want to bring them over to MANGA Plus as well. So as time goes on, there should be more titles that are exclusively only on MANGA Plus.

Manga Mavericks (Varun): Since MANGA Plus has titles in multiple languages, what is the biggest challenge in doing so many simultaneous releases?

Hosono: For English, there’s a lot of people who can do it, so we’re capable right now, but we’re doing eight languages. So for the other seven languages, we are having a lot of difficulties.

Manga Mavericks (Varun): Do you think that there’s anything that could ease that localization process in the future?

Hosono: The first thing is if the new MANGA Plus subscription service succeeds. That model will help us discuss internally to increase our support to the other languages as well.

Manga Mavericks (Sakaki): When localizing titles, do you give more priority to choosing titles that will be popular overseas or are already successful in Japan?

Hosono: Not really. For popular titles we have in Japan, we will put effort into having them globally, but in the future, we expect that there will be some titles that may not be popular in Japan but will be popular in the US or other countries as well. We’re kind of expecting a different situation to come out of our service. The real grand goal for doing this service is to find the next hit content that emerges from outside of Japan. For example, an American manga artist who posts their manga to our service.

Manga Mavericks (Varun): Related to that, how did MANGA Plus Creators come to fruition? I really love it, as it allows creators to independently release their content.

Hosono: So on Shonen Jump+ in Japan, there’s a service called Jump+ Rookies, and we found a lot of great new content emerging from there.

Manga Mavericks (Varun): Ah yes, I remember Kindergarten Wars started there!

Hosono: Yes, exactly. So, we similarly have the MANGA Plus service and MANGA Plus Creators for creator-submitted content. To be honest, we have a lot of content on MANGA Plus Creators that is beyond our expectations and has great potential.

Manga Mavericks (Varun): I’ve noticed MANGA Plus will often highlight MANGA Plus Creators content through awards as well.

Hosono: Yes, the awards are meant to highlight the content that we think is going to work well.

Manga Mavericks (Varun): Do you think that some of that content will become full serializations in the future?

Hosono: Yes. That’s exactly what we’re thinking. It’s not an easy process, but that’s what our goal is.

Manga Mavericks (Varun): Totally! It definitely makes MANGA Plus feel even more like a global manga service. In general, Shueisha has some of the biggest manga titles in the world. What do you think makes Shueisha titles, especially those from Weekly Shonen Jump and Shonen Jump+, so popular and compelling around the world?

Hosono: Looking back at our history of Jump, we’ve always had many new and upcoming artists. Even today, our goal hasn’t changed. We want to focus on the new artists and make them and their titles big. We’ve provided opportunities to many artists that nobody initially knew, and that’s always what we should do.

Manga Mavericks (Sakaki): Nowadays, with the internet making it easier for anyone to make a manga, how do you think that’s changed the job of an editor?

Hosono: Even in Japan, there are a lot of people posting their works on Twitter (X), and there are some titles that have become very famous from that. Still, I think that way of distribution is only one route. I think some artists feel it’s better to work together with an editor in posting your work, rather than just posting it by yourself. A few years ago, there were a lot of people on Twitter saying that editors are no longer needed. Now, the opinion seems to be that it’s actually better to have an editor to improve the quality of your work. For a publisher like us, with MANGA Plus we’re providing an opportunity for artists to globally distribute their works. So I think that’s another value that we’re adding to it.

Manga Mavericks (Varun): How has your relationship changed between you and local publishers now that MANGA Plus is releasing titles in multiple languages?

Hosono: We’re actually working very closely with the local publishers. Like for many English translations, we need Viz Media. Also for digital-first, we can directly release titles, but when taking titles to physical print, we of course need the local publishers. The local publishers also do marketing and other activities to promote the work, so that’s very important.

Manga Mavericks (Varun): At the MANGA Plus booth, there’s an area where you can vote for your favorite title. What is your favorite title among the options?

Hosono: Red Cat Ramen! The reason is because I’m simply curious how that will be viewed by the local market. Ramen as a food is also getting popular outside of Japan. It’s also very much a “healing” story, which is needed since we’re living in a difficult world.

Manga Mavericks (Varun): When we were in Tokyo in September, we saw Red Cat Ramen in a lot of different bookstores, which was very surprising. I really hope that it gains a big international audience!

Manga Mavericks (Sakaki): While in Japan, I heard some people say that they prefer Shonen Jump+ series now over Weekly Shonen Jump. Has there been an audience shift from the regular Weekly Shonen Jump magazine?

Hosono: I don’t think that’s how it is personally. The production capability of Weekly Shonen Jump is very strong, so I feel it’s like a rivalry. We cooperate at times and we both try to make each other better. We actually sit next to each other in the same office.

Thanks again to MANGA Plus, Shuhei Hosono, and New York Comic Con for making this interview possible.

The post Interview With Shuhei Hosono | MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA At New York Comic Con 2023 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum round out the year with one more news episode! We start out the show with some industry news, including more unions, more mergers and more data! Afterwards, we get into the latest North American sales lists from Circana on the New York Times, and then spend the rest of the show on a ton of new licenses! Big thanks to everyone who’s been listening to us for the past year, and look forward to our next episode discussing some of the latest simulpubbed manga that has popped up over the past couple of months! But until then, have a happy holiday and a merry new year! Enjoy!⁠

Download Here!!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – Intro/Patron Shout Out!

04:23 – Drawn & Quarterly forms workers union

07:44 – Crunchyroll discontinues digital manga service

12:05 – Comixology app merges with Kindle

14:56 – Kadokawa aims to establish more wholly owned anime studios

18:21 – Shogakukan buys out all outstanding shares of Tokyo Otaku Mode

20:51 – KKR buys Simon & Schuster

24:56 – Manga Plus Stats

31:32 – Circana Graphic Novel Sales report

41:37 – September & October Bookscan Lists

58:28 – October & November NYT Lists

1:00:17 – NY Public libraries Best Books for Teens 2023

1:02:39 – Alabaster Kickstarter cancelled

1:04:23 – Ablaze launches new Saint Seiya comic

1:05:11 – Vertical’s license to the Weathering with You manga expires

1:05:59 – JNC Nina

1:07:51 – Living the Line’s horror manga imprint: Smudge

1:10:03 – Alien Books

1:16:43 – Drawn & Quarterly licenses Legend of Kamuy

1:20:28 – Colton’s Licensing Highlights

1:31:20 – Lum’s Licensing Highlights

1:50:39 – Wrap up

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

Ukraine Aid Resources & Links

Ukraine Crisis Media Center links

Ukraine Caard

Ukraine Linktree

Ukraine Refugee IRC Emergency Fund

American Prestige Podcast’s Ukraine Explain episodes

GoFundMe’s Verified Ukraine Fundraisers & Humanitarian Fund

Texas Trans Support Resources & Links

Act-Blue and Donation Page for the Transgender Education Network of Texas

Links to Smaller Trans Organizations in Texas to Donate to

Anime Feminist’s Dual Resources & Links List for Ukraine Aid & Trans Community Support

LINKS:

• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Support us on Patreon!

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 237: December 2023 News Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Culver City, California (December 19, 2023) – Crunchyroll, the ultimate home for anime worldwide, announced today that it has acquired the theatrical rights for the new anime film GREAT PRETENDER razbliuto. Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment will bring the film to select theaters in the United States for a special two-day event on January 9 and 10.

GREAT PRETENDER razbliuto marks the first feature film in the popular GREAT PRETENDER anime series, which debuted to critical acclaim in 2020. This thrilling and entertaining film serves as a standalone story following Dorothy, the self-proclaimed genius con artist who targets other con artists, as she masterfully maneuvers her way through Asia, all the while facing an unexpected threat.

This story is once again directed by Hiro Kaburagi, who is also responsible for the character design, with animation production from the legendary WIT Studio (Attack on Titan Seasons 1-3 , Vinland Saga Season 1 ). The film is produced by Hitoshi Ito (MIRAI, Star Wars: Visions “The Ninth Jedi”) and script supervision by Ryota Kosawa (Always: Sunset on Third Street, Air Bound).

Official Film Synopsis:

It’s been three years since WIT Studio captivated the world with the dizzying tricks and ingenious scenarios that emerged from the “GREAT PRETENDER” series. Now, this all-new action-adventure film follows Dorothy, the self-proclaimed genius con artist who recruited the infamous Laurent Thierry to the life of crime. This time around, she has been defeated at her own game by the Shanghai Longu Bang and is thought to be dead, but she soon reemerges in a small seaside village. Pursued by the underworld of Taipei, she heads to Kyoto, but what will she find waiting for her there…?!

Participating Theaters:

• Cinemark Pflugerville 20 and XD (Austin, TX)
• Cinemark Egyptian 24 and XD (Baltimore, MD)
• AMC Boston Common 19 (Boston, MA)
• AMC River East 21 (Chicago, IL)
• AMC Northpark 15 (Dallas, TX)
• AMC Westminster Promenade 24 & IMAX (Denver, CO)
• Consolidated Ward Theaters with TITAN LUXE (Honolulu, HI)
• Regal Edwards Houston Marq’E (Houston, TX)
• AMC Town Square 18 (Las Vegas, NV)
• AMC Burbank 16 (Los Angeles, CA)
• Regal LA Live (Los Angeles CA)
• AMC Sunset Place 24 (Miami, FL)
• AMC Garden State 16 (Newark, NJ)
• AMC Empire 25 (New York, NY)
• Harkins Theatres Arizona Mills 18 w/ IMAX (Phoenix, AZ)
• AMC DINE-IN Ontario Mills 30 (Riverside, CA)
• Cinemark Century Arden 14 and XD (Sacramento, CA)
• Cinemark Jordan Landing 24 and XD (Salt Lake City, UT)
• Santikos Entertainment Casa Blanca (San Antonio, TX)
• AMC Mission Valley 20 (San Diego, CA)
• Regal Stonestown Galleria (San Francisco, CA)
• Cinemark Century Great Mall 20 XD and ScreenX (San Jose, CA)
• AMC Orange 30 (Santa Ana, CA)
• Regal Meridian (Seattle, WA)
• AMC Tysons Corner 16 (McLean, CA)

About GREAT PRETENDER:

The GREAT PRETENDER follows the story of Makoto “Edamame” Edamura who has adopted a life of crime – pickpocketing and scamming others for a living. However, after swindling a seemingly clueless tourist, Laurent Thierry, Makoto discovers that he was the one tricked, and to make matters worse, that the police are now after him.

While making his escape, he runs into Thierry once again, who just so happens to be a fellow con man himself, and ends up leaving with him to Los Angeles. Attempting to defend his self-proclaimed title of “Japan’s Greatest Swindler,” Makoto challenges his rival to determine the better scammer. Accepting the competition, Laurent drops them off outside a huge mansion and claims that their target will be the biggest mafia boss on the West Coast.

Jumping from city to city, GREAT PRETENDER follows the endeavors of Makoto alongside the cunning Laurent and his colorful associates in the world of international high-stakes fraud. Soon, Makoto realizes that he got more than what he bargained for as his self-declared skills are continually put to the test.

About Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between US-based Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.

Films distributed and marketed by Crunchyroll – domestically and internationally – have a proven track record of both box office and critical success. Not only have Crunchyroll films seen box office success, but have also been recognized with numerous awards accolades and been accepted and screened at international film festivals around the globe.

The post Crunchyroll Acquires New Anime Film “GREAT PRETENDER razbliuto” appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Culver City, California (December 15, 2023) – Open the door to the stunning animation of renowned filmmaker Makoto Shinkai as Crunchyroll brings a limited edition Blu-ray set of Suzume on March 12. The critically acclaimed film hit theaters globally on April 2023, and earned a 96% critics score and 98% audience score on RottenTomatoes.com making it “Certified Fresh.” Suzume has received nominations from the Golden Globes, Saturn Awards and ASTRA Film Awards. This limited edition Blu-ray edition of Suzume will include a beautiful 60-page art book, four art cards, a director’s commentary from Makoto Shinkai, and much more!

A calendar of additional titles in Crunchyrol’s lineup for March home video entertainment can also be found below:

Suzume – Limited Edition Blu-ray

On the other side of the door, was time in its entirety—

“Suzume” is a coming-of-age story for the 17-year-old protagonist, Suzume, set in various disaster-stricken locations across Japan, where she must close the doors causing devastation.

Suzume’s journey begins in a quiet town in Kyushu (located in southwestern Japan) when she encounters a young man who tells her, “I’m looking for a door.” What Suzume finds is a single weathered door standing upright in the midst of ruins as though it was shielded from whatever catastrophe struck. Seemingly drawn by its power, Suzume reaches for the knob… Doors begin to open one after another all across Japan, unleashing destruction upon any who are near. Suzume must close these portals to prevent further disaster.

—The stars, then sunset, and the morning sky.

Within that realm, it was as though all time had melted together in the sky…

Never-before-seen scenery, encounters and farewells… A myriad of challenges await her on her journey. Despite all the obstacles in her way, Suzume’s adventure shines a ray of hope upon our own struggles against the toughest roads of anxiety and constraints that make up everyday life. This story of closing doors that connect our past to the present and future will leave a lasting impression upon all of our hearts.

Drawn in by these mysterious doors, Suzume’s journey is about to begin.

• Suzume – Limited Edition Exclusives

  • A breathtaking 60-page art book
  • Four art cards

  • Suzume – Limited Edition and Standard Edition Special Features

  • Director’s Commentary

  • Director’s Interview
  • Director’s Filmography Recap
  • RADWIMPS Interview
  • “The Making Of” Documentary
  • Ending Scene “Tadaima” Version
  • Special Commemoration Videos
  • Promo Video Collection
  • Teaser & Trailers
  • Roundtable Interview With Makoto Shinkai, Yojiro Noda & Kazuma Jinnouchi

Check out the full North American March 2024 home entertainment release calendar from Crunchyroll below:

(Release schedule is subject to change)

March 5, 2024

• RWBY: Ice Queendom – The Complete Season – Blu-ray

March 12. 2024

• One Piece Season 13 Voyage 6 – Blu-ray/DVD
• Suzume – Limited Edition – Blu-ray/DVD
• Suzume – Standard Edition – Blu-ray/DVD
• The Legendary Hero Is Dead! – The Complete Season – Blu-ray

All titles listed above will be available to pre-order through the Crunchyroll Store along with more home video offerings for purchase.

About Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll connects anime and manga fans across 200+ countries and territories with the content and experiences they love. In addition to free ad-supported and membership Premium content, Crunchyroll serves the anime community across events, theatrical, games, consumer products, collectibles, and manga publishing.

Anime fans have access to one of the largest collections of licensed anime through Crunchyroll and translated in multiple languages for viewers worldwide. Viewers can also access simulcasts – top series available immediately after Japanese broadcast.

The Crunchyroll app is available on over 15 platforms, including all gaming consoles.

Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.

The post Makoto Shinkai’s “Suzume” arrives on Blu-ray this March from Crunchyroll appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Just in time for Anime NYC and Sleepy-C’s first overseas debut is our episode covering Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint! We discuss the hit Webtoon and what makes it so special that Marion has decided it to be one of their favorite new series of all time!

Follow Soju Wanna Read Manhwa on:

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠@SojuManhwaPod⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠@sojumanhwapod⁠

Music by ⁠⁠⁠AmpRen⁠⁠⁠

The post Soju Wanna Read Manhwa EP. 5: Omniscent Reader’s Viewpoint appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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(November 13, 2023) – Seven Seas Entertainment is pleased to announce the license acquisition of the danmei/Boys’ Love novel series Run Wild: Sa Ye by Wu Zhe. In this novel series originally released in Chinese—and which inspired a number of multimedia adaptations—two disaffected young men stuck in a run-down city discover that everything changes once they find each other.

Unwanted by his adoptive parents, Jiang Cheng leaves home to live in a cold, gray city with his deadbeat dad whose only talent is feeding a gambling addiction. Alone save for his suitcase, the rebellious teenage boy arrives at the train station ready to face his miserable new life.

But the moment he steps off the platform, Jiang Cheng meets the peculiar young girl Gu Miao, along with her big brother Gu Fei—a boy his age with a musical staff shaved into his hair. Rumor has it that Gu Fei is bad news with dark secrets of his own, but Jiang Cheng still finds himself pulled toward the withdrawn delinquent thanks to Gu Miao and, perhaps, fate. The unlikely friendship that blossoms between them shows Jiang Cheng the hidden depths of Gu Fei…and the hidden depths of his own feelings. The Seven Seas English-language edition of this romantic drama will feature exclusive new art.

Run Wild: Sa Ye (Novel) Vol. 1 will be released in the English language in early 2025 for $19.99 USA / $25.99 CAN, with the series available in large-trim paperback editions as part of the Seven Seas Danmei label. Ebook editions will also be available on digital platforms.

About Seven Seas Entertainment
Established in 2004, Seven Seas Entertainment is an award-winning publisher that specializes in bringing the best of Japanese manga and light novels to English-language audiences alongside the hottest danmei, webtoons, and other books from around the globe, as well as producing audiobooks, original comics, and youth literature. All of Seven Seas’ print book imprints are distributed throughout the world by Penguin Random House Publisher Services. For more information, visit sevenseasentertainment.com

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Culver City, California (November 6, 2023) – Crunchyroll, the ultimate home for anime worldwide, has acquired the North American and select global theatrical rights for SPY x FAMILY CODE: White. Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment will bring the first film installment of the popular television series – delivering an original standalone story featuring secret agent , his deadly assassin wife Yor, and their telepathic adopted daughter Anya in an all-new mission – to North American theaters in 2024. The film will be available in both Japanese with English subtitles and dubbed in English.

In addition to the North American rights, Crunchyroll has also acquired the rights for Latin America, Australia/New Zealand, and select territories in Europe, including Austria, Benelux, France, Germany, Italy, the Nordics, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland.

Based on the widely acclaimed Harvey and Eisner Award-nominated manga written and illustrated by Tatsuya Endo, the television series SPY x FAMILY originally debuted on April 9, 2022 and was quickly embraced by fans across the globe. The second season launched on October 7 on Crunchyroll.

Official Film Synopsis:

He’s a spy. She’s an assassin. Together, Loid and Yor keep their double lives to themselves while pretending to be the perfect family. However, their adopted daughter Anya, a telepath, knows both of their exciting secrets unbeknownst to them. While under the guise of taking his family on a weekend winter getaway, Loid’s attempt to make progress on his current mission Operation Strix proves difficult when Anya mistakenly gets involved and triggers events that threaten world peace!

Credits: Directed by Takashi Katagiri. Written by Ichiro Okouchi. Original story by Tatsuya Endo. Produced by WIT STUDIO x CloverWorks.

About the SPY x FAMILY franchise:

World peace is at stake and secret agent (aka Loid Forger) must undergo his most difficult mission yet—pretend to be a family man. Posing as a loving husband and father, he’ll infiltrate an elite school to get close to a high-profile politician. He has the perfect cover, except his wife’s a deadly assassin and neither knows each other’s identity. But someone does, his adopted daughter who’s a telepath.

The anime series SPY x FAMILY is produced by TOHO animation and adapted from the widely acclaimed manga series of the same name written and illustrated by Tatsuya Endo. Serialized in Shueisha’s Shonen Jump Plus, the manga currently has over 31 million copies in circulation and has been nominated for both Harvey and Eisner Awards. SPY x FAMILY is a New York Times Graphic Books and Manga bestseller and all 10 volumes have hit the Circana Bookscan Top 20 Adult Graphic Novels list.

The animation is produced by two acclaimed anime teams: WIT STUDIO (Attack on Titan (Season 1-3); VINLAND SAGA; Ranking of Kings) and CloverWorks (The Elusive Samurai; Black Butler: Public School Arc).

About Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between US-based Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.

Films distributed and marketed by Crunchyroll – domestically and internationally – have a proven track record of both box office and critical success. Not only have Crunchyroll films seen box office success, but have also been recognized with numerous awards accolades and been accepted and screened at international film festivals around the globe.

The post CRUNCHYROLL ACQUIRES NORTH AMERICAN THEATRICAL RIGHTS FOR “SPY x FAMILY CODE: White” appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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VLord and Laserkid discuss Demon Slayer’s return to Toonami and Adult Swim, and what the anime being back on TV means for the reach of the series.

Make sure to follow the Demon Slayer Podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

You can email us your questions and comments at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠demonslayerpodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our Patreon:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/mangamavericks⁠⁠

You can follow the hosts and guests of this episode on Twitter:

VLordGTZ – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@VLordGTZ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Laserkid – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@laserkidprime⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Intro & Outro music composed by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AmpRen⁠

The post Demon Slayer Podcast EP. 66: DEMON SLAYER IS BACK…On Toonami appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum discuss another batch of simulpubs! Such as the new Super String Webtoon comic drawn by Boichi, as well some interesting titles from Manga Up like Reto the Protector and Goinda’s Naughty Secret! Two other new titles from KManga such as Tune In to the Midnight Heart and The Healer Ditches the Boonies to Become an S-Class Adventurer, and then the newest batch of new series from Shonen Jump with MamaYuyu, Kagurabachi and Two on Ice! Enjoy!

Check out our newest Patreon podcast series, the Manga Mavericks Anime Club, as Colton & Sakaki watch through Hajime no Ippo for the very first time!

Download Here!!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – Intro

02:06 – Hajime no Ippo now available on KManga

07:18 – Manga Plus/Media Do outsourcing manga lettering to an AI services company

22:55 – Manga Plus launches subscription service

Simulpubs

30:36 – Super String

49:26 – Reto the Protector

1:03:33 – Goinda’s Naughty Secret

1:12:25 – Tune In to the Midnight Heart

1:30:04 – The Healer Ditches the Boonies to Become an S-Class Adventurer

1:55:59 – MamaYuyu

2:08:01 – Kagurabachi

2:15:06 – Two on Ice

02:23:35 – Wrap upEnjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

Ukraine Aid Resources & Links

Ukraine Crisis Media Center links

Ukraine Caard

Ukraine Linktree

Ukraine Refugee IRC Emergency Fund

American Prestige Podcast’s Ukraine Explain episodes

GoFundMe’s Verified Ukraine Fundraisers & Humanitarian Fund

Texas Trans Support Resources & Links

Act-Blue and Donation Page for the Transgender Education Network of Texas

Links to Smaller Trans Organizations in Texas to Donate to

Anime Feminist’s Dual Resources & Links List for Ukraine Aid & Trans Community Support

LINKS:

• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Support us on Patreon!
• Read Super String: Marco Polo’s Travel to the Multiverse on Webtoon!
• Read Goinda’s Naughty Secret and Reto the Protector on Manga Up!
• Read Hajime no Ippo, Tune in to the Midnight Heart and The Healer Ditches the Boonies to Become an S-Rank Adventurer on KManga!
• Read MamaYuyu, Kagurabachi and Two on Ice on Shonen Jump or Manga Plus!

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 236: November 2023 Simulpubs Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Hellsing is a beloved series among manga fans, especially for those looking for an incredibly entertaining and bloody action series. Dark Horse Manga has been releasing their 2nd edition of the series, which includes an updated translation previously only available via the deluxe edition, and volumes 8 and 9 are now available for pre-order! You can find the full details from Dark Horse’s press release down below!

MILWAUKIE, Ore., (October 23, 2023)— If manga fans want blood, Dark Horse Manga has gallons to offer! Check out the latest list of manga available for preorder from your local bookstore or comic shop now!

Hellsing Volume 8 (2nd Edition)

Kohta Hirano’s Hellsing is a worldwide phenomenon, a science-fiction-horror manga masterpiece of shocking intensity and wild ingenuity. If you’ve missed out on this series before, or you’re dying to read the revised translations (previously available only in the deluxe hardcover editions), don’t let the manga that spawned the international hit television and OVA anime escape you.

London is drowning in blood, its citizenry being butchered by the Nazi vampires of the Millennium Organization. And marching through this slaughterhouse are thousands of fanatic Catholic warriors, ready to strike down any who oppose their god. But both undead and zealot alike will have to contend with the return of the vampire lord Alucard, slave-paladin of the British Protestants, piloting an aircraft carrier up the Thames to join the fray!

Hold back the monster within, and pre-order Hellsing Volume 8 (trade paperback, second edition) on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and at your local comic shop and bookstore. Available on June 11, 2024 in bookstores and June 12, 2024 in comic shops, this volume retails for $14.99.

Hellsing Volume 9 (2nd Edition)

The maniacally gory fun of Hirano’s Hellsingramps up in volume 9, serving you a mix of white-knuckle action and a bloody touch of graveyard humor. Keep up with your favorite vampires in these revised translation editions coming to comic shops and bookstores near you!

After vampire lord Alucard’s triumphant return as champion of the Hellsing Organization, the streets of London run red with the blood of Nazi undead and fanatic Catholic warriors. But the dead calm is only a temporary respite, and chaos soon engulfs the city once again. The undead still have some life left in them, and their plans are aligned for this moment…and final victory beneath the swastika!

Hellsing Volume 9 (trade paperback, second edition) arrives in stores on July 9, 2024 in bookstores, July 10, 2024 in comic shops, and is available for pre-orders on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and at your local comic shop and bookstorefor $14.99.

Social Media

Be sure to follow @DarkHorseComics on social media for more news, announcements, and updates.

About Dark Horse Comics

Founded in 1986 as an offshoot of his comics retail chain, Mike Richardson, launched Dark Horse Comics with the goal of creating a welcoming environment for comics professionals. The company strives to be an example of how integrity and innovation can broaden a unique storytelling medium and transform a company with humble beginnings into an industry giant. Dark Horse has published modern masters such as Yoshitaka Amano, Margaret Atwood, Brian Michael Bendis, Paul Chadwick, Geof Darrow, Colleen Doran, Janet Evanovich, Neil Gaiman, Dave Gibbons, Faith Erin Hicks, Kazuo Koike, Matt Kindt, Jeff Lemire, Kentaro Miura, Moebius, Chuck Palahniuk, Eric Powell, Stan Sakai, and Gerard Way, as well as Hall of Fame legends Will Eisner, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Richard Corben. The company also set the industry standard for quality licensed comics, graphic novels, collectibles, and art books, based on properties such as Star Wars, Stranger Things, Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra, Minecraft, The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, Dragon Age, James Cameron’s Avatar, Game of Thrones, Mass Effect, The Witcher, and Halo. Dark Horse established an entertainment division in 1989, finding immediate success with company-owned projects The Mask and TimeCop. Current hits from Dark Horse Entertainment include The Umbrella Academy on Netflix and Resident Alien on SyFy. Additionally, Dark Horse has a long tradition of establishing new creative talent throughout all of its divisions.

In 2022, Dark Horse Media, LLC was established as the parent company of all three divisions, and became part of Embracer Group AB, forming the tenth operative group, strengthening the company’s transmedia capabilities.

The post Hellsing 2nd Edition Vols. 8 & 9 Now Available For Pre-Order appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum are joined by new official website owner, Vlord, as they talk about some upcoming changes to the site, including being the home of a bunch of new podcasts that we have highlighted on the show over the years that are now apart of the Manga Mavericks podcast network! Afterwards, they discuss some big shake ups in the industry with Rightstuf officially being phased out and merged with Crunchyroll’s online store, Vlord’s thoughts on the recent of ending of Shuzo Oshimi’s Blood on the Tracks, our thoughts on the finally released live action One Piece show now on Netflix, as well catch up on the latest sales lists and new manga licenses! Enjoy!!⁠

Download Here!!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – Intro/Website Updates

22:04 – Manga Archive Organization

24:14 – Lianne Sentar appointed as Seven Seas publisher

26:13 – Brady McCollum leaves Crunchyroll

27:35 – Rightstuf phased out and merged into the Crunchyroll store

40:33 – Nippon TV acquires Studio Ghibli

47:15 – Sept NYT List + Both July & August Bookscan List

1:12:11 – Colton’s Licensing Highlights

1:26:15 – Lum’s Licensing Highlights

1:44:12 – Shuzo Oshimi ends Welcome Back Alice and Blood on the Tracks, plans new manga

1:49:10 – Reception of the Netflix live action One Piece show

2:04:36 – Wrap up

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

Ukraine Aid Resources & Links

Ukraine Crisis Media Center links

Ukraine Caard

Ukraine Linktree

Ukraine Refugee IRC Emergency Fund

American Prestige Podcast’s Ukraine Explain episodes

GoFundMe’s Verified Ukraine Fundraisers & Humanitarian Fund

Texas Trans Support Resources & Links

Act-Blue and Donation Page for the Transgender Education Network of Texas

Links to Smaller Trans Organizations in Texas to Donate to

Anime Feminist’s Dual Resources & Links List for Ukraine Aid & Trans Community Support

LINKS:

• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Support us on Patreon!
• Follow Irodori Comics’ Isaki Uta Kickstarter!

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 235: October 2023 News Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Whether you’re a lover, a hater, or you just love to hate, you won’t be bored reading through The Remarried Empress! In our 4th episode, we discuss an emotionally tumultuous romance fantasy, complete with political conspiracy, elegant romanceable birds, and the kind of soap opera drama that got Amber to binge close to 150 episodes in the span of two days! The Remarried Empress is available to read for free on the Webtoon app, and in collected volumes in print and digital thanks to Ize Press. Did you enjoy this episode? Be sure to leave us a rating! Or send us an email or a tweet!

Follow Soju Wanna Read Manhwa on Twitter ⁠⁠@SojuManhwaPod⁠⁠

Music by ⁠⁠AmpRen⁠⁠

The post Soju Wanna Read Manhwa EP. 4: The Roast of Trashta | The Remarried Empress appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Does it feel good to punch people? What is the meaning of life? Why are mohawks the coolest? These questions and more are all addressed in The Boxer by JH, our series for this month’s episode! We’re joined by writer/podcaster Deb Aoki this time in order to help break down what exactly makes this series a masterpiece in its execution. We also dive into what makes JH special as a storyteller who both writes and draws! If action isn’t your thing, we’ve got that covered too–next month’s episode will be covering The Remarried Empress! Read ahead on the Webtoon app and join us in the conversation on Twitter!

Follow Soju Wanna Read Manhwa on Twitter @SojuManhwaPod

Follow guest Deb Aoki on Twitter @debaoki

Music by AmpRen

SHOW NOTES:

Manga Mac TV: One Piece Live Action:

https://youtu.be/3UP4jqQIhwY?si=yGBqZFFlvi5JRc5m

The Mangasplaining Extra previews (Chapter 2 onwards are paid content):

Seach and Destroy by Atsushi Kaneko, Chapter 0 & 1:

https://mangasplaining.substack.com/p/manga-search-and-destroy-ch-00-01?r=ubv85&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Wandering Cat’s Cage by Akane Torikai, Chapter 1:

https://mangasplaining.substack.com/p/manga-wandering-cats-cage-chapter

The post Soju Wanna Read Manhwa EP. 3: The Boxer appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On today’s adventure, Colton & Sakaki continue their way through the first Dragon Ball TV anime with Episodes 2 & 3, as the show becomes an odd couple sitcom for a little bit, at least until our heroes have to go back to fighting bears, helping lost turtles and finding more dragon balls. Our hosts cover a lot of ground for only going through two episodes, such as what they like about the animation and pacing of the show so far, and their positive feelings on the original material starring Pilaf and his gang, as well as their complicated feelings on the character of Muten Roshi. They even talk about more stuff that no one else cares about, like what kind of food Sakaki has never tried before and more comparisons to Hunter x Hunter! Enjoy!!

Download Here!!

Links:

Subscribe to us wherever you listen to podcasts!

Listen to the newest episodes of the podcast right now on Patreon!!

Follow the podcast on Twitter!

Email us at anotherdbpod@gmail.com

Album art provided by @taysamey

Follow Colton & Sakaki on Twitter

Follow Sakaki’s Shogakukan Blog & Twitter

Listen to Sakaki on such podcasts as the Demon Slayer Podcast, Shaman King Podcast & Saturday Night Shoggy!

The post Another Day, Another Adventure Episode 2 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On today’s adventure, we’re joined by both Randy & Doug from We Gotta Podcast, as we discuss episodes 35-38 of the 1986 Dragon Ball anime! Where Goku crash lands in a snowy village and invades the nearby Red Ribbon army base located at the terrifying Muscle Tower! We discuss in particular how even though the pacing of these episodes compared to the original manga material may unfortunately drag down quite a bit of the tension and comedy, they still manage to be quite enjoyable! Even with some added spiciness thanks to the English dub! You won’t believe what shenanigans Murasaki might get up to while White isn’t looking! Enjoy!

Download Here!

Links:

Subscribe to us wherever you listen to podcasts!

Listen to the newest episodes of the podcast right now on Patreon!!

Follow us on Twitter!

Email us at anotherdbpod@gmail.com

Album art provided by @taysamey

Follow Randy & Doug on Twitter!

Listen to We Gotta Podcast!

Follow Colton & Sakaki on Twitter

Check out Colton’s other podcasts

Follow Sakaki’s Shogakukan Blog & Twitter

Listen to Sakaki such podcasts as Demon Slayer Podcast, Shaman King Podcast & Saturday Night Shoggy!

The post Another Day, Another Adventure Episode 13 (feat Randy & Doug from We Gotta Podcast) appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Hope you guys are ready for an adventure, because Colton has decided to start up a new podcast, one where he and his friend, Sakaki, make their way through the entire Dragon Ball anime franchise (yes, you heard that right)! On this introductory episode, our duo discuss their history with the franchise and just how much Dragon Ball anime they’ve actually watched–the answer may surprise you! They also discuss why they wanted to start up this very daunting project and how they plan to go about it: By covering every possible tv series, movie, special and more!!

And then, on the inaugural first episode of the podcast, Colton & Sakaki officially begin their journey through the Dragon Ball franchise with the 1986 Dragon Ball tv series! Our adventurers start their trek across the land with some baby steps as they take a look at the very first episode of the series: Would this pilot episode have grabbed our duo’s attentions if they had started with this series instead of Z? How well does it establish the world and its characters? Was that pterodactyl just hiding in the bushes waiting for unsuspecting teenage girls? All these questions and more are explored on this first episode of the podcast! Enjoy!

Download Episode 0 here! And Episode 1 here!

Links:

Subscribe to us wherever you listen to podcasts!

Listen to the newest episodes of the podcast right now on Patreon!!

Follow us on Twitter!

Email us at anotherdbpod@gmail.com

Album art provided by @taysamey

Follow Colton & Sakaki on Twitter

Follow Sakaki’s Shogakukan Blog & Twitter

Listen to Sakaki on such podcasts as the Demon Slayer Podcast, Shaman King Podcast & Saturday Night Shoggy!

The post Another Day, Another Adventure Episodes 0 & 1 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Listen to the Saturday Night Shoggy Episode Backlog

Welcome back to Saturday Night Shoggy, where we discuss the vast history and catalog of Shogakukan anime and manga! This time, VLord, Sakaki, and LumRanmaYasha discuss the Shogakukan-related activities that they did earlier this year at Anime Expo 2023, and their experience meeting Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead manga artist Kotaro Takata!

Follow Saturday Night Shoggy on Twitter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SatNightShoggy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

You can email us at satnightshoggy@gmail.com

You can follow hosts/guests on Twitter:

Sakaki – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@kiirobon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

VLord – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@VLordGTZ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LumRanmaYasha – ⁠@LumRanmaYasha⁠

Music Credits:

Intro – “Can’t See Your Face” by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AmpRen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Outro – “Curtain Call” by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AmpRen⁠⁠⁠

The post Saturday Night Shoggy EP. 20: Meeting Zom 100 Co-Creator Kotaro Takata | Anime Expo 2023 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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In our second episode, we discuss the hit romcom A Business Proposal, which recently got a print release and a drama adaptation last year! Is it worth watching? Did our secondary couple steal the show from our main couple? Is Ha-ri lowkey actually a freak in the sheets like she alluded to in episode 1? All these questions and more will be answered in our monthly discussion this time around!

Follow Soju Wanna Read Manhwa on Twitter @SojuManhwaPod

Music by AmpRen

The post Soju Wanna Read Manhwa EP. 2: A Business Proposal appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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So… Ju wanna read manhwa? You’ve come to the right place! We’re a new monthly podcast dedicated to bringing you discussion about the latest and greatest in Korean comics, also known as manhwa! In our first episode, hosts Amber (@ARGbombshell) and Marion (@microwaevy) dive headfirst into the juggernaut known as Solo Leveling. Please excuse the inconsistent audio quality, you can consider Marion’s family in the background as our secret third guest.

Follow Soju Wanna Read Manhwa on Twitter @SojuManhwaPod

Music by AmpRen

The post Soju Wanna Read Manhwa EP. 1: Solo Leveling appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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This year at Otakon, Manga Mavericks Editor-in-Chief Varun Gupta had the pleasure of interviewing Takaharu Ozaki and Shinya Tsuruoka. Ozaki is best known for his directorial work on anime such as Goblin Slayer and Girls’ Last Tour, while Tsuruoka has served as a producer on several titles including Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! and Hi Score Girl. Most recently, Ozaki and Tsuruoka were the director and producer for the anime adaptation of BASTARD!! -Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy-, which premiered its second season on Netflix on July 31st.

Check out our full interview with Ozaki and Tsuruoka down below:

Manga Mavericks: I want to start off by just asking about the BASTARD!! anime itself. Before the current adaptation, BASTARD!! hadn’t been adapted into an anime since the 1990s OVAs. What led to the new BASTARD!! anime getting produced and how did you both get involved with the project?

Tsuruoka: First of all, Shueisha and Warner Bros talking to each other with regard to making BASTARD!! into a new series anime instead of just stopping at an OVA. We were talking about the timing of it all, since this project was being talked about quite a while ago, however, the timing still was undecided. Roughly about three to seven years ago, the isekai fantasy genre started to pick up. Say for example, things like reborn as someone really strong or being really strong in a different world. That was something that had recently been picking up steam. So, we had BASTARD!! being talked about between Shueisha and Warner Bros, and we found that the time was right, because as the originator of lots of the fantasy manga genre, I believed that BASTARD!! had the quality that would best equip it to be successful in the current trend. We also have the ability to get this project to many eyes through the power of Netflix, and it will be able to reach many more people. So, that is how BASTARD!!‘s current Netflix anime adaptation came to be.

Manga Mavericks: How much was creator Kazushi Hagiwara involved in the production of the anime or did he provide any input?

Ozaki: Hagiwara-sensei left it up to us for the most part. However, including the God of Destruction, we decided to change some of the designs of the monsters, and to do that, Hagiwara-sensei had to come up with new designs. For many of the other new designs of the monsters. Hagiwara-sensei has also said that he’ll be as proactive as possible in making the changes. However, on the other fronts, Hagiwara-sensei has given us the full green light, saying that as long as we’re true to the source material, to do as we wish. So, we try to remain true to the source material on the other parts.

Manga Mavericks: With regard to respecting the source material, the anime is very faithful in both tone and visuals to the manga in that it has that late 80’s ~ 90’s feel. Was it difficult to capture that old manga feeling in modern anime?

Ozaki: Since it’s a manga that has spanned for a long amount of time, the looks of the same characters were going to change, so we decided to go specifically for the 90s taste, because that was when I believe the manga had peak popularity. For me, I think it was for me easy to do this, because I am the person that was there to see it all, and I think I have a taste for the looks of the 90s. However, the current generation, like people in their 20s, might not have the same sort of ease for doing these character designs as I did, because they might be more accustomed to newer tastes in character design.

So on that note, actually, there were some pretty interesting interactions with some of the new animators drawing the characters. We went through lots of edits, because the faces didn’t look as 90s as we had hoped for. So, there was a bit of a learning opportunity with the “sakuga”, and we went back to each of the scenes saying “We should do this!” or “Do the face the like this!” and kind of fixing it up for them.

Manga Mavericks: Ozaki-san, having worked on both BASTARD!! and Goblin Slayer now, what do you think is the best approach to making a dark fantasy story engaging to viewers?

Ozaki: So with regard to the dark fantasy genre, the big problem is the censorship with topics such as violence and grotesque depictions. We want to be sure about what’s the line that we must keep, but at the same time, we want to make sure that we keep the nuances. We keep everything as same as possible to the original source material. So, we want to remain true to the source material, and one thing that we believe is important is that even if there are scenes that were inappropriate in terms of violence or grotesque depictions, for every one of those scenes that are difficult for eyes to process, we want to be sure to include equal amounts of scenes that are beautiful and that project the best of humanity. This is the case in Goblin Slayer. This is the friends and allies that help out Goblin Slayer, and in the case of BASTARD!!, it will be the protective nature, the trust and protection, that come from the friends. What I do not like is hiding stuff that was in the original source material, but at the same time, I believe that it is equally as important to put in the beautiful things that we as humanity should focus on and have faith in.

Thanks again to Takaharu Ozaki, Shinya Tsuruoka, translator George Endo, Warner Brothers, and Otakon for making this interview possible!

The post Interview With Takaharu Ozaki & Shinya Tsuruoka | Otakon 2023 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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NEW YORK, NY (9/22/23)—Anime NYC, New York City’s largest anime convention, announced the attendance of Sleepy-C, the main artist of the hit manhwa series Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, as an official guest for its Fall 2023 event. Leading up to the print release of the English comic from Ize Press, Sleepy-C will attend a North American convention for the first time, allowing some of the massive Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint fan base to meet the main artist behind the iconic property.

Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint is a compelling survival game manhwa that combines psychological drama and supernatural action—a brilliant series bolstered by Sleepy-C’s amazing artwork. Readers have frequently requested and eagerly anticipated English print editions of the widely renowned Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint since Ize Press, the Korean comic imprint of Yen Press, was announced in April 2022. Written by singNsong, the author of The World After the Fall, Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint has reigned supreme as one of the top ten action series on the digital comic platform WEBTOON with over 268 million views and 2.9 million subscribers. This Korean comic series also won the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award in the Manhwa Category of the 2021 Korea Content Awards.

As a market leader in the print publication of Korean comics, Ize Press is honored to bring the artist behind this critically acclaimed title to the West for a weekend to meet passionate fans. More details involving the artist’s scheduled activities will be announced at a later date. Anime NYC takes place in New York, NY, from November 17 to November 19. For more information, visit animenyc.com.

About Sleepy-C

Sleepy-C is an artist who has worked on some of today’s most popular Korean comics. In 2019, Sleepy-C worked on the series Tomb Raider King and in 2020 became the main artist of the Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint webcomic. With her amazing artwork bolstering the adaptation of one of the most popular Korean webnovels, Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint has quickly become an iconic work in the world of Korean webcomics.

About Ize Press

Founded in 2022, Ize Press is the Korean-content imprint from Yen Press. A collaboration between Yen Press, REDICE STUDIO, and RIVERSE, Ize Press has established itself as a market leader for print editions of content that has captured the imagination and dedication of readers around the world. At a time in which comics and webnovels from Korea are rising in popularity at the speed of K-pop, Ize Press aims to deliver high-quality physical editions of many beloved stories to fans eager to add them to their collections. For more information, visit izepress.com

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| LOS ANGELES (September 21, 2023) – ANIMATION IS FILM (AIF) announces the 6th edition of its highly anticipated 2023 slate of theatrical presentations, special events, and shorts showcases taking place over five days, October 18-22, in Hollywood. AIF’s Opening Night on Wednesday, October 18 launches with a GKIDS presentation of Studio Ghibli’s THE BOY AND THE HERON, the latest film from legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX. This marks the first time the festival will host a premiere in IMAX at this Hollywood landmark. Closing Night also celebrates the Los Angeles Premiere of Aardman’s CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET presented by Netflix followed by a Q&A with Oscar nominated Director Sam Fell and Executive Producer and Oscar nominated Director of the beloved first film, Chicken Run (2000), Peter Lord.This year, AIF continues its mission to champion animation as a cinematic artform, while recognizing and acknowledging the importance of curating successful and critically-acclaimed films from around the world. As part of the feature film line-up, two prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival Prize Winners, Neon’s film ROBOT DREAMS (Spain, France) and GKIDS’ CHICKEN FOR LINDA! (France / Italy) will make their West Coast and US debuts, respectively. PHOENIX: REMINISCENCE OF FLOWER (Japan) will make its theatrical North American Premiere, and Dreamworks Animation will host a special presentation of its latest film, TROLLS BAND TOGETHER. Other highlights are the North American Premiere of Sony Pictures Animation/Sony Pictures Imageworks’ THE SPIDER WITHIN: A SPIDER-VERSE STORY, a new Spider-Verse short film, and a special theatrical presentation of the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ narrative short, ONCE UPON A STUDIO, featuring iconic voices from Disney Animation’s past, including Dwayne Johnson, Paige O’Hara, Jodi Benson, and Josh Gad.“‘Animation Is Film’ is not just the name of our festival, it is its mission. New films from Studio Ghibli and Aardman are seismic cinematic events, and a reason for movie lovers of any medium to rejoice. Joining these titles is a collection of some of the most audacious, genre-defying, and critically acclaimed films of the year. We are so proud to present them in Los Angeles,” said Matt Kaszanek, Executive Director of AIF.This year’s AIF also features a “Work-In-Progress” sneak peek at the upcoming studio release of Walt Disney Animation’s WISH, centennial celebrations of Walt Disney Animation and Warner Bros. Animation, the festival’s popular shorts showcase presented in partnership with Annecy and Women In Animation highlighting the best of female-directed animated films, the annual student film program, and an Aardman Animations-hosted workshop where kids can make their own clay models. AIF will post their full schedule of films and programs to their website, AnimationIsFilm.com, and will be adding additional films, programs, and sneak peeks ahead of the festival.“For its sixth edition, Animation Is Film is back with a great program featuring the films who received the main awards in Annecy last June. CHICKEN FOR LINDA! (Cristal for a Feature film), ROBOT DREAMS (Contrechamp Award) and 27 (Cristal for a Short film) are among a great selection of films and again we are proud to be associated with this celebration of the best in animation,” said Marcel Jean, artistic director and Mickael Marin, CEO, of Annecy International Animation Film Festival.Industry organizations returning as Animation Is Film Sponsors and partners for the 2023 film festival are: ASIFA-Hollywood, Cartoon Network Studios, Crunchyroll, Dreamworks Animation, ELMA, Fathom Events, Illumination, LAIKA, Locksmith Animation, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Paramount Animation, Pixar Animation Studios, Shout! Factor, Sony Pictures Animation, UniFrance, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Warner Bros. Animation. Animation Is Film, founded by GKIDS and the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, presents a selection of new animated feature films from Asia, Europe, South America and North America, with both juried and audience prizes. |

| ABOUT ANIMATION IS FILM (AIF)ANIMATION IS FILM (AIF) fills a gap in the U.S. market with an established world-class animation festival on par with major events in Europe and Asia, and based in the world capital of animated filmmaking—Los Angeles. By embracing the highest aspirations of animation as a cinematic art form akin to live action, AIF is an international advocate for filmmakers from around the world who push the boundaries of their work to the fullest range of the medium’s artistic expression. Founded in 2017, AIF is produced by GKIDS in partnership with the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival. |

| 2023 ANIMATION IS FILM SLATEOPENING NIGHT:THE BOY AND THE HERON (Japan | United States IMAX Premiere)The highly anticipated new film from the legendary Academy Award-winning Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder of Japan’s celebrated animation house, Studio Ghibli. The film is an original story written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, produced by the Oscar®-winning Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki, and features a musical score from Miyazaki’s long-time collaborator Joe Hisaishi. A GKIDS release.CLOSING NIGHT:CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET (United Kingdom / United States / France | Los Angeles Premiere)From the multi Academy and BAFTA award-winning Aardman (Creature Comforts, Wallace & Gromit, and Shaun the Sheep), and Academy Award® and BAFTA-nominated director Sam Fell (ParaNorman and Flushed Away, respectively), comes Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the eagerly anticipated sequel to the beloved and highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time, Chicken Run. Having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger has finally found her dream – a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat. For Ginger and her team, even if it means putting their own hard-won freedom at risk – this time, they’re breaking in!* Director Sam Fell and Executive Producer Peter Lord (Chicken Run) in-person! A Netflix release.COMPETITION SECTION:ART COLLEGE 1994 (China | West Coast Premiere)Art College 1994 is a portrait of youth set on the campus of the Chinese Southern Academy of Arts in the early 1990s. Against the backdrop of reforms opening China to the Western world, a group of college students live in full swing as they take their first steps into adulthood, where love and friendships are intertwined with artistic pursuits, ideals and ambitions. Caught between tradition and modernity, they now have to choose who they want to become. A Dekanalog release.CHICKEN FOR LINDA! (France / Italy | United States Premiere)Paulette feels guilty after unjustly punishing her daughter Linda and would do anything to make it up to her. Linda immediately asks for a meal of chicken with peppers, which reminds her of the dish her father used to make. But with a general strike closing stores all across town and pushing people into the streets, this innocent request quickly leads to an outrageous series of events that spirals out of control, as Paulette does everything she can to keep her promise and find a chicken for Linda. Winner of the Cristal at 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. A GKIDS release.THE CONCIERGE (Japan| United States Premiere)Akino is a trainee concierge at the Hokkyoku Department Store, an unusual department store that caters exclusively to animals. Under the watchful eyes of the floor manager and senior concierges, Akino runs around to fulfill the wishes of customers with a myriad of needs and problems in her pursuit to become a full-fledged concierge. An Aniplex release.MARS EXPRESS (France | United States Premiere)On Mars, two private detectives investigate the disappearance of a young woman. What’s the reason Jun Chow, 18-year-old cybernetics student, is being pursued by the police and by murderers? Aline Ruby, and Carlos Rivera, his partner who has been saved in an android following his death 5 years ago, are in a race against time to be the first to find the most wanted girl on Mars.PHOENIX: REMINISCENCE OF FLOWER (Japan / North American Premiere)Romi flees with her husband and son from a devastated Earth to settle on the planet Eden17. After discovering that it’s uninhabitable and losing her husband in an accident, Romi is placed in a state of cryopreservation along with her son. However, when she wakes up 1300 years later, she discovers that Eden has become an advanced civilization that treats her like a queen. Despite all this, Romi will do everything she can to fulfill her greatest desire: to return to Earth.ROBOT DREAMS (Spain / France | West Coast Premiere)Based on the popular graphic novel by the North American writer Sara Varon, ROBOT DREAMS tells the adventures and misfortunes of Dog and Robot in NYC during the ’80s. A NEON release.SIROCCO AND THE KINGDOM OF THE WINDS (Belgium / France | Los Angeles Premiere)Two sisters, 4-year-old Juliette and 8-year-old Carmen, discover a passage between their world and a book’s, “The Kingdom of Air Streams”. To come back they need to find Sirocco, a terrifying character who can control the wind. Opening Night Selection, 2023 Annecy International Animation Film FestivalTHE SUMMER (South Korea | North American Premiere)A queer, coming-of-age romantic drama that captures the highs and lows of falling in love. Rising star director Han Ji-won and animation studio Red Dog Culture House embody a thrilling new chapter in Korean filmmaking. |

| SPECIAL EVENTSSpecial Screening of TROLLS BAND TOGETHERPoppy discovers that Branch was once part of a boy band, BroZone, with his brothers: Floyd, John Dory, Spruce, and Clay. But when Floyd is kidnapped, Branch and Poppy embark on a journey to reunite the other brothers and rescue Floyd. Director Walt Dohrn, Co-Director Tim Heitz, and Producer Gina Shay in-personNorth American Premiere of THE SPIDER WITHIN: A SPIDER-VERSE STORYMiles Morales struggles to balance his responsibilities as a teenager, friend, and student while acting as Brooklyn’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. After a particularly challenging day living with these pressures, Miles experiences a panic attack that forces him to confront the manifestations of his anxiety and learn that reaching out for help can be just as brave an act as protecting his city from evil.The Spider Within is the inaugural short of Sony Pictures Animation and Sony Pictures Imageworks’s new LENS (Leading and Empowering New Storytellers) program. The program connects up-and-coming filmmakers from underrepresented groups with creative and executive leadership to produce a short film utilizing an existing pipeline from an upcoming feature film. The film will have its North American Premiere at Animation Is Film and will be followed by a panel with Jarelle Dampier (Director), Khaila Amazan (Writer), Clara Chan (VFX supervisor), and Joe Darko (animation supervisor), moderated by Michelle Raimo-Kouyate and David Schulenburg (Producers/LENS Program Creators).Special Screening and panel of Walt Disney Animation’s ONCE UPON A STUDIO and early footage of the upcoming WISH.In celebration of Walt Disney Animation’s 100th anniversary, Animation Is Film is proud to host a special theatrical presentation of its newest short film, ONCE UPON A STUDIO. After hours at Walt Disney Animation Studios, iconic characters – heroes and villains alike – from the past hundred years try to gather for a centenary group photo. Filmmakers in-personWarner Bros 100: A Special celebration of Warner Bros Animation:Over the span of 6 seasons, “Looney Tunes Cartoons” delivered over 250 new animated shorts starring the beloved Looney Tunes characters. Echoing the high production value and process of the original Looney Tunes theatrical shorts, with a cartoonist-driven approach to storytelling, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig and other marquee Looney Tunes characters were featured in their classic pairings in simple, gag-driven and visually vibrant stories. Join series creatives for a special Q&A and screening featuring never-before-seen “Looney Tunes Cartoons” shorts, some of their favorites from the series, and a special presentation of “Daffy in Wackyland” – the first stop-motion Looney Tunes animated short ever made. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, “Looney Tunes Cartoons” is currently streaming on Max. |

| SHORTS PRESENTATIONSAnimation Is Film is once again proud to shine a spotlight on some of the year’s most extraordinary animated short films in three separate Short Film presentations.AWARD WINNING SHORTS: A collection of Oscar-qualifying short films from around the world, including:* THE DAY I BECAME A BIRD (UK/ Andrew Ruhemann) – A boy falls in love with a girl who only has eyes for birds. To get her attention, he comes up with a rather unusual plan. * STARLING (USA/ Mitra Shahidi) – A little girl shoots down from the heavens to spend her birthday with her family * ROSEMARY A.D. (AFTER DAD) (USA/ Ethan Barrett) – Would my daughter be better off without me? The question swims around a father’s mind as he cradles his newborn, in this darkly funny and poignant tale. * LETTER TO A PIG (Israel-France/ Tal Kantor) – A Holocaust survivor writes, after the war, a thank-you letter to a pig that saved his life. After his testimony in a classroom, a young student dreams a tragic version of his story.

THE BEST OF ANNECY, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WOMEN IN ANIMATION: A collection of extraordinary short films from Annecy, curated by our partners at Women In Animation.* OUR UNIFORM (Iran/ Yegane Moghaddam) – An Iranian girl unfolds her school memories through the wrinkles and fabrics of her old uniform. She admits that she’s nothing but a “female” and explores the roots of this idea in her school years. * LE GRANDE ARCHE (France/ Camille Authouart) – With nearly 70 monumental works of art scattered throughout the district, La Défense in Paris is Europe’s largest open-air museum. Sitting between the legs of the gigantic Red Spider, I wonder how I hadn’t noticed them before? * THE MIRACLE (Belgium-The Netherlands-France/ Nienke Deutz) – The Miracle, a place where the sun always shines, there’s endless opportunities to relax and food is in abundance. * 27 (France-Hungary/ Flora Anna Buda) – Alice is 27 years old today. Although she feels oppressed because she still lives with her parents, she spends her time daydreaming to escape her dreary everyday life. * LA PERRA (Colombia-France/ Carla Melo Gampert) – In Bogota, a bird-girl leaves behind the family home, her domineering mother and faithful dog to go and explore her sexuality. * NUN OR NEVER (Finland/ Heta Jaalinoja) – A nun digs a man out of the ground and loses her grip on everyday life. Can secrets and harmony coexist?

STUDENT SHOWCASE: A showcase of films from the next generation of artists, courtesy of our Educational Partners – California Institute of the Arts; University of Southern California; California State University, Long Beach; and California State University, Fullerton. (Titles to be announced soon.)Additional announcements will be coming in the days and weeks ahead |

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA—Digital manga subscription service Azuki is adding four manga series from Media Do International, Inc. and MediBang! to its library, part of a deal to add over 150 series in 2023. The four titles — Drifting Net Cafe, The Tenth Prism, Diary of My Daily Failures, and Tunnel of Spring Rain — are available now (including select free chapters) on the Azuki website and iOS and Android apps. Synopses for all four series are below:

Drifting Net Cafe by Shuzo Oshimi, published by Futabasha and distributed by MD-i: In a unique work mixing eroticism and true love, this is the acclaimed Shozo Oshimi’s newest work in “Manga Action.” Koichi Toki, 29, enters a net cafe on a whim and is reunited with his first true love. They are elated to meet again, but then the city around their net cafe disappears! The fated couple share the cafe with nerds, thugs, a brash young kid, girls, and businessmen, and as the interactions between these unconnected people unfold, it results in a sudden interdimensional love story!

The Tenth Prism by Masahito Soda (Author, Artist), Kanaka Mizuki (Author), published by CORK and distributed by MD-i: “In a distant time, a small country — the “Land of Bones” — discovers a strange technology, and plunges the world into fear and despair.” Since the dawn of time, the Kingdom of Karan — loved by its inhabitants and neighbors alike — has existed in peace and in harmony with nature. But now, the kingdom has fallen and its citizens have scattered. Karan’s sole hope? A small boy — Prince Tsunashi. Despite his reluctance to accept the challenges of reviving Karan, Tsunashi’s right eye patch hides the mark of the prophesied savior: THE EYE OF GOLD. Threatened by the intensifying advance of the fearsome and mysterious Land of Bones, a skillful ploy by a vassal allows Tsunashi to discover and harness his legendary ability hidden underneath the eye patch — and fight to save his kingdom. From bestselling author Masahito Soda, creator of “Firefighter! Daigo of Fire Company” (8.3 million copies sold) — and the kart racing manga Capeta (6 million) — comes THE TENTH PRISM. Soda’s new epic fantasy marks his entry into the genre and is certain to be yet another masterstroke for this author.

Diary of My Daily Failures by Eriko Kobayashi, published by TORICO with an English version by MediBang!: A bold comic essay of a depression survivor looking back to her past blunder. In the depth of despair, Eriko struggled as she tried adapting to mental health institution environment. Eriko Kobayashi’s superb ability to deliver dark but comedic self-narrative would not only let readers ponder the importance of mental health but might also reveal the hidden anxiety inside our mind we never know we had…

Tunnel of Spring Rain by Kei Ginkawa, published by TORICO with an English version by MediBang!: The rain that started to fall turned into April’s last snowfall. On that day, my sister died. My shoulders that wouldn’t stop shaking… were held down by Eiji.” Although Asahi knew Eiji only pampered him as a replacement, it doesn’t stop him from harboring romantic feelings for his sister’s former fiancee. The feelings won’t come across, the love won’t bloom, but Asahi still stays beside the man he loves. Until one night…

A chest-tightening touching love story under the mercy of rain, A Tunnel of Spring Rain knocks the softest part of your heart.

Azuki is available on the web at www.azuki.co and in the iOS App Store and Google Play Store. The app features over 200 series, including international hits like Attack on Titan and acclaimed new series like Natsume & Natsume, Crescent Moon Marching, and My Dear Detective: Mitsuko’s Case Files.

Start reading for free with advertisements today, or upgrade to Premium and access the full catalog for just $4.99 a month. A 14-day free trial and discounted annual plan are also available. All titles are available worldwide (except Japan). Stay up to date on the latest announcements by following Azuki at twitter.com/ReadAzuki, facebook.com/ReadAzuki, and instagram.com/readazuki.

About Azuki and KiraKira Media Inc.

Azuki is created by KiraKira Media Inc., a company dedicated to improving access to legally licensed manga led by a small team of passionate manga fans and tech experts in San Francisco, CA.

About Media Do International, Inc.

Tokyo-based Media Do Co., Ltd. is one of the largest eBook distribution companies in the world and retains the largest share of Japan’s eBook market. Media Do International, Inc. is based in San Diego, California. Media Do Group’s mission is to make more content available for more people. NetGalley and its owner, Quality Solutions/Firebrand Technologies, were acquired by Media Do in 2021. Firebrand and NetGalley provide leading marketing and technology services to more than 500 publishers worldwide. NetGalley, LLC operates websites in the US, UK, France, Germany, and Japan. Supadü Ltd. was acquired by Media Do in 2022. Supadü is the lead provider of website and e-commerce solutions for more than 270 publishers in the US and Europe. For more information on Media Do’s services and corporate divisions, please visit: https://mediado.jp/english.

About MediBang!

A dedicated manga localizer and distributor. Translating manga in-house with native speakers and sharing them to the rest of the world.

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Seven Seas Entertainment has announced four new licenses that are set to be released between May and June 2024. Find the full details down below!

My Girlfriend’s Not Here Today by Kiyoko Iwami

Asahina Yuni is lonely–she has a girlfriend, but it feels like they’re barely dating. Pent up, Asahina vents her secret frustrations on an anonymous social media account. One day after class, Asahina is doomscrolling on her phone when she’s swept up in conversation with the striking, outgoing Taki. Taki peppers her with personal questions until she reveals that she’s been following Asahina’s supposedly secret social media. Taki insists that she only wants to talk, and the more time they spend together, the more Asahina can feel herself opening up…until Taki shows her true colors, threatening to blackmail Asahina to get more time alone with her! What will Asahina do once she’s caught in an erotic web of secrets and lies?

My Girlfriend’s Not Here Today Vol. 1 will be released for the first time in the English language in May 2024 for $14.99 USA / $18.99 CAN, with the series available in single large-trim editions as part of the Seven Seas GL label (Girls’ Love/yuri titles). Ebook editions will also be available on digital platforms.

Only the Stars Know by Nagisa Furuya

After suffering a loss both at work and in his personal life, college student Sora feels crushed. A stiff night walk to process his thoughts leads him to a discovery: a handsome man sitting in a secluded spot in the park that’s perfect for stargazing. Sora and the man start chatting, and he feels comfortable enough to start talking about his problems–but he’s still stunned when the man kisses him! Although Sora initially writes off the night as an unexpected connection with a stranger, this isn’t the last he’ll see of the man who stares up at the sky.

Only the Stars Know will be released for the first time in the English language in May 2024 for $14.99 USA / $18.99 CAN, with the book available in a single edition as part of the Seven Seas BL label (Boys’ Love titles). An ebook edition will also be available on digital platforms.

The Mimosa Confessions by Mei Hachimoku & KUKKA

Growing up in a dreary suburb, Sakuma has little to brighten his humdrum days aside from his best friend. The bright, talented, and attractive Ushio seems to have everything Sakuma lacks, and his academics and athletic prowess make him popular with the girls at school. Past trauma—and an understandable inferiority complex—slowly drive the two apart, and by the time they enter high school, they hardly even speak anymore. Thus, Sakuma finds himself alone.

Against all odds, he eventually gains a friend in Natsuki, the sweetest girl in class. The two hit it off gushing about their favorite novels, and he falls head over heels for her. But that very same night, he stumbles upon an unexpected sight while walking through a familiar park: his old friend Ushio, dressed in a full-blown schoolgirl’s uniform and sobbing uncontrollably.

The Mimosa Confessions (Light Novel) Vol. 1 will be released for the first time in the English language in June 2024 for $15.99 USA / $19.99 CAN, with the series available in single large-trim editions as part of Seven Seas’ Airship imprint. Ebook editions will also be available (early) on digital platforms.

Reborn Rich by JP & Kim Byung Kwan

For thirteen years, Hyeonwoo was a loyal employee of the Soonyang Group, the largest corporation in South Korea. He worked his way up from the bottom of the corporate ladder, only to be betrayed by the very company he dedicated years of his life to. With nothing to show for all of his work, he resigns himself to death…only to be reborn years in the past as Dojun Jin, the grandson of the founder and CEO of Soonyang! As the youngest grandson, he stands no chance of inheriting the company, but he refuses to accept his fate. He’ll get revenge against the rich and powerful family who are now his relatives by rising to the top and becoming the head of the family himself!

Reborn Rich Vol. 1 will be released for the first time in print in the English language in June 2024 for $21.99 USA / $28.99 CAN, with the series available in single large-trim editions as part of the Seven Seas Webtoons label.

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Crunchyroll has announced its upcoming seasonal anime lineup for Fall 2023, including exciting titles such as Jujutsu Kaisen, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, and Shangri-La Frontier! Check out the full list of titles below!

SEPTEMBER 28

Sasaki and Miyano: Graduation (Studio Deen) – Original Video Animation

Miyano’s world of Boys’ Love manga turns to reality when chance leads him to Sasaki. Now, Sasaki wants to spend every opportunity with him. (Official Trailer)

A Girl & Her Guard Dog (Project No.9)

Fifteen-year-old Isaku Senagaki, the granddaughter of the third boss of the Senagaki crime syndicate, just wants to have normal friends and a normal high school romance. She enrolls in a high school far from her hometown, but the overprotective young leader, twenty-six-year-old Keiya Uto, lies about his age and bribes his way into the same school as Isaku! Telling Isaku she’s too young to fall in love, Keiya’s ready to scare off all the boys. But actually, Isaku’s had unrequited feelings for Keiya this whole time?! (Official Trailer)

SEPTEMBER 29

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (Madhouse)

After the party of heroes defeated the Demon King, they restored peace to the land and returned to lives of solitude. Generations pass, and the elven mage Frieren comes face to face with humanity’s mortality. She takes on a new apprentice and promises to fulfill old friends’ dying wishes. Can an elven mind make peace with the nature of life and death? Frieren embarks on her quest to find out. (Official Trailer)

○ Dubs include: English, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Castilian Spanish, Hindi, and Tamil

SEPTEMBER 30

Firefighter Daigo: Rescuer in Orange (Brain’s Base)

The story of how three young firefighters destined to save Japan grow in spirit! Toake Daigo burns with remarkable talent and unparalleled determination. Onoda Shun struggles against the walls blocking his own path. Nakamura Yuki hopes to become one of the few female members of the special rescue corps known as “Orange.” When these three young firefighters who share the goal of becoming members of Orange come together, the story of how Japan will one day be saved begins… and what looms before them is a crisis that endangers the entire country! (Official Trailer)

OCTOBER 1

Shangri-La Frontier (C2C)

“When was the last time I played a game that wasn’t crap?” This is a world in the near future where games that use display screens are classified as retro. Anything that can’t keep up with state-of-the-art VR technology is called a “crap game,” and you see a large number of crap games coming out. Those who devote their lives to clearing these games are called “crap-game hunters,” and Rakuro Hizutome is one of them. The game he’s chosen to tackle next is Shangri-La Frontier, a “god-tier game” that has a total of thirty million players. Online friends… An expansive world… Encounters with rivals… These are changing Rakuro and all the other players’ fates! The best game adventure tale by the strongest “crap game” player begins now! (Official Trailer)

○ Dubs include: English, Latin American Spanish, French, German, Italian, Hindi, and Tamil

MF GHOST (Felix Film)

202X A.D., a future beyond Initial D.Self-driving cars are in widespread use in Japan, and public roadways are used for auto racing.In such an era, a race called MFG has become popular around the globe. Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini…Participants are invited to race with their fastest cars. One such participant, a British racing school graduate, Kanata Rivington, returns to Japan to achieve his goal. (Official Trailer)

○ Dubs include: English and Brazilian Portuguese

Berserk of Gluttony (ACGT)

Fate, a castle guard in a world where one’s skills are everything, has acquired a skill called “Gluttony” that does nothing but make him hungry, leaving him with a miserable life. But one day, he defeats some who are bandits infiltrating the castle, and his world changes. Thus begins the story of how a young man once ridiculed as talentless climbed from the lowest stratum of life to the top. (Official Trailer)

The Family Circumstances of the Irregular Witch (A-Real)

Alyssa, a witch who lives alone in the woods, finds a human baby one day. Despite her bewilderment, she names the child Viola and decides to raise her. 16 years later, Viola has grown far more than Alyssa ever imagined… Wait, she grew too much! And so, the chaotic comedy of a mother and daughter with inverted appearances begins!! (Official Trailer)

OCTOBER 2

SHY (8bit)

Around the middle of the 21st century, all war on Earth ceased. The sudden widespread appearance of “Heroes,” people with supernatural powers who wish only for peace, has drastically transformed the world. In a world where the Heroes of each country work to maintain this newfound peace, the one protecting Japan is a young girl named Shy who is… cripplingly shy. (Official Trailer)

○ Dubs include: English, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and German

I’m in Love with the Villainess (Platinum Vision)

The world turns upside down when a corporate drone wakes up as Rae Taylor, the heroine in her favorite otome game, Revolution. Rae is elated at the opportunity to court Claire François, the game’s villainess and the object of her affection. Armed with her knowledge of the game

and events to come, Rae sets out to make Claire fall for her. But how will the villainess take Rae’s romantic advances? (Official Trailer)

○ Dubs include: English, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Italian, and Castilian Spanish

A Playthrough of a Certain Dude’s VRMMO Life (MAHO FILM)

Tanaka Taichi is an ordinary Japanese guy who’s just made a new character, “Earth,” in a brand new open-world VRMMO game called “One More Free Life Online” that promises almost unlimited freedom. In a world where players are free to challenge monsters with all their strength or go on adventures at their own pace, Taichi chooses to master the most worthless skills the game has to offer! Sometimes he’ll make overly complicated potions, or food that tastes much better than it has any reason to. And sometimes he’ll go hunt monsters with crazy, hand-made weapons… An ordinary dude is about to begin his own VRMMO fantasy life! (Official Trailer)

Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions (diomedéa)

An unusual private investigator and police detective duo team up to solve a series of thrilling mysteries! (Official Trailer)

OCTOBER 3

The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotent Season 2 (diomedéa)

After years as a workaholic, Sei’s dream of a life of leisure has finally come true! She’s summoned to a magical kingdom where she crafts lifesaving potions and becomes the most valued citizen. But will her love of research hurt her chances with Albert? (Official Trailer)

○ Dubs include: English, Latin American Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese

OCTOBER 4

KamiErabi GOD.app (UNEND)

The ultimate battle royale for divinity has begun. High schoolers must use their unique powers to compete against each other for the coveted title “God.” But as each brawl becomes more vicious than the last, alliances are formed and betrayals take place. Who will emerge victorious and claim their godly throne? (Official Trailer)

Kizuna no Allele 2nd Season (Signal.MD and WIT Studio)

In the virtual world, you can be anyone. And for Miracle, her dream is to be a famous virtual artist! Miracle attends ADEN Academy, where she learns new talents to prepare her for her big debut. Although she’s a bit of a klutz, she’s determined to follow in the footsteps of her idol: the legendary VTuber, Kizuna AI. With dedication and the help of her friends, her dream just might come true! (Official Trailer)

16bit Sensation: Another Layer (st.Silver)

The year: 1992. The college student: Meiko Uehara. The part-time job: Computer store clerk. Or so she thought. While exploring the store’s second floor, Meiko finds Alcohol Soft, an adult PC game developer. She replaces an artist in a twist of fate. Out of her element and with an approaching deadline, Meiko races to complete the game and prove herself. The fate of her career depends on it! (Official Trailer)

OCTOBER 5

The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2 – Cour 2 (Studio Kafka) – Returning from Spring 2023 Chise was able to accept Elias and herself, if not necessarily everything about her situation. After Cartaphilus fell back into a slumber that would not last forever, Chise was able to go back to her regular life. Then she receives an invitation from a mutual aid organization for mages called the College. Under the British Library exists a secret society of mages. Encounters and interactions with people are about to open some new doors. This is a story about saving yourself to save another. (Official Trailer)

○ Dubs include: English, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, and Italian

UNDER NINJA (Tezuka Productions)

Ninjas still exist in Japan today. They number around 200,000. The ninja organization NIN (National Intelligence of NINJA) is not controlled by the civilian government, with its elite members performing assassinations and sabotage in secret. There is an organization that

opposes NIN: UN (Under Ninja). Ninja versus ninja: What lies waiting at the end of this shadowy feud? (Official Trailer)

OCTOBER 6

The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 3 (Kinema Citrus)

Learning that other nations are enduring the Calamity Waves, Naofumi vows to fight. But before he can begin, word comes that the massive Spirit Tortoise is free. Left unchecked, this

rampaging monster could destroy the world. He assembles companions Raphtalia and Filo and a few new allies, one of which reveals scary news—this was no accident. Someone deliberately unleashed the legendary beast! (Official Trailer)

○ Dubs include: English, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Russian, and Arabic

GOBLIN SLAYER II (LIDENFILMS)

“I’m not saving the world. I just kill goblins.” Rumor has it that, in a certain guild in the middle of nowhere, there is an extraordinary man who has climbed all the way to the Silver rank just by killing goblins. At the same guild, a priestess who’s just become a new adventurer has formed her first party… and the man who ends up rescuing that party when they get into trouble is none other than the Goblin Slayer. (Official Trailer)

○ Dubs include: English, Latin American Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese

The Kingdoms of Ruin (Yokohama Animation Lab)

Witches once blessed the human race with wisdom and peace. But the Redia Empire’s “Gear Expansion” brought about a culture of science that far surpassed magic, and witches were viewed as enemies impeding the progress of civilization. Thus began the witch hunts. One human named Adonis, who was raised by a witch named Chloe, swears revenge against the human race that took his beloved mentor from him. What salvation can be found at the end of a bloodbath fueled by utter despair? (Official Trailer)

○ Dubs include: English

Girlfriend, Girlfriend Season 2 (SynergySP)

After their hot springs trip, Naoya continues his relationships with both Saki and Nagisa. Bringing along Milika (who kissed Naoya) and Shino (who secretly has romantic feelings for Naoya), they embark on a summer vacation full of romance with a fireworks festival, camping, and Okinawa. Milika’s younger sister Risa also appears, making the romance in this neo-standard rom-com heat up even more. A season two filled with summer and swimsuits is about to begin! (Official Trailer)

○ Dubs include: English, Latin American Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese

HYPNOSISMIC -Division Rap Battle- Rhyme Anima PLUS (A-1 Pictures)

Legendary rap group The Dirty Dawg could have taken Japan by storm, but then they broke up. Now each member fights in one of the four rival groups. Battles for turf are fought with rap and the Hypnosis Mic, a microphone that can affect the human spirit. (Official Trailer)

OCTOBER 7

A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special (Arvo Animation)

In a land dominated by the formidable Shadow Worlds, most of humanity has been destroyed. To rescue their planet from impending doom, six brave heroes fight a perilous battle…and fail. But there’s a glimpse of hope when Desir, one of the last mages, is suddenly sent back in time 13 years! Now armed with knowledge of the grim future, can he alter the course of history and save the world? (Official Trailer)

○ Dubs include: English

Tearmoon Empire (SILVER LINK)

“I have… a head?! And… I’m young?!” Twenty-year-old Princess Mia of the Tearmoon Empire, often scorned as the “selfish princess,” was executed by guillotine in a rebellion. Next thing she knew, she awoke in her own twelve-year-old body, with her own blood-stained diary that she

kept before she was beheaded sitting next to her pillow. Given a second chance at life, Mia decides to rebuild the empire. For the sake of Tearmoon’s future? To save the people from starvation? For all the soldiers who lost their lives in the civil war? No! Everything she does in this life is for the sake of avoiding the guillotine! “F-For me, this should be a piece of cake!” Thus the useless, cowardly, self-serving princess brings about miracle after miracle in her great struggle to save herself in this altered-history fantasy.

(Official Trailer)

The Faraway Paladin: The Lord of Rust Mountains (OLM and SUNRISE BEYOND) Two years had passed since he left the City of the Dead, and Will was seventeen by count. As a lord, he developed “Torch Port, a river port of light”, and gradually the people’s activities and smiles returned to “Beast Woods”. However, out-of-season flowers bloom profusely, and an abnormality is discovered in the forest. Will and his friends head into the depths of the forest to solve this problem, and receive an ominous prophecy from the king of the forest. “In the Iron Rust Mountains, the ‘Fire of Black Calamity’ will occur. The fire will spread, or it will burn everything in this land.” What is the calamity that sleeps in the ruined dwarven city of Tetsusabi Sanmyaku…!? (Official Trailer)

○ Dubs include: English, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, and German

My New Boss is Goofy (A-1 Pictures)

Currently serialized in Manga Cross and a hit comic that has sold over 500,000 copies, comes the long-awaited TV anime adaptation of this soul-soothing comedy about work! After his power-harassing boss broke his spirit and his health, Momose leaves his job to work at a new job in sales at an advertising agency. However, on the very first day of his new job, Momose is unable to move due to a stomachache caused by his past traumas. “What should I do if my new boss also abuses his power?” In the meantime, his new boss Shirosaki is out with him to see the clients. Just what exactly is Shirosaki going to do…?! This boss’ unexpectedly “goofy” nature will surely heal anyone!! (Official Trailer)

Butareba -The Story of a Man Turned into a Pig- (Project No.9)

The 26th Dengeki Novel Prize Gold Award-winning story has oink’d its way into an anime adaptation! I am a dull otaku who lost consciousness after eating raw pork liver. When I awoke, it seemed that I had been reincarnated into another world… but I had also become a pig! As I was rolling around in a pigsty covered in mud, Jess, a kind, angelic, beautiful girl, came to my rescue. “Oink!!” “Um, you don’t have to force yourself to talk. I’m able to… understand you.” This girl who was devotedly caring after my pig-self was a member of the Yethma, and her people have the ability to read minds. “This is bad! That means she can see through all of my lustful delusions!” Now in Mesteria, a world run by swords and magic, a pig and a mind-reading beauty set off on their lovey-dovey fantasy adventure!… Or do they? (Official Trailer)

I Shall Survive Using Potions! (Jumondo)

Nagase Kaoru, a 22-year-old office lady, suddenly finds herself reincarnated in another world. To help her survive in this new world, a being that amounts to its god gives Kaoru a younger body and… the ability to make insanely overpowered potions?! The reincarnated Kaoru must use her knowledge and cheatery to survive! (Official Trailer)

○ Dubs include: English

Protocol: Rain (Quad)

A group of high schoolers will try to save the local esports cafe with their pro gaming skills! (Official Trailer)

OCTOBER 9

Dead Mount Death Play (GEEKTOYS) – Returning from Spring 2023

As a legendary hero nears victory against a necromancer known as The Corpse God, things take an unexpected turn with the dark sorcerer’s final gambit—reincarnation magic. This last-ditch effort catches the brave fighter off guard, and now he’s a boy named Polka Shinoyama in a whole new world! The showdown between good and evil just got epic. (Official Trailer) ○ Dubs include: English, French, and German

OCTOBER 10

After-School Hanako-Kun (Lerche)

The spirit Hanako-kun and his human assistant, first-year student Nene Yashiro, keep the peace between supernatural forces and the students of Kamome Academy. When they’re not fighting to maintain balance between the living and spirit worlds, how do they spend their time? Join Hanako-kun and Nene on their adventures after school! (Official Trailer)

○ Dubs include: English

OCTOBER 12

Dr. STONE New World Season 3 Part 2 (TMS Entertainment) – Returning from Spring 2023 With the Stone Wars over, the former members of Tsukasa’s Empire of Might join forces with the Kingdom of Science to build a ship capable of sailing across open ocean to seek answers on the mystery of the global petrification. However, before they can begin their voyage Senku and his friends need to find some key resources and push some new scientific advancements to build the type of vessel they need. (Official Trailer)

○ Dubs include: English, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Italian, and Castilian Spanish

October 17

Heaven Official’s Blessing Season 2 (Haoliners Animation League)

After the incident at Crescent Pass, San Lang leaves Xie Lian. In the days that follow, he is summoned by Junwu to the Heaven Realm. A Heavenly Official is trapped, and Xie Lian must rescue them from the Ghost Realm. All is not as it seems. Deception, vice, and danger lurk around every corner. All will be revealed, but will Xie Lian be prepared for the truth about gods, ghosts, and mortals? (Official Trailer)

○ Dubs include: English

October 21

The Apothecary Diaries (TOHO animation STUDIO and OLM)

Maomao lived a peaceful life with her apothecary father. Until one day, she’s sold as a lowly servant to the emperor’s palace. But she wasn’t meant for a compliant life among royalty. So when imperial heirs fall ill, she decides to step in and find a cure! This catches the eye of Jinshi, a handsome palace official who promotes her. Now, she’s making a name for herself solving medical mysteries! (Official Trailer)

○ Dubs include: English, French, German, and Hindi

COMING SOON

OVERTAKE! (TROYCA)

Haruka Asahina is a high school teen racing in Formula 4. He crosses paths with a washed-up photographer, Kouya Madoka, who decides to help Haruka realize his dream and reach the podium. The heat is on, and competition is fierce. Racing for the family-run Komaki Motors team means Haruka must push the car, and himself, to the limits to catch the attention of top teams. Buckle up, it’s time to race! (Official Trailer)

BULLBUSTER (NUT)

Mysterious creatures have been terrorizing an island, forcing locals to flee their once-thriving home. With government funds lacking for monster eradication, Tajima purchases the only construction company left and transforms it for the task. Thankfully, the brilliant Testuro Okino and his new robot, Bullbuster, come to their aid. But the team is on a tight budget. Can they save the island? (Official Trailer)

Arknights: PERISH IN FROST (Hypergryph Studio Montagne / Yostar / Yostar Pictures) After the deadly battle against Skullshatterer, Amiya struggles to accept her failure to save Misha and is left to grieve alone. Meanwhile, Rhodes Island is still searching for a cure for the Oripathy disease while working with Lungmen to take down Reunion. But when Rhodes Island sends a scouting party to investigate a deserted town on the outskirts of Lungmen, they discover something strange… (Official Trailer)

My Daughter Left the Nest and Returned an S-Rank Adventurer (Typhoon Graphics) The young adventurer Belgrieve retires to a quieter life after losing his leg to a beast. While gathering herbs in the woods one day, he rescues an abandoned child. Angeline trains with her father and later achieves S-Rank in the capital’s adventurer guild. Five years later, she decides to return home. Will Belgrieve get another chance at being an adventurer? Will Angeline return home unscathed? (Official Trailer)

I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness (Zero-G) Allen Crawford is a misanthropic sorcerer known as the “Dark Lord.” When he comes across Charlotte Evans, a noblewoman exiled on false charges, his memories of being betrayed three years ago come rushing back. He decides to teach Charlotte about all the pleasures, vices, and joys of naughty living. Can a broken heart be mended with riotous living? These two are bound to find out! (Official Trailer)

Migi&Dali (GEEKTOYS and CompTown)

After finally adopting a child, the Sonoyamas were unprepared for the mystery that would soon unravel. Hitori seems to be the perfect son for his loving parents. He’s handsome, intelligent, and grateful for his new lavish life—but he has a dark secret. Hitori is actually the twins Migi and Dali pretending to be one boy. And they have a terrifying motive behind their hidden identity. (Official Trailer)

Stardust Telepath (Studio Gokumi)

Umika is a sweet yet shy high school girl. She has trouble speaking to others and dreams of having a friend from another planet. But her lonely school life takes a cosmic turn when she meets transfer student Yu, an alien with telepathic powers! The two become close and promise to go to space one day. So, they decide to build a rocket and shoot for the stars, making new friends along the way. (Official Trailer)

SERIES CONTINUING FROM SUMMER 2023

• One Piece (Toei Animation)
• JUJUTSU KAISEN Season 2 (MAPPA)
• Case Closed (Detective Conan) (TMS Entertainment)
• Rurouni Kenshin (LIDEN FILMS)
• Soaring Sky! Precure (Toei Animation)

About Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll connects anime and manga fans across 200+ countries and territories with the content and experiences they love. In addition to free ad-supported and membership Premium content, Crunchyroll serves the anime community across events, theatrical, games, consumer products, collectibles, and manga publishing.

Anime fans have access to one of the largest collections of licensed anime through Crunchyroll and translated in multiple languages for viewers worldwide. Viewers can also access simulcasts – top series available immediately after Japanese broadcast.

The Crunchyroll app is available on over 15 platforms, including all gaming consoles.

Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.

The post Crunchyroll Announces Fall 2023 Anime Lineup appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Culver City, California (September 18, 2023) – Join Crunchyroll at New York Comic Con this fall for the world premiere of an all-new original episode from My Hero Academia Season 6 entitled “UA HEROES BATTLE”. The screening will take place on Friday, October 13 at 5:00 PM ET at the Empire Stage for all badge holders attending NYCC.

This early, exclusive world preview will feature the English dub and will be available to NYCC attendees before it is screened in Japan. Get ready for some card-game action that will showcase your favorite heroes like never before! Also in celebration of this premiere, Crunchyroll will be giving away limited edition character cards at the screening provided by UVS Games that are based on the new original episode and playable with the My Hero Academia Collectible Card Game. Attendees can also receive these special My Hero Academia cards as a gift with a purchase at Crunchyroll’s merch booth on the show floor.

“UA HEROES BATTLE” is animated by BONES (Mob Psycho 100; Bungo Stray Dogs), based on the popular manga series My Hero Academia written and illustrated by Kohei Horikoshi.

My Hero Academia Season 6 original episode “UA HEROES BATTLE” Official Synopsis:

The third year, Mirio Togata, pays a visit to the students of Class 1-A, who are bored because they are not allowed to go outside. He brings them a card game called U.A. Heroes Battle that the support course made. This game, where players can use cards of various U.A. students, is tough, just like U.A. itself. Who will win the card battle?!

About My Hero Academia

My Hero Academia is a TV anime based on the popular comics by Kohei Horikoshi serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump (Shueisha) and over 85 million copies sold. It is set in a world where about eighty percent of the population has a superpowered Quirk. Heroes protect people and society from accidents, disasters, and villains—criminals who use their Quirks for evil. The story of Izuku Midoriya and his classmates at U.A. High School and their growth, fights, and friendship unfolds as they aim to become such heroes.

My Hero Academia garnered a nomination from the Hollywood Creative Alliance this year for Best Animated Series at the HCA TV Awards.

My Hero Academia on Crunchyroll: www.crunchyroll.com/my-hero-academia

Official English Facebook: www.facebook.com/MyHeroAcademia

Official English Twitter: www.twitter.com/mhaofficial

Official English Instagram: www.instagram.com/plusultra/

About Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll connects anime and manga fans across 200+ countries and territories with the content and experiences they love. In addition to free ad-supported and subscription premium content, Crunchyroll serves the anime community across events, theatrical, games, consumer products, collectibles, and manga publishing.

Anime fans have access to one of the largest collections of licensed anime through Crunchyroll and translated in multiple languages for viewers worldwide. Viewers can also access simulcasts — top series available immediately after Japanese broadcast.

The Crunchyroll app is available on over 15 platforms, including all gaming consoles.

Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between US-based Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation.

The post CRUNCHYROLL HOSTS WORLD PREMIERE SCREENING OF “MY HERO ACADEMIA” SEASON 6 ORIGINAL EPISODE: “UA HEROES BATTLE” AT NEW YORK COMIC CON 2023 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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(September 15, 2023) – Seven Seas Entertainment is pleased to announce, through its Siren imprint for audiobooks, the launch of an audiobook series for I’m in Love with the Villainess by Inori and Hanagata. Narrated by Courtney Shaw–known for voice acting in Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy and Fena: Pirate Princess–this is the first-ever English audiobook version of the hit light novels that inspired a manga and upcoming anime!

Ordinary office worker Ohashi Rei wakes up in the body of the protagonist of her favorite otome game, Revolution. To her delight, the first person to greet her is also her favorite character, Claire Francois—the main antagonist of the story! Now, Rei is determined to romance Claire instead of the game’s male leads. But how will her villainous ladylove react to this new courtship?!

I’m in Love with the Villainess (Audiobook) Vol. 1 will be released for the first time in the English language in November 2023. Pre-orders are available now at sevenseasaudiobooks.com

About Seven Seas Entertainment
Established in 2004, Seven Seas Entertainment is an award-winning publisher that specializes in bringing the best of Japanese manga and light novels to English-language audiences alongside the hottest danmei, webtoons, and other books from around the globe, as well as producing audiobooks, original comics, and youth literature. All of Seven Seas’ print book imprints are distributed throughout the world by Penguin Random House Publisher Services. For more information, visit sevenseasentertainment.com

The post Seven Seas Launches Audiobook for I’M IN LOVE WITH THE VILLAINESS Light Novel Series appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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(San Antonio, Texas – September 15, 2023) – J-Novel Club LLC is excited to announce the acquisition of multiple new series following their latest industry livestream held online on Twitch on September 15, 2023. Nine new light novels and eight new manga will be joining the J-Novel Club catalog with all of them receiving a digital launch on J-Novel Club’s website and app a few hours after the announcement panel has concluded.

Announced New Light Novel Series:

The Frontier Lord Begins with Zero Subjects

By Fuurou with Illustrations by Kinta

領民0人スタートの辺境領主様

Dias finally returns home after decades of war. He’s hailed as a hero and promptly rewarded with his own domain…which turns out to be little more than empty plains. Population: zero. Dias, who has only ever known battle, finds himself at a loss. How is he supposed to survive, let alone cultivate his territory into a thriving, prosperous dominion when there’s nothing but grass as far as can see?

Fortunately for Dias, a horned girl by the name of Alna is about to show him there’s more to the plains than meets the eye!

Launching today with Parts 1 and 2 of Volume 1!

Fake It to Break it! I Faked Amnesia to Break Off My Engagement and Now He’s All Lovey-Dovey?

By Kotoko with Illustrations by Esora Amaichi

婚約破棄を狙って記憶喪失のフリをしたら、素っ気ない態度だった婚約者が「記憶を失う前の君は、俺にベタ惚れ だった」という、とんでもない嘘をつき始めた

Viola wants nothing more than to break off her dull arranged engagement with Phillip. He’s the son of a duke, and Viola is thoroughly convinced she’s an unsuitable future wife for a man of his station. Worst of all, he seems utterly uninterested in her. So when Viola is in a carriage accident, she takes the opportunity to fake amnesia in hopes of getting out of her betrothal. Little does she know Phillip is also an opportunist, and he takes advantage of the situation by feeding the “amnesiac” Viola a tale she can scarcely believe—that they’ve been passionately in love this entire time!

Now trapped in her own lie, Viola is forced to play along. Can this curious couple outwit each other into happiness? Or will their bizarre web of deception get them both caught?

A J-Novel Heart title launching today with Parts 1 and 2 of Volume 1!

From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman: My Hotshot Disciples Are All Grown Up Now, and They Won’t Leave Me Alone

By Shigeru Sagazaki with Illustrations by Tetsuhiro Nabeshima

片田舎のおっさん、剣聖になる～ただの田舎の剣術師範だったのに、大成した弟子たちが俺を放ってくれない件～

Beryl Gardinant, a self-proclaimed “humble old man,” is a sword instructor at his dojo in a rural, backwater village. In his younger years, he dreamed of glory as a master swordsman, but those days are long behind him. Out of the blue, he receives a visit from a famous former pupil who brings him world-shattering news—he’s been appointed as special instructor for the knights of the Liberion Order! With his life now turned upside down, Beryl travels to the capital and reunites with some of his former students: elite knights, an ace wizard, and even an adventurer who’s attained the highest guild rank possible. But why do they all want his tutelage?! As far as he’s concerned, they clearly don’t need him anymore.

Can Beryl live up to his new position? And will he ever get a moment’s peace away from his adoring students?!

Launching today with Parts 1 and 2 of Volume 1!

The Brilliant Healer’s New Life in the Shadows

By Sakaku Hishikawa with Illustrations by Daburyu

一瞬で治療していたのに役立たずと追放された天才治癒師、闇ヒーラーとして楽しく生きる

Life hasn’t been kind to Zenos. He was born in the slums, and his dirt-poor background has denied him almost every opportunity. After an encounter with a healer, he throws himself into studying to become one and finally catches a break when an adventurer invites Zenos into his party. Zenos is thrilled—so thrilled, in fact, that he’s willing to put up with his teammates treating him like garbage. They fail to appreciate his talents and ultimately kick him to the curb, claiming he’s outlived his usefulness to them.

Now bereft of money and out of options, Zenos decides to put his self-taught skills to use elsewhere and opens an underground clinic. Word quickly spreads about the brilliant healer working incredible magic in the city’s shadowy underbelly. Even the royal palace is taking notice…

Can Zenos buck the odds and carve out a life for himself in a world that’s done nothing but spit in his face? And can he save the lives of the patients who wind up on his doorstep in the process?

Launching today with Parts 1 and 2 of Volume 1!

Finding Avalon: The Quest of a Chaosbringer

By Akito Narusawa with Illustrations by KeG

災悪のアヴァロン

When a hardcore gamer downloads an update that transports him into his favorite game, Dungeon Explorer Chronicles, he expects a life of pretty girls and epic fights. He starts as a student at Adventurers’ High, the top school for budding adventurers, eager to dive into the fantastical dungeon that’s appeared in modern-day Japan. But one glance in the mirror shatters his dreams of badassery! He’s entered the game as Piggy, the love-to-hate overweight villain whose stalker-like obsession with his reluctant fiancée spells his doom.

With elitist bullies roaming the school halls and cutthroat adventurers lurking in the dungeon, our hero has to act fast to lose weight and level up if he wants to survive and break free from his scripted fate. Using his peerless knowledge of the game, he’s ready to exploit every trick to become the world’s greatest unsung hero!

Launching today with Parts 1 and 2 of Volume 1!

I Could Never Be a Succubus!

By Nora Kohigashi with Illustrations by Wasabi

私はサキュバスじゃありません

Liz, a young noblewoman, is a star pupil at her academy—talented, refined, generous, and the apple of everyone’s eye. But the day a legendary hero comes to the academy to convalesce, Liz, in spite of herself, does the unthinkable… She asks for the hero’s underpants!

Liz, as it turns out, has a secret. She was a member of the hero’s party until all her memories were stolen during a climactic battle—including the fact that she’s a demon of desire known as a succubus! She can hardly believe it when she reawakens to her completely out-of-character powers, but unfortunately for Liz, she’s about to find out that it’s not so easy to defy your true nature…

Launching today with Parts 1 and 2 of Volume 1!

Butareba -The Story of a Man Turned into a Pig-

By Takuma Sakai with Illustrations by Asagi Tohsaka

豚のレバーは加熱しろ

A run-of-the-mill otaku collapses from stomach pain after tasting raw pig liver and wakes up in a whole new world—as a pig, of all things! He’s helplessly trapped in his pen until Jess, a girl who can read minds, comes along and rescues him. Our porcine hero will have to work to keep his boar-ish thoughts to himself, but sweet Jess isn’t deterred. In fact, she wants to spoil this little piggy rotten!

By Jess’s side, it seems like life as a hog might not be so bad after all, yet there’s more to this strange fantasy world than meets the eye. Jess is a girl of many secrets, and she’s in danger. But what can a mere pig with no special powers do to protect her from her cruel fate? Will his modern knowledge, quick thinking, and sharp nose be enough to ham it up and save her?

Launching today with Parts 1 and 2 of Volume 1!

You Were Experienced, I Was Not: Our Dating Story

By Makiko Nagaoka with Illustrations by magako

経験済みなキミと、経験ゼロなオレが、お付き合いする話。

Kashima Ryuto is a gloomy high-schooler who quietly spends his days watching his crush, the beautiful Shirakawa Runa, from afar. She rules the school and has had no shortage of boyfriends. Although Ryuto is fully convinced she’d never accept him, fate leads him to confess his feelings to her anyway. To his astonishment, she accepts—simply because she’s “available” at the moment—but the surprises don’t end there. She immediately invites him over as if it’s the most natural thing in the world!

This odd couple is different in just about every way—the friends they keep, their hobbies, their love lives—but with every passing day, they grow a little bit closer. This may not be Runa’s first relationship, but their dating story is going to be full of firsts for them both!

Launching today with Parts 1 and 2 of Volume 1!

The Diary of a Middle-Aged Sage’s Carefree Life in Another World

By Kotobuki Yasukiyo with Illustrations by JohnDee

アラフォー賢者の異世界生活日記~気ままな異世界教師ライフ~

Forty-year-old Satoshi Osako is a farmer in the Japanese countryside—and a hardcore player of Swords & Sorceries, an online VRRPG. The day he finally manages to defeat the game’s final boss, it curses him with its dying breath and kills him in real life!

With a little help from a carefree goddess, Satoshi finds himself reincarnated into a mysterious new world as his in-game character, the incredibly powerful Great Sage known as Zelos Merlin. He accordingly decides to use his newfound powers to…continue living a quiet life on another farm! But first, he’ll have to fight his way out of the vast, dangerous forest he woke up in—thanks a lot, goddess—and it won’t be long before he’s running into bandits, getting roped into teaching a young noble girl magic, and much more.

Will the almighty Great Sage be able to conquer the toughest quest of all: getting some peace and quiet?

Launching today with Parts 1 and 2 of Volume 1!

Announced New Manga Series:

D-Genesis: Three Years after the Dungeons Appeared

By Miya Taira with Original Work by Kono Tsuranori

Dジェネシス　ダンジョンが出来て３年

Three years after monster-infested dungeons start appearing on Earth due to an American experiment gone awry, anonymous researcher Keigo Yoshimara strikes gold when he accidentally kills a creature. This earns him a magical “D-Card” and a mysterious skill that allows him to see RPG-style stats.

Deciding to quit his job and go into dungeon diving, Keigo seeks the assistance of his highly knowledgeable colleague, Azusa Miyoshi, to help him conquer the dungeon exploration market and make millions. But it’s a race to obtain all the treasure and magic he can before the masses of government agencies and like-minded explorers take it first. No one said getting rich would be easy!

Based upon the light novel series of the same name!

Launching today with Chapter 1 of Volume 1!

The Oblivious Saint Can’t Contain Her Power: Disgraced No Longer, I’m Finding Happiness with the Prince!

By Yona Etou with Original Work by Almond

無自覚聖女は今日も無意識に力を垂れ流す　～公爵家の落ちこぼれ令嬢、嫁ぎ先で幸せを掴み取る～

Lady Carolina Sanchez has spent her entire life believing she is the “Sanchez family disgrace,” a notion constantly reinforced by her elder sister, Flora. In public, Flora is a model of kindness and gentility, always coming to her baby sister’s defense…but behind closed doors, she heaps abuse on Carolina, leveraging her younger sister’s perceived shortcomings to suit her own ends.

When Carolina is sent to the neighboring Malcosian Empire for a political marriage to Prince Edward Ruby Martinez, she expects to disappoint her new family too. But, to her surprise, her husband-to-be and her new in-laws seem to genuinely adore her!

Can Carolina escape the anguish of her past and rise to the occasion as Edward’s imperial consort? She just might, especially if she’s not quite as powerless as she assumed…

A J-Novel Heart title launching today with Chapter 1 of Volume 1!

The Retired Demon of the Maxed-Out Village

By Yusuke Miauchi with Original Work by Akinosuke Nishiyama

カンスト村のご隠居デーモンさん

On the advice of a suspicious bard, Albrea—the kingdom’s strongest knight—sets off to the remote village of Montt to slay an evil demon. However, when she arrives, Albrea finds out the demon is just a retired old man! And he’s far from the only strange inhabitant—there’s also a demonic sword taking the form of a young girl, a money-hungry witch, and a drunken priest.

As it turns out, the village has another, lesser-known name—the Maxed-Out Village—and is home to many of the kingdom’s greatest heroes! With help from those she came to fight, can Albrea learn what it truly means to be a knight? And what was the bard’s real reason for sending her to Montt in the first place?

Based upon the light novel series of the same name!

Launching today with Chapter 1 of Volume 1!

8th Loop for the Win! With Seven Lives’ Worth of XP and the Third Princess’s Appraisal Skill, My Behemoth and I Are Unstoppable!

By Riku Natsume with Original Work by SkyFarm

ループ8周目は幸せな人生を～

This is a story about Remille, an adventurer who died. Specifically, he’s died a lot—seven times now, always at the hands of vicious monsters. Every time, though, he’s returned to the same day, three years prior. He’s tried everything at this point, from sword fighting to magical arts to beast taming, but it always ends the same way. Is there any hope for him in this 8th loop of his life?

Perhaps a chance encounter with Princess Ciel might change things? Her magical eye can see all possible futures—and with Remille’s vast stores of XP from seven lives of adventuring, just about anything is possible! Add in the fact that his erstwhile feline friend Catra isn’t exactly what she seems (and how the princess herself wants to party up with him) and this 8th loop might just be the charm!

Based upon the light novel series of the same name!

Launching today with Chapter 1 of Volume 1!

I Want to Escape from Princess Lessons

By Uri Sugata with Original Work by Izumi Sawano

妃教育から逃げたい私

Leticia Dorman, daughter of a duke, has been engaged to the crown prince, Clarke, since age seven. Though once a spirited child, she’s undergone ten years of strict lessons to teach her manners fit for the future queen. Distraught by the loss of her freedom, Leticia clings to her hope that the prince might someday take an interest in another woman—and when he shows up to a royal ball with an unknown lady at his side, she’s elated to see her engagement broken off.

Finally, her dream has come true! Lettie wastes no time at all in retreating to the countryside for a new peaceful life, but her joy is cut short when the prince appears and informs her that she is still, in fact, his fiancée. Prince Clarke is determined to win her heart and marry her. Lettie is determined to resist him and escape. The universe is determined to not be of any help whatsoever.

Based upon the light novel series of the same name!

A J-Novel Heart title launching today with Chapter 1 of Volume 1

The Invincible Little Lady

By Sabaneko with Original Work by Chatsufusa

どうやら私の身体は完全無敵のようですね

On her deathbed, a sickly young girl wishes to be reborn with a strong body that will never succumb to anyone or anything. Lo and behold, her wish is granted! Upon reincarnating into another world as Mary Regalia, she discovers her new body has maxed-out attributes, from physical strength, to defense, and even magic. But wait! That isn’t what she really wanted! All she longed for was a normal life…but that’s a tall order when you’re absolutely invincible!

Join Mary as she navigates her new life as a duke’s daughter, makes friends of all stripes—including her devoted maid, an irreverent trainee knight, a proud magician girl, and even the prince of the kingdom—fights off terrifying monsters, and maybe even gets mistaken for a knight of legend!

Based upon the light novel series of the same name!

Launching today with Chapter 1 of Volume 1

Forget Being the Villainess, I Want to Be an Adventurer!

By Tasuke Sakura with Original Work by Hiro Oda

転生令嬢は冒険者を志す

When young Serephione has a fateful encounter with Lou, the cute and fluffy guardian tiger, it opens the floodgates to a torrent of memories. She realizes she had a past life as an office worker in which she loved to read fantasy books, including one featuring the infamous villainess…Serephione Granzeus!

After using her immense magical power in battle, the novel’s Serephione was defeated and condemned to die alone. The surest way to escape that fate is avoiding magic school altogether…so Serephione vows to hide her power and become an adventurer instead! But what will she do when major characters from the book threaten her plans?

Based upon the light novel series of the same name!

A J-Novel Heart title launching today with Chapter 1 of Volume 1

The Brilliant Healer’s New Life in the Shadows

By Ten Junoichi with Original Work by Sakaku Hishikawa

一瞬で治療していたのに役立たずと追放された天才治癒師、闇ヒーラーとして楽しく生き

Born a poor man in the slums, Zenos never had opportunities in life, so he decides to forge his own by teaching himself the curative arts after a chance encounter with a healer. When an adventuring party led by a man named Aston extends him an invitation, Zenos is elated—only to then be treated like dirt by his teammates. Despite Zenos’s diligent efforts to hone his skills to nothing short of perfection, the party deems him useless and kicks him out.

Bereft of money and options, Zenos starts an illegal clinic and becomes a shadow healer. Word of his healing genius spreads quickly throughout the city’s underbelly, and as his reputation grows among the dregs of society, knowledge of Zenos’s esteem reaches the wrong ears… Based upon the light novel series of the same name!

Launching today with Chapter 1 of Volume 1

About J-Novel Club

J-Novel Club is a digital and physical publishing company started by translators and fans like you! By focusing on digital releases and providing a membership service to let people read our books as they are being translated, our goal is to build a growing community of readers so that more releases can be officially licensed and translated.

With the addition of the J-Novel Heart and J-Novel Pulp imprints, the company hopes to appeal to even more audiences worldwide. Since 2016, J-Novel Club has digitally published over 1,000 volumes and physically printed over 230 volumes of different series for you to enjoy.

The post J-Novel Club Announces the Acquisition of Seventeen New Series at September 2023 Industry Livestream! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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(September 13, 2023) – Seven Seas Entertainment is pleased to announce the license acquisition of the danmei/Boy’s Love novel series Ballad of Sword and Wine: Qiang Jin Jiu by Tang Jiu Qing. In this historical novel series originally released in Chinese–and coming to the English language for the first time–an intense relationship burns between the son of an infamous traitor and the vengeful nobleman who despises him…at first.

Shen Zechuan is the eighth son of the traitorous Prince of Jianxing, a man who doomed his cities and people to destruction at the hands of the foreign enemy. As the only surviving member of his reviled line, Shen Zechuan is dragged to the capital in chains. He bears the hatred of the nation, but no one’s hate burns hotter than that of Xiao Chiye, the youngest son of the powerful Prince of Libei.

Xiao Chiye would love nothing more than to see Shen Zechuan dead–but against all odds, he clings to life. Rather than succumb to his family’s disgrace, he becomes a thorn in Xiao Chiye’s side, clawing his way into the cutthroat political world of the capital. Yet as these two bitter enemies beat against the bonds of their fate, they find themselves kindred spirits, unlikely allies…and perhaps something more.

This Chinese historical fiction tale of war and political intrigue has attracted fans from around the world and inspired a comic and an audio drama. The Seven Seas English-language edition will feature uncensored text along with all-new covers and interior illustrations from artist St, who also illustrates The Husky and His White Cat Shizun and Remnants of Filth.

Ballad of Sword and Wine: Qiang Jin Jiu (Novel) Vol. 1 will be released for the first time in the English language in June 2024 for $19.99 USA / $25.99 CAN, with the series available in large-trim paperback editions as part of the Seven Seas Danmei label. Ebook editions will also be available on digital platforms. Paperback preorders are available now.

About Seven Seas Entertainment
Established in 2004, Seven Seas Entertainment is an award-winning publisher that specializes in bringing the best of Japanese manga and light novels to English-language audiences alongside the hottest danmei, webtoons, and other books from around the globe, as well as producing audiobooks, original comics, and youth literature. All of Seven Seas’ print book imprints are distributed throughout the world by Penguin Random House Publisher Services. For more information, visit sevenseasentertainment.com

The post Seven Seas Licenses Danmei Novel Series BALLAD OF SWORD AND WINE: QIANG JIN JIU by Tang Jiu Qing appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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NEW YORK (September 13, 2023) – GKIDS, celebrating its 15th anniversary as a producer and distributor of award-winning and artist-driven animation from around the world, announced today it will bring BLUE GIANT, to select theaters nationwide for event showings on October 8 & 9th only. Tickets are on sale now at www.BlueGiantMovie.com. Prior to its theatrical release, the film will have a special North American premiere on October 6th at Japan Society in New York City, featuring a Q&A with composer Hiromi Uehara. Tickets for Japan Society’s BLUE GIANT screening are available now on their website. The film is directed by Yuzuru Tachikawa, whose credits include directing the mega hit anime series “Mob Psycho 100”, as well as the cult hit series “Death Parade,” “DECA-DENCE”, and the latest film in the blockbuster Detective Conan franchise, Detective Conan: The Black Iron Submarine.

BLUE GIANT is adapted from the internationally renowned manga of the same name, written by manga artist Shinichi Ishizuka. The series won the Japan Media Arts Festival Award and the Shogakukan Manga Award, and was nominated for the Osamu Tezuka Cultural Prize and as “Comic of the Year” at the Angoulême International Comics Festival. NUMBER 8, the editor of the original manga, joined the film production to write the script. BLUE GIANT opened domestically in Japan on February 17th, and earned over 1 billion yen (approx. $7.5 million) at the Japanese box office throughout its run in Japanese theaters. The film previously played as a sneak preview screening at the 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

The film follows the story of Dai Miyamoto, a former high school basketball player who discovers a love of jazz, and dedicates himself to learning the saxophone. He leaves his town for the clubs of Tokyo, determined to become the best saxophone player in the world, but he soon discovers the life of a professional musician is not for the faint of heart.

World-renowned virtuoso pianist Hiromi Uehara composed the in-story original music played by Miyamoto and his jazz trio JASS, and additionally plays for the character Yukinori Sawabe. Drummer Shun Ishikawa, of the global hit band Millennium Parade, and saxophonist Tomoaki Baba join Hiromi Uehara in playing for the characters Shunji Tamada and Dai Miyamoto respectively.

Country: Japan

Original Language: Japanese

Runtime: 120 min

Director: Yuzuru Tachikawa

Screenplay: NUMBER 8

Original Creator: Shinichi Ishizuka

Music: Hiromi Uehara

Studio: NUT

Japanese Voice Cast: Amane Okayama, Yuki Yamada, Shotaro Mamiya

Synopsis

Dai Miyamoto’s life is turned upside down the day he discovers jazz. A former high school basketball player, Dai picks up a saxophone and begins practicing day and night, determined to become one of the greatest of all time. He leaves his sleepy hometown for the bustling nightclubs of Tokyo, but soon finds the life of a professional musician is not for the faint of heart. His passion eventually wins over the cocky but talented pianist Yukinori, and after Dai convinces his friend Shunji to learn the drums, they launch a new jazz trio whose rough sound contains a raw energy that quickly wins attention from local audiences. But what does it take to truly be great?

From director Yuzuru Tachikawa (Mob Psycho 100) and based on the award-winning manga, Blue Giant is a moving ode to the power of music and the artist, featuring electric performances and a stunning jazz soundtrack.

About GKIDS

Celebrating its 15th anniversary, GKIDS is the producer and distributor of artist-driven and award-winning animation from around the world. The company has scored an astounding 12 Best Animated Feature Oscar nominations with The Secret of Kells in 2010, A Cat in Paris and Chico & Rita in 2012, Ernest & Celestine in 2014, The Tale of The Princess Kaguya and Song of the Sea in 2015, Boy and the World and When Marnie Was There in 2016, My Life as a Zucchini in 2017, The Breadwinner in 2018, Mirai in 2019, and Wolfwalkers in 2021. GKIDS handles North American distribution for the famed Studio Ghibli library of films, one of the world’s most coveted animation collections with titles Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke and others; as well as the critically acclaimed television series, NEON GENESIS EVANGELION. Also, GKIDS is the founder and host of ANIMATION IS FILM, the annual LA-based film festival which embraces the highest aspirations of animation as a cinematic art form, and is a vocal advocate for filmmakers who push the boundaries of the medium to its fullest range of artistic expressions. www.gkids.com

About Toho Co., Ltd.

Toho Company, Limited, is a Japanese entertainment studio focused on the development, production, exhibition, and distribution of powerful content for motion pictures, television and theater. Founded in 1932, it remains a prominent force in bringing brands and original storytelling with versatile talents to audiences worldwide. Its subsidiaries include TOHO Cinemas, Japan’s primary multiplex chain, and TOHO Studios, the prestigious studio facility and leading producer of Japanese cinema. It is also known for TOHO animation, a hugely successful label of beloved anime series and films with massive global success.

The post GKIDS to Release BLUE GIANT In Select Theaters Nationwide on October 8 & 9th Only appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum discuss another batch of simulpubs! Including the manga version of Mecha-Ude from Azuki, as well…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 234: September 2023 Simulpubs Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Culver City, California (Sept. 7, 2023) – Crunchyroll, the ultimate home for anime worldwide, has big plans in the Big Apple for an anime-filled return to New York Comic Con at the Javits Center from October 12-15, 2023. Crunchyroll is bringing a supercharged slate of panels on the hottest new series, next-level activations, premiere screenings, new merch, and more.

Get ready heroes, Crunchyroll is bringing a top-secret My Hero Academia special screening to New York Comic Con. Early previews don’t stop there, as pirate-lovers can come aboard Crunchyroll and Toei Animation’s One Piece panel to catch a new English dub episode and hear from the English voices behind some of the show’s most popular villains. Attendees can also get a head start on the fall season at the US premiere of Dr. STONE Season 3, Part 2. In addition, Crunchyroll is screening episodes of A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special, which includes an exclusive premiere of episode 3!

The Crunchyroll Store is setting up shop at booth #1653 with 50+ ani-mazing items, including the all-new Crunchyroll exclusive items: Attack on Titan-themed watches featuring Eren and Levi; a Chainsaw Man Pochita Otaku Lamp; a new Trigun Funko Pop featuring Vash and Kuroneko; and a Sailor Moon Glitter Version FiGPiN. After shopping, attendees can snap picture-perfect moments at digital kiosks featuring some of the most beloved anime, including One Piece, My Hero Academia, GOBLIN SLAYER II and more!

New York has swag all its own, but we’re bringing ours to a second booth—#1643! Here fans can pick up JUJUTSU KAISEN photo cards, grab posters for both Solo Leveling and A Returner’s Magic Should be Special, and get tatted with temporary After-school Hanako-kun tattoos. Swag in hand, fans are invited to enter The JUJUTSU KAISEN Experience, where they will find themselves immersed in the world of the hit dark fantasy series.

Check out the full New York Comic Con line up where you can find Crunchyroll:

DR. STONE SEASON 3 (PART 2) NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE, PRESENTED BY CRUNCHYROLL

Thursday, October 12 | 2:45 PM ET

Javits Center – Main Stage

Be among the first in North America to see Dr. STONE Season 3’s return with the first two episodes of its Part 2 (episodes 12 & 13) at this exclusive event introduced by Aaron Dismuke, the English voice of Senku!

WORLD BUILDING AND BEYOND: SCI-FI & FANTASY IN HOLLYWOOD

Thursday, October 12 | 3:00 PM ET

Javits Center – Room 408

Hear from some of the most exciting creators, writers, and producers in sci-fi and fantasy about the state of these genres, and their predictions for world-building in comics, literature, TV, and film. How can sci-fi and fantasy break stereotypes, build immersive worlds, and grow fandoms bringing these genres to screens.

• Moderator: Journalist Rosie Knight
• Panelist: Pres. of Wattpad WEBTOON Studios Aron Levitz, Executive Editor of VIZ Originals for VIZ Media Fawn Lau, and an Executive from Crunchyroll

CRUNCHYROLL INDUSTRY PANEL

Friday, October 13 | 3:00 PM ET

Javits Center – Room 405

Hear about all the latest and greatest anime coming out of Crunchyroll straight from the source!

• Host: Crunchyroll’s Lauren Moore and Tim Lyu

MY HERO ACADEMIA SPECIAL SCREENING EVENT

Friday, October 13 | 5:00 PM ET

Javits Center – Empire Stage

Join Crunchyroll for a screening featuring special English dubbed content from My Hero Academia!

A RETURNER’S MAGIC SHOULD BE SPECIAL PREMIERE EPISODES 1-3, PRESENTED BY CRUNCHYROLL

Saturday, October 14 | 6:00 PM ET

Javits Center – Room 409

Be among the first to watch A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special Episodes 1-3 at this exclusive premiere!

ONE PIECE DUB VILLAINS PANEL

Saturday, October 14 | 6:30 PM ET

Javits Center – Main Stage

Join Crunchyroll and Toei Animation for an early One Piece dub episode premiere screening followed by Q&A with the English dubbed voices for some of One Piece’s most iconic villains.

Details subject to change. Updates can be found on Crunchyroll News!

Follow Crunchyroll on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, as well as Crunchyroll News to find the latest and greatest about anime each day and so much more.

About Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll connects anime and manga fans across 200+ countries and territories with the content and experiences they love. In addition to free ad-supported and subscription premium content, Crunchyroll serves the anime community across events, theatrical, games, consumer products, collectibles and manga publishing.

Anime fans have access to one of the largest collections of licensed anime through Crunchyroll and translated in multiple languages for viewers worldwide. Viewers can also access simulcasts — top series available immediately after Japanese broadcast.

The Crunchyroll app is available on over 15 platforms, including all gaming consoles.

Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between US-based Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.

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Kodansha USA has announced that Cells at Work! Lady by Shigemitsu Harada & Akari Otokawa and Drops of God: Mariage by Tadashi Agi & Shu Okimoto will be released as digital debut titles this September! The series will be available on participating digital vendors, including Bookwalker, Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, Google Play, Nook, Kobo, MyAnimeList, and more. Details for both series can be found below.

Cells at Work! Lady

Original Story by Shigemitsu Harada, Art by Akari Otokawa, Supervised by Akane Shimizu

Release Date: September 12, 2023

Life as a lady can be tough, but life IN a lady is that much tougher. From periods to pregnancies, it can be an emotional ride…especially when you’re the size of a cell. Thankfully, Macrophage, Killer T, Helper T, and White Blood Cell are joined by a host of hard-working allies equipped to deal with the daily struggles of lady life in this female-focused spin-off of Cells at Work!

Rated: 16+

Drops of God: Mariage

Story by Tadashi Agi, Art by Shu Okimoto

Release Date: September 26, 2023

One last challenge stands between Shizuku Kanzaki and his father’s fortune—to identify the wine his father called “The Drops of God” in his will. Problem is, he’s up against Issei Tomine, a famous wine critic his father adopted shortly before his death. Alone and penniless following his journey around the world to gain knowledge and train his senses for the final showdown, Shizuku stumbles into a western-style izakaya to work for food and a place to stay. But when Shizuku uses his newfound smarts to save the struggling business, a competing chain launches an identical menu and enlists the help of a rising sommelier to go head-to-head with them. In order to stay on top and survive this brutal business, it all comes down to perfecting the food and wine pairings—the blissful mariage of flavors which delights the senses.

Rated: 16+

About Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC
A subsidiary of Kodansha, Japan’s largest publisher, Kodansha USA Publishing is the English-language publisher of some of the world’s most recognizable manga properties, including Katsuhiro Otomo’s AKIRA and Naoko Takeuchi’s Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, along with a robust catalog of English-language Japanese novels, cookbooks, craft guides, historical and cultural literature, and more. Today, thanks to recent fan-favorite and critically acclaimed hits like Attack on Titan, Battle Angel Alita, Witch Hat Atelier, and the popular MONOGATARI novels, Kodansha USA Publishing is one of the best-selling manga publishers in the United States. Kodansha USA Publishing’s print offerings are distributed by Penguin Random House Publisher Services, and their digital manga and select digital books are available across a number of digital comics, manga, and book vendors. For more information visit kodansha.us.

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Shuko Murase is a director and animator whose work has been a huge influence on many fans. He has been heavily involved in the Gundam…

The post Shuko Murase Interview | Anime NYC 2022 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Los Angeles, CA – Iconic Events Releasing, a company specializing in distributing special engagement theatrical events to theatres, brings the action and bold visual storytelling…

The post AX Cinema Nights Screens 5 Beloved Films in Theatres Nationwide This Fall appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Portland, OR – Comics and graphic novel publisher ABLAZE previews a potent and extensive roster of new series launches set for November. Many of these…

The post ABLAZE ANNOUNCES AN EXTENSIVE ROSTER OF NEW SERIES DEBUTS FOR NOVEMBER appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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NEW YORK, NY (8/25/23) – Yen Press, LLC announced that it will be releasing eight new titles in February 2024, including three manga (Ako and…

The post Winter 2024 Brightens Up with Eight New Yen Press Titles appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Los Angeles, Calif. (August 25, 2023) – Ground Y, the brand proposing new possibilities in fashion with its genderless and ageless style, drawing upon the…

The post GROUND Y FROM YOHJI YAMAMOTO PRESENTS “HELL’S PARADISE” COLLABORATION appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA—Digital manga subscription service Azuki is celebrating the completed release of its’ best-selling manga, Turning the Tables on the Seatmate Killer. The complete…

The post Turning the Tables on the Seatmate Killer – The Complete Series – Now Available as eBooks appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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This year at Otakon, Manga Mavericks staff member Varun Gupta and Weekly Shogakukan Edition’s Sakaki had the pleasure of conducting a joint interview with author…

The post Wataru Watari & Hironori Hoshino Interview | Otakon 2023 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Los Angeles, Calif. (August 22, 2023) – Juice WRLD’s 999 Club is announcing a capsule collection for the hit dark fantasy action series JUJUTSU KAISEN,…

The post CURSED SPIRITS BEWARE: 999 CLUB AND CRUNCHYROLL CONJURE “JUJUTSU KAISEN” CAPSULE COLLECTION appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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(San Antonio , Texas – August 22, 2023) – J-Novel Club is excited to announce the acquisition of multiple new series following their latest announcements…

The post J-Novel Club Announces the Acquisition of Three New Series at August Online Industry Announcements! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum once again attempt to cover whatever news they can in a much more truncated length of…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 233: August 2023 News Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum discuss the (not so) newest batch of simulpubs from across both Shonen Jump and Manga…

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(July 24, 2023) – Seven Seas Entertainment is pleased to announce, through its Siren imprint for audiobooks, the launch of an audiobook series for its…

The post Seven Seas Launches Audiobook for MUSHOKU TENSEI Light Novel Series appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum come together for another news episode! Discussion includes a lot what went on at Anime Expo…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 231: July 2023 News Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is easily my favorite ongoing manga. The series takes the tired premise of a zombie apocalypse and uses…

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Adult Swim’s Hit Series Dedicated to Making People Smile with SMILING FRIENDS: The Complete First Season Bring Happiness to Your Home on Blu-ray™ & DVD…

The post Adult Swim Puts a Friendly Smile on Fans’s Faces with Smiling Friends Season 1 on Blu-Ray! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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This year at Anime Expo 2023, Manga Mavericks writer Varun Gupta had the opportunity to talk with actor Eiji Akaso. Akaso has starred in numerous…

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June 21, 2023 (Los Angeles) – WEBTOON, the world’s largest digital comics platform, today announced a slate of can’t-miss programming at leading international entertainment and…

The post WEBTOON Kicks Off 2023 Summer Convention Season with Can’t-Miss Programming at Anime Expo, SDCC, and France’s Japan Expo appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum once again do their best to cover as much of the last month of news as…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 230: June 2023 News Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Story & Art by Osamu Nishi Edited by Ajani Oloye Translation by Jacqueline Fung Production by Shirley Fang & Pei Ann Yeap Lettering by Nicole…

The post Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun, Volume 1 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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NEW YORK, NY (6/9/23) – As announced by PW Children’s Bookshelf, four new titles will be joining JY, the middle grade imprint of Yen Press,…

The post Yen Press’s Middle Grade Imprint to Publish Four Titles Fall 2023 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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NEW YORK, NY (6/7/23)—Anime Expo, the largest anime convention in the United States, which is held annually in Los Angeles, announced the attendance of Kafka…

The post Anime Expo Announces Kafka Asagiri as Guest of Honor appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum attempt to catch up on at least some of the latest simulpub manga titles that have popped up over the past three months. Unfortunately, they only managed to cover 6 titles, but 6 pretty good ones! We start off with Crescent Moon Marching from Azuki, and then transition into a few new titles over on Manga Plus. All ranging in tone from comedic and slightly heart-warming titles like Stan for Salvation, Service Wars and The Pension Life Vampire, to straight horror with Jinrui-Shoku: Blight of Man and Shibatarian! Join us again in a couple episodes as our Mavericks work with much more recording time to try and cover and discuss the rest of the simulpubs they still have to get to! Including the newest batch of series from Shonen Jump, but until then, enjoy!

Check out the newest bonus podcast on our Patreon discussing our thoughts on Knights of the Zodiac! The Hollywood live-action adaptation of Saint Seiya!

Download Here!!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – Intro

03:26 – Crescent Moon Marching

21:10 – Stan For Salvation

34:40 – Jinrui-Shoku: Blight of Man

52:57 – Service Wars

1:06:48 – The Pension Life Vampire

1:19:14 – Shibatarian

1:33:40 – Wrap upEnjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

Ukraine Aid Resources & Links

Ukraine Crisis Media Center links

Ukraine Caard

Ukraine Linktree

Ukraine Refugee IRC Emergency Fund

American Prestige Podcast’s Ukraine Explain episodes

GoFundMe’s Verified Ukraine Fundraisers & Humanitarian Fund

Texas Trans Support Resources & Links

Act-Blue and Donation Page for the Transgender Education Network of Texas

Links to Smaller Trans Organizations in Texas to Donate to

Anime Feminist’s Dual Resources & Links List for Ukraine Aid & Trans Community Support

LINKS:

• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Support us on Patreon!
• Read Crescent Moon Marching on Azuki!
• Read everything else on Manga Plus!

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 229: June 2023 Simulpubs Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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(June 2, 2023) – Seven Seas Entertainment is thrilled to announce the upcoming release of special box sets for four bestselling series in time for the 2023 holidays: The Ancient Magus’ Bride, Made in Abyss, Dai Dark, and a deluxe release of orange!

The Ancient Magus’ Bride – Season 1 Box Set (Vol. 1-9) by Kore Yamazaki
The New York Times bestselling fantasy romance manga in its very first box set! Get Vol. 1-9 of the original manga, which inspired the first season of the anime, in a beautiful box. Also includes two double-sided posters!

Hatori Chise has lived a life full of neglect and abuse, devoid of anything resembling love. Just when all hope seems lost, a man with the head of a beast and wielding strange powers obtains her through a slave auction–and now Chise’s life will never be the same again. The man is a “magus,” a sorcerer of great power, who decides to free Chise from the bonds of captivity. The magus then makes a bold statement: Chise will become his apprentice…and his bride!

The Ancient Magus’ Bride – Season 1 Box Set (Vol. 1-9) will be released in November 2023 for $119.99 USA / $159.99 CAN.

Made in Abyss – Season 1 Box Set (Vol. 1-5) by Akihito Tsukushi
The hit fantasy adventure epic is getting its very first box set! Contains Vol. 1-5 of the original manga, which inspired the first season of the anime and the movie, along with two double-sided posters, all cased in a beautiful box!

In an age when the corners of the world have been scoured for their secrets, only one place remains unexplored–a massive cave system known as the Abyss. Those who traverse its endless pits and labyrinth-like tunnels are known as Cave Raiders. A young orphan named Riko dreams of following in her mother’s footsteps as a Cave Raider. When she meets a strange robot when exploring the Abyss, she’s one step closer to achieving her goal!

Made in Abyss – Season 1 Box Set (Vol. 1-5) will be released in November 2023 for $69.99 USA / $92.99 CAN

Dai Dark – Vol. 1-4 Box Set by Q Hayashida
Introducing the first box set for this hilarious, gruesome, unforgettable tale where dark magic and space action collide! This beautiful box contains Vol. 1-4 of the manga and one double-sided poster. By the creator of manga and Netflix anime Dorohedoro!

Zaha Sanko’s body has great and terrible powers–they say that possessing his bones will grant you any wish, even the desire to become ruler of the universe. But Sanko is still a teenage dude with his own life, and he isn’t about to let every monstrous lowlife in the galaxy rip him limb from limb. He and his skeletal buddy Avakian will use their dark powers to fend off any murder attempts while they search space for whomever put this curse on Sanko’s bones…because killing them might end the madness. (And then Sanko can celebrate with his favorite spaghetti.)

Dai Dark – Vol. 1-4 Box Set will be released in November 2023 for $54.99 USA / $72.99 CAN.

Orange Vol. 1-7 Deluxe Edition Box Set by Ichigo Takano
A special box set for the complete Eisner-nominated, bittersweet sci-fi romance manga series that became a New York Times bestseller and inspired an anime! For the first time ever in English, this hit manga will be presented in its original format of 7 single volumes, now contained in a beautiful box. Also includes a set of 8 postcards!

On the day that Naho begins 11th grade, she receives a letter from herself ten years in the future. At first, she writes it off as a prank, but as the letter’s predictions come true one by one Naho realizes that the letter might be the real deal. Her future self tells Naho that a new transfer student, a boy named Kakeru, will soon join her class. The letter begs Naho to watch over him, saying that only Naho can save Kakeru from a terrible future. Who is this mystery boy, and can Naho save him from his destiny?

Orange Vol. 1-7 Deluxe Edition Box Set will be released in November 2023 for $79.99 USA / $106.99 CAN.

About Seven Seas Entertainment
Established in 2004, Seven Seas Entertainment is an award-winning publisher that specializes in bringing the best of Japanese manga and light novels to English language audiences alongside the hottest hand-picked books from around the globe, as well as producing original comics, graphic novels, and youth literature. All of Seven Seas’ book imprints are distributed throughout the world by Penguin Random House Publisher Services. For more information, visit sevenseasentertainment.com

The post Seven Seas to Release Four Box Sets: THE ANCIENT MAGUS’ BRIDE, MADE IN ABYSS, DAI DARK, and ORANGE appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Kodansha USA has announced Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua by Pink Hanamori and Messiah -CODE EDGE- by Akira Minazuki, Madoka Takadono & Messiah Project as their digital debut titles for June 2023. These series will be available across all of Kodansha USA’s participating digital vendors upon release. The full details from Kodansha USA’s announcement can be found below.

Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua
By Pink Hanamori

Release Date: June 6, 2023

Lukia Nanami is turning seventeen. Her family has just moved to a town by the sea, and on her first walk down to the beach, she saves a handsome surfer from drowning. The next day, she’s shocked to discover he’s not only a classmate at her new school, but has no idea who she is, and insists he was saved by a mermaid! A new chapter in the saga of Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch, from original artist Pink Hanamori!

Rated: 13+

Messiah -CODE EDGE-
By Akira Minazuki, Madoka Takadono & Messiah Project

Release Date: June 20, 2023

Mysterious, handsome young men working as spy-pairs for a secret agency, the Church, are forbidden to love anyone but their partners. If they’re to survive—not only war, but the ghosts of their tragic pasts—they must rely on one another to be there…because each other is all they have. Follow Eiri, Haku, Soma, and Shusuke as they battle their inner demons with the help of their partners in this peek into the Messiah Project universe.

Rated: 16+

About Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC
A subsidiary of Kodansha, Japan’s largest publisher, Kodansha USA Publishing is the English-language publisher of some of the world’s most recognizable manga properties, including Katsuhiro Otomo’s AKIRA and Naoko Takeuchi’s Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, along with a robust catalog of English-language Japanese novels, cookbooks, craft guides, historical and cultural literature, and more. Today, thanks to recent fan-favorite and critically acclaimed hits like Attack on Titan, Battle Angel Alita, Witch Hat Atelier, and the popular MONOGATARI novels, Kodansha USA Publishing is one of the best-selling manga publishers in the United States. Kodansha USA Publishing’s print offerings are distributed by Penguin Random House Publisher Services, and their digital manga and select digital books are available across a number of digital comics, manga, and book vendors. For more information visit kodansha.us.

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(May 30, 2023) – Seven Seas Entertainment is excited to announce “Seven Seas Siren,” an all-new imprint dedicated to audiobooks. The Siren imprint will launch in June 2023 with English-language audiobooks of three popular Seven Seas light novel series, and Volume 1 pre-orders are available now: Classroom of the Elite, Reborn as a Space Mercenary, and The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotent.

“With Seven Seas Siren, we’re thrilled to make the jump from the written word to audiobooks,” says Publisher Jason DeAngelis. “Audiobooks is a growing category and an exciting new way to experience our vast catalog of light novels and other content. Stay tuned for more announcements soon!”

Classroom of the Elite by Syougo Kinugasa and Tomoseshunsaku

Audiobook narrated by Eddy Lee, best known for anime voice acting and starring as Alexander Hamilton in the hit Broadway show, Hamilton.

This massively popular cutthroat school drama began as a light novel series and inspired manga and anime! Students of the prestigious Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School are given remarkable freedom—if they can win, barter, or save enough points to work their way up the ranks! Ayanokouji Kiyotaka has landed at the bottom in the scorned Class D, where he meets Horikita Suzune, who’s determined to rise up the ladder to Class A. Can they beat the system in a school where cutthroat competition is the name of the game?

Classroom of the Elite (Audiobook) Volume 1 will be released for the first time in North America in June 2023. Pre-orders are available now at sevenseasaudiobooks.com

Reborn as a Space Mercenary: I Woke Up Piloting the Strongest Starship! by Ryuto and Tetsuhiro Nabeshima

Audiobook narrated by Fred Berman, award-winning audiobook narrator also known for his role as Timon in Broadway’s The Lion King.

This light novel series is a sci-fi isekai adventure that also inspired a manga—from the creator of Survival in Another World with My Mistress! When Satou Takahiro is swept away from his ordinary life into the world of his favorite video game, a universe of space battles, interstellar colonies, and danger in the vastness of outer space awaits. Soon, he’s living as “Hiro” the mercenary, with a tricked-out spaceship and a babe on each arm! There are space pirates to fight, girls to rescue, and trouble to get into (and hopefully out of). Hiro is going to live his new life to the fullest!

Reborn as a Space Mercenary: I Woke Up Piloting the Strongest Starship! (Audiobook) Volume 1 will be released for the first time in North America in June 2023. Pre-orders are available now at sevenseasaudiobooks.com

The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotent by Yuka Tachibana and Yasuyuki Syuri

Audiobook narrated by anime voice acting star Veronica Taylor, best known as Ash Ketchum in Pokemon and Sailor Pluto in Sailor Moon.

Originally a light novel series, this charming shojo/josei fantasy isekai tale inspired a manga, a spin-off, and an anime! Could workaholic office lady Sei be a legendary Saint? Not according to the crown prince of another world who summoned her and quickly declared a different girl was the real Saint! That suits Sei just fine—she would much rather spend her days quietly helping people with her unbelievably powerful magic. But how long can Sei live her ideal life of leisure before her true nature is revealed?

The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotent (Audiobook) Volume 1 will be released for the first time in North America in June 2023. Pre-orders are available now at sevenseasaudiobooks.com

About Seven Seas Entertainment
Established in 2004, Seven Seas Entertainment is an award-winning publisher that specializes in bringing the best of Japanese manga and light novels to English language audiences alongside the hottest hand-picked books from around the globe, as well as producing original comics, graphic novels, and youth literature. All of Seven Seas’ book imprints are distributed throughout the world by Penguin Random House Publisher Services. For more information, visit sevenseasentertainment.com

The post Seven Seas Launches New Audiobook Imprint SIREN with Three Titles appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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NEW YORK, NY (5/30/23) – At MCM London Comic Con, Ize Press announced the acquisition of the popular Korean webcomic, The Villainess Turns the Hourglass.

The Villainess Turns the Hourglass

Art by Antstudio

Original Story by SANSOBEE

Aria Roscent mercilessly bullied her stepsister, Mielle, and paid the ultimate price for her misdeeds—but not before Mielle revealed that she’d manipulated Aria into harassing her in the first place! Instead of dying, Aria is sent back in time and gifted a strange hourglass with mysterious powers. Now Aria’s just got has just one goal: to embrace her role of villainess and utterly destroy Mielle’s life!

Adapted from the webnovel of the same name, The Villainess Turns the Hourglass is a popular fantasy manhwa full of drama, romance, and a bit of magic. With a female protagonist as cunning as she is beautiful, readers will enjoy the compelling politics, ruthless manipulation, and delicious revenge that this comic brings. Complete in 125 chapters, this historical fantasy series has received 1 million views and over 120,000 likes on Tapas, and over 3.4 million views on Tappytoon.

The English print edition will be released November 2023.

About Ize Press

Founded in 2022, Ize Press is the Korean-content imprint from Yen Press. A collaboration between Yen Press, REDICE STUDIO, and RIVERSE, Ize Press will establish itself as a market leader for print editions of content that has captured the imagination and dedication of readers around the world. At a time in which comics and webnovels from Korea are rising in popularity at the speed of K-pop, Ize Press aims to deliver high-quality physical editions of many beloved stories to fans eager to add them to their collections. For more information, visit izepress.com.

The post The Villainess Turns the Hourglass Coming to Print with Ize Press appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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NEW YORK, NY (5/30/23) – At MCM London Comic Con, Yen Press, LLC announced the acquisition of three new titles under their Yen Press imprint, including two manga (Lord Hades’s Ruthless Marriage; Kiss the Scars of the Girls) and an artbook (Fruits Basket: Complete Anime Natsuki Takaya Illustrations). Over Memorial Day weekend, Yen Press also revealed the acquisition of two manga titles (Higurashi When They Cry: GOU Anthology Comic; Fifteen Minutes Before We Really Date) and a novel (Agent of the Four Seasons).

Fruits Basket: Complete Anime Natsuki Takaya Illustrations

By Natsuki Takaya

In commemoration of the all-new anime adaptation of Natsuki Tayaka’s beloved manga, Fruit Basket, illustrations inspired by each episode along with commentary from the author have been collected into a single volume to celebrate the gripping tale of Tohru and the Sohmas.

Perfect for fans of the series, Fruits Basket: Complete Anime Natsuki Takaya Illustrations is a collection of three artbooks that were published separately in Japan combined into a single omnibus edition.

Lord Hades’s Ruthless Marriage

By Ueji Yuho

Hades—the powerful and terrifying King of the Underworld…and a bachelor! Despite his retainers’ wishes, Hades refuses to give up his life as a single god, unconvinced that love and marriage are worth the hassle. But when Eros suddenly shoots him with an arrow of love, will he be able to successfully avoid falling head over heels with the next person he sees?

Lord Hades’s Ruthless Marriage is a Greek mythical romantic comedy with stunning art to complement the entertaining interactions between familiar historical characters.

Kiss the Scars of the Girls

By Aya Haruhana

Deep within a dense forest stands an academy for girls, and its students share a secret—they’re all vampires. To learn to hunt without attracting human attention, the maidens forge bloody bonds of sisterhood, but what fate will their ties bring…?

Kiss the Scars of the Girls is a supernatural girls’ love manga between two vampires: one charismatic and cheerful, and the other guarded and reserved.

Higurashi When They Cry: GOU Anthology Comic

By Ryukishi07

June 1983. While it normally signifies an inescapable doom for Rika and her closest companions, a crew of guest artists bring its cheerful vitality to life! In the official comic anthology, join the gang in their early summer adventures!

This short anthology comic is perfect for Higurashi fans looking for a bit more comedy featuring these iconic horror characters.

Fifteen Minutes Before We Really Date

By Perico

Yuki and Natsuna live in the same apartment complex and have been childhood friends for ten years. One day on the way home, with their high school graduation fast approaching, they make a decision on a whim—to start dating! In the fifteen minutes before things get a little more serious, will their friendship finally blossom into love…?

Fifteen Minutes Before We Really Date is an adorable slice-of-life romance between two childhood friends, complete in six volumes.

Agent of the Four Seasons

By Kana Akatsuki

From the creator of Violet Evergarden comes a story about the four seasons.

In a world where the only season is winter, the creation of spring chips away at the solitary lifestyle of those enduring the cold. Before long, in accordance with the earth’s wishes, summer and fall are born, and the four seasons are complete. The one who carries the burden of the cycle is called the “Agent of the Four Seasons.” Now, one young goddess—granted spring by the god of the four seasons and called “Daisy” by her mother—holds that sense of purpose to her chest with pride. However, spring disappeared from this land ten years ago, and she must overcome hardship, fight back against disgrace, and return to the current god. Like a legend, the deepest part of her heart sends love to winter.

Featuring Violet Evergarden’s author Kana Akatsuki’s brilliant writing, worldbuilding, and character drama, Agent of the Four Seasons is a romance novel that topped the New Title category in Takarajimasha’s 2022 This Light Novel Is Amazing! (Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!) guidebook.

The on-sale date for Fruits Basket: Complete Anime Natsuki Takaya Illustrations will be announced at a later date. The other five titles are scheduled for a November 2023 release.

About Yen Press, LLC

Yen Press, LLC is a joint venture between Kadokawa Corporation and Hachette Book Group. Founded in 2006, Yen Press has quickly risen to become one of the largest and most prolific publishers of manga and original graphic novels in the North American marketplace and a driving force in the introduction of light novels and Japanese literature to new readers through its Yen On and Yen Audio imprints. For more information, visit www.yenpress.com.

The post Six New Titles to Be Published by Yen Press appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum once again cover a fraction of all the news that’s come out over the past month! Including Viz’s domination of the US manga market according to Comics Beat’s 2022 Bookscan data report, a lot of licenses from Yen Press in particular, even MORE Cells at Work spin-off manga and much more!

Check out the latest bonus podcast on our Patreon where we revisit Ryohei Yamamoto’s Love Rush!!

Download Here!!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – In Memoriam:

• Ryuichi Sakamoto
• Yasumichi Kushida
• Frank Agrama

07:09 – Intro

13:32 – April NYT & March Bookscan List

24:41 – Comics Beat Bookscan 2022 Report

1:08:23 – Chinese authorities arrest 4 people associated with largest anime piracy site

1:10:20 – Abrams to start publishing manga

1:11:11 – Colton’s Licesning Highlights

1:26:41 – Lum’s Licensing Highlights

1:38:52 – Adou will get simultaneous release in 5 countries

1:40:15 – Pokemon Horizons shojo manga

1:41:17 – Two more Cells at Work spin-off manga coming soon

1:44:51 – Yuhki Kamatani’s new manga

1:45:12 – Rei Hiroe says his 341 Sentodan manga will only continue if it sells

1:45:53 – Nobuyuki Fukumoto’s new golf manga

1:47:23 – Boichi’s new manga

1:49:02 – Girlfriend Girlfriend ending soon

1:49:57 – World of Summoning has ended

1:50:54 – First manga by an italian artist published on Jump Plus

1:52:42 – Moebana has ended

1:53:24 – The Kajiki Chef has ended

1:55:11 – Tokyo Demon Bride Story has ended

1:56:38 – Ginka and Gluna has ended

1:59:58 – Ichigoki’s Under Control has ended

2:01:53 – Naruto: Sasuke’s Story manga has ended (and other Naruto updates)

2:04:06 – Final results of the Narutop 99 Character Poll

2:12:39 – Poll to vote on which long absent Shin Chan character should return

2:16:18 – Knights of the Zodiac live-action film screens in US on May 12th

2:18:24 – Shin Kamen Rider coming to US theaters on May 31st

2:19:41 – The First Slam Dunk coming to the US and Canada in theaters this summer

2:22:08 – Wrap up

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

Ukraine Aid Resources & Links

Ukraine Crisis Media Center links

Ukraine Caard

Ukraine Linktree

Ukraine Refugee IRC Emergency Fund

American Prestige Podcast’s Ukraine Explain episodes

GoFundMe’s Verified Ukraine Fundraisers & Humanitarian Fund

Texas Trans Support Resources & Links

Act-Blue and Donation Page for the Transgender Education Network of Texas

Links to Smaller Trans Organizations in Texas to Donate to

Anime Feminist’s Dual Resources & Links List for Ukraine Aid & Trans Community Support

LINKS:

• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Support us on Patreon!
• Check out Comics Beat’s Bookscan Report

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 228: May 2023 News Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this (late) episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum cover as much of the last month’s worth of news as possible! Including a lot of industry news, cool new licenses and big pieces such as the news of Kodansha’s upcoming new manga app! Enjoy!

Download Here!!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – In Memoriam:

• Junnosuke Kuroda
• Shozo Iizuka
• Mitsuo Senda
• Maon Kurosaki

09:20 – Intro

16:11 – February Bookscan List

27:10 – Bookscan & ComicHub Top 20 Manga Titles of 2022 Lists

38:46 – Bookscan to become Circana Books

40:04 – Kevin Hamric discusses Viz Media manga sales trends over the past year

50:43 – Marc Visnick & Kae Winters on state of Tokyopop, Stu Levy steps back from US operations

55:47 – Manga Sales in the US and Japan

1:00:08 – Kadokawa to open manga, anime, and voice actor academies in April 2024

1:02:02 – Kodansha to launch new manga app

1:15:28 – Heroic Legend of Arslan enters final decisive battle

1:16:44 – Girlfriend Girlfriend enters “final conflict”

1:17:49 – Fish & Water ends

1:18:37 – I Want to Be a Wall ends

1:19:11 – Aharen ends on April 30th

1:20:05 – Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible gets epilogue chapter

1:21:00 – Shiro Usazaki’s latest one-shot

1:22:12 – Tsurun Hatomune’s new manga

1:24:07 – Bentame Jump

1:25:08 – Ryuhei Tamura’s new manga

1:27:57 – New short form sequel for Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan

1:30:33 – Rumiko Takahashi’s latest one-shot

1:31:39 – Kei Sanbe’s new manga

1:32:54 – Barakamon returns for limited serialization

1:33:48 – New Pokemon manga based on the new anime

1:34:41 – Ranking of Kings manga retranslation now available

1:36:50 – Yen Press simulpubs Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun

1:38:08 – Azuki releases My Dear Detective and Seatmate Killer as ebooks

1:39:20 – Manga Planet & Futekiya merge libraries

1:42:13 – Shadow Over Insmouth omnibus volume

1:43:21 – Dark Horse releasing Gantz G & Blood Blockade Battlefront digitally

1:45:38 – Colton’s Licensing Highlights

2:01:44 – Lum’s Licensing Highlights

2:28:33 – Local manga will not settle late freelancer payments

2:34:37 – Pokemon News

2:40:38 – Wrap up

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

Ukraine Aid Resources & Links

Ukraine Crisis Media Center links

Ukraine Caard

Ukraine Linktree

Ukraine Refugee IRC Emergency Fund

American Prestige Podcast’s Ukraine Explain episodes

GoFundMe’s Verified Ukraine Fundraisers & Humanitarian Fund

Texas Trans Support Resources & Links

Act-Blue and Donation Page for the Transgender Education Network of Texas

Links to Smaller Trans Organizations in Texas to Donate to

Anime Feminist’s Dual Resources & Links List for Ukraine Aid & Trans Community Support

LINKS:

• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Support us on Patreon!

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 227: April 2023 News Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Makoto Shinkai has consistently blown away anime fans, creating stories that are both visually and emotionally satisfying to experience. His newest film Suzume is no exception to this trend, elevating the best qualities of his films to even greater heights, while presenting a narrative that feels particularly unique in the process.

Within its opening minutes, Suzume draws you into a crucial conflict. High school girl Suzume Iwato encounters Sota Munakata, a “Closer” who travels across Japan to stop earthquakes caused by a supernatural worm. When Sota is fused into a chair by a mysterious cat called Daijin, Suzume goes on a journey with Sota to prevent Japan’s destruction.

Suzume is a big departure from Makoto Shinkai’s usual story structure. The film is more direct with its supernatural elements and it establishes its conflict much earlier in its run. That said, this allows Suzume to have a much stronger identity. Rather than dedicating a portion of the film to solely building their relationship, Suzume and Sota gradually grow closer through their actions in the face of crisis. It makes both leads have a more genuine bond, one that has romantic elements like previous Shinkai films but isn’t relegated to only having that quality. Both Suzume and Sota have found a deeper sense of belonging by traveling together, and you’re invested in seeing their relationship continue to flourish.

Natural disasters are a common trend in Shinkai’s recent films, with the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami being a major influence on his work. Suzume takes a more direct approach to this idea, as Suzume and Sota travel to areas across Japan that have been abandoned from previous disasters. The film explores how these destructive events affect our lives and the hardship that persists with their survivors.

What ties these ideas together is Suzume herself. Having lost her mother and hometown at a young age, Suzume has a deep understanding of the impact that tragedy can have. By working to prevent Japan’s destruction, Suzume is confronting her trauma and searching for closure. Suzume’s thematic connections to the story make her journey have a greater emotional weight, while also allowing her character to develop meaningfully alongside the central conflict.

From a production standpoint, Suzume is a spectacle for both the eyes and ears. CoMix Wave Films has once again produced a visually beautiful film that will blow away viewers from start to finish. Suzume and Sota travel to a wide variety of areas throughout the story, depicting dense cities alongside vast country landscapes. The sense of scale feels far greater than Shinkai’s previous films, showcasing not only the beauty of Japan but also why this beauty needs to be protected. Praise also has to be given to the amazing musical score from Radwimps and Kazuma Jinnouchi, which will entrance viewers with a mix of gentle and tension-building instrumental pieces that enhance the film experience. The main theme sung by Toaka is equally fantastic and will leave you emotional even on multiple listens.

Suzume is an amazing film that refines the themes present in Makoto Shinkai’s previous works while also carving out its own identity. Beyond being a beautiful experience, the film establishes a compelling relationship between its two leads and provides an emotionally grounded narrative within its greater supernatural conflict. This is one movie that you shouldn’t miss out on.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum are joined by tokusatsu enthusiasts, Grant & Patrick, from the Super Senpai Podcast, to discuss Shotaro Ishinomori’s original Himitsu Sentai Gorenger manga released by Seven Seas! Not only a comic which ran in Weekly Shonen Sunday back in 1975 that served as the tie-in to the television show of the same name, but was a starting point for what would eventually become another staple iconic tokusatsu franchise just as big, if not bigger, than Kamen Rider! While the comic itself is much more transparently a commercial product tie-in for an existing tv show than Kamen Rider was, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot to love! Join us as we discuss why Gorenger, as well as Super Sentai and tokusatu as a whole, is fun! Enjoy!!

Download Here!!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – Intro + Patron shout out

06:48 – Our Gorenger discussion

1:50:09 – Q&As

2:10:17 – Community Shout-Outs!:

• Saturday Night Shoggy episode on Gorenger
• Toy Bounty Hunters on History of Super Sentai & Power Rangers
• Japan Hero on Super Sentai and Himitsu Sentai Gorenger
• Kaiju no Kami on Himitsu Sentai Gorenger
• TitanGoji on Himitsu Sentai Gorenger
• Ieraya’s History of Super Sentai (Part 1 & Part 2)
• Linkara’s History of Power Rangers
• MistareFusion’s Mighty Morphin Zyurangers videos
• Este on Star Rangers and Lucky Aces
• Coop Bicknel’s Double Writer Guide to Kamen Rider
• Coop Bicket’s Hero of a Lost Era: Context of Kamen Rider Kuuga
• Drilled, a True-Crime Climate-Change Podcast (Episode on the Ohio Utility Corruption Scandal)

2:23:14 – Wrap upEnjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

Ukraine Aid Resources & Links

Ukraine Crisis Media Center links

Ukraine Caard

Ukraine Linktree

Ukraine Refugee IRC Emergency Fund

American Prestige Podcast’s Ukraine Explain episodes

GoFundMe’s Verified Ukraine Fundraisers & Humanitarian Fund

Texas Trans Support Resources & Links

Act-Blue and Donation Page for the Transgender Education Network of Texas

Links to Smaller Trans Organizations in Texas to Donate to

Anime Feminist’s Dual Resources & Links List for Ukraine Aid & Trans Community Support

LINKS:

• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Support us on Patreon!
• Himitsu Sentai Gorenger is available from Seven Seas both physically and digitally!
• Follow Grant & Patrick on Twitter!
• Follow Grant on tumblr!
• Listen to Blade Licking Thieves
• Listen to the Super Senpai Podcast
• Listen to the Adventure Tomes Podcast
• Patrick’s 3D Model of Akaranger

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LOS ANGELES (March 16, 2023) – SQUARE ENIX® today announced new FINAL FANTASY® XIV, romance, and comedy manga titles launching from the Square Enix Manga & Books imprints in 2023. The three English translated manga, FINAL FANTASY XIV: Eorzea Academy, The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl, and Mr. Villain’s Day Off, will be available for pre-order starting on March 16.

FINAL FANTASY XIV: Eorzea Academy (English translated edition)
Follow Alisaie’s adventures as a high school student at Eorzea Academy as she navigates the merging of two former rival schools, the Academy of Light and the Academy of Darkness. Join all your favorite FINAL FANTASY XIV characters in this modern-day rollicking high school comedy.

FINAL FANTASY XIV: Eorzea Academy (English translated edition) is scheduled for release on September 19, 2023, and will be available for pre-order from Penguin Random House and other major booksellers starting on March 16. (For more information: https://sqex.to/sHEXn)

The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl (English translated edition) Vol. 1
Sparks fly between the handsome descendant of a snow spirit and the oblivious coworker he has a crush on in this romantic office comedy. An enchanting slow-burn romance that takes the story of coworkers to lovers to new heights within a winter wonderland of emotions! Readers can also look forward to the anime adaptation of this series, which began airing in January 2023 on Crunchyroll.

The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl (English translated edition) Vol. 1 is scheduled for release on October 10, 2023, and will be available for pre-order from Penguin Random House and other major booksellers starting on March 16. (For more information: https://sqex.to/VlUfL)

Mr. Villain’s Day Off (English translated edition) Vol. 1
Most of the time, an evil supervillain spends his days hatching nefarious plots to take over the world – but on his days off, nothing gets between him and the cute pandas he adores! This fresh, charming comedy series answers the age-old question of what a villain does off the clock! Fans can also look forward to the anime adaptation of this series, which is currently in development.

Mr. Villain’s Day Off (English translated edition) Vol. 1 is scheduled for release on August 15, 2023, and will be available for pre-order from Penguin Random House and other major booksellers starting on March 16. (For more information: https://sqex.to/0QByT)

For the latest information from Square Enix Manga & Books, visit: square-enix-books.com.

Book cover art not final and subject to change.*
Related Links:
Official Website: square-enix-books.com
Official Twitter** @SquareEnixBooks

About Square Enix, Inc.
Square Enix, Inc. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX®, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content throughout the Americas as part of the Square Enix group of companies. Square Enix, Inc. is affiliated with a global network of leading development studios such as Crystal Dynamics® and Eidos Montréal. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 168 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 84 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 88 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix, Inc. is a U.S.-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.

More information on Square Enix, Inc. can be found at https://square-enix-games.com

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This past Wednesday, Seven Seas Entertainment has announced six new light novel and manga licenses for release in late 2023 and early 2024. The full details on these titles can be found below.

The Villainess Who Has Been Killed 108 Times: She Remembers Everything! by Namakura, Chinori Toriu, and Tetsuhiro Nabeshima

In each of her past lives, Scarlet was the despised queen of her kingdom–and each time, her reign was ended by a group of heroes led by Scarlet’s rival, Arisa. Scarlet never even survived beyond age 28! After Scarlet dies for the 108th time, all her memories of her past lives (and deaths) are unlocked for her 109th life. Scarlet is determined to do things differently this time…but it might not be up to her, if all those past deaths were the result of a curse. Can she find a way for her 109th life to break the cycle?

The Villainess Who Has Been Killed 108 Times: She Remembers Everything! (Manga) Vol. 1 will be released for the first time in North America in October 2023 for $13.99 USA / $17.99 CAN, with the series available in single volume editions. Ebook editions will also be available on digital platforms.

The Secret of Friendship by Kazune Kawahara and Aiji Yamakawa

Eiko and her best friend Moe couldn’t be more different: Eiko is a shy, average-looking girl while Moe is beautiful and envied by everyone at their high school. Though their personalities are total opposites, the bond between them is incredibly strong. Moe might have an endless supply of suitors, but when it comes to actually dating them, she has a condition: her boyfriend must value Eiko more than he does Moe. No one has yet been able to meet her condition—not until a boy named Tsuchida appears, at least. What will Eiko do when her relationship with her best friend begins to change?

The Secret of Friendship will be released for the first time in North America in December 2023 for $14.99 USA / $18.99 CAN, with the book available in a single large-trim edition. An ebook edition will also be available on digital platforms.

Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord: Production Magic Turns a Nameless Village into the Strongest Fortified City by Sou Akaike, Kururi, and Maro Aoiro (Light Novel & Manga)

Van, the fourth son of a powerful noble, is only two years old when he remembers his past life as a salaryman in Japan. With his adult brain in a young body, he’s considered a child prodigy…until he displays the “Production Magic” skill when he turns eight. In a family that favors offensive magic, this crafting skill is considered useless in battle, and Van is banished to oversee a tiny country town in disgrace. With only his personal maid, the memories of his past life, and his “worthless” magic, can Van improve the fortunes of this little village—and himself?

Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord: Production Magic Turns a Nameless Village into the Strongest Fortified City (Light Novel) Vol. 1 will be released for the first time in North America in January 2024 for $14.99 USA / $18.99 CAN, with the series available in single large-trim editions as part of Seven Seas’ Airship imprint. Ebook editions will also be available (early) on digital platforms.

Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord: Production Magic Turns a Nameless Village into the Strongest Fortified City (Manga) Vol. 1 will be released for the first time in North America in January 2024 for $13.99 USA / $17.99 CAN, with the series available in single volume editions. Ebook editions will also be available on digital platforms.

Sheep Princess in Wolf’s Clothing by Mito

Aki is a wolf-woman who lives in the land of the sheep people. While working as a butler in the royal castle, she happens to save the life of Princess Momo–after which the princess demands that Aki be her private tutor! Momo seems sweet and docile, but she turns out to be a difficult student…and Aki soon learns that the princess’ fluffy exterior hides a hungry heart. Aki must deter Momo’s advances, but she can only deny her wolf’s instincts for so long!

Sheep Princess in Wolf’s Clothing Vol. 1 will be released for the first time in North America in November 2023 for $14.99 USA / $18.99 CAN, with the series available in single large-trim editions as part of the Seven Seas GL label (Girls’ Love titles). Ebook editions will also be available on digital platforms.

Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura and Tomo Taketomi

Kokoro is a junior high school student—but after years of bullying, she’s become so anxious that she no longer goes to school. One day, she’s pulled through her full-length mirror into a castle in another dimension by a girl in a wolf mask. The mysterious girl tells Kokoro and six other kids that they are all competing in a scavenger hunt. If one of them finds a key that unlocks a secret room, that person will get one wish granted. As long as they observe the rules of the world, they can come and go as they please. The seven kids gradually grow closer as they explore the castle, but the scavenger hunt is never far from anyone’s mind. After all, only one of them can win and receive their heart’s desire.

Lonely Castle in the Mirror (Manga) Vol. 1 will be released for the first time in North America in November 2023 for $13.99 USA / $17.99 CAN, with the series available in single volume editions. Ebook editions will also be available on digital platforms.

About Seven Seas Entertainment
Established in 2004, Seven Seas Entertainment is an award-winning publisher that specializes in bringing the best of Japanese manga and light novels to English language audiences alongside the hottest hand-picked books from around the globe, as well as producing original comics, graphic novels, and youth literature. All of Seven Seas’ book imprints are distributed throughout the world by Penguin Random House Publisher Services. For more information, visit sevenseasentertainment.com

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(San Antonio, Texas – March 10, 2023) – J-Novel Club LLC is excited to announce the acquisition of “Accidentally in Love: The Witch, the Knight, and the Love Potion Slipup” following their announcement on Twitter on March 10, 2023.

Accidentally in Love: The Witch, the Knight, and the Love Potion Slipup By Harunadon with Illustrations by Eda

恋する魔女はエリート騎士に惚れ薬を飲ませてしまいました ～偽りから始まるわたしの溺愛生活～

Cecily fell for Zeke, a gallant knight, at first sight…but she never expected him to drink a love potion by mistake and fall head over heels for her too! Just where will the slip-up lead this accidental couple?

A J-Novel Heart title launching March 28, 2023

About J-Novel Club

J-Novel Club is a digital and physical publishing company started by translators and fans like you! By focusing on digital releases and providing a membership service to let people read our books as they are being translated, our goal is to build a growing community of readers so that more releases can be officially licensed and translated.

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Seven Seas Entertainment has announced four new manga licenses for release in late 2023 and early 2024. The full details on these titles can be found below.

Shin Plus-Sized Elf by Synecdoche

Naoe-kun, a massage therapist, is about to head home for the day when he’s saddled with a rather strange patient. This lovely lady has emerald eyes, pointy ears, and grew up in the forest–everything about her screams “elf,” except for one thing: her bodacious body. It turns out she left her world but loves junk food in this one, and now her obsession has caught up with her. Can Naoe-kun help this lovable elf girl lose the weight–and keep it off? The hit series Plus-Sized Elf continues in its sequel series, Shin Plus-Sized Elf!

Shin Plus-Sized Elf Vol. 1 will be released for the first time in North America in September 2023 for $13.99 USA / $17.99 CAN, with the series available in print in single volume editions.

Plus-Sized Elf Vol. 1 (Rerelease) will be released in August 2023 for $13.99 USA / $17.99 CAN, with Volumes 1-7 available in print in single volume editions.

The White Mage Doesn’t Want to Raise the Hero’s Level by Kirie

Irie Izumi was summoned to a fantasy world to defeat the Demon King…but first he needs to grow more powerful. In his quest to level up his skills, he forms a party with the voluptuous white mage Sheena. If Irie triumphs against the Demon King, however, he’ll return to his world—and the lovestruck Sheena has no intention of letting that happen. She’ll pull out all the stops to keep him from getting stronger, including wearing sexy outfits and distracting him in the middle of battle! Will Irie ever be able to concentrate on leveling up, or will Sheena’s schemes succeed?

The White Mage Doesn’t Want to Raise the Hero’s Level Vol. 1 will be released for the first time in North America in January 2024 for $14.99 USA / $18.99 CAN, with the series available in single volume editions. Ebook editions will also be available on digital platforms.

Training Mister Sakurada by Kaya Azuma

Sakurada Hajime is thirsty—for a girlfriend and a good time. He can’t get enough of women, even though they’ve been steadily losing interest in him since the playboy days of his 20s. The new junior in his department, Mibu Seiichiro, is hogging all the babes and the promotions, and worse, he’s such a great guy, Sakurada can’t even begrudge the man’s success. But when Sakurada awakens in a love hotel, all tied up, it’s Mibu who strolls through the door. He’s got a shocking revelation and plans to ruin Sakurada’s whole week with a marathon of kink play and revenge! What’s Sakurada to do, especially once he notices he’s beginning to enjoy it?

Training Mister Sakurada will be released for the first time in North America in November 2023 for $15.99 USA / $19.99 CAN, with the book available in a single large-trim edition as part of the Seven Seas BL label (Boys’ Love titles). An ebook edition will also be available on digital platforms.

We Started a Threesome! by Katsu Aki

Ria, Suisei, and Emito are childhood friends who fell in love with each other. Now they share a home as a married throuple! In the morning Ria and Suisei commute to work, and at night Emito cooks delicious meals he hopes they’ll enjoy. Follow their daily lives as they face challenges, celebrate victories, and indulge in the more intimate side of marriage together. A story about polyamory by the creator of the famous married life manga Futari H (Manga Sutra)!

We Started a Threesome! Vol. 1 will be released for the first time in North America in December 2023 for $14.99 USA / $18.99 CAN, with the series available in single volume editions.

About Seven Seas Entertainment
Established in 2004, Seven Seas Entertainment is an award-winning publisher that specializes in bringing the best of Japanese manga and light novels to English language audiences alongside the hottest hand-picked books from around the globe, as well as producing original comics, graphic novels, and youth literature. All of Seven Seas’ book imprints are distributed throughout the world by Penguin Random House Publisher Services. For more information, visit sevenseasentertainment.com

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Seven Seas Entertainment has announced four new manga licenses for release in late 2023 and early 2024. The full details on these titles can be found below.

In her youth, Jeanne was a powerful witch who vanquished the evil Demon King and saved the world–but over time, the people she rescued have forgotten about her and her noble deeds. Now she is a short-spoken old woman, living by herself in a secluded forest…until she summons a cat from Earth to her home. The former city kitty is now the size of a giant, and must acclimate to this new world at Jeanne’s side. Through eating the food Jeanne prepares, and offering a head for pats, can this furry feline soothe the loneliness of the forgotten witch?

A Cat From Our World and the Forgotten Witch Vol. 1 will be released for the first time in North America in January 2024 for $13.99 USA / $17.99 CAN, with the series available in single volume editions.

Okura is a tough veterinarian who works at Kinako Animal Hospital, right near the entertainment district. One day, a kind and earnest college student named Momo brings in a tiny kitten he found on the streets, and the two men grow closer as Okura helps Momo learn about cat parenthood. It isn’t long until their conversations turn from petcare to their experiences with romance as Okura finds himself wanting to get to know Momo better. Will their relationship grow into something more with a kiss?

Love, a Kitten, and a Salty Dog will be released for the first time in North America in January 2024 for $14.99 USA / $18.99 CAN, with the book available in a single large-trim edition. An ebook edition will also be available on digital platforms.

It has been twenty years since dungeons began appearing all across the world, an incident that coincided with humanity receiving supernatural abilities–all of which turned everyday life into an adventure. When Amane Rin awakens to a unique skill called “Dungeon Teleporting,” the rules can’t touch him anymore. This is the tale of how he races to become the world’s strongest (and fastest-progressing) adventurer!

The World’s Fastest Level Up (Manga) Vol. 1 will be released for the first time in North America in October 2023 for $13.99 USA / $17.99 CAN, with the series available in single volume editions. Ebook editions will also be available on digital platforms.

Once upon a time, two countries who shared a border wouldn’t stop squabbling over petty issues. Their spats eventually escalated into war…over an incident involving dog poop. Finally, the gods declared that both nations had to call a truce. The most beautiful girl in the Gold Kingdom would marry the smartest man in the Water Kingdom, paving the way to a new era of peace! When Sarah, a princess from the Gold Kingdom, meets a charming man named Naranbayar from the Water Kingdom, they decide to do what it takes to stop more pointless conflict between their countries–by pretending to be in love. Will their plan work? And what if real romantic feelings blossom between them?

Kingdom of Gold, Kingdom of Water will be released for the first time in North America in November 2023 for $16.99 USA / $20.99 CAN, with the book available in a single large-trim edition.

About Seven Seas Entertainment
Established in 2004, Seven Seas Entertainment is an award-winning publisher that specializes in bringing the best of Japanese manga and light novels to English language audiences alongside the hottest hand-picked books from around the globe, as well as producing original comics, graphic novels, and youth literature. All of Seven Seas’ book imprints are distributed throughout the world by Penguin Random House Publisher Services. For more information, visit sevenseasentertainment.com

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NEW YORK, NY (3/6/23) – Yen Press, LLC announced that it will be releasing individual digital chapters of the manga series Toilet-bound Hanako-kun simultaneously with Japan. This popular supernatural comedy is a bestselling manga by AidaIro, which received an anime adaptation in January 2020. Yen Press is publishing the manga in English, with Volumes 0-18 currently available. Yen Press has released Toilet-bound Hanako-kun as digital volumes prior to their print editions, and through digital serial chapter releases, fans will be able to read more of this beloved series sooner and more frequently.

“Hanako-san, Hanako-san…are you there?”

At Kamome Academy, rumors abound about the school’s Seven Mysteries, one of which is Hanako-san. Said to occupy the third stall of the third floor girls’ bathroom in the old school building, Hanako-san grants any wish when summoned. Nene Yashiro, an occult-loving high school girl who dreams of romance, ventures into this haunted bathroom…but the Hanako-san she meets there is nothing like she imagined! Kamome Academy’s Hanako-san…is a boy!

Toilet-bound Hanako-kun, Chapters 92–95 will be available on March 7th exclusively on digital platforms, such as BOOK☆WALKER Global.

Toilet-bound Hanako-kun is the latest addition to the Yen Press lineup of digital simulpublication manga series, a program that includes some of today’s most popular series, such as Black Butler, Kakegurui – Compulsive Gambler –, and Goblin Slayer. Alongside the Toilet-bound Hanako-kun 2023 anime project “restart” announced by TBS Animation in December 2022, Yen Press will be releasing the Toilet-bound Hanako-kun: First Stall box set in May 2023, containing the first ten volumes of the manga.

About Yen Press, LLC

­­Yen Press, LLC is a joint venture between Kadokawa Corporation and Hachette Book Group. Founded in 2006, Yen Press has quickly risen to become one of the largest and most prolific publishers of manga and original graphic novels in the North American marketplace and a driving force in the introduction of light novels and Japanese literature to new readers through its Yen On and Yen Audio imprints. For more information, visit www.yenpress.com.

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Kodansha USA Publishing has announced that their digital manga licenses for March 2023 are Life and Life 2: Give/Taker by Keiko Suenobu. The publisher’s descriptions of these titles can be found below.

Life
By Keiko Suenobu

Release Date: March 7, 2023

All Ayumu dreams of is making it into the same high school as her best friend. But when she gets in and her friend doesn’t, their friendship crumbles—sending Ayumu spiraling into depression. She finds relief in cutting herself, but soon realizes that her scars may interfere with her budding high school life. Can she trust her new friend, Manami, who seems too good to be true? Or will Ayumu’s apparent lack of compassion and understanding get her tossed aside like she was before? And is there anyone else out there who could possibly love her for who she is? A melancholy coming-of-age story by Keiko Suenobu!

Rated: 18+

Life 2: Giver/Taker

By Keiko Suenobu

Release Date: March 14, 2023

When the charming young boy who moves next door turns out to be a psychopath who murders her little sister, Itsuki vows to fight the injustice that allowed him a second chance at life while her sister lies dead. Blaming herself for what happened, she becomes a stone-cold cop who fears nothing to prevent others from living through a similar tragedy. But six years later, on the very same day the killer is finally set free, she finds a chilling letter in her mailbox threatening to once again steal what’s most important to her. And though she wants nothing more than to make him pay for her sister’s life that he stole, she’ll have to watch her back now that there’s a killer on the loose.

Rated: 16+

About Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC
A subsidiary of Kodansha, Japan’s largest publisher, Kodansha USA Publishing is the English-language publisher of some of the world’s most recognizable manga properties, including Katsuhiro Otomo’s AKIRA and Naoko Takeuchi’s Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, along with a robust catalog of English-language Japanese novels, cookbooks, craft guides, historical and cultural literature, and more. Today, thanks to recent fan-favorite and critically acclaimed hits like Attack on Titan, Battle Angel Alita, Witch Hat Atelier, and the popular MONOGATARI novels, Kodansha USA Publishing is one of the best-selling manga publishers in the United States. Kodansha USA Publishing’s print offerings are distributed by Penguin Random House Publisher Services, and their digital manga and select digital books are available across a number of digital comics, manga, and book vendors. For more information visit kodansha.us.

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NEW YORK, NY (2/24/23) – Ize Press announced the acquisition of Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom, releasing in print August 2023. As a parody of the evil stepmother trope typically found in fairy tales such as Snow White, Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom is a beloved reincarnation story that has received over five million views on Tapas.

Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom

Art by Mo9Rang

Original story by Iru

Once upon a time, there was a lovely young princess who suffered under her cruel stepmother…that is, until a children’s clothing designer is reborn as the evil queen! All Her Majesty, Abigail Friedkin, wants to do is dote on the adorable Princess Blanche and give her the happy childhood she deserves. The problem is, the previous Abigail has garnered a reputation for being extremely jealous and materialistic-and to top it off, her smile is the stuff of children’s nightmares! Will Abigail be able to convince her stepdaughter that she might not be so wicked after all?

About Ize Press

Founded in 2022, Ize Press is the Korean-content imprint from Yen Press. A collaboration between Yen Press, REDICE STUDIO, and RIVERSE, Ize Press will establish itself as a market leader for print editions of content that has captured the imagination and dedication of readers around the world. At a time in which comics and webnovels from Korea are rising in popularity at the speed of K-pop, Ize Press aims to deliver high-quality physical editions of many beloved stories to fans eager to add them to their collections. For more information, visit izepress.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum once again cover the last month’s worth of news! Including Chainsaw Man’s total takeover of the monthly Bookscan list, a ton of cool new licenses, some shocking Shonen Jump cancellations and even updates on the long-awaited Pluto anime!! Enjoy!!

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PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – In Memoriam:

• Toei Animation President & CEO Osamu Tezuka
• Leiji Matsumoto

05:29 – Intro

06:36 – February NYT & January Bookscan Lists

21:05 – Freiren makes ALA’s Top 10 GN List for 2022

22:10 – Akita Shoten launches new Webtoons brand J-TOON

23:33 – New manga from:

• Karino Takatsu
• Takuji Kato
• Fujita
• Akiko Morishima
• Iori Asaga

32:34 – Yet another Cells at Work spinoff manga

35:45 – GTO Paradise Lost goes on hiatus

40:00 – Grand Blue Dreaming on hiatus

40:34 – Ariadne in the Blue Sky ending soon

41:33 – Altair ending soon

42:54 – My Androgynous Boyfriend has ended

43:26 – Noragami ending soon

46:49 – Naruto: Sasuke’s Story manga ending with 2nd volume

47:45 – Kubo Won’t Let me be Invisible ends

49:43 – High School Family & PPPPPP end in Shonen Jump

58:02 – Lum’s first impressions of Stan for Salvation & Beat and Motion

1:04:32 – Mangamo additions

1:06:48 – Ablaze licenses 5 Osamu Tezuka manga

1:09:19 – Colton’s Licensing Highlights

1:28:46 – Lum’s Licensing Highlights

1:41:02 – Crunchyroll lays off 85 employees globally

1:41:59 – Kumar quits translating Cipher Academy

1:47:08 – Fire has been reprinted in Japan for the first time in 23 years

1:49:18 – Otakon 2023 to host Kyoko Alba

1:50:12 – The First Slam Dunk is now the 12th highest earning anime film in Japan

1:51:37 – Radwimps North American tour dates

1:54:49 – Spirited Away stage plays to be screened in the US

1:55:55 – Rintaro debuts first new work he’s directed in 14 years

1:57:18 – Gridman Universe film comes out March 24th

1:57:52 – Knights of the Zodiac movie coming out April 28th in Japan

1:59:26 – Black Clover film delayed to June 16th

2:00:36 – Pluto anime coming to Netflix later in 2023

2:03:13 – Attack on Titan final season part 3 to be covered via two 1-hour specials

2:04:06 – New Pokemon anime debuts April 14th

2:05:51 – Anime announced for both Heavenly Delusion & Apothecary Diaries

2:07:43 – Wave Listen to Me live-action show

2:08:34 – Dubbed episodes of Detective Conan starting from Episode 965 are available on Tubi

2:13:06 – Viz puts a lot of anime up for free on Youtube

2:15:50 – Mike Haimoto accused of domestic abuse

2:17:56 – Mamoru Oshii offers course on anime film directing

2:19:15 – Numa Katsu kickstarter

2:20:37 – Community Shout-outs!:

• ANN’s compilation of tributes to Leiji Matsumoto
• Mike Toole on Leiji Matsumoto
• Kaiser Beamz on Arcadia of My Youth

2:22:44 – Wrap up

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

Ukraine Aid Resources & Links

Ukraine Crisis Media Center links

Ukraine Caard

Ukraine Linktree

Ukraine Refugee IRC Emergency Fund

American Prestige Podcast’s Ukraine Explain episodes

GoFundMe’s Verified Ukraine Fundraisers & Humanitarian Fund

Texas Trans Support Resources & Links

Act-Blue and Donation Page for the Transgender Education Network of Texas

Links to Smaller Trans Organizations in Texas to Donate to

Anime Feminist’s Dual Resources & Links List for Ukraine Aid & Trans Community Support

LINKS:

• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Support us on Patreon!
• Smithart’s interactions with Haimoto

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 225: March 2023 News Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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They say you only live once, but for the girls of Wollongong the party never stops! Sarah and Rachel of [adult swim]‘s most audaciously Aussie animated series, Yolo, is back for another go of eclectic and cosmic adventures through the outback and out beyond. While the girls may be leaving their Crystal Fantasy behind to embrace their Silver Destiny, as the show’s floating, glowing disembodied head of a narrator begrudgingly exclaims, it’s just the “same show, different name. Or some shit.” Indeed, the change in title is only as meaningful as the different subtitles given to the later seasons of Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Fundamentally, Yolo is still focused on the irreverent misadventures of its party girl heroines as they navigate life, friendship, and all the weirdness around them.

Even if at heart Silver Destiny is still the same show as Crystal Fantasy, the additional seasons of television experience Michael Cusack and his team have accumulated have translated into a more polished aesthetic that hasn’t lost the loose charms of the series’ indie Youtube animation roots. In contrast to the first season, where the characters and locations could look different from shot to shot, this season has found more of a consistent grounding in the look of the characters and world, using that as a baseline to break rules and experiment from there. The series is just as expressive, colorful, and imaginative as ever, with a bevy of fantastical creature designs, gorgeous and surreal backgrounds, and dynamic animation that can be funny though fluid or erratic character animation, hyper-detailed and grotesque close-ups, and especially moments of off-guard simplicity, like when a group of characters are lifted up from the ground and onto the back of a giant creature in a basic motion-tween in the first episode. The series finds a lot of creative utility in Adobe Animate’s puppetting tools while also giving its animators chances to break free into looser frame-by-frame animation. You never quite know how a character is going to move, or how they’re going to react, and that just makes them all the more fun to watch!

In moving from Fantasy to Destiny, the show finds itself wanting to grow and change as much as its protagonists. As actor/writer Todor Manjilovic explains, the title Silver Destiny evokes the idea of an overarching plot and as creator Michael Cusask explores, they’ve set out to have a more continuous storyline and an arc throughout the season. Sarah and Rachel both have their own goals we track throughout each episode, with Sarah starting her own garden, and Rachel embracing her dark prophetic destiny of becoming an evil empress. Yolo, characteristic of a lot of Cusack’s colorful and expressionistic work, thrills in its creativity and experimentation, trying to create stories and characters and worlds that feel exciting, surprising, novel, and just plain funny.

The switch to serialization reflects not only the ambitions of Yolo’s writing team wanting to keep the series creatively fresh and interesting but also the ethos of its ever-evolving world, where a new surprise awaits around every corner. This spirit is also embodied by our protagonists, who through their journeys this season, are seeking change in their lives, having lost the thrill in thrill-seeking and no longer partial to never-ending partying, yearning for something more out of life, longing for dreams long thought unobtainable or forgotten.

We’ve already seen Sarah feel discontent with being “stuck in a loop of partying and regret” in season one’s “Planet Horrorscope,” and have seen how she could live a fulfilling life without Rachel in the season one finale “Enter Bushworld.” The series has not been shy about addressing that Rachel is a toxic friend and that her influence has held Sarah back from discovering her talents, nurturing her own happiness, and forming other healthy relationships. This season pushes that idea further, with her embarrassment and frustration at not changing inspiring her to try to grow a garden, discovering how to help herself grow by helping other things grow. It also keeps reemphasizing Rachel’s controlling influence on Sarah’s decision-making and her stifling effect on her confidence.

In the season’s 4th episode, “Chaise and the City,” we dive into one of Sarah’s dreams, a whirlwind romance inspired by a New York-set art movie starting a pretentious pretty boy named “Chimothy Thalamet” who sees her as living art and takes her on a different kind of adventure than she’s used to. Exploring the city, a place of connections and culture unlike her home of Wollongong, makes Sarah contemplate what she’s been missing, and what she wants for herself. The puppeteer of her dreams purposefully constructs this fantasy to convince her to have bigger dreams and leave Rachel behind, because as he points out, under Rachel’s influence, Sarah has stopped dreaming altogether. The season continues to explicitly highlight Rachel’s selfishness when it comes to Sarah, and that when given the choice between her friend’s happiness and her own, Rachel will always choose herself first. But rather than portray Rachel as an antagonizing presence Sarah is better off without, the series has a more nuanced, empathetic view of toxic and codependent friendships, and why people stay in them. At the end of the season one finale, a dying elderly Sarah mused that even though Rachel was not always a good friend, and they didn’t always have good times, they still had a lot of fun together, and in the end, that’s what she remembers most. Ultimately, while Sarah may be drifting away from Rachel, she’s truly brought a lot of joy and fun into her life, and so their friendship is one that’s hard for her to let go of.

Rachel’s arc, meanwhile, explores her codependency with Sarah and rekindles her own ambitions. After receiving the warning/prophecy that she’s on the path to becoming an evil empress, Rachel, who has mostly lived her life indulgently and indifferently, starts to become inspired. For the first time, she has a goal besides partying she wants to work towards. Much like how Sarah didn’t think she was talented enough to grow a garden, Rachel realized that she “always wanted this for myself, but never realized I could make it into a reality, until now.” Rachel has also become more self-aware of the fact that, even though she often dismisses her feelings and treats her poorly, Sarah is the most important person in her life, and she deeply loves her. After the events of the first season, Rachel is no longer reluctant to openly admit she loves Sarah and desires to party with her forever, Rachel’s insecurity over Sarah leaving her is brought to the forefront in the season’s 4th episode, where she is literally depicted as a baby in Sarah’s dreams, wailing loudly for her attention. Rachel is both overly protective of Sarah, and incredibly dependent on her. With this relationship dynamic solidified after the events of the Crystal Fantasy, Silver Destiny promises to push their friendship and relationship even further to, as Sarah’s actress Sarah Bishop teases, the point where they’ll need to have a heart-to-heart about what they want out of their lives and what they need from each other.

While Yolo’s stories remain centered around the relationship between Sarah and Rachel, the series also continues to build out its world and introduce delightfully distinct and memorable characters that are often just as interesting. From the verdant forest where the commune resides to the cosmic Purple Fire God’s realm, from the crabs and caves of Planet Bali to the industrious greyscale city of New York, the characters travel through many different locales and meet so many fun characters, including new characters like the multi-armed Johnny Depp Wonka-esque Puppeteer, previously alluded to characters like Sarah’s bridezilla of a sister Sharon, and even returning characters like Sarah’s grumpy parents and good boy Kalekan. Lucas, Sarah’s creepily obsessed neckbeard stalker, has also been granted main character status and given his own arc of becoming a wannabe alchemist collecting ingredients for a love potion to steal Sarah’s heart. While he’s not the most likable character, comparatively, the series makes efforts to depict his more admirable qualities, showing some more of his bravery and even having him save the day from time to time. The eclectic and eccentric worlds and characters of Yolo contrast and complement our protagonists and their stories interestingly and humorously, and make every new episode feel distinct from each other, even though they’re now more tied in with each other than ever.

Of course, Yolo also wouldn’t be as funny as it is without the show’s incredibly hilarious vocal talents. Sarah Bishop brings a great deal of warmth and sincerity to Sarah’s character, and even though she doesn’t get to go as wild as other characters, when she’s gotta get loud and crazy she can really bring it, going from soft-spoken to booming in a heartbeat. Todor Manojlovic’s gruff and smarmy performance as Rachel really characterizes her crudeness and recalcitrantness well. Michael Cusack plays too many characters to count, and while the range of voices he has isn’t necessarily broad, he has an instinctive knack for odd and goofy line deliveries and comic timing that elicit big laughs every time. Altogether, the trio and a handful of other actors populate the world of Wollongong with voices as colorfully quirky as they look!

Underneath its erratic exterior, Yolo is a deceptively thoughtful and emotionally complex show that really shines a spotlight on the nuances of toxic relationships, particularly in female friendships, exploring territory that few other animated shows, besides [adult swim]’s own Tuca & Bertie. navigate. It’s a credit to the show’s incredible writing team, and Cusack’s own creative voice, that the show can be as sincere as it is silly. It’s a shame Yolo isn’t as popular as Cusack’s other [as] hit, Smiling Friends, but even if it’s not as destined for greatness as Rachel, the silver lining is that like Sarah, it’s continuing to find ways to grow and express a creative voice and energy wholly it’s own, and I think that’s worth its weight in silver. You only live once, and like Sarah and Rachel, Cusack and his team are making the most of the time they’ve got to make a truly special show, and I’m excited to follow along the girls’ adventures in Wollongong, and invite you all to come join the party!

For more thoughts on the series, and insights into what fans can expect from this newest season, listen to our interview with Michael Cusack, Sarah Bishop, and Todor Manojloic on Manga Mavericks on TV!

Watch Yolo: Silver Destiny on [adult swim] and HBO Max. Thanks again to [adult swim] for providing us access to advance screeners for this review.

The post Yolo: Silver Destiny, Episodes 1-4 Review appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Hi-yo, Yolo!

Hey there folks in tv land! Don’t touch that dial, and don’t change the channel, you’re tuned into the right podcast station – welcome back to Manga Mavericks On TV!

It’s been a long time since our previous episode covering the first season of Central Park, but we’re finally back with another special episode because we got a special opportunity to both cover the premiere episodes of the newest season of adult swim’s aussiest animated series, Yolo: Silver Destiny, as well as interview its creator, the incredible Michael Cusack, as well as the show’s lead actors Sarah Bishop and Todor Manojlovic!

As you’ll hear in the interview and review, I really enjoyed the show and getting a chance to preview the new season before it premiered, and had a lot to discuss with Michael, Sarah, and Tod about their thoughts on the show’s dip into serialization, how the show’s look has been refined without losing the charm of its animation, the series’s focus on female friendship and toxic relationships, and where the show may be headed in the future! Plus, Michael and Todor answer where the season’s new title, Silver Destiny, comes from – and you may be surprised to learn what’s in a name!

Before we get into the show proper, I want to take a commercial break to remind everyone that this year’s annual Manga Mavericks podcast survey is STILL OPEN! Vote for your favorite podcast episodes, guests, thumbnails, and more from 2022, and let us know your favorite parts of the show, your podcast preferences, and what you’d like to see us cover in 2023 and beyond! Plus, all participants of the survey will be entered into a special giveaway to win a manga of their choosing, including volumes of series we’ve covered before on the show, convention exclusives, limited releases, and select issues of Shonen Jump! The survey will be live until March 12th, so get your votes in now! Looking forward to learning what your guys’ favorite episodes and parts of the show were last year, and what we can look forward to making for you in 2023 and beyond!

And now, let’s get right back to the show and this party started, and take our destined leap into a sliver of Silver Desitny with our interview with Michael, Sarah, and Todor, and stick around after these messages for my thoughts the first few episodes of the season and my pitch to watch it for so many reasons!

Download here!!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:42 – Introducing the Podcast & Podcast Survey Announcement

04:17 – Yolo: Silver Destiny Interview with Michael Cusack, Sarah Bishop, and Todor Manojlovic

26:17 – Yolo: Silver Destiny Episodes 1-4 Review

38:17 – Wrap-Up

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and subscribe to us on Youtube. You can follow the host at @lumranmayasha. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content! If there are any topics, series, or people you would like to see us talk about on the show, drop us a line in the comments below, or e-mail us at mangamavericks@gmail.com! Thanks for listening!

Music Featured:

The Beets – “Television”
Excerpts from Yolo: Silver Destiny
Afroskull – “Me and My TV”

LINKS:

• Support us on Patreon!
• Take our podcast survey and enter our FREE manga giveaway!
• Wanna Leave Us a Tip? LumRanmaYasha also has a Ko-fi!
• Read more of Lum’s reviews on All-Comic!
• Want more [adult swim] coverage? Check out our interview with Casper Kelly, director of the Adult Swim Yule Log!
• Check out Lum’s art at @siddartworks on Twitter and Instagram!
• Watch Yolo: Silver Destiny on [adult swim] and HBO MAX!

The post Manga Mavericks On TV EP. 02: “Yolo: Silver Destiny w/Michael Cusack, Sarah Bishop, Todor Manojlovic” appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum catch up on some interesting simulpubs from a bunch of different services! First, if you’re looking for more shojo titles, the Mavericks check out I Fell For a Fujoshi from Azuki, as well as The Cursed Prince’s Servant from Comikey! Afterwards, they check out some new titles available on Mangamo! Including once again another death game manga, as well as a step-sibling…romantic…comedy??? We promise it is and isn’t what it looks like!! And then after checking out Kaina of the Great Snow on Crunchyroll Manga, the Mavericks finish the show with the latest two new series from the Shonen Jump umbrella of manga with Yumeocchi and Jiangshi X! Its quite the selection of various new titles this time around, so listen and find out what we think!!

Be sure to take our annual podcast survey by Sunday, March 5th for a chance to win some free manga!!

Download Here!!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – RIP Takako Sasuga, William Ruzicka & James Kaposztas

09:31 – Intro/Patron Shout-out!

14:23 – Additions to both Azuki and Manga Up

21:40 – Comikey launches Brazillian website

Simulpubs:

23:13 – I Fell For a Fujoshi

30:34 – The Cursed Prince’s Servant

46:26 – Yonezawa-san is Done Being Human

59:35 – I Don’t Understand What My Sister’s Friend is Thinking

1:04:36 – My Stepsister Who Tells Me To Die Every Day Tries To Hypnotize Me So I Would Fall For Her…!

1:21:27 – Kamisama Death Game

1:35:38 – Kaina of the Great Snow Sea

1:42:03 – Yumeochi: Dreaming of Falling For You

1:52:58 – Jiangshi X

2:09:34 – Wrap upEnjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

Ukraine Aid Resources & Links

Ukraine Crisis Media Center links

Ukraine Caard

Ukraine Linktree

Ukraine Refugee IRC Emergency Fund

American Prestige Podcast’s Ukraine Explain episodes

GoFundMe’s Verified Ukraine Fundraisers & Humanitarian Fund

Texas Trans Support Resources & Links

Act-Blue and Donation Page for the Transgender Education Network of Texas

Links to Smaller Trans Organizations in Texas to Donate to

Anime Feminist’s Dual Resources & Links List for Ukraine Aid & Trans Community Support

LINKS:

• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Support us on Patreon!
• Read I Fell For a Fujoshi on Azuki!
• Read The Cursed Prince’s Servant on Comikey!
• Read Kaina the Great Snow Sea on Crunchyroll!
• Read Yumeocchi on Manga Plus!
• Read Jiangshi X on Shonen Jump or Manga Plus!
• Read everything else on Mangamo!

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 224: February 2023 Simulpubs Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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NEW YORK, NY (2/17/23) – Adding to its Summer 2023 lineup, Yen Press, LLC will be releasing twelve new manga (I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level Spin-off: The Red Dragon Academy for Girls; Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Movie -Rebellion-: The Complete Omnibus Edition; Mieruko-chan Anthology Comic; Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki’s Conjecture; I Don’t Need a Happy Ending; The Illustrated Guide to Monster Girls; After We Gazed at the Starry Sky; The Witches’ Marriage; Touge Oni: Primal Gods in Ancient Times; The Second-Chance Noble Daughter Sets Out to Conquer the Dragon Emperor; I Don’t Know Which is Love; Game of Familia -Family Senki-), three novels (Sentenced to Brave Punishment; Liar, Liar; Kunon the Sorcerer Can See Through), and one graphic novel (Cuckoos Three).

I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level Spin-off: The Red Dragon Academy for Girls

Original Story by Kisetsu Morita

Art by Hitsujibako

Character Design by Benio

Laika has settled into the role of a rather prim young lady at the house in the highlands—but was she always that way? Or was she more of a hot-blooded dragon…as red as her scales? In the second spin-off of the Killing Slimes series, the school days of Azusa’s oldest companion will be revealed!

Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Movie -Rebellion-: The Complete Omnibus Edition

By Magica Quartet

After Madoka Kaname’s sacrifice, the hopeless cycle that once bound every magical girl to a terrible fate was broken at last. Or was it…? All does not seem right with the world, and as Homura pulls at the loose threads of the girls’ new realities, is it possible that an even darker destiny looms ahead?

Revisit the complete manga adaptation of Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Movie -Rebellion- in this deluxe omnibus edition!

Mieruko-chan Anthology Comic

By Tomoki Izumi

The creepy, the crawly, the grotesque—in the daily lives of Miko and friends, ghostly monsters lurk around every corner. This official comic anthology is brought to you by a variety of guest artists!

Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki’s Conjecture

Story by Mikage Sawamura

Art by Toji Aio

Naoya Fukamachi is a university student whose ability to infallibly detect lies has left him friendless and isolated. When his paper piques the interest of his handsome and eccentric folklore-studies professor, Akira Takatsuki, he soon finds himself dragged into Akira’s research. Now, as the assistant in charge of common sense, he must help his professor interpret an array of unexplainable phenomena…

Sentenced to Brave Punishment

By Rocket Shokai

Edited by Dengeki Bunko

Heroism—a punishment for only the worst criminals. Those sentenced to the fate of a hero are forced to fight at the front lines against the demon king’s army—and if they die, they can expect to be revived and continue the battle. But when their leader, convicted of killing a goddess, meets another goddess himself, the contract they forge may be enough to change the world…

Liar, Liar

By Haruki Kuou

The Academy: a school the size of an island where students compete for ranks. Not only did Hiroto Shinohara pass the most rigorous exam in the country with top marks to transfer there, but he defeated last year’s reigning champ on his very first day, catapulting him to the highest rank in record time. Except…he didn’t. The truth is, he screwed up big time, and now he must maintain his position at the Academy no matter what. It’s a liar’s world, after all!

Kunon the Sorcerer Can See Through

Story by Umikaze Minamino

Illustrated by Laruha

Born blind, Kunon aims to be the first person to use water magic to create new eyes for himself. After five months of study, he has already surpassed his teacher, and continues to grow his talents. Not only can his magic help him sense color, but he can also use it to make handy items and even conjure a whole cat! Word of his skills and ingenuity soon reach the court and earn him a spot as disciple to the most powerful magician in the land. But is his ultimate goal even attainable?

I Don’t Need a Happy Ending

By Mikanuji

From office workers to high schoolers to a mistress and her maid, dive into a collection of Girls Love stories from the author of Assorted Entanglements! Mikanuji delivers a tantalizing mix of sweet and spicy in this anthology—including a brand-new epilogue for her short story, “I Don’t Need a Happy Ending”!

The Illustrated Guide to Monster Girls

By Suzu Akeko

In the world of monsters, where scaring and tormenting humans is a way of life, even monster girls need to pass their classes, graduate, and get a job! Enter Class Z: a bunch of failures more likely to be frightened and bullied themselves. Can this ragtag group of underdogs become successful, full-fledged monsters?

Cuckoos Three

By Cassandra Jean and Mosskat

Murry Summerfield, relentlessly decent son of the farmstead, meets Jacob Durris, charming but troubled new neighbor. When he discovers why Jacob has moved out to the countryside, Murry has his hands full keeping his friend happy and dealing with his own blossoming feelings.

After We Gazed at the Starry Sky

By Bisco Kida

It all started with a job. When wheelchair user Subaru Miyazawa decides to visit the planetarium after finishing its brochure design, he bumps into Togo Awase, the photographer involved in the project. Although Subaru had admired his work, he never thought he would see the man himself—or that Togo would go so far as to carry Subaru down the steps to view the starry night sky up close. Subaru can only hope they’ll meet again…

The Witches’ Marriage

By studio HEADLINE

Opening the Door of Truth is the ultimate goal for many witches, but gathering enough power to do so is no easy feat. One popular method is entering into a Witches’ Marriage, a contractual bond that generates more power the closer the two grow. Melissa is one such witch—but is her heart truly immune to the adorable Tanya as she claims?

Touge Oni: Primal Gods in Ancient Times

By Kenji Tsurubuchi

In the ancient kingdom of Yamato, between the eras of gods and men, there was a time when the two coexisted. Miyo is chosen to serve as a human sacrifice to her village’s god, Kippuuson-no-Mikoto, but she’s not ready to die! Can Ozuno, a monk with the ability to speak one-on-one with the gods, save her life?

The Second-Chance Noble Daughter Sets Out to Conquer the Dragon Emperor

Story by Sarasa Nagase

Art by Anko Yuzu

Character Design by Mitsuya Fuji

Although Jill’s engagement to the Crown Prince should have guaranteed her a happy life, she is instead sentenced to death by her own fiancé! However, moments before her death, she is sent back in time to the party that determined her fate. In a desperate bid to avoid her doom, she proposes to the first man she sees, but that man turns out to be none other than an enemy from a neighboring country, the Dragon Emperor Hades!

I Don’t Know Which is Love

By Oku Tamamushi

With high school graduation approaching, Mei Soraike tries to confess her love to the best friend she has long harbored a secret crush for…only to have her hopes crushed instead. But a little heartbreak is fine—because she’ll absolutely, definitely, without a doubt get a girlfriend in college! Just as Mei sets her resolve, potential prospects start sidling up to her one by one…?!

Game of Familia -Family Senki-

Story by Mikoto Yamaguchi

Art by D. P

After his father’s remarriage, high school student Sasae Hatsushima moves in with his three new stepsisters. That’s all well and good until the whole family is summoned to another world! Will they be able to band together and survive in the brutal, unforgiving land?

About Yen Press, LLC

­­Yen Press, LLC is a joint venture between Kadokawa Corporation and Hachette Book Group. Founded in 2006, Yen Press has quickly risen to become one of the largest and most prolific publishers of manga and original graphic novels in the North American marketplace and a driving force in the introduction of light novels and Japanese literature to new readers through its Yen On and Yen Audio imprints. For more information, visit www.yenpress.com.

The post Yen Press Releasing Sixteen New Titles In Summer 2023 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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During this week’s WONDERFUL WEDNESDAYS license announcement event, Seven Seas Entertainment announced 4 new manga and light novel licenses that are set to release later this year and early 2024. The list of titles, as well as descriptions from Seven Seas’ press release, can be found below.

My Boss is a Giant: He Manages My Every Need With Enormous Skill!

By KamuC

Natsumi, also known as “Ham-chan,” hustles at a demanding office job like a hamster running in a wheel. Meanwhile, her boss Samejima is more like a shark. He’s handsome, sure, but he’s also imposing and scary…at least, until he confesses his feelings for her?! Natsumi is a little overwhelmed at seeing a vulnerable side to this gigantic man, especially since she doesn’t have a lot of experience in the love department, but she’s secretly thrilled to see more. Together, this big boss with a carnivorous appetite and the smaller woman who’s hungry for his love are ready to unleash their wild sides!

My Boss is a Giant: He Manages My Every Need With Enormous Skill! – The Complete Manga Collection will be released for the first time in North America in January 2024 for $24.99 USA / $33.99 CAN, with the book available in print and on digital platforms in a large-trim omnibus edition as part of Seven Seas’ Steamship imprint.

I Can’t Refuse S

By Ai Hibiki

Miku is in a bind: her father has taken on too much debt, subjecting her family to so much work and stress that now her mother has fallen ill. Miku is willing to do what it takes to help her family, so she offers to become a wealthy benefactor’s mistress to raise the cash they need! Unfortunately, that alone isn’t enough—the wealthy man has a preference for women who are experienced in bed, and Miku is anything but. That’s when the man’s butler, Kamishiro, steps in. The gorgeous but sharp-tongued Kamishiro is blunt: he says he’s been sent to train Miku in the sexual arts. Under his hot and heavy tutelage, can Miku become experienced enough to inflame the desire of any man…including her teacher?

I Can’t Refuse S Vol. 1 will be released for the first time in North America in September 2023 for $14.99 USA / $18.99 CAN, with the series available in single large-trim editions as part of Seven Seas’ Steamship imprint.

Revenge: Kaedama Kon

By Sayo Momota

Beautiful, charismatic Mitsuki has it all. She’s got so much, in fact, that she sends her more timid sister Tsukiko on dates disguised as her so Mitsuki doesn’t miss out on other things. But one such body swap backfires after Mitsuki gets engaged: Mitsuki asks Tsukiko to stand in for her at a wedding planning meeting, and Tsukiko ends up falling into bed with Mitsuki’s groom-to-be! Tired of playing second fiddle to her beautiful sister, Tsukiko decides to take something for herself for a change. In this startling tale of intrigue and romance, revenge is a dish best served steaming hot!

Revenge: Kaedama Kon Vol. 1 will be released for the first time in North America in November 2023 for $14.99 USA / $18.99 CAN, with the series available in single large-trim editions as part of Seven Seas’ Steamship imprint.

Loyal Soldier, Lustful Beast

By Sumire Saiga

One day out of the blue, noblewoman Giselle is summoned to serve as the king’s prized concubine. Alas, her heart belongs to another man: Wallace, a former slave and the soldier who saved her brother’s life. Wallace worships the ground Giselle walks on and attends to her every need as her manservant. Much as Giselle mourns the line drawn between them, her days with Wallace are filled with bliss. Yet the king’s word is absolute, so Giselle decides to give up on her paramour. Then, late one night, Wallace steals into her room in the palace. His gaze is desperate and hungry as he watches her. She knows it’s a crime to spend the night with him…but can she help herself?

Loyal Soldier, Lustful Beast (Light Novel) will be released for the first time in North America in December 2023 for $14.99 USA / $18.99 CAN, with the book available in print and on digital platforms in a single large-trim edition as part of Seven Seas’ Steamship imprint.

About Seven Seas Entertainment
Established in 2004, Seven Seas Entertainment is an award-winning publisher that specializes in bringing the best of Japanese manga and light novels to English language audiences alongside the hottest hand-picked books from around the globe, as well as producing original comics, graphic novels, and youth literature. All of Seven Seas’ book imprints are distributed throughout the world by Penguin Random House Publisher Services. For more information, visit sevenseasentertainment.com

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Portland, OR – Comics and graphic novel publisher ABLAZE has announced that it has licensed four acclaimed manga titles by Osamu Tezuka from Tezuka Productions in cooperation with DI Books for English publication under the ABLAZE MANGA imprint. The first title will debut in August of this year, with the rest slated to launch in print and digitally in the later part of 2023 and in 2024.

The titles licensed for publishing are:

• One Hundred Tales – slated to launch August 2023
• Shakespeare Manga Theater – slated to launch in Q4 2023
• Tomorrow the Birds – slated to launch in Q2 2024
• Neo Faust – slated to launch in Q4 2024

This is the first time any of these works will be published in English. Osamu Tezuka is known worldwide as the most influential person of the past century in the development of manga and anime. A medical school graduate who pursued a career in comics instead, Tezuka’s early success in the years following WWII inspired generations of artists and propelled the burgeoning manga industry. Over his lifetime, the “Godfather of Manga” drew tens of thousands of pages in approximately 700 titles for a wide variety of readerships.

Summaries of Osamu Tezuka titles newly licensed by ABLAZE:

One Hundred Tales – August 2023

An adaptation of the Faust legend as a samurai period piece. Ichirui Hanri is an ordinary accountant servicing his lord. Though innocent, he is sentenced to death by hara-kiri after being entangled in a power struggle. A witch named Sudama appears and offers Hanri three wishes in exchange for his soul. Hanri accepts. Is it worth it?

Shakespeare Manga Theater – Q4 2023

Over the course of his career, Tezuka adapted many of Shakespeare’s works: Hamlet, Othello, The Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet (featuring Astro Boy!), and The Merchant of Venice. This book collects them into one volume and is sure to be popular not just with Tezuka fans, but also schools interested in presenting Shakespeare in a format that is easier for readers to engage with.

Tomorrow The Birds – Q2 2024

A science fiction manga depicting a future society in which evolved birds surpass humanity, Tomorrow the Birds is a parable about how we treat those who aren’t like us, and the eventual price that must be paid for arrogance. An unforgettable tapestry of seven-page chapters and longer stories.

Neo Faust – Q4 2024

This adaptation of Goethe’s Faust is Tezuka’s third rendering of this classic and one of the serializations he was working on at the time of his death. Despite being terminally ill, Tezuka continued to develop his already legendary storytelling and illustrations and left behind this enthralling take on a timeless theme.

“Osamu Tezuka lived an extraordinary life. His manga have fascinated me since I was a kid. I’m grateful to Tezuka Productions and ABLAZE for this opportunity to help publish more of them in English,” says Iyasu Adair Nagata, translator and co-founder of DI Books. “These works were inspired by Western literature, including science fiction, and I look forward to the conversations they’ll spark.”

“Osamu Tezuka is perhaps the most renowned manga creator of all time and his works have been loved by multiple generations of fans for more than 70 years,” says Rich Young, Co-Founder of ABLAZE. “We are honored to expand the ABLAZE manga catalog with four of his esteemed works and look forward to comics and manga fans adding to their collections with these new releases.”

ABLAZE titles are distributed in-print worldwide by Diamond Comic and Diamond Book Distributors. Digital versions of ABLAZE titles are available via most major digital platforms.

FOLLOW ABLAZE ONLINE

ABLAZE Twitter: http://twitter.com/AblazePub

ABLAZE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ablazepub/

ABLAZE Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ablazepub/

ABLAZE Website: http://www.ablaze.net

COMIC SHOP LOCATOR SERVICE: 1-888-comicbook, www.comicshoplocator.com

Get in touch with ABLAZE: info@ablazepublishing.com

ABOUT ABLAZE:

ABLAZE is a publishing company releasing a variety of titles—in different formats, genres, and age ranges—original material, crowdfunded titles, reprints, art books, including international titles from Europe, Asia (manga, manhwa, webtoons), and more. The mantra of ABLAZE is quality first, with the goals of giving creators a platform, bringing new voices into the conversation, serving as diverse an audience as possible, and growing the company’s publishing schedule sustainably over time.

ABOUT DI Books:

DI Books LLC was co-founded in 2020 by Dallas Middaugh and Iyasu Adair Nagata to assist with the publishing of manga in English. Located in the Bay Area and New York City.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum FINALLY catch up on news from closer to the beginning of the year! Some topics of conversation including the recent controversy with the release of the Kamen Rider Kuuga manga from Titan Comics, Toei Animation’s record year at the box office and some of the shenanigans happening over at Amazon, along with all of the normal serialization, licensing and anime news you’ve surely come to expect from our Mavericks! Enjoy!!

Be sure to take our annual podcast survey for a chance to win some free manga!!

Download Here!!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – Intro/Patron shout out

08:37 – Hiatus updates:

• Adachi & Shimamura
• Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
• The Darwin Incident
• Blue Exorcist

11:09 – Kenta Shinohara not planning on doing another weekly serialization after Witch Watch

15:32 – Bakemonogatari manga ends

17:30 – Given will end in March

18:13 – More info on JoJoLands

20:11 – Witch from Mercury side story manga coming this spring

21:26 – New series coming from Shoichi Taguchi

22:48 – New series coming from Yushi Kawata and Yukito

24:29 – New additions to Comikey

31:59 – New licenses from Star Fruit & Glacier Bay

35:59 – Yen Press licenses You Can Have My Back

37:23 – Kodansha licenses My Home Hero

38:52 – J Novel Club licenses

55:35 – Cross Infinite World

1:02:33 – Ken Akumatsu’s statement on Japan’s invoice system

1:06:26 – Belarus legalizes audiovisual piracy of Japanese media content

1:08:19 – Baffling decisions made by Amazon

1:12:43 – Tokyopop appoints Marc Visnick as COO

1:13:43 – Titan Comics’ Kamen Rider Kuuga controversy

1:20:08 – Hajime Isayama receives Angloume award

1:20:59 – One Piece: Film Red updates

1:23:52 – The First Slam Dunk contributes to Toei’s 2022 box office record

1:26:11 – North American box office grosses for Quintessential Quintuplets & That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

1:27:27 – Kaguya-sama film screening in US theaters on Feb 14th & 15th

1:28:24 – Demon Slayer Swordsmith Village arc premieres in April with preview theatrical screenings in the US on March 3rd

1:31:09 – Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume will open internationally on April 12th 2023

1:32:11 – Hayao Miyazaki’s How Do You Live opens July 2023

1:33:04 – New films coming from:

• Studio Ponc
• Studio 4C
• Naoko Yamada

1:36:45 – Gridman & Dynazenon compilation films

1:37:29 – Rascal Does Not Dream sequel project will be a film

1:37:53 – New Sound Euphonium film

1:38:25 – New City Hunter film projects

1:40:46 – Netflix to produce My Hero Academia live-action movie

1:41:42 – Netflix live action One Piece coming this year

1:45:17 – Rohan at the Louvre live-action movie

1:46:54 – If My Favorite Pop Idol Made it to the Budokan live-action film

1:47:46 – 3rd live-action Kingdom film coming this year

1:48:29 – Trailer for live-action Voltes V show has been released

1:49:22 – Akiko Highashimura’s Do You Remember Me? gets live-action series

1:50:15 – Live-action Utsubora series

1:50:49 – AppleTV+ to stream live-action Drops of God series

1:52:24 – Amazon gets live-action The Silent Service

1:53:36 – Sand Land gets screen adaptation sometime this year

1:56:13 – Crayon Shin Chan gets first 3DCG film

1:57:46 – CG Saint Seiya series will have third season

1:58:38 – Made in Abyss season 2 sequel

1:59:10 – Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse anime details

2:00:06 – Toilet Bound Hanako-kun anime “restarts” (whatever that means)

2:01:19 – Multiple anime go on hiatus due to Covid resurgence in Japan

2:03:12 – Go Go Loser Ranger gets tv anime

2:03:54 – I’m in Love with the Villainess anime coming this year

2:05:00 – Whisper Me a Love Song gets anime

2:05:40 – The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses gets anime

2:06:12 – Firefighter! Daigo of Fire Company M sequel manga gets tv anime

2:07:46 – New Tenchi Muyo GXP anime

2:10:12 – Please Save My Earth multimedia stage recital reunites anime cast

2:11:42 – Rica Matsumoto to attend event in New York City

2:13:47 – Wrap up

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

Ukraine Aid Resources & Links

Ukraine Crisis Media Center links

Ukraine Caard

Ukraine Linktree

Ukraine Refugee IRC Emergency Fund

American Prestige Podcast’s Ukraine Explain episodes

GoFundMe’s Verified Ukraine Fundraisers & Humanitarian Fund

Texas Trans Support Resources & Links

Act-Blue and Donation Page for the Transgender Education Network of Texas

Links to Smaller Trans Organizations in Texas to Donate to

Anime Feminist’s Dual Resources & Links List for Ukraine Aid & Trans Community Support

LINKS:

• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Support us on Patreon!
• Da Vinci List
• Kono Manga Sugoi List
• ShoujoseiWorld’s thread on the female readers list
• Vote in the NaruTop99 Poll until Jan 31st!
• Vlord’s review of Rainbow Days
• Lum’s interview with Casper Kelly

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 223: February 2023 News Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Seven Seas Entertainment has resumed their weekly WONDERFUL WEDNESDAYS license announcement event. This week, the publisher announced six new titles that are set to release later in 2023 and early 2024. The list of titles, as well as descriptions from Seven Seas’ press release, can be found below.

365 Days to the Wedding

By Tamiki Wakaki

Takuya and Rika are coworkers in a travel agency in Tokyo. They’re both single, but they don’t mind, since they’re introverts with fulfilling lives at home. Unfortunately, now their job is looking to staff an office in Siberia, and non-married employees are the first to be considered. Rika is desperate to avoid the transfer and goes to Takuya with an idea: if they pretend they’re getting married in a year, they can stay in Tokyo. The only problem is the two of them barely know each other! If these two quiet coworkers “fake” a relationship, will it turn into something real?

365 Days to the Wedding Vol. 1 will be released for the first time in North America in November 2023 for $13.99 USA / $17.99 CAN, with the series available in single volume editions.

Modern Dungeon Capture Starting with Broken Skills (Light Novel and Manga)

By Yuuki Kimikawa, cruelGZ, and Sturkey

Everyone with a dead-end job sometimes wishes for something to come swallow up their workplace…and that’s exactly what happens to Mizuki Ryosuke. Monster-infested dungeons have appeared all over the world, but he’s saved from his collapsing office by a swordswoman and a pixie. Along the way, Mizuki picks up an item that allows him to pass overpowered skills to other people—and before he realizes it, Mizuki is in high demand himself!

Modern Dungeon Capture Starting with Broken Skills (Light Novel) Vol. 1 will be released for the first time in North America in January 2024 for $14.99 USA / $18.99 CAN, with the series available in print and (early) on digital platforms in single large-trim editions as part of Seven Seas’ Airship imprint.

Modern Dungeon Capture Starting with Broken Skills (Manga) Vol. 1 will be released for the first time in North America in January 2024 for $13.99 USA / $17.99 CAN, with the series available in print and on digital platforms in single volume editions.

Anyhow, the Rabbit Is Infatuated with the Puppy

By Nie

Usagi Akira is a twenty-five-year-old introverted office worker who lives for two things: shojo manga and the spare moments when he can log into his favorite MMO, Tail Earth. There, his avatar is a beautiful bunny girl, and he’s able to go on adventures with the charming wolf-boy Gakuto. When Gakuto asks if Akira wants to meet up IRL for the Tail Earth fan con, Akira agrees. Sparks fly between the two, despite neither of them being quite what the other expected, and they soon fall hard for each other and decide to date! They don’t have much experience when it comes to romance, but this gamer couple is eager to figure it out together.

Anyhow, the Rabbit Is Infatuated with the Puppy will be released for the first time in North America in November 2023 for $14.99 USA / $18.99 CAN, with the book available in print and on digital platforms in a single volume edition as part of the Seven Seas BL label (Boys’ Love titles).

Summer Ghost (Light Novel and Manga)

by Otsuichi, loundraw, and Yoshi Inomi

There’s an urban legend that claims the ghost of a young woman will appear if you set off fireworks in a certain abandoned airport. Three high school students are united by their shared desire to meet this ghost—and each of them is close to death. What happens when they come together one fateful summer night as the boundary between life and death grows thin?

Summer Ghost (Light Novel) will be released for the first time in North America in August 2023 for $14.99 USA / $18.99 CAN, with the book available in print and on digital platforms in a single large-trim edition as part of Seven Seas’ Airship imprint.

Summer Ghost: The Complete Manga Collection will be released for the first time in North America in August 2023 for $20.99 USA / $27.99 CAN, with the book available in print and on digital platforms in an omnibus edition.

About Seven Seas Entertainment
Established in 2004, Seven Seas Entertainment is an award-winning publisher that specializes in bringing the best of Japanese manga and light novels to English language audiences alongside the hottest hand-picked books from around the globe, as well as producing original comics, graphic novels, and youth literature. All of Seven Seas’ book imprints are distributed throughout the world by Penguin Random House Publisher Services. For more information, visit sevenseasentertainment.com

The post Seven Seas Licenses 365 Days to the Wedding, Summer Ghost, and More! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Kodansha USA Publishing has announced that their digital release of MF Ghost by Shuichi Shigeno will be now be available on additional digital platforms including Bookwalker, Apple Books, Google Play, nook, Kobo and MyAnimeList. The series was previously exclusive to comiXology and Kindle through their comiXology Original line.

The full announcement from Kodansha USA can be found below.

Kodansha USA Publishing announced today that the first 10 volumes of MF Ghost – the spiritual successor to the classic high-octane racing manga Initial D, also created by Shuichi Shigeno – are now available to purchase and read digitally across all participating digital manga vendors. This debut comes hot on the heels of the latest trailer of the MF Ghost anime series set to premiere later in 2023. With this wider debut, manga fans can read the MF Ghost manga ahead of the anime premiere by choosing from Amazon Kindle, Bookwalker, Apple Books, Google Play, nook, Kobo or MyAnimeList. Kodansha USA Publishing also announced today that more English-language volumes of MF Ghost will be released digitally in the coming months.

The fan-favorite racing manga MF Ghost takes place in the 2020s, where self-driving electric cars have replaced internal combustion ones. However, in Japan, there is a large organization called MFG, founded by Ryosuke Takahashi (from the Initial D series), that conducts street races with internal combustion cars. There’s a new rookie on the scene, Kanata Livington who competes under the pseudonym Kanata Katagiri. Kanata has been trained by legendary racer Takumi Fujiwara (protagonist from the Initial D series) at the Royal Donington Racing School in the UK and is a Formula 4 world champion. He has only one motive: to find his long-lost father. But first he must take on a 19-year-old Japanese-British racer, who has shown up on the scene driving a Toyota 86 and is beating top-tier European cars. Curious manga enthusiasts can read the 1st chapter of the high-octane car racing drama on kodansha.us.

Originally released digitally through the comiXology Original line of exclusive content, MF Ghost digital volumes first debuted on comiXology and Kindle in January 2022, making this the first time MF Ghost was translated and available to read in English. First revealed in an anime visual teaser video in January 2022, MF Ghost will see its anime debut later this year.

For more information on this and other Kodansha USA Publishing titles please visit: kodansha.us.

About Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC
A subsidiary of Kodansha, Japan’s largest publisher, Kodansha USA Publishing is the English-language publisher of some of the world’s most recognizable manga properties, including Katsuhiro Otomo’s AKIRA and Naoko Takeuchi’s Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, along with a robust catalog of English-language Japanese novels, cookbooks, craft guides, historical and cultural literature, and more. Today, thanks to recent fan-favorite and critically acclaimed hits like Attack on Titan, Battle Angel Alita, Witch Hat Atelier, and the popular MONOGATARI novels, Kodansha USA Publishing is one of the best-selling manga publishers in the United States. Kodansha USA Publishing’s print offerings are distributed by Penguin Random House Publisher Services, and their digital manga and select digital books are available across a number of digital comics, manga, and book vendors. For more information visit kodansha.us.

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NEW YORK, NY (2/3/23) – Yen Press, LLC announced the acquisition of Rose Guns Days Sorrowful Cross Knife, the prequel of the original Rose Guns Days manga. From the mind of Ryukishi07, creator of Higurashi When They Cry and Umineko When They Cry, Rose Guns Days Sorrowful Cross Knife continues to bring impressive world-building, intriguing mystery, and immersive storytelling. The art of Tsuyoshi Takaki keeps readers engaged and unable to take their eyes off this historical crime manga!

Rose Guns Days Sorrowful Cross Knife

Original Story by Ryukishi07

Art by Tsuyoshi Takaki

1946, two years after the war ended in Japan. An orphan named Wayne has been hired by District 23’s Club Primavera-the base of operations for the brothel alliance vying for power with foreign militaries and the mafia. When a series of murders strike fear and rage in the people of District 23, the prime suspect is none other than Jack, the orphan boy Wayne sees as his brother. Torn between belief and doubt, Wayne struggles to find the answer to the mystery before him-who exactly is Jack? The culprit…or just another victim?

Ryukishi07, the creator of Higurashi When They Cry, Umineko When They Cry, and the original Rose Guns Days; and Tsuyoshi Takaki bring the prequel of Rose Guns Days to life!

Rose Guns Days Sorrowful Cross Knife will be available digitally February 21, 2023, on platforms such as BOOK☆WALKER Global.

About Yen Press, LLC

­­Yen Press, LLC is a joint venture between Kadokawa Corporation and Hachette Book Group. Founded in 2006, Yen Press has quickly risen to become one of the largest and most prolific publishers of manga and original graphic novels in the North American marketplace and a driving force in the introduction of light novels and Japanese literature to new readers through its Yen On and Yen Audio imprints. For more information, visit www.yenpress.com.

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Kodansha USA Publishing has announced that their digital release of The Drops of God by Tadashi Agi & Shu Okimoto will be now be available on additional digital platforms including Bookwalker, Apple Books, Google Play, nook, Kobo and MyAnimeList. The series was previously exclusive to comiXology and Kindle through their comiXology Original line.

The full announcement from Kodansha USA can be found below.

Kodansha USA Publishing announced today that all 44 volumes of the globe-trotting wine-tasting manga, The Drops of God by Tadashi Agi, and Shu Okimoto are now available to purchase and read digitally across all participating digital manga vendors. Hot on the heels of a live-action drama adaptation announced for Apple TV+, new and existing manga fans can now choose where to read this impactful wine manga beyond Amazon Kindle to include Bookwalker, Apple Books, Google Play, nook, Kobo and MyAnimeList.

Created and written by Tadashi Agi with artwork by Shu Okimoto, The Drops of God has had an unprecedented impact on the international wine market and the various wines featured throughout the series.

The Drops of God weaves an intoxicating tale of family intrigue and wine adoration. When world-renowned wine critic Kanzaki Yutaka passes away, his will reveals that his fortune of a wine collection isn’t automatically bequeathed to his only son Kanzaki Shizuku, who, in a snub, went to work at a Japanese beverage company whose main focus is selling beer. In order to take ownership of his legacy and the inheritance, Shizuku must correctly identify and describe thirteen wines, the first twelve heaven-sent wines known as the “Twelve Apostles” and the thirteenth known as the “Drops of God,” while competing against the stellar young wine critic, Toomine Issei. With determination, a strong sense of taste and smell, and an uncanny ability to describe his experiences, Shizuku submerges himself in the world of wine to try to solve its mysteries and defeat Issei. Curious manga enthusiasts can read the 1st chapter of the epic wine drama on kodansha.us.

Originally released digitally through the comiXology Original line of exclusive content, The Drops of God digital volumes first debuted on comiXology and Kindle in October 2019 and completed all 44 volumes for the first time in English in May of 2021.

For more information on this and other Kodansha USA Publishing titles please visit: kodansha.us.

About Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC
A subsidiary of Kodansha, Japan’s largest publisher, Kodansha USA Publishing is the English-language publisher of some of the world’s most recognizable manga properties, including Katsuhiro Otomo’s AKIRA and Naoko Takeuchi’s Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, along with a robust catalog of English-language Japanese novels, cookbooks, craft guides, historical and cultural literature, and more. Today, thanks to recent fan-favorite and critically acclaimed hits like Attack on Titan, Battle Angel Alita, Witch Hat Atelier, and the popular MONOGATARI novels, Kodansha USA Publishing is one of the best-selling manga publishers in the United States. Kodansha USA Publishing’s print offerings are distributed by Penguin Random House Publisher Services, and their digital manga and select digital books are available across a number of digital comics, manga, and book vendors. For more information visit kodansha.us.

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NEW YORK, NY (1/27/23) – Yen Press, LLC announced an acquisition joining its Summer 2023 lineup: You Can Have My Back, a Boys Love fantasy light novel best known for its beautiful illustrations and heartbreaking drama. With Boys Love light novels having seen few releases in English, You Can Have My Back is a welcome and refreshing addition to the Yen On imprint.

You Can Have My Back

Original Story by Minami Kotsuna

Illustrated by Hitomi Hitoyo

Leorino, fourth son of a margrave and blessed with the face of an angel, is the reincarnation of Ionia, a knight of the kingdom who died in the line of duty. At night, he dreams of his past life, his ill-fated love for Prince Gravis, and his death at the hands of an enemy agent. But when he confronts the traitor as Leorino, he ends up arrested instead! His life in danger, he shouts the name of an old friend and his only hope…

Yen Press is happy to add to its growing catalog of Boys Love titles, which includes the bestselling manga Sasaki and Miyano and its upcoming spin-off novel, Hirano and Kagiura. You Can Have My Back, Vol. 1 will be available in print and digital July 2023.

About Yen Press, LLC

­­Yen Press, LLC is a joint venture between Kadokawa Corporation and Hachette Book Group. Founded in 2006, Yen Press has quickly risen to become one of the largest and most prolific publishers of manga and original graphic novels in the North American marketplace and a driving force in the introduction of light novels and Japanese literature to new readers through its Yen On and Yen Audio imprints. For more information, visit www.yenpress.com.

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(San Antonio, Texas – January 27, 2023) – J-Novel Club LLC is excited to announce the acquisition of multiple new series following their latest industry livestream held online on Twitch on January 27, 2023. Ten new light novels and four new manga will be joining the J-Novel Club catalog with most of them receiving a digital launch on J-Novel Club’s website and app a few hours after the announcement panel has concluded.

Announced New Series:

Now I’m a Demon Lord! Happily Ever After with Monster Girls in My Dungeon (Manga)

By Note Tono with Original Work by Ryuyu and Character Designs by Daburyu

Reborn in another world as a demon lord, Yuki plans to use the incredibly handy online store that is the DP Catalog to create a super sinister dungeon where he can live the easy life! But the moment he starts his new life, he encounters the unimaginably strong Supreme Dragon.

Just when he thinks the end is already nigh, things take a bizarre turn in his favor! The Supreme Dragon, who turns out to have a major sweet tooth, transforms into a lovely young girl hell-bent on freeloading off him. And she’s not his dungeon’s only new resident! Within days, he summons an adorable slime and rescues a sweet little vampire girl too!

While taking care of his new family, Yuki experiments even more with the Catalog by learning how to create his own weapons. Their idyllic days don’t last long, though, as an unexpected menace appears…

Launching today with Chapter 1 of Volume 1!

Young Lady Albert Is Courting Disaster By Saki with Illustrations by Haduki Futaba

Meet Mary Albert, daughter of a rich and powerful duke. With her neat silver ringlets and impeccable manners, she’s the perfect young lady. But Mary harbors an unusual ambition—her own downfall!

On the day of her school entrance ceremony, Mary realizes she’s living in an otome game she played in her past life. Not only that, but she’s the villainess, destined to torment the heroine, be expelled from noble society, and end her story in ruin. Most would do anything to avoid such a miserable fate, but not Mary! She cheerfully dives into the wicked role she was born to play, setting a course for catastrophe.

However, not all goes to plan. Despite her best efforts to bully and harass the heroine, Alicia, the gentle girl seems blind to Mary’s intentions, even coming to see her as a friend. What must our villainess do to achieve her dreams of doom?!

A J-Novel Heart title launching today with Parts 1 and 2 of Volume 1!

Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte (Manga)

By Rumiwo Sakaki with Original Work by Suzu Enoshima and Character Designs by Eihi

One day, Crown Prince Sieg hears the Voices of the Gods out of the blue. Apparently, his fiancée Lieselotte is a “tsun de rais” villainess destined to meet her demise…and her sharp tongue is just a way of covering up her embarrassment. The prince can hardly contain himself after discovering Lieselotte’s adorable hidden side. Little does he know, the heavenly beings that bestowed this knowledge unto him are actually high schoolers!

Can he use their divine prophecy (let’s play commentary) to save his betrothed and avoid a Bad End?!

Based on the light novel of the same name!

Launching today with Chapter 1 of Volume 1

A Cave King’s Road to Paradise: Climbing to the Top with My Almighty Mining Skills!

By Hajime Naehara with Illustrations by Hatori Kyoka

In a world where crests decide one’s fate, Prince Heale is born with Cave King—a crest just as worthless as he is. Deemed a disgrace to his family, he’s exiled to a barren, deserted island with not a plant nor soul in sight. Alone, miserable, but determined to survive, he reaches for a pickaxe to expand the cave he intends to make his new home—and discovers the true power of his crest!

It turns out Cave King makes cavern mining as easy as breathing. And as Heale digs deeper into the island, he discovers one otherworldly mineral after another. Who’s worthless now?

But valuable ore isn’t the only thing Heale will find on his mining adventures!

Launching today with Parts 1 and 2 of Volume 1!

A Cave King’s Road to Paradise: Climbing to the Top with My Almighty Mining Skills! (Manga)

By Takao Demise with Original Work by Hajime Naehara and Character Designs by Hatori Kyoka

Don’t worry, we’re publishing the manga adaptation as well! Enjoy the Cave King’s adventures in manga format!!

Launching today with Chapter 1 of Volume 1!

A Royal Rebound: Forget My Ex-Fiancé, I’m Being Pampered by the Prince!

By Micoto Sakurai with Illustrations by Kuroyuki

Harumi Amelia is a studious young countess and water mage. Her fiancé, Reese, is the second son of a marquis and wields earth magic, a desirable skill for the agricultural domain that Amelia’s father rules. The couple grew up together and has always gotten along well, so their happy future together seems certain. Yet after Reese enters the Royal Academy of Magic, Amelia loses all contact with him. Although she assumes he’s just busy with his studies, when she enters the academy a year later herself, her classmates inexplicably ostracize her as Reese continues to avoid her. Throughout this confusing ordeal, the isolated and anxious Amelia finds comfort in the kindness of Sarge, the fourth prince, who seems to have taken an interest in her…

A J-Novel Heart title launching February 8, 2023!

I Only Have Six Months to Live, So I’m Gonna Break the Curse with Light Magic or Die Trying

By Genkotsu Kumano with Illustrations by Falmaro

Prince Callus was born with a mortal curse that marks him as a Taboo Being. His days are numbered, and he’s been told the last six months of his life will be nothing but bedridden suffering. This grim future haunts him…until he meets Gourley, who can wield light magic.

Callus becomes the magician’s apprentice in hopes that this legendary power might dispel his curse if he can manage to master it in the time he has left. He has immense magical energy and the rare ability to see spirits on his side, after all, not to mention friends and family who are there to support him every step of the way. And so Callus stakes his life on this mission… It’s time to learn light magic or die trying!

Launching February 6, 2023!

The 100th Time’s the Charm: She Was Executed 99 Times, So How Did She Unlock “Super Love” Mode?!

By Yuji Yuji with Illustrations by Nami Hidaka

Alphina is falsely accused of plotting to assassinate Saint Debonaire. Time rewinds every time she’s executed for a crime she didn’t commit, but with the cruel Saint Debonaire against her, the same fate awaits Alphina ninety-nine times in a row: death by decapitation.

But something different happens the hundredth time around. Just as Alphina is preparing herself for yet another execution, she discovers that she can hear people’s true feelings—and that everyone secretly loves her! Can Alphina take advantage of her newfound ability and sidestep her fate at the guillotine?

A J-Novel Heart title launching February 22, 2023!

Survival Strategies of a Corrupt Aristocrat

By Wanta with Illustrations by Yunagi

While playing games after my wife betrayed me, I suddenly died and woke up as Jack Girard, the protagonist of the fangame Survival Strategies of a Corrupt Aristocrat. Unfortunately, Jack has it even worse than I do. Between his parents trying to assassinate him, the betrayal of his personal maid and the house’s butler, and a host of other horrors, his life—now my life—is one treacherous twist after another.

However, with the help of Adele, the strongest supporting character of the game, and my foreknowledge of said twists, I’m determined to overcome it all and live in the lap of luxury!

Launching February 2, 2023!

The Apothecary Witch Turned Divorce Agent

By Kosuzu Kobato with Illustrations by Yasuyuki Syuri

Carla is a down-on-her-luck witch whose skills aren’t up to snuff when it comes to both magic and her work. Although her main business is running an apothecary that’s been in decline ever since her master passed away, she also runs a divorce agency on the side (even though all of her clients seem to reconcile, for some reason).

One day, Carla receives a request she can’t refuse. The queen herself sends Thane, a knight who makes no effort to hide his distaste for witches, to pass along her message. Carla isn’t a fan of knights herself, leading the pair to fight like cats and dogs…but maybe first impressions aren’t everything!

A J-Novel Heart title launching February 22, 2023!

A Pale Moon Reverie

By Kuji Furumiya with Illustrations by Teruko Arai

Irede, the town of fine drink, masterful performing arts, and holy courtesans, was built long ago as an offering to a god. Travelers gather here in droves from across the continent, but unbeknownst to them, shades—creatures who lead humans astray—lurk in the streets.

Sari, a maiden with the ability to bind shades, is the proprietress of a living myth: the courtesan house Pale Moon. And when she meets Xixu, a shadeslayer fresh from the capital, restless shadows begin stirring beneath the town’s surface…

Launching February 6, 2023!

I Parry Everything: What Do You Mean I’m the Strongest? I’m Not Even an Adventurer Yet! (Manga)

By KRSG with Original Work by Nabeshiki and Character Designs by Kawaguchi

Noor has wanted to be like the adventurers in his father’s stories—heroes who always save the day. But as everyone knows, to be an adventurer, you’ve gotta have the right skills!

Unfortunately for Noor, his [Parry] is bottom-of-the-barrel useless, his prospects are nonexistent, and everybody is telling him to give up. He figures there’s only one thing to do: make up for it with effort! An intense, solitary training regimen ought to do it. If one year won’t cut it, he’ll train for five! If not five, ten!

Now in his late twenties with no new skills to show for his labors, Noor sets out to become an adventurer anyway. He’s no stranger to hard work afterall! Now, if only he can figure out why everyone keeps looking at him like that…

Launching today with Chapter 1 of Volume 1!

Reincarnated Mage with Inferior Eyes: Breezing through the Future as an Oppressed Ex-Hero

By Yusura Kankitsu with Illustrations by Ruria Miyuki

Good grief. After spending years traveling across the world, saving towns, defeating demons, and then finally killing the demon king, my party—the people I considered comrades—decided to kick me out. I’d honestly thought that they’d be different. They wouldn’t be like the rest of the world, who irrationally hate people like me, with Amber Eyes. But…I was wrong.

In the end, it’s not their fault, though. It’s just how the world was back then. I was sure that with more time and understanding, the world would shed their preconceived notions about those with Amber Eyes and treat us as they would anyone else. I held on to this hope as I used my unique magecraft to reincarnate myself two hundred years into the future. Now, it’s time to find out if my guess was right!

Launching today with Parts 1 and 2 of Volume 1!

Ascendance of a Bookworm: Short Story Collection

By Miya Kazuki with Illustrations by You Shiina

Six years have passed since Urano began her new life as Myne, and so much has happened. She went from being a simple commoner to an apprentice shrine maiden, then she was thrown into the world of nobles as Rozemyne, the adopted daughter of an archduke!

“But I’m not the only person with a lot going on! You can say the same for everyone else! Though, uh… I guess that’s mainly because of me.”

This first volume of Bookworm’s new Short Story Collection is packed with previously unpublished chapters spanning Parts 1 to 4. Experience the lower city, the orphanage, the temple, the Royal Academy, and many other familiar locations through new eyes in twenty-one stories told from a plethora of unique perspectives. What do those in Myne’s (or Rozemyne’s) circle think about her actions, and what happens in the places she can’t see?

Includes behind-the-scenes notes from author Miya Kazuki and more four-panel manga by You Shiina.

Launching today with Part 1 of Volume 1!

About J-Novel Club

J-Novel Club is a digital and physical publishing company started by translators and fans like you! By focusing on digital releases and providing a membership service to let people read our books as they are being translated, our goal is to build a growing community of readers so that more releases can be officially licensed and translated. With the addition of the J-Novel Heart and J-Novel Pulp imprints, the company hopes to appeal to even more audiences worldwide. Since 2016, J-Novel Club has digitally published over 1,000 volumes and physically printed over 230 volumes of different series for you to enjoy.

The post J-Novel Club Announces the Acquisition of Fourteen New Series at January 2023 Industry Livestream! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Kodansha USA Publishing has announced the crime thriller My Home Hero by Naoki Yamakawa & Masashi Asaki as their digital debut title for February 2023. The series will be available across all participating digital vendors on February 28th. Kodansha USA’s description of the series can be found below.

My Home Hero
Story by Naoki Yamakawa
Art by Masashi Asaki

Release Date: February 28, 2023

Tetsuo Tosu is a typical father whose biggest worries are his job and his rebellious daughter, Reika. That is, until he finds a bruise on her face. His worst fears come true when he finds out she has a secret boyfriend…and he’s part of a crime ring that’s using her to steal her grandparent’s wealth. If that wasn’t bad enough, the thug catches Tetsuo snooping around and threatens to kill Reika as soon as she gets home. Fueled by fatherly instincts, Tetsuo murders the man…only for his wife to walk in and witness what he’s done. Now with a corpse to hide and a crime ring hot on his tail, Tetsuo must resort to his love of detective novels and his wits to stay one step ahead of a grim fate…

Rated: 18+

About Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC
A subsidiary of Kodansha, Japan’s largest publisher, Kodansha USA Publishing is the English-language publisher of some of the world’s most recognizable manga properties, including Katsuhiro Otomo’s AKIRA and Naoko Takeuchi’s Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, along with a robust catalog of English-language Japanese novels, cookbooks, craft guides, historical and cultural literature, and more. Today, thanks to recent fan-favorite and critically acclaimed hits like Attack on Titan, Battle Angel Alita, Witch Hat Atelier, and the popular MONOGATARI novels, Kodansha USA Publishing is one of the best-selling manga publishers in the United States. Kodansha USA Publishing’s print offerings are distributed by Penguin Random House Publisher Services, and their digital manga and select digital books are available across a number of digital comics, manga, and book vendors. For more information visit kodansha.us.

The post Kodansha USA Licenses My Home Hero appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum start the new year a little later than normal as they have so many leftover Xmas gifts to unwrap (and by gifts we mean news)! Including the usual new series and licenses, as well as a lot of lists to catch up on and tons of new anime news that came out over the holiday season! Enjoy!!

Be sure to take our annual podcast survey by Sunday, February 15th, for a chance to win some free manga!!

Download Here!!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – In Memoriam:

• Ichiro Mizuki
• Satomi Mikuriya
• Yuki Hijiri
• Hilnama
• Gosaku Ota
• Yuji Nunokawa

14:19 – Intro/Latest Podcasts

28:15 – November NYT & October Bookscan Lists

31:00 – Bookscan Lists for November & December

41:36 – DaVinci Manga Ranking 2022

44:35- Kono ga Sugoi Manga Editors Picks for 2023

49:25 – Yokai Watch manga changes magazines

50:26 – Hunter x Hunter goes on hiatus again, but will no longer serialize weekly when it resumes

54:54 – Kishimoto to draw short manga based on the winner of global Naruto character poll

59:32 – JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 9 debuts on Feb 17th

1:00:48 – Moriarty the Patriot novels get manga adaptation

1:02:03 – New Devilman Gaiden manga

1:02:54 – Tale of the Outcasts special manga

1:04:04 – New To Love Ru one shot

1:04:38 – New manga from:

• Haro Aso
• Kei Sasuga
• Mingo Ito
• Minami Mizuno
• Kensuke Koba
• Sho Makura
• Junji Ito

1:13:24 – Pandora in the Crimson Shell enters final arc

1:14:32 – Gege Akutami implies that Jujutsu Kaisen will probably end in about a year

1:15:16 – Excuse Me Dentist, Its Touching Me ends

1:15:58 – Adachi & Shimamura and Ascendance of Bookworm novels ending

1:17:03 – Kadokawa president writes light novel about starting his publishing business

1:18:26 – Dororo webcomic launches

1:19:40 – Kodansha’s Evening Magazine ceases publication

1:20:45 – Multiple Kodansha series ending with simulpubs being pulled from multiple platforms

1:24:24 – Crunchyroll adds Kaina of the Great Snow Sea manga

1:25:57 – New Licenses from Manga Planet and Manga Hot

1:28:28 – Star Fruit Books licenses H20

1:30:37 – Fantagraphics publishes Minami Lover

1:33:19 – Ablaze licenses Centaurs

1:35:19 – Yen Press Licenses

1:44:50 – Shonen Jump raises subscription price to $2.99

1:46:16 – 2nd Sword Art Online Progressive film screens in NA on Feb 3rd 2023

1:47:13 – Lupin the Third vs. Cat’s Eye streams on January 27th on Amazon Prime

1:49:06 – Detective Conan: The Culprit Hanazawa comes to Netflix on Feb 1st

1:49:43 – Spy X Family gets 2nd season & film in 2023

1:51:14 – Blue Exorcist gets new TV anime

1:52:59 – Mission Yozakura Family and Kaiju No. 8 anime coming in 2024

1:55:06 – Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective gets anime

1:56:50 – Zom 100 gets anime

1:58:01 – Tale of the Outcasts anime will cover entirety of the manga’s story

1:58:19 – Boruto anime to enter Sasuke Retsuden arc followed by Code arc

1:59:30 – Pokemon enters final arc with Ash & Pikachu as protagonists with new ones coming in April

2:01:53 – Penguin Random House CEO resigns

2:03:11 – Shawne Kleckner leaves Rightstuf

2:04:38 – Peter Tatara leaves Leftfield Media to join Japan Society

2:06:04 – Community Shout-outs!:

• ANYC vendor hospitalized, GoFundMe set up
• Pixiv launches Artists in Korea and Artists in Taiwan kickstarters

2:08:27 – Wrap up

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

Ukraine Aid Resources & Links

Ukraine Crisis Media Center links

Ukraine Caard

Ukraine Linktree

Ukraine Refugee IRC Emergency Fund

American Prestige Podcast’s Ukraine Explain episodes

GoFundMe’s Verified Ukraine Fundraisers & Humanitarian Fund

Texas Trans Support Resources & Links

Act-Blue and Donation Page for the Transgender Education Network of Texas

Links to Smaller Trans Organizations in Texas to Donate to

Anime Feminist’s Dual Resources & Links List for Ukraine Aid & Trans Community Support

LINKS:

• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Support us on Patreon!
• Da Vinci List
• Kono Manga Sugoi List
• ShoujoseiWorld’s thread on the female readers list
• Vote in the NaruTop99 Poll until Jan 31st!
• Vlord’s review of Rainbow Days
• Lum’s interview with Casper Kelly

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 222: January 2022 News Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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While we take a bit of extra time to put out our next episode of Manga Mavericks, enjoy an episode of Another Day, Another Adventure! A podcast hosted by Colton & Sakaki (founder of Weekly Shogakukan Edition) where they attempt to watch through and discuss all of the Dragon Ball anime franchise! On this episode, both them and Lum talk about their experience seeing Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero in theaters and discuss their thoughts on the film and how it stacks up to the last few from the franchise!

Download Here!

Links:

Subscribe to us wherever you listen to podcasts!

Listen to the 5 newest episodes of the podcast early exclusively on Patreon!!

Follow us on Twitter!

Email us at anotherdbpod@gmail.com

Album art provided by @taysamey

Follow Lum on Twitter!

Listen to #Lum Squad

Follow Colton & Sakaki on Twitter

Check out Colton’s other podcasts

Follow Sakaki’s Shogakukan Blog & Twitter

Listen to Sakaki on the Demon Slayer Podcast, Shaman King Podcast & Saturday Night Shoggy!

The post Manga Mavericks Bonus Podcast – Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum end 2022 with one more podcast discussing the latest simulpubs! The first one being available on Azuki with Natsume & Natsume by Shunsuke Sorato, followed by the newest title on Manga Plus with Me and My Gangster Neighbour by Momose Wataru, where our Mavericks unfortunately have to discuss the comic’s poor localization quality more then the actual comic. Afterwards, they discuss the 4 newest Shonen Jump series with The Ichinose Family’s Deadly Sins from Taizan5, Cipher Academy by Nisioisin and Yuji Iwasaki, Ichigoki’s Under Control!! by Seiji Hayashi and Fabricant 100 by Daisuke Enoshima! Thanks to everyone who has listened to show for the past year and we’ll see you all in the next one!!

Download Here!!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – RIP Grant James

03:09 – Intro

04:15 – Oricon’s Yearly Comic Sales Ranking 2022

Simulpubs:

24:49 – Natsume & Natsume

35:54 – Me and My Gangster Neighbour

55:58 – The Ichinose Family’s Deadly Sins

1:15:49 – Cipher Academy

1:34:02 – Ichigoki’s Under Control!!

1:40:22 – Fabricant 100

1:57:23 – Community Shout-outs!:

• Multiversity Manga Club Podcast: November 2022 in Shonen Jump
• Manga Crash’s videos on Ichinose Family & Cipher Academy and Ichigoki & Fabricant 100
• Ray Mona’s Secret Stories of Saint Seiya video
• “Why Does Saint Seiya Consistently Fail in “North of Mexico”?” on Land of Obscusion
• “If I Was Born As A Girl…”: Transfeminine desire in Stop!! Hibari-Kun by Madeline Blondeau on Anime Feminist
• Saturday Night Shoggy podcast discussing the premiere of The Tale of Outcasts at Anime NYC
• Taiiku Podcast on REDLINE

2:07:27 – Wrap upEnjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

Ukraine Aid Resources & Links

Ukraine Crisis Media Center links

Ukraine Caard

Ukraine Linktree

Ukraine Refugee IRC Emergency Fund

American Prestige Podcast’s Ukraine Explain episodes

GoFundMe’s Verified Ukraine Fundraisers & Humanitarian Fund

Texas Trans Support Resources & Links

Act-Blue and Donation Page for the Transgender Education Network of Texas

Links to Smaller Trans Organizations in Texas to Donate to

Anime Feminist’s Dual Resources & Links List for Ukraine Aid & Trans Community Support

LINKS:

• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Support us on Patreon!

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 221: December 2022 Simulpubs Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Hello everybody and welcome back to Manga Mavericks @ Movies, the show where we don’t talk smack about movies, we celebrate them, except for the rare occasions we do talk smack about movies, but that wouldn’t be very Christmasy of us would it?

Yes, it’s been a while, but we’re back to throw another log on the @ Movies fire just in time for Yule as a Christmas gift to our dear listeners, presenting our first ever special Manga Mavericks @ Movies interview with Casper Kelly, the creator of many adult swim classics like Stroker & Hoop, Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell, Too Many Cooks, Final Deployment 4, and his newest special and first ever feature film, Adult Swim’s Yule Log (aka The Fireplace)!

Yule Log was the wonderful wintertime gift we didn’t know we wanted when it premiered after the Rick & Morty season finale last Sunday night, it’s the kind of special surprise and creative novelty that I absolutely love [adult swim] for and why they’re still the best network around, because no other network would greenlight a feature film based around a Yule Log video gone horribly wrong like this. But the film is so much more than just an inspired gimmick, and we go deep with Casper to ask burning questions about what sparks his imagination and lit the fire of the themes placed in the film, and he lays down a lot of fascinating insights you’ll want to log!

If you have not seen Yule Log yet I highly recommend you go to adult swim’s website or HBO MAX and watch it first, going in completely blind, and then coming back to this interview. I do not avoid spoilers in my questions and one of mine involves discussing the ending of the film and its implications, so definitely watch the film first, and don’t start a flame war with me if you don’t! But enough burning the midnight oil, let’s crawl into the fireplace and chat with the man behind this Yuletime jewel sublime, Casper Kelly!

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and subscribe to us on Youtube. You can follow the hosts on twitter at @LumRanmaYasha and @VLordGTZ. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content! If there are any topics, series or mangaka you would like to see us talk about on the show, drop us a line in the comments below, or e-mail us at mangamavericks@gmail.com! Thanks for listening!

Download Here!!

Music Featured:

Puddles Pity Party – “The Fireplace”

LINKS:

• Support us on Patreon!
• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Wanna Leave Us a Tip? LumRanmaYasha also has a Ko-fi!
• Read Lum’s reviews on All-Comic!
• Watch Adult Swim Yule Log on Adult Swim or HBO MAX!
• Check out more interviews with Casper Kelly in this playlist!

The post Manga Mavericks @ Movies #49: “Adult Swim Yule Log w/Casper Kelly” appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Story & Art Minami Mizuno

Translation & Adaptation by Max Greenway

Touch-Up Art & Lettering by Inori Fukuda Trant

Design by Shawn Carrico

Edited by Nancy Thistlethwaite

Rainbow Days centers on a group of four high school boys, each of whom have very different habits and romantic interests. When one of the boys, Natsuki Hashiba, is dumped on Christmas Eve, he immediately falls in love with a girl named Anna Kobayakawa after she hands him a box of tissues. Once he learns that Anna also attends his high school, Natsuki starts his new pursuit of love with both the help and hindrance of his friends.

Rainbow Day’s biggest strength is the friendship dynamic between Natsuki and his three friends. While Natsuki is a romantic, this is not a mindset shared by his friends. Tomoya Matsunaga is a playboy, Keiichi Katakura is a sadist, and Tsuyoshi Naoe is an otaku. This leads to them all having drastically different approaches to how Natsuki should pursue Anna, leading to some hilarious interactions between the boys. That said, there’s a strong sense of brotherhood within the group. Natsuki’s friends genuinely want him to succeed in love, and while not all their ideas are ideal, they help Natsuki make small steps towards getting closer to Anna.

Compared to the other characters introduced in this volume, Anna is easily the most quiet and soft-spoken. She maintains a calm and neutral expression in most of her appearances, making it difficult for the reader to know how she’s truly reacting to the situations around her. That said, this also makes her moments of clear emotion far more impactful. Throughout this volume, Anna only smiles when talking to her close friend Mari and with Natsuki. This allows for Natsuki’s key moments with Anna, such as her laughing when they’re walking home from the study session, to provide a sense of development in their relationship. It will be interesting to see how Anna’s character is explored further as the story progresses.

Minami Mizuno’s artwork is solid throughout this volume. Rainbow Days’ best qualities are supported by its comedy and gag conversations, but the manga never feels visually cluttered in order to facilitate this. Mizuno’s panel composition is especially standout, making great use of the page layout to emphasize jokes. One of my favorite moments was during the end of chapter 2, where at the bottom of one page, Mari starts crying after Anna tells her that she “likes her too” and that they should eat the chocolate gifted from Natsuki, only for the next page to have Anna yell “That’s Garbage!” as a reply. It’s moments such as this that make Rainbow Days work so well as a manga, enhancing the series as a whole.

Rainbow Days is an enjoyable read that will provide you with some good laughs alongside its romance elements. The manga has some great character interactions and it’s easy to become attached to the cast thanks to their entertaining antics. If you’re looking to check out a new series, this one is off to a promising start.

The post Rainbow Days, Volume 1 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum attempt to go through all of their Thanksgiving leftovers before Christmas (and by that I mean cover the last month’s worth of news)! Join us as we talk about things like the newest upcoming arc of Dragon Ball Super, new licenses such as Innocent from Shinichi Sakamoto, and the newest Detective Conan film coming next year!

Download Here!!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – RIP William Frederick Knight

03:36 – Intro/Newest Bonus Podcast

07:07 – November NYT & October Bookscan Lists

19:12 – Dragon Ball Super manga resumes with adaptation of latest film

23:22 – Black Lagoon manga returns from hiatus

25:24 – Satoru Noda’s Supinamarada manga returns

27:18 – New Manga From:

• Masanori Morita
• Gaku Kajikawa
• Fumi Yoshinaga
• Nozomi Mino
• Kyoichi Nanatsuki
• Inoue
• Ema Toyama

35:48 – Kazuhisa Kondo’s new Gundam 0079 manga

36:54 – Tokyo Revengers special arc and spinoff

38:34 – Moriarty the Patriot’s first part ends

39:06 – Aka Akasaka will retire as manga “artist,” but still work as an author

40:39 – Newest batch of Jump series

44:14 – Star Fruit Books to launch Kickstarter for print edition of Vasilisa

45:32 – Bookwaler Global launches TATESC webcomics in English

47:50 – Azuki adds Blitz and Natsume & Natsume

49:24 – New additions to Comikey

51:35 – Colton’s Licensing Highlights:

1:06:48 – Lum’s Licensing Highlights:

• Origin
• Virgin Love
• The Darwin Incident
• The Moon on a Rainy Night
• The Summer With You: The Sequel
• My Ultramarine Sky
• Super Morning Star
• Ogami-san Can’t Keep It In
• My Lovesick Life as a ’90s Otaku
• Witch Hat Atelier Kitchen
• The Essence of Being a Muse
• Scribbles

1:23:41 – J-Novel Club enters print partnership with Yen Press

1:25:26 – Viz partners with Boutique Licensing Agency in Europe

1:26:17 – Kadokawa acquires Anime News Network

1:29:17 – Federal Judge blocks Penguin Random House acquisition of Simon & Schuster

1:32:35 – Local Manga owner steps down

1:33:44 – Shueshia requests Spanish advertiser to take down alleged ads on pirate sites

1:35:17 – Over 20% of manga artists fear bankruptcy due to Japan’s new invoice system

1:42:21 – Moto Hagio inducted into Order of the Rising Sun

1:44:10 – One Piece: Film Red’s North American box office

1:47:28 – Detective Conan film news

1:53:32 – Kaguya-sama and Sword Art Online Progressive films comes to US theaters in Feb 2023

1:54:26 – Ten Count gets theatrical anime film

1:55:33 – Naoko Yamada to direct new film at Science Saru

1:55:56 – Takashi Yamazaki to direct new Godzilla work

1:56:39 – Carlos Lopez Estrada to write and direct Your Name remake

1:57:24 – Inu-oh dub & home video release date

1:58:22 – GKIDS licenses Giovanni’s Island

1:59:27 – Eleven Arts licenses Blue Thermal

2:00:42 – Fathom Events to screen Shin Ultraman on January 11th & 12th

2:02:19 – Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai anime’s English dub now available for digital purchase

2:03:39 – Dead Mount Death Play anime coming April 2023

2:05:15 – ANYC 2023 details

2:06:58 – Free Comic Book Day 2023 manga offerings

2:07:57 – Community Shout-outs!:

• Weekly Manga Recap on One Piece Film Red
• But Why Tho on One Piece Film Red
• One Piece Podcast on One Piece Film Red
• Zach Wilkerson on One Piece Film Red
• Marion on One Piece Film Red
• Marion on True Beauty
• NYCC This Manga is Awesome Panel
• Marion on Manga Machinations
• MistareFusion’s DBGT Dissection
• TamaHero on Pokemon Colosseum
• ShouJosei of the Year Awards

2:18:37 – Wrap up

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

Ukraine Aid Resources & Links

Ukraine Crisis Media Center links

Ukraine Caard

Ukraine Linktree

Ukraine Refugee IRC Emergency Fund

American Prestige Podcast’s Ukraine Explain episodes

GoFundMe’s Verified Ukraine Fundraisers & Humanitarian Fund

Texas Trans Support Resources & Links

Act-Blue and Donation Page for the Transgender Education Network of Texas

Links to Smaller Trans Organizations in Texas to Donate to

Anime Feminist’s Dual Resources & Links List for Ukraine Aid & Trans Community Support

LINKS:

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The post Manga Mavericks EP. 220: December 2022 News Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Kodansha USA has announced their new digital manga licenses for December 2022, which include The Shape-Shifting Witch’s Kiss by Maho Feneno and Beast #6 by Kohei Nagashii. The full details on these titles can be found below.

The Shape-Shifting Witch’s Kiss
By Maho Funeno

Release Date: December 6, 2022

Tohru has a superpower – he manages to be invisible without any magic at all! In fact, the only one who truly sees him is his childhood friend, Tsumugi, leading Tohru to have the crush to end all crushes on her. But when Tohru’s “ability” leads him to accidentally discover a witch and strip her of her powers, he thinks he’s screwed…until she offers to help him hook up with Tsumugi. But this witch’s powers are revived only with a kiss? One thing’s for sure—Tohru won’t be invisible for long!

Rated: 16+

Beast #6
By Kohei Nagashii

Release Date: December 26, 2022

Fifteen years ago, indiscriminate supernatural attacks rocked Japan-prompting the government to create the Tactical Raveling Unit in the First Counter-Psychotrauma Division of the Special Measures Agency…or TR1M, for short. Their purpose? To deal with the monstrous manifestations called the Unraveled. And they’re good, too… so when TR1M agent, Raveler Second Class Nika Ago, is shipped to a far-off backwater, she knows her poor performance is to blame…but what she doesn’t expect is to find a hotbed of Unraveled activity, and a boy with a secret who just might be her way back into TR1M’s good graces!

Rated: 13+

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(November 23, 2022) – Seven Seas Entertainment is excited to announce the license acquisition of two more popular danmei/Boys’ Love novel series from China: Remnants of Filth: Yuwu and Case File Compendium: Bing An Ben by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou. These highly requested titles from the author of the hit danmei novel series The Husky and His White Cat Shizun: Erha He Ta De Bai Mao Shizun will be officially available in English for the first time!

The Seven Seas English-language editions of these Mature-rated novels will feature the uncensored text in deluxe paperbacks with exclusive new covers and interior illustrations.

Remnants of Filth: Yuwu
A historical fantasy epic set in the universe of The Husky and His White Cat Shizun! Two war generals were once close…until dark circumstances ripped them apart. What secrets will surface when they finally reunite?

The empire of Chonghua once produced two young generals who rose to prominence fighting side by side. Mo Xi, reserved in nature, was known for his commanding air and ruthless temperament. His best friend and comrade, Gu Mang, was the complete opposite: as charming as he was clever, he was beloved by his soldiers and the people. That is, until Gu Mang shocked the empire by turning traitor to serve an enemy nation.

Years later, a feral Gu Mang has returned, his mind broken. The public demands his death, and no one is assumed more hungry for vengeance against him than Mo Xi. But when Mo Xi stays his hand, the question must be asked—what is the true relationship between the pair? And what past secrets hide beneath Mo Xi’s icy exterior and Gu Mang’s tortured psyche? The Seven Seas English-language edition will include exclusive, all-new covers and interior illustrations from artist St, who also illustrates The Husky and His White Cat Shizun.

Case File Compendium: Bing An Ben
In this modern tale with a sci-fi edge, an elite young man with a dark side develops a deep, aggressive relationship with his former doctor.

From the outside, He Yu seems to have everything going for him: he’s handsome, rich, and smart. But beneath his perfect facade, he’s hiding a dark secret–one that makes him a slumbering threat to the people around him. After spending years abroad, he enrolls in film school to pursue the girl of his dreams, Xie Xue…but that forces him to deal with her overprotective older brother, the man He Yu hoped he’d never see again.

Xie Qingcheng, an icy man of subdued emotion, was once He Yu’s doctor, and is the only person who knows He Yu’s terrible secret. He Yu swears not to let his past with this man get in the way of his feelings for Xie Xue, but he soon finds himself drawn into a tangled web of intrigue and violence that involves both of the Xie siblings. As a sprawling conspiracy sucks in He Yu, he must confront his own grudges and face new truths–including his own feelings for Xie Qingcheng, which warp into a fixation much darker than what he feels for the man’s sister.

Remnants of Filth: Yuwu (Novel) Volume 1 will be released for the first time in North America in April 2023 for $19.99 USA / $24.99 CAN, with the series available in large-trim, deluxe paperback editions as part of the Seven Seas Danmei label. The ebooks will also be available on digital platforms.

Case File Compendium: Bing An Ben (Novel) Volume 1 will be released for the first time in North America in August 2023 for $19.99 USA / $24.99 CAN, with the series available in large-trim, deluxe paperback editions as part of the Seven Seas Danmei label. The ebooks will also be available on digital platforms.

About Seven Seas Entertainment
Established in 2004, Seven Seas Entertainment is an award-winning publisher that specializes in bringing the best of Japanese manga and light novels to English language audiences alongside the hottest hand-picked books from around the globe, as well as producing original comics, graphic novels, and youth literature. All of Seven Seas’ book imprints are distributed throughout the world by Penguin Random House Publisher Services. For more information, visit sevenseasentertainment.com

The post Seven Seas Licenses REMNANTS OF FILTH: YUWU and CASE FILE COMPENDIUM: BING AN BEN Chinese Danmei Novels by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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This year at Anime NYC, Kodansha USA announced several print releases that are slated for Fall 2023. The full list can be found below.

Fall 2023 New Print Releases:

Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Chat Noir
By Koma Warita
Illustrated by Riku Tsuchida
Created by ZAG with Toei Animation

Return to Paris with Marinette and Adrian in the manga of the beloved animated series, now streaming on Netflix!

Marinette is your typical high school student. She’s cheery, a bit awkward, and a little clumsy. But what’s not so typical is, she can transform into a superhero! Disguised as the confident Ladybug, Marinette protects the streets of Paris alongside fellow superhero Cat Noir–who, unbeknownst to Marinette, is Marinette’s classmate Adrian. Not only are Marinette and Adrian unaware of each other’s secret identities, they’re also criss-crossed crushes–Marinette has a crush on Adrian, while Chat Noir has a crush on Ladybug! As if being a teenager and a crime fighting superhero wasn’t enough!

Rated: 8+

I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness: I’ll Spoil Her with Delicacies and Style to Make Her the Happiest Woman in the World!
Manga by Ichiho Katsura
Story by Fukada Sametaro
Character Design by Miwabe Sakura

What does a young noblewoman freshly betrayed by her betrothed need most? A crash course in everything naughty! And who better to teach her than the feared hermit sorcerer who for some reason can’t help but pamper her to no end?

Rated: 13+

ORIGIN
By Boichi

Tokyo, 2048. Japan is now connected to the entire northern hemisphere by the Eurasian Railroad, and all manner of crime and vice pour into the megalopolis at its eastern terminus. Little do the people know that inhuman beings live among us, however–robots with high-level AI, who will kill to survive. Only one ‘man’ can stop them –their prototype: ORIGIN.

Rated: 13+

VIRGIN LOVE
By Tina Yamashina

“Looking for love, but afraid you’ll never find it?” Come Live at the Love House! Six strangers, one house, one shared goal: love. What could go wrong?

Rated: 16+

The Girl Who Became a Fish
(Maiden’s Bookshelf)
By Osamu Dazai
Illustrated by Nekosuke

Suwa, a charcoal burner’s daughter, lives together with her father in a small village at a foot of a mountain so remote it doesn’t even appear on maps. Slowly she comes to realize the dark futility of her life, leading to a strange and elliptical transformation… Dazai depicts the adolescent awakening to death and the desire to escape through this quiet and ominous tale.

Rated: 13+

Spring Comes Riding in a Carriage (Maiden’s Bookshelf)
By Riichi Yokomitsu
Illustrated by Atsuki Ito

A more intimate and romantic entry in the Maiden’s Bookshelf series, this tale of doomed romance brings together the so-called “God of Literature” with the gorgeous artwork of Atsuki Ito, author of A Love-Letter in 26 Characters.

Rated: 13+

The Darwin Incident
By Shun Umezawa

Created in a biological science lab, Charlie is a half human, half chimpanzee hybrid known as a “Humanzee.”

Raised by his adoptive human parents, Charlie is now 15 and starting high school. There he meets Lucy, a clever loner who becomes his first-ever friend.

But his “normal” life is shattered when the animal rights extremists who freed his mother from the lab fifteen years ago reemerge as terrorists bent on kidnapping Charlie at all costs.

Rated: 16+

The Moon on a Rainy Night
By Kuzushiro

This highly-anticipated yuri romance about a high school girl entranced by her intelligent, enigmatic, hearing-impaired classmate is a must-read for fans of Bloom Into You and Whisper Me a Love Song.

One day, while rushing to a piano lesson, a girl named Saki collides with someone on the street. As Saki collects herself, the stranger picks up the sheet music Saki dropped, hands it to Saki together with a band-aid, and continues on her way—all without saying a word. Saki is left wondering about the identity of the tall, lovely stranger, only to discover the next day that she is one of her classmates at her new high school. The girl’s name is Kanon, and though she is hearing impaired, she refuses any kind of support or “special treatment” from her teachers or classmates. Over the course of the year, Saki slowly grows closer to Kanon and begins to chip away at her cold exterior.

Rated: 16+

My Ultramarine Sky
By Nagisa Furuya

From the creator of My Summer of You comes a BL high school romance about two friends who’ve always been in the same class, but when a new school year separates them, they realize that their feelings for each other might run deeper than friendship…

From their first year of middle school to their second year of high school, Kai and Ren have not only always been in the same class—they’ve also always sat next to each other. But in their last year of high school, the boys are assigned to two separate classes, and with each passing day, Kai feels as if he’s slipping further and further away from Ren… One day, when Kai finds Ren sleeping in a classroom after school, he whispers the feelings that he can’t bring himself to say out loud…and Ren hears him. Will Kai’s confession push them further and further apart, or will it be the spark that brings them back to each other?

Rated: 13+

The Summer With You: The Sequel
(My Summer of You Vol. 3)
By Nagisa Furuya

Chiharu and Wataru return in this cinematic sequel to Nagisa Furuya’s beloved summer romance boys’ love series!

Their first memorable summer was in high school, followed by their first summer together as college students… Now, Wataru and Chiharu are in their second year of college, and the two boys can’t wait to spend another summer together. Now back from his study abroad program, Chiharu is ecstatic to see Wataru for the first time in two months, and Wataru’s thankful that they’ll have more time to spend with each other, without also having to balance work and school. One of their plans has the two return to the cinema for a movie date to celebrate Wataru’s 20th birthday, but what other memories will the summer have in store for them?

Rated: Older Teen 16+

Super Morning Star
By Kara Aomiya

When a classmate finds out he’s secretly a sentai star, Kaido’s precious life as a regular high schooler is in danger of being stolen—and so’s his heart, in this BL rom-com for fans of Hitorijime My Hero!

At high school, Kaido seems to be a scary delinquent, but he’s leading a second life—as the star of a sentai superhero live show! When sentai superfan classmate Honda discovers Kaido’s secret, Kaido will stop at nothing to make sure it doesn’t get out, but despite himself, the charismatic performer finds himself falling for his biggest fan…

Rated: Older Teen 16+

Ogami-san Can’t Keep It In
By Yu Yoshidamaru

Fantasies run wild as thirsty high school girl Ogami-san must learn to keep her thoughts—and hands—to herself, in this raunchy coming-of-age romcom with a bizarre, blabbermouth twist!

Ogami-san has been keeping a dirty little secret from her peers at school—puberty has emptied her mind of everything but perverted fantasies! For the sake of leading an ordinary school life, she pulls out all the stops to keep her mental wild side under wraps. But when she literally reaches a hand out to Yaginuma-kun, a cute but mysterious boy in her class, her innermost thoughts just come spilling out! All she wants is to get to know him (and his body) better, but she can’t do that without the risk of exposing her true self. What’s a girl to do?!

Rated: Older Teen 16+

My Lovesick Life as a ’90s Otaku
By Nico Nicholson

Relive 1990s otaku culture with this sentimental and comical reflection of a teen’s path to self-acceptance. This nostalgic coming-of-age story is perfect for fans of Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku!

Otaku culture has finally become mainstream, and Megumi can’t quite get used to it. Divorced, with a teen daughter, Megumi thinks fondly back to her days as an anime and manga otaku—in 1995. That year, she transferred to a new school and decided to start fresh by hiding her otaku interests. She found herself taken under the wing of a basketball ace named Masamune, who’s got a kind heart and looks just like one of her favorite characters. But, though Megumi catches a whiff of destiny in the air, she’s crushed to learn that Masamune detests otaku…

Rated: Teen 13+

How I Met My Soulmate
By Anashin

From the creator of Waiting for Spring comes a meditation on just what destiny means, and whether “the one” is really out there.

Yuki is a 20-year-old college sophomore who has wished for one thing since moving to Tokyo: to find her soulmate. Growing a bit desperate after a long drought, she goes along with a friend to a club for the first time. Her friend thrives, but it’s chaotic and loud…just not Yuki’s scene. Just when Yuki begins to despair that she’ll ever find a real, adult relationship, she meets Iori, a man with bleached hair and a slightly scary demeanor…but first impressions don’t always tell the whole story. Could destiny still have more cards to play?

Rated: Teen 13+

King in Limbo
By Ai Tanaka

From the creator of Apple Children of Aeon comes a gripping, six-volume thriller manga about trauma, healing, friendship, and a global conspiracy to keep people sick. A must for fans of suspenseful, complex manga like Naoki Urasawa’s Monster and 
The Promised Neverland.

It’s been eight years since the pandemic in which a deadly sleeping sickness claimed millions of lives. After a serious injury cost him a leg (and, nearly, his life), Petty Officer Adam Garfield retires from active service in the U.S. Navy. But his plan to focus on his family and physical therapy is shattered when he receives secret word that the sleeping sickness has returned, and it’s his job to bring back the mysterious man who helped cure it by diving into people’s memories—a man known by the codename “King.”

Rated: Older Teen 16+

Witch Hat Atelier Kitchen
By Hiromi Sato
Based on Witch Hat Atelier created by Kamome Shirahama

The tasty spinoff to the acclaimed magical saga Witch Hat Atelier follows two fan-favorite characters in their after-hours culinary adventures.

The only time adults have to themselves is after the Sun goes down and the kids are in bed—that’s just as true in the magical world! During the day, the atelier bustles with the cries and magical misfires of little witches learning how to cast spells and get along. But nighttime is Qifrey and Olruggio’s time, to laze in the kitchen, cook, eat, and chat.

Rated: Teen 13+

FALL 2023 PREMIUM EDITIONS, BOX SETS, NEW-TO-PRINT, & MORE:

Vinland Saga Deluxe Edition
By Makoto Yukimura

Amid the chaos of the Viking war for dominance over England, a boy has everything taken from him and vows revenge. But violent dreams bring no peace… The violent and complex action epic that inspired the hit anime returns, in premium, 3-in-1, collector’s hardcovers!

As a child, Thorfinn sat at the feet of the great Leif Ericson and thrilled to wild tales of a land far to the west. But his youthful fantasies were shattered by a mercenary raid. Raised by the Vikings who murdered his family, Thorfinn became a terrifying warrior, forever seeking to kill the band’s leader, Askeladd, and avenge his father. Sustaining Thorfinn through his ordeal are his pride in his family and his dreams of a fertile westward land, a land without war or slavery…the land Leif called Vinland.

Rated: Older Teen 16+

Blue Period Manga Box Set 1
By Tsubasa Yamaguchi

The first six volumes of the coming-of-age art manga that inspired the hit Netflix anime in a handsome box set, plus a bonus booklet packed with exclusive art and other goodies!

Popular guy Yatora realizes he’s just going through the motions to make other people happy and finds himself in a new passion: painting. But untethering yourself from all your past expectations is dangerous as well as thrilling…

2020 Manga Taisho Grand Prize Winner, YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens selection, Texas Library Association, Maverick Graphic Novels Reading List unanimous selection

Rated: Older Teen 16+

Cells at Work! Omnibus
By Akane Shimizu

The exciting, hilarious, and surprisingly educational manga that delves inside the human body returns in two oversized, 3-in-1 omnibus volumes!

Strep throat! Hay fever! Influenza! The world is a dangerous place for a red blood cell just trying to get her deliveries finished. Fortunately, she’s not alone… she’s got a whole human body’s worth of cells ready to help out! This fun and imaginative manga inspired a world of spinoffs and a smash-hit anime adaptation.
Rated: Teen 13+

Magic Knight Rayearth
 (Paperback)
By CLAMP

CLAMP’s masterwork Magic Knight Rayearth—now in paperback! The original girl-powered isekai adventure—perfect for fans of Sailor Moon and She-Ra—brings the updated translation and lettering of the hardcover box sets to a more accessible format.

While on a field trip to Tokyo Tower, three teenage girls cross a magical portal and are transported to another world called Cefiro. The Princess Emeraude summoned them with the last vestiges of her remaining strength, believing the trio will become the magic knights prophesied by legend to save the realm!

Rated: 13+

WIND BREAKER
By Satoru Nii

Welcome to Furin, where the strongest survive…to protect the weak! A different kind of delinquent manga perfect for fans of Tokyo Revengers.

Haruka Sakura wants nothing to do with weaklings—he’s only interested in the strongest of the strong. He’s just started at Furin High School, a school of degenerates known only for their brawling strength—strength they use to protect their town from anyone who wishes it ill. But Haruka’s not interested in being a hero or being part of any sort of team—he just wants to fight his way to the top!

Rated: Older Teen 16+

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NEW YORK, NY (11/19/22) – Yen Press, LLC held a panel at Anime NYC 2022, at which they announced over two dozen new acquisitions. This 2023 lineup includes new manga (Handyman Saito in Another World; A Reincarnated Witch Spells Doom; Elden Ring: The Road to the Erdtree; Appare-Ranman!; I Want to Be a Receptionist in This Magical World; Magical Girl Incident; Manner of Death; Higurashi When They Cry: GOU; Sword Art Online Progressive Scherzo of Deep Night; What This World Is Made Of; Yokohama Station SF; Puella Magi Suzune Magica: The Complete Omnibus Edition; Me and My Beast Boss; My Dear, Curse-Casting Vampiress; Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Memoria Freese; The Essence of Being a Muse), light novels (A Certain Magical Index: The Old Testament Omnibus Edition; How to Win Her Heart on the Nth Try; Even if These Tears Disappear Tonight; Maiden of the Needle; My Summoned Beast Is Dead; Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki’s Conjecture; Yami-hara; The Ephemeral Scenes of Setsuna’s Journey), manhwa (Bloody Sweet), a box set (Toilet-bound Hanako-kun: First Stall), and a collection of sketches from fan-favorite creator Kaoru Mori (Scribbles).

Among the many titles announced, highlights include deluxe repackagings of the fan-favorite light novel series A Certain Magical Index and manga series Toilet-bound Hanako-kun. Additionally, the Anime NYC slate of announcements included new releases from beloved creators with works previously published by Yen Press, such as Scribbles by A Bride’s Story creator Kaoru Mori and Bloody Sweet by Maximum Ride: The Manga artist NaRae Lee.

Puella Magi Suzune Magica: The Complete Omnibus Edition

By Magica Quartet

Art by GAN

Read this defiant story set in the world of Madoka Magica in one complete omnibus! Suzune Amano lives an extraordinarily normal life as a middle school student by day and…magical-girl assassin by night?! When a group of four magical girls begins investigating the serial murders in their city, they soon find themselves Suzune’s next targets! But what motivates Suzune to hunt both witches and magical girls alike?

Sword Art Online Progressive Scherzo of Deep Night

Story by Reki Kawahara

Art by Puyocha

Character Design by abec

Nearly two months have passed since Kirito and Asuna found themselves trapped in the world of Aincrad. Now, they’re making their way through the ruins-themed fifth floor, where all sorts of undead monsters—and player-killers—lurk in the shadows! The story of Sword Art Online continues in this brand-new series!

Yokohama Station SF

Story by Yuba Isukari

Art by Gonbe Shinkawa

Character Design by Tatsuyuki Tanaka

All Hiroto has ever known is a life on a tiny coastal speck of Japan. Much of the country has been swallowed by Yokohama Station, a mysterious, ever-growing series of buildings that’s been around for as long as anyone can remember. The few who live outside its many entrances have never seen Inside and know only rumors and legends of the station’s interior. That all changes when Hiroto is given an 18 Ticket, a mysterious item that lets him enter the massive complex for five days. The young man has always sought a purpose, but the one he finds may not be the sort he’d hoped for…

Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Memoria Freese

Original Story by Fujino Omori

Art by Yu Shiomura

Original Concept by Danmachi4 Project

Hestia Familia is back in an all-new adventure! All is quiet as Bell, Haruhime, Hestia, and friends celebrate the Holy Night Festival, but when a Familia from another land comes along, all hell breaks loose! What’s more, Hestia’s getting jealous again, which spells serious trouble for Bell…

Even If These Tears Disappear Tonight

By Misaki Ichijo

College student Tooru Naruse falls in love with his upperclassmen Izumi Wataya, and she accepts his confession on the condition that he cannot fall in love with her. Their fake relationship begins, but Tooru soon discovers that Izumi cannot forget her love from high school. Hoping to learn who that person was, he seeks out her best friend, Maori Hino. Follow characters from Even If This Love Disappears Tonight in this sequel about another heart-wrenching tale of first love.

Handyman Saito in Another World

By Ichitomo Kazutomo

Handyman Saito has never been anyone special. All his life, he’s had average grades, ordinary athletic skill, a commonplace job… But his unremarkable path takes a turn when he wakes up in another world. Here, warriors, wizards, and elves accompany him on quests delving deep into dungeons, and Saito realizes for the first time what it’s like to be needed. After all, who other than the handyman could be trusted to open locked treasure chests or to repair his allies’ equipment? Beginning with a simple “thank you,” this is the story of an ordinary person’s fulfilling life.

A Reincarnated Witch Spells Doom

Story by Tail Yuzuhara

Art by Sora

On her eighteenth birthday, shut-in Sena Shirai gathers her resolve and steps out into the world for the first time in a long while—only to be hit by a truck! Reborn as a witch in another world, she is able to master only two spells: Explosion and Destruction. With the nearby villagers fearful of her powers, she resigns herself to an isolated life once more…that is, until a mysterious boy collapses on her doorstep!

Appare-Ranman!

By Antonsiku

The time is the nineteenth century. Eccentric mechanic boy Appare Sorano sets off on an adventure along with his samurai minder, Kosame Isshiki, only to be cast adrift on the Pacific Ocean. A passing steamship rescues them…and delivers the two not back to familiar Japan but to the far-flung land of America! Trapped in Los Angeles with no easy way to return home, the pair decide to enter the world’s first trans-American automobile race. However, with vast sums of money hinging on the dangerous event’s outcome, they may find the odds are stacked against them…

I Want to Be a Receptionist in This Magical World

Story by MAKO

Art by Yone

Character Design by Maro

Ever since she was little, Nunnally has always wanted to be one of the graceful, capable receptionists of the Hall. As only top-rate mages are accepted to the position, she enrolls in the kingdom’s magic academy to hone her skills, but she feels out of place amid a classroom of nobles—including a genuine prince. She decides that despite being a commoner, she’s going to be the top of her class…but for some reason she just can’t beat the one person she’d most like to—the snobbish boy in the seat next to her, Alweiss Rockman…!

Magical Girl Incident

By Zero Akabane

As a little boy, Sakura Hiromi once dreamed he could be a hero. Now…he’s simply your everyday office worker, toiling away for his company. Though he longs for his childhood dream, it seems so far out of reach—until he decides to step up and save a child one fateful day. Suddenly, fantasies become reality as Hiromi finds himself transformed into…a magical girl?!

Manner of Death

Story by Yukari Umemoto

Art by Sammon

When the skilled coroner Dr. Bunnakit is called to examine the body of his childhood friend after her “suicide,” he soon determines that she was actually murdered. That night, a mysterious stranger threatens him, telling him to rule her death a suicide—and after he confides in his prosecutor friend about this incident, that friend suddenly goes missing. But all hope is not lost, as a young lecturer named Tan offers to help him get to the bottom of all this, which would be more reassuring if Tan weren’t the prime suspect…

What This World Is Made Of

By Shin Yamamoto

After losing everything, the Nakata brothers find a mysterious app that offers a chance to make large sums of money. But are they ready for the danger they must now face, the deadly monsters known as WORLDs…?

Me and My Beast Boss

By Shiroinu

In a world where beastfolk are thought to be superior to humans, human office worker Saki Oki struggles to remain afloat in a company where she is belittled and tormented by her beastfolk colleagues and superiors. And so, when she is called into the CEO’s office, she’s prepared for the worst—but instead of firing Saki, he acknowledges her hard work and makes her his private secretary! She’s delighted by his praise…but could that really be the only reason her heart is racing so fast?

My Dear Curse-Casting Vampiress

By Chisaki Kanai

The world is full of vampires. Supernatural creatures who drain the blood from humans without mercy—fighting such beings is the foundation of Isuzu Osaka’s life. But humanity is losing the war, and desperate times call for desperate measures… And so, Isuzu sets out to strike a deal with a powerful vampiress whose beauty drives all who gaze upon her insane in the hopes of protecting his friends…

How to Win Her Heart on the Nth Try

By Ichine Kamijo

Nagi Yoroizuka, a 27-year-old system engineer at a software development company, is facing down her thirties with no sign of romance. She works hard at her job, but things never seem to go her way. Then, just when a series of mishaps leaves her at her lowest point yet, a childhood friend reappears to offer her a hand. Not only is this genius engineer warmhearted and good-looking, but he gets along great with her! The problem: She’s only ever seen him as a friend, while he’s been hiding his feelings for her their whole lives. But even if she’s willing to give him a chance, will trauma from her past prove too much to overcome?

Maiden of the Needle

Story by Zeroki

Illustrated by Miho Takeoka

Yui was reincarnated into a noble family in another world, retaining her memories of her life in Japan. During her childhood, she befriended the fairies she could see around her by using her magic to help mend their clothes; unfortunately, Yui’s relative lack of skill in blessweaving—the art of enchanting physical fabric through needlework—ultimately results in her being disowned. However, when she is taken in by Rodin Calostira, another nobleman, her luck begins to change…

My Summoned Beast Is Dead

Story by Rakuzan

Illustrated by Miyuu

In a magical academy for summoners, students combine impressive stores of magical energy with artful incantations to usher legends, great and small, onto the battlefield. To say late bloomer Feil Fonaf has had a rough come-up is nothing short of an understatement, but he’s here to prove he deserves his place at the academy as much as anyone else! And as luck would have it, his counterpart summon winds up being the legendary beast of the last realm, Pandora! There’s just one problem…

Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki’s Conjecture

By Mikage Sawamura

Naoya Fukamachi is a university student whose ability to infallibly detect lies has left him friendless and isolated. But when he writes a paper about a strange festival he wandered into as a child, he catches the fancy of his folklore studies professor Akira Takatsuki, a handsome and eccentric man with a passion for all things mysterious. Soon, Naoya finds himself working as Akira’s assistant, helping him to interpret an array of unexplainable phenomena, from haunted objects and cursed effigies to urban legends. As this odd couple continues their investigations, however, Naoya realizes that his professor has had a few bizarre childhood experiences of his own…

Yami-hara

By Mizuki Tsujimura

“When they come, someone dies…” After a quiet boy named Kaname joins the class, Mio reaches out to him, hoping to help the odd boy settle into his new environment. Kaname takes to her a little too well, however, asking to come to her house and then showing up all the time. Frightened, Mio seeks help from an upperclassman she admires…but the nameless wickedness is already coming. It’s close. It’s growing. A horror-mystery novel by famed author Mizuki Tsujimura.

The Essence of Being a Muse

By Aya Fumino

Somebody fill my emptiness. The day I was rejected from art school, everything that was “special” about me died. That’s why I have no choice. Since I’m back to being “ordinary,” I’ll go to the job my mom decided on, while wearing the clothes she picked for me, so that I can find what my mom calls “happiness” alongside somebody she can boast about, trapped in a never-ending cycle of “what if?” and “too bad” all the while.

The Ephemeral Scenes of Setsuna’s Journey

By Rokusyou • Usuawagi

The story of a young man who has inherited the life of his dear friend and a half-beast boy on a journey following the path of the teacher.

Sugimoto Setsuna is summoned to another world as the 68th hero, but he’s been given up on because of his weak and sickly constitution. However, he meets Kyle, the original hero who has been living for 2,500 years, and ends up inheriting his knowledge, power, and life force… He begins the life he wasn’t able to live before and starts a journey around the world, when he comes across an enslaved half-beast boy. Their lively adventure starts here!

Higurashi When They Cry: GOU

Story by Ryukishi07

Art by Tomato Akase

Another year, another death, another disappearance…will this year be the same? Newcomer Keiichi Maebara has long grown accustomed to the rhythm of his simple life in Hinamizawa. But when Keiichi stumbles upon a few old newspapers at a dump site, he quickly realizes the peaceful village and his beloved friends are hiding a deadly secret… Is the tragedy of the summer of 1983 doomed to repeat forevermore…?! New fragments and new mysteries await—from the creators of Higurashi and Tomato Akase, the brand-new sequel series to Higurashi When They Cry!!

Bloody Sweet

By NaRae Lee

One eerie night, in an old, abandoned church, a girl accidentally breaks the seal of an ancient vampire who…starts following her around like a hyper little puppy! It may not be your typical vampire story, but for Naerim, a victim of school bullying, Vlad’s manic energy might be just what she needs to regain her smile!

Scribbles

By Kaoru Mori

A collection of sketches from Kaoru Mori, the creator of hit historical manga Emma and A Bride’s Story! Packed with illustrations done for practice as well as for relaxation, this compilation features commentary on every page and the roots of all her work are laid out.

Elden Ring: The Road to the Erdtree

Original Concept by FromSoftware, Inc.

Art by Nikiichi Tobita

The epic and foreboding world of the hit video game Elden Ring getsturned on its head in this absurd comedy adventure! Follow Aseo the Tarnished as he struggles his way through the Lands Between. What he lacks in strength, speed, intelligence, charisma, skill, experience, intuition, and common sense, he makes up for in…uhhh…

A Certain Magical Index: The Old Testament Omnibus Edition

Story by Kazuma Kamachi

Illustrated by Kiyotaka Haimura

Science and magic have come together once again to create this never-before-seen folio of A Certain Magical Index! The arcane pages of the Old Testament Omnibus Edition detail the collected adventures of Touma Kamijou in a stunning synthesis of paper and metal that any aspiring sorcerer or esper will covet. Including all twenty-two volumes of the original series as well as the two short story volumes, this grimoire cannot be ignored by those who want to complete their own collection of forbidden magical books!

Toilet-bound Hanako-kun: First Stall (Box Set)

By AidaIro

A beautiful collection of the first ten volumes of Toilet-bound Hanako-kun, featuring everything from the very beginnings of the series to the big twist of the fan-favorite Picture Perfect arc. If you just can’t hold it in anymore—“it” being your excitement—getting your hands on this box set is the only way you can find sweet relief!

About Yen Press, LLC

­­Yen Press, LLC is a joint venture between Kadokawa Corporation and Hachette Book Group. Founded in 2006, Yen Press has quickly risen to become one of the largest and most prolific publishers of manga and original graphic novels in the North American marketplace and a driving force in the introduction of light novels and Japanese literature to new readers through its Yen On and Yen Audio imprints. For more information, visit www.yenpress.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum have a lot to talk about as always, as they cover the last month’s worth…

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum are joined by both Maxy Barnard of Friendship Effort Victory and Shonen Flop, as well…

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum once finally get around to covering all the newest series that have debuted over the…

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During J-Novel Club’s most recent livestream, the publisher announced their acquisition of five new series, all of which have now launched 0n the J-Novel Club…

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Story & Art by Ritsu Miyako Translated by Molly Rabbit Edited by Eric Margolis  How do you know when someone’s lying to you? Do they…

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum once again cover the last month’s worth of news, including the latest new series,…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 216: October 2022 News Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum are joined by David from the Shonen Flop podcast for what is possibly the biggest trial…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 215: Gakkyu Hotei (School Judgment) appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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(San Antonio, Texas – September 9, 2022) – J-Novel Club LLC is excited to announce the acquisition of multiple new series following their latest industry…

The post J-Novel Club Announces the Acquisition of Eight New Series at September 2022 Industry Livestream appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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NEW YORK, NY (9/9/22) – Yen Press, LLC is adding seven new titles to their lineup in March 2023, including five manga (The Otherworlder, Exploring…

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This year at Otakon, Manga Mavericks staff members LumRanmaYasha and Varun Gupta had the pleasure of interviewing Hiromi Wakabayashi and Yoh Yoshinari from Studio Trigger….

The post Hiromi Wakabayashi & Yoh Yoshinari From Studio Trigger Interview | Otakon 2022 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum discuss the last months worth of news, with a lot less new licenses to talk about…

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum are joined by video essayist Shannon Strucci, as well as Doctor and Foxy from the…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 213: Lupin The Third appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Kodansha USA has announced that they will release two new digital debut titles this September across all participating digital vendors. Full details on these series…

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(August 31, 2022) – Seven Seas Entertainment is thrilled to announce the license acquisition of three beloved danmei/Boys’ Love novel series from China: Guardian: Zhen…

The post Seven Seas Licenses Three Chinese Danmei Novel Series: GUARDIAN: ZHEN HUN and STARS OF CHAOS: SHA PO LANG by Priest, and Meng Xi Shi’s THOUSAND AUTUMNS: QIAN QIU appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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August 24, 2022, Los Angeles, CA – Publisher TOKYOPOP calls attention to the horrific war in Ukraine with the release of ПЕРЕМОГА: VICTORY FOR UKRAINE,…

The post TOKYOPOP Announces ПЕРЕМОГА: VICTORY FOR UKRAINE appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Is Otakon a con you oughta go to? We once again attended Otakon with our good friends from Weekly Shogakukan Edition, Sakaki and Jecka, and…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 212: “Otakon 2022” appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Mariya Ise is a seiyuu beloved by many fans of many different franchises for roles including Killua (Hunter x Hunter), Eureka/Bonnie (Pokemon), F.F. (JoJo’s Bizarre…

The post Mariya Ise Interview | Otakon 2022 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum catch up on the latest simulpubs on some of the usual apps! Including some various one…

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum once again go over the last months worth of news! We start off with a…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 210: August 2022 News Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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This year at Otakon, Manga Mavericks writer Varun Gupta had the pleasure of interviewing producer Yoshihiro Watanabe from animation studio Orange. Orange has been behind…

The post Yoshihiro Watanabe Interview | Otakon 2022 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum discuss Gengoroh Tagame’s Our Colors with translator of the book, Anne Ishii! Our Colors is…

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, we’re releasing a compilation of our thoughts over the years on Gengoroh Tagame’s My Brother’s Husband! A story about…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 208: My Brother’s Husband appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum discuss Keito Gaku’s trans coming of age manga, Boys Run the Riot, with none other…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 207: Boys Run the Riot appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum once again catch up on some news, especially a lot of sales news, as they finally…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 206: July 2022 News Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, after a tiny bit of news, Colton & Lum catch up on a few new simulpub titles from a…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 205: June 2022 Simulpubs Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, it time once again to catch up on a ton of news!! Colton & Lum discuss the…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 204: June 2022 News Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum are joined by James, aka @That1WelderGuy (host of such podcasts as Kicking Stones & Deal…

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NEW YORK, NY (6/3/22)—Yen Press, LLC announced the future release of Tomihiko Morimi’s Fox Tales, a collection of short stories taking place in modern Kyoto…

The post Yen Press Announces Tomihiko Morimi’s Fox Tales appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Kodansha USA has announced their digital debut titles for June 2022. The full list of titles can be found below. The Shadows of Who We…

The post Kodansha Reveals June 2022 Digital Debuts appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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At Anime Boston 2022, publisher J-Novel Club announced ten new titles for release on the J-Novel Club website and app. The full details on these…

The post J-Novel Club Announces Ten New Titles at Anime Boston 2022 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum are joined by Mike (VegettoEX), one of the founders of the biggest Dragon Ball fansite on…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 202: Akira Toriyama’s Manga Theater appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum invite Jin Chan Yum Wai onto the show to discuss their comics and manga careers! Jin…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 201: Our Interview with Jin Chan Yum Wai appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum celebrate their 200th episode of the podcast by inviting the rest of the usual Mavericks crew,…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 200: May 2022 News & Goodbye, Eri appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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It may have taken a thousand years for the dragon warriors to reunite, but it only took us a couple of weeks! We still had…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 199: “Yona of the Dawn Q&A Extravaganza!!” appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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(LOS ANGELES, May 18, 2022) – Seven Seas Entertainment is excited to announce two all-new labels: Seven Seas BL and Seven Seas GL. After years…

The post Seven Seas Launches New Boys’ Love and Girls’ Love Labels with Six Licenses appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Can Manga Compete With Marvel? Could manga become as big worldwide as it is in Japan? When it comes to comics and TV and movie…

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It’s the dawn of a new podcast adventure as we’re embarking on a journey into one of the most epic modern fantasy adventure manga, Mizuho…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 198: “Yona of the Dawn” appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Last week, Kondasha USA announced their digital debut titles for May 2022. The full details on these series can be found below! Changes of Heart…

The post Kodansha USA Announces May 2022 Digital Debuts appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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NEW YORK, NY (4/15/22)—During the Yen Press Industry Panel at Sakura-Con 2022, Yen Press announced Ize Press, a new imprint dedicated to Korean content. A…

The post Yen Press Announces Korean Content Imprint Ize Press appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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NEW YORK, NY (4/15/22) – During the Yen Press Industry Panel at Sakura Con 2022, Yen Press, LLC announced the acquisition of new manga (The…

The post Yen Press Announces New Titles for Future Publication at Sakura Con 2022 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Last week, Seven Seas Entertainment announced four new titles for release later in 2022 and early 2023. The full details on these titles can be…

The post Seven Seas Licenses 4 New Series For Release In Late 2022/Early 2023 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum are joined once again by John from the Mercury Falcon Youtube channel, as well as…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 197: Kamen Rider appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, its time for our monthly news catch-up, as we discuss the latest newest series being published, a whole…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 196: April 2022 News Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Nagata Kabi has explored her struggles with her physical and mental health in her previous memoirs and now turns her attention to one of her…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 195: “My Wandering Warrior Existence” appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Hello, darlings! Welcome back to #LumSquad, a podcast hosted by @LumRanmaYasha and @ProdTally devoted to the wonderful and wacky world of Rumiko Takahashi’s Urusei Yatsura!…

The post #Lum Squad #12: “Moo-ving Stories!” appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, we’re joined by founder of Okazu and yuri scholar, Erica Friedman, to once again revisit the works of Nagata…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 194: My Alcoholic Escape From Reality appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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In this month’s special licensing announcement Kodansha USA unveils print manga, novels, and even a very special art book coming Fall 2022. But not only…

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Seven Seas Entertainment has announced seven new titles for release in late 2022.  Further details on these series can be found below. Futari Escape by…

The post Seven Seas Licenses Seven New Titles For Release In Late 2022 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Kodansha USA & Humble Bundle are teaming up once again to bring you some of our most critically acclaimed manga all in one amazing bundle…

The post Humble Bundle & Kodansha USA Team-up for Huge Deal on Award-Winning Manga appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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During their March 18th 2022 livestream, J-Novel Club announced nine new series to be released digitally on the J-Novel Club website and app. The full…

The post J-Novel Club Announces the Acquisition of Nine New Series appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, its time for another round of new simulpubbed manga, as Lum & Colton discuss not just the…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 193: March 2022 Simulpubs Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, we go over more news from the past month, including some big series ending such as Dr. Stone &…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 192: March 2022 News Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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(LOS ANGELES, March 9, 2022) – Seven Seas Entertainment is thrilled to announce the license acquisition of the wildly popular danmei/Boys’ Love novel series from…

The post Seven Seas Licenses The Husky and His White Cat Shizun: Erha He Ta De Bai Mao Shizun By Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Man oh Manga! 2021 was an incredible year for the manga industry, seeing record sales with books of all stripes flying off the shelves both…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 191: “Best of Manga 2021” appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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One of these days our convention report podcasts won’t take months after the con is over to come out. Today is not that day. But…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 190: “Anime NYC 2021” appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, after Colton & Lum cover a little news, its time for more new simulpubbed manga! As we once…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 189: February 2022 Simulpubs Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Earlier this week, Seven Seas Entertainment announced 4 new titles that are set to be release in late 2022 to early 2023. Full details on…

The post Seven Seas Licenses LES MISÉRABLES, Die Even More Valiantly, And More! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Now you can read the latest exciting magical adventure from Kodansha & Yuuki Kodama – The World of Summoning. Fans interested in this new fantasy…

The post Yuuki Kodama’s The World of Summoning Available Now From Kodansha USA appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, its time once again to go over the latest news from the past month as we discuss the latest…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 188: February 2022 News Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Take the Manga Mavericks 2021 Podcast Survey and get entered into our FREE MANGA giveaway! Click the link to take the survey and listen to…

The post #Lum Squad #11: “New Year, New Podcast, New ANIME?! Urusei Yatsura’s All-Stars Reboot!!” appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Take the Manga Mavericks 2021 Podcast Survey and get entered into our FREE MANGA giveaway! Click the link to take the survey and listen to…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 187: “Letterers Roundtable” appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Kodansha USA has announced that they have licensed GTO: Great Teach Onizuka for a digital release. All 25 volumes will debut on participating digital vendors…

The post Great Teacher Onizuka & GTO: 14 Days in Shonan Debut Digitally 02/01 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, its time for the first news roundup of the year as we catch up on a whole lotta…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 186: January 2022 News Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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(LOS ANGELES, January 5, 2022) – Seven Seas Entertainment is thrilled to announce the print license acquisition of three blockbuster webtoons from Korean webtoon platform…

The post Seven Seas Licenses 3 Lezhin Webtoons For Print Releases appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Kodansha USA has announced that Blue Lock by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura will receive a print release in Summer 2022. The release is intended…

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, it may be a new year, but Colton & Lum still have a ton of new simulpubbed manga from…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 185: December 2021 Simulpubs Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Story & Art by Okura Translated by Leo McDonagh Lettered by Lor Prescott Cover Design by Andrea Miller Edited by Tania Biswas  I Think Our…

The post I Think Our Son is Gay, Volume 2 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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(LOS ANGELES, December 23, 2021) – Seven Seas Entertainment is thrilled to announce that the English-language debuts of three Chinese fantasy novel series by Mo…

The post MXTX Novels Debut as Triple New York Times Best Sellers for Seven Seas appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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NEW YORK, NY (12/20/21)— Yen Press, LLC announced a slate of upcoming releases that includes manga (Magical Explorer; The Girl I Saved on the Train…

The post Yen Press Announces Six Releases for Future Publication appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Seven Seas Entertainment has announced their acquisition of six new titles for release in 2022. The full details on these series can be found below!…

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Kodansha USA has announced their digital debut manga titles for January! These series will be available from Kodansha’s participating digital vendors, and previews of the…

The post Kodansha USA Announces January Digital Debut Series appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Lots of people get thrilled with pirates, their lifestyle, and the courage they have. So, even creators get inspired by their stories releasing PC strategies…

The post Get on Board: Best Anime Series About Pirates appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Hello, darlings! Welcome back to #LumSquad, a podcast hosted by @LumRanmaYasha and @ProdTally devoted to the wonderful and wacky world of Rumiko Takahashi’s Urusei Yatsura!…

The post #Lum Squad #10: “You “Only You” Once” appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA—Mangaka legend Tite Kubo’s final arc to his iconic fantasy adventure Bleach is to be animated and VIZ Media has acquired worldwide…

The post Viz Media Acquires Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum cover the news from the past month, including the yearly Oricon list of the top selling…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 184: December 2021 News Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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So, you guys have heard of Soul Eater, right? I assume most of you have heard of it if you’re reading this. Well, it’s from Atsushi…

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Yuki Tabata is a genius. Yes, that’s a small sample of what you’re about to get if you keep going with this article. In the…

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Hello, darlings! Welcome back to #LumSquad, a podcast hosted by @LumRanmaYasha and @ProdTally devoted to the wonderful and wacky world of Rumiko Takahashi’s Urusei Yatsura!…

The post #Lum Squad #09: “Doesn’t Anyone Here Love Each Other?” appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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This past weekend at Anime NYC 2021, Yen Press had multiple announcements for upcoming print, digital, and audiobook releases. The full list of announcements can…

The post Yen Press Announces 9 New Titles, Future Audibook Plans, And Upcoming Digital Publication appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Seven Seas Entertainment has announced that they have licensed Tokyo Revengers by Ken Wakui for a print release. The series will be released as 2-in-1…

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum are joined by Yen Press Sales & Marketing Assistant and co-host of the Manga Machinations podcast,…

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 183: Neo Parasyte m & f appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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During their Anime NYC industry panel, J-Novel Club announced 10 new light novel licenses. The full press release provided by J-Novel Club can be found…

The post J-Novel Club Announces the Acquisition of Ten New Titles at Anime NYC 2021! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Hello, darlings! Welcome back to #LumSquad, a podcast hosted by @LumRanmaYasha and @ProdTally devoted to the wonderful and wacky world of Rumiko Takahashi’s Urusei Yatsura!…

The post #Lum Squad #08: “Chain of Memories” appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Story & Art by Rumiko Takahashi Translation & English Adaptation by Rachel Thorn Lettering by Joanna Estep Design by Yukiko Whitley Edited by Amy Yu…

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum are joined by Dawn from the Anime Nostalgia Podcast, as well past manga editor and game…

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Hello, darlings! Welcome back to #LumSquad, a podcast hosted by @LumRanmaYasha and @ProdTally devoted to the wonderful and wacky world of Rumiko Takahashi’s Urusei Yatsura!

We’ve officially hit the halfway point of the Urusei Yatsura manga! The series’ ninth omnibus is a fantastic collection of stories, a real showcase of the manga in its prime! Perhaps no storyline best demonstrates this than the series’ longest and most ambitious story arc to date – The Miss Tomobiki Contest! A mini-tournament arc featuring the badass beauties of the series facing off against each other and wild animals, this storyline is an awesome and hilarious mix of character gags and action-comedy, and another step towards the style of storytelling Takahashi would employ later in Ranma 1/2!

But while The Miss Tomobiki Contest is definitely the main event, this volume is also jam-packed with a ton of other great and memorable stories, including the origins of Mendo’s claustrophobia, the revenge of Galactic Teacher CAO-2, the identity of Ryuu’s mother, and Ryuu and Shinobu’s “pretend” date! We’ve got a lot of stories to cover, so tune in for our rundown of another eclectic collection of classic Urusei Yatsura adventures!

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PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – Preamble Ramble

02:25 – Volume 9 Intro & Overview

05:23 – A Valentine’s of Father-Daughter Love!

12:38 – Deadly Fighter Snapping Turtle Ten

18:25 – Anko Pathos, the Taste of Love?!

24:20 – Indelible Lipstick Magic

33:00 – Buried Classroom

38:48 – Beautiful Sakura’s Exorcisms

44:14 – Flower Viewing Death Match!

49:09 – Trickle of Memories

52:55 – Album of Memories

56:52 – Wretched Shutaro

1:00:25 – Frenzied Shutaro

1:06:15 – Urusei Yatsura Data File & Count Column 17

1:08:50 – Cosmo Teacher CAO-2

1:16:26 – Mysterious Ego Death Potion

1:20:42 – Ton’s Elopement

1:25:20 – A Night Alone

1:32:16 – A Chest Full of Longing, Part 1

1:37:02 – A Chest Full of Longing, Part 2

1:43:35 – Miss Tomobiki Contest: Preliminary Round

1:51:00 – Miss Tomobiki Contest: Main Round

2:02:09 – Miss Tomobiki Contest: Swimsuit Competition

2:10:55 – Miss Tomobiki Contest: Battle of the Women

2:20:27 – Miss Tomobiki Contest: Results

2:29:25 – Final Thoughts on The Miss Tomobiki Contest Arc

2:32:35 – Urusei Yatsura Data File 18

2:36:27 – Final Thoughts on Volume 9

2:38:41 – Wrap-Up

Music Featured:

“Urusei Yatsura Miss Tomobiki wo Sagase BGM #01” by Nobuyuki Shioda

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Main Theme 1987 (instrumental)” by Chuck Lorre

“Kokoroboisona” from Jam Trip: Urusei Yatsura (Vol. 1)

“Uchuu wa Tai Hen Da! DA DA Mix” from Shudai-ka Best 10 Remix ~ Dance Tracks

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @Lum_Squad, on tumblr at lumsquad.tumblr.com, and subscribe to us on Youtube! You can follow the hosts on twitter at @LumRanmaYasha and @ProdTally. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content! If there are any topics you would like to see us talk about on the show, drop us a line in the comments below, or e-mail us at lumsquadpod@gmail.com! Thanks for listening!

LINKS:

• Support us on Patreon!
• Like what we do? Tip LumRanmaYasha a Ko-fi!
• Revisit our first episode!
• Check out more of Lum’s podcasts and reviews on All-Comic!
• Listen to Game/Life Balance Australia!
• Follow the #LumSquad!
• Follow the #DailyLum!
• Support the Urusei Yatsura manga from Viz Media!

The post #Lum Squad #07: “The Miss Tomobiki Contest!” appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum once again report on and discuss the latest in manga news with new series, what new manga licenses they’re looking forward to, as well new anime films coming to the US! Particular topics include our thoughts on what’s been happening in Fire Force recently, a beloved(?) Fist of the North Star character getting their own isekai manga, and our thoughts on the first chapter of Nio Nakatani’s newest manga, God Bless the Mistaken, the newest simulpub from Yen Press!

Note from Colton: So the day after this episode of the podcast was fully edited, it was announced that both Zero’s Tea Time and The Culprit Hanzawa (Hannin no Hanzawa) had been picked up by Netflix! So I’m just making note of that here since I didn’t have time to mention it in the episode after the fact.

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PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – RIP Chris Ayres & the Okamoto Brothers

06:46 – Intro

07:32 – NYT & Bookscan lists

16:34 – New manga from Koji Kumeta

18:03 – New Fist of the North Star isekai manga starring Amiba

19:44 – JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable prequel spinoff starts in December

20:49 – New “Special Project” project coming from Masami Kurumada

22:06 – Nichijou returns

23:06 – Twin Star Exorcist’s first part of the final arc ends next month

23:59 – Kaguya-sama enters final arc

24:29 – Fire Force officially enters final arc

29:43 – Pokemon Journeys manga ends

30:25 – Sugar Apple Fairytale simulpub from Yen Press

32:14 – Rightstuf achieves goal to reprint Aria

32:53 – Lum’s Licensing Highlights:

• His Majesty the Demon King’s Housekeeper
• The Idaten Deities Know Only Peace
• Black and White: Tough Love at the Office (Shiro to Kuro: Black and White)
• The Two of Them Are Pretty Much Like This
• I’m Not Meat: Get Your Filthy Paws Off Me!
• MonsTABOO
• Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon
• Crazy Food Truck
• To Strip the Flesh
• The Music of Marie

46:42 – Colton’s Licensing Highlights:

• Rooster Fighter
• Marvel’s Secret Reverse
• Death Note Short Stories
• I Want to Be a Wall
• Let’s Go Karaoke!
• Lost Lad London
• Namekawa-san Won’t Take a Licking!
• COLORLESS
• Box of Light
• I Will Forget This Feeling Someday

58:45 – Takenori Ichihara steps down as Shonen Sunday editor in chief

1:00:08 – Harvey Awards

1:01:49 – Attack on Titan Manga Gallery coming to Anime NYC

1:02:48 – Katsuhiro Otomo complete works project delayed to next January

1:03:40 – Fruits Basket compilation/prequel/epilogue film comes out in February

1:06:17 – Macross Plus movie to screen in US theaters in December

1:07:30 – Sword Art Online Progressive film to stream in US theaters this December

1:08:53 – Final Eureka-7 Hi-Evolution film coming to US theaters in 2022

1:09:53 – Mamoru Hosoda’s Belle coming to NA theaters in January

1:11:03 – Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero trailer & updates

1:13:34 – Blade Runner Black Lotus premieres on Toonami on November 13th

1:13:58 – Disney enters anime licensing game for Disney+ exclusives

1:16:24 – Detective Conan spinoffs Zero’s Tea Time & Hanazawa-san receive anime

1:19:27 – Mob Psycho 100 Season 3 announced

1:20:30 – Viz Dr. Stone character popularity poll results

1:23:29 – Our thoughts on Nio Nakatani’s God Bless the Mistaken

1:29:41 – Community Shout-outs!:

• Grant’s Love After World Domination Review
• Weekly Manga Recap featuring “Code”
• Asterios & Sriracha’s Congratulations! Evangelion watch-along podcast
• MistareFusion Dragon Ball Dissection on The Other World Tournament arc
• Lupin III 50th Anniversary Roundtable discussion with Roland Kelts & Charles Solomon

1:34:48 – Wrap up

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

LINKS:

• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Support us on Patreon!
• Check out the first chapter of God Bless the Mistaken on either Bookwalker or Comixology
• Check out WSE’s coverage of Koji Kumeta’s new manga

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 181: November 2021 News & Simulpub Roundups! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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By Larry Hama, Billy Tan and Chris Sotomayor

I’m a kid who grew up reading comics in the 1990’s. In fact, the first comic I ever bought was X-Men #1, and I loved it so much, that i collected X-Men primarily for a lot of my life. Now, present day, Marvel rolls out X-Men Legends, which builds on the story lines from the 90’s and gets some of the original writers to pen these stories. The 90’s kid in me is jumping for joy. This week we have Larry Hama telling a Wolverine story. If you love 90’s Wolverine, and who doesn’t, you’re in for a treat with this issue.

One of the coolest things Larry Hama does in this issue is utilize Yurei and show off what she can truly do. Yurei is a force to be reckoned with and can be very dangerous whenever she wants. Hama also tries to build heavily on the relationship between Logan and Jubilee. Hama is successful in showing what Logan will do for his little understudy. We’re also treated to some classic Wolverine villains in this issue. Lady Deathstrike and Omega Red are both featured in this issue and each character gets their moment to show how dangerous they really are. Hama does a nice job of building on some loose ends from Logan’s past in this issue, but we’ll have to wait until next month to see how things fully play out.

The pencils this issue are handled by Billy Tan with colors by Chris Sotomayor. I’ve been a hug Billy Tan fan since his days on Uncanny X-Men, and it’s good to see him taking on some of these characters again. The action sequences look great, like Lady Deathstrike pouncing on Logan, as Tan is a master on the page. There is an awesome page in this issue where Wolverine and Lady deathstrike are attacking one another. Tan draws their hands going after each other with multiple images of their hands and claws attacking. It’s a good panel and just a testament to how amazing Tan can be as an artist. The colors by Chris Sotomayor stand out in this issue too. His work in the industry is always some of the best, and any time I see his name on a book, I know it will have good coloring. The vibrant lights from Jubilee’s mutant power stand out as Sotomayor allows them to be eye catching every time they are used. The art in this issue is very good and makes this issue an enjoyable read.

X-Men Legends #8 is a dream come true for Wolverine fans. Larry Hama gives us two classic Logan villains in this issue that deal a lot of damage and put our hero in a tough spot. The pencils and colors this issue look great and give us amazing visuals on every page. X-Men Legends feels like the 90’s never ended, and that’s a good thing.

The post X-Men Legends #8 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum are joined by Eisner award winning comics artist, Joey Weiser, Twitter extraordinaire and horror enthusiast, Casey “MinovskyArticle”, as well as translator and yokai expert, Zack Davisson, to discuss Shigeru Mizuki’s GeGeGe no Kitaro manga! We discuss not only our thoughts on the comic in general, but as well as the life of Shigeru Mizuki and how his works have truly influenced Japanese culture as a whole!

Disclaimer: A gosh darn audio yokai came in while we were recording and messed up some of Zack’s audio, which means that some of it was so inaudible that parts of our conversation had to be cut, but we hope you enjoy the episode anyway!

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PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – Disclaimer

03:06 – Intro/Patron Shout Out

08:29 – Kitaro Discussion

1:58:44 – Fan Questions

2:32:34 – Guest Plugs

2:36:56 – Community Shout-outs!:

• Zack‌ ‌on‌ ‌The‌ ‌Life‌ ‌and‌ ‌Death‌ ‌of‌ ‌Shigeru‌ ‌Mizuki‌ ‌ ‌
• Japan‌ ‌Station‌ ‌interview‌ ‌with‌ ‌Zack‌ ‌ ‌
• Majide‌ ‌interview‌ ‌with‌ ‌Zack‌ ‌ ‌
• ANNcast‌ ‌interview‌ ‌with‌ ‌Zack‌ ‌ ‌
• Popzara‌ ‌interview‌ ‌with‌ ‌Zack‌ ‌ ‌
• Gaijin‌ ‌Goomba’s‌ ‌Yokai‌ ‌Hunters‌ ‌videos‌‌ ‌&‌ ‌‌Kitaro‌ ‌videos‌ ‌ ‌
• Pop‌ ‌Arena’s‌ ‌Goosebumps‌ ‌Monthly/Exploring‌ ‌Goosebumps‌ ‌TV‌ ‌videos‌ ‌ ‌
• PopArena’s‌ ‌episode‌ ‌analysis‌ ‌of‌ ‌Are‌ ‌You‌ ‌Afraid‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Dark’s‌ ‌Tale‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Bookish‌ ‌Babysitter‌ ‌episode‌ ‌ ‌
• Cartoons‌ ‌that‌ ‌Curse‌ ‌Patreon‌,‌ ‌‌episode‌ ‌on‌ ‌Shrek‌ ‌ ‌
• American‌ ‌Prestige‌‌ ‌on‌ ‌‌the‌ ‌history‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌US‌ ‌nuclear‌ ‌program‌,‌ ‌‌Vietnam‌ ‌from‌ ‌the‌ ‌Vietnamese‌ ‌Perspective‌ ‌
• Dancing is Forbidden: Aqua Teen Hunger Force Podcast & Patreon

2:51:35 – Wrap up

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

LINKS:

• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Support us on Patreon!
• Kitaro is available both physically & digitally wherever comics are sold!
• Follow Joey, Casey & Zack on Twitter!
• Listen to Toho Yaro
• Visit Zack’s website

Music Featured:

Hakaba no Kitaro by Kazuo Kumakura

Karan Koron no Uta by Midori Kato

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 180: GeGeGe no Kitaro appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Hello, darlings! Welcome back to #LumSquad, a podcast hosted by @LumRanmaYasha and @ProdTally devoted to the wonderful and wacky world of Rumiko Takahashi’s Urusei Yatsura!

Rising up like a tidal wave and roaring like a dragon, Ryuunosuke Fujinami has finally arrived!

At long last, english manga fans finally get to meet the last and arguably most important member of Urusei Yatsura‘s main cast – a manly girl who yearns to be feminine whose character and stories bear no small resemblance to Rumiko Takahashi’s later work, Ranma 1/2!

We discuss Ryuunosuke’s significance as an early gender non-conforming female character in Rumiko Takahashi’s work, as well as the trans-feminine and queer subtext in her characterization and storylines. We debate both the positive and negatives of Ryuunosuke as queer representation and how she fares against queer rep and subtext in Takahashi’s later works. We also dig into what makes her a compelling character and why Takahashi seemed particularly fond of her, to the point she overtakes an entire volume of the series immediately upon her introduction and becomes the third most storied character in the series from there on out! Her stories give us a lot of feels, so listen to us gush about what makes her such a special character!

But this volume doesn’t just feature Ryuunosuke! We’ve also got the introduction of Ten’s zealous firefighting mom, return appearances by Kurama and Benten, Onsen-Mark’s last-ditch attempt at revenge, and so much more! So listen to us ride the rocky waves of this eclectic volume and sink in all this classic Urusei Yatsura weirdness!

Download Here!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:22 – Updates & News!

05:26 – In Memoriam: Akira Ito

08:16 – Volume 8 Intro & Ryunosuke Hype!

09:57 – Urusei Yatsura Movies streaming on Crunchyroll, coming to blu-ray

13:35 – Volume 8 Overview

15:49 – Family Feud

20:38 – Hello, Sailor Suit!

24:37 – Bloomer Bloopers

28:25 – Ran, Scent of a Woman, Part 1

33:19 – Ran, Scent of a Woman, Part 2

38:35 – The Arduous Path to Womanhood

46:52 – Proof of a Womanhood

50:40 – Art is a Sport!

54:05 – The Female Groom

57:48 – Ataru Becomes a Woman

1:02:32 – Sex-Change Shenanigans

1:06:00 – Urusei Yatsura Data File 15

1:09:00 – Late Autumn… and Matsutake

1:14:00 – Haunted Bottle

1:17:40 – My Mom the Firefighter, Part 1

1:20:46 – My Mom the Firefighter, Part 2

1:25:30 – Love – Darling in Danger

1:28:52 – The Wild Christmas Tree Party

1:32:00 – Slumbering Family Heirloom

1:34:15 – Ryunosuke’s Quality Family Time

1:37:35 – Lum’s Wrath

1:41:15 – So Long, Hot Springs Emblem

1:46:25 – It’s Our Setsubun Festival Feud!

1:53:15 – Urusei Yatsura Data File 16

1:59:58 – Wrap-Up

Music Featured:

“Lum’s Love Song [instrumental]” by Izumi Kobayashi

“Lum’s Love Song [Instrumental 2]” by Izumi Kobayashi

“Lum’s Love Song” by Yuko Matsutani, lyrics by Akita Ito

“Uchuu wa Tai Hen Da! DA DA Mix” from Shudai-ka Best 10 Remix ~ Dance Tracks

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @Lum_Squad, on tumblr at lumsquad.tumblr.com, and subscribe to us on Youtube! You can follow the hosts on twitter at @LumRanmaYasha and @ProdTally. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content! If there are any topics you would like to see us talk about on the show, drop us a line in the comments below, or e-mail us at lumsquadpod@gmail.com! Thanks for listening!

LINKS:

• Support us on Patreon!
• Like what we do? Tip LumRanmaYasha a Ko-fi!
• Revisit our first episode!
• Check out more of Lum’s podcasts and reviews on All-Comic!
• Listen to Game/Life Balance Australia!
• Follow the #LumSquad!
• Follow the #DailyLum!
• Support the Urusei Yatsura manga from Viz Media!
• Watch the Urusei Yatsura movies on Crunchyroll!
• Rumic World’s Archives of Takahashi’s Twitter Q&As and Character Profiles

The post #Lum Squad #06: “Ryunosuke 1/2” appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum are joined by John from the MercuryFalcon Youtube channel, as well as Karleen & Malia from Coherent Cats, to discuss Osamu Tezuka’s original Dororo manga! A story about a wandering samurai named Hyakkimaru and his rambunctious thief sidekick, Dororo, as they hunt down and slay all kinds of evil spirits and yokai in order for Hyakkimaru to regain all 48 of his missing body parts (and also hunt for treasure, I guess…). We’re excited to finally cover our first Tezuka manga as we discuss how feel about Dororo compared to some of his other works, as well as how we feel about Tezuka’s handling of Hyakkimaru’s physical disabilities and Dororo’s gender identity.

Download Here!!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – Intro

05:09 – Dororo Discussion

1:56:37 – Fan Questions

2:18:48 – Guest Plugs

2:23:19 – Community Shout-outs!:

• Malia on Sexuality in Apollo’s Song and MW
• Karleen on the injustice politics of sacrificing some for the sake of the many in Dororo and Ursula LeGuin’s Those Who Walk Away from Omelas
• MercuryFalcon’s Dororo video
• Mother’s Basement’s Adapt or Die on Dororo
• Bonsai Pop’s Dororo video
• Demons in the details, disability representation in Dororo 2019
• Instrumentality, Masculinity, and Humanity in Dororo
• The History Behind Dororo
• Dororo, Buddhism and the Jorogumo
• Tezuka in English overview of Dororo’s publication history
• Dororo: Swordsman’s journey through history
• Sinclair August’s pieces on Dororo as trans rep (Here and Here)
• The World is My Burrito podcast episode on Dororo

2:37:24 – Wrap up

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

LINKS:

• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Support us on Patreon!
• Dororo is available both physically and digitally
• Follow John, Karleen and Malia on Twitter!
• Check out the MercuryFalcon Youtube channel!
• Check out Coherent Cats!

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 179: Dororo appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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By Jed Mackay, Lee Garbett and Antonio Fabela

If you’re a Marvel comics reader like me, you probably know that these “Death of” series generally tend to just be temporary. I remember reading the Death of Wolverine years ago and thinking, he’ll be back. I was of course correct, and I didn’t even have to wait that long for it to happen. This week brings us the second issue of the Death of Dr. Strange. The first issue was a great way to start the mini series, and the second issue picks right up where we left off, with a dead sorcerer and a new Dr. Strange.

Jed Mackay has been on a hot streak at Marvel and has honestly been one of their best writers. His Black Cat series is a good read every month. When you are handed the keys to something like the Death of Dr. Strange, clearly Marvel trusts in your writing abilities. If you’re wondering how and why there are two Dr. Strange’s, that question gets answered fairly early and easily. Mackay comes up with a good reason for why there are two Stephen Strange’s. The voices given to Stephen’s supporting cast is done well. Mackay allows them to be our voice, as we’re just as curious and confused about why there are two Dr. Strange’s. We’re introduced to some villains, or at least they’re new to me, and they do look terrifying. Mackay shows off their brute strength as they handle some very powerful heroes with ease. These characters have a good aesthetic to them and can hopefully appear more often in the Marvel universe. As the second issue wraps, I’m still just as invested as I was after reading the first issue.

The pencils this issue are handled by Lee Garbett with colors by Antonio Fabela. Garbett does and amazing job on the design for these creatures. They truly look sinister and evil. It’s also nice to see Garbett’s difference in drawing both versions of Dr. Strange. His pencils are clean and crisp too, which makes the pages easy on the eyes. The colors by Antonio Fabela go a long way too in making this an easy read. We get a bright pinkish purple as Clea falls from the sky to seek help. Fabela also gives us great shading on Captain America as he assembles the Avengers to fight these creatures. Ultimately, the pencils and colors perfectly fit this story and work out extremely well.

The Death of Dr. Strange #2 is every bit as good as the first issue. By this point you have to be invested. Jed Mackay has crafted a well written story with characters we know and love. The pencils and colors add to the depth of the tale and help readers enjoy the story.

The post The Death of Dr. Strange appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum finally catch up on about two months worth of new one shots and simulpubs! Including not just everything from Shonen Jump, but also titles from Manga Plus, Star Fruit Books, Yen Press, Kadokawa and even our first look at Comikey! Is Dandadan as good as everyone says it is? What is up with PPPPPP? And is Colton into dragon girls now? Listen to the show to find out all of this and more!!

Check out the newest podcast available exclusively on our Patreon discussing the original My Hero one shot to cap off our month of podcasts dedicated to Kohei Horikoshi!!

Download Here!!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – RIP Takao Saito

02:51 – Intro

News

03:51 – My Hero Academia: World Heroes Mission moviegoers to receive special manga booklet on opening day

06:14 – Nozomi’s Dirty Pair Kickstarter

08:19 – Mission: Yozakura Family Popularity Poll has begun

One Shots

12:07 – Toki by Tatsuya Ihara

23:25 – New Bleach One Shot from Tite Kubo

31:44 – My Hero Academia: Endeavor’s Mission by Yoko Akiyama

35:01 – One Piece: Vivi’s Adventure by Naoshi Komi

39:27 – Shokugeki no Sanji 4 from Yuto Tsukuda & Shun Saeki

48:07 – DC3 from Posuka Demizu & Kaiu Shirai

Simulpubs

55:02 – Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible by Nene Yukimori

1:05:02 – Dandadan by Yukinobu Tatsu

1:19:45 – PPPPPP by Mapollo 3

1:34:20 – Diamond in the Rough by Nao Sasaki

1:46:34 – Reborn as a Vending Machine from Hirokuma, Hagare Yuuki & Kunieda

1:56:06 – Restaraunt to Another World New Edition from Junpei Inuzuka, Katsumi Enami, Yamizawa & Morozawa

2:09:11 – Beneath the Mask from En Nekokawa & Neneko Kobato

2:18:36 – Girl Crush by Tayama Midori

2:28:15 – It Takes More Than a Pretty Face to Fall In Love by Karin Anzai

2:37:31 – Killer in Love by Akiyama Enma

2:57:20 – Community Shout-outs!:

• Saberspark video on the SpongeBob Spinoff situation
• How Kingdom Hearts Helped Saberspark through his parents divorce
• AxelBeats’s review of Yashahime’s first chapter
• AnimeAjay’s Live-stream & Breakdown of the NYCC DBS Super Hero panel & teaser
• MasakoX’s breakdown of the NYCC DBS Super Hero panel & Teaser
• MercuryFalcon’s Akira Tsubaraya overview
• Weekly Manga Recap on History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi

3:04:22 – Wrap up

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

LINKS:

• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Support us on Patreon!
• Support Nozomi’s Dirty Pair Kickstarter
• Vote in the Mission: Yozakura Family Popularity Poll
• Check out Toki from Star Fruit Books
• Check out Reborn as a Vending Machine on either comixology or Bookwalker
• Check out Restaraunt to Another World New Edition on either Crunchyroll Manga or Bookwalker
• Check out everything else we read on either Shonen Jump, Manga Plus or Comikey

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 178: October 2021 Simulpubs Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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Queer manga should be read and celebrated all year round, and thanks to the growing efforts of publishers to bring more great LGBTQ titles over west, it’s easier than ever to find works that speak to you!

We’ve taken pride in covering many great LGBTQ manga on our show over the years, and for the longest time I’ve wanted to do a broader topic discussion centered around queer manga. So I decided to take our exploration through the world of queer manga in steps and start from a personal place; what queer manga means to us as queer readers, and our evolving histories with them. Joining me for this discussion are some wonderful guests who’ve specialized in exploring media through a queer lens, examing representation in media, and spotlighting queer media in their work – Trevor & Alex from the Queering the Guilotine podcast and Karleen from the blog CoherentCats!

We discuss the works that we feel helped us discover ourselves, best represent the queer community, and are promising signs of progress in the ways queer characters and stories are told. We also discuss tropes we’re not fond of, the give-and-take of finding value in imperfect or problematic works, and underserved areas of representation we want to see more of.

We had a gay old time recording this podcast, and we hope you’ll join us over the rainbow!

Download Here!!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:22 – Intro & Podcast Overview

03:15 – Introducing the Discussion

04:55 – Karleen’s Relationship with LGBTQ Manga

06:48 – Trevor & Alex’s Relationship with LGBTQ Manga

10:15 – When did we first become aware of LGBTQ manga, and when did we start to seek it out?

20:48 – Finding Satisfying Queer Representation in Manga vs. American Comics

29:55 – What were the most formative queer manga and characters for us growing up?

55:15 – How often have we felt truly represented by a queer character in a manga?

1:05:36 – What are some LGBTQ manga or anime that we think have the best representation of queer characters, topics, and themes?

1:28:37 – What are some tropes and trends we observe in BL and yuri that we like? What are some that we don’t care for?

1:48:15 – What kinds of topics or stories do we want to see more of in LGBTQ manga?

2:00:30 – Thoughts on the growing visibility and availability of LGBTQ manga in recent years

2:01:53 – What currently unlicensed LGBTQ works do we most want to see brought over?

2:16:28 – What manga would we recommend to newbies to BL, yuri, and LGBTQ manga?

2:25:00 – Guest Plugs & Sign-Off

2:30:50 – Community Shout-Outs

• The Yaoi Shelf
• The Yuricast
• TomoChoco
• Fujoshi Trash Talk
• Gayest Episode Ever
• NYPL’s Beginners Guide to LGBTQ manga
• MSN’s Beginner’s Guide to Modern LGBTQ manga
• Gee’s LGBTQ manga recs
• DynamicDylan’s Five Manga to Read During Pride Month
• BL Manga Recs from FujoFairy
• The Artisan Geek on Gay Manga: A Deep Dive
• The Artisan Geek on Fetishizing Gay Men in Yaoi
• Introduction to the Ideas of Gender Bender Manga
• Bring the Tea on the Shifting Landscape of Queer Narratives
• Erica’s Yuri Studios Videos
• Erica’s 100 Years of Yuri Panel
• Erica on When Queer Representation Hits and Misses its Mark
• DynamicDylan on Being a Male Romance Reader
• Banana Fish’s Exploration of Queer Male Intimacy
• AniFem piece on How BL and Yuri helped [the author] face [their] sexuality
• Our Dreams at Dusk vs. Blue Flag: Compare and Contrast of how they Look at LGBTQ Issues
• Rae’s Rebuttal to Some of the Criticisms of Blue Flag’s Depiction of Sexuality in the Article
• Our Dreams at Dusk’s Use of Visual Metaphors
• Ranma ½ is Genius
• Cardcaptor Sakura is a Beautiful Mess

2:51:05 – Wrap-Up

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and subscribe to us on Youtube. You can follow the hosts on twitter at @LumRanmaYasha and @VLordGTZ! Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content! If there are any topics, series, or mangaka you would like to see us talk about on the show, drop us a line in the comments below, or e-mail us at mangamavericks@gmail.com! If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here! If you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content! Thanks for listening!

LINKS:

• Support us on Patreon!
• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Check out our other podcasts on LGBTQ manga!
• Like what we do? Tip LumRanmaYasha a Ko-fi!
• Follow Trevor, Alex, and Karleen on Twitter!
• Listen to Queering the Guillotine!
• Read Karleen’s blog CoherentCats!

Music Featured:

“Itsudatte.” by Daisuke

“For You” by Rie Fu

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 177: “LGBTQ Manga” appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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By Gerry Duggan, Javier Pina and Erick Arciniega

Everyone loves a little horror in their superhero comics from time to time. This week X-Men #4 gives us a scary story just in time for Halloween. It’s a good bet that anytime Nightmare shows up, things are going to get a little spookier. While the X-Men are used to facing real world danger, like discrimination, it’s great to see them face off with a creep like Nightmare who doesn’t usually visit the mutants often, or at all.

Gerry Duggan has been doing a fine job filling in for Jonathan Hickman. This issue only features 3 X-Men, and with a smaller cast it’s easier to showcase each character. Duggan allows Jean to shine in this issue. He solidifies that she is a power house and should not be messed with. Duggan shows us what Cyclops, Jean and Wolverine all fear through their nightmares. Scott Fears being untrue to himself and being a bad leader. Wolverine fears her memories, or lack there of, from the vault. These are the things Nightmare preys on. My one gripe with the issue is the inclusion of Wolverine. She seemed unnecessary and had very little page time. I do like that Duggan is building off of what Hickman did between Wolverine and Synch in the vault. This issue is another solid entry into Duggan’s X-Men run. I’m sure once things settle down after Inferno Duggan will really be able to explore what he wants.

The pencils this issue are handled by Javier Pina with colors by Erick Arciniega. Pina does a fantastic job of taking over for Pepe Larraz. Nightmare looks vicious and creepy at the same time. There is a really great panel in this issue where Scott is in a coffin with a sign saying he was wrong as the world burns behind him. Pina also does an amazing job of matching up Cyclops’ costumes as he has flashbacks. This ranges from when he was brought back through time as a teenager, to his relationship with Emma, etc. Jean looks electric as she battles Nightmare. The green from Jean’s outfit is eye catching, and that is due to the great colors from Erick Arciniega. The mood and tone of the pages with Ben Urich continue to set the tone for the creepy story about him discovering the mutants resurrection. The pencils and colors add a significant amount of pizzaz to the creepy story.

X-Men #4 is a good entry into the creepy side of the X-Men mythos. Gerry Duggan is picking up and using the ground work that Jonathan Hickman laid out. The art is a thing of beauty this issue. If you’re in the mood for a creepy superhero book this week, X-Men #4 should whet your whistle.

The post X-Men #4 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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By Zeb Wells, Patrick Gleason and Marcio Menyz

There are certain properties at Marvel that signify you’ve hit the big time as a writer. Amazing Spider-Man is undoubtedly the most important property that Marvel owns, so writing that book, even if it’s just for a brief period of time, means Marvel has faith in your abilities as a writer. Nick Spencer’s long run has ended, and now we’re moving on to a new creative team, which features a few writers like Zeb Wells, Kelly Thompson and Patrick Gleason. These writers all bring a different approach to the characters and material, so this should make for an interesting run.

Zeb Wells does most of the heavy lifting this issue as he writes the main story and one of the backups. Wells gives us a Peter Parker who is battling survivors guilt and constantly remembering the people he’s failed. A down on his luck Peter is pretty much when he’s at his best, but his luck may be changing. To the surprise of absolutely no one, Ben Reilly enters the picture. Wells writes ben as a breath of fresh air. He has new gadgets and is enthusiastic about being Spider-Man again. Ben is a good compliment to Peter in this issue. There are touching moments between Peter and MJ where Wells really nails down who these two are and how much they mean to each other. Wells gives Mary Jane a good voice and shows how much she cares for her best friend and lover. She knows whenever Ben Reilly shows up, bad things usually follow. For a first issue, this story hits a lot of good beats and starts us off on a high note. Zeb Wells has a knack for always giving us a good story that has some heartache in it too, and this issue seems to be starting off the run the same way. Amazing Spider-Man seems to be in good hands.

The pencils this issue are handled by Patrick Gleason with colors by Marcio Menyz. Gleason is no longer an up and coming artists, he’s been arrived and established. His pencils look great in this issue, especially when he has panels showing Mary Jane concerned about Peter. Gleason gives her such a realistic look and shows her pain as she talks to Peter. Pages where Peter and Ben have dinner should be standard snooze fest panels, but Gleason composes the page layout to make it interesting. We even get a panel of Peter doing air quotes, which is hilarious. The colors by Marcio Menyz are amazing too. Pages where Spider-Man is swinging through the air look great as the shading is perfect and the red from his suit really shines. The U-Foes leap off the pages as they are all colored vibrantly. Pink, Green and even Gray jump out at you as you turn the page. The pencils and colors honestly rule this issue. This art team really knocks it out of the park.

Amazing Spider-Man #75 is off to a great start. Zeb Wells has lined up an interesting and engaging story that respects both Peter and Ben Reilly. The pencils and colors look good on the page and truly help sell this book. The work the artists put in make this an easy and enjoyable read. Amazing Spider-Man is in good hands and off to a great start.

The post Amazing Spider-Man #75 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, Colton & Lum cover and discuss a SCARY amount of news (oh wait, that’s just every month), including a A LOT of serialization news, our licensing highlights for the month, and some updates on some cool anime we’re looking forward to, such as updates on the upcoming next seasons of Demon Slayer and Lupin the Third!

Check out the newest podcast available exclusively on our Patreon discussing the original My Hero one shot to cap off our month of podcasts dedicated to Kohei Horikoshi!!



Download Here!!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – RIP Eiichi Yamamoto

02:57 – Intro

06:18 – NYT Graphic Books & Manga List for September

08:04 – August Bookscan List

19:21 – Candy Flurry ends

22:32 – Dr. Stone begins final arc

26:50 – No Guns Life ends

27:58 – Tokyo Tarareba Girls Returns ends

29:07 – Delicious in Dungeon nears climax

30:22 – Berserk & Studio Gaga updates

33:02 – Several new manga to run in Big Comic magazine

36:21 – Square Enix’s new Gangan Bliss BL label

38:11 – New manga from Rensuke Oshikiri

39:39 – Keiichi Arawi

40:39 – Makoto Morishita

42:07 – Takeshi Obata & Akinari Asakura

44:26 – Tsuyoshi Yasuda

45:34 – Sankaku Head

47:00 – Kiminori Wakasugi

47:50 – Nio Nakatani

48:39 – Nisioisin & Posuka Demizu to collaborate on one-shot sequel to Hirohiko Araki’s Mashonen BT

50:37 – Chainsaw Man Buddy Stories novel coming November 4th

51:27 – Kazuo Umezz’s first new work in 26 years

52:13 – Choujin X to be serialized in Weekly Young Jump

54:40 – New manga added to Comikey

1:02:10 – Azuki adds titles from both Star Fruit & Glacier Bay Books

1:04:10 – Rightstuf & Tokyopop to offer reprint of Aria master edition

1:05:15 – Lum’s Licensing Highlights:

• Our Colors by Gengoroh Tagame
• Keiji Nakazawa’s Barefoot Gen Can’t Forget & I Saw It
• Talk to my Back by Yamada Murasaki
• Sweet Sweet Revenge by Shushushu Sakurai
• If You Could See Love written by Teren Mikami & illustrated by Yuki Nanaji
• The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady written by Piero Karasu & illustrated by Yuri Kisaragi
• Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte written by Suzu Enoshima with illustrations by Eihi
• Magic Artisan Dahlia Wilts No More written by Hisaya Amagishi & illustrated by Megumi Sumikawa & Kei
• I Think I Turned My Childhood Friend Into a Girl by Azusa Banjo
• X-Gender by Asuka Miyazaki

1:24:04 – Colton’s Licensing Highlights:

• Ishura, written by Keiso & illustrated by Kureta
• We’re On Our Own From Here by Yu Machio
• Turns Out My Online Friend is My Real-Life Boss! by Nmura
• World End Solte by Satoshi Mizukami
• It’s a Little Hard to be a Villainess of an Otome Game in Modern Society, written by Tofuro Futsukaichi and illustrated by Kei
• Wicked Trapper: Hunter of Heroes by Wadapen
• Goodbye Otherworld, See You Tomorrow by Kazamidori with illustrations by Nimoshi
• grin grin grin by Sangatou
• You’re an Idol by zaki

1:36:15 – Updates on some stray series

1:38:10 – Comixology to launch new app and shutter external website

1:39:54 – Glaeolia 2 anthology wins 2021 Ignatz awards

1:40:39 – Tubi adds Anpanman films

1:42:40 – Pokemon Secrets of the Jungle drops on Netflix on October 8th

1:43:39 – JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean will be streaming monthly on Netflix

1:45:21 – Updates on Netflix Cowboy Bebop series

1:50:37 – Drops of God gets US/French Japanese Live-Action TV Series

1:52:26 – Updates on Hollywood live action Saint Seiya film

1:57:15 – Fairy Tail 100 Years Quest Gets TV Anime

1:58:21 – Updates on Demon Slayer Season 2

2:07:35 – My Hero Academia: World Heroes Mission screens in US theaters starting October 29th

2:09:36 – Gkids licenses Pompo: The Cinephile anime film

2:10:42 – Belle is now Hosoda’s highest grossing film

2:11:17 – My Next Life as a Villainess gets movie

2:11:48 – Updates on Lupin the Third Part 6

2:18:06 – Updates on Tomino & Gundam

2:22:48 – Black Clover 5th Character Popularity Poll Results

2:29:25 – Ayakashi Triangle Character Popularity Poll Results

2:33:23 – Pokemon TCG illustration contest

2:35:56 – Community Shout-outs!:

• Toonami Faithful Podcast on their Favorite Mechs & their History with Gundam
• Part-Time Samurai’s What Happened to Mobile Suit Gundam
• MistareFusion’s Dragon Ball Dissection on The Cell Arc in the Anime (Parts 1 & 2)
• Gaijin Goomba’s How “Ninja” is Snake Eyes? (Parts 1 & 2)
• LS Mark’s Rick & Morty: Too Meta for its Own Good?

2:42:58 – Wrap up

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

LINKS:

• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Support us on Patreon!
• Sakaki’s look at Keiichi Arawi on the Weekly Shogakukan Edition Twitter!
• Sign up for the Pokemon TCG illustration contest

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 176: October 2021 News Roundup! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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By Jonathan Hickman, Valerio Schiti and David Curiel

This week we get the Jonathan Hickman finale of his X-Men run with Inferno. A lot of what Hickman has been doing will lead up to this mini event. It’s hard to say if this is a true ending since Hickman is leaving prematurely, but it’s an ending none the less.

This issue plants all kinds of seeds as to what is really going on and who is pulling all the strings. We open with Xavier and a being resurrected by Emma. This is an interesting scene. Hickman also gives us some pages with the Orchis. The Orchis have been a formidable foe, and are not dumb by any means. They are onto the resurrection protocols the mutants are doing. While the Orchis are not sexy villains like Apocalypse or Mr. Sinister, they have proven to be intelligent and dangerous. Hickman is setting up all his ducks in a row to make sure that after this event things go according to the blueprint he envisioned. Inferno #1 does a good job of setting things up, and we are left with more questions than answers at this point. The excitement for the next issue is sure to build after reading this one.

The pencils this issue are handled by Valerio Schiti with colors by David Curiel. Schiti does a phenomenal job on this issue. The line work on the flashback to one of Moira’s previous lives is outstanding, There is also a great panel of war captains walking off into the sunset that stands out. Schiti draws the issue perfectly, The colors by David Curiel are outstanding, as usual. Mystique’s blue colored skin pops off the page with the vibrant color work. A page where Moira gets burned alive is sinister looking and shaded perfectly. The pencils and colors are amazing this issue and really go a long way in making this book even better. Schiti and Curiel kill it and continue to be an example of what great art can do for a good script.

Inferno #1 checks all the boxes for a solid first issue. Jonathan Hickman gives us mystery, deception and betrayal all in the first issue. Where this goes will be an exciting ride that any self respecting X-Men fan shouldn’t miss. The pencils and colors are amazing and highlight how epic this series can be with the right people working on it. Inferno is setting the standard for modern day X-Men stories.

The post Inferno #1 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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During their recent live stream, Kodansha USA announced 5 new manga titles for digital debuts in October 2021. Full details on these series can be found below.

Tesla Note

Story by Masafumi Nishida, Tadayoshi Kubo,

Art by Kota Sannomiya

Release Date: October 19, 2021

Botan Negoro is not your average high school girl—she’s been trained to be an elite government agent since she was young. She’s also an expert on the “Tesla Shards”, which appear throughout the world to cause supernatural chaos. Her mission is to retrieve these shards, and to do so she teams up with the smarmy, self-proclaimed top agent Kuruma. But this is no easy mission, even for an elite team… An all-new action manga from the writer of Tiger and Bunny!

Tesla Note anime coming Fall 2021!

Love After World Domination

Art by Takahiro Wakamatsu, Story by Hiroshi Noda

Release Date: October 5, 2021

There are two sides to every coin…light vs. dark, good vs. evil, love vs. hate. Sometimes the line between the two grows thin…and it’s so, so easy to cross. So it’s no surprise that Fudo Aikawa, A.K.A. Red Gelato of the Gelato Five and hero to all people, just may have happened to fall for the villainess and member of the shadow organization Gekko, Desumi Magahara! But when opposites like these attract, there’s more than a few obstacles to their love…! What’s a pair like this to do?

Love After World Domination anime coming in 2022!

Our Bodies, Entwining, Entwined

By iko

Release Date: October 12, 2021

Sex is intimate, and for some, it takes everything to bare it all…so when Misuzu was told that sex with her was “boring,” she gave it up all together…and dating, too. So when, years later, she’s asked out by her colleague, Mikage-san, she screws up her courage and gives it a shot. But it turns out Misuzu isn’t the only one with baggage around sex. Can the two of them work together to overcome their hurdles, and enjoy each other as the couple they wish to be…?

Doing His Best To Confess

By Satoru

Release Date: October 19, 2021

Natsuaki-kun is aloof, handsome, and popular with the ladies…except to his friends, who know his aloofness is because he’s shy and always in his own thoughts. Thoughts always occupied by his oddball classmate, Nashida-san…but try as he might, Natsuaki-kun can’t ever seem to get up the courage to confess. Can he find a way to tell her how he feels?!

Even Given the Worthless “Appraiser” Class, I’m Actually the Strongest

Story by Ibarakino, Art by Morohoshi Fuji

Character Design by Yu Hitaki

Release Date: October 26, 2021

In a fantasy world where “jobs” are god-given from birth, heroes are born, not made…and Ein’s job of “Appraiser” has put him about as far from the “hero” pedestal as possible. Used, abused, and eventually abandoned by his fellow adventurers, Ein decides it just isn’t worth going on… Lucky for Ein, though, the end may just be the beginning…and a new lease on life. Turns out, his “worthless” job may just be the key to becoming a hero after all…

About Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC

A subsidiary of Kodansha, Japan’s largest publisher, Kodansha USA Publishing is the English-language publisher of some of the world’s most recognizable manga properties, including Katsuhiro Otomo’s AKIRA and Naoko Takeuchi’s Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, along with a robust catalog of English-language Japanese novels, cookbooks, craft guides, historical and cultural literature, and more. Today, thanks to recent fan-favorite and critically acclaimed hits like Attack on Titan, Battle Angel Alita, Witch Hat Atelier, and the popular MONOGATARI novels, Kodansha USA Publishing is one of the best-selling manga publishers in the United States. Kodansha USA Publishing’s print offerings are distributed by Penguin Random House Publisher Services, and their digital manga and select digital books are available across a number of digital comics, manga, and book vendors. For more information visit kodansha.us.

The post Kodansha USA Announces October 2021 Digital Debut Manga appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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San Diego, CA – Clover Press, LLC has announced plans to develop a biographical graphic novel about famed Olympic champion diver and social & LGBTQ activist, Greg Louganis.

The creative team for A Champion’s Story is being finalized; Mr. Louganis will be involved in all stages of the book’s continued development and creation. A Champion’s Story is set for print and digital release by Clover Press in Winter, 2022.

The graphic novel will tell Louganis’ extraordinary life story, from his childhood and early diving career to achieving Olympic greatness and facing many challenges and triumphs in his personal life.

“I’m so excited to bring my story to the graphic novel audience. The team at Clover Press, with such broad experience and success, are the perfect partners. As it was with my diving, I strive to achieve the very best; I know that this collaboration will empower me to do just that and am already enjoying this journey!”

A Champion’s Story will be helmed by Clover Press’ Hank Kanalz and Matt Ruzicka. Ruzicka, a former executive at IDW Publishing, along with IDW Publishing co-founders, Ted Adams, and Robbie Robbins, each played a key role in bringing to life the bestselling graphic novel biographies of George Takei, “They Called Us Enemy,” and “March,” about civil rights leader and U.S. congressman, John Lewis.

“We are thrilled to announce A Champion’s Story,” says Hank Kanalz, Publisher of Clover Press. “The life of Greg Louganis is one of passionate dedication, vision, redemption and reinvention. He has faced and overcome many personal, athletic, and social challenges to become an icon and inspiration to millions of people.”

The Louganis deal with Clover Press was handled by his manager, Greg H. Sims, at Arya Artist Management, and attorney Irwin Tenenbaum of Loeb & Loeb.

A Champion’s Story fits the desire of Clover Press to create transcendent titles about extraordinary individuals doing extraordinary things to inspire and improve the lives of people around the world. The story is very personal to Matt Ruzicka, President of Clover Press, as he explains, “My father, Chuck Ruzicka, was Greg’s first diving coach. He saw the makings of a champion at its infancy. My father followed Greg’s career closely throughout his life and in my household, he embodied the definition of ‘Champion.’ He was the athlete one had to measure up to.”

Greg Louganis was raised by his adoptive parents, Frances and Peter Louganis. At the age of 9, he began diving lessons after the family built a swimming pool. He started training with Chuck Ruzicka, his first diving coach. He went on to catch the attention of Dr. Sammy Lee and coach

Ron O’Brien and trained for the Olympics, where he won gold medals at the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympics.

But his story doesn’t stop there. Louganis went on to experience many personal and career highs and lows. A Champion’s Story recounts them in a compelling graphic novel format, including his life as an adopted bi-racial child in Southern California, his reconnection with his biological family, and his health challenges. Louganis came out publicly as HIV-positive in 1995 and has been a prominent LGBTQ activist. He also has worked frequently with the Human Rights Campaign to defend the civil liberties of the LGBT community and people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

About Clover Press:

Located in San Diego, California, Clover Press is a publishing company focused on graphic novels, art books, and prose books. Founded by former IDW executives Ted Adams and Robbie Robbins and joined by former IDW CFO Matt Ruzicka and former DC Senior Vice President Hank Kanalz, the company is focused on high-end format publications with progressive, eclectic, boutique content.

Follow Clover Press Online:

Clover Press Twitter: twitter.com/clover_press

Clover Press Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clover_press/

Clover Press Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CloverPressUs/

Clover Press Website: https://cloverpress.us/

Get in touch with Clover Press: https://cloverpress.us/pages/contact

The post Clover Press Announces A Champion’s Story: The Life of Greg Louganis appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, we invite on Kendra from the My Hero Academia Podcast, as well as Luke from Hero Notes and the Weird Science Manga & Anime Podcast to discuss My Hero Academia: SMASH!! A 4 panel gag comedy spin off of My Hero Academia where almost anything can happen! Like Shigaraki and the League of Villains kidnaping Bakugo to play board games, or Iida playing Gacha games in order to teach his fellow classmates the horrors of gambling addiction, or even introducing a character with a quirk called Isekai that causes the world to stay stuck in time forever (yes, that actually happens). We discuss this mixed bag of gags and goofs and how its a good avenue to give some characters more screen time, but also how some strips and jokes just absolutely do not land or are just plain gross. Is this the worst thing we’ve ever read on Manga Mavericks!? Tune in and find out!

Check out the newest podcast available exclusively on our Patreon discussing the original My Hero one shot to cap off our month of podcasts dedicated to Kohei Horikoshi!!

Download Here!!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – Intro

04:27 – My Hero Academia: SMASH Discussion!!

1:46:23 – Guest Plugs

1:50:25 – Community Shout-outs!:

• The Claremont Project
• Familiar Faces videos on MODOK, Animaniacs 2020 & Hello Nurse
• Katrina the Fuzzy Princess
• Gearing Up or Dressing Up on Female Fighter Empowerment on Anifem
• Introduction to Copaganda in Anime and Manga on Anifem

2:11:01 – Wrap up

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

LINKS:

• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Support us on Patreon!
• My Hero Academia: SMASH!! is available physically or digitally wherever manga is sold!
• Or read it all on Shonen Jump!
• Follow Kendra & Luke on Twitter!
• My Hero Academia Podcast
• Haikyu Podcast
• Hero Notes Podcast
• Weird Science Manga & Anime Podcast

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 175: My Hero Academia: SMASH!! appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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By Gerry Duggan, Pepe Larraz and Marte Gracia

X-Men is back out this week with the third installment of the newest relaunch. This issue gives us a surprise visit from the High Evolutionary. I personally like when characters that don’t normally interact or cross paths show up in an X-Men book. With that said, lets move on to the review.

If you are a big fan of X-Men then try out this fun quiz right here.

Gerry Duggan treats us to a visit from the High Evolutionary, and he’s brought the mutants a gift. A present that when unleashed will make humans sterile. As generous as that is of him, the team simply can’t accept it. Duggan has written Rogue very well in this run so far, and this issue he shows us some of her temper as she attacks first. She has a history with the High Evolutionary. Luminous, The High Evolutionary’s daughter is with him as well, and she’s interesting as hell. She’s powerful, has a good look and Duggan writes her very well. As the fight ensues, the X-Men begin to get taken out one by one. Synch has been a star throughout this run and continues that streak with this issue. Duggan is highlighting how much of a powerhouse Synch can actually be as he uses powers intelligently to help out his teammates. Duggan also writes Scott as a little comic relief this issue. He has a few lines that will at least make you smile as you read the issue. As the issue concludes, we’re left with some interesting decisions on what may happen in the future for the team. With Inferno right around the corner, X-Men is at a bit of a standstill with what it can do, but it has none the less been one of the best X-titles on the shelf.

The pencils this issue are handled by Pepe Larraz with colors by Marte Gracia. I feel like I say this every time I review his work, but Larraz is a stud in the art department. The action panels look amazing, like when the team gets attacked by zoo animals. Just as great as those fight panels are though, Larraz draws the arrival of the High Evolutionary and Luminous spectacular. The panel of Luminous appearing and holding a glowing sphere dazzles. The colors by Marte Gracia are also really great this issue. Larraz benefits from having such a talented colorist to bring his pencils to life. Gracia colors Sunfire’s flame a dark red as he unloads on the High Evolutionary. Everything looks so good in the color department, it almost seems as if it’s painted on the page.

X-Men #3 continues to focus on character moments and team work. Gerry Duggan is doing a good job of throwing everything he can at our newly formed team as they try to save the world. The pencils and colors by Pepe Larraz and Marte Gracia may be their best collaboration yet. X-Men is the best X-book on the shelf!

The post X-Men #3 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, we invite on Chris & Nik from Weekly Manga Recap for our next Jump Stop podcast where we discuss Kohei Horikoshi’s second ever Weekly Shonen Jump manga, Barrage (or Sensei no Baruji)! A sci-fi adventure take on the classic Prince and the Pauper type of story about an orphan boy named Barrage, who works for whatever little food he can give to his family, until one night where he runs into and witnesses the death of the prince of the kingdom and ends up being mistaken for said prince, which leads him into taking on his responsibilities as peacemaker going from village to village to protect those who need it most! We discuss how we feel about the series in particular as a transitionary point in Horikohi’s career and what he improves on from Oumagadoki Zoo, but also what aspects he will later eventually execute better with My Hero Academia afterwards.

Head on over to our Patreon to get early access to our LGBT Manga discussion before its available publicly later this year!

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PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – Intro/Patreon Update

06:34 – Colton’s latest podcast guest spots

09:07 – Barrage Discussion

2:02:22 – Twitter Questions

2:06:00 – Guest Plugs

2:10:14 – Community Shout-outs!:

• Taylor’s Ice Cream Cats Kickstarter
• Jump Tales Kickstarter
• Shonen Flop episode on Barrage
• Nik’s old Read Right to Left on Barrage
• Maxy’s old Friendship! Effort! Victory! episode on Barrage
• Omnibus Collector video on Shonen Jump’s Seven Discontinued Manga
• The Worst Manga in Shonen Jump
• The Dead Mothers of Shonen

2:27:35 – Wrap up

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

LINKS:

• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Support us on Patreon!
• Check out Barrage either physically or digitally wherever manga is sold!
• Or read it on Shonen Jump!
• Listen to Weekly Manga Recap!
• Follow Weekly Manga Recap on Twitter!
• Follow Chris & Nik on Twitter!

Music Featured:

Star Wars Original Soundtrack Tracks 1 & 16 by John Williams

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 174: Barrage appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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By Leah Williams, Lucas Werneck and Edgar Delgado

We’re heading into issue 2 of the Trial of Magneto, and things are continuing to pick up. The first issue exceeded my expectations, and the second issue is equally as good. If you’re reading this book, you have to believe that Magneto is innocent, but who knows, maybe he did do it. That’s what has made this story so good so far, is that we honestly don’t know who did it. The obvious choice is Mystique, but she hasn’t really been around too much. This issue offers some surprises and of course an appearance by the Avengers. We’re all set up for a showdown on Krakoa.

Leah Williams has turned in another solid issue for the Trial of Magneto #2. As a fan, and someone who has been reading almost every x-book, I have no idea where this story is going, and that’s a good thing. Williams definitely gives us reason to believe there is more going on than what we’re seeing. Hope is up to something. I have no idea what at this time, but she’s involved. Professor X’s hands are also dirty, as they have been since House of X. Williams gives us a conflicted and stubborn Magneto, which is when he’s at his best. He attacks the Avengers, I don’t blame him there, and insults Polaris while doing it. Williams packs in the action as the X-Men and Avengers battle a grieving father. In a brief battle with the Avengers, Williams shows us how powerful Magneto really is. He can wipe out Earth’s mightiest heroes with simply a few movements of his hand. Williams leaves us with a cliff hanger that should pique your interest. As a reader, I have no idea how anything is happening in this book, but i am entertained. I’m excited for the next issue.

The pencils this issue are handled by Lucas Werneck with colors by Edgar Delgado. Werneck lays down excellent pencils this issue. A full page where Scarlet Witch is in some kind of purgatory, looks great. The red from her outfit really stands out and highlights how good Edgar Delgado is on colors too. Werneck gives us nice looking fight scenes this issue too. As Magneto attacks the boneyard, Werneck shows everything with crisp pencils. The colors by Delgado work well here too. Everything just pops under Delgado. The green from Jean’s costume and the green from vision differ only by a few shades, but they both look amazing as they embrace. The pencils and colors rock, and really allow this issue to stand out.

The Trial of Magneto #2 is just as good as the first issue. Leah Williams has given us two well thought out issues that honestly leave us with more questions on who is really behind the death of the Scarlet Witch. The pencils and colors were great throughout the issue and highlight the talent that Marvel has at it’s disposal. The Trial of Magneto has been a roller coaster rides so far, and it doesn’t look like it will be slowing down any time soon.

The post The Trial of Magneto #2 appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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On this episode of Manga Mavericks, not only do we have another Jump Stop series to talk about, but we also kick off the start of our Kohei Horikoshi month by talking about his first series to run in Weekly Shonen Jump, Oumagadoki Zoo! A story about clumsy high school girl, Aoi Hana, and her attempt to better herself by applying for a part time job as a zookeeper, but she ends up biting more then she can chew as the zoo turns out to be run by a crazy, magical rabbit man cursed with the task of turning his zoo into the most popular one in the world in order to become human again. We once again have returning guests such as cancelled Shonen Jump comic expert, Maxy Barnard, and manga letterer, Ace Christman, as well as new guest and artist extraordinaire, Sai, to discuss why Oumagadoki Zoo is a fun read despite how Horikoshi still has a long way to go as a mangaka until his eventual rise to success with My Hero Academia! Enjoy!

Check out our newest bonus podcast over at our Patreon where we talk with Maxy Barnard about different manga magazines in a new irregular mini-series!!

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PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 – Intro/Updates on what Jump Stop titles are available digitally

05;59 – Oumagadoki Zoo Discussion

2:03:30 – Twitter Questions

2:40:19 – Guest Plugs

2:47:57 – Community Shout-outs!:

• Shonen Flop podcasts on Oumagadoki Zoo (First Impressions & Full Episode)
• TheOASG on the Piracy problem on Kindle
• Kanzenshuu exploring DBZ’s debut date in North America
• NYT’s profile of Adult Swim’s Origins
• 0215MADman’s Top 25 [adult swim] shows tribute
• FoldingIdeas’ retrospective of Ralph Bakshi’s Lord of the Rings
• Kyoto Video on Slayers: The Motion Picture
• MercuryFalcon on Dororo
• Gaijin Perspective on how Japan’s culture of cuteness helped him challenge ideas of toxic masculinity
• Shaybs’ planned livestreams exploring The first edition of The Anime Encyclopedia
• Lum’s appearance on Duckface Diaries
• TotallyNotMark’s Classic Dragon Ball Review Series (Playlist, Patreon for videos not on Youtube)

3:07:53 – Wrap up

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can follow them @siddartworks on Instagram and Twitter and donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!

LINKS:

• Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Support us on Patreon!
• Oumagadoki Zoo has not yet been licensed in English but is available to purchase digitally on Bookwalker
• Follow Maxy, Ace & Sai on Twitter!
• Friendship Effort Victory
• Sai’s Redbubble Store
• Check out both Colton & Maxy’s Oumagadoki Zoo Twitter threads!

Music Featured:

Night at the Museum Original Soundtrack Tracks 1 & 35 by Alan Silvestri

The post Manga Mavericks EP. 173: Oumagadoki Zoo appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.

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During J-Novel Club’s September livestream, the publisher announced their acquisition of four new light novel series and one manga adaptation. J-Novel Club has provided the full details below.

(SAN ANTONIO, TX – September 13, 2021) – J-Novel Club LLC is excited to announce the acquisition of multiple new titles following their latest industry announcement livestream held on September 13, 2021, on their Twitch channel. Four new light novel licenses and one manga adaptation will be joining the J-Novel Club catalog. All of the mentioned titles will have a digital launch on J-Novel Club’s website and app a few hours after the announcement panel has concluded.

Starting off their newest acquisitions is an isekai title set in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world! The world he woke up in is long dead, dusted in ashen powder, and yet Keisuke still sees splashes of color as he travels through it. Deserted as this world may seem, might he be able to find something out there in the emptiness? Goodbye Otherworld, See You Tomorrow by Kazamidori promises a thoughtful character-focused adventure as Keisuke meanders through this new abandoned landscape. This title will join our lineup later today on J-Novel Club with Volume 1 Parts 1 and 2.

Promising young sorcerer Allen fails the final exam for his dream job at the royal court and is now forced to find another job. But his only lead is anything but modest – Duke Howard, one of the kingdom’s most powerful nobles, requires a private tutor for his daughter Tina. The entrance exams for the prestigious Royal Academy are fast approaching and magical aptitude is a mandatory requirement. Unfortunately, Lady Tina is magically impaired and incapable of casting even a single spell! Allen really has his work cut out for him as the Private Tutor to the Duke’s Daughter! Be sure to study up on how Allen will tackle this problem when Parts 1 and 2 of Volume 1 launches later today.

Fans of the villainess trope have something to look forward to with Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte! The Voices of the Gods inform Prince Sieg that his fiancée Lieselotte is a “tsun de rais” doomed to a Bad End. Wholly unaware that these deities are just high schoolers, can he use their divine warnings (let’s play commentary) to save his adorably sharp-tongued betrothed?! Find out if they can avoid a Bad End when Volume 1 Parts 1 and 2 of this rom-com series goes live on J-Novel Club later today!

Hardcore RPG player Makoto Takatsuki is transported to another world and given new abilities—unfortunately, his skills and stats are pathetic… Luckily, Makoto soon meets a minor goddess named Noah, who asks him to become her first believer. Thusly, joining a cute goddess with zero believers in return for blessings, Makoto begins his life as an adventurer on hard mode! Will Makoto be capable of Full Clearing Another World under a Goddess with Zero Believers? Check out how Makoto will fare in this new world with his RPG know-how when this series hits J-Novel Club later today with Parts 1 and 2 of Volume 1!

For their final announcement, a manga adaptation of Full Clearing Another World under a Goddess with Zero Believers will hit the digital shelves soon on J-Novel Club! This beautifully illustrated manga by Hakuto Shiroi will also be launching with Volume 1 Chapter 1 later today for your reading pleasure!

Announced New Titles:

Goodbye Otherworld, See You Tomorrow by Kazamidori with Illustrations by Nimoshi

The world he woke up in is long dead, dusted in ashen powder, and yet Keisuke still sees splashes of color as he travels through it. For the longest time, he’s wandered alone across the deserted landscape, clinging to the hope that something—or someone—might be out there in the emptiness. When he finally stumbles across that someone, even more threads of color start to seep into the ashen world around them.

This time, when Keisuke sets off down the road, someone sits beside him in the passenger seat. The first acquaintance he’s ever made here, his first companion in this barren world. They’re both traveling in search of something, and after searching alone for so long, maybe they’ll have better luck working together?

Their only lead is a witch who can answer any question—for a price. What will the two ask her, and what will she be able to tell them? More importantly, what will it cost them, and will they be willing to pay the price?

Launching today with Parts 1 and 2 of Volume 1!

Private Tutor to the Duke’s Daughter by Riku Nanano with Illustrations by cura

After failing the final exam for his dream job at the royal court, promising young sorcerer Allen wants nothing more than to retreat to a simple life in the countryside. Unfortunately for him, he can’t even afford the train fare! His only solution is to get a job, but his one lead is anything but modest—Duke Howard, one of the kingdom’s most powerful nobles, needs a private tutor for his daughter Tina.

Despite her academic brilliance, Tina is incapable of casting even a single spell. To make matters worse, entrance exams for the prestigious Royal Academy are fast approaching, and magical aptitude is mandatory! Can Allen use his unique brand of spellcasting to help Tina overcome her magical impairment, a mystery that not even the kingdom’s finest sorcerers have been able to solve? And does her father, the duke, even want him to?

Launching today with Parts 1 and 2 of Volume 1!

Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte by Suzu Enoshima with Illustrations by Eihi

One day, Crown Prince Sieg hears the Voices of the Gods out of the blue. Apparently, his fiancée Lieselotte is a “tsun de rais” villainess destined to meet her demise…and her sharp tongue is just a way of covering up her embarrassment. The prince can hardly contain himself after discovering Lieselotte’s adorable hidden side. Little does he know, the heavenly beings that bestowed this knowledge unto him are actually high schoolers!

Can he use their divine prophecy (let’s play commentary) to save his betrothed and avoid a Bad End?!

Launching today with Parts 1 and 2 of Volume 1!

Full Clearing Another World under a Goddess with Zero Believers by Isle Osaki with Illustrations by Tam-U

Makoto Takatsuki is a normal high school student and a hardcore RPG player. However, “normal” goes out the window when his whole class is involved in a bus crash and whisked away to another world! Powerful gods rule this strange new land of magic and monsters, and every newcomer is blessed with strong stats and unique skills. Well, not quite. Makoto’s stats turn out to be pathetic, and his skills are super weak compared to his classmates’…he’s even stuck as an apprentice mage. Worse still, he’s given only ten years to live!

Luckily, Makoto soon meets a minor goddess named Noah, who appears in Makoto’s dreams and asks him to become her first believer. With the help of Noah’s blessings and a divine weapon, Makoto seeks to become strong enough to rescue his goddess from the dungeon where she’s been trapped. By training hard and using his weak skills in unorthodox ways, Makoto proves that, even when playing on hardcore difficulty, an RPG player always makes it to the end!

Launching today with Parts 1 and 2 of Volume 1!

Full Clearing Another World under a Goddess with Zero Believers (Manga) by Hakuto Shiroi based on the Original Novels by Ise Osaki with Original Character Designs by Tam-U

After Hardcore RPG player Makoto Takatsuki is transported to another world and given new abilities—unfortunately, his skills and stats are pathetic… Alongside a cute goddess with zero believers, Makoto begins his life as an adventurer on hard mode!

Launching today with Chapter 1 of Volume 1!

ABOUT J-NOVEL CLUB

J-Novel Club is a digital and physical publishing company started by translators and fans like you! By focusing on digital releases and providing a membership service to let people read our books as they are being translated, our goal is to build a growing community of readers so that more releases can be officially licensed and translated. With the addition of the J-Novel Heart and J-Novel Pulp imprints, the company hopes to appeal to even more audiences worldwide. Since 2016, J-Novel Club has digitally published over 800 volumes and physically printed over 125 volumes of different series to enjoy.

The post J-Novel Club Announces Five New Titles On September Livestream appeared first on MangaMavericks.com.