Orange Inc., a manga startup focused on delivering English-translated digital manga (not to be confused with animation studio Orange), announced the launch of emaqi, a new digital manga store in North America. Fans in the US and Canada will be able to use the platform on both web and mobile, with approximately 6,000 volumes of manga from 13 publishers available at launch.
Some of their partners include SHONENGAHOSHA CO., LTD., Futabasha Publishers Ltd., and Akita Publishing Co., Ltd., and they’ve also acquired distribution rights from Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC. In addition to popular titles, emaqi will feature translations of works that have not yet been released in English, and they have plans to introduce at least one previously unpublished English title every week.
Regarding translation, Orange Inc. shares that their in-house studio, Studio Mikan, will leverage AI-assisted translation to support its team of approximately 20 human translators. While AI will be used to enhance efficiency, “Orange Inc. is committed to maintaining the authenticity of the content, with no more than 10 percent of the content translated using AI at launch.” They claim that their goal is to balance speed and quality, and that each title’s original essence will be retained through the efforts of translators, letterers, reviewers, and designers.
They also partnered with Shueisha Inc., with the deal allowing them to localize ‘most’ of the one-shots from Shonen Jump+. These one-shots will be available simultaneously on both emaqi and MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA, and they plan to release those multiple times a week for free. This move comes a few days after MANGA Plus recently announced that it will be adding all Shonen Jump+ one-shots to its platform starting in September.
Shoko Ugaki, CEO and founder of Orange Inc., said about the launch: “We are passionate manga fans ourselves and are dedicated to delivering diverse and unique manga to readers every day, everywhere. We’re also very honored to partner with Shueisha Inc. to bring something truly special to fans in North America. The one-shot manga series, released in tandem with the launch of our emaqi digital store, reflects our commitment to making manga a part of everyday life for readers across the continent.”
Their launch lineup features numerous newly released English titles, including:
Donketsu (SHONENGAHOSHA CO., LTD.) — A thrilling yakuza manga following an outlaw’s chaotic journey through society.
Anjo the Mischievous Gal (SHONENGAHOSHA CO., LTD.) — A heart-pounding adolescent romantic comedy about a diligent boy and a trendy gal.
Even If You Don’t Do It (Futabasha Publishers Ltd.) — A realistic portrayal of the psychological struggles in sexless marriages.
KIMONGAI -City of Demons- (SHONENGAHOSHA CO., LTD.) — A battle-action manga depicting a man’s epic struggle after gaining immense power at the cost of his soul.
The Morning After (SHONENGAHOSHA CO., LTD.) — A collection of bittersweet gourmet love tales shared over special breakfasts.
TOKYO GIRL (SHONENGAHOSHA CO., LTD.) — A short omnibus comic featuring adults struggling with their true feelings in Tokyo.
Orange Inc. plans to introduce new features to emaqi, including personalized recommendations and curated content by manga enthusiasts. The company is also considering the launch of an emaqi mobile app next year. For more details and your own look at the platform, you can visit the official website.
Source: Press Release
©Orange Inc.
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