TOKYOPOP Shuts Down U.S. Division; .hack Manga/Novel Localization
Update: Looks like the final volume of the .hack//G.U. Novels is due out May 3rd; TOKYOPOP will officially shutter its doors on May 31st, but it is unknown whether or not the fourth volume of the novel will be released.
The Anime industry in the United States has seen better days, and it's been scary watching companies close down left and right since the hay day of Anime and Manga. Today Stu Levy , founder of TOKYOPOP, announced that "..the Manga Revolution has been won" and that they've succeeded, but in return they're closing down the San Francisco HQ! The whole goodbye post is very vague, but more news should trickle out eventually. Aside from the decline of manga sales overall worldwide, TOKYOPOP has cited the recent Borders books bankruptcy as one of the big blows to the companies cash flow, in an article at Publishers Weekly.
What does this mean for .hack?
TOKYOPOP was definitely in love with the series, localizing nearly all the manga and novels - and they should be applauded for this! TOKYOPOP has localized all their licensed .hack Manga/Novels to date, so fans won't be left hanging in this regard. The only real concern over .hack is the newly announced .hack//Quantum+ manga and any subsequent announcements in Japan.
What about the .hack//Link manga?
The .hack//Link manga has been completely localized, with Volume 3 being the last part of the fragmented story. The manga went on hiatus in KeroKero Ace around December of 2009 in Japan so the team working on the series could focus on //Link's PSP game... but never returned (via Kuukai, dothackers awesome translator).
Thanks for all the .hack goodness TOKYOPOP - and hopefully another publisher picks up .hack//Quantum+ when the time comes.
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