Time can pass by in a blink of an eye, and we often wish for it to slow down. When it comes to something we want, though, we often want time to speed up. But when timelines and deadlines for something we want keeps getting pushed back, time moving too slow isn’t the issue. Chances are it’s the company that’s the problem.
And problems certainly have been riddling Digital Manga, Inc.’s various Kickstarters…
The Kickstarters’ Updates
Digital Manga, Inc.’s crowdfunded projects have been a recurring subject in this column. Back around 2016-17, the publisher went on a bit of a Kickstarter spree, wanting money to license new titles as well as reprint old ones. Stretch goals for these various projects included publishing additional volumes of a series (Kimagure Orange Road), upgrading releases (Kodomo no Jikan), or publishing additional works by the same author (Wonder 3). As I have said in other posts, some of those goals make more sense than others.
Regardless, most of their campaigns reached their initial fundraising threshold and some stretch goals. But unfortunately, despite the fact that a good three years have gone by, some projects have not been fully completed: Kodomo no Jikan, Wonder 3 and other Tezuka manga, and Psyche Delico titles.
While updates have sometimes been hard to come by, Digital Manga, Inc. posted one on December 26th for their Wonder 3 Kickstarter after a short “we’re working on Kodomo no Jikan” message back in September. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a Boxing Day present or belated Christmas present.
So despite this campaign offering other Tezuka titles as both physical and digital titles, backers will have to settle for digital copies. DMI later elaborated on this announcement, saying that no full refunds would be processed nor would the full terms of the conversation with Tezuka Productions be disclosed.
On January 9th, DMI notified backers of their other two outstanding projects.
Kodomo no Jikan would be pushed back in favor of Wonder 3, and then Psyche Delico’s works after Kodomo no Jikan.
The Shuffling
Now, it’s no surprise that Wonder 3 is now a higher priority for DMI. It’s a single book now versus multiple like with the other Kickstarters. Plus, only a limited number of physical rewards were offered in the various packages, mostly bookmarks. Wonder 3 is headed to the printers, so it’s scheduled to be completed by the end of March. Next will be the non-book rewards for the other two campaigns, which is estimated to be around mid 2020.
DMI apologized in the January 9th posts, saying they overextended themselves and now have fewer staff members. While I don’t think anybody expected DMI to be years behind schedule, it wasn’t a huge leap to think their ambitious schedule, with all these Kickstarters, was doomed.
But hindsight is 20/20. Right now, it’s all about fulfilling these rewards. There shouldn’t be any more issues with Wonder 3‘s Kickstarter. Backers still received digital copies of all the manga, which at least somewhat mitigates the sting, and they should get Wonder 3 by the end of March. Kodomo no Jikan and Psyche Delico fans, however, are likely going to waiting until the end of the year for their manga. Maybe Kodomo no Jikan can be complete around the fall, but that’s assuming no more snafus.
DMI also addressed a question many people have had: why are new titles being released (mostly under the Juné imprint) but these physical manga behind schedule?
Again, unsurprising, but hardly what any of the backers want to hear considering they’ve laid out money while Juné is releasing things that may or may not turn a profit.
The Cancellations
The big story is the cancellation of the print versions of the following Tezuka manga:
- Ambassador Magma
- Dust 8
- The Euphrates Tree
- Metamorphose
- Say Hello To Bookila
- The Thief Inoue Akikazu
- Yakeppachi’s Maria
These titles are still available to purchase digitally, so it’s not like DMI has lost the rights entirely. But you have to assume that Tezuka Productions is not happy since they would not allow DMI to publish the manga in a physical format. But did Wonder 3 go to print out of goodwill? Was it too far along in the planning to cancel? Or was it a way for DMI to avoid the outrage if they either had cancelled everything, regardless if they provided full refunds or not?
I mean, I can’t imagine the flood of angry comments had DMI had to abandon this Kickstarter completely after all this time. Yes, some people are upset since they didn’t really want Wonder 3 but one of the manga listed above. But because of the way this Kickstarter was structured, there wasn’t one where various stretch goals led to another title going to print. It should have been instead of the complicated all-eight-but-mix-and-match approach.
At least backers aren’t emerging empty-handed even though they may not have really wanted Wonder 3. I can certainly sympathize with backers who would rather have a full refund, but at least they’re not getting stuck with store credit.
The Future
For fans who wish to have a Tezuka collection lining their bookshelves, I hope somehow, someday these manga will go to print. But if you previously didn’t have concerns about Digital Manga, Inc.’s health, this news should finally set off those alarm bells. If DMI has been struggling to come up with money to print and send out rewards in the three years since their crowdfunding blitz, even if they are generally in a better position, general price increases will cut into their funds.
Let’s say Wonder 3, at least when you factor in packaging, is over 1 pound but no more than 2 pounds to ship. Media Mail rate, the cheapest service USPS offers, was $3.12 in 2017 for a one-pound package. It’s now $3.33. Yes, it’s only $.21 more, but now times that by the (at least) 483 backers who opted for a book in the campaign. That’s at least $100 more just to the post office — and just for the books, not any of the other merchandise which must be shipped via more expensive means. Adding up wage increases for remaining staff (if applicable), shipping boxes, printing costs, etc., and suddenly that $100 could turn into thousands. DMI could have earned some interest on this money to help offset these increases, but it’s also likely they used part of this money to help keep them afloat in the past three years.
Plus they’re already technically losing some money by sending out eBooks to all the backers and not just the people who ordered them; the all-digital tier was $80 in the Kickstarter! And what if — and I hope I don’t jinx it here — Kodomo no Jikan or all the Psyche Delico titles don’t ship until 2021? That’s even more money not going to Digital Manga, Inc. to help keep them running.
But still, perhaps the biggest unexpected cost for Digital Manga, Inc. is the negative feedback they have (and still are) received from fans, with many swearing never to support a Kickstarter from the company again. That’s a loss that can’t be calculated.