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Old 2009-09-24, 11:46   Link #801
LKK
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Yen Press has released a picture of the cover of their version of the first novel. They aren't going with the original cover art. Instead it's new art with a completely new design for Horo / Holo. Their news page announcing the cover art explains why they redid the cover art. Basically they feel that the new art will be more appealing to the general audience than the original manga-style art. For lovers of the original art, they will include a slip jacket featuring the original art in the December issue of Yen Plus (their monthly manga magazine). Picture of the new cover design can be seen here.
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Old 2009-09-24, 13:16   Link #802
wandering-dreamer
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Ehhh, I feel like with a cover like that I'm buying a porno (but it does seem to appeal to the darker themes that are currently selling well in American YA). Guess I'll snag their December magazine as well for the slip cover.
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Old 2009-09-24, 20:55   Link #803
judgment26
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I'm not sure I particularly like that cover...something about it just seems off. I guess it's because I'm looking at it from the perspective of an anime/manga fan, but it simply doesn't fit my expectation of what a light novel would have for a cover, although I admit that it would get one's attention. Then again, I wouldn't want to be caught reading or even carrying a book with such a cover in public...

I do like the title design though.
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Old 2009-09-24, 22:30   Link #804
Vexx
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LKK View Post
Yen Press has released a picture of the cover of their version of the first novel. They aren't going with the original cover art. Instead it's new art with a completely new design for Horo / Holo. Their news page announcing the cover art explains why they redid the cover art. Basically they feel that the new art will be more appealing to the general audience than the original manga-style art. For lovers of the original art, they will include a slip jacket featuring the original art in the December issue of Yen Plus (their monthly manga magazine). Picture of the new cover design can be seen here.
I'm more interested in what sort of discussions LED to that cover. The cover itself is kind of interesting in that it will fit well with the somewhat lurid covers of the adult fiction series (some of the vampire ones are way over the top) ..... so is that where they plan to market it? In the "oh manga is for kidz" section it won't fire so well, eh? I think I'd like to see them try to market it as a story for grownups though.... I think it'd do well. I'd especially love the shock when they find out it was an anime as well
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Old 2009-09-24, 23:05   Link #805
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That's horrible.
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Old 2009-09-25, 02:45   Link #806
kenshin-dono
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wow.. i was kinda excited about the light novels now that i started reading them on baka-tsuiki.. now im not. Thatys a horrible cover. i agree with wandering dreamer. It looks like the cover of some bad porno flick. Not good at all. If they want the fans to support this release theyre sure not off to a good start.

speaking of baka-tsuki. is it still being updated? looks like no update for months
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Old 2009-09-25, 11:02   Link #807
Vexx
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School and university has started... that always puts a crimp in fansubs or scanlations or whatever since many contributors are college students.
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Old 2009-09-25, 13:28   Link #808
kenshin-dono
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ah ok, i just wanted to make sure it hasn't been dropped =)
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Old 2009-09-25, 19:09   Link #809
Matt122005
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An article has been posted on a blog raising an important question, where is the novel's tagline?! http://ranobecafe.wordpress.com/2009...nd-wolf-novel/
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Old 2009-09-25, 19:22   Link #810
einhorn303
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And for those interesting in seeing some official company reaction to the cover's reception, Yen Press boss Kurt Hassler himself has posted on the AnimeOnDVD forum thread about it (beginning on page 6):

http://www.mania.com/aodvb/showthrea...t=95919&page=6
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Old 2009-09-25, 20:21   Link #811
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That cover is... wait... what the hell?

I mean I know nekkid -> profit but still...

"We think this design really captures Holo’s playful spirit in a way that will appeal to fantasy audiences." - read: "not wearing clothing" lol.

Okay so from a marketing standpoint, I understand what their trying to accomplish. If you want to make the light novel idea work you need to grow the market considerably, best way to do that is pick a similar market and steal some of those people. In this case its the usual fantasy crowd. It is an interesting and commendable idea to market the stories to a more mature / well established audience, but man is this the wrong way to do it. Your basing the move on the hope that people will look at the cover and go "OHH SHINY!", but what about when they flip open the first picture of ACTUAL Horo and go "WTF! I've been had!".

Eh they're right, it probably will take a lot to make this work over here. But is sex honestly the only way to give it a foot hold? And why the hell would you pick this series to use that tactic on... not a very good match.

"We'll definitely be exploring the possibilities. At the end of the day, we want people happy with their purchases, and having read the book, I can say that it would be a shame for a cover to keep anyone from adding it to their collection."
Kurt Hassler
Publishing Director
Yen Press

But banking on the cover being the reason to add it a collection is fine I guess. Unless the original cover was made available I probably wouldn't buy it... There is a poster on the mania forum that pretty much echos my thoughts... it just produced an immediate strong feeling of opposition. It could have been any other scene or shot of Horo done live, and I probably would have found it very well done... but not this.

Last edited by AKnightWhoSaysNi!; 2009-09-25 at 21:17.
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Old 2009-09-25, 20:43   Link #812
Matt122005
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Quote:
but what about when they flip open the first picture of ACTUAL Horo and go "WTF! I've been had!"
You very well might have just said what needed to have been said better than any one before you. lol XD

I lol'd hard.
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Old 2009-09-26, 00:28   Link #813
kenshin-dono
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lol word to that. Its a flashy cover that may get people to buy issue 1, but once they open it and read it and see what it is i seriously doubt they'll stick around. Hell they proably wont even buy it. Just open it up go "wtf?" close it and put it back.

Honestly while i love spice and wolf its hardly the right novel to try to do a 'break out' book that trys to cross the boundries. Some kinda action or fighting novel would be far better for that. Why just alienate both the fans and everyone else by screwing over both groups?

just seems dumb to me. Im with Knight i dont think i'll be buying this unfortunately. Maybe if they release a different cover later or change their mind i'll go for it. Im certainly not getting this, then buying their dumb magazine for a different cover to put on it myself. Why dont they do a reversable cover like they did with the Kenshin OVA DVDs?

its a real shame too ive been seriously enjoying the series. Its one of the few good ones ive seen since i got back into anime from my hiatus. I even threw together a SW avatar to replace the one i usually use on forums after a quick marathon catchup today =D I was kinda looking forward to the novels =(

Last edited by kenshin-dono; 2009-09-26 at 00:40.
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Old 2009-09-26, 04:15   Link #814
judgment26
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kenshin-dono View Post
wow.. i was kinda excited about the light novels now that i started reading them on baka-tsuiki.. now im not. Thatys a horrible cover. i agree with wandering dreamer. It looks like the cover of some bad porno flick. Not good at all. If they want the fans to support this release theyre sure not off to a good start.

speaking of baka-tsuki. is it still being updated? looks like no update for months
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Originally Posted by Vexx View Post
School and university has started... that always puts a crimp in fansubs or scanlations or whatever since many contributors are college students.
Actually, It's been updated recently. You just need to look in the right section (right now, it's Vol. 2 I'm working on).
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Old 2009-09-26, 16:32   Link #815
Matt122005
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Kenshin, seriously, that's not cool.

You are no friend to english light novels if you refuse to buy an english light novel because of a cover change. Seriously.

In these economic times it's far more smart of Yen Press to do this than to simply APPEASE fans.

Their arent enough fans who'd buy the novel in order to keep it profitable. So they naturally have to appeal to a wider audience.

Now true, I don't think this was the right cover to do it with, still, to not buy a work of literature that is good only because the cover is bad, is plain annoying and down right wrong.

Support the author and books, or else you arent a true fan. Simple as that.

Put aside your preferances and remember that what counts is the INSIDE part.

In these troubling financial times, can beggers really be choosers? Just be happy they actually still believe light novels can be succesful. Most publishers have given up all hope.

So please re-consider. Do it for Horo's sake. haha
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Old 2009-09-26, 20:40   Link #816
Kaguya
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Are inner illustrations also CG of the photographic style?
If it is so, I want to dare to buy it.
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Old 2009-09-26, 20:58   Link #817
einhorn303
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Originally Posted by Kaguya View Post
Are inner illustrations also CG of the photographic style?
If it is so, I want to dare to buy it.
No, the inside of the book is the same, only the cover is changed.
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Old 2009-09-26, 21:16   Link #818
Kaguya
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Too bad.
Thanks.
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Old 2009-09-27, 11:18   Link #819
wandering-dreamer
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AKnightWhoSaysNi! View Post
"We think this design really captures Holo’s playful spirit in a way that will appeal to fantasy audiences." - read: "not wearing clothing" lol.
I can say as a huge fantasy reader, probably in the demographic they are going for with that cover too, that it would scare the heck out of me. Looking at it I would be expecting a demon slasher fic or something, Horo looks part vampire in that picture (and apparently that's a real photo, must've been an interesting photo shoot).
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Old 2009-09-28, 14:23   Link #820
FTGT
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My first reactions to the cover (in this order):







I cant deny it. I have to say I like the new cover. For me it is something fresh and somehow "unjaded". Dont get me wrong, I love the S&W anime/manga design, but this goes well on the shelf between my fantasy/SciFi novels as well.

Personally I dont see why this is "pornographic and tasteless". But I do admit that it could lead to the wrong conclusions. You would not necessarily expect an ambitious content for demanding fans of the fantasy genre with this cover.

Quote:
Originally Posted by kenshin-dono View Post
lol word to that. Its a flashy cover that may get people to buy issue 1, but once they open it and read it and see what it is i seriously doubt they'll stick around. Hell they proably wont even buy it. Just open it up go "wtf?" close it and put it back.
I agree. But then at least the first volume got more attention than it would have had with the "normal" cover.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt122005 View Post
...
In these economic times it's far more smart of Yen Press to do this than to simply APPEASE fans.

Their arent enough fans who'd buy the novel in order to keep it profitable. So they naturally have to appeal to a wider audience.

Now true, I don't think this was the right cover to do it with, still, to not buy a work of literature that is good only because the cover is bad, is plain annoying and down right wrong.
QFT. Thats the spirit!

Dont judge a book by its cover, folks. You know its good!


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Originally Posted by judgment26 View Post
Actually, It's been updated recently. You just need to look in the right section (right now, it's Vol. 2 I'm working on).
My hero
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