TOKYOPOP INC. Kicks Off Third Rising Stars of Manga Competition January 1st
Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2003National Talent Search Launches as Past Winner Signs Multi-Volume Book Deal
Los Angeles, CA (December 17, 2003)-As TOKYOPOP Inc. launches its Third Rising Stars
of Manga competition (January 1 - March 15, 2004), aspiring creators have more
incentive than ever to enter. Not only are the Rising Stars anthologies in America's
most popular bookstores and earning rave reviews, but our gifted winners are
beginning to savor fame-their work the subject of local newspaper articles and
national magazine features.
It gets even better...The publishing giant has also announced a book deal with
Lindsay Cibos to turn her Grand-Prize-winning "Peach Fuzz" submission into a
full-fledged manga series. Cibos is the first of several such winners with
multi-volume book deals in the works and other opportunities knocking on their
doors. Keep your eyes peeled for more exciting Rising Stars book deal news.
"Each Rising Stars of Manga competition is revealing the electrifying future of
manga," said Mark Paniccia, the TOKYOPOP anthology's editor. "These talented,
untapped creators are manga's icons of tomorrow. It's TOKYOPOP's goal to seek them
out and give them the exposure they deserve."
TOKYOPOP's Third Rising Stars of Manga competition calls for aspiring manga-ka to
submit their original 15-to-20-page stories for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
to be published in the anthology and get a well-publicized jump-start on their
creative careers. They're also hoping for the chance to pitch TOKYOPOP on publishing
a full graphic novel series-the ultimate payoff for winners such as Cibos. The
competition officially begins January 1 and ends at midnight, March 15, 2004.
Complete details may be found on TOKYOPOP's website at:
www.tokyopop.com/news/mangatalent/index.php.
"Don't try to guess what subject matter will appeal to the judges," recommends
Cibos. "Just do a story that interests you, do the highest quality work you can do,
and most important, have fun with it."
ABOUT TOKYOPOP Inc.
TOKYOPOP Inc. is the leading North American publisher of manga, the fastest growing
segment within the publishing industry. With exclusive rights to hundreds of
licensed and original book, video and music properties, the company has rapidly
become a media convergence leader. TOKYOPOP has millions of books in print and
publishes many hit manga series, including Love Hina, Chobits, Rave Master, Initial
D, GTO, Battle Royale and Cowboy Bebop. The company pioneered Cine-Manga(tm),
releasing such titles as Finding Nemo, SpongeBob SquarePants, Lizzie McGuire and
Transformers Armada. TOKYOPOP television properties include Rave Master, GTO and
Reign: The Conqueror. The company has also expanded its presence as a licensor,
representing merchandising rights for Rave Master, Initial D, Stray Sheep and
others. Visit www.TOKYOPOP.com for additional information.
