Make Your Own Tokyopop Manga
- Posted by Johanna on November 21, 2006 at 12:56 pm
- Category: Manga News
A new press release:
Planetwide Media, a pioneer in interactive personalized media software, and TOKYOPOP, the leader of the Global Manga Revolution, announced today the upcoming release of TOKYOPOP Manga Creator(tm) self-publishing software and TOKYOPOP packs of digital content.
TOKYOPOP and Planetwide Media have signed a joint licensing agreement to create, market and sell the TOKYOPOP Manga Creator and TOKYOPOP Packs online through http://www.TOKYOPOP.com, http://www.mycomicbookcreator.com, and at selected retailers worldwide. TOKYOPOP Manga Creator(tm) software will provide manga and anime fans the opportunity to create, share and interact with TOKYOPOP characters, backgrounds, logos, icons, and screen shots, while creating their very own TOKYOPOP manga.
I’ve seen a demo of this company’s software, and it’s pretty neat. I thought of it as a toy, for kids to use stock images and layouts to put together their own Marvel comics, but they’re pitching it as much more. I wonder what’s going to happen once more people get a hold of this and start publishing their own comics starring Spider-Man to the web. But that’s not what we’re here for today.
What we’re here for is to talk about Tokyopop’s license. Which I also wonder about, because the books Tokyopop owns are those we call OEL manga. Are Dramacon characters going to be included, for instance? Or will licensed Japanese or Korean books be involved somehow? The images I recognize from the preview art banner are from OEL books.
But check this promo bit out:
If you’re already a manga artist, simply upload the JPG, PNG, GIF or BMP images of your own art into Creator, and create an even more original manga comic book.
Suddenly, it’s a production studio. Are we going to start seeing OEL manga with suspiciously similar layouts or characters that don’t change position much?
They’re promising the ease of drag’n'drop and “the ability to post personalized TOKYOPOP manga to a blog or social network, email creations to friends, or print out in manga format.” What a dream to sell aspiring creators: buy our software, and you can be a manga-ka for only $30. Windows only, though.
November 21, 2006 at 1:36 pm
I wonder what relation this will share to e-Frontier’s “MangaCreator” software, which is being produced in association with TokyoPop - sounds like it might be a dumbed-down version of the “Debut” version. (And which prominently features a lot of “Van Von Hunter” art).
November 21, 2006 at 2:28 pm
Well, I guess I know what will be flooding the Artist Alleys of anime cons next year. Manga-by-number.
November 21, 2006 at 2:33 pm
Based on the press release I found, it looks like competition — although you’re right, MangaCreator seems to be targeting artists more.
November 22, 2006 at 12:57 pm
[…] Press release corner: Digital Manga has opened a travel agency and Tokyopop is putting its name on manga-creation software. I’m linking to Johanna’s versions of the press releases as she has good comments on both. […]
November 24, 2006 at 1:25 pm
What I want to know is if you are already an aspiring comic/manga artist, why would you need this software? Does it have tones? Pagination? PDF output capabilities?
I worry that a lot of hopefuls will buy this product thinking it will do the work for them only to be sadly dissappointed. But for those looking ofr a neat toy, I imagine it will be quite fun, especially for children learning how to create content with a computer :)
December 26, 2006 at 4:21 pm
[…] (The same company also puts out the Tokyopop manga creator program I’ve previously mentioned. There are also versions for Nacho Libre and Speed Racer, and the company has announced its intent to do a Virgin Comics version.) […]
March 20, 2007 at 7:37 pm
that mangas cool and i love to write manga
March 23, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Does anyone know how much it costs?????
March 23, 2007 at 7:26 pm
It doesn’t seem to be available yet, but their other products are in the $30 range.
March 25, 2007 at 2:49 am
lol that’s ranu’s pokemon doujishin :]
March 26, 2007 at 6:56 pm
dude ithinkyou get to but people from the maga (i luv halloween,lovehina,sgtfrog,etcetcetcetcetcetcetc) and if thats the case ihope there is a shonen jump one coming out 2!
March 26, 2007 at 6:56 pm
i mean put people from tokyopop manga ^^
April 20, 2007 at 12:56 pm
i love manga it’s awsome
March 25, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Man i like manga !! i,m thinking of making my own manga called “the kingdom”
thank u for inspiring me !
May 3, 2008 at 5:46 pm
This seems like total bullcrap. “Insert picture and speech bubble here, instant manga!”