Central Park Media Declare Bankruptcy

Central Park Media, one of the longest running American anime and manga distributors, have declared themselves bankrupt with reported debts of around $1.2m.  A few short years ago Central Park Media were a major distributor controlling several well known labels, including US Manga Corps, CPM Manga, Software Sculptors and Anime 18.  However, the company's fortunes have faded in the face of increased competition and new distribution methods.  CPM have filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which basically means that there's no chance of a reprieve.  The company effectively closed down on Monday, and will be missed.

Astro Boy Streamed for Free!

Manga Entertainment have begun streaming the 1980's series of Osamu Tezuka's classic robot anime Astro Boy on YouTube.  Astro Boy is a truly seminal anime title, and focuses on a robot boy created as a substitute son who eventually becomes a superhero.  The series can be watched here!  Make sure you check out their YouTube channel as well, it includes plenty of clips of various anime series, plus full episodes of Virus Buster Serge.

1st Chapter of New Takahashi Manga Posted by VIZ

Major US publisher VIZ Media have posted the translated first chapter of Inu-Yasha author Rumiko Takahashi's latest manga RIN-NE on their website!  The manga focuses on a girl who can see ghosts following a childhood encounter, and surprisingly VIZ will publish a new chapter online every week simultaneously with the Japanese release in Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine.  Check out the chapter on the website here.

Inu-Yasha To Be Released Unflipped

VIZ Media have announced that they will release volume 38 of the hugely popular Inu-Yasha in its original, unflipped format.  The series is one of the few that is still released 'flipped', a process in which the artwork is mirrored to read from left to right, rather than the reverse right to left which is the standard in Japan.  The remaining volumes of the 55-volume manga series will be left in the original Japanese right to left format and released monthly.  VIZ don't appear to have any plans to re-issue the first 37 volumes in the unflipped formal, but will be releasing the manga unflipped in new VIZ Big editions starting in November.  The VIZ Big editions will each contain three volumes of the original release.

New Azumanga Daioh Chapters

Japanese manga author Kiyohiko Azuma has confirmed that he is writing three new 16 page chapters of Azumanga Daioh.  The new material will be included in the 10th Anniversary release of the manga which is due for release in Japan this summer, and will also appear in Monthly Shonen Sunday magazine between May and July.  No Western release is planned for the new chapters, although the original manga is set for a reissue following Yen Press' acquisition of the rights from ADV Manga.

Japan Ex 2009 Cancelled

MCM Expo have announced that the Japan Ex trade show has been cancelled.  The show, which originally ran in London's ExCel Centre in 2007 to mixed reception, was due to return this summer after taking a break in 2008.  The organisers have cited the current financial climate as the main reason for the cancellation, but state that they intend to bring back the event in the future, albeit in a different format and probably a different location.