manga magazine
Manga ( Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is used ...
published by
Shogakukan
is a Japanese publisher of dictionaries, literature, comics ( manga), non-fiction, DVDs, and other media in Japan.
Shogakukan founded Shueisha, which also founded Hakusensha. These are three separate companies, but are together called the H ...
, established on May 15, 1977. Its main target is elementary school-aged boys, younger than the readers of shōnen manga. Several of its properties, like ''
Doraemon
''Doraemon'' ( ja, ドラえもん ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Fujiko F. Fujio. The manga was first serialized in December 1969, with its 1,345 individual chapters compiled into 45 ''tankōbon'' volumes and ...
'' and the '' Pokémon'' series of games, have gone on to be cultural phenomena in Japan.
The name comes from a phenomime which means "rolling" and also represents something spherical, fat, or small, because children supposedly like such things. The magazine is A5-sized, about 6 cm ( in) thick, and each issue is 750 pages long. ''CoroCoro Comic'' is released monthly with new issues on the 15th of each month (or earlier if the 15th falls on a weekend).
''CoroCoro Comic'' sold 400million copies as of April 2017, making it one of the best-selling comic/
manga magazines
This is a list of manga magazines or published in Japan. The majority of manga magazines are categorized into one of five demographics, which correspond to the age and gender of their readership:
* '' Kodomo'' – aimed at young children.
* '' ...
. The magazine has three sisters: ''Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic'' (別冊コロコロコミック), ''CoroCoro Ichiban!'' (コロコロイチバン) and ''CoroCoro Aniki'' (コロコロアニキ). ''Bessatsu'' and ''Ichiban!'' are published bi-monthly, while ''Aniki'', which targeted an older audience, was released quarterly.
On November 20, 2020, CoroCoro Comic cover designer Tariji Sasaki was recognized by ''
Guinness World Records
''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...
'' as the longest-running cover designer for a children's magazine.
''CoroCoro Aniki'' ended publication in March 2021.
History
The magazine was launched in 1977 as a magazine for Doraemon, which is one of the most popular manga in Japan. Before then Doraemon had been serialized in 6 Shogakukan magazines targeted to students of 6 elementary school grades that target audience has now increased. It collected stories of Doraemon from these magazines. It celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2007 with an exhibition at the
Kyoto International Manga Museum
The Kyoto International Manga Museum (京都国際マンガミュージアム, Kyōto Kokusai Manga Myūjiamu) is located in Nakagyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan. The museum's collection includes approximately 300,000 items as of 2016, with 50,000 volumes ...
.
Tie-ins
''CoroCoro'' regularly promotes
toy
A toy or plaything is an object that is used primarily to provide entertainment. Simple examples include toy blocks, board games, and dolls. Toys are often designed for use by children, although many are designed specifically for adults and pet ...
s and
video game
Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...
s related to their manga franchises, releasing stories and articles featuring them. Pocket Monsters/Pokémon's big success in Japan owes to this in a way; the
Game Boy
The is an 8-bit fourth generation handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan on April 21, 1989, in North America later the same year, and in Europe in late 1990. It was designed by the same t ...
game ''Pocket Monsters Blue'' was sold exclusively through the magazine at first, which helped ''CoroCoros sales as well. ''CoroCoro'' is also often a source of information about upcoming Pokémon games and movies.
Other successful tie-ins include:
*
Radio controlled car
'Radio-controlled cars'' (or RC cars for short) are miniature model cars, vans, buses, trucks or buggies that can be controlled from a distance using a specialized transmitter or remote. The term "RC" has been used to mean both "remote controll ...
,
Mini 4WD
is a powered toy car generally 1:32 in scale equipped with 4WD. The cars can be used for miniature auto racing, being built to race around a U-shaped track.
History
The Mini 4WD originated in Japan in 1982, when toy manufacturer Tamiya intr ...
Famicom
The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an 8-bit Third generation of video game consoles, third-generation home video game console produced by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan in 1983 as the commonly known as the The NES, a redes ...
,
Super Famicom
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), commonly shortened to Super NES or Super Nintendo, is a Fourth generation of video game consoles, 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan and South ...
, and
Game Boy line
The Japanese multinational consumer electronics company Nintendo has developed seven home video game consoles and multiple portable consoles for use with external media, as well as dedicated consoles and other hardware for their consoles. , i ...
Beyblade
is a line of spinning-top toys originally developed by Takara, first released in Japan in July 1999, along with its debut series. Following Takara's merger with Tomy in 2006, Beyblades are now developed by Takara Tomy. Various toy companies ...
Takara
Takara Co., Ltd. (株式会社タカラ) was a Japanese toy company founded in 1955. In March 2006, the company merged with Tomy Co., Ltd. to form Takara Tomy. The Takara motto was 遊びは文化」("playing is culture").
Products Toys
In 1 ...
)
*
Bikkuriman
is a line of wafer snacks produced by Lotte, made notable for the randomly assorted bonus stickers included inside each snack. First released in 1977, Bikkuriman (ビックリマン, “Surprise Man”) became wildly popular in Japan w ...
Barcode Battler
The is a handheld game console released by Epoch Co. in March 1991.
The console at retail was supplied with a number of cards, each of which had a barcode. Upon starting the game, the player must swipe a barcode representing a player. The gam ...
(with
Epoch Co.
is a Japanese toy and computer games company founded in 1958 which is best known for manufacturing Barcode Battler and ''Doraemon'' video games, and the Sylvanian Families series of toys. Its current Representative President is Michihiro Maeda.
...
)
Manga series currently being serialized
Manga titles currently serialized in ''Monthly CoroCoro Comic''
Puzzle & Dragons
is a puzzle video game with role-playing and strategy elements, developed and published by GungHo Online Entertainment for the iOS, Android, and Amazon Fire platforms.
''Puzzle & Dragons'' is a match-three puzzle game, requiring players t ...
Hero Bank
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Sega for the Nintendo 3DS. It was released in Japan on March 20, 2014. A sequel, ''Hero Bank 2'', was released in Japan on November 27, 2014. An anime television series adaptation by TMS ...
'' (Since November 2013)
*''
Gundam Build Fighters
is a 2013 Japanese science fiction anime television series based on Sunrise's long-running ''Gundam'' franchise. The series is directed by Kenji Nagasaki of '' No. 6'' and written by Yōsuke Kuroda of ''Mobile Suit Gundam 00''. Character ...
'' (Since November 2013)
*''
100% Pascal-sensei
is a Japanese gag comedy manga series written and illustrated by Yūji Nagai. it was serialized in Shogakukan's ''CoroCoro Comic'' magazine from January 15, 2015, to October 15, 2018, and has been compiled into seven ''tankōbon'' volumes on ...
'' (Since January 2015)
*''
Splatoon
is a third-person shooter video game franchise created by Hisashi Nogami, and developed and owned by Nintendo. Set in a post-apocalyptic Earth inhabited by anthropomorphic marine animals, the series centers around fictional cephalopods known ...
'' (Since June 2016)
Manga titles currently serialized in ''Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic''
*''Super Mario-kun'' (Since February 1991)
*''Pokémon Pocket Monsters'' (Since February 1997)
*''Denjyarasu Jiisan Jya!'' (Since June 2010)
*''Duel Masters Victory'' (Since June 2011)
*'' Animal Crossing: New Leaf'' (Since October 2012)
*''Lapis Lazuli'' (Since October 2012)
*' (Since December 2012)
*'' Yo-Kai Watch'' (Since January 2013)
*'' Pokémon Torretta'' (Since February 2013)
*''A Penguin's Troubles Plus'' (Since April 2013)
*''Friendship Attached! Foot Burst'' (Since April 2013)
*''Nyaemon'' (Since April 2013)
*''Really!! Majime-kun!'' (Since June 2013)
* Super Conversion War Mojibakeru G Beat! ' (Since June 2013)
*'' Story of Duel Masters: Outrage'' (Since June 2013)
*''Cosmos Stamp'' (Since August 2013)
*' (Since October 2013)
Manga titles currently serialized in ''CoroCoro Ichiban''
Doraemon
''Doraemon'' ( ja, ドラえもん ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Fujiko F. Fujio. The manga was first serialized in December 1969, with its 1,345 individual chapters compiled into 45 ''tankōbon'' volumes and ...
''
1970s
*''
Game Center Arashi
is a Japanese manga by Mitsuru Sugaya, which ran in ''CoroCoro Comic'' from 1978 to 1984. It focus on Arashi Ishino, a young gamer whose life revolves around video games. The manga, which is one of the earliest Japanese video game-themed co ...
''
1980s
*''
Bikkuriman
is a line of wafer snacks produced by Lotte, made notable for the randomly assorted bonus stickers included inside each snack. First released in 1977, Bikkuriman (ビックリマン, “Surprise Man”) became wildly popular in Japan w ...
''
*''Oyaji-chan''
*''
Dash! Yonkuro
is a Japanese manga series created by Zaurus Tokuda, originally serialized in Shogakukan's ''CoroCoro Comic'' magazine from December 1987 to March 1992. The story focuses on Yonkuro Hinomaru, a delinquent Mini 4WD enthusiast and member of ...
Perman
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by the manga artist duo Fujiko Fujio about a clumsy boy, Mitsuo Suwa, who is chosen to apprentice to a powerful superhero to save the world along with other superheroes. The manga series ...
Crash Bandicoot
''Crash Bandicoot'' is a video game franchise originally developed by Naughty Dog as an exclusive for Sony's PlayStation console. It has seen numerous installments created by various developers and published on multiple platforms. The series c ...
''
*''
Donkey Kong
is a video game franchise created by Shigeru Miyamoto and owned by Nintendo. It follows the adventures of a gorilla named Donkey Kong (character), Donkey Kong and his clan of other Ape, apes and monkeys. The franchise primarily consists of plat ...
''
*''
Duel Masters
is a media franchise consisting of a manga, several anime series, a trading card game and several video games. The original manga, accompanied with his sequels, sold 4.5 million copies in Japan.
Plot
The story centers ar ...
Bakusō Kyōdai Let's & Go!!
is a manga series created by Tetsuhiro Koshita, first serialized in Shogakukan's CoroCoro Comic magazine from July 1994 to October 1999. The manga centers on Retsu and Go Seiba, twin brothers who focus on the world of miniature car raci ...
''
*''Ore wa Otoko da! Kunio-kun'' (manga based on the ''
Kunio-kun
The series (typically localized as ''River City'') is a video game series started by Technōs Japan. The series is now handled by Arc System Works who purchased all of the intellectual property rights from Technōs' successor, Million Corp. The ...
Spyro The Dragon
''Spyro the Dragon'' is a platform game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation on September 9, 1998. The first game in the '' Spyro'' series, it stars the title character, a young purple ...
''
*''
Super B-Daman
is a Japanese manga series serialized in ''Coro Coro Comics'', based on Takara's B-Daman toy. It was first released in 1995. An anime series produced by Xebec (studio), Xebec was shown in TV Tokyo between January 4, 1999 to October 1, 1999.
...
''
*''
Speed Racer
''Speed Racer'', also known as , is a Japanese media franchise about Auto racing, automobile racing. ''Mach GoGoGo'' was originally serialized in print in Shueisha's 1966 ''Shōnen Book''. It was released in tankōbon book form by Sun W ...
Tamagotchi
The is a handheld digital pet that was created in Japan by Akihiro Yokoi of WiZ and Aki Maita of Bandai. It was released by Bandai on November 23, 1996 in Japan and in the USA on May 1, 1997, quickly becoming one of the biggest toy fads o ...
''
*''
Wataru
Wataru is a masculine Japanese given name.
Possible writings
Wataru can be written using several kanji characters. Here are some examples:
*渉, "ford"
*渡, "ferry over"
*亘, "extend across"
*航, "navigate"
*和, "harmony"
*亙, "extend acro ...
''
*''
Zoids
, or simply , is a Japanese science fiction media franchise created by Tomy that feature giant robots (or "mecha") called "Zoids". A Zoid is essentially a large mechanical animal, with designs being based on animals; including dinosaurs, insect ...
''
2000s
*''
Duel Masters
is a media franchise consisting of a manga, several anime series, a trading card game and several video games. The original manga, accompanied with his sequels, sold 4.5 million copies in Japan.
Plot
The story centers ar ...
''
*''
Battle B-Daman
is a Japanese manga series by Eiji Inuki which ran in CoroCoro Comics by Shogakukan from 2002 to 2005. An anime adaptation was released in January 2004. It premiered in the United States in April 2005. It is the first show of the ''B-Dama ...
''
*''
Beyblade
is a line of spinning-top toys originally developed by Takara, first released in Japan in July 1999, along with its debut series. Following Takara's merger with Tomy in 2006, Beyblades are now developed by Takara Tomy. Various toy companies ...
''
*''
Bomberman Jetters
is a 2002 Japanese anime television series produced by NAS and TV Tokyo and animated by Studio Deen. It has also spawned two manga series and three video games, one of which was also localized and given an English dub. It is based on ...
''
*''
Crash B-Daman
is the third comic adaptation of the B-Daman toy, first serialized in the January 2006 issue of Coro Coro Comic. The television series started on January 9, 2006, replacing Battle B-Daman on TV Tokyo. It was the last television series of B- ...
''
*''
Croket!
, also spelled ''Korokke!'', is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Manavu Kashimoto. It was published by Shogakukan in ''CoroCoro Comic'' from April 2000 to November 2006 and collected in 15 bound volumes. It received the 2003 Shoga ...
''
*''
Dorabase
''Doraemon'' ( ja, ドラえもん ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Fujiko F. Fujio. The manga was first serialized in December 1969, with its 1,345 individual chapters compiled into 45 ''tankōbon'' volumes and ...
Forza! Hidemaru
is a Japanese anime television series. It was produced by NAS (company), NAS and aired on TV Tokyo for twenty-six episodes. Enoki Films licensed the series as ''Forza! Mario'',Inazuma Eleven is an association football-themed media franchise created by Level-5. The franchise began with the release of ''Inazuma Eleven'' in 2008, with the game series selling over 8 million copies worldwide by 2016. In addition to video games, the franchi ...
Keshikasu-kun
is a Japanese children's manga written and illustrated by (村瀬範行 ''Murase Noriyuki''). It has been serialized in Monthly ''CoroCoro Comic'' from June 2004.FF7AC''
*'' Rockman EXE''
*'' Solar Boy Django''
*''
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
and are 2006 role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. They are the first installments in the fourth generation of the Pokémon (video game series), ''Pokémon'' v ...
Kirby of the Stars
''Kirby: Right Back at Ya!'', known in Japan as , is a Japanese anime series based on Nintendo's Kirby (series), ''Kirby'' franchise. Produced by Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting, Dentsu, A-UN Entertainment and Studio Sign, it was directed by Sōji Yo ...
''
*''
Pokémon Platinum
is a 2008 role-playing video game developed by Game Freak, published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It is an enhanced version of ''Pokémon Diamond'' and ''Pearl'' and is part of the fourth g ...
''
*''
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
and are 2009 remakes of the 1999 Game Boy Color role-playing video games ''Pokémon Gold'' and ''Silver'', also including features from ''Pokémon Crystal''. The games are part of the fourth generation of the ''Pokémon'' video game series ...
''
*''
Pokémon Colosseum
''Pokémon Colosseum'' is a role-playing video game in the ''Pokémon'' series developed by Genius Sonority, published by The Pokémon Company, and distributed by Nintendo. It was released for the GameCube on November 21, 2003, in Japan; March 22 ...
''
*''Sap-kun''
*''
Tamagotchi
The is a handheld digital pet that was created in Japan by Akihiro Yokoi of WiZ and Aki Maita of Bandai. It was released by Bandai on November 23, 1996 in Japan and in the USA on May 1, 1997, quickly becoming one of the biggest toy fads o ...
''
*''
Mysterious Joker
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hideyasu Takahashi. The series was originally published as a one-shot, then later began serialization in Shogakukan's ''Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic Special'', ''CoroCoro Comic'', and ''CoroCor ...
''
2010s
*''
Baku Tech! Bakugan
is a manga series written and illustrated by Shingo. In Japan, the comics have been published in Shogakukan's ''Monthly CoroCoro'' comics since September 2010. The manga follows the adventures of Harubaru Hinode and his ...
Danball Senki
, or simply ''LBX'', is a series of action role-playing video games created by Level-5, involving small plastic model robots known as LBXs (standing for "Little Battler eXperience") that fight on dioramas made out of cardboard, ...
Future Card Buddyfight
was a Japanese collectible card game created by Bushiroad. The first products began releasing simultaneously worldwide from January 24, 2014.
On June 15, 2020, Bushiroad announced it would end production of the card game, with the fina ...
''
*''
Hero Bank
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Sega for the Nintendo 3DS. It was released in Japan on March 20, 2014. A sequel, ''Hero Bank 2'', was released in Japan on November 27, 2014. An anime television series adaptation by TMS ...
Metal Fight Beyblade Zero-G
''Beyblade: Shogun Steel'', also known as , is a Japanese manga by Takafumi Adachi that was based on Takara Tomy's ''Beyblade'' franchise. It was published between April 2012 and December 2012 in CoroCoro Comic, and serves as the conclusion ...
''
*''
Pokémon Black and White
and are 2010 role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. They are the first installments in the fifth generation of the ''Pokémon'' video game series. First releas ...
''
*''
Pokémon Black and White 2
(an abbreviation for in Japan) is a Japanese media franchise managed by The Pokémon Company, founded by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures, the owners of the trademark and copyright of the franchise.
In terms of what each of those c ...
''
*''
Pokémon X and Y
and are 2013 role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. They are the first installments in the sixth generation of the main ''Pokémon'' video game series. First a ...
''
*''
Kamiwaza Wanda
is a Japanese media franchise created by Takara Tomy and TBS. It consists of two manga series, both published by Shogakukan from 2016 to 2017, and a 47-episode anime television series by TMS Entertainment, aired from April 2016 to March 20 ...
''
*''
Splatoon
is a third-person shooter video game franchise created by Hisashi Nogami, and developed and owned by Nintendo. Set in a post-apocalyptic Earth inhabited by anthropomorphic marine animals, the series centers around fictional cephalopods known ...
Doraemon
''Doraemon'' ( ja, ドラえもん ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Fujiko F. Fujio. The manga was first serialized in December 1969, with its 1,345 individual chapters compiled into 45 ''tankōbon'' volumes and ...
Zip Zap
''Zip Zap'' is an action game developed by Ian Weatherburn for Imagine Software and released for the ZX Spectrum in 1983.
Gameplay
The player controls a robot sent to an unexplored planet called Hallucinor with the job of investigating it ahead ...
Corocoro has had many rival kodomo magazines in the past, with one of them, ''
Comic Bom Bom
was a monthly Japanese children's manga magazine published by Kodansha. It was first published on October 15, 1981, and ceased publication in 2007. A web version of the magazine has been published on Pixiv Comic since the end of July 2017.
Sim ...
'', closing down due to declining sales. The current competition includes ''
V Jump
is a Japanese shōnen manga magazine, focusing on new manga as well as video games based on popular manga. The magazine's debut was in 1993 by Shueisha under the ''Jump'' line of magazines.
History
A prototype magazine called '' Hobby's Jump ...
'' and ''
Saikyo Jump
Saikyo may refer to:
*Saikyō Line, a Japanese railway line in the Tokyo metropolitan area
*''Saikyō Maru'', a Japanese ship involved in the Battle of the Yalu River (1894)
*Western Capital (disambiguation) ( ja, links=no, 西京, Saikyō), seve ...
Comic Bom Bom
was a monthly Japanese children's manga magazine published by Kodansha. It was first published on October 15, 1981, and ceased publication in 2007. A web version of the magazine has been published on Pixiv Comic since the end of July 2017.
Sim ...
Kerokero Ace
was a Japanese shōnen manga magazine published in Japan by Kadokawa Shoten. It directly focused on the ''Sgt. Frog'' series and other works promoted by Bandai such as Gundam. The magazine contained manga comics, computer game reviews, merchandi ...
'' (December 2007–September 2013)
Current rivals
*''
V Jump
is a Japanese shōnen manga magazine, focusing on new manga as well as video games based on popular manga. The magazine's debut was in 1993 by Shueisha under the ''Jump'' line of magazines.
History
A prototype magazine called '' Hobby's Jump ...
Saikyō Jump
is a Japanese monthly ''shōnen'' manga magazine published by Shueisha. The magazine was started on December 3, 2010 with three completely original titles and seven spin-off manga from series in '' Weekly Shōnen Jump'' and ''V Jump
is a Jap ...
Weekly Shōnen Sunday
is a weekly ''shōnen'' manga magazine published in Japan by Shogakukan since March 1959. Contrary to its title, ''Weekly Shōnen Sunday'' issues are released on Wednesdays. ''Weekly Shōnen Sunday'' has sold over 1.8billion copies since 1986, ...
CoroCoro Comic
is a Japanese monthly manga magazine published by Shogakukan, established on May 15, 1977. Its main target is elementary school-aged boys, younger than the readers of shōnen manga, shōnen manga. Several of its properties, like ''Doraemon'' and ...