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NEWS: Tokyopop Updates Ratings System


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minakichan





PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:58 am Reply with quote
(Wait, what's the difference?)

Glad to see use of shrink-wrap-- too many 10-year-olds wandering into the GN section. I do think shrink-wrap should be extended to OT as well, since OT is almost akin to a rated-R movie (16+, 17+, about the same thing); sure, I'd get to browse quite a bit less in the bookstore, but at least it'd delay the torrents of soccer moms screaming that all manga is pornographic gore.
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pat_payne



Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 179
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:10 am Reply with quote
minakichan wrote:
(Wait, what's the difference?)

Glad to see use of shrink-wrap-- too many 10-year-olds wandering into the GN section. I do think shrink-wrap should be extended to OT as well, since OT is almost akin to a rated-R movie (16+, 17+, about the same thing); sure, I'd get to browse quite a bit less in the bookstore, but at least it'd delay the torrents of soccer moms screaming that all manga is pornographic gore.


I think it's overdue for another reason as well -- those manga fans old enough who may not mind one kind of adult content but could be freaked out by another wil be able to steer clear of the titles they don;t like withouth having to actually see the stuff that makes them ill.

What I don't understand, though, is that in the PDF press release, they blanked out a number of objectionable words that will specifically trigger the differing levels of objectionable content. That seemed odd -- that a system that has the unexpressed hope of less censorship/editing in the manga was itself censored and edited.
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NinjaUmbreon



Joined: 03 Aug 2006
Posts: 43
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:11 am Reply with quote
The new rating system looks good. Looks like there fellowing the system the esrb is using.
Quote:
I do think shrink-wrap should be extended to OT as well, since OT is almost akin to a rated-R movie (16+, 17+, about the same thing); sure, I'd get to browse quite a bit less in the bookstore, but at least it'd delay the torrents of soccer moms screaming that all manga is pornographic gore.

I agree that shrink-wrap, It would be nice. If only soccer moms payed attention to the rating before buying in instead of complaining later.


Last edited by NinjaUmbreon on Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:46 am; edited 1 time in total
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sinemente



Joined: 24 Jan 2006
Posts: 45
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:34 am Reply with quote
Wait, what? They actually put the word INCEST in a press release? They stated it directly, instead of calling including it in "explicit sexual whatever?" Either they have some serious balls, or they should fire their PR writer.

Made me laugh.
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pat_payne



Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 179
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:50 am Reply with quote
sinemente wrote:
Wait, what? They actually put the word INCEST in a press release? They stated it directly, instead of calling including it in "explicit sexual whatever?" Either they have some serious balls, or they should fire their PR writer.

Made me laugh.


Ity's a technical and legal term. If you can say it in a newspaper ("so-and-so, 58, of Chatsworth, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of incest and aggrivated sexual assault...") it should be OK in a press release.
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Shuichi



Joined: 01 Jun 2004
Posts: 124
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:51 am Reply with quote
TOKYOPOP Germany updates their ratings system, too, btw.
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potassium



Joined: 22 Feb 2005
Posts: 102
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 1:01 pm Reply with quote
So manga publishers can declare what is or isn't appropriate for a certain age rating. Meanwhile, Viz's Angel Sanctuary, with it's incest and all, is still only rated 16+.
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Pepperidge



Joined: 13 Sep 2003
Posts: 1106
Location: British Columbia, Canada
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 1:34 pm Reply with quote
Well, with the new "Y" rating, "Teen" might actually mean something again.

In my opinion, the less shrink-wrapping the better. Those soccer moms aren't nearly as prominent as one might think, and I would really consider it a step back if everything under the sun is being shrink-wrapped out of pure paranoia.
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Anime World Order



Joined: 05 May 2006
Posts: 390
Location: Florida
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 1:40 pm Reply with quote
Pepperidge wrote:
In my opinion, the less shrink-wrapping the better. Those soccer moms aren't nearly as prominent as one might think, and I would really consider it a step back if everything under the sun is being shrink-wrapped out of pure paranoia.


On a somewhat unrelated note, I'm actually seeing more and more stores that shrinkwrap ALL of the manga not out of paranoia, but because they're sick and tired of teenagers coming in and just reading the stuff without ever buying anything.

sinemente wrote:
Wait, what? They actually put the word INCEST in a press release? They stated it directly, instead of calling including it in "explicit sexual whatever?" Either they have some serious balls, or they should fire their PR writer.


More so than that, they're actually using the term "fanservice" multiple times to denote content? Sure, an anime fan would be aware of what that means, but these ratings are supposed to be for parents/retailers and I guarantee you that they're not going to have even the slightest idea what the term "fanservice" refers to. Besides, it's not like they don't already have classifications listed which would describe that sort of thing.

I think that if they're going to be that detailed with the breakdowns, they should also include some sort of content labeling for sexual activity involving minors, which is probably a more common theme than incest would be. Then again, perhaps the rise of moe warrants such actions.
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R_Amythest



Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 32
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 1:56 pm Reply with quote
So occultism and incest are grounds for a higher rating, eh?

... I would say something, but I'm not completely surprised. Rolling Eyes
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pat_payne



Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 179
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:09 pm Reply with quote
Anime World Order wrote:


More so than that, they're actually using the term "fanservice" multiple times to denote content? Sure, an anime fan would be aware of what that means, but these ratings are supposed to be for parents/retailers and I guarantee you that they're not going to have even the slightest idea what the term "fanservice" refers to. Besides, it's not like they don't already have classifications listed which would describe that sort of thing.


Actually on the original PDV announcement, they did put a gloss on the term "fanservice":

Tokyopop wrote:
Fanservice -- Visual, often derogatory content that is unnecessary to the plot or character development and added by the artist for the sake of fans.


http://www.tokyopop.com/news/rating_flyer.pdf

Have to admit, I'm not satisfied with that definition though -- "usually derogatory?" And what about the fact that fanservice doesn't always mean a flash of skin? Does this mean that a highly-detailed Gundam is going to get an automatic OT or M? Laughing
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SetoChaos



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 7
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:12 pm Reply with quote
But we already have this...at least in the UK.
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Deltakiral



Joined: 07 Oct 2004
Posts: 3338
Location: Glendora, CA (Avatar Hei from Darker than BLACK)
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:19 pm Reply with quote
Anime World Order wrote:
On a somewhat unrelated note, I'm actually seeing more and more stores that shrinkwrap ALL of the manga not out of paranoia, but because they're sick and tired of teenagers coming in and just reading the stuff without ever buying anything.


My local Barnes and Nobles along with Borders also started shrink-wrapping all of their new manga. However it's not like that stops them (Speed readers as I call them) from ripping it open and sitting in front of the shelf (So no one can see the manga) while they read a stack of manga. Also the other thing that bothers me is this, I attempted to buy the new FMA volume (In January) but was unable because of several kids reading that same volume, I almost wanted to ripped it out of their hands and tell them I am actually buying this.
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Storm Princess



Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Posts: 21
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:01 pm Reply with quote
So the only difference is instead of putting the Parental Warning labels on the cover of OT titles they're only going to put them on M titles from now on? I mean I remember that Saiyuki volume 4 had one on it just for a drawing of naked Kanzeon and Gyukumen Koushu (and maybe for a bit of incest, but only referenced in Hakkai's past), but that volume remained OT, the general rating for the series.

Sorry but I'm just a little bit confused here...mainly due to the fact that I really can't see the difference between the new one and the one currently implemented other then adding more themes that are bad and made it a little more detailed from this :
Quote:
A (All Ages) – Appropriate for all ages.
No offensive material.

Y (Youth, ages 10+) – Appropriate for
ages 10 and up. May contain violence.

T (Teen, ages 13+) – Appropriate for
ages 13 and up. May contain violence,
profanity, and semi-nudity.

OT (Older Teen, ages 16+) – Appropriate
for ages 16 and up. May contain violence,
profanity, semi-nudity, and some sexual
themes.

M (Mature, ages 18+) – Appropriate for
ages 18 and up. May contain graphic
violence, nudity, profanity, sex, and
intense sexual themes.

And explaining more in depth of what actually goes under what rating and adding to the list...there is really no difference like I said.
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bakaShin



Joined: 06 Dec 2006
Posts: 102
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:02 pm Reply with quote
i was sort of astounded by some of the content for the ratings. i think the whole fanservice thing gave me a good laugh. Mild, Moderate and Explicit. Are retailers gonna enforcement this and does this just mean that more manga will be edited and censored to fit the ratings? It seems they should just shrink wrapped and place content advisory label on all covers for T and up to please everyone..
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