8-Bit Manga

Kadokawa’s Madara, or, The Gameic Media Mix

Abstract

I would like to take the liberty of opening this article in this important journal special issue on the “Geemu et/and media mix” with a reflection on the title of my 2012 book, whose subject in many ways intersects with that of this special issue: Anime’s Media Mix: Franchising Characters and Toys in Japan. There have been quite valid questions raised around the first part of the title: why anime’s media mix? This is something I struggled with myself during the writing of this book, and developed several answers to within the book itself, as well as since its publication.