Trouble in Manga-land...
In what is now being called the "Tokyopop Massacre," Tokyopop has layed off nearly 40% of it's workforce. Tokyopop seems to be serious in conceding the import manga business in favor of their original products and multimedia development. Trimming down 50% of their titles from the print schedule means that their import manga catalog will feel some, if not most of the fallout but as it stands it is a bit to early to tell where Tokyopop plans to move with its massive restructuring. This split may even come down to internal strife; two opposing camps within Tokyopop wanting to go in different directions but this is unsubstantiated and no official statements have been released other than that what is left the current Tokyopop will be splitting into two seperate companies Tokyopop Inc. which would work solely on books, including original material, while Tokyopop Media would focus on developing multimedia ventures.
While Tokyopop may dominate your Barns and Noble's manga section it seems sales and profitability are two totally different beasts and it seems Tokyopop has been drawing the short end of the stick in the licensing game. Translator Peter Ahlstrom one of the 39 given a pink slip and now former Tokyopop staffer takes an educated educated guess at what titles might be in danger.
The cuts seem to be deep and wide not only translators but even people Tokyopop�s yaoi BLU imprint, a consistent performer for the company in the past being laid off. Not even executives ar immune PR Director Susan Hale long the industry face of Tokyopop has confirmed her departure and almost the entire Manga Pilot Program staff getting the ax. A Facebook group started for people who were laid off by Tokyopop supposedly contains many pre-press production staff.
As if things were not crazy enough rumor has it that that Japanese publishing giant Kodansha is set to enter the manga publishing business in the US, and will be rescinding licenses from other US publishers to do it. It seems the Japanese are well on their way to control of the US manga market. For those that didn't already know Viz is owned by Shueisha and Shogakukan, and Tokyopop is technically a Japanese company.
At A Geek By Any Other Name former employees are responding to the TP spindoctoring by reporting not only were they laid off by Tokyopop but describe a humilating scene of confused employees being locked out of their computers, given minutes to retrieve personal belongings, and promptly and unceremoniously marched out the door.
This was not a layoff, it was a sacking. Disgraceful.
~ this article via Mangatraders Manga news
What will become of our Manga sources now? It's all up in the air. The way these companies are going about their cornering of the Manga industry in the US is frightening, and it really put me off to here about this ruthless attitude. Though coming from a culture of such, it's a wonder I am surprised. I just hope that the series I have so gotten into I will be able to finish and continue to enjoy fully~ without going broke or to the ends of the earth (or Japan) to find it.
While Tokyopop may dominate your Barns and Noble's manga section it seems sales and profitability are two totally different beasts and it seems Tokyopop has been drawing the short end of the stick in the licensing game. Translator Peter Ahlstrom one of the 39 given a pink slip and now former Tokyopop staffer takes an educated educated guess at what titles might be in danger.
The cuts seem to be deep and wide not only translators but even people Tokyopop�s yaoi BLU imprint, a consistent performer for the company in the past being laid off. Not even executives ar immune PR Director Susan Hale long the industry face of Tokyopop has confirmed her departure and almost the entire Manga Pilot Program staff getting the ax. A Facebook group started for people who were laid off by Tokyopop supposedly contains many pre-press production staff.
As if things were not crazy enough rumor has it that that Japanese publishing giant Kodansha is set to enter the manga publishing business in the US, and will be rescinding licenses from other US publishers to do it. It seems the Japanese are well on their way to control of the US manga market. For those that didn't already know Viz is owned by Shueisha and Shogakukan, and Tokyopop is technically a Japanese company.
At A Geek By Any Other Name former employees are responding to the TP spindoctoring by reporting not only were they laid off by Tokyopop but describe a humilating scene of confused employees being locked out of their computers, given minutes to retrieve personal belongings, and promptly and unceremoniously marched out the door.
This was not a layoff, it was a sacking. Disgraceful.
~ this article via Mangatraders Manga news
What will become of our Manga sources now? It's all up in the air. The way these companies are going about their cornering of the Manga industry in the US is frightening, and it really put me off to here about this ruthless attitude. Though coming from a culture of such, it's a wonder I am surprised. I just hope that the series I have so gotten into I will be able to finish and continue to enjoy fully~ without going broke or to the ends of the earth (or Japan) to find it.