|
|
Fans Unite in Support of Slayers Novels from TokyoPop
Written by Lisa Anderson
There are times when a single cause forces people to band together to do something about it. When rumors appeared concerning the cancellation of the Slayers novel series from TokyoPop, fans responded almost immediately. By mid-December several key ideas had been formed on how to deal with the problem. The final goal was not to attack TokyoPop, but instead to show them just how important the Slayers novels were to the fans, and why they deserved to be continued.
One of those very efforts is what alerted me to the issue. Being a fan of Slayers for almost a decade now (it was one of the first titles to draw me into the world of anime and manga), I had a particular soft-spot for anything related to the title. Janelle Davis, more commonly known as Itachikiritsu or Zenthus online, had started a large (and continually growing) website campaign aimed at alerting people to the Slayers novel issue, devoting long hours and amazing effort to a subject many had no idea how to tackle.
Erica Bercegeay, known as Irk online, and a long-time friend of Zenthus, placed a journal entry on deviantART, which was how I eventually found out about the campaign. Separately the two started forum threads, journal entries, and a variety of posts on the issue in several places. Together the two started a united effort that eventually became the Slayers Challenge movement that it is today. The final product, Slayers Challenge, was a place where fans could go to find out the latest news on the issue, and to take part in the organized movement. They posted any information they received, advised fans on how they could help, and even organized chats to discuss new ideas and approaches to it all.
Soon forum and chat discussions were being held between fans and various TokyoPop representatives. A letter-writing campaign and online petition were also formed, determined to show the company just how many fans still treasured the novel series. Several live chats were held, aimed at civil discussion between interested fans (though a TokyoPop rep or two did pop in as well). On the whole, the entire campaign was focused on finding out if the series really was being cancelled, and if so, showing TokyoPop that there was still enough interest in the hopes that such cancellation would be avoided.
In the end, TokyoPop representatives explained that the series was not being cancelled, but was actually due for a second launch in the future. The information was quickly relayed to the growing fan movement.
The point of all this is two things. Firstly, it is wonderful to see a classic series such as Slayers still in circulation. Years ago anime and manga was something relatively unknown in the U.S., and titles like Slayers helped pave the way for the current interest in such medias. It proves that not all titles are of the flash-in-a-pan variety, rising to an amazing popularity only to vanish months later. Some names, Slayers among them, are still going strong, through everything from novels, to music, to anime and beyond.
Secondly, and in some ways more importantly, this entire situation between TokyoPop and the fans showcases something many tend to forgot. While fans are known for buying products, attending conventions, and generally following quite a few series, anime and manga are still considered “fads”. Many assume that anime will fade out in a year or so, manga and novels right behind it. While some of the fans may move on to other interests, many others have been following such media for decades, long before it was common knowledge in the U.S.
The fact that so many fans rallied around the Slayers novels, from all across the world, is a reminder of just how loyal some fans can be. To many this isn’t a fad, something popular to be discarded in a year. Instead it is something to be treasured, just as much as any favorite movie, book, or television show. The fact that a good series is an anime or manga shouldn’t affect the fact that is it still a good series. The fans care and will rally behind the title they love. While it’s understood that every series should eventually end, having it cut off early isn’t the same. People will rise in support and it shouldn’t be assumed that they are only children without real interest or dedication.
As demonstrated by Irk and Zenthus, an intelligent, organized movement can be started. Fans can prove their loyalty, asking for reasons and preparing for answers. The fact that representatives from TokyoPop answered also shows something. This is more than a simple business or trend. It is a community, something severely lacking in many media ventures these days. People will fight to keep something they love going, negotiating when possible, but ready to fight to the end if not. To borrow a quote from the Slayers Challenge website, “Let's fight to keep Lina and her friends alive in Hajime Kanzaka's true and original Slayers world.” The anime and manga community certainly has come a long way. Here’s to hoping it will continue going strong far into the future.
(For anyone interested in more information, the Slayers Challenge Site can be found here: http://www.mazoku.com/~szurane/challenge/ Many thanks to all involved in the movement, though there were far too many to list by name.) : :
|
30 August 2010
MangaLife: On Culture
Share 25 August 2010
Words of Truth and Wisdom: I Put A Spell On You
Share 11 August 2010
Words of Truth and Wisdom: Filters
Share 6 August 2010
Maybe You're Not Using It Right :On Japanese Load Words
Share
|
