Otakon ‘07 TokyoPop Panel: Upcoming Releases

This is late, but not quite old news. Having only been a few minutes late to the panel at Otakon, I still managed to get myself a nice front right-hand seat at TokyoPop’s panel. Mind you, these guys were flying through these releases, so there could be a mistake or a title missing. I think I did catch the majority of them down on paper though. I did have the power of Press at my disposal after all. Anyway, I’m sure some other site like Manga Jouhou has gathered this information before I had the will to regurgitate my notes…but since my blog is so crazy niche, I’m going to do it myself. Nyah! So there! Enjoy.

TokyoPop Release Dates

blue = anticipating/curious

+ Aug. ‘07

- Trinity Blood

+ Sept. ‘07

- Vampire Kisses: Blood Relative (done by the first winner of Rising Stars Of Manga [RSOM])
- I.N.V.U. Vol. 4
- Poison Candy (OEL)
- Fruits Basket Fan Book
- June Pride (Boys Love [BL])

+ Oct. ‘07

- Aqua (many attendees were happy this title was licensed)
- Tactics
- Peacemaker
- Your & My Secret
- The Dark Crystal (OEL)
- Chobits Fan Book – Your Eyes Only
- Just My Luck
- Full Metal Panic
- Welcome to the NHK!

+ Nov. ‘07

- Suppli (older Japanese title)
- Zig-Zag (niche shoujo; all-boys living in a dorm)
- Voice or Noise

+ Dec. ‘07

- Love Attack! (original title: Junai Tokko Taicho; Comedic romance of a rowdy couple that enjoys bullying other students, but turn out to be unexpectedly lovey-dovey when together)
- The Other Side of the Mirror
- Warriors: Warriors Refuge (Children’s novel)

+ FLCL (single book; release date unknown)

2008

+ Jan. 2008

- Gakuen Alice
- Manga Sutra (Virgin newlyweds explore the ins and outs [/pun] of sexual interaction while getting better acquainted with the marriage lifestyle; has been a big hit in Japan; title adapted for US audience)

+ Feb. ‘08

- .Hack//G.U.
- Gothic & Lolita (50% Japan info / 50% US info)
- Twelve Kingdoms (novel)

+ Mar. ‘08

- Spy Goddess (OEL)

+ Early Summer

- Juuousei (color pages available)

+ Older Teen titles (release dates unknown)

- Asian Beat
- Ba-Ku
- Demon Flowers

+ Box Sets (release dates unknown)

- Fruits Basket
- Kingdom Hearts
- Sgt. Frog

+ Ultimate Editions (release dates unknown; extra stuff & more color photos)

- Fruits Basket
- Princess Ai (OEL)
- Ororon
- Warcraft
- Battle Royale

+ Manga Revolution (release date unknown; Manga made available on mobile devices / broadband)

- Midnight Opera

Though I’m more in favor of DelRey’s taste in licenses, TokyoPop has a pretty strong upcoming lineup that not only caters to what manga readers (mostly of the female breed, in my opinion) want, but some interesting, obscure titles that could turn a few heads. All I really wish is that these OEL manga creators would come up with more compelling, coaxing titles for their stories so I’d at least be curious about what lies between their pages. For example, “Spy Goddess” automatically makes me think of the movie “Spy Kids,” which is an immediate turn-off. “The Dark Crystal” sounds like someone stole my concept idea for an interactive Flash game I wrote two years ago for a college project called “The Dark Swirl.” In any case…

…are any of these titles tickling your fancy? If so, feel free to leave a comment.

Currently Listening To: YUI – Bleach 2nd ED – “LIFE”