In an effort to keep the blog active and provide everyone with the Shogakukan news we know and love, I'm trying something new --a news digest segment. I haven't figured out how frequently we'll do this, but I like the idea of having something between easily digestible tweets and meatier articles. Plus, this gives us the benefit of discussing said news rather than throwing it out in the void. This is in no way a means to replace the X (formerly known as Twitter) account, just a supplementary piece to a wider whole.
— Frieren's origins discussed?!
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End won the 48th annual Kodansha manga award, the ceremony of which was held in Tokyo, Japan, July 31st.
©Kanehito Yamada/Tsukasa Abe/SHOGAKUKAN
Right: Bocchi Hakase to Robot Shojo no Zetsubouteki Utopia, Left: Nanashi wa ittai dare deshou?
However, Oshima explains that the storyboards were much like what Frieren would go on to be --a story of an elf who sets out to learn more about humans due to how long-lived she is compared to them. It was mentioned by the previous editor, Takenori Ichihara (who was the editor at the time of Frieren's serialization) that he read it once and immediately knew they had a success on their hands.
Kazunori Oshima.
I love backstories like this, as they provide so much context to what the final product viewers see. I'm personally glad they went in the direction they did with Frieren in the end. But after seeing some of Yamada-sensei's previous works, I have to admit I think a comedy version of the manga would be different, but perhaps just as good? What do you think?
— Discussing Generative AI
This one isn't exactly Shogakukan related, but it sets up the next few news tidbits -- The Prime Minister has requested review of regulations of generative AI with the first panel being held Friday, August 2nd. This initial meeting is to outline basic measures to ensure the safety and competitiveness of AI. With the negative effects of AI also being apparent, the Government hopes to encourage innovation while mitigating risk.
— Shougakukan enters the App race
A news report from the Nikkei has stated that Shogakukan is developing an app for light novels, and translating them via AI. The report says they aim to have said app out by the end of this year, and will translate 400 light novel titles over the next two years. Two of which are Takibi Amamori and Imigimuru's Too Many Losing Heroines (Make Heroine ga oosugiru!) and the recent light novel spinoff of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End entitled “Prelude” by The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes author Mei Hachimoku. Animenomics reported previously, that Shogakukan and three other manga publishers have invested 780 million yen (5.1 million dollars) into Mantra, an AI assisted translation service in June. This is of course with the hope of cutting down costs and speeding up production.
Left: Too Many Losing Heroines/Right: Frieren spinoff novel: Prelude.
Shogakukan hasn't ruled out print editions of the series available on the app, and has a target of 1 million users by 2027. They also state the service entitled Novelous will scroll vertically rather than have pages to “flip” like a traditional e-book reader, even featuring dialogue coming from speech bubbles from character icons rather than paragraphs.
This all sounds intriguing, but AI leaves a bitter aftertaste. There admittedly is a huge wealth of Shogakukan LNs not available outside of Japan, and the idea of them having an app for that had me in the first half, I admit. Even the format sounds fun, but, hm. I'd really rather it not be translated by AI especially when in this industry translators are out there not being compensated enough for what they do. Though interestingly, Seven Seas Entertainment has already licensed the Too Many Losing Heroines LN and manga, so what exactly is going up on the app? Will traditionally translated series also be available on it? What do you all think?
— Corocoro celebrates issue 555 in style.
Children's magazine Corocoro Comics celebrates it's 555th issue with an anime PV produced by Studio Bones, and a theme song by popular singer Eve.
Illustration by Unmei no Makimodoshi author Futa Kimura
Chrono from Unmei no Makimodoshi is the guide as the viewer is taken through the history of Corocoro comics. For those who don't know, Unmei no Makimodoshi is a hugely popular work, with fans in the entertainment industry such as Kazutaka Kodaka (Danganronpa) singing its praises. In it, Chrono has the ability to rewind time and uses it to battle a shadowy organization that uses time travel for evil.
© Futa Kimura/SHOGAKUKAN
The staff for this PV is stacked with Nobutaka Yoda directing, Rie Matsumoto (Blood Blockade Battlefront s1 director) supervising the animation, Koji Sugiura (Blood Blockade Battlefront character designer) serving as Character Designer/Key Animator and Animation Director. Popular Bones key animator Yutaka Nakamura animated for the PV as well as Yuka Hirata.
This just makes me want a proper Unmei no Makimodoshi anime. It has Youtube shorts (in which it even managed to snag a collaboration with Detective Conan!) Those are fun and all, but this? This is what I want out of a Unmei no Makimodoshi anime. The series has more than shown it deserves it, with the aforementioned shoutout, and crossovers with not only Detective Conan but Frieren and Beyblade too! This PV is incredible, so go check it out!
Artwork of the Frieren, Unmei no Makimodoshi and Beyblade crossover.
Interesting pieces, would be interested in more manga posts like this.
ReplyDeleteThanks for chiming in! We'll try to do more of these.
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