Top mangaka Ken Akamatsu has stated his misgivings about the reliance of the manga industry on the shonen holy trinity of One Piece, Naruto and Bleach, and what would befall publishers if these series were to conclude.
After describing some of the worsening financial results posted by top manga publishers, he describes his uneasiness about the situation:
It’s all pretty dire, although manga won’t drop dead just yet.
However, they are relying on the bubble-like sales of a few titles – we have to wonder what would happen if in 3 years this bubble were to pop.
For example, will Jump’s One Piece, Naruto and Bleach continue for 3 years? We can’t really predict what will happen to them (and even if the publisher wants to continue them, the authors aren’t always able to).
The recent conclusion of the hugely popular Full Metal Alchemist brings this issue sharply into focus – not all series can be expected to continue indefinitely (Naruto in particular appears to have an eventual ending planned), and blockbuster successors for those which conclude have so far been conspicuously absent.
Other mangaka have complained the industry is not developing new talent – a particularly precarious state of affairs when considered in conjunction with reliance on a few blockbuster titles which could end with no replacement in sight.
The suddenly-prophetic nature of this story is interesting. Only 2 years later it looks like 2 of the “trinity” are bowing out!
One Piece has 10 years left providing Oda doesnt collapse from his 4 hr sleeping schedule 7 days a week working on one piece and maintaining his new born. Naruto should have ended over 2-3 years ago. It’s been garbage ever since if not before. Lets just say the time skip on was garbage. Bleach should have ended after soul society when Rukia was a ingrate and Ichigo proved once again that he’s gay and loves wrestling men. He cant write to save his life and you need 2-3 chap just to feel like you’ve read one… Why anyone reads it is beyond me? One Piece is single handedly keeping jump alive.
Quick Question…why is Yoruichi depicted as a white woman in the pic above? I don’t get it… And Fairy Tail=Awesome. Its like Bleach Naruto Soul Eater and DBZ merged into one. Fucking epic…
Much as I dislike OP it will be lasting quite a bit of time. as there isn’t a definite time of closer.
Naruto is doing quite well in the manga but definitely should end soon. Madara -> other tailed host -> mysterious nemesis ->END
Bleach should’ve come to a close a while back ago BUT, I do like how Kubo shown how everyone grow up so far.
Sidenote: The only reason I dislike OP is due to the artwork otherwise the story is pretty good.
Honestly other than One Piece, the others should have ended years ago. Oda has the only manga that’s been good the whole time. Why Naruto and Bleach still exist is beyond me? They both ran out of ideas more than 2 years ago. Naruto isnt even in most the issues now and the story isnt good unless Susuke’s there. The new characters in the recent chap look like filler characters. Bleach never had a story but amazing art. Go to Soul Society and save Rukia and nothing happened between them, no romances, Orihime is a sex symbol and Ichigo is too stupid to notice her? The only chick he knew that could fight was abandoned a few chap in and only now reshowing up years later? Why does anyone support those mangas? My guess is that since they are in the same mag as One Piece, they get bought and thats it. If One Piece was by itself the other 2 would die. Ken’s my boy, I hope he’s doing well? Minus Ace’s arc, there has been no bad One Piece chap minus arcs. Oda is SS rank status or god teir Bang status! Ken would be A rank with the Fairy Tail mangaka and there isnt much else good. Claymore every once in a while, Bakumen, Air Gear…What else is worth reading?