Today we have lots of news to touch on - make sure to stay till the end to hear about an exclusive anime event bingemonster & agreenqueen will be attending this year! American Manga Awards Presented by: LeftField Media, the creators and organizers of Anime NYC, and [Japan Society](https://japansociety.org/), a leading non-profit organization connecting Japanese arts, culture, language, business, and society with audiences in New York and worldwide since 1907. Categories: - Mangaka Hall of Fame - Manga Publishing Hall of Fame - Best New Manga - Best Continuing Manga Series - Best New Edition of Classic Manga (before 2004) - Best Translation - Best Lettering - Best Publication Design (including cover page and outer design) Judges: - Pre-selected industry professionals including manga translators, designers, editors, librarians, and authors. - Additional qualified individuals can apply to be judges. Award Process: - Submission: Publishers submit their manga for consideration, with a limit of up to three titles per category. - Judging: Judges review all submissions and announce winners the night before AnimeNYC, on August 22nd, at an invite-only event. North Korea Involved in Anime Production Context: The producers of *Dahlia in Bloom*, an upcoming isekai romance anime, released a statement addressing a report that North Korean animation studio SEK Studio/April 26 Animation Studio worked on the series. What Happened: - Initially, Typhoon Graphics (*Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion*) was commissioned to produce the anime. - Typhoon Graphics outsourced parts to Chinese production companies. - One Chinese company allegedly outsourced work to a North Korean studio. - Following the allegations, the producers requested a list of all animation studios involved. - One Chinese studio refused to comply with the audit. - The production committee concluded there might be North Korean involvement and decided to re-produce all relevant parts with domestic staff before broadcasting. Industry Insight: The anime industry heavily relies on outsourcing and freelance work, with only 47.3% of [animators in Japan being permanent/in-house employees](https://www.cbr.com/anime-kingdom-director-why-no-stable-job-reveal/), according to a JAniCA survey. Jujutsu Kaisen Enters Temporary Hiatus Over Serious Author Health Concerns Context: Several other popular manga series have faced similar issues, including: - Hunter X Hunter - Tower of God - Hellsing (Prequel) - Vagabond Attack on Titan Musical Event Details: Dates: October 11th-13th Location: NYC Center Note: This is the only show in the US, with no tickets available for other cities. Additional Resources: - [Attack on Titan Musical Announcement](https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2024/5/29/attack-on-titan-the-musical-crunchyroll-presale) - [Attack on Titan the Musical Trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSijVnb2ogg&t=80s)