13^th July 2006

Pan Macmillan goes Manga crazy

Pan Macmillan announces exclusive UK trade sales and distribution deal with TOKYOPOP, the world’s largest Manga publisher outside of Japan whose graphic novel form, ‘Manga’, is taking the UK market by storm.

Pan Macmillan has become the exclusive sales and distribution partner for TOKYOPOP, the first English-language publisher to launch a full-scale, authentic Manga publishing programme in the UK. Releasing 250 titles per year in the UK and with over 30 million books in print worldwide, TOKYOPOP is an innovative, youth-oriented company that holds the highest brand recognition amongst Manga readers in the UK.

‘Manga’ is the Japanese word for ‘comic book’ and is a type of graphic novel. Manga-style drawings have been around in Japan since the early thirteenth century. Designed as a disposable art form with mass market appeal, Manga genres range from horror to romance, science fiction to family dramas, military epics to sports stories – and everything in between.

Today, Manga is the fastest growing category in the publishing industry, responsible for recapturing a huge teen female comics readership and ‘lost generation’ of teen readers: the ‘Sony kids’ whose focus is on digital technology and who appreciate great visual entertainment.

“Borders are very pleased with the new partnership between Tokyopop & Pan Macmillan, we've enjoyed a very successful period of growth with our Manga Range & Tokyopop have played a considerable part in this success. We look forward to a continuing cooperation in advancing the UK & Irish manga markets, which we see as vital to our customer profile. This is a significant move for the book industry in developing understanding of this burgeoning genre & the new readership that these products bring to all our stores.” Jay Cochran, Borders.

TOKYOPOP is a Tokyo-based company with substantial operations in Germany and Los Angeles, which is the market leader in the North American market. Its London arm was established in 2003. All existing sales, marketing and finance staff will now relocate to Pan Macmillan’s offices in King’s Cross.

Dennis McGuirk, UK Retail Sales Director of TOKYOPOP, commented, “I am delighted that Pan Macmillan has taken on representation of TOKYOPOP for the UK and Ireland. During discussions it has become absolutely clear to me that Pan Macmillan will provide the best fit for TOKYOPOP. I am sure that Pan Macmillan will bring enormous expertise, experience, energy and enthusiasm to the sales and distribution of TOYKOPOP.”

David North, Managing Director of Pan Macmillan, added, “We see Pan Macmillan and TOKYOPOP as the perfect partnership to lead the Manga revolution that is already exploding here in the UK. Manga is a true publishing phenomenon and we are excited to be at the forefront of bringing it to the UK.”

TOKYOPOP publications are supported by heavy presence at relevant shows and conventions throughout the UK, publicity in key target market magazines and on youth web sites, and a striking range of POS. Pan Macmillan and TOKYOPOP will also be expanding and developing the increasingly popular ‘TOKYOPOP ReCon’ store program, held at bookshops around the UK. These events continue to draw hundreds of Manga fans into bookshops for quizzes, drawing competitions, advance title information, freebies and ‘cosplay’, where fans dress up as their favourite characters and the best costume wins a stack of goodies.

ABOUT TOKYOPOP

TOKYOPOP is hailed as a leading youth-oriented entertainment brand and an innovator of manga creation, with a revolutionary artistic vision that transcends countless platforms. From the introduction of the first-ever extensive manga publishing program in North America, to the development of its manga-originated intellectual properties into film, television and digital entertainment, TOKYOPOP has changed the way teens experience pop culture. The company’s global reach has expanded to Europe and Asia, with recent offices opening in the UK and Germany and upcoming partnerships in Australia and China, in addition to its original Los Angeles and Tokyo operations. With millions of fans logging onto www.TOKYOPOP.com, reading its books, and watching its DVDs and television programs, TOKYOPOP’s award-winning catalogue of licensed and original properties has made the ompany a visionary in an ever-growing teen entertainment marketplace. Visit www.TOKYOPOP.com for additional information.