Smuggler (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Shohei Manabe. It was serialized in Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon from May 2000 to August 2000 and published in a single volume. A live-action film adaptation was released in October 2011.
| Smuggler | |
 Cover of the volume | |
| Genre | Crime,[1] suspense[2] |
|---|---|
| Manga | |
| Written by | Shohei Manabe |
| Published by | Kodansha |
| English publisher |
|
| Imprint | Afternoon KC |
| Magazine | Monthly Afternoon |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Original run | May 2000 – August 2000 |
| Volumes | 1 |
| Live-action film | |
| Directed by | Katsuhito Ishii |
| Licensed by | Funimation |
| Released | October 22, 2011 |
Production
editManabe took inspiration from the works of filmmaker Quentin Tarantino in the making of the series.[3]
Media
editManga
editWritten and illustrated by Shohei Manabe, the series began serialization in Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon in May 2000; it completed its serialization in August 2000.[4] Its chapters were collected into a single tankōbon volume, which was released on August 21, 2000.[5] A one-shot prequel was released in August 2011.[6]
In August 2005, Tokyopop announced that they licensed the series for English publication.[7] After Tokyopop ceased publishing the series, it was licensed by One Peace Books in March 2013.[8]
Film
editA live-action film adaptation was announced in October 2010.[9] Directed by Katsuhito Ishii and starring Satoshi Tsumabuki, the film was released on October 22, 2011.[10] A spin-off drama for mobile devices was released on October 7, 2011.[10]
In March 2012, Cinema Asia Releasing announced that they licensed the film for international distribution.[11] However, in January 2014 Funimation and Giant Ape Media announced that they licensed the film. They released the film on DVD on April 1, 2014.[12]
Reception
editKen Haley from Pop Culture Shock praised the story and characters, though felt the art in the early portion of the series was ugly and amateurish.[1] In Manga: The Complete Guide, writer Jason Thompson praised the artwork as realistic and the story as "well-written [and] tightly plotted".[2]
References
edit- ^ a b Dacey, Katherine; Haley, Ken; Finnegan, Erin (November 30, 2007). "Manga Minis, November 2007". Pop Culture Shock. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ a b Thompson, Jason (July 3, 2012). Manga: The Complete Guide (Google Play Books). Del Rey Books. pp. 1143–1144. ISBN 978-0-345-53944-1.
- ^ 真鍋昌平が石井克人と対談、実写「スマグラー」に興奮. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. October 21, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ 真鍋昌平「SMUGGLER」映画に妻夫木聡、監督は石井克人. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. November 25, 2010. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ "ＳＭＵＧＧＬＥＲ" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ Sherman, Jennifer (August 25, 2011). "Smuggler Manga 1-Shot Published Before Film's Opening". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ Macdonald, Christopher (August 9, 2005). "Tokyopop Licenses Smuggler". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ Ressler, Karen (March 4, 2013). "One Peace Books Adds Ichiya Sazanami's Black Bard, Shohei Manabe's Smuggler Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ Loo, Egan (October 24, 2010). "Shohei Manabe's Smuggler Crime Manga Gets Film". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ a b Sherman, Jennifer (October 5, 2011). "Manga-Based Smuggler Film Gets Spinoff Mobile Drama". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ Grace, Kimberly (March 21, 2012). "Cinema Asia Releasing Adds Live-Action Smuggler Film". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ Loveridge, Lynzee (January 25, 2014). "Funimation Offers Live-Action Smuggler Film on DVD". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
External links
edit- Official website (in Japanese)
- Smuggler (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Smuggler at IMDb