Comic Party
| Comic Party | |
 | |
| Anime | |
| Directed by | Norihiko Sudo |
|---|---|
| Studio | KSS inc |
Comic Party (こみっくパーティー, Komikku Pātī, 1999), sometimes abbreviated ComiPa, is a visual novel by the Japanese game studio Leaf. (More recently, Leaf's label seems to have been replaced with the label of its parent company, AQUAPLUS). The main focus of the game is the creation of various dōjinshi by the player's character, during which there are varied opportunities to interact with a cast of girls. This is known commonly as a girl-get game.
Comic Party is inspired from the real world event of Comiket (Comic Market) held in Tokyo each summer and winter. This is a convention where various artists gather together to share both parody, homage, and original work.
Comic Party has spawned both a manga (illustrated by Inui Sekihiko) and an anime series since its inception, as well as a Dreamcast version of the original PC game which added a new character (Subaru) and removed the pornographic elements (reverse-ported to Windows, that version is called "Comic Party DCE"). Many artbooks, figures, and fan-made homages have been produced for it.
The anime series is licensed in North America by Right Stuf International and the Sekihiko Inui's manga is licensed by TOKYOPOP. Comic Party Anthology Comic, a related manga originally published by Ohzora Publishing, is published by CPM under the title "Comic Party", which is a series of doujinshi anthologies featuring stories by independent mangaka set in the Comic Party universe.
A more recent anime series, Comic Party Revolution, came out in 2003.
The game was ported to the PSP as Comic Party Portable in December 29, 2005. Promotional videos show that the Comic Party Revolution character designs are used, rather than the original designs from the PC and Dreamcast games and the first anime series.
At Metrocon 2006, ADV Films announced they have acquired the North American distribution rights for Comic Party Revolution and will be using their own voice talent for the dub, meaning the cast will be different from the original series' dub.
Characters
- Kazuki Sendoh (千堂和樹, Sendō Kazuki) - The chief protagonist of this title. An indifferent student (in high school in the anime, in college in the manga), he has some talent as an artist and is persuaded to form the "Brother 2" doujinshi partnership with Taishi.
- Taishi Kuhonbutsu (九品仏大志, Kuhonbutsu Taishi) - The other half of "Brother 2", he is a typical otaku who sees the doujinshi concept as the leading pop-culture format of the 21st century. Grandiose in the expressions of his dreams, he takes charge of the logistical aspects of the partnership (paying registration fees, arranging printers, etc.), leaving the actual artwork to Kazuki.
- Mizuki Takase (高瀬瑞希, Takase Mizuki) - Kazuki's "set girlfriend". She's hostile and skeptical towards otaku and doujinshi, and is initially opposed to Kazuki's new activity. However, she's also torn by Kazuki's expressions of satisfaction with the doujinshi process, and worries that it leaves less time for them together.
- Yuu Inagawa (猪名川由宇, Inagawa Yū) - Kansai-speaking, passionate doujinshi enthusiast. Sole member of the doujin group "Kareimetei," she helps Taishi teach Kazuki about doujinshi publishing and comics exhibition.
- Eimi Ooba (大庭詠美, Ōba Eimi) - Yuu's rival and self-proclaimed "Queen of ComiPa". Her doujin group: "CAT OR FISH!!" She is fiercely competitive and proud of her doujinshi achievements.
- Aya Hasebe (長谷部彩, Hasebe Aya) - Quiet girl who doesn't sell much, her doujin group is "Jamming Book Store." Kazuki admires her artwork.
- Subaru Mikage - Miko fighter obsessed with hero stories, but terrible at creating doujin. Her group is "Sin-jyusyokakutei." She is not featured in the original OVA.
- Minami Makimura (牧村南, Makimura Minami) - Head staff of the Comic Party conventions.
- Chisa Tsukamoto (塚本千紗, Tsukamoto Chisa) - Often seen chasing a runaway cart, she works at her parents' printing shop, used by Brother 2 for their publishing. In the anime, she's a junior student at Kazuki's school. She's enthusiastic about printing doujinshi.
- Reiko Haga (芳賀玲子, Haga Reiko) - Cosplay enthusiast and promoter. In the manga, she teaches Mizuki about the nuances of cosplay.
- Asahi Sakurai (桜井あさひ, Sakurai Asahi) - Quiet anime and manga obsessor by day, famous idol singer by night. Taishi is the president of her local fan club. Like Subaru, Asahi is also not seen in the original anime.
- Ikumi Tachikawa (立川郁美, Ichikawa Ikumi) - Little girl, Kazuki's fan and first customer in CP OVA.
- Miho, Mayu, and Yuka - Three members of Reiko's cosplay fanclub
Noticeable Differences between the OVAs
Right Stuf did make some cultural changes in the Original dub, using American currency values in place of Japanese Yen ($1.00 instead of ¥100 although a coin of that value is clearly seen) and replacing the "Panda Onseniko" or "Hot Springs Panda" Eimi had for Yuu with "Stupid Panda". ADV Flims, however kept to the original for CPR.
Trivia
- Tiffany Grant , who voices Yuu for ADV Films in CPR, is actually close friends with fellow voice actress Lisa Ortiz, who coincidentally voiced both Chisa & Minami for Right Stuf International in the original.
- Since the series was inspired by Comiket, it comes as no surprise that the "Comic Party" convention also takes place in the same building as Comiket.
- In the first episode of the original OVA, Kazuki has a dream set in the world of To Heart, arguably AQUAPLUS' most famous franchise. Kazuki is cast in the role of Hiroyuki, and a number of other familiar characters appear, including Akari Kamigishi and LEAF mascot Multi.
Comics
The comic versions of Comic Party have been licensed to various parties. Known publishers included Media Works, KSS, Ichijinsha, Ohzora Publishing, Square Enix, Rapport, Enterbrain, Sony Magazines as publishers.
Media Works comics
- Comic Party - English version Published by Tokyopop.
KSS comics
- TV ANIMATION Comic Party - based on the TV show.
Ichijinsha comics
- Comic Party Comic Anthology
Ohzora Publishing comics
- Comic Party Anthology Comic - English version Published by CPM.
- heartful 4 coma Comic Party
Square Enix comics
- Comic Party
Rapport comics
- Game Comic Comic Party
Enterbrain comics
- Comic Party Anthology Comic
Sony Magazines
- Comic Party ANTHOLOGY
See also
External links
- Comic Party Revolution official site
- Aquaplus: Comic Party