Genvid & Dies Gaudii Forums

Updated: 7PM EST 7/23/07

I'm now able to confirm/disconfirm news that came in to us from earlier today. I'm putting up information as I receive it, and making changes as people clarify what happened.

Word from the Otakon PGSM panel is that TokyoPop is still attempting to renegotiate the rights to the Sailor Moon manga.

Tokyo Pop Panel video is now available at ANN. Skip to the 28 minute mark. They mention the licensing issue is still a problem for them; whatever's been blocking TP for years now still seems to be in place, but they're pursuing. The video contradicts earlier word received; as the video is solid evidence, we're sticking with what the video says. We'll continue to bring you information as we hear it.

In some ways, this is a repeat of what they've said in the past, but it's good to know they're still active. Assumption is TokyoPop would want a new translation (now that DiC's not in the game anymore they don't have to stick with "Bunny.")

The person who put the question to TokyoPop was PGSM panel chair Lilly-chan. Great job!

I'd like to thank Solarchos and Senshi Guardian from Suburban Senshi and Yoshimoon and Moon Jump from the Genvid Forums for sending in details. If you know anything, contact us .

...and the devil goes shopping for mittens.

Oh for a new, improved release of the new, improved release.

Please.

EEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

That is all.

This is TRUE. Lilly-Chan asked them the question directly. They said Sailor Moon is very near and dear to their hearts and they do want to re-do the manga.

From what I was told. They want to do it in the 12 Volume RE-RELEASE style when PSGM came out in Japan and they will RE-DO the translation!! ORIGINAL NAMES!!

I spoke with Yosenex and a few others but I'm still a bit unclear on the details. Was this asked at the TokyoPop panel or the PGSM panel? Did they say whether they were actually successful in these negotiations or did they just say that they were TRYING to negotiate? (e.g. 'it'd be nice if...' type stuff)

Meg AKA Lilly-Chan asked them at the TokyoPop panel herself and she told everybody afterwards. That was the answer she got back. While it's not a "100% YES", they are working on it and you never know what will happen.

Jay, in advance, sorry for the video. It was my first time using the tri-pod and I just hope I got everybody in the video, but towards the giveaway the tape ran out! Hopefully the other videos I took with Yoshi will come out good and sorry for my Long Island accent too!

Don't worry about the video, I'm happy with whatever you managed to shoot. I'm surprised that the tape ran out, though; I thought I sent two cassettes?

You did, I asked Yoshi to put a fresh one in and it ran out, the counter only had an hour on it, so when we went a little longer, it cut off at the end. Sorry!

Ah, no problem.

Hey, can you confirm something for me? I was told that TP said 2009 or 2010. Was that brought up at all?

Seriously guys can we sort this out. There's a big difference in "negotiating" and "having the rights".

Which is it?

Are they "negotiating" for a release in the next two years or is it confirmed that they "will be" releasing them in two years.

It says they are attempting to renegotiate it, so it's most likely the former.
I think the fact that someone is again contacting copyright holders and poking them about an international license is good news in itself, though.

There is NO set date for the release. TokyoPop just said they were attempting to get the license.

This is way so much sailor moon stimuli for a Monday morning,

Thanks for confirming that. The lack of a release timeline ('within 2 years') is different from what I was told by the first people who messaged/called yesterday. But I didn't hear it repeated afterward and I was thinking that's the case. I'll update accordingly.

I received several messages (and called to follow up) a couple hours after the panel where I was told it was negotiated and appearing within 2 years. But it's very easy for excited people to misunderstand things (its the nature of news in fandom) so as I spoke with more people, they explained what was right and what wasn't. The latest update (10am 7/23) has the most updated information.

I am confused - something so rare it is another topic entirely - but what is the purpose of this ... new translation? Is it the exact same manga but with more accurate English?

If they were to do it (and right now it's still "attempting") it is likely it would be to make a better translation using the newer manga. No more "Bunny."

Sorry about jumping the gun. I wish it was 100% yes, but you can say they are at least attempting to renegotiate it. So it's WAY better then nothing as far as I can say.
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No worries. It's still exciting to me.

I would certainly be interested in a possible re-release, so any news (Even speculative news) is good in my book.

Having bought all of the re-release volumes when they were done a few years ago from Japan, it would be nice to have an American set beside them. Though it is still my absolute goal to finally read the jolly good things IN Japanese. I am working on it.

Okay. Cool.

For those that didn't know the manga was rereleased in Japan recently with new covers a revised script (several lines in Japanese were changed) as well as some redone artwork. The chapters were also reorganised as well.

A new English Sailor Moon manga would give us the right to left reading style (first release was left to right and had the artwork mirrored) as well as the original Japanese names. I'm pro dub so didn't mind "Bunny" (thought it was a nice compromise actually by making it her nickname) but they changed several characters. Molly was Molly for most the manga but around the Stars manga arc she became Naru (the Japanese name for her character).

I think they were trying to please all the vocal purists but they really should have kept with what they had started.

Even if they just redid the old Japanese manga it would still be a better quality release.

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convent ... n/tokyopop

The video is up, skip about 27-28 minutes into it after their presentation is over and Lilly asks the first question about Sailor Moon. After hearing it myself, it doesn't sound like it's a number one priority for them but hopefully they won't let it die.

As Jay and Sejanus posted, it IS good to see interest in acquiring the publishing rights STILL exists after all this time.
Three or so years ago, there were rumors that Del-Rey was very interested in acquiring these same rights to kick off their (at the time) newly formed manga division, but obviously, nothing came of THAT report.

Was there something said differently then this at the PGSM panel because first reports we got varied widely.

At any rate, it's good to have solid evidence of what was said.

I'd like to have the manga come back. But I think Stars should come before PGSM, only because I mean we never finished the anime over here . Not talking about dubbing it, but they could do a DVD release.

I think that there's a chance that TP and DR going at it in regards to the licence might just be why they can only anounce thier trying to get it now.

I just about fainted when they mentioned this.

I like how they mention they have trouble "Cause the auther and the publisher are in duspute over the rights".

I've always heard it as rumor, but I guess it gets bigger weight that it's totally what is happening with the out of Japan licensing.

Could someone post a link to the Tokyo Pop Panel video?