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Shonen Jump

Japan's best selling weekly manga (comic book) is being re-tooled for an American audience. They're aiming for 8-14 year-old-boys -- kids who grew up on and out of the 90's Pokemon craze. The new monthly publication will excerpt several storylines that also appear as cartoons (or anime) in the US, and present them alongside lifestyle articles about Japanese animation, video games and music. Shonen Jump's American market research has convinced them they need to serve the growing 'anime' lifestyle. Will this 'Manga-zine' win the heroic battle to conquer the hearts and wallets of its young foes? Susan Stone reports.

Copyright 2003 NPR

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Susan Stone
Susan Stone is a contributing reporter/producer for NPR based in Berlin, Germany. Before relocating to Germany for a Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship in 2005, she was a producer, editor, reporter and director at NPR’s headquarters in Washington for 10 years. Most recently, Stone was a producer and director for the weekend editions of NPR's award-winning news magazine All Things Considered, where she created a signature monthly music feature for the show.