Akashic Records of Bastard Magic Instructor

Korppi

@jon-mitchell said in Akashic Records of Bastard Magic Instructor:

I suppose if the LN is on hiatus/ abandoned at YEN, JNC could pick it up (in theory) - JNC might want to tweak the extant volumes and re-release starting from volume 1-to keep editorial/artistic choices consistent (honorifics, localizations, etc.) going forward. With the current Kadokawa/JNC partnership this might actually be feasible. I enjoyed the anime - would be a fun LN- the question is (as it always is) will it sell? Yen must've stopped translations for a reason

? The light novels aren't licensed in English, manga is but by Seven Seas, Yen's got nothing to do with any of this, other than the fact the property belongs to their parent Kadokawa. Also, nothing is on hiatus, SS released last English manga volume(volume 11) in March, and back in Japan both the novel and manga are still very much ongoing(volume 18 of the light novel came out in December 2020, and volume 15 of the manga came out March 2021).

So, what are you talking about here??

That said, I VERY MUCH would like someone, anyone, to license this(well, perhaps not Slow Press...)

Jon Mitchell

@korppi
apologies - I was confusing the spin off/ the Manga and SS vs. Yen

what a mess -

akashicwiki

No worries boys, it happens.

Here's what we know about the series atm.

Light Novels?
-> Japanese? Yes (Duh)

-> English? Nothing, no one ever picked up the series ever.

-> Literally any other language? Kind of, it's in Korean if I recall.

Manga?
-> Japanese? Yes, ongoing. V15 was out on March 26th this year (2021), with V16 likely out later this year after they have enough monthly chapters to publish into a volume.

-> English? Yes, V12 supposedly out this July/August, and V13 in 2022 (According to certain listings on other book websites, to be finalized/confirmed)

Will it sell?
Very good question.

...honestly, I can't really see it unless it has something tagging along with it.

Given the pattern of many LN series being released alongside their ongoing anime adaptations at the same time, it's definitely an uphill hell if they were to only localize it w/o anything else to support the English release.

But, that would be the dream I suppose. inb4 they actually announce something else to tag along with Gallery Records out next month.

Granted, they are doing something with the IP in Japan atm, the first time in years interestingly enough, one can only hope to be honest.

There's a lot of good stuff lost in translation/adaptation. D:

Eternal Wanderer

I kinda wonder if the one of the reason's this series hasn't been licensed is because it has a dedicated fan translation. Sam has mentioned in the past that if a series fan translation is too ingrained into the community then that negatively effects the chances of him licensing a series, maybe that's the case here.

akashicwiki

@eternal-wanderer I wonder about that actually, given that the history of FTLs for this one series has exchanged hands so many times, it gets...weird.

The first team, yunS dropped it around the start of Volume 4, Chapter 1 (About 2 chapters in, leaving Volume 5 in the dust).

The 2nd team, Noblesse Oblige Translations, stalled it at Volume 7, Chapter 3, which apparently had to do with the translator being busy with college and stuff. (Or, that's how the story goes, from what we dug up.)

Currently, Transmythicalation's been working on the series since 2019, from V7 to V10, albeit on a slow steady pace.

All that said, out of the first 10 Volumes so far, only V4 and V5 are not translated.

Interestingly, all of them have some level of actively pushing folks to support the official release even during their FTL days, which more or less indicates that, yes, they too would love to see it officially released in some capacity.

On one hand, I can see the backlash of an official release.

On the other hand, given how the series is like so obscure to the point that the community, although 'growing', it's still piss small compared to the legions of followers other series have.

If anything, an official EN release is more beneficial since it'll give the series more attention than it's gotten over the last few years since the anime ended. Way more coverage than what the niche fanbase can ever provide.

Ideally, releasing a volume from where the anime left off could be a neat idea, since at least then there's an interesting hook to get people looking at the series. Or alternatively, just release the first volume with the ongoing volume from where the anime left off, which would be Volume 6 in this case.

It worked with certain Children's Card Games when it went to the West. coughBushiroadcough

TL;DR, the FTLs exist, but big doubt the small fanbase will be that pissed off given how it's so small to the point that, there's barely any push from anyone in the fanbase to get outside folks to check it out.

akashicwiki

State of the series, May 19, 2021

So, not much to update here other than next month's upcoming releases, both released on June 18th.

-> Volume 19 (Light Novel)

spoiler

-> Gallery Records Volume 1

Series Art Book! :D
Features Illustrations from V1 to V12, the 2017 anime & other illustrations!
Includes short stories written by the author for the art book!

In celebration of Gallery Records out precisely next month, the Discord's running a stream for an opening for it. Hop on in if yalls got an interest.

Unconfirmed releases for 2021.

Gallery Records Volume 2 - Slated for 2021, final release date to be announced later. Carries with it the other illustration works not included in Volume 1.
Manga Volume 16 - Reaching a point where they will have enough chapters for a volume again.
Manga Volume 12 (English) - Unconfirmed, but leaked listings on Amazon & other book sites indicate July 26.
Memory Records Volume 9 - Same as Manga Volume 16, pending an official announcement.

akashicwiki

Welp. This just got announced.

Looks like the Manga will be wrapping up by Volume 10 of the Light Novel by next month.

...that's, unfortunate. D;

On the bright side, there is stuff being released next month for the series. More on this a bit later.

akashicwiki

The Cover Page for V19 is out! ;D

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...well, this is...awkward to explain. .-.

...for those who are prolly gonna ask, 'wot happened to the uniforms'? 🤔

Oh right, drop by the Reddit if you're looking for stuff to read/see about the series.

Or alternatively, the Discord to...Discordver more secrets. ;D

...Also your ~~not~~ regularly scheduled State of the series, June 2021 will be coming later. D:

ARX7

Agreed, it would be great to have it translated

FireFistYK

Would love to see J-Novel pick this up, it has quiet a strong fanbase for a mid adaptation-wise anime

akashicwiki

10 days to go till Volume 19, and...the Twitter decided to pull a countdown for the Art Book? The heck?

This is weird, because they've never done this for any previous releases for the series before.

Makes you wonder. 🤔

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Source: https://twitter.com/rokudenashi_tv/status/1402098056300961792

akashicwiki

3 days left to the release of V19 and Gallery Records (Which they called Reminisce Paintings for some reason), ho boy a flurry of images to drop here.

And some links. Spoilers for the Trial version by the way. .-.

Also, Gallery Records is available in E-Book too! Surprisingly! It's worth the pickup if you're up for just illustrations, and technically cheaper than god knows how many volumes of LNs.

Link (Volume 19 Trial Version)

Link (Gallery Records Volume 1)

spoiler

Sources for the images,

Day 2: https://twitter.com/rokudenashi_tv/status/1402460442916802561
Day 3: https://twitter.com/rokudenashi_tv/status/1402822831344275460
Day 4: https://twitter.com/rokudenashi_tv/status/1403185218614300676
Day 5: https://twitter.com/rokudenashi_tv/status/1403547608820248577
Day 6: https://twitter.com/rokudenashi_tv/status/1403910000645492740
Day 7: https://twitter.com/rokudenashi_tv/status/1404272384287199233
Day 8: https://twitter.com/rokudenashi_tv/status/1404634773436260355

akashicwiki

1 week after the release of V19, and here's a quick rundown of news yall missed.

spoiler

1, V19 (Supposedly, the listing just says the series name. D:) is the 5th best selling LN of the week! Which is surprising. :0 (Source)

2, Gallery Records (The Art Book) is sitting pretty as the #1 over at the Art Book section of BookWalker (Yes, I know, ew, Bookwalker), which is also good news. ;D

3, Here's some interesting developments that happened in the leadup to V19's release.

Basically, a lot of...weird (Not really?) behaviors from Japan's end.

3-1, For some reason, a sizable amount of merch was pushed alongside the release of V19 & Gallery Records. A few notes,

Merch is nothing new, but what makes this eyebrow raising is how this was the first bit of push seen for the series in awhile. Beyond the obligatory social media buzz of "New Volume out this week, look forward to it.", it's interesting how there's merch to go along with this very specific release.
The previous LN volume never got any hardcore Merch push to go alongside its release. If we had to bet, the last time was likely during the anime broadcast in 2017, for whichever volumes that benefitted from that.

3-2, Ameba TV, a streaming service from Japan just announced they'll be airing the anime again on their platform.

The series beings airing on June 21st, as announced/teased first on June 15th.
Ameba TV was one of the original broadcasters for the 2017 anime.
This was the first bit of promotional content for the series in 3-4ish years.

3-3, the developments above continue off of some stuff Japan's been pushing for the series since 2020, in an official capacity.

Last year, the first announced a still figure for Rumia, the result of her being voted as #1 for the post anime broadcast polls. This was the first bit of figure merch since 2017.
The return of the main cast (4 of the 6) for Fujimi Shobo's mobile game Fantasia Re:Build marks the first time the VAs have done any work for the series since the anime.
On that note about Re:Build, it also features a Voice Actress casted for a character that was not from the anime...who was revealed just earlier this year. o.o

TL;DR

New volume & art book doing surprisingly well.

Japan's doing stuff again.

BIG DOUBT it'll lead to an animation project.

If anything, it's just good news and interesting things happening for the series at the moment.

The bigger priority now is still pushing for the Light Novels to English first is the bigger priority, however we can I suppose.

akashicwiki

We're back!

Insert tumbleweed here

Yeah...that adds up, we are talking to a wasteland of a forum. ._.

Anyways, news updates for the release of Gallery Records Volume 2! :D

As per usual, daily dose of countdown pics. ;D

spoiler

Sources for the images,

2, Gallery Records Volume 2 is out tonight! (August 20th), which features the remaining illustrations from the series, such as:

-> Illustrations from Volumes 13 to 18
-> Memory Records Volumes 1 to 8
-> Other various works etc

3, Aaaaaand that's about it. ._.

Granted, there's no V19 released alongside it so, there's no big fanfare like last time.

Though, again as usual. Getting the series to English is priority #1, and frankly the only move that makes sense to do now.

...maybe we should do a 'Days since this was suggested' headcount thing.

Or a bot that asks if the series is licensed in English yet. ._.

Oh right. There's plans for a stream for Volume 2 when it's out, come on down! :D

akashicwiki

Seems like Memory Records Volume 9 will be released this October 20th.

If we had to guess, this may be foreshadowing the plot points for Volume 20 that'll probably be out next year.

Cover page for Memory Records Volume 9 to be updated.

As for the plot...well...

spoiler

Source: https://store.kadokawa.co.jp/shop/g/g322106000766/

akashicwiki

Cover page for Memory Records Volume 9 is out!

As for the plot...well...

spoiler

...also, starting to wonder if we should start a "Days since Akashic Records is not licensed yet." counter/bot. .-.

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Source: https://fantasiabunko.jp/product/201411rokudenashi/322106000766.html

akashicwiki

Semi-related update.

The madlads of J-Novel Club got Taro Hituji's other series under their wing now! ;D

Source

Even if you don't follow this series, here is one anecdote.

spoiler

Here's hoping this kicks the door down to actually get Akashic Records rolling in J-Novel's hands. (☞ﾟヮﾟ)☞

Oh right, also uh. Volume 20's draft is apparently done, according to the author.

News of it should come up by the new year.

akashicwiki

Volume 20 release date confirmed for February 19th, 2022.

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Interestingly, the time between the last main plot volume (Akashic Records) is about 8-months.

...the last time this happened, it was around the time an anime project was announced...NO.

NO. DON'T GIVE US HOPE. (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

In addition, this is the first volume since V17 where it's not released alongside the author's other series, Magic Knight of the Old Ways, in Japan. (Officially licensed by J-Novel Club today, go check it out. (☞ﾟヮﾟ)☞)

VoidEX

rumia need more love.

akashicwiki

Volume 20's cover page is a go! :D

...well this is complicated.

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