Kung Fu Panda Film Gets Manga
Perhaps not surprising, America's "Kung Fu Panda" CGI movie has become a huge hit in the East. Most recently the film had its premier in Japan, & was accompanied with Jack Black acting like a kung-fu crazy man on stage. Despite that, the movie's doing pretty well over there. But then again, American-made cartoons (heck, American made movies in general) tend to do better over their then Japan's own corresponding works do.
At the same time the movie came out, Kerokero Ace magazine began publishing a Kung Fu Panda manga from Kadokawa Shoten. Like the movie, the story of the manga chronicles the adventures of the panda Po, who's seemingly unobtainable goal is to become the legendary Dragon Warrior champion. Despite being based on an American story, there are currently no plans to publish the story over here.
The same issue of Kerokero Ace also saw the premier chapter of "Slayers: Light Magic," a spin-off Slayers story that features Lina & Gourry being transported to the near future. The new story is not related to the new Slayers Revolution anime series that's currently airing in Japan. Nor is it the Slayers Revolution manga that's also currently being published. Though it can't be doubted that this story is out as a result of the hype of the first new Slayers series in 10 years. Here's hoping Light Magic will help Revolution get a ratings boost, though.
Finally, the issue also saw the first chapter of "Battle Spirits," a manga version of a new anime that's coming out this Fall. Both the manga & anime are based off a new revolutionary card game that's being released by Bandai. Who knows, it could be the next Yu-Gi-Oh. Or you know, the next Duel Masters or something.
Source: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-07-29/america-kung-fu-panda-film-gets-manga-in-japan