iPad Manga App from VIZ Media

As a proud iPad owner I have been longing for some time to have an app that might actually cater to the legitimate Manga scene, now it looks like VIZ Media has come through:

Official Press Release

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced its long-awaited digital manga (graphic novel) application for the Apple® iPad™ mobile device, launching today for FREE download through the iTunes Store. With this launch, the VIZ MANGA APP instantly becomes the leading destination to read Japanese manga on the iPad, with a downloadable library of the most popular manga series in the world.


The VIZ MANGA APP will launch on its first day with five legendary manga series, BLEACH Vols. 1-2, DEATH NOTE Vols. 1-2, DRAGON BALL Vol. 1, NARUTO Vols. 1-2, and ONE PIECE Vols. 1-2, as well as the recently launched BAKUMAN。 Vol. 1. In Week 2, the shojo fan favorite OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB Vol. 1 joins the lineup. All volumes will be available for purchase and download directly within the application for $4.99 per volume. In addition, DEATH NOTE Vol. 1 will be available as a FREE download for a limited time only. Readers are encouraged to check the app regularly, as new additions to the store and free Chapter 1 previews of other forthcoming manga series for the iPad will also be featured and added on a frequent and regular basis.

“Fans have been clamoring for an official manga-dedicated app from the moment they heard of the iPad’s existence,” says Alvin Lu, Senior Vice President and General Manager of VIZ Media. “It’s easy to see how manga and the iPad make for a perfect and natural fit. The VIZ MANGA APP is a great start, and this is just the beginning of manga’s brave new world. Look for plenty more developments to come.”


For more information on the VIZ MANGA APP, please visit www.VIZ.com/apps/.

I will be doing a full review on the app in the next couple of days, it looks like its going to be pretty limited on titles right now, but knowing VIZ Media, they will be upping that sooner than later. The iPad is definately canging the way people view traditional books and media, and applications like this are just the beginning.

NEWS: Bandai Streaming on Youtube!

This might not be big news, but with Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion going on hiatus from Cartoon Network it might interest folks to know that Bandai is offering the episodes as streaming content through their Youtube! channel.

Currently they are offering 25 episodes with English subtitles, I have embedded the player here into the blog so that you readers can watch the series from the comfort of Blossom of the Sakura

NEWS: Mandalay Pictures Options Full Metal Panic Movie!

Ok I am REALLY hoping this was a very late April fools joke! From Anime News Network:

The Mandalay Pictures production studio has licensed the film rights to Shoji Gatoh's Full Metal Panic! high school action comedy light novels. The story centers around a brusque young sergeant named Sousuke Sagara who must protect an assertive high school girl named Chidori Kaname by masquerading (somewhat unsuccessfully) as a high school student himself. Actor Zac Efron (High School Musical, Hairspray, 17 Again) is reportedly discussing the project.

Shikidouji illustrated the original novels, and Retsu Tateo adapted them into manga form. Three television anime series, several spinoff manga, and a video special have since released. ADV Manga released both the first manga series and the Full Metal Panic: Overload! manga spinoff in North America. ADV Films and Funimation have split the North American DVD releases of the different anime series between the two of them.

This is more than a little scary, once again Hollywood gets an idea to remake a popular Anime series, and well, Speed Racer shows how that can go.

We will see what we shall see on this one I guess.

Some new series...

Ok, so I am getting back into the fansubbing side of things, I have a pair of shows downloaded right now to go through Mamotte Shugogetten [of which you saw a Manga review as an early post] and He is my Master! which seems to be a light hearted cosplay comedy.

Currently neither of these shows has been picked up for commercial release in the USA so I am comfortable downloading them, if that changes however I will remove them, as I feel it best to support the domestic publishers as much as possible.

To tide you over, here is an image from the He is my Master! Manga [which I will be reviewing shortly as well]