PinkuBentoBox

As early rumors had correctly predicted, this Halloween saw the official announcement of the North American license for the Boogiepop novels and manga series by author Kouhei Kadono. It was publisher Seven Seas Entertainment that announced the rights, which quells fears on this end of a horrible TokyoPop translation for the product.

Seven Seas representative Alan Arnold then stopped by the Anime News Network forums to answer questions by excited fans (yeah…mostly me).

Nagi: One question though: does anyone have any idea as to how good these Seven Seas people are at translation and such? Part of what makes this license announcement such good news is that a group like TokyoPop didn’t land it … but I’d still like to know that the series is in the hands of capable translators that will show it as much attention to quality as RightStuf has thus far with Phantom and Others.

Alan: Andrew Cunningham is doing the translation of the first novel right now. He did the upcoming Gravitation novel from TOKYOPOP and he hangs out on the AnimeonDVD forums a lot. We basically screened a number a different translators and found his translation to be the closest to the material. It also doesn’t hurt that Andrew and myself are die hard fans of Boogiepop. ^_-

I’ve personally worked in the publishing and manga business for a few years now and know the ropes. Jason DeAngelis and Yayoi Ihne are also fluent Japanese speakers and will be looking over the translation, but we’re comfortable with the accuracy. Trust me, Boogiepop is in good hands.

Nagi: Also, how far does the novel license extend? Given that a new Boogiepop novel and a third Beat’s Disciple anthology were just released this May, the series seems ongoing … Actually, on that note, does the license even include Beat’s Disciple?

Alan: Currently, we’re going to put out the first 3 novels in 2006 and all four volumes of the manga. We’re expecting them to do really well, but we’ll pick up the rest of the series based on how the novels do.

There are currently 10 core Boogiepop novels, 3 further Boogiepop novels set in the same universe and then 4 short story collections in the Beat’s Discipline series. I want to see them all come out, so it depends on how the initial novels do.

So currently, the license only covers the novels Boogiepop and Others, Boogiepop Returns vs. Imaginator Part 1: SIGN, and Boogiepop Returns vs. Imaginator Part 2: PARADE. Hm…I probably should’ve asked if they’ll keep the cooky titles, eh? And the release of further novels depends on how well these three are received. Well folks, you know what that means.

Yep, buy them or I’ll come to your house and CUT YOU.

Also, checking around on Seven Seas’ website, there are already tentative release dates for the first two books, and all four manga volumes.

Boogiepop and Others: February 2006
Boogiepop Returns (well, I guess that answers my question about the titles): June 2006

Boogiepop and Others v.1: April 2006
Boogiepop and Others v.2: July 2006
Boogiepop Dual: Loser’s Circus v.1: September 2006
Boogiepop Dual: Loser’s Circus v.2: December 2006

And yes, in case you’re wondering…I came. With the force of a thousand suns going supernova all at once. ^___________________^