Q2 2020 Anime & Manga Licenses [Update 6/5]

GKIDS licensed Lupin the 3rd: The First movie!

https://twitter.com/GKIDSfilms/status/1243206157008855041

I'm a simple girl- I see an Eizouken thumbnail, I click the article.

A bunch of Kodansha manga are coming in a printed format. I'm glad to finally see Orient and Kawaii dake ja Nai Shikimori-san.

The Ghost in the Shell: The Human Algorithm
https://twitter.com/KodanshaUSA/status/1240343383668908032

Kawaii dake ja Nai Shikimori-san (Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie)
https://twitter.com/KodanshaUSA/status/1240346057571270657

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Trinity in Tempest
https://twitter.com/KodanshaUSA/status/1240346796334907398

Amakunai Karera no Nichijou wa. (Those Not-So-Sweet Boys)
https://twitter.com/KodanshaUSA/status/1240347256907333632

HERO'S
https://twitter.com/KodanshaUSA/status/1240348127418298369

Ano Hito no I ni wa Boku ga Tarinai (Sachi's Monstrous Appetite)
https://twitter.com/KodanshaUSA/status/1240348777011167233

Codename: Sailor V
https://twitter.com/KodanshaUSA/status/1240350166957375488

Orient
https://twitter.com/KodanshaUSA/status/1240350996183867394


From Vertical
Inu to Neko Docchi mo Katteru to Mainichi Tanoshii (With a Dog AND a Cat, Every Day is Fun)

Bishounen Series (Pretty Boy Detective Club:The Dark Star that Shines for You Alone (Novel))

https://kodanshacomics.com/2020/03/18/summer_fall_2020_print_titles_revealed/

Sentai got Oregairu S3.

https://www.sentaifilmworks.com/a/news/sentai-snaps-up-season-3-of-my-teen-romantic-comedy-snafu

Btw your link is going to Zoku instead of Kan.

Viz got Super Mario-kun (Super Mario Bros. Manga Mania)

https://twitter.com/VIZMedia/status/1245041249331150848

Sentai Filmworks licensed Asatir: Mirai no Mukashibanashi

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-04-02/hidive-streams-saudi-arabian-manga-productions-toei-animation-future-folktales-animated-series/.158239

Discotek licensed :

Ninja Scroll TV anime
Lupin III: Goodbye Partner
Astroganger

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-04-11/discotek-adds-ninja-scroll-tv-series-lupin-iii-goodbye-partner-special-astroganger-anime/.158482

Cross Infinite World licensed the light novel Maō-gun Shitennō no Saijaku Reijō wa Jiyū ni Ikitai!

https://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=1830968&show=0#msg59556482

J-Novel licensed 3 light novels and 1 manga

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-04-17/j-novel-club-licenses-deathbound-duke-daughter-wild-times-with-a-fake-fake-princess-novels/.158705

Some Seven Seas stuff

Watashi no Oshi wa Akuyaku Reijou.
https://sevenseasentertainment.com/2020/04/22/seven-seas-wins-the-game-with-license-of-im-in-love-with-the-villainess-yuri-light-novel-series/

Hametsu no Madou Ou to Golem no Banhi
https://sevenseasentertainment.com/2020/04/22/seven-seas-summons-a-powerful-license-the-sorcerer-king-of-destruction-and-the-golem-of-the-barbarian-queen-manga-and-light-novel-series/

"Omae Gotoki ga Maou ni Kateru to Omouna" to Yuusha Party wo Tsuihou sareta node, Outo de Kimama ni Kurashitai the Comic
https://sevenseasentertainment.com/2020/04/22/seven-seas-rolls-out-more-with-license-of-roll-over-and-die-i-will-fight-for-an-ordinary-life-with-my-love-and-cursed-sword-manga-series/

Babylon made wa Nankounen?
https://sevenseasentertainment.com/2020/04/22/seven-seas-takes-to-space-with-license-of-how-many-light-years-to-babylon-manga/

More Seven Seas

Minegishi-san wa Ootsu-kun ni Tabesasetai (Manly Appetites: Minegishi Loves Otsu by Mito)
https://sevenseasentertainment.com/2020/04/23/dig-in-with-seven-seas-license-of-manly-appetites-minegishi-loves-otsu-boys-love-manga-series/

Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?! Everyday Misadventures!
https://sevenseasentertainment.com/2020/04/23/seven-seas-lives-for-comedy-with-license-of-didnt-i-say-to-make-my-abilities-average-in-the-next-life-everyday-misadventures-manga-series/

Days of Love at Seagull Villa
https://sevenseasentertainment.com/2020/04/23/seven-seas-soars-with-license-of-days-of-love-at-seagull-villa-yuri-manga-series/

Otomege Sekai wa Mob ni Kibishii Sekai desu (Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs)
https://sevenseasentertainment.com/2020/04/23/seven-seas-tackles-tropes-with-trapped-in-a-dating-sim-the-world-of-otome-games-is-tough-for-mobs-light-novel-series/

Kageki Shoujo!! (Kageki Shoujo!! The Curtain Rises)
https://sevenseasentertainment.com/2020/04/23/seven-seas-takes-a-bow-with-license-of-kageki-shoujo-the-curtain-rises-manga-omnibus/

Yen Press licensed Fruits Basket: The Three Musketeers and will publish chapter 13 of Fruits Basket: Another.

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-04-24/yen-press-adds-fruits-basket-the-three-musketeers-arc-2-fruits-basket-another-manga-simulpub/.158947

Cross Infinite World licensed Dōmo, Suki na Hito ni Horigusuri o Irai Sareta Majo desu.

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-04-23/cross-infinite-world-licenses-hello-i-am-a-witch-and-my-crush-wants-me-to-make-a-love-potion-novels/.158864

Final batch of Seven Seas stuff

Oinari JK Tamamo-chan! (Tamamo-chan’s a Fox!)
https://sevenseasentertainment.com/2020/04/24/seven-seas-makes-a-furry-friend-with-license-of-tamamo-chans-a-fox-manga-series/

Seijo no Maryoku wa Bannou desu
https://sevenseasentertainment.com/2020/04/24/seven-seas-gets-down-to-business-with-license-of-the-saints-magic-power-is-omnipotent-manga-and-light-novel-series/

Hametsu no Oukoku (The Kingdoms of Ruin)
https://sevenseasentertainment.com/2020/04/24/science-and-magic-clash-in-seven-seas-license-of-the-kingdoms-of-ruin-manga-series/

Otona ni Nattemo (Even Though We’re Adults)
https://sevenseasentertainment.com/2020/04/24/all-grown-up-seven-seas-licenses-lgbt-manga-series-even-though-were-adults-by-takako-shimura/

Genjitsu Touhi shitetara Boroboro ni Natta Hanashi (My Alcoholic Escape from Reality)
https://sevenseasentertainment.com/2020/04/24/seven-seas-licenses-nagata-kabis-my-alcoholic-escape-from-reality-manga/


Pretty much only bottom of the barrel trash, but that's the usual for Seven Seas.

I agree, but they license so much stuff just because it's a cheap license (I assume) that they're about the only English publisher I have hope for licensing interesting niche stuff I am interested in once in a while (mostly their classics like the Go Nagai stuff).

If Viz licenses something that is not a popular multi-media franchise already, you can bet there wil be an anime adaptation in the planning stages at the very least. It's more of a question when for example the Komi anime will be announced rather than if, I think.

The only other publisher that will likely offer some pleasant surprises for me (although not a lot of licenses) is Denpa.

Yeah, Seven Seas picks up a lot of short one to three volume series from Japanese publishers outside of the really big ones, or stuff from smaller magazines. SS also licenses a bunch of stuff that "coincidentally" gets animated. I do agree that they pick up interesting stuff occasionally, but only once in a blue moon, more or less.

In general nowadays all the English publishers seem to know in advance what will get animated and it shows when they license stuff (which makes sense since most of them are owned by the Japanese publishers themselves). It feels like they aren't even trying to be subtle about it, but it's convenient since it makes it easier to guess what's getting animated in the near future. Besides Viz, Kodansha and Yen Press are also really obvious with their choices, they want to publish stuff when they do so multiple volumes are out right before the anime releases.

I definitely wouldn't get my hopes up for Seven Seas. As for Denpa, who knows if they'll even survive as a company, I am curious if they'll actually go out of their way to license interesting stuff or if they'll play it safe with tons of one shot volumes and endless amounts of Fate spin-offs.

I only buy Japanese imports anyway, but I like to keep up with what's getting licensed, for various reasons. The English manga market plays it way too safe, but it is what it is. The ridiculous influx of isekai stuff that is being brought over might cause the market to crash again, though.

I think Denpa's survival might be dependent on publishing more Fate spin-offs and such. I don't care about those titles, but if it means enough income for more "passion licenses" as well that's fine.

No matter how unknown the title may be, I can imagine there's an audience who likes the popular isekai or monster girl manga enough to search for similar stuff.

But what I meant was that even if Seven Seas licenses are almost always trash, they are about the only one where a surprising gem might be licensed. If Viz didn't exist (and Shueisha and Shogakukan titles being available for other English publishers) almost all of their current titles would have been picked up by another publisher. So even if the percentage of titles I like from them is higher than those from Seven Seas in terms of announcements I have higher hopes for Seven Seas.

A new Light Novel publisher (Tentai Books) entered the game and licensed their first 2 LN:

Yuujin Chara no Ore ga Mote Makuru Wakenai Daro?
Tsuihousha Shokudou e Youkoso!

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-05-01/new-light-novel-publisher-tentai-books-announces-1st-2-licenses/.159184

Kodansha Comics licensed 5 new manga to release digitally in June:

Majo Kaitou LIP☆S
Hop Step Sing!
Men's Life —Her Secret Life in The Boys' Dormitory—
Abe-kun ni Nerawaretemasu
Bokura ga Ai wo Sakebu Toki

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-05-03/kodansha-comics-licenses-5-new-manga-for-digital-debut-in-june/.159209

Discotek licensed:

Meitantei Conan Episode "One" Chiisakunatta Meitantei
Love Hina Again OVAs
Memories
Senya Ichiya Monogatari
Combattler V
s-CRY-ed
and 5 Urusei Yatsura films.

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-05-03/discotek-licenses-detective-conan-episode-one-love-hina-again-s-cry-ed-anime/.159099