Anime Vice Anime/Manga News

So, this is a tentative new feature, by which I mean it'll happen whenever I think of something that I keep expecting to see licensed that hasn't been (as opposed to one of my regular features that I do weekly...usually).

Basically, I'm going to spotlight a series that hasn't been licensed-- but should definitely be considered for it. And this entry, of course, is for the series Toshokan Sensou, or Library Wars.

Title: Toshokan Sensou (Library Wars)
Origins: Based on a four-volume light novel series of the same name by Hiro Arikawa, which were published from '06 to '07 by MediaWorks.
Media: One light novel series, two manga series, one anime.
    Light Novels: Toshokan Sensou. Published by MediaWorks.
    Manga: Toshokan Sensou Love & War. Shoujo, runs in LaLa anthology (Hakusensha). Started September 2007, ongoing.
    Manga: Toshokan Sensou Spitfire!. Shounen, runs in Dengeki Daioh anthology (MediaWorks). Started November 2007, ongoing.
    Anime: Toshokan Sensou. Produced by Production I.G and aired from April to June 2008.
Status: All media currently unlicensed in North America-- or outside of Japan at all, as far as I can tell.

Summary: Toshokan Sensou is sort of an alternate history series, set in a Japan where the government has split into two factions: the Media Cleansing Committee, which allows the government to censor any media it deems harmful, and the libraries, who are willing to defend their materials through force if necessary. The series follows one particular woman, Iku Kasahara, who becomes a new recruit for the Kantou Library and also the first female member of the elite Library Task Force. A strong mix of comedy, drama, romance, and action, it's an excellent all-around series.


About the License: So, that would most likely be held by MediaWorks, who published the original novel series. MediaWorks has published everything from Kino no Tabi to Spice and Wolf to Shakugan no Shana to Azumanga Daioh-- in other words, their stuff has been licensed all across the board by American companies. So it's hard to say who would pick up what, if anything.

For example, VIZ has licensed several series that ran in LaLa (Ouran, Vampire Knight), so they might have a shot at Love & War. On the other hand, TOKYOPOP snatched up Kaichou wa Maid-sama and Jyu Oh Sei from them as well.

Yen Press just picked up Azumanga Daioh and Yotsuba&!, which were both Dengeki Daioh titles, so maybe they could get Spitfire!. Then again, Daioh published the Tsukihime manga, which DrMaster acquired; Bandai is publishing the Gurren Lagann manga that runs there (and if they got Toshokan Sensou's anime they might publish its manga as well). TOKYOPOP acquired Daioh's Strawberry Marshmallow, and VIZ has its Shakugan no Shana. Even Seven Seas got the Daioh-serialized Kashimashi. You get the idea.

Basically, it's impossible to say who might have the best shot at licensing any of the Toshokan Sensou media, and for all we know there might be a bidding war going on in the background. But it's a solid anime series that I'd love to spend some money on-- and I'd really like to read the novels. I'd say the odds there would be in favor of Yen, or perhaps I should say Hachette: if the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya novels sell decently in the mainstream, they'd have quite a lot to offer to a licensor. And I could actually imagine Toshokan Sensou being assigned to middle or high school students to talk about censorship. Hm...

What say you? Go ahead and leave your thoughts on Toshokan Sensou-- or nominations for future Why Hasn't Anyone Licensed columns!