Creator Spotlight: Makoto Shinkai! All digital manga adaptations up to 50% off (ends 1/20)

Anime auteur Makoto Shinkai (of Your Name fame) has made headlines again with his new film Weathering With You, the manga adaptation of which has recently been licensed by Vertical. And with the North American movie premiere coming January 15-16, we thought we’d celebrate with a sale!

So now through January 20, each of our excellent Makoto Shinkai manga adaptations—5 Centimeters per Second, Voices of a Distant Star, The Garden of Words, and She and Her Cat—are up to 50% off at all of our digital retail partners: Apple Books, BookWalker, comiXology, Google Play, Kindle, Kobo, MyAnimeList, and nook!

Also be sure to check out Animate Online for this beautiful poster set featuring 5 Centimeters per Second and Voices of a Distant Star novels, with exclusive cover art created by Taiwanese illustrator phenom VOFAN!

About Makoto Shinkai
Makoto Shinkai is a Japanese director, writer, producer, animator, editor, cinematographer, voice actor, manga artist and former graphic designer.

Shinkai studied Japanese literature at Chuo University where he was a member of juvenile literature club where he drew picture books. In 1999, Shinkai released She and Her Cat, a five-minute short piece done in monochrome.

His best knows films are The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004), 5 Centimeters Per Second (2007), Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011), The Garden of Words (2013), and Your Name (2016).

Digital volume 1s by Akiko Higashimura, Mitsurou Kubo, Makoto Shinkai

Kodansha Comics is the home of awesome manga creators. Did you know we publish multiple manga by Mitsurou Kubo (one of the minds behind YURI!!! on ICE) and Makoto Shinkai (of Your Name. fame)? Are you familiar with all the works of shojo manga maestro Akiko Higashimura (Princess Jellyfish, Tokyo Tarareba Girls) or up-and-coming best-sellers like Taamo (House of the Sun, I’m in Love and It’s the End of the World)? 

To showcase our amazing creators and their work, we’re hosting our first installment of  the Creator Spotlight Sale at all of our digital retail partners: BookWalkercomiXology, Google Play, iBooks, Kindle, Kobo, MyAnimeList, and nook. 

Here’s the deal

First of all: all digital Volumes 1s of all series listed below only 99¢!
Next: if you like what you’re reading, keep going—because the all other volumes are up to 50% off!
And to make it even easier for you, we’ve put some of the series available as a complete series bundles up to 60% off!

Pretty sweet deal huh? But you gotta hurry, because the sale will end on May 21!

~ Kodansha Comics Creator Spotlight Sale Part 1  ~
May 15-21
Click on the cover to read Chapter 1 for FREE!

Akiko Higashimura
Akiko Higashimura is HILARIOUS. Princess Jellyfish, her award-winning first work published in English, is the rollicking saga of fangirls taking on Tokyo. In her follow up series, Tokyo Tarareba Girls, Higashimura once again sharpens her razor wit on the lives of young women in the big city. This time she hones in on one single thirtysomething and her dystopian dating problems—”One day I woke up and I was 33”!

Check out this exclusive creator interview with Akiko Higashimura! Princess Jellyfish and Tokyo Tarareba Girls volume 1s are only 99¢ + all other volumes are up to 50% off during the Creator Spotlight Sale! (ends 5/21)


Ema Toyama
Psst … do you like secrets? Ema Toyama’s works are full of attractive girls and boys who are bounded by the power of secrets! In her first long running breakthrough series, Missions of Love, the high school girl with the heart of an “ice queen” appoints 
the ever-popular, yet black-hearted student body president to be her sim-boyfriend … all for the sake of research for her novel! Toyama’s latest work, Aoba-kun’s Confessions is about a very shy girl who just started a peculiar job at a “Listening House” and ends up getting the basketball star from her school as her first client!

Missions of Love and Aoba-kun’s Confession volume 1s are only 99¢ + all other volumes are up to 50% off during the Creator Spotlight Sale! (ends 5/21)

Mitsurou Kubo
You may have heard of her name as the original concept/character designer of the hit iceskating anime series Yuri!!! on ICE . And she’s also the latest rising superstar manga creator from Kodansha Comics! Her first two manga to appear in English are Again!!a dramatic, funny, time-traveling high school story about what it means to cheer on a friend—and  Moteki (from Vertical Comics) a romantic comedy about love, coming of age, and hope … at age 30! 

Again!! and Moteki volume 1’s are only 99¢ + all other volumes are up to 50% off during the Creator Spotlight Sale! (ends 5/21)

Mari Yoshino
The talented Mari Yoshino comes up with something spicier than your typical shojo manga with Peach Heaven, the story of a seemingly average high school girl—who’s a famous erotica author in disguise. All goes well until her supermodel classmate—and the biggest playboy in school—learns about her secret! Mari Yoshino’s follow-up work isn’t quite so salacious: Beauty Bunny is a modern day Cinderella story about a spunky protagonist and the rich boy makeup artist she gets mixed up with!

Peach Heaven and Beauty Bunny volume 1’s are only 99¢ + all other volumes are up to 50% off during the Creator Spotlight Sale! (ends 5/21)

Taamo
Taamo is just one of the many “hidden gem” creators fans are discovering through our digital-first program. Her first work, House of the Sun, is the moving account of a young woman who reconnects with a childhood friend as she puts together the pieces of her life following her parents’ broken marriage. Her follow up work I’m in Love and It’s the End of the World is about a girl who’s always seen herself as the negative to her twin sister’s beautiful photograph, and the handsome boy who just won’t give up on her. Not too many creators tackles the subtle yet complex relationships around a family like Taamo does. If you’ve liked one of her works, you’ll probably like the other one too!

House of the Sun and  I’m in Love and It’s the End of the World volume 1’s are only 99¢ + all other volumes are up to 50% off during the Creator Spotlight Sale! (ends 5/21)


Makoto Shinkai
Kodansha Comics’ sibling publisher, Vertical Comics, has been publishing fine manga adaptations of the films of anime auteur Makoto Shinkai (the director of Your Name.) for some time now. Four standalone manga based on Shinkai’s films—Voice of a Distant Star, She and Her Cat, Garden of Words, and 5 Centimeter Per Secons are ALL only 99¢ during the Creator Spotlight Sale! (ends 5/21)

Kouji Seo
Kouji Seo is a master of “boy-meets-girl” stories—some of you may recognize Fuuka from the recent anime adaptation. But did you know that SuzukaSeo’s previous work, is a prequel and about the parents of  Fuuka? Find out more connections between Suzuka and Fuuka, while both series are on sale! 

Suzuka and Fuuka volume 1’s are only 99¢ + all other volumes are up to 50% off during the Creator Spotlight Sale! (ends 5/21)

 

 

Makoto Shinkai Bundle: read the manga by the creator of Your Name.

Kodansha Comics’ sibling publisher, Vertical Comics, has been publishing fine manga adaptations of the films of anime auteur Makoto Shinkai (of Your Name. fame) for some time now. And here’s a great way to enter that special world in one fell swoop: we’re launching the Makoto Shinkai Bundle, which includes 4 standalone manga based on Shinkai’s films, including the latest, Voices of a Distant Star!

The Makoto Shinkai Bundle is available on comiXology for $29.99 (a la carte price would be $47.88). But wait, that’s not all! To celebrate the bundle launch, we’re offerting a special promotion price of $19.99 for 1 week only! (Offer ends February 27) 

Makoto Shinkai Bundle
Check out which manga are in the bundle! 

 


Voices of a Distant Star 
By Makoto Shinkai, adapted by Mizu Sahara

You might remember this manga based on Shinkai’s first breakthrough film from 2003 from a previous edition published by TokyoPop. This new edition from Vertical comes with a new translation and lettering. 

Mikako Nagamine is recruited as a pilot to fight in an interstellar war against a force of alien invaders, leaving behind her one true love. Mikako’s only connection to Noboru Terao, who continues living the life of an ordinary student, is through cell phone text messages. As Mikako travels light years away, it takes longer and longer for Noboru to receive her messages, until finally one arrives eight years and seven months after she sent it …

Check out the free Chapter 1 preview…

By Makoto Shinkai, adapted by Tsubasa Yamaguchi

The manga adaptation of Makoto Shinkai’s early short film from 1999 about a woman who lives alone with her cat—now also an anime television series.

“It was the start of spring. It was raining. That was the day that she brought me home.”

This is the story of Miyu, a woman who lives alone with her cat, Chobi. As Miyu navigates the world of adulthood, she discovers both the freedom and loneliness that come with living independently, and Chobi learns of the outside world through her actions. Time drifts slowly for Miyu and her cat, but the harsh realities of the world soon catch up …

Check out the preview …


Garden of Words
By Makoto Shinkai, adapted by Midori Motohashi

The manga adaptation of Makoto Shinkai’s award winning film from 2013. 

Can a poem save your life?

Words are powerful. Insults and rumors can derail a career; a bit of encouragement can give someone the strength to pursue their dreams. When a high school boy skipping class to sketch shoe designs and a taciturn woman drinking a morning beer meet in a Tokyo park, they say little, but the woman bids farewell with an ancient tanka poem. Will the boy figure out the poem’s meaning—and its corresponding response—before it’s too late?

Read preview…

 


5 Centimeters Per Second
By Makoto Shinkai, adapted by Yukiko Seike

The manga adaptation of Makoto Shinkai’s award winning film from 2007. 

Takaki Tohno quickly befriends Akari Shinohara when she transfers to his school. They grow closer to each other due to similar interests and attitudes; for instance, they both prefer to stay inside during recess due to their constitutions. As a result, they form a strong bond. Upon ending their school year, Akari moves to Tochigi, due to her parents’ jobs. The two keep in contact by writing letters, but eventually begin to drift apart.

Read preview …

The Makoto Shinkai Bundle is available now on comiXology and BookWalker! 

Romance is in the air: digital manga up to 50% off thru Feb 19!

What kind of love are you looking for? 
Romance season is ON! Looking for that special someone? Trying to plan a surprise for your sweetie? Or maybe you’re just looking for something more than plain ol’ “romance” per se … Hey, why don’t you get a clue from some manga 😉 

Starting February 6, Kodansha Comics is offering a whopping 67 romantic manga from all genres for up to 50% off at all of our digital-partner platforms: BookWalker, comiXology, Google Play, iBooks, Kindle, Kobo, and nook. This offer will last for 2 weeks (ends February 19)!

Been away from romance … or romance manga? We’ve picked up some of our recent favorites by powerhouse creators like Akiko Higashimura, Ema Toyama and Mari Yoshino. Check out the Chapter 1 previews and see if there’s something you like! 

Kodansha Comics Romance Manga Sale (February 6-February 19)
Click on links below for free Chapter 1 previews!

manga by Akiko Higashimura
Princess Jellyfish
Tokyo Tarareba Girls

manga by Ema Toyama
Aoba-kun’s Confessions
I Am Here!
Missions of Love

manga by Mari Yoshino
Beauty Bunny
Peach Heaven

manga by Taamo
House of the Sun
I’m in Love and It’s the End of the World

manga by Robico
My Little Monster
Our Precious Conversations

manga by Rin Mikimoto
Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight
Love’s Reach

manga by Jun Yuzuki 
Gakuen Prince
The Prince’s Black Poison

As seen as Anime
Aho-Girl
Appleseed Alpha
Clockwork Planet
5 Centimeters per Second
From the New World
Fuuka
The Garden of Words
Love and Lies
Love Hina
Negima!
Nemiga! Omnibus
Nodame Cantabille
School Rumble
A Silent Voice
Suzuka
The Gods Lie.
Tsuredure Children
Unlimited Fafnir
Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches
Your Lie in April

Shojo / Josei Romance
A Springtime with Ninjas
Black Panther and Sweet 16
Cosplay Animal
Drowning Love
The Full-Time Wife Escapist
Hotaru’s Way
Kigurumi Guardians
Kiss Him, Not Me!
LDK
Let’s Dance a Waltz
Living-Room Matsunaga-san
Lovesick Ellie
My Boyfriend in Orange
My Brother The Shut-In
The Prince in His Dark Days
Real Girl
Say I Love You.
Wake Up, Sleeping Beauty
That Wolf-Boy is Mine!

Shonen / Seinen Romance
Cage of Eden
Devils’ Line
Domestic Girlfriend
The Flowers of Evil
Forget Me Not
Happiness
I Want to Hold Aono-kun So Badly, I Could Die
Imperfect Girl
Magatsuki
My Wife is Wagatsuma-san
Mysterious Girlfriend X

New Digital Editions from Vertical Comics in March

vc-newdigrelease2-400x300

As announced in December, we're now working with the estimable gang at Vertical Comics to release new Digital Editions of their books, starting with Ajin: Demi-HumanChi's Sweet HomeThe Drops of GodThe Flowers of Evil, Knights of Sidoniaand Witchcraft Works.

Now, starting March 9, we're making 3 more titles from Vertical's list available as Digital Editions—now on sale at retail partners comiXology, iBooks, Kindle, Kobo, and nook.

First up, a must-have for fans of anime director Makoto Shinkai—much discussed as "the next Miyazaki"—with single-volume manga adaptations of two of Shinkai's acclaimed films, 5 Centimeters per Second and The Garden of WordsFull Chapter 1s can be read at the links:

0thegardenofwordsvolume1

Next, we have From the New Worldthe lushly illustrated manga adapation of award-winning author Yusuke Kishi's science-fiction novel:

fromthenewworldvolume1

For more info, visit Vertical Comics!