BATTLE ROYALE RETURNS NEXT WEEK

**MattBrady** · 10-29-2003, 07:04 AM

While it debuted to acclaim and quite good sales, considering its content, Tokyopop’s reprint volumes of Battle Royale by Koushun Takami and Masayuki Taguchi and adapted by Keith Giffen stalled after volume 2. The series is set to pick up again next week, and will ship monthly for the next three months.

The storyline of the series, as discussed earlier this year at Newsarama, is about a deathmatch game between students on a remote island in Japan. Based on the novel by Koushun Takami, Battle Royale polarized its native country due to its disturbing content and violence. The novel was made into a film by Fukasaku Kinji that was so violent and disturbing that, to date, no American studio has brought it to the U.S. Volume 1 of the manga hit stores in May (shrink-wrapped with Parental Advisory stickers on the cover), and was supposed to ship bi-monthly from there.

After July’s volume 2 though, nothing.

The problems for Battle Royale started during the reproduction of the original manga. Occasionally, and as anyone with a scanner can attest, when artwork or photographs are scanned, interference between two pattern grids can occur and produce a mottled image with something resembling a herringbone pattern evident. This interference pattern is called Moiré.

And that’s what happened with Battle Royale, according to editor Mark Paniccia.

“In an effort to improve the quality of all our titles, TOKYOPOP is doing its best to eliminate moiré patters that can occur when resizing or after retouch,” the editor told Newsarama. “Battle Royale vol. 3 was delayed so that this could be corrected. It's been printed and will street November 4th.”

Battle Royale vol. 4 will hit stores the first week of December, and volume 5 will hit the first week of January. From then on, the series will resume its bi-monthly shipping schedule.

Paniccia stressed that the delay in the series is not, in any way due to Giffen adapting the dialogue into English. “Keith has turned in the adaptation for up to number eight and is currently working on nine,” Paniccia said. “I believe Japan is up to 10 right now, but I'm not 100% sure on that.”

Despite the gruesome content, many U.S. critics and fans found what Japanese audiences already knew – by placing his characters in perhaps the most extreme situation possible, Takami made them compelling. Each 200+ page volume are one-sitting affairs, leaving readers eager to find out what happens to the characters. A few months without a fix got people on all levels of the industry agitated.

“We've been getting numerous calls from retailers and book stores about the whereabouts of this title,” Paniccia said. “While we're not happy that the book's late, I can say it's good to be missed.”

Devil Dino · 10-29-2003, 08:45 AM

Great News

I'm more than happy to pick up a book of this quality on a monthly basis!

Hdefined · 10-29-2003, 10:56 AM

I'm gonna watch the live action movie soon. I'm assuming the manga came first, but can anyone confirm that it did?

TravisWHoward · 10-29-2003, 11:18 AM

I believe the novel came out first..

From what I understand it's like this:

NOVEL -> More of a political statement.. showcasing how young people have a responsibility to stand up to corrupt governments
MANGA -> More of a statement on America's fascination with reality TV programming
FILM -> A statement about youth growing into responsibility and maturing.. a modern Lord of the Flies.

Cpt.Americafan · 10-29-2003, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hdefined
I'm gonna watch the live action movie soon. I'm assuming the manga came first, but can anyone confirm that it did?

It is a GREAT film.Although the subtitles give you the lost in translation feel as they say WAY more than what comes up on the screen and stays on the screen and stays on the scree...oh wait okay now it says something different.Other than that its really good.Personal favorite scene is in the lighthouse towards the end.

Omoikitte · 10-29-2003, 11:53 AM

It was a really great film, but I didn't know there was a manga out. Now i'm really excited.!!!!

MisterClock · 10-29-2003, 12:04 PM

The order of release that I remember it:

1) book
2) live-action movie
3) manga

There is also a sequel to the movie, "Battle Royale II", which I think came out last summer in Japan.

It centers around the two surviving students from BR.one who form a terrorist group, made up of former BR-survivors, whose goal is to topple the Japanese government responsible for the creation of Battle Royale. In response to one particular terrorist attack in which thousands die, the government use the next BR-class to attack the terrorists.

I think this is a another title that will not be seen on American shores, unless you pick it up on E-Bay or another online store.

Gregg Cummings · 10-29-2003, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hdefined
I'm assuming the manga came first, but can anyone confirm that it did?

Battle Royale was first published as a novel in April 1999, published as a manga in November of 2000, & premiered as a film in Japan on December 16, 2000.

Battle Royale II opened in Japanese theaters on July 5th, 2003.

Jacob W · 10-29-2003, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cpt.Americafan
It is a GREAT film.Although the subtitles give you the lost in translation feel as they say WAY more than what comes up on the screen and stays on the screen and stays on the scree...oh wait okay now it says something different.Other than that its really good.Personal favorite scene is in the lighthouse towards the end.

The Film is subjective. I personally loved the first two books, but when I went to see the film at a Uni Film Society, a lot of people walked away a bit confused. It's fairly like a typical slasher, and the motivation for the characters isn't as explained or simply non-existant at times. But the book is like having Hannibal Lectur in charge of the school, while the movie is similar to many Jason or Freddy sequels.

Although, as for the Manga little Graphic Novels, they are among my favorite, I highly recommend them. Very enjoyable, and a lot of thought went into them.

kingofcities · 10-29-2003, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gregg Cummings
Battle Royale was first published as a novel in April 1999, published as a manga in November of 2000, & premiered as a film in Japan on December 16, 2000.

Battle Royale II opened in Japanese theaters on July 5th, 2003.

You are a one man search engine GC.

Love this book though. Can't wait to read the rest. Anyone know how many volumes there are total?

Kent / kingofcities

Jacob W · 10-29-2003, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kingofcities
You are a one man search engine GC.

Love this book though. Can't wait to read the rest. Anyone know how many volumes there are total?

Kent / kingofcities

I think the first story is the first 5 GNs.

But it's still an ongoing in Japan.

Quote:

Originally posted by Matt Brady Paniccia stressed that the delay in the series is not, in any way due to Giffen adapting the dialogue into English. “Keith has turned in the adaptation for up to number eight and is currently working on nine,” Paniccia said. “I believe Japan is up to 10 right now, but I'm not 100% sure on that.”

From the article should help a bit with the length so far.

Gregg Cummings · 10-29-2003, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kingofcities
You are a one man search engine GC.

Love this book though. Can't wait to read the rest. Anyone know how many volumes there are total?

Kent / kingofcities

Thank you. I am also very good with internet search engines. What I do not know I can find.

TokyoPop has licensed Battle Royale through volume 10. Volume 10 was released to the Japanese market in July, 2003. As Jacob W had mentioned the series is still ongoing, it is estimated to finished with volume 12 or 13.

The Amazing Spider-Fan · 10-29-2003, 02:21 PM

I feel bad now...I've been hounding the guy who's in charge of the manga rack at my comic shop to get Vol. 3 for weeks now, because I thought it was supposed to be out the beginning of last month...oops....

wrongrobot · 10-29-2003, 03:05 PM

fans of Kill Bill will recognize Chiaki Kuriyama [Go Go] from Battle Royale, when SHE got to wear the yellow track suit...

Cpt.Americafan · 10-30-2003, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wrongrobot
fans of Kill Bill will recognize Chiaki Kuriyama [Go Go] from Battle Royale, when SHE got to wear the yellow track suit...

Also the teacher that sets up everything is the "Vic Romano" charcter from Most extreme elimination challenge.He looks a little different for two reasons 1. MXC was from the mid 80's 2. He got into a motorcycle accident that almost killed him.

Cpt.Americafan · 10-30-2003, 12:39 AM

Has anyone else seen the trailer for part 2? I really doubt it will see a theater here in the states thanks to the highrise that is demolished at the end.As was said earlier it will be found only on Ebay.But it wont be on DVD untill at least Dec. if even that early.

Meier · 10-30-2003, 06:31 PM

Battle Royale is awesome but I refuse to support Tokyopop's decision of 'adapting' it instead of giving us a direct translation. F them.

I'd love to be able to own an R1 DVD of the film but it seems like it just wont happen any time soon.. crossing my fingers though. Battle Royale II being released here is unlikely as well (and not just cause it focuses on them being terrorists).

Bloodcat · 10-30-2003, 07:14 PM

Actually, volume 3 is already out at some places.

I picked my copy up at Waldenbooks Monday.

Woah.

I am surprised they are even allowed to print some of the stuff in that volume here in the US.

Needless to say, its absolutely NOT for kids, most teens, anyone with weak stomachs and constitutions, the entire Republican party, and more people I can't think of right now.

If this book gets in the hands of the Joe Liebermans of the world, some serious static is gonna come down on this series, if not comics and anime in general.

Its THAT rough.

That being said, it completely kicks my ass six ways to Sunday. I still want the movie to come out in North Americal legitimately though.. if we can get friggin Cannibal Holocaust where actual live animals were killed on screen, how come we can't get Battle Royale?

StoneGold · 10-30-2003, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Meier

I'd love to be able to own an R1 DVD of the film but it seems like it just wont happen any time soon.. crossing my fingers though. Battle Royale II being released here is unlikely as well (and not just cause it focuses on them being terrorists).

R1 no, but there is a Korean R0 disc that will work in all players. Two discs, but the second supplemental disc has no English on it.

Anyway, I heard the lack of a Battle Royale release in the States has more to do with the Japanese companies demands for the license than fear of backlash against teenage gore or terrorism. I mean, hell, Ichi the Killer is getting a release here.

mikejonas · 10-30-2003, 07:37 PM

Hi all! I run the Battle Royale website at http://www.battleroyalefilm.net, and wanted to chime in on a few things:

-As someone pointed out, the first volume of the manga was originally published November 2000, and the movie hit Japanese screens in December 2000, so presumably the two projects were separate, independent and essentially released at the same time.

-Volume 11 of the manga is due in Japan this month. Contrary to Jacob W's guess, the entire series spans the story of the novel and movie. For those of you familiar with the story, Volume 11 begins with the tail end of the events in the lighthouse.

-There is a Battle Royale II manga in the works from the same publisher (Young Champion Comics), with the novel's author doing the writing (which is remarkable considering he didn't write the movie sequel), and a different artist providing the artwork. A thirty-page preview was published in the July edition of Young Champion Magazine.

-Battle Royale II's first video release is the Hong Kong VCD release in mid-November; the R2 Japanese DVD will be out in late December in both a regular edition and a limited edition box set (visit http://www.battleroyalefilm.net/video/br2.html for the pre-order links).

-While TOKYOPOP's adaptation of the manga is irritating (particularly because of the addition of the "reality show" element, which was NOT in the original manga and comes across as awkward in the adaptation because it's evident through the artwork that it was NOT in the original manga), I've come to see it as merely a fourth reincarnation of the story, and not a faithful rendition of the source.

-If you think Volume 3 is something, wait till you see Volume 8

.

-Believe it or not, it's not entirely the American distributors' fault that BR isn't seeing an American release--Toei is actually the major stumblingblock at this point; when initial negotiations for an American distribution fell through (and there were indeed major American companies who wanted it), Toei took the film "off the market," so to speak. So we won't see an R1 release in the forseeable future. But then again, that's what region-free DVD players are for.

Once again, I'd like to invite you all to drop in at http://www.battleroyalefilm.net for the latest news, info, and discussion about all things BR.

Cpt.Americafan · 10-30-2003, 10:32 PM

^^^^^^^^

Wow thanks for all the info!!

Midnighter · 10-31-2003, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gregg Cummings
TokyoPop has licensed Battle Royale through volume 10.

I'm sure Battle Royale's listed in Previews as ?(of 8), which suggests that they've only licensed the first 8 volumes.

But hey I could be wrong!

Gregg Cummings · 10-31-2003, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Midnighter
I'm sure Battle Royale's listed in Previews as ?(of 8), which suggests that they've only licensed the first 8 volumes.

But hey I could be wrong!

You are wrong.

Don't be too hard on yourself.

TokyoPop - Battle Royale

Scott Beeler · 10-31-2003, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cpt.Americafan
Also the teacher that sets up everything is the "Vic Romano" charcter from Most extreme elimination challenge.He looks a little different for two reasons 1. MXC was from the mid 80's 2. He got into a motorcycle accident that almost killed him.

The guy's name if Takeshi Kitano, AKA "Beat" Takeshi, and he's had quite the career. He started out as a comedian, later moving into gangster films and the like. He acts, writes, directs...

The motorcycle accident paralyzed one side of his face, but if anything it's made his acting more intense through his utterly dead-serious cold visage, as can be seen in "Battle Royale", "Fireworks", "Brother"...

mikejonas · 10-31-2003, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gregg Cummings
You are wrong. Don't be too hard on yourself.

TokyoPop - Battle Royale

IIRC, when Tokyopop first struck the licensing deal, only eight volumes of the manga had been published at that point--which is probably why news sources at the time reported that the license was only picked up for Volumes 1-8. I figure that either the deal actually includes the entire run of the manga and Previews was misinformed, or Tokyopop is picking up/has picked up the licenses for the volumes published since the initial deal was made.