According to distributors COMAG Specialist: “Japanese animated films and comic strips, manga and anime have been big in the UK since the 1990s as graphic novels and video cassettes, but with the rapid rate of technological growth since the turn of the century, there has been a global explosion in their popularity.
With the rise of computer games consoles, especially those by Japanese companies Nintendo and Sony, many gamers around the world have become familiar with the formats, styles and various genres of manga and anime, as well as wider Japanese popular culture.
British fans have only had one magazine (Neo), that features the latest cinema, DVD and comic book releases from the world of anime and manga or else titles for the various games consoles, have mentioned the latest manga and anime game releases for that console type. Enthusiasts have not had a magazine dedicated to both sides of the subject, until now.
A one-stop source of information about all things manga and anime, MyM (pronounced My-Em), will have everything that consumers want to know about new animation DVD and cinema releases, as well as featuring Japanese games products that will come out in the UK.
In addition to the animation and games releases, 100-page MyM will also have stimulating features and articles about Japanese popular culture, including music, film and television.
Aimed at a predominantly male audience (70%) aged 13-25-years old, around 50% of MyM readers will be students and 90% of them will be regular gamers.
To promote the launch of MyM, the publisher will have a stand at MCM London (a comic convention) at the ExCeL between 25-27 May, to showcase the magazine and gain exposure to the estimated 40,000 people who will attend.
As well as this, MyMags is also sending 10,000 A5 samplers to 65 of the major universities across Britain and inserting flyers in anime and manga DVD products being sold in the UK and undertaken an extensive online campaign using social media.”
