Tokyopop says ‘ja’ to Germany and expands its deal with Disney

L.A.-based manga publisher Tokyopop has launched a German-based division dedicated to building the market for German-language manga, and former Carlsen Comics Manga Publishing director Joachim Kaps is running the show. Plans are in the works to release 10 German manga titles in October, with 10 more to follow each month until 2006 – at which point Tokyopop intends to boost monthly production to 20 releases. The company has also debuted the first titles from its expanded ciné-manga license with Disney Publishing Worldwide. A full-color Lilo & Stitch book that incorporates images from the movie launched last month and will be followed by titles based on That’s So Raven, Princess Diaries 2 and The Incredibles later this year.

Pixter platform goes to school

Fisher-Price is expanding the software lineup of its Pixter handheld creative device for preschoolers. The new Pixter Color titles (US$19.99 each) take the system’s capabilities beyond drawing to include academic learning and more than 50 fundamental skills. Educational games and activities featuring characters including SpongeBob SquarePants, Clifford the Big Red Dog and Jimmy Neutron, focusing on phonics, reading, writing, math and geography, will land at retail in July.