Category Archives: Sailor Moon

The Kodansha Files: Viz Media vs. Kodansha USA iPhone App (Pt.2)

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CRITERIA #4 -RESPONSIVE
KODANSHA COMICS USA-BAD EXAMPLE
I ENCOUNTERED DIFFICULTIES  INITIALLY LOADING  THE APP.  EVERY TIME THE APP OPENED THE IMAGE BELOW APPEARED. THE LOADING TIME TOOK AT LEAST 5 MINUTES.
KodanshaSync
CRITERIA # 5 CONSISTENT
VIZ MEDIA & KODANSHA IPHONE APP – GOOD EXAMPLES
CONSISTENCY IN THIS CASE IS REINFORCING HOW USERS SHOULD READ THE MANGA. VIZ MEDIA AND KODANSHA UNDERSTAND THAT AMERICAN END-USERS MAY NOT BE AS FAMILIAR WITH THE JAPANESE MANGA READING STYLE. CONSEQUENTLY, BOTH MADE EFFORTS TO ACCOMMODATE THESE READERS BY INSTRUCTING THEM HOW TO PROPERLY USE THEIR PRODUCTS.
VizMedia_4  
CRITERIA #6 ATTRACTIVE
VIZ MEDIA & KODANSHA IPHONE APP – GOOD EXAMPLES
  • BOTH USER INTERFACES ARE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING TO END-USERS. OBVIOUSLY BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER (OR IN THIS CASE THE USER), BUT THE LOOK OF AN APP DOES INFLUENCE HOW I INTERACTED WITH BOTH PRODUCTS. INTERFACE ELEMENTS SUCH AS BUTTONS AND ICONS CAN MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE IN HOW THE USER FEELS ABOUT USING THE PRODUCT.
CRITERIA #7 EFFICIENT 
KODANSHA IPHONE APP – GOOD EXAMPLE
KODANSHA DEVELOPERS UNDERSTAND THAT YOUNG CONSUMERS MAY NOT KNOW HOW TO SELECT FREE PRODUCTS OR AGE-APPROPRIATE PRODUCTS. SO IMPLEMENTING THIS “AGE-RATING” SYMBOL HELPS. MOREOVER, IT HELPS TO CLEARLY OUTLINE WHICH PRODUCTS ARE FREE, FEATURED AND NEW.
  
KodanshaFree

VizMedia_3

 

CRITERIA #8 FORGIVING
VIZ MEDIA & KODANSHA IPHONE APP – GOOD EXAMPLES
  • LASTLY, I FOUND THAT BOTH MANGA APPS ALLOWS THEIR CUSTOMERS TO RECOVER FROM THEIR MISTAKES. FOR INSTANCE VIZ MEDIA GIVES CUSTOMERS CONFIRMATION MESSAGES ASKING IF THEY ARE SURE ABOUT THEIR PURCHASE. CUSTOMERS WHO ARE UNSURE OR NEED ADDITIONAL TIME MAY CANCEL THEIR ORDERS. VIZ MEDIA ALSO REQUIRES ALL CUSTOMERS TO REGISTER THEIR PROFILES IN THE SYSTEM TO BETTER TRACK THEIR TRANSACTIONS, WHICH HELPS IN CASES THERE ARE IDENTITY FRAUD.
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The Kodansha Files: Kodansha USA iPhone App vs. Viz Media (Pt.1)

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Good Evening Readers,
Hard to believe it’s been nearly a year since I last posted on The Kodansha Files. I get a bit nostalgic when remembering the long hours spent researching Kodansha USA‘s business model and articulating that in writing. When I last visited this world, the manga publisher had recently launched it’s iPad app.  At the time it was clear Viz Media was leaps and bounds ahead of Kodansha USA. It was evident then that its business model needed restructuring. Though Kodansha USA had immensely popular titles, Sailor Moon and Fairy Tail, its competitor Viz Media had many more.
To compete in the U.S. market, its executives could not just emulate Viz Media’s infrastructure, its business model had to surpass it. Launching the iPad was a small step in the right direction, evolving and expanding Kodansha’s reach is an even bigger one. Tonight is about comparing these two conglomerates iPhone apps user interfaces side by side. Who better to decide how successful these iPhone apps are then a U.S. consumer who is unfamiliar with manga? If Kodansha USA truly intends to dominate the manga market then its products must set the standard, not follow it.
8 CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESSFUL USER INTERFACE
CRITERIA #1: CLEAR
VIZ MEDIA IPHONE APP – GOOD EXAMPLE
  • LOOKING AT THIS SCREENSHOT BELOW IT’S EVIDENT THAT CUSTOMERS CAN EASILY FIGURE OUT HOW  VIZ MEDIA’S APPLICATION WORKS. VIZ MEDIA ALERTS CONSUMERS TO SIGN UP WITH THE COMPANY TO ACCESS A FREE PRODUCT. MOREOVER IT INFORMS THEM ON HOW TO CONTINUE RECEIVING ALERTS ON THEIR MOBILE DEVICE.
VizMedia_1
CRITERIA #2: CONCISE
KODANSHA iPHONE APP – GOOD EXAMPLE
  • THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A CONCISE GLOSSARY READERS CAN REFERENCE WHILE READING. KODANSHA’S DEVELOPERS COULD HAVE OVER-CLARIFIED THE DEFINITIONS AND CREATED HYPER-LINKED ALERTS THROUGH THE MANGA, BUT IN THE END IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INFORMATION OVERLOAD . KODANSHA’S METHOD IS MORE SUBTLE AND THEREFORE MORE EFFECTIVE. THE MANGA’S JAPANESE TERMS ARE EXPLAINED IN ONE OR TWO SENTENCES WHICH SAVES THE READER VALUABLE TIME AND ENHANCES THEIR READING EXPERIENCE.
KodanshaGlossary
VIZ MEDIA IPHONE APP – BAD EXAMPLE
  • PUSH NOTIFICATIONS ARE ALERTS GENERATED THROUGH APPS TO INFORM YOU WHEN AN UPDATE OCCURS. HOWEVER, IN THIS CASE IT SEEMS REDUNDANT IF THE CONSUMER WILL BE CREATING A PROFILE ON VIZ MEDIA’S WEBSITE APPLICATION. MOST LIKELY CONSUMERS WILL CHOOSE TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATIONS VIA E-MAIL, WHICH WON’T USE THEIR CELLULAR DATA USAGE.
VizMedia_2
CRITERIA #3-FAMILIAR
VIZ MEDIA IPHONE APP & KODANSHA   – GOOD EXAMPLES
  • MANGA IS THE JAPANESE EQUIVALENT TO AMERICAN COMICS. FORTUNATELY BOTH KODANSHA AND VIZ MEDIA KEPT THIS IN MIND AND USED THE FAMILIAR TERMS: STORE, MY MANGA AND SETTINGS. BY USING THESE SIMPLISTIC TERMS, BOTH COMPANIES ARE CONDITIONING THE USERS WHERE TO PURCHASE MANGA, LOCATE THEIR MANGA DOWNLOADS, AND THEIR CHANGE THEIR PREFERENCES.
VizMediaSynopsis
 KodanshaFree
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Kodansha Files: License to Deal

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The creation of Kodansha USA signified a change in Kodansha Ltd.’s business model. Traditionally, Kodansha used intermediaries such as TokyoPop and Del Rey Manga to distribute its titles overseas. Creating Kodansha USA however, eliminated the need for middle men. Today, Kodansha Ltd have the licenses to deal in US markets— independently. However, this independence comes at a price. Kodansha USA is now responsible for reassuring retailers and consumers that it can compete with its predecessor Del Rey Manga. Moreover, the subsidiary’s sales have to rival US manga domineer, Viz Media, LLC.

Kodansha USA to take over Del Rey Manga Licenses- October 4, 2010

  • Retailers relied on Del Rey Manga for Kodansha’s North American titles.
  • In the wake of Del Rey Manga closing, a comic book retailer shared his concerns on his blog.

Christopher Butch, manager of The Beguiling comic book store, states, “So the news this morning that KodanshaUSA will takeover publishing all of Del Rey Manga’s many bestselling titles? Disappointment bordering on dread” He continues, “Every single one of their releases to date have missed their shipping date, and they’re already on a _very_generous shipping schedule. The result is that some of the bestselling perennials in manga publishing–AKIRA and GHOST IN THE SHELL have been unavailable for nearly 2 years now, and there are no answers to customer concerns why this is so.”

  • In order for Kodansha USA to supersede its predecessor, these kinks have to be worked out.
  • Developing positive ties with retailers, distributors and wholesalers are essential tools for established publishers.
  • For Kodansha USA these relationships are even more important in order to sustain a presence in the US market.

By: Christopher Butch

Kodansha Japan Open To Digital Manga On iPad-March 03, 2011

  • By allowing intermediaries licenses to expire, Kodansha Ltd had complete control over its titles. However, what they intended to do with it had yet to be seen. That was until March…

Anime blogger Chris Beverage states, “… The big elephant in the room, Kodansha Japan. The company has had a hold on its titles appearing in digital form for quite a while…”"Translator William Flannagan (who works on numerous Kodansha titles under Del Rey and now Kodansha Comics), [believes] that appears to have changed: Just heard over Twitter that the previous hold n Kodansha titles by the iPad has been lifted, and now those Kodansha titles can be published on the iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch. It looks like ebooks are proceeding apace.” Beveridge continues, “So, with some luck, we might see Kodansha’s manga titles arrive on the digital platform this year.”

  • Was Kodansha finally take a note from Viz Media, LLC, the U.S. manga domineer?
  • Was Kodansha finally ready to challeneg Viz Media which debuted its iPad app in November 2010? From the outside looking in, it appears that way.

By: Chris Beveridge via Twitter

New York Times Best Sellers Manga-March 2011

  • During the week of March 6, Viz Media, LLC, held the Top 5 Slots on NY Times Manga Bestsellers
    • Naruto VOL. 50
    • Black Butler, VOL 4
    • Black Bird, VOL. 7
    • FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST, VOL.
    • BAKUMAN, VOL.3
  • This is important to consider because the calculations are based on both print and digital sales
  • It is also important to note that none of Kodansha USA titles ranked in the Top 10
  • One has to ask if Kodansha’s titles could have broken Viz Media’s monopoly if had digital sales too?

By: The New York Times

 

To borrow a line from Spider-Man, “with great power comes great responsibility.” Kodansha USA has the ability to become a powerful force in the manga world. However, the subsidiary has internal problems that need resolving. Key amongst them is developing a stable relationship with retailers and American consumers. Additionally, Kodansha Ltd needs to decide on digitizing it vast library. One of the reasons Viz Media dominates US manga stems from its digital presence. In order for Kodansha USA to rise to prominence it needs to capitalize on new technologies and resolve internal glitches.

Thanks for reading,

An EPublisher Confesses

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