New Series by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata Confirmed to Be “Platinum End”

New Series by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata Confirmed to Be “Platinum End”

After three years, the tag team that brought to the world the two consecutive hits Death Note and Bakuman is getting back together. On Sept. 28, Shueisha revealed that serialization of a new work authored by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata titled Platinum End will begin serialization in its monthly manga magazine Jump Square.

This announcement was published in Issue 44 of Weekly Shonen Jump on sale Sept. 28. Platinum End will begin its serialization in the December issue of Jump Square on sale Nov. 4. A digital version will also be available the same day as the paper version.

The serialization of Death Note in 2003 in Weekly Shonen Jump was the first for the tag team of Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. With its elaborate story and the novel idea of the Death Note which “granted death to all whose names were written in it,” the series became a massive hit overnight. The total number of copies in print for the series surpasses 30 million. Its popularity spread overseas where it became known as one of the standout Japanese manga of the ’00s. After that it was adapted into various other media including anime and a live-action movie. Its popularity isn’t slowing down either - there’s a currently broadcasting TV drama that started in July and Death Note 2016 (tentative title) is slated to be released next year.

A little over a year after the serialization of Death Note ended, Bakuman began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump in summer 2008. In a dramatic switch from their previous work, the series has a light touch and depicts the growth of a tag team of two young boys, Moritaka Mashiro and Akito Takagi, who want to become manga artists. The series became a hit and surpassed 15 million copies in print. It too was adapted into an anime, and the live-action movie Bakuman is set to be released in Japanese theaters on Oct. 3.

At present, these are the only two series that Ohba and Obata have created together. Since the style of both differs so dramatically, it’s hard to predict what their third work, Platinum End, will be like. According to what has been released thus far about the story, it will depict young boy Mirai Kakehashi who has just graduated from middle school. He is said to be a boy who “does not seek out hope to live.” The series will also be “the story of a human and an angel.” Don’t miss this first work in three years from Ohba and Obata.

■ Comment from Tsugumi Ohba:
“This is the first series with Obata-sensei in a long while so I’m really nervous, but I’ll give it my best.”

■ Comment from Takeshi Obata:
“It’s exciting to be serialized in SQ. I’ll be pushing myself to the limit, so I look forward to your support.”

Platinum End is also gaining attention for the fact that, in contrast with the previous two series which were both serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump,it will be serialized in Jump Square. Launched in November 2011, Jump Square publishes genre-crossing series that go on to be expanded into a mix of media including anime and games, stage plays, light novels, and more. It seems we can expect similar media expansion from Platinum End as well.

Beginning with the premiere of Premium End in the December issue, a digital version of Jump Square will be available on the same day as the paper version. This tactic has already been picked up by Weekly Shonen Jump, and now Jump Square is following suit. With big titles also beginning in the digital version at the same time, the service is bound to gain momentum.

Platinum End
Serialized in: Monthly comic magazine Jump Square
Debut Issue: December 2015, on sale Wednesday, Nov. 4 (Digital version releases the same day)
Author: Tsugumi Ohba
Illustrator: Takeshi Obata
© Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata / Shueisha Inc.

Jump Square Web Site

Source: animeanime

Platinum End  © Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata / Shueisha Inc.
*Platinum End*  © Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata / Shueisha Inc.

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