In a bid to foster global interaction among manga enthusiasts, Shueisha announced the launch of ‘MANGA Plus Universe‘ in collaboration with alu inc., a new global manga community platform that utilizes AI translation to enable fans around the world to discuss and connect over manga works from Shueisha’s popular online manga magazine Jump Plus.

The service is being launched as a limited-time project to commemorate the 5th anniversary of MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA, and will only be available until May 13, 2024.

Fifteen select works from Jump Plus will be featured on the platform, including Chainsaw Man, Spy x Family, Dandadan, and Kindergarten Wars.

Users will be able post comments and images, like and reply to other users’ posts, participate in polls conducted by the MANGA Plus Universe team, and more. The service supports nine languages, including English, Spanish, Indonesian, Portuguese, Russian, French, Thai, and Vietnamese, in addition to Japanese.

Shuhei Hosono, the Editor-in-Chief of Shonen Jump +, expressed his enthusiasm for the platform, highlighting its potential to bridge cultural divides and foster understanding among readers with diverse perspectives.

“When I see the comments posted on the service ‘MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA,’ enjoyed by manga readers overseas, it’s fascinating to see people with completely different perspectives from Japanese readers. I believe you can experience a part of this fascination through this service. Please enjoy interacting with people around the world through manga!“

Kensuke Furukawa, CEO of alu inc., echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the platform’s role in breaking down language barriers and connecting manga fans worldwide.

“I’ve always wanted to freely interact with fans of manga worldwide. I often wonder, what do other people think about this manga? I’d love to get excited about the same things and connect with others, but there has always been a language barrier, making it impossible until now. However, thanks to technological advancements, we’ve reached a level where we can somehow communicate with each other. I encourage you to try out this world where manga fans from all over the world are connected and able to communicate!“

Source: MANGA Plus Universe, Comic Natalie