Broccoli Books Blog

One more press release (and retro post #3), and as announced at Yaoi Con 2007.

Boysenberry Books announces new title, Cigarette Kisses

Los Angeles, CA (November 7, 2007) - Boysenberry Books, the boys’ love branch of Broccoli Books, is proud to announce that they have acquired the license and publishing rights for Cigarette Kisses by Nase Yamato.

Originally known in Japan as Kuchibiru no Yukue, Cigarette Kisses is a standalone boys’ love graphic novel that is filled with intense drama within a steamy love triangle.

About Cigarette Kisses
Heartbreak abounds in this teen-themed manga from popular write and illustrator, Nase Yamato. Yusuke and Soji have been close since junior high and were flirting with the notion of becoming a couple. However, when Soji suddenly announced his intentions to marry, Yusuke was devastated. Three years have passed since these friends parted, and they meet by coincidence on a cigarette break at the same company. Still refusing to acknowledge his feelings for Yusuke, Soji faces to clash with his still simmering love for Yusuke and his duty towards his wife. Even Masahito, Soji’s kohai, enters the triangle to play with Yusuke’s heart.

About Nase Yamato
Nase Yamato is a prolific author and artist of many romantic comedies and boys’ love titles including Pet on Duty, Pretty Scoop, Skip Kiss, Mr. Convenience, and Kuchibiru no Yukue. Right now, she is working on making an illustration collection, which is planning to be on the “Dear+” December issue from Shinshokan.

About Boysenberry Books
Boysenberry Books specializes in publishing Japanese boys’ love comics and graphic novels. Boysenberry Books is an imprint of Broccoli Books, a division of Broccoli International USA. More information is available at http://www.boysenberrybooks.com.

Information About Other Broccoli International USA Divisions Can Be Found At:
Broccoli International USA, Inc.
http://www.bro-usa.com (Corporate)

Synch-Point
http://www.synch-point.com (Anime Production)

Broccoli Books
http://www.broccolibooks.com (Manga Production)

From the press release (that hasn’t been sent out to the press at this time due to miscommunication between a certain marketing coordinator and a certain blogger/operations manager):

New Boysenberry Books website launches today!

Los Angeles, CA (November 7, 2007) – Boysenberry Books, the new boys’ love imprint from Broccoli Books, has a new website, http://www.boysenberrybooks.com, launching today. The website will contain constant updates about upcoming boys love titles. Also contained within the site is information on released books and their authors.

“This launch reflects on the popularity of boys’ love within the manga industry. After attending Yaoi Con, we have reconfirmed that boys’ love is a permanent genre in North America,” states Shizuki Yamashita, Director of Operations of Broccoli International and managing editor of Boysenberry Books. “We wanted to create a place so our fans can have an easily accessible way of getting information about our boys’ love titles.”

Boysenberry Books plans to have a steady stream of releases since its creation in 2007. Their first release Delivery Cupid, by CJ Michalski, has been well received by the community. Their second release, Pet on Duty by Nase Yamato, had sold out at Yaoi Con 2007 in October. With this booming success, Boysenberry Books already has more titles planned to be released soon such as Sex Friend by Koreaki Kamuro.

About Boysenberry Books
Boysenberry Books specializes in publishing Japanese boys’ love comics and graphic novels. Boysenberry Books is an imprint of Broccoli International USA. More information is available at http://www.boysenberrybooks.com.

Information About Other Broccoli International USA Divisions Can Be Found At:
Broccoli International USA, Inc.
http://www.bro-usa.com (Corporate)

Synch-Point
http://www.synch-point.com (Anime Production)

Broccoli Books
http://www.broccolibooks.com (Manga Production)

Please visit the site!

Broccoli Gear (apparel brand of Broccoli USA), Bandai Visual, dot-anime & GAINAX team up for a Gunbuster t-shirt contest.

Here’s the press release:

dot-anime.us Proudly Announcing Gunbuster T-Shirt Design Contest!

dot-anime.us has teamed up with Broccoli Gear to bring North American anime fans a GUNBUSTER T-shirt Design Contest!

Fans residing in the US and Canada can submit their own Gunbuster t-shirt design for a chance to get their design used for sale and win five (5) t-shirts of their design! And furthermore, the acclaimed studio GAINAX will be judging all the entries to select an officially licensed Gunbuster t-shirt!

Gunbuster fans and budding artists or designers can show off their creativity, passions and skills by submitting as many entries as they want starting 10/15/07 to 11/5/07. Fans can impress the best of best creators at the prestigious GAINAX!

The deadline for submissions is 11/5/07. The winner will be announced on 11/19/07.
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Contest Rules & Guidelines
1. Entries are only accepted for the original Gunbuster series. Gunbuster 2 designs will not be accepted.
2. Source material for artwork can be scanned from covers, promotional artwork, or any other official Gunbuster art. Original art will also be accepted, but the final design will be created using official Gunbuster artwork.
3. Please keep in mind that entries are for CONCEPT designs and final design may change from the original submission.
4. Multiple entries can be submitted by one person.
5. Entries must be emailed. No postal entries will be accepted. Please scan all paper entries.
6. Please keep file sizes under 500k for submissions. Only jpg, gif, and pdf submissions will be accepted.
7. Contest is only open to legal residents of the United States & Canada, who are at least 18 years old.
8. The deadline for submissions is 11/05/07.
9. Submit entries to contests@dot-anime.us with the following information:
a) full name
b) mailing address (for sending the prize)
c) valid email address
10. Design submissions become the property of Broccoli International USA, Inc.
11. Please read the official rules for entering the Gunbuster t-shirt design contest.

The information of the contest and full disclaimer can also be found at http://www.dot-anime.us/contest/

We’re looking for lots of great design ideas, so send them over!

Too bad Broccoli employees are ineligible for the contest… we have lots of staff here who LOVE Gunbuster. And would LOVE to design a t-shirt for the bragging rights *laugh*

We’re not sure who’ll be judging at GAINAX yet. Maybe producer S (of FLCL & Evangelion fame). Maybe president & director Yamaga-san. If director Anno-san or director Tsurumaki-san can take a break from all their Eva work, they might look at some of the designs… Well, definitely licensing manager S and licensing director K and merchandising manager Nori-san will be looking through all of them (these three are the behind-the-scenes supporting staff of GAINAX from the very beginning. One day I’ll feature them in an article over at dot-anime.us)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Broccoli Books Licenses Coyote Ragtime Show, Hakoiri Devil Princess and Murder Princess

Los Angeles, CA (December 8, 2006) – Broccoli Books has announced the acquisition of three manga titles, Coyote Ragtime Show, Hakoiri Devil Princess (Japanese title), and Murder Princess.

Coyote Ragtime Show is the manga adaptation of the TV anime series created by ufotable. Franka, the orphan daughter of Pirate King Bruce, has seven days to find her father’s hidden treasure before planet Graceland is destroyed. Lead by space pirate Mister, Franka and a rag-tag band of coyotes are on a treasure hunt against Madame Marciano and the 12 SISTERs.

Coyote Ragtime Show manga series is illustrated by Tartan Check and is serialized in Comic Rush magazine published by JIVE Ltd. Two volumes have been released so far in Japan. Coyote Ragtime Show is slated to be released in Summer 2007 in North America.

Hakoiri Devil Princess is a romantic comedy about a princess from the demon world named Maki, and Keita who summoned her from a mysterious box. Keita is granted three wishes in exchange for his soul. But she can only take his soul after he makes his third wish. So, as a sheltered demon with little knowledge of how to be evil, Maki must rely on her trusty guidebook to teach herself the ways of the nefarious arts and trick Keita into using up his wishes. Until then, Maki’s going to live with Keita until he can’t stand living anymore.

Hakoiri Devil Princess is illustrated by Maika Netsu with story by Makoto Matsumoto. Serialized in Comic Rush magazine published by JIVE Ltd., currently four volumes of Haoiri Devil Princess has been released in Japan. Hakoiri Devil Princess is slated to be released in Summer 2007 in North America.

Murder Princess is about Princess Alita, who must protect her kingdom from a coup d’etat. But on her way to get help, a magical mishap trapped her inside the body of a bounty hunter named Falis. Now Alita must rule disguised as a servant as the battle-savvy Falis sits on the throne in her body. And thus the story about the strongest and most violent princess in the history of the kingdom begins.

Murder Princess is illustrated and written by Sekihiko Inui, the manga artist of Comic Party. Serialized in quarterly magazine Dengeki Teiou, the second volume of Murder Princess will be released in Japan in early 2007. Murder Princess OVA anime series will be available in March 2007 in Japan. Murder Princess is slated to be released in April 2007 in North America.

About Broccoli Books
Broccoli Books specializes in publishing Japanese comics, illustration books, and graphic novels. Broccoli Books is a division of Broccoli International USA. More information is available at http://www.broccolibooks.com.

Information About Other Broccoli International USA Divisions Can Be Found At:
Corporate:
Broccoli International USA, Inc.
http://www.bro-usa.com

Anime Production:
Synch-Point
http://www.synch-point.com

Retail Division:
Anime Gamers
http://www.animegamers.com (online)
http://retail.animegamers.com (retail store)

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This isn’t Broccoli Books related, but…

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Anime Gamers and COSMODE Magazine Team Up for a Second Annual Cosplay Photo Shoot

Los Angeles, CA (October 26, 2006) – Anime Gamers, the US flagship store of the Japanese hobby store chain Gamers, has teamed up with COSMODE magazine and Cosplay.com for the second annual cosplay photo shoot to take place at the Anime Gamers store on Saturday, November 4, 2006.

Cosplayers will be photographed by Kyle Johnsen of Cosplay.com, and photos taken at the event will be showcased in the Cosplay.com photo gallery.

The best cosplayers will be selected to be featured in COSMODE magazine to be released in January 2007.

Details of the event will be updated on the Anime Gamers retail store website (http://retail.animegamers.com/).

About GAMERS
Gamers is an anime, manga and video game specialty store operated by Broccoli Co., Ltd., the parent company of Broccoli International USA, Inc. Established in 1996 in Ikebukuro, currently there are 17 Gamers stores in Japan, lead by an eight-story flagship store in Akihabara, Tokyo.

Anime Gamers opened in Los Angeles, CA on September 15, 2001, and is operated by Broccoli International USA, Inc. Anime Gamers is located at 1728 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035.

About BROCCOLI INTERNATIONAL
Established in February 2002, Broccoli International USA, Inc. is a Delaware corporation. A fully-owned subsidiary of Broccoli Co, LTD, a multi-media company which created sensational properties such as Di Gi Charat, Galaxy Angel, Aquarian Age, and Bushi Lord.
http://www.bro-usa.com

About COSMODE
COSMODE is the premiere Japanese magazine that covers cosplayers, or fans who dress up in costumes of their favorite anime, manga or video game characters. A bi-monthly publication, COSMODE launched in 2004. (http://www.cosmode.net/).

About Cosplay.com
Cosplay.com is the largest English language cosplay online community, with over 57,000 members. Featuring event news, photos and forums, Cosplay.com is the forefront of cosplay trends around the world. Kyle Johnsen is the webmaster and official photographer for Cosplay.com, and will be doing the photography for the event. (http://www.cosplay.com)

Contact
Broccoli International USA, Inc.,
Shizuki Yamashita, Director of Operations
TEL: 310-815-0600

Anime Gamers Retail Store
Dennis Portugal, Store Manager
TEL: 310-815-0604

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From the press release:
Broccoli Books Acquires Galaxy Angel II and Kon Kon Kokon

Los Angeles, CA (July 10, 2006) – Broccoli Books has announced the acquisition of two manga titles, Galaxy Angel II and Kon Kon Kokon at Anime Expo 2006.

Galaxy Angel II is the third installment in the popular Galaxy Angel series, focusing on a new group of girls known as the Lune Angel Troupe. One of the girls, Apricot Sakuraba, is determined to find other “gate keepers” to free her older sister Milfuelle from the doomed fate. The original Galaxy Angel cast of the now disbanded Moon Angel Troupe also makes an appearance in the Galaxy Angel II manga series. Galaxy Angel II is illustrated by Kanan, and the story is written by BROCCOLI. Galaxy Angel II is slated to be released in Spring 2007.

Kon Kon Kokon is a romantic comedy about fox girl Kokon, who came to Tokyo to repay her thanks to Ren. Ren is a country bumpkin who is trying to hide the fact that he is a Japanese demon otaku. Kon Kon Kokon is the newest series by Koge-Donbo, the creator of Di Gi Charat and manga artist of Pita-Ten. Kon Kon Kokon will be released in the United States in Spring 2007.

Managing Editor Shizuki Yamashita comments, “We are pleased to bring more Galaxy Angel and Koge-Donbo goodness to the United States. I believe both old fans of the Galaxy Angel series and new fans that are going to start reading with Galaxy Angel II can enjoy the newest installment of the Galaxy Angel universe. And for Kon Kon Kokon, Koge-Donbo herself mentioned that it is similar to Pita-Ten, so those who liked Pita-Ten will surely enjoy Kokon and her adventures.”

About Broccoli Books
Broccoli Books specializes in publishing Japanese comics, illustration books, and graphic novels. Broccoli Books is a division of Broccoli International USA. More information is available at http://www.broccolibooks.com.

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Our staff wanted me to clarify a few things for the forum people (how come they never post comments here?).

1. Galaxy Angel II is released in Japan as Galaxy Angel 3rd. We joked about calling it Galaxy Angel Gamma before on this blog. If we get a strong voice for calling Galaxy Angel II “Gamma,” we will consider it.

2. Pronunciation of Kon Kon Kokon. Hm. I don’t know how to show it by text. It shouldn’t sound like “con man,” that’s for sure.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Broccoli Books Acquires New Manga Titles – Disgaea, Yoki Koto Kiku

Los Angeles, CA (May 26, 2006) – Broccoli Books has announced the acquisition of two manga titles, Disgaea and Yoki Koto Kiku, along with the acquisition of the Disgaea illustration book.

Disgaea is based on the PlayStation2 cult hit RPG video game of the same name. The story follows Laharl, the son of a deceased Netherworld king, in his quest to take back the throne with the help of devil-girl Etna and angel Flonne. The Disgaea manga is illustrated by newcomer Arashi Shindo, and is published by Ichijinsha in Japan. The Disgaea manga is one volume, and is slated for a September 2006 release. Broccoli Books will also release a 2007 Disgaea wall calendar this September.

Yoki Koto Kiku is a black comedy about triplets: Yoki, Koto, and Kiku who are thrown into an inheritance war when the patriarch of the Nekogami clan passes away. Yoki Koto Kiku is the brain child of Koge-Donbo, the creator of Di Gi Charat and manga artist of Pita-Ten, and was originally serialized in Comic Di Gi Charat Magazine in Japan by Broccoli Co. Yoki Koto Kiku will be sold in Borders Group bookstores from July 2006 through September 2006, and will be available for wide release in October 2006.

The Disgaea illustration book will be Broccoli Books’ second art book following the Juvenile Orion illustration book. This hardcover illustration book will feature color artwork by character designer Takehito Harada, conceptual designs, and interviews with video game staff and voice actors. The Disgaea illustration book is slated for release in November 2006.

Publisher Kaname Tezuka comments, “We’re excited to publish two books for the popular Disgaea video game series. With the Disgaea 2 video game coming out in August, and the anime series airing in Japan right now, Broccoli Books is proud to be working alongside NIS America to release the Disgaea books.”

About Broccoli Books
Broccoli Books specializes in publishing Japanese comics, illustration books, and graphic novels. Broccoli Books is a division of Broccoli International USA. More information is available at http://www.broccolibooks.com.

Information About Other Broccoli International USA Divisions Can Be Found At:
Broccoli International USA, Inc. http://www.bro-usa.com (Corporate)
Synch-Point http://www.synch-point.com (Anime Production)
Anime Gamers http://www.animegamers.com (Retail/E-commerce)