[Update, June 26] DMP Starts a Publish Osamu Tezuka's Unico

by Florete
Jun 24, 2012 11:40 PM | 12 Comments

According to their website, manga publisher DMP has started a campaign via Kickstarter in order to be able to publish Osamu Tezuka's "Unico" in color.

This is DMP's third Kickstarter Campaign but the first to publish a children's work and in full color. The manga original printed in color has had many reprints in Japan but mostly in black & white. The last time this title was in print in color in Japan was over 11 years ago. The cost of color printing is much more expensive and so this Kickstarter is asking for more donations than before.

With Kickstarter, users pledge money to the campaign over a 30 day period. If the goal is met by the end of the 30 days, then the project is funded. By pledging different amounts, users can gain different rewards. Awards include a copy of the book when it's printed or even a package that not only includes the book, but a t-shirt and poster as well.

DMP said:
Dozens of volumes of manga by Osamu Tezuka have now come to American shores, many to great acclaim. The vast majority of them have been stories written for adults. Yet many of Tezuka's most famous characters in Japan appear in manga meant for children. We think it's unfortunate that so few of Tezuka's manga for kids are in print in English, so we set out to publish "Tezuka manga to read with your kids."

Source: DMP's Kickstarter page

Update, June 26

The Unico Kickstarter reached its goal of $20,500 on Tuesday June 25th, just five days after it started. Pledges are still being taken if you would like to take advantage of the Kickstarter only rewards.

DMP has also announced their first stretch goal on their Facebook page. If they reach $26,000 they will be able to release ATOM CAT, a manga where Astro Boy is a cat.

https://www.facebook.com/DigitalMangaInc

Story by Brand

12 Comments Recent Comments

Oooh, awesome! I loved Unico and would love to have the manga in English AND color.

Jun 27, 2012 5:00 PM by Numi

Update, June 26

The Unico Kickstarter reached its goal of $20,500 on Tuesday June 25th, just five days after it started. Pledges are still being taken if you would like to take advantage of the Kickstarter only rewards.

DMP has also announced their first stretch goal on their Facebook page. If they reach $26,000 they will be able to release ATOM CAT, a manga where Astro Boy is a cat.

https://www.facebook.com/DigitalMangaInc

Jun 26, 2012 11:39 AM by Florete

Whoa, nice.After seeing the movies I've always been curious about the manga.

Jun 25, 2012 1:02 PM by skapandi

Why is it a waste? It is a full color manga from the "God of Manga" Osama Tezuka of his classic character Unico which has quite a few Stateside fans from children in 80s remember the two animated films.

Jun 25, 2012 9:28 AM by Brand

what a waste i say

Jun 25, 2012 7:28 AM by Mr_Gutts

Funny pic.

Jun 25, 2012 4:07 AM by AlexSadist-sama

octal9 said:
great to see people doing this! too many of tezuka's works are unavailable in english (it's a crime they haven't all been published in translation)...now if only someone would get around to publishing some of his darker works (especially alabaster and vampires) + some of his very early stuff as well...

Other translated stuff is already online all over the net. Aside from Astro Boy, Kimba, and Blackjack, it's shameful that Tezuka isn't too well known outside of Japan to get more hype for his other works.

Jun 25, 2012 3:57 AM by NimbusC

Awesome stuff

Jun 25, 2012 3:53 AM by Kazeshini

great to see people doing this! too many of tezuka's works are unavailable in english (it's a crime they haven't all been published in translation)...now if only someone would get around to publishing some of his darker works (especially alabaster and vampires) + some of his very early stuff as well...

Jun 25, 2012 3:47 AM by octal9

Good to see this.

Jun 25, 2012 2:58 AM by morshuwarrior

Thats a pretty old manga (1976).

Jun 25, 2012 12:38 AM by Ryougi_Shiki_

lol nice... i wonder when we will see an anime funded on KickStarter too

Jun 25, 2012 12:00 AM by deg