TOKYOPOP Launches Romance Manga Imprint

TOKYOPOP has launched a new romance manga imprint for readers called LoveLove.

According to a report from Goodreader, the new imprint promises diverse content for romance readers. LoveLove will likely include content relating to shōjo, josei, Girls’ Love, Boys’ Love and more. Anime News Network previously reported in 2020 that TOKYOPOP launched a romance imprint called Love x Love — it is unclear whether LoveLove is a rebranding effort or something new altogether.

LoveLove stemmed from TOKYOPOP’s core belief that “Love is Love,” and approached the imprint with the philosophy of celebrating different types of love. Included in the range of manga currently available through the imprint are If My Favorite Pop Idols Made It to the Budokan, Be My Love and Formerly, the Fallen Daughter of the Duke.

TOKYOPOP first launched as a magazine focusing on Japanese pop culture called MixxZine, founded by Stuart Levy. The publisher eventually went on to print Sailor Moon as its first physical manga outside of serialization. In 2002, the company launched its “authentic” manga line, which read from right to left and maintained the original Japanese SFX. The company underwent restructuring in 2008 and began cutting back on publication by 50% annually before shutting down its North American office completely. In 2012, the company started anew after partnering with RightStuf on demand to begin publishing manga once more.

Source: Goodreader, Anime News Network