Japanese news outlet Jisin reports that Shueisha has pulled the one-shot manga Sayonara Wonder Rabbit by Yuki Komuro from its Tonari no Young Jump website following calls that it plagiarized the 2017 movie Brigsby Bear. The manga, released on November 22, drew numerous comparisons to the film for its plot points, prompting Jisin to contact Shueisha’s editorial department. It received the following response which is also available on its official blog:
“Thank you very much for your continued support of ‘Tonari no Young Jump.’ We have received a variety of feedback regarding the special one-shot ‘Sayonara Wonder Rabbit,’ which was published on Friday, November 22nd in ‘Tonari no Young Jump’ and the manga app ‘Young Jump!’ In response to these comments, we held discussions and determined that the work in question had not been sufficiently checked within the editorial department before being distributed, and as of today, we have removed it from publication. We look forward to your continued support of ‘Tonari no Young Jump.'”
Some of the comments under Tonari no Young Jump’s X (formerly Twitter) following the initial publication included:
- “Sorry, as others have said, the setting, the props (stars with faces, costume designs, characters in the play within the play), and the faces of the characters are too similar to the movie. 💦 If you took the ideas from Brigsby Bear, please state that. It’s my favorite movie, so I’d be sad if people thought it was a spontaneous idea. Thank you.
- This movie completely rips off the story and character design from a movie called Brigsby Bear. Is that okay?
- It’s so inspired by Brigsby Bear that it could be called a rip-off.
- Is the one-shot “Sayonara Wonder Rabbit” a comic adaptation of the movie Brigsby Bear? There are so many similarities between the movie and the plot and characters that it doesn’t seem like an original work…?
Sayonara Wonder Rabbit was written by the young mangaka, Yuki Komuro, born 1998 in Sendai, Japan. Jisin reports that the plot centers around the reclusive girl, Luna, who has loved the TV show Wonder Rabbit since childhood. After losing her family in an accident, she moves in with a friend’s family and discovers that her parents made the show specifically for Luna.
Meanwhile, a summary of Brigsby Bear, distributed by Sony Pictures Classics, centers on James, a superfan of the goofy kids’ show Brigsby Bear. He’s grown up with this fantasy series from childhood, which grows more complex as he ages. James actually lives in a bunker with his overprotective parents, who tell him the outside world is dangerous, resulting in him being ill-equipped for when he eventually leaves. After the bunker is raided and his parents are arrested for child abuse, he learns that his parents abducted him as a baby. Soon after, the Brigsby Bear series is canceled. Motivated to keep it going, Ted makes a film sequel, building meaningful connections with friends and family, reconciling with his abductee parents, and receiving a standing ovation for his film in the end.
Naturally, the film and manga share plot points, animal mascots (Brigsby Bear, Wonder Rabbit), and Luna also decides to make a sequel to Wonder Bear with her friends. Komuro is yet to comment on Twitter. The mangaka has created several successful manga one-shots, including Reaper’s Hotel for Monthly Ultra Jump and Shueisha Ultra Comic Award winners: Evil Siblings, Vampire Family, and Demon’s Hotel. Tonari no Young Jump is a seinen publication, which has published works such as Choujin X by Tokyo Ghoul creator Sui Ishida, Kou Iu no ga Ii, One Punch Man, Akebi’s Sailor Uniform, and more.
Source: Jisin, Tonari no Young Jump blog
Featured image © Yuki Komuro / Shueisha, © ONE, Yusuke Murata / SHUEISHA, © 2021 by Sui Ishida/SHUEISHA Inc.
© 2017 Sony Pictures Classics
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