July 2007 Yaoi News

Two manga titles slated for mid-August release are available now in their respective company stores: Scandalous Seiryo University and My Paranoid Next Door Neighbor.

Find Scandalous Seiryo University Volume 1, slated for an August 15th release, in Media Blasters' eBay store for $8.00, plus shipping.

801 Media's blog reports that My Paranoid Next Door Neighbor, set to release August 22, is available for purchase exclusively in their store.

Media Blasters representative John Patterson answered a few questions we've been getting about their upcoming yaoi DVD releases for October, Angel's Feather and No Money Volume 1.

The suggested retail price for Angel's Feather is listed as $19.95, while the first volume of No Money! is listed at $29.95. Both volumes contain 60 minutes of animation. Patterson explained the price discrepancy by saying at Media Blasters, "it's a rule of thumb to make the more adult/hentai releases through Kitty Media around $30," while the more general releases through Anime Works are priced at $20. As Angel's Feather contains no explicit adult content, it seems it will be released under the Anime Works label instead of Kitty Media.

Neither DVD will contain an English dub track, Patterson said. Media Blasters made this decision for all of its yaoi releases based on fan preference, he said, but is starting to see more interest in dubbed yaoi releases. "I always kid with the fans that Greg Ayers will dub the audio for us," Patterson said, referring to the energetic English voice actor known for voicing youthful characters such as Son Goku from the Saiyuki anime, or the ambiguously gay Kaworu in Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Seven Seas Entertainment, who earlier this month announced their first yaoi manga license, announced the name of their new yaoi manga line at San Diego Comic Con. The official name will be "Bee Line," shortened to "BL" of course, with a honeybee logo on the book spines.

With a name for the line, we can probably assume that Seven Seas will be licensing more yaoi manga in the future!

At San Diego Comic Con today, Tokyopop announced two new licenses for the BLU Manga imprint:

• Fallen Moon, by Toui Hasumi, 1 volume, release June 2008
• Koi Cha no Osahou, by Yaya Sakuragi, 4 volumes, release May 2008

Official release dates for several of the yaoi manga and DVDs announced at Anime Expo have been confirmed!

801 Media Manga Licenses:

• The Prime Minister's Secret Diplomacy Vol. 1, by Youka Nitta - January 25, 2008
  Yoshinaga's genius and his gift for political maneuvering have helped him ascend to the higher spheres of the Ministry of Foreign affairs at an early age. As for Shiraishi, the prestige of his family as well as his dedication to his job has also led him to an early career in diplomacy. Yoshinaga is Shiraishi's future brother-in-law as he is soon to be married to his sister. When the two meet in Thailand, a stunning tale of love unfolds.

• Love Circumstances, by Aco Oumi - January 25, 2008
  Yamaguchi and Takagari have recently moved from close friends to boyfriends... All is well, but Yamaguchi is worried. Takagari seems to love him... too much?! That in itself wouldn't be a bad thing at all, if it wasn't for the fact everybody else might find out they're a couple! A striking tale of hidden love!

• The King of Debt, by Sanae Rokuya - February 28, 2008
  Souta's friend, Taketora, is chronically bad at managing his finances. Ever since the two met in college, Taketora has never ceased to borrow money from Souta. Money that he never gives back, of course. And it's not like Souta is rich or anything either, he can barely get by with the money he makes at his student job. But whenever Taketora makes that face, Souta is unable to resist... Worse yet, now Taketora is saying that rather than returning the money, he'll repay Souta... with his body?!!

• A Foreign Love Affair, by Ayano Yamane - March 18, 2008
  Japanese yakuza clan heir Ranmaru just got married on a lavish cruise ship, but things aren't as they seem. The marriage is just for the appearances, and he ends up getting drunk and spending the night not with his bride but with the sexy ship captain. When the two men meet again in Italy, it is the start of a spectacular love story.

• The President's Time, by Tamaki Kirishima - April 21, 2008
  Mutsuki inherited his father's company eight years ago. He's been doing fine as a CEO, but there's one thing that has always been a shadow lurking over him: He never accomplished his father's last wishes. Just before dying, Mutsuki's father told him "go and become the ultimate evil boss!" But Mutsuki is so kind that his daily attempts of training to commit evil deeds are a complete failure. Will he ever succeed, or will his father's last wishes be forgotten? Especially now that Mutsumi has met the beautiful Torii, and that he is falling for him....

• Weekend Lovers (new announcement!), by Kiriko Fuwa - April 28, 2008
  Koutaro is a carefree young temp worker, while Asahi is seven years older and an elite salaryman. Due to Asahi's busy schedule, the two men can only be together for two weekends every month. One day, Koutaro accidentally breaks Asahi's glasses. For the first time, he gets the see Asahi looking vulnerable, and he realizes that the glasses are something his lover needs "so much that he can't live on normally without them"; now Koutaro wishes he could be that important to Asahi...

Media Blasters / Kitty Media DVD Licenses:

• Angel's Feather - October 30, 2007
• No Money! Vol. 1 - October 30, 2007

Seven Seas Dips in to Yaoi

Seven Seas Entertainment announced its first yaoi license: In God's Arms (Kamisama no Ude no Naka) by Yonezo Yamada.

Media Blasters Nabs Three More OAVs

Media Blasters / Kitty Media continues its domination of the yaoi anime market with three new licenses:

• Angel's Feather, a very light, 2-episode OAV based on a Japanese yaoi PC game.
• Haru wo Daiteita, a 60 minute harder yaoi OAV that animates the first volume of the Embracing Love manga.
• Fuyu no Semi (Winter Cicada), a 3-part OAV that tells a historical side story of Embracing Love.

801 Media Brings Ayano Yamane, Youka Nitta and More

801 Media announces five new titles, likely for release in 2008. Titles are linked to more information where possible.

• The King of Debt (JP title: Shakking), by Sanae Rokuya
• Love Circumstances (JP title: Momoiro Renai Jijou), by Oumi Ako
• The President's Time (JP title: Sachou no Ojikan), by Kirishima Tamaki
• A Foreign Love Affair (JP title: Ikoku Irokoi Romantan), by Ayano Yamane
• The Prime Minister's Secret Diplomacy (JP title: Koushi Kakka no Himitsu Gaikou), by Youka Nitta

Juné Manga Announces A New Bushel of Titles

Juné Manga announced another huge group of new manga licenses, likely for release in 2008. Titles are linked to more information where possible.

• Everlasting Love (JP title: Ore no Zutto Suki na Hito), by Ryoko Chiba
• Party, by Tatsumi Kaiya
• Love Share, by Aoi Kujou
• I'll Be Your Slave (JP title: You Are My Queen), by Miki Araya
• Love Training (JP title: Lovetore), by Tatsumi Kaiya
• All Nippon Air Lines (JP title: Rakuen 30000 Feet All Nippon Air Line), by Kei Azumaya
• Great Place High School (JP title: GP Gakuen Jouhou Shoribu), by Naduki Koujima
• The Color Of Love
• Selfish Mr. Mermaid (JP title: Wagamamana Ningyosama), by Nabako Kamo
• Don't Blame Me (JP title: Ore wa Warukunai), by Yugi Yamada
• Sugar Milk
• The First Stage of Love (JP title: Kankei wa Mada Level 1), by Kazuhiko Mishima
• Hot Steamy Glasses
• Love Lesson
• Necroholic (JP title: Nekrateholic), by Maguro Wasabi
• Love Control (JP title: Renai Sousa), by Ai Hasukawa
• Thirsty for Love (JP title: Koi wa Kowaki), by Yukine Honami and Satosumi Takaguchi

Three new novels were also announced:

• Sweet Admiration
• Caged Slave
• Body Language