Manga News and Information
November, 2007Last week, Toei Animation's president and COO Yosuke Kobayashi and director Kaz Yamashita visited Brazil. The two talked with specialized press, and Papo de Budega was present during the occasion. One of reasons of the visit is to review the Brazilian and Latin American anime distribution scene. The company wants to give more attention to countries around the region. Their focus is on free TV (broadcast), instead of cable TV. The following manga appeared on the USA Today Booklist Top 150 (PDF) for the week ending November 25th:
In the latest issue of PWCW, MangaBlog's Brigid Alverson talks with writer Christine Feehan about her first manga Dark Hunger, which is currently being published by Berkley Books. From Kai-Ming Cha and Heidi MacDonald comes an interview with Takehiko Inoue during his appearance in New York City. Also, Kai-Ming Cha interviews John McGeary, show manager of the New York Anime Festival, while Calvin Reid interviews Milton Griepp, CEO of ICv2 (go here for an ICv2 article on how Fruits Basket is topping the BookScan list of graphic novels for the week ending November 18th). The Japanese search engine goo has posted its top 50 most searched mangaka names in 2007:
Mangaka Keiichiro Oki has passed away on November 19th. Keiichiro Oki is mostly known for his pachinko and pachisuro manga. According to (Ms.) Tomo Kimura's Translation Notes, mangaka Ai Yazawa has recovered from her illness, and as a result, Nana will resume serialization in Shueisha's Cookie magazine:
Via: MangaBlog From Active Anime comes an interview with BL manga author Hinako Takanaga, writer of Little Butterfly. Also, Yomiuri Online has published an article titled "Rolling with the Punch / Lupin III Auteur Explores World of Technology, Manga," where it talks with Monkey Punch, creator of Lupin III. Finally, Times Online has interviewed Moyoco Anno, mangaka of Hataraki Man. Via: ANN ANN is reporting that the Belgian police has reached an dead end in the investigation of the recent "Death Note" murder:
A round up of the new comic release list and views for the week of November 28th 2007: Hong Kong (November 28, 2007) - An exclusive interview with noted author Frederik L. Schodt will be posted today on the website of Imagi Animation Studios at www.imagi.com.hk. Top 10 manga (11/28) according to Tohan:
Additional Rankings: The J-Pop Center In Heart Of Japan Town To Offer Latest Live Action And Anime Films San Francisco, CA, November 27, 2007 - VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced that it has become an owner of an art-house movie theatre set to open in winter 2008/2009 in the heart of San Francisco's Japan Town, a prominent and historical sightseeing spot in the San Francisco Bay Area. The theatre will specialize in screening Japanese films and anime. Students learn about popular Japanese art-form, pitch concepts to studio execs IRVINE, Calif. - November 21, 2007 - UC Irvine Extension, the continuing education arm of the University of California, Irvine, has announced plans to offer a new, third course in its "Manga & Anime Explosion: What, Why, How & Wow!" series. The course is designed to give both those pursuing a career in the high-growth entertainment field and enthusiasts alike a better understanding of the creative and business processes involved in bringing the Japanese art-form successfully to the masses in the United States. From The Ninja Consultant comes a podcast interview with Jason Thompson. Also, TheoFantastique interviews Japanese popular culture scholar Andrea Levi. Via: MangaBlog From Daily Yomiuri Online comes an article titled "Firms launch New Manga in Shrinking Market," which looks at how Shueisha and Kadokawa Shoten are launching new manga magazines in a "declining magazine market":
George Akiyama: the unstoppable King of Trauma Manga
Akiyama the unstoppable A lot about George Akiyama is shrouded in mystery and myth. Fact 1: he's a veteran manga artist who's spent the last thirty years and more at the cutting edge of the art-form, and he still shows no signs of slowing down. Fact 2: he has the true artist's gift of sensing what's coming down the line. Long before they happened, both the Aum Shinrikyo death cult and the anime Evangelion are weirdly foreshadowed in his work.
Golden Days (ゴールデン・デイズ) by Shigeru Takao and Karakuri Odette (カラクリオデット) by Julietta Suzuki will be ending in the upcoming issue of Hana to Yume. Belmonde le VisiteuR by Shomei Ishioka came to an end in Weekly Shounen Jump No.51. A new one-shot, titled Toriko by Shimabukuro Mitsutoshi, will appear in Weekly Jump No.52 (11/26). Finally, a new series called Psyren by Iwashiro Toshiaki will begin in Weekly Jump No.1 (12/3). Shoujo Comic, also known as Sho-Comi, was launched in 1968 by Shogakukan. To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the Sho-Comi magazine will begin using a new logo starting with the January New Year's issue (on sale 12/5). Voting for Tokyopop's Rising Stars of Manga UK and Ireland 3, People's Choice Award is now open to the public. Voting will end at 6pm PST November 30, 2007, and the results will be announced in the first week of December. Via: MangaBlog ANN reports that the Franklin Military Academy in Virginia has suspended a senior for keeping a list of names in a book called "Death Note":
Gardena, CA , November 21, 2007 - Ever wonder what it might be like to be a vampire? If so, Pop Japan Travel and Toon Zone have a contest for you. Pop Japan Travel, the original pop Japan tour company recently profiled in the New York Times, is asking "Who wants to be a vampire?" to promote its upcoming Cold Steel Tour of Tokyo, Kamakura and Sapporo Jan. 28 to Feb. 6. The tour includes a meeting with Japanese horror icon Hideyuki Kikuchi, creator of "Vampire Hunter D," and "D" manga artist Saiko Takaki, plus a visit to Studio Pierrot ("Naruto," "Bleach"), the Ghibli Museum, the Sapporo Snow Festival, and much more. Event preview, gift giving in Japan, contests, reviews & more in episode 54. GRIMES, IA, November 21, 2007 – Anime producer and mega-online anime retailer Right Stuf, Inc. is pleased to welcome two of the organizers of the upcoming New York Anime Festival (NYAF) - Vice President and Show Manager John McGeary and Programming Manager Peter Tatara - to episode 54 of ANIME TODAY. From ANN comes an interview with Takehiko Inoue (creator of Slam Dunk and Vagabond), who appeared during a special in-store event at the new Kinokuniya Bookstore in New York City to paint a special mural. Also, in the latest issue of PWCW, MangaBlog's Brigid Alverson talks with Tokyopop's Lillian Diaz-Przybyl about the titles that TP picked up from ADV Manga. The following manga appeared on the USA Today Booklist Top 150 (PDF) for the week ending November 18th:
A round up of the new comic release list and views for the week of November 21st 2007: |
Manga Zombie
Finale: Panelosophy
An ongoing conversation about the philosophy behind manga both in the U.S. and abroad. Manga Ranking
Monthly charts of comparative manga rankings based on aggregate online sales listings from Matt Blind. |
ComiPress teams up with writer Udagawa Takeo and translator John Gallagher to publish an online version of the English-language translation of Manga Zombie.
