By: Peggy Sue Wood | @pswediting
July 2023 was a somewhat difficult time for me. Originally, this was supposed to go up soon after the AX convention, but I missed the opportunity to do so at the time.
I decided not to attend industry/business panels during AX 2023. Industry panels are typically reviews for release schedules of anime, manga, merchandise, and the like. While this can be fun to attend, it can also be a bit repetitive since most (if not all) of the titles being shared as new licenses (or titles that are set for release in the near future) are posted about on the distributor’s/publisher’s websites long before the panels take place. Business panels are perhaps more fun to the professionals and creatives who want to enter this industry as they cover specific topics for getting into a profession. I attended neither as I was focused more on enjoying the convention itself since two of my friends joined me and I was dealing with personal things at home. Still, I know that some of our readers are interested in this side of the programming, so–to the best of my ability–I’ve collected links and information for the business panels that seemed to match panel descriptions.
I hope that this post of business panel links is helpful for those interested!
Day 1
Horizontal to Vertical: Webtoon Storytelling, from Screen to Page
Panel Description: The vertical scrolling of webtoons has turned the comics world sidewards. And turning vertical-scrolling stories into graphic novels? Also tricky! See examples of innovative, multimedia vertical storytelling, as shared by creators and editors from Webtoon, TokyoPop, and more. If you’re a comics/webtoon creator, get inspired by some of the best examples of vertical storytelling out there! If you’re a longtime fan or new to webtoons, discover your next fave series to read on your phone (or in print!)Moderated by Deb Aoki, Mangasplaining, and Publishers Weekly.
• Missed the panel… BUT we found this: https://youtu.be/KczeJqVDxbw?si=pYEuFsyCrUQUs3Hg
• Room 403 AB
MangaGamer: The Now & Future of Visual Novels – 18+
Panel Description: Through pictures and prose, visual novels have become one of the fastest-growing storytelling mediums within anime and manga. Please join us, MangaGamer, as we explore this growing literary format and see just what the future will bring at MangaGamer.com.
• https://www.nookgaming.com/nook-news-7-02-23-jast-and-mangagamer-announcements/
• Room 403 AB
Day 2
Manga Publishing Roundtable
Panel Description: Manga sales are up, there’s more manga available in print and in digital than ever, but what are the opportunities and obstacles facing publishers today? Get a taste of what’s hot, what’s not, and what’s next from top publishing pros including ShuheiHosono, editor-in-chief of Shueisha’s JUMP+ and MANGA plus, Erik Ko, chief of operations at Udon Entertainment, Ed Chavez, president and editor-in-chief at Denpa, Beth Kawasaki, executive director of content and marketing at Media-Do International, Kae Winters, Marketing Lead at TokyoPop and Ben Applegate, director, publisher services, Penguin Random House, along with a surprise guest or two! Moderated by Deb Aoki, Mangasplaining, and Publishers Weekly.
• Though nobody from our editorial team had gone to this panel at Anime Expo 2023, we had gone previously at prior conventions. Below, we have linked notes from a previous Manga Publishing Roundtable.
• https://theanimeview.com/2021/12/04/comic-conhome-2021-manga-publishing-industry/
• Room 402 AB
eigoMANGA’s How To Draw Manga And Portfolio Review
Panel Description: eigoMANGA creators will hold a tutorial workshop to teach the fundamentals of manga illustration. They will also be on hand to critique portfolios from up-and-coming artists.
• https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2023-06-22/eigomanga-heads-to-anime-expo-2023/.199452 (Couldn’t find a video, but found this article detailing what was planned before Anime Expo)
• Room 409 AB
Anime Journalism: How Do Be an Otaku Gumshoe
Panel Description: Join Anime News Network’s Publisher, Christopher Macdonald, and a group of professional anime journalists from across your favorite sites to get pointers on how to pitch an editorial, the rigorous requirements to report the news, and more!
• I could not find any blog posts or specific information from ANN’s team regarding this panel, but have attended their Anime Journalism panel in previous years. I think that, based on the information that is usually shared at this particular panel, one of the best places to check out for those interested in becoming an anime journalist is the book “Otaku Journalism” by Lauren Orsini (creator of otakujournalist.com). The book was published in 2014, so some of the links to former tools (like those for organization and formatting) are a bit out-of-date, but the information on where and how to get started–from ideas to pitching, then publishing, and beyond–are still helpful. I’ve recently picked up a copy and it has been a very informative text for me in the last few months.
Day 3
Live Painting Seminar with SiZNArt: Is AI Art the End of Artists?
Panel Description: Recipient of Character Design Awards by NEXON, Deviantart/Final Fantasy: Lightning Returns & Corel Painter/Clip Studio. Starting her career at 16, Professional illustrator SiZNArt with 10 years of industry experience talks about the future of art industry and the controversy behind AI art. Is AI going to replace artists? Or is it just another tool?
• Missed the panel… BUT we found this: https://youtu.be/l1QVwfpbXMQ
• 409 AB
Discover more from The Anime View
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
