Editorial staff allegedly neglected to seek approval, permission, and oversight from the original creator for various actions
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© Rumiwo Sakaki, Suzu Enoshima, Kadokawa, J-Novel Club
The official X (formerly Twitter) of Kadokawa's B's-LOG COMIC digital manga magazine revealed more details on Wednesday about the abrupt cancellation of the manga adaptation of Suzu Enoshima's Endo and Kobayashi Live! The latest information on the Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte (Tsundere Akuyaku Reijō Lieselotte to Jikkyō no Endō-kun to Kaisetsu no Kobayashi-san) light novel series explains that the editorial staff's various actions resulted in a breach of trust between the editorial staff and the original author (Enoshima).
The announcement explained that there were issues with vertical scrolling versions of the manga being uploaded without proper supervision and licensing, lack of supervision from the original author regarding approval of compiled book volumes and special bonus merchandise, and frequent delays in communication with the original author, all of which caused manga creator Sakaki to temporarily halt drawing their manga. The editorial team also admitted to leaking information regarding the franchise's mixed media plans, which ultimately led to Enoshima terminating the licensing contract around late April earlier this year.
B's-LOG COMIC's editorial staff then attempted to secure Enoshima's release by replacing the staff and offering a deadline for Sakaki to submit all remaining storyboards up to the final chapter of the manga, which Enoshima initially agreed to. However, Sakaki suffered from health problems and was unable to meet the storyboard deadline. Enoshima also began to experience some health problems, which made it difficult to extend the deadline and eventually led to the termination of the licensing agreement.
The manga currently has seven volumes that will be available while supplies last, but publisher Kadokawa has no plans to reprint the manga. Furthermore, Kadokawa could not comment on the continued availability of the digital, vertical-scrolling, and overseas translated versions of the manga, but will make an announcement as soon as possible.
The editorial staff reiterated that they take full responsibility for the manga's sudden cancellation.
In a post on their X/Twitter account, Sakaki also apologized to manga fans, agreeing with B's-LOG COMIC editorial staff's explanation on the matter and encouraging manga fans to read the original novels.
J-Novel Club is publishing both the original novel by Suzu Enoshima and the manga adaptation by Rumiwo Sakaki in English. J-Novel Club describes the manga:
One day, Crown Prince Sieg suddenly hears the Voice of the Gods. Apparently, his fiancée Lieselotte is a “tsun de rais” villainess destined to die… and her sharp tongue is just a way to cover up her shame. The prince can hardly contain himself after discovering Lieselotte’s adorable side. Little does he know, the gods who bestowed him this knowledge are actually high school students! Can he use their divine prophecy (play commentary) to save his fiancée and avoid the Bad End?!
Sakaki launched the manga in B's-LOG COMIC in June 2019.
Enoshima serialized the manga on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website from August to November 2018. Kadokawa published the first printed volume of the manga in April 2019 with illustrations by Eihi, and released the third and final volume in December 2022. Enoshima published a side story on Kadokawa's Kakuyomu website in December 2019 and removed the original story from Shōsetsuka ni Narō.
Source: B's-LOG COMIC X/Twitter account, Rumiwo Sakaki's X/Twitter account
Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation, is the majority owner of Anime News Network, LLC. One or more companies mentioned in this article are part of the Kadokawa Group of Companies.
