Mag Garden
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese publishing company that focuses on manga-related publications and is also involved in the development of anime and live-action adaptations. It was founded on June 5, 2001 by Yoshihiro Hosaka along with former manga artists of Enix
(now Square Enix
). The company performed a merger with Production I.G on December 1, 2007 to form the new company IG Port
as one of its subsidiaries alongside XEBEC.
(now Square Enix
) before leaving. It started out as a spin-out company from Enix's manga publishing division before the company merged with Square
. The Square-Enix merger resulted in an uprising with some of the manga artist staff. Fearing their manga being dropped out of publication and tired of the harsh treatment, they left Square Enix to help create Mag Garden, where they would also continue serializing their series. The establishment of Mag Garden and the former manga artists' departure from Square Enix prompted legal disputes over copyright issues between the two companies. The legal battle was concluded on March 2003 and Square Enix agreed to contribute 50% of Mag Garden's capital. Manga that was once published under Enix from the former authors had to continue serialization under new titles. On September 22, 2003, Mag Garden became a separate, independent company and was admitted in the Tokyo Stock Exchange's "Mothers" market after Square Enix sold all of its remaining shares.
On July 4, 2007, the company announced a merger with Production I.G to form a new company called IG Port. Mag Garden has a steady relationship with Production I.G as they have both collaborated on such cross-media anime/manga projects like Ghost Hound
and Sisters of Wellber
. Previously, Production I.G was Mag Garden's #2 shareholder as they owned 15% of their stock. The merger was completed on December 1, 2007 in which Mag Garden has officially became a subsidiary of IG Port.
Among the manga artists who moved to Mag Garden were Kozue Amano
, Rin Asano, Mayumi Azuma
, Nanae Chrono, Moyamu Fujino
, Maki Hakoda, Sakura Kinoshita
, Satomi Kubo, Hiro Matsuba, Minene Sakurano
, Kazusa Saitou, Kaili Sorano, Seiuchirou Todono, Sirou Tunasima, and Natsuki Yoshimura.
Hiatus
Discontinued
Enix
The was a Japanese company that produced video games, anime and manga. The company was founded by Yasuhiro Fukushima on September 22, 1975 as and renamed Enix in 1982...
(now Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
). The company performed a merger with Production I.G on December 1, 2007 to form the new company IG Port
IG Port
is a Japanese holding company that was established on December 1, 2007 as a result from a merger between the holding companies of Japanese anime studio Production I.G and manga publisher Mag Garden....
as one of its subsidiaries alongside XEBEC.
History
Mag Garden was founded on June 5, 2001 by Yoshihiro Hosaka, who previously worked as an editor from EnixEnix
The was a Japanese company that produced video games, anime and manga. The company was founded by Yasuhiro Fukushima on September 22, 1975 as and renamed Enix in 1982...
(now Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
) before leaving. It started out as a spin-out company from Enix's manga publishing division before the company merged with Square
Square Co.
was a Japanese video game company founded in September 1983 by Masafumi Miyamoto. It merged with Enix in 2003 and became part of Square Enix...
. The Square-Enix merger resulted in an uprising with some of the manga artist staff. Fearing their manga being dropped out of publication and tired of the harsh treatment, they left Square Enix to help create Mag Garden, where they would also continue serializing their series. The establishment of Mag Garden and the former manga artists' departure from Square Enix prompted legal disputes over copyright issues between the two companies. The legal battle was concluded on March 2003 and Square Enix agreed to contribute 50% of Mag Garden's capital. Manga that was once published under Enix from the former authors had to continue serialization under new titles. On September 22, 2003, Mag Garden became a separate, independent company and was admitted in the Tokyo Stock Exchange's "Mothers" market after Square Enix sold all of its remaining shares.
On July 4, 2007, the company announced a merger with Production I.G to form a new company called IG Port. Mag Garden has a steady relationship with Production I.G as they have both collaborated on such cross-media anime/manga projects like Ghost Hound
Ghost Hound
is an anime TV series, created by Production I.G and Masamune Shirow, noted for being the creator of the Ghost in the Shell series. The original concept and design was first developed by Shirow in 1987...
and Sisters of Wellber
Sisters of Wellber
is a fantasy anime series animated by Trans Arts . Directed by , the director behind the renowned Prince of Tennis TV series and animated movies, Sisters of Wellber began airing in Japan on Tokyo MX, Mētele, ABC, and AT-X in April 2007.A related manga, , has begun serialization on February 28, 2007...
. Previously, Production I.G was Mag Garden's #2 shareholder as they owned 15% of their stock. The merger was completed on December 1, 2007 in which Mag Garden has officially became a subsidiary of IG Port.
Among the manga artists who moved to Mag Garden were Kozue Amano
Kozue Amano
is a female Japanese manga artist. She is widely known as the creator of Aria, which proved to be a best-selling hit, and was adapted into an anime television series consisting of 3 seasons and an OVA....
, Rin Asano, Mayumi Azuma
Mayumi Azuma
is a Japanese manga artist who is the creator of the now completed manga Elemental Gelade, which finished with eighteen volumes and was adapted into a 26-episode television anime series, and its ongoing spinoff manga Elemental Gelade: Flag of Blue Sky...
, Nanae Chrono, Moyamu Fujino
Moyamu Fujino
Moyamu Fujino is a female Japanese manga artist.-Works:*Ano Himita Sakura*Hakobune Hakusho*Hitosaki no Hana*Ima, Naguri ni Yukimasu*Boukyaku no Cradle*Kenja no Nagaki Fuzai - The First King Adventure...
, Maki Hakoda, Sakura Kinoshita
Sakura Kinoshita
is a Japanese manga artist. She's most famous for two of her works: Matantei Loki Ragnarok and Tactics .One of her characters in Loki has a very similar name to her Tactics co-author's .-References:...
, Satomi Kubo, Hiro Matsuba, Minene Sakurano
Minene Sakurano
is the pen name of a Japanese manga artist born on November 29 in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.Sakurano made her debut in 1995 with her story Mother Doll, which tied for first place in the 1st Enix 21st Century Manga Prize contest, sharing the prize with Yasaka Mamiko's Kaze no Daidōzoku...
, Kazusa Saitou, Kaili Sorano, Seiuchirou Todono, Sirou Tunasima, and Natsuki Yoshimura.
Published magazines
Active- Monthly Comic Blade
- Monthly Comic Avarus
- EDEN
- Blade+
- Web Comic Beat's
Hiatus
- Comic Blade BrownieComic Blade Brownieis a special Japanese spin-off magazine of Monthly Comic Blade published by Mag Garden that will feature both shōnen manga and shōjo manga, aiming at both boys and girls. The first issue was released on December 10, 2008...
Discontinued
- Comic Blade MasamuneComic Blade Masamunewas a bi-monthly Japanese shōnen manga magazine published by Mag Garden that contains manga and information about those series. It began in December 2002 and ceased publication on June 15, 2007, to be revamped as a new magazine called Comic Blade Avarus....
- Comic Blade Gunz
- Comic Blade Zebel