The current economic situation has taken its toll on the anime and manga industry. This 2-part series will take a quick look at the various parts of the industry. Part 1 looked at manga. Part 2 will concentrate on anime, primarily in Japan and North America.
ICv2 has not yet released their figures for North American anime sales in 2008. In a previous report (printed in ICv2 Guide #51) and in last year’s white paper presented at the ICv2 Conference on Anime and Manga, ICv2 mentioned that anime sales have been dropping almost every year since 2003 ($550 million in 2003, $450 million in 2004, $500 million in 2005, $400 million in 2006, and $275-300 million in 2007). Considering the state of the economy, it is likely the 2008 total will be less than 2007’s. Continue Reading! »
VIZ Media has announced ten new manga series set to debut throughout the Second Quarter of 2009.
Ten New Manga Series – Something For Everyone
Science fiction, fantasy action/adventure, romance, feudal Japan, dinosaurs and even rock and roll provide an array of story backdrops and themes for an exciting Q2 filled with new manga series. Mature readers will be riveted to the page with the new gritty action series DOGS, while IKIGAMI: THE ULTIMATE LIMIT offers an alternate take on the future of crime deterrence and DETROIT METAL CITY screams tongue-in-cheek heavy metal fun. GESTALT takes readers on an amazing fantasy quest, while shojo fans will delight in the romantic debuts of HONEY HUNT, RASETSU, and a special Tail of the Moon Prequel: The Other Hanzo(u). Continue Reading! »
RIN-NE is the first new manga from Rumiko Takahashi since her epic INUYASHA (published by VIZ Media) ended in 2008 in Japan. Here’s a rundown of the story:
As a child, Sakura Mamiya mysteriously disappeared in the woods behind her grandma’s home. She returned whole and healthy, but since then she has had the power to see ghosts. Now a teenager, she just wishes the ghosts would leave her alone! At school, the desk next to Sakura’s has been empty since the start of the school year, then one day her always-absent classmate shows up, and he’s far more than what he seems!
You can view the first chapter at www.TheRumicWorld.Com. Continue Reading! »
22 Apr, 2009
Posted by: David In: Contests
Tokyopop and Glico (makers of Pocky) are running a pretty cool contest where you could win $1000San Diego Comic Con and have your work displayed at from July 23-26, 2009! Here are the details:
TOKYOPOP & Pocky want you to get your creative juices flowing! Submit an original piece of artwork or a 1-3 panel comic that includes images of Pocky – you can create a box of Pocky, characters enjoying Pocky, or an intriguing Pocky world! Five winners will be chosen to win some amazing prizes!
Continue Reading! »
Even with today’s tough economy, it’s great to know there’s still great free stuff out there…especially when it’s FREE ANIME! Yesterday, Crunchyroll.com announced that they will be streaming every episode of CODE GEASS Lelouch of the Rebellion! Here’s the announcement:
Legendary Anime Studio’s Content to Appear on World Anime Channel
Crunchyroll announced that it is partnering with Bandai Channel to bring blockbuster hits CODE GEASS Lelouch of the Rebellion from legendary anime studio Sunrise to Crunchyroll starting today.
Vice President and COO of Bandai Channel, Takeshi Shimizu, states, “We are looking to create a synergy effect between the world-class contents of one group company, Sunrise, and the retail distribution strength of another group, Bandai Entertainment, culminating digitally on Crunchyroll.” Continue Reading! »
When I think back to the halcyon days of my youth, I can’t help but feel like a complete hypocrite. Despite my present railing and rebelling against everything Dragonball: Evolution represents, I distinctly remember a ten-year-old Narcolepsy agreeing with his friends that a live action Goku adventure would be “totally boss”.
My bad.
Plot Summary
The world of Dragonball: Evolution is not what you’d expect. Fighters compete for world championships and the laws of physics are made to be broken. Leaps become short flights, balls of energy fly about, and futuristic technology gets a strong dose of old eastern mysticism. In the middle of it all is a spiky-haired protagonist with a great destiny. Continue Reading! »
The coming of age tale is designed to take a character on a journey from youthful adolescence into adulthood by way of trials and tribulations. Unfortunately, this process of discovery, the loss of a naïve and blissful ignorance, is accompanied by sadness and grief for something that can never be regained.
Don’t worry; Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple, Season One, Part One isn’t that deep of a tale (so far).
Continue Reading! »
The current economic situation has taken its toll on the anime and manga industry. This 2-part series will take a quick look at the various parts of the industry, primarily in North America. Part 1 will concentrate on manga.
First, let’s take a look at manga publishing: Continue Reading! »
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