Doraemon's 57-Year Legacy Concludes: A New Era for Manga Serialization
On the SNS platform "X" (formerly Twitter), posts surrounding "manga serialization" are buzzing, reflecting a crossroads between the end of long-standing legacies and the anticipation for new talent.
A particularly hot topic is the news that the magazine serialization of the beloved national manga, Doraemon, will conclude this fiscal year. Its serialization began in 1969, and even after its creator, Fujiko F. Fujio, passed away in 1996, the series continued to be cherished by readers for an astonishing 57 years until April 2026. Many users are posting emotional comments regarding the end of this long-running work. Voices like, "To think that Doraemon's manga serialization would end within my lifetime... I guess no story truly lasts forever..." and posts recalling memories of reading CoroCoro Comic in their youth are appearing one after another, reaffirming the immense legacy of Doraemon spanning over half a century. On the other hand, there are also calls for the story to continue in different forms, such as "I want to believe that the Doraemon movie manga series will resume" or "I wish they'd serialize The Doraemons manga."
Meanwhile, in the manga industry, there's a growing demand for new serialization opportunities and high expectations for the next big hit. Some manga artists are announcing openings for serialization slots from next year onwards and inviting consultations for new projects. Users are also expressing expectations for specific works, such as "I wonder if a new Mario manga will be serialized after 'Mario-kun' ends?" and "I don't know when the next rugby manga will be serialized, but I'm looking forward to it again," which illustrates the readers' constant eagerness for new stories. There are also many joyful voices regarding the "resumption of S-class manga series," demonstrating the widespread excitement for returning serials.
Manga artists are also openly sharing their opinions on the challenges of maintaining a serialization and the changing production environment. Experiences like "It gets tough to keep a manga serialized as you get older" are shared, hinting at the extraordinary effort required to sustain long-running series. Additionally, some reflect on their past experiences with tight production schedules, stating, "If I had started a manga serialization, I might have just keeled over, which is scary," highlighting the significant burden carried by serialized artists. Furthermore, with the advancement of digitalization, there are mentions of changes in techniques, such as "When I see manga serialized online with only certain parts colored, I realize screentones are fading away." Concerns are also raised about the impact of online reputation and criticism on serialization activities, with comments like, "Serializing a manga on X (formerly Twitter) would just depress me, I couldn't do it 😡." However, a positive perspective is also expressed: "I feel like serializing a manga truly improves your fundamental skills. It's a complete power-leveling."
In the contemporary manga world, works across various genres are garnering reader support. Specific titles are mentioned, such as "Shangri-La Frontier (the manga serialization) has always been entertaining" and "Jump's One Piece, Magazine's Shangri-La Frontier, Sunday's Frieren – these are the big three," illustrating the strong presence of popular works on their respective platforms. Moreover, publishing platforms are diversifying. Beyond print media, web manga submission sites like "AlphaPolis" and even manga serializations on SNS platforms like TikTok and Instagram are increasing, attempting to reach new reader demographics. A post stating, "I've been able to continue a color manga serialization for nearly two years with zero manuscript fees," offers a glimpse into manga artists who continue their creative activities driven purely by passion.
The conclusion of a monumental serialization like Doraemon marks the end of an era, but it will simultaneously serve as a catalyst for the emergence of new talent and the diversification of expressive methods. While no story may last forever, the culture of manga and the human endeavor of continuously creating stories will undoubtedly persist, evolving in various forms. The lively discussions on SNS reflect the "now" of the manga world, currently undergoing dynamic changes.
The Context
Doraemon is one of Japan's most iconic and beloved manga and anime franchises, created by Fujiko F. Fujio. It features a blue robot cat from the 22nd century who travels back in time to help a lazy boy named Nobita. The series has been a cultural phenomenon in Japan for generations, influencing countless children and adults alike. Its magazine serialization, which began in 1969, has been an incredibly long-running staple, continuing even after the original creator's passing, a testament to its enduring popularity. The news of its conclusion is thus a significant event, marking the end of an era for many.
The article also mentions several key players and terms in the Japanese manga industry:
- CoroCoro Comic: A popular monthly manga magazine specifically aimed at elementary school boys, known for serializing many long-running and successful children's manga.
- Jump, Magazine, Sunday: These refer to Japan's three major weekly shonen (boys') manga magazines: Weekly Shonen Jump, Weekly Shonen Magazine, and Weekly Shonen Sunday. They are highly competitive platforms where aspiring and established manga artists aim to get their works serialized, with successful series often becoming global phenomena (e.g., One Piece in Jump, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End in Sunday, and Shangri-La Frontier in Magazine).
- AlphaPolis: A Japanese publishing company that also operates a popular web platform for user-generated web novels and web manga, providing an alternative avenue for creators to publish their work outside traditional magazines.
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