×
  • remind me tomorrow
  • remind me next week
  • never remind me
Subscribe to the ANN Newsletter • Wake up every Sunday to a curated list of ANN's most interesting posts of the week. read more

Forum - View topic
NEWS: Seven Seas to Release Monster Girl Encyclopedia


Goto page Previous  1, 2, 3  Next

Note: this is the discussion thread for this article

Anime News Network Forum Index -> Site-related -> Talkback
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Tekisasu-shū no Robu



Joined: 09 Mar 2015
Posts: 4
PostPosted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 6:59 pm Reply with quote
CatSword wrote:
This is gonna be a tough sell for brick-and-mortar stores I bet. Barnes and Noble could probably stock it in most states without complaint. Books-a-Million tends to be a bit more conservative so I doubt they will.


Their target audience probably knows about Amazon. I don't think the publisher's going to be too worried about losing sales due to retailer squeamishness. I was somewhat surprised that such an explicit thing would get licensed, but on reflection I'm less surprised.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
RaylenCypher



Joined: 03 Mar 2015
Posts: 138
PostPosted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 7:02 pm Reply with quote
3ngag3 wrote:
This news is absolutely shocking considering the author's views on the fandom outside Japan.

Let me try and clarify here. The author, Kenkou Cross only intended for the MGE to be released for Japanese audiences only and he pretty much loathed the international community because they tried to over analyze his world and the creatures that reside within. Despite that, however, he did allow them to translate his pages (basically, whenever a new monster girl was released) and tried his best to keep a level head about things.

Unfortunately, a certain few members of the community not only ripped his work, but proceeded to make some rather unsightly and sometimes gory photoshopped images of his monster girls. This pissed him off something fierce and caused him to distance himself from the international community even more.


Part of what you said is true, but not the entirety. There was an incident like that which occured and KC did address the English fan-base with a letter here: http://kurobine.sakura.ne.jp/kc_message.htm

From the contents he does not loathe the fandom outside Japan. Please don't spread misunderstandings.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
AnimeAngel327



Joined: 01 Jun 2015
Posts: 19
PostPosted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 9:23 pm Reply with quote
Hell Yeah! 2016 just got a lot more awesome! What's surprising is that "SEVENSEAS" is licensing it! As I recall the stated they wouldn't be Licensing anything 18+! Funny how when monster Girls are involved they changed their tune! This will be their first ever 18+ release!

MonsterGirlsForLife
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Conner Crooks



Joined: 07 Jun 2013
Posts: 83
Location: Seven Seas
PostPosted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 10:10 pm Reply with quote
AnimeAngel327 wrote:
Hell Yeah! 2016 just got a lot more awesome! What's surprising is that "SEVENSEAS" is licensing it! As I recall the stated they wouldn't be Licensing anything 18+! Funny how when monster Girls are involved they changed their tune! This will be their first ever 18+ release!

MonsterGirlsForLife


This is a little different from releasing an outright hentai manga, though. Which is generally what has been the context of this sentiment. Still, we've watched and listened, and feel that we can do this kind of release. We know what we're getting into with this one, and I'm sure our fans are ready and willing to give it a chance too.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
blackice85



Joined: 01 Jul 2015
Posts: 64
PostPosted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 10:52 pm Reply with quote
Conner Crooks wrote:
AnimeAngel327 wrote:
Hell Yeah! 2016 just got a lot more awesome! What's surprising is that "SEVENSEAS" is licensing it! As I recall the stated they wouldn't be Licensing anything 18+! Funny how when monster Girls are involved they changed their tune! This will be their first ever 18+ release!

MonsterGirlsForLife


This is a little different from releasing an outright hentai manga, though. Which is generally what has been the context of this sentiment. Still, we've watched and listened, and feel that we can do this kind of release. We know what we're getting into with this one, and I'm sure our fans are ready and willing to give it a chance too.


And thank you for choosing to release it uncensored, as you have for everything else as far as I'm aware.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
MagusGuardian



Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Posts: 592
PostPosted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 11:01 pm Reply with quote
RaylenCypher wrote:

Part of what you said is true, but not the entirety. There was an incident like that which occured and KC did address the English fan-base with a letter here: http://kurobine.sakura.ne.jp/kc_message.htm

From the contents he does not loathe the fandom outside Japan. Please don't spread misunderstandings.
wow after reading all that I can understand why he was upset, still though this surprises me that seven seas is releasing this and I am actually more inclined to picking it up for the interesting interpretation and settings for the various monster girls and not so much for the whole 18+ rating, honestly though I have read some of these online and find them interesting although some were a little creepy I found the reads to be unique and worth reading nonetheless
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
3ngag3



Joined: 16 Oct 2015
Posts: 221
PostPosted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 11:02 pm Reply with quote
Conner Crooks wrote:


This is a little different from releasing an outright hentai manga, though. Which is generally what has been the context of this sentiment. Still, we've watched and listened, and feel that we can do this kind of release. We know what we're getting into with this one, and I'm sure our fans are ready and willing to give it a chance too.


So, how will this translation be handled as it pertains to KK's input? From what I know, he's pretty strict on some of the terminologies used in his lore.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Ali07



Joined: 01 Jun 2014
Posts: 3333
Location: Victoria, Australia
PostPosted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 11:03 pm Reply with quote
Tenchi wrote:
Seven Seas doesn't just have Monster Musume, it also publishes A Centaur's Life, and Nurse Hitomi's Monster Infirmary (where the title character is a sexy cyclops), so this "Encyclopedia" is right in their wheelhouse.

And they recently announced My Girlfriend is a T-Rex. So, this monster girl stuff is doing well for them.

I've not checked out their monster girl manga, and didn't really like the MonMusu anime...and I'm not going to check out this encyclopedia...but I will be checking out My Girlfriend is a T-Rex. Laughing

Still, this stuff is doing well for them, so of course they will grab some related content. Unsure how something like this will do, but hopefully it does well for them. Seven Season is probably one of my favourite manga publishers...hell, it could be my outright favourite.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
encrypted12345



Joined: 25 Jan 2012
Posts: 723
PostPosted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 11:27 pm Reply with quote
RaylenCypher wrote:


Part of what you said is true, but not the entirety. There was an incident like that which occured and KC did address the English fan-base with a letter here: http://kurobine.sakura.ne.jp/kc_message.htm

From the contents he does not loathe the fandom outside Japan. Please don't spread misunderstandings.


That makes things a bit clearer. Thanks.

Conner Crooks wrote:
AnimeAngel327 wrote:
Hell Yeah! 2016 just got a lot more awesome! What's surprising is that "SEVENSEAS" is licensing it! As I recall the stated they wouldn't be Licensing anything 18+! Funny how when monster Girls are involved they changed their tune! This will be their first ever 18+ release!

MonsterGirlsForLife


This is a little different from releasing an outright hentai manga, though. Which is generally what has been the context of this sentiment. Still, we've watched and listened, and feel that we can do this kind of release. We know what we're getting into with this one, and I'm sure our fans are ready and willing to give it a chance too.


As long as it becomes common knowledge that the encyclopedia is probably one of the biggest factors behind the boom in popularity of monster girls, it should do fine. It's overshadowed by Monster Musume these days, but its importance should not be ignored.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Eldritcho



Joined: 14 Dec 2010
Posts: 260
PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2015 12:36 am Reply with quote
It will be interesting to see how this does here. This series, while well known, isn't unanimously liked, even amongst monster girl fans.

For those who don't know, back when the books were first scanned, there were many boards full of people arguing about the content, specifically it's portrayal/description of the sexual practices of the monster girls spoiler[(specifically the authors predilection for rape and death)]. A bunch (like seriously, a lot) of fans brought this up with the creator; he ignored it/ dismissed the criticisms as "people just not getting it", which pissed some people off. A couple creeps then decided to send him guro art of his characters, and a couple sent threatening emails. This caused him to demand the english scans to be taken down, and swore off the English fan base for a while, which alienated a lot of fans.

This was a couple years ago, and a number of monster girl series have popped up to take it's place in the western market. As such, I'm a bit curious how well it can feasibly do in the west. It's content is a lot more risqué than even Monster Musume, meaning it can't be as easily sold, and it's a lot more expensive to boot (at least in Japan). I doubt casual fans will feel like picking it up, and anyone who already has an interest was probably present during the initial controversy; it's sales will probably be determined by how many people weren't completely turned off the series by it.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
AnimeLordLuis



Joined: 27 Jan 2015
Posts: 1626
Location: The Borderlands of Pandora
PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2015 1:34 am Reply with quote
Bravo seven seas Bravo I don't know how you did it but thank you non the less! Very Happy
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
ranashadow



Joined: 17 Apr 2013
Posts: 9
PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2015 3:57 am Reply with quote
wow seriously? lol

Though I guess now it doesnt really surprise me considering how well Monster Musume sold in the US.

I've known MGE for years now and it is a good universe/setting. He usually brings out a new Monster-Girl once every 2 - 3 weeks. Some you wouldnt even imagine of. There is also some doujins about based on MGE if you search in the 'right' sites

If you want more infomation on this or even read some of the side-stories visit the english wikia. Theres 100's of pages to read upon

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[quote="RaylenCypher"]
3ngag3 wrote:
This news is absolutely shocking considering the author's views on the fandom outside Japan.

Let me try and clarify here. The author, Kenkou Cross only intended for the MGE to be released for Japanese audiences only and he pretty much loathed the international community because they tried to over analyze his world and the creatures that reside within. Despite that, however, he did allow them to translate his pages (basically, whenever a new monster girl was released) and tried his best to keep a level head about things.

Unfortunately, a certain few members of the community not only ripped his work, but proceeded to make some rather unsightly and sometimes gory photoshopped images of his monster girls. This pissed him off something fierce and caused him to distance himself from the international community even more.



Yes I remember that. In fact I was actually part of the website that created the uproar. The forum itself had a duty to protect & respect his work. Some members didn't and even went as far to threaten to author. After 2 major incidents and a certain member getting a release from a ban the same thing happened again. The agreement was that this member would be perma-banned. They didn't hold to the agreement and it happened again.

Kenkou Cross did the right thing. Seven Seas will be most delicate with his work to ensure no lawsuits come of it.

Quite honestly I'm happy its getting an official release. More money for Kenkou Cross I hope. The guy deserves it.



{Merged serial posts. ~nobahn}
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
leafy sea dragon



Joined: 27 Oct 2009
Posts: 7163
Location: Another Kingdom
PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2015 4:19 am Reply with quote
Hmm, so what I'm getting out of this is that his bitterness over the English-language fanbase is because of a few individuals who chose not to respect his work. A publication by Seven Seas will be different because it's not going to involve any of those individuals. Interesting to see the creator so close to international fans though. For the most part, they seem to be afterthoughts, if even that.

That being said, "death of the author" is a widely held concept in critique and analysis of film and literature (and now TV shows and video games), and something like Monster Girl Encyclopedia is prone to that due to it not having a story. (I am an advocate of "death of the author," as the idea is that if people widely misinterpret awork of fiction in a specific way, it's the author's fault for not being clear enough. This is just one part of many though, and the rest of it was disrespectful.)

GlassesMan wrote:
Wow, did not think this would be released in English. Trust me, I've seen a few of the pages they've released online, this is not the light-hearted fanservice you find in Monster Musume. It's a lot more hardcore.


Yeah, I've heard about Monster Girl Encyclopedia in passing and just figured this'd forever remain a weird Japanese thing.

CatSword wrote:
This is gonna be a tough sell for brick-and-mortar stores I bet. Barnes and Noble could probably stock it in most states without complaint. Books-a-Million tends to be a bit more conservative so I doubt they will.


If it contains nudity, they'll have to be careful where they stock it, out of reach of kids who might wander in the stores unsupervised and in plastic wrap that needs to be torn open to get to the book inside.

I'm going to guess this will only be available online and nowhere else, so the only people who'd buy it would be the people who already know what it is, and for the people who don't (and I can imagine some people thinking it's going to be like Monster High), it'll have to come with a lot of loudly-colored warnings.

3ngag3 wrote:
Let me try and clarify here. The author, Kenkou Cross only intended for the MGE to be released for Japanese audiences only and he pretty much loathed the international community because they tried to over analyze his world and the creatures that reside within. Despite that, however, he did allow them to translate his pages (basically, whenever a new monster girl was released) and tried his best to keep a level head about things.


So...do Japanese fans NOT do that sort of thing? I always had the impression that Japanese fans of things tend to analyze things way deeper than western fans do, as Japan has a culture that values attention to detail.

Tenchi wrote:
In Canada, Chapters/Indigo sells similar Japanese art books, when they get a domestic release, in the manga section. Or at least they have them in stock, most of them seem to stay on the shelves so far as I can tell.

I'm lucky enough to have an anime bricks-and-mortar store nearby, though, in case this is too tawdry for Chapters, although I doubt Chapters will have a problem with it.


How do these brick-and-mortar stores work in selling books with nude pictures in them? What do they do to keep themselves from getting sued by parents of children who find these books?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Kadmos1



Joined: 08 May 2014
Posts: 13613
Location: In Phoenix but has an 85308 ZIP
PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2015 7:30 am Reply with quote
The author's official website is basically porn unto itself. Unlike other manga porn wherespoiler[the genitals are fogged out, the Cheshire Cat entry has a picture of a fleshy penis[img].[/img]]
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Tenchi



Joined: 03 Jan 2002
Posts: 4532
Location: Ottawa... now I'm an ex-Anglo Montrealer.
PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2015 1:15 pm Reply with quote
leafy sea dragon wrote:
How do these brick-and-mortar stores work in selling books with nude pictures in them? What do they do to keep themselves from getting sued by parents of children who find these books?


They're usually top shelf & wrapped in plastic. Chapters/Indigo keep the manga for kids in the Indigo Kids section anyway, not in the regular manga aisle where these artbooks would be.

Finding nudity in Chapters isn't that difficult; the photography section usually has a bunch of artistic nude coffee table books.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website My Anime My Manga
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Anime News Network Forum Index -> Site-related -> Talkback All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Goto page Previous  1, 2, 3  Next
Page 2 of 3

 


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group