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France is the biggest manga market in Europe
Date: Thursday February 2nd 2012 [17:36] | Posted By: Joe
Category: > Manga
Facts and figures for the the manga industry always make an interesting read. CNN's Geekout Blog has a good article about the European Manga Industry.
Did you know that France accounts for 50% of VIZ Media Europe's manga sales? The article also highlights that combined Europe and the Middle East generates more manga sales than America -
"'In Europe, manga is most popular in France, then Italy and Spain,' said Hyoe Narita, president of VIZ Media Europe, which is headquartered in Paris. Annual manga sales in Japan are about $5 billion, he said, whereas American manga sales are $120 million and Europe and the Middle East combined make $250 million. This combined number given out is probably because VIZ Media Europe distributes to the Middle East as well. Japan is still the huge maker, but these numbers show that manga is moving well outside of Asia."
"The popularity does vary by country, but France is by far the leader in European otaku interest, as it brings in 50% of European manga sales. Narita said it’s the same size or a bit bigger than the market in the United States."
An Interview with Vic Mignogna
Date: Wednesday January 18th 2012 [14:00] | Posted By: Azure
Category: > Features
We got a chance to chat to well known voice actor Vic Mignogna at the last MCM London Expo. We discuss a range of topics from getting into voice acting, dubbing anime songs, voice acting inspirations, and of course Full Metal Alchemist.
S'more Entertainment licences Galaxy Express 999 TV series
Date: Monday January 16th 2012 [22:10] | Posted By: Eeeper
Category: > Anime
S'more Entertainment, an speciality video label in the US, licences the TV series Galaxy Express 999 for release in 2012 along with Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo TV series.
Shipping $36,000 worth of Japanese candy
Date: Saturday January 14th 2012 [18:58] | Posted By: Joe
Category: > Websites
Every otaku loves Japanese snacks and confectionery, what makes it more interesting is finding out how much some people like it. The owners of Candy Japan have posted an interesting article about how they're selling $36,000 worth of Japanese candy over 6 months. The site has been up and running for a year and has a very simple business model. You subscribe to them for $24 a month and they send you two envelopes with sugary treats each month. Currently they have just under 300 subscribers.
This makes us wonder, is it a viable long term business? Can you get more candy for $24 a month from J-List's Candy section instead? Or is the random element of Candy Japan part of the fun?
Update: J-List have confirmed that they sell more candy than that, around $50,000 worth a month. So it goes to show there is good money in sweet Japanese things.
GEN Manga Issue 8 out now
Date: Saturday January 14th 2012 [15:41] | Posted By: Joe
Category: > Manga
The good folks from GEN Manga have sent us details of their latest Issue GEN 8.
It features a new story Let's Eat Ramen by Nagumo, the author of the seriesRadio de Go!
The on-line manga publisher distribute their monthly collection of doujinshi using a subscription model. You get to download and keep the PDF file for each issue too.
Funimation sues former ADV company, Section23, Sentai Filmworks
Date: Friday January 13th 2012 [18:01] | Posted By: Eeeper
Category: > Current Affairs
Funimation sues ADV, Sentai and others for alleged debt arising from ARM/Sojitz deal.
Bandai US and UK shuts down DVD/BD/Manga production
Date: Thursday January 5th 2012 [13:34] | Posted By: Eeeper
Category: > Retail
The US anime releasing division of Bandai has announced that from February they will cease publication of both new anime titles and manga titles. The company’s UK and French sister divisions have also released similar statements.
GEN Manga Issue 7 out now
Date: Tuesday December 20th 2011 [13:56] | Posted By: Joe
Category: > Manga
Fans of seinen manga will be pleased to hear that GEN Manga have just released GEN 7.
The on-line manga publisher distribute their monthly collection of doujinshi using a subscription model. You get to download and keep the PDF file for each issue too.
BBC News on Bento Boxes
Date: Sunday December 11th 2011 [14:58] | Posted By: Joe
Category: > Cuisine
We've covered Bento Boxes and the fun designs you can make with the food called kyaraben before on Otaku News. BBC News have a video on bento boxes in Japan. It includes a bento making class eager parents go to in order to learn about the art of making kyaraben.
Sentai Filmworks Licenses Grave of the Fireflies
Date: Thursday December 1st 2011 [16:54] | Posted By: Joe
Category: > Anime > DVD
We've received news from US Anime Distributor Sentai Filmworks that they've licensed Grave of the Fireflies. The Ghibli classic is emotional story of the cold realities of war, and often forgotten victims, the children.
Sentai Filmworks will begin digital distribution of the title this winter and a digital restored DVD will be released next year.
Cowboy Bebop Movie Script Charity Auction
Date: Wednesday November 30th 2011 [14:50] | Posted By: Joe
Category: > Current Affairs
The folks at FrontTowardsGamer.com have got in touch with us to spread the word about their charity auction. They've got a copy of the Cowboy Bebop Movie Script, which has been autographed by the US voice actors.
The charity auction aims to raise money to build video game stuffed care packages for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Beckii Cruel in the Music Charts
Date: Wednesday November 30th 2011 [2:48] | Posted By: Joe
Category: > Press Releases
We've received news from Beckii Cruel's team about her current chart success with the single You Can't Kiss Me.
This week the single is number 2 in the Music Week Club Chart Breakers, with Chase and Status coming in number 1. The chart tracks the up and coming music which is getting played in the clubs. The DJ's pick up on it and feed in the amount of play it is getting.
An Interview with Helen McCarthy
Date: Sunday November 27th 2011 [16:11] | Posted By: Joe
Category: > Nostalgia
We're going all nostalgic here at Otaku News and have decided to dig up some old articles from our archive that are not published on-line, either because they were originally for print or from websites that are now off-line.
Just because they're old doesn't mean they're not relevant to today's otaku.
Before Otaku News, we used to run Anime Digital, a website hosted by the London Anime Club. In October 1999, we were lucky enough to interview Helen McCarthy, who is an anime expert, author, speaker and so much more. Although the interview is over 10 years old, it's interesting to see how many things are still the same in the industry and fandom. We've reprinted this article with Helen's permission. Readers familiar with Helen's work will note that she did write an award winning book about Tezuka in the end!
Update: Helen has also blogged about this article.
Digital Manga Inc Launch Anime Cel Art Shop
Date: Friday November 25th 2011 [14:27] | Posted By: Joe
Category: > Retail
We've received some rather interesting news from Digital Manga Inc. They've just opened a new site Anime Cel Art, which like the name implies is dedicated to selling anime cel art. They've currently got Naruto, Bleach and One Piece cels for sale.
Collectors should note, that these are not production cels used to make the anime as production now is digital. These are officially licensed reproductions. They are hand painted, and made exactly the same as production cels, but these images have never been used to make anime. As a result you get more for your money. You get a high quality image along with a background for a reasonable price.
GEN Manga on Graphicly.com
Date: Wednesday November 16th 2011 [6:45] | Posted By: Joe
Category: > Manga
Independent Manga publisher GEN Manga have sent us news that they're now on Graphicly.com.
Graphicly.com distribute comics on Apple, Android, PCs and Macs, along with the Barnes & Noble Nook.
We caught up with GEN Manga in their New York offices earlier this year. One of the things they mentioned was their intention to expand from the main monthly volume. They've just done this releasing the first 6 volumes as a single anthology with over 900 pages of content in one file for $2.99.
They've also release the whole of the moe title VS Aliens as a complete standalone collection for $0.99.
L'Arc-en-Ciel 20th L'Anniversary Live Details and World Tour
Date: Tuesday November 8th 2011 [15:51] | Posted By: Joe
Category: > Events
Fans of the hugely popular band L'Arc-en-Ciel will probably already know all the details of their 2012 world tour.
To warm up they'll be screening a special performance (recorded live from May 28th and 29th 2011) around the world.
London based readers will want head over the Apollo Piccadilly to catch the screenings on the following dates:
5th December 2011 - 6:30pm
Tuesday 6th December 2011 - 8:30pm
Details of screenings at other countries can be found on this official site.
Full details of the world tour is are still to be announced, but we have been sent details of the following locations and dates -
Hong Kong, Hong Kong - Asia World-Expo Arena - March 3rd, 2012 (Saturday)
Bangkok, Thailand - Impact Arena - March 7th, 2012 (Wednesday)
Shanghai, China - Mercedes-Benz Areana - March 10th 2012 (Saturday)
Taipei, Taiwan - TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall - March 17th 2012 (Saturday)
New York, USA - The Theater at Madison Square Garden - March 23rd, 2012 (Friday)
London, UK - indigO2 - April 11th, 2012 (Wednesday)
Paris, France - Le Zenith de Paris - April 14th 2012 (Saturday)
As always with popular events, we suggest booking early to avoid disappointment.
Clannad Complete Collection US Blu-ray out now
Date: Tuesday November 8th 2011 [14:40] | Posted By: Joe
Category: > Anime
Just a quick reminder for those in the US (or those who can buy DVDs and Blu-rays from the USA). Section 23 films have sent us details of the Blu-ray release of Clannad. The complete collection is out now.
Buy Clannad now from Amazon.com.
Read More... | Source: Section23 Films
Letraset Screentone Review
Date: Sunday October 30th 2011 [5:08] | Posted By: Voxie
Category: > Art
All my life I've been drawing, and I've appreciated the manga style for most of my life. But I've always been adamant to delve into the world of screentone. I've never really figured out why this is, however perhaps I'll find out today. I've been handed two kinds to look at, a Letraset Screentone MT23 pack, and a pack of Letraset Safmat Self-Adhesive Printing Film. I've only worked with digital screentone before, so this is a bold adventure for me!
Breathe Deeply - a new graphic novel from One Peace Books
Date: Wednesday October 26th 2011 [16:11] | Posted By: Joe
Category: > Manga
We've received details of a new manga title just out. Breath Deeply is a controversial medical thriller with a dash of romance. It's written by the husband and wife team known as Doton Yamaaki. Published in English by One Peace Books the company suggest readers forget what they know about manga when approaching this title. It's out now from your favourite book sellers.
Buy from Amazon.com
Buy from Amazon.co.uk
Update: We've now have a reviewed Breathe Deeply.
Naruto Shippuden The Movie: Bonds US DVD and Blu-ray release details, plus on-line movie marathon details
Date: Friday October 21st 2011 [15:37] | Posted By: Joe
Category: > Anime > DVD
The good folks at Viz have sent us details of the up coming US release of Naruto Shippuden The Movie: Bonds which is due out on DVD and Blu-ray on Tuesday October 25th 2011.
To celebrate US based readers can watch on-line for a limited time a marathon of all five Naruto movies! The stream is avaiable this weekend until Sunday October 23rd 2011.
GEN Manga Issue 6 out now
Date: Wednesday October 12th 2011 [2:00] | Posted By: Joe
Category: > Manga
Fans of alternative manga will be pleased to hear that publisher GEN Manga Entertainment's latest release GEN 6 is out now priced $2.99 for the digital copy.
If you're heading to New York Comic Con you can visit the GEN Manga at booth 2030.
We interviewed GEN Manga recently and asked them about their take on the manga publishing industry.
An Interview with GEN Manga
Date: Sunday September 25th 2011 [14:04] | Posted By: Joe
Category: > Manga
eBooks and eBook readers have taken off, with Amazon's Kindle, the Nook and iPad all popular must have gadgets for reading. Currently there's a lot of attention on digital manga. Several companies have sprouted up offering legitimate manga to download and read. The two big boys are JManga and VizManga. They have been criticised for many reasons, including DRM, complex pricing models and region locking. JManga is run by a consortium of 39 manga publishers, so you can easily say they're the biggest digital manga distributor out there. A lot of people are complaining about these manga companies getting it wrong, but has anyone got it right?
GEN Manga Issue 5 out now
Date: Sunday September 18th 2011 [16:01] | Posted By: Joe
Category: > Manga
Fans of alternative manga will be pleased to hear about publisher GEN Manga Entertainment's latest release. GEN 5 is out now, priced $2.99, and available to download on PDF. Issue 3 is now free to download.
AM2 Convention coming back to Anaheim
Date: Wednesday September 14th 2011 [12:58] | Posted By: Eeeper
Category: > Events
The AM2 Convention in Anaheim in California is set to return in 2012 with more guests.
Cosplay Ireland Roundtable
Date: Friday September 2nd 2011 [9:51] | Posted By: Eeeper
Category: > Events
Organisers and performers for the Cosplay Ireland event in Dublin talk about the event.
Otakon Roundtable Podcast Part 1
Date: Sunday August 28th 2011 [19:11] | Posted By: Eeeper
Category: > Features
Otaku News and Eeeper's Choice Podcast present part 1 of our Otakon Roundtable talk with our staff member Eeeper plus Elliot Page from UK-Anime.net and Gerry from Anientity.co.uk
Interview with manga translator William Flanagan
Date: Thursday August 25th 2011 [10:05] | Posted By: Eeeper
Category: > Features
Otaku News is happy to present our interview with manga translator William Flanagan in conjunction with the Fumi Yoshinaga month at the Moveable Manga Feast.
Hatsune Miku Arcade Game Debuts at 2011 J-Pop Summit
Date: Wednesday August 24th 2011 [15:49] | Posted By: Joe
Category: > Events
San Francisco based readers looking for something to do this weekend (Saturday August 27th and Sunday August 28th 2011) will want to head over to J-Pop Summit Festival 2011. They'll also debut of the Hatsune Miku Arcade Game which has been shipped in from Japan especially.
American Comic Companies battle for readers
Date: Monday August 22nd 2011 [4:47] | Posted By: Joe
Category: > Manga
BBC News are running an interesting story about Marvel and DC's current strategy of expansion into Asia.
"With sales in decline at home, US comic-book giants Marvel and its old rival DC Comics have been looking towards foreign markets to grow their businesses."
CB Cebulski at Marvel declares that "Sales are down and we've been losing market share to things like video games, social media, to film, to piracy."
The article highlights the difficulties DC and Marvel will have with manga and it's culture strong established in the Asian market. It also mentions that sales of manga are falling in Japan as well. The Japanese government are trying to fix this.
"The Japanese government has recently announced a new plan to aggressively further promote its pop culture and content, including manga, to international markets"
We've already seen this at events like the JETRO talk at Hyper Japan.
The article concludes with Marvel's current strategy of hiring local talent in Asia to draw comics and that they are given more creative control. It ends with an table of percentages of market share of Japanese manga versus American comics in Asia.
New Manga Portal Website JManga.com has Launched in North America
Date: Friday August 19th 2011 [4:33] | Posted By: Voxie
Category: > Manga
Announced at the recent Comic-Con International San Diego, the Digital Comic Association's Japanese manga portal website JManga.com has been launched in North America.
JManga.com provides online manga for sale by chapter and volume, made purchasable using a monthly point subscription system, free previews available to be read by all, as well as information regarding manga currently published in North America. JManga.com also offers special feature content regarding manga culture, such as manga artist interviews, hoping to close the gap between the manga fans, authors and publishers.
JManga.com launches with a couple hundred titles including such diverse titles as; NARUTO, Kekkaishi, Crayon Shinchan, Devil King, Cigarette Kisses, Dragon Girl, Tujiurauri, Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru, Young-kun, ADEKAN, Manga Science, and many more new to the North American market.
JManga plans to update their catalogue every Tuesday, increasing to a few thousand titles within the next year and onto 10,000 by 2013.
Cosplay Ireland announce first event
Date: Thursday August 18th 2011 [20:06] | Posted By: Eeeper
Category: > Fandom
Cosplay Ireland website announces a cosplay event in Dublin in early September. Attendees are encouraged to cosplay but event is open to all aged 18 and up.
Digital Manga version of Neon Genesis Evangelion launches on VizManga.com
Date: Tuesday August 16th 2011 [17:03] | Posted By: Joe
Category: > Manga
The good folks at Viz Media have sent us details of their latest title to appear on VIZManga. They've just launched Neon Genesis Evangelion with weekly digital chapters for $0.99. It's available on PC and Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Android phones and tablets.
GEN Manga Issue 4 out now, plus download free indie manga
Date: Monday August 15th 2011 [15:55] | Posted By: Joe
Category: > Manga
GEN Manga the company bringing us indie manga from the Tokyo underground have sent us reminder that issue 4 is out today.
They've also released issue 2 for free. They're even extending their subscribers discount. What makes GEN Manga interesting is that each issue is published on PDF, so you can download it and read it on any device that'll handle PDF documents. There's no nasty DRM to worry about, or installing extra naggy software, just one file per issue.
Hoshi o Ou Kodomo Japanese blu ray to have English subtitles
Date: Thursday August 11th 2011 [20:11] | Posted By: Eeeper
Category: > Anime > DVD
Upcoming Japanese blu ray release of Makoto Shinkai's latest film to include English subtitles.
Emma: Victorian Romance streams on-line for free
Date: Wednesday August 10th 2011 [16:55] | Posted By: Joe
Category: > Anime
The excellent folks from Right Stuf/Nozomi are now streaming the anime Emma: A Victorian Romance on YouTube. They'll be showing one new episode of Emma per week for the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. They're showing the episodes subtitled. So if you fancy an anime series set in Victorian England, now's your chance to watch it for free.
You can get Series 1 and Series 2 from Amazon.com. You can also pre-order The Complete Series Limited Edition Bundle, which features Season 1 and Season 2, it's out on September 13th 2011.
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