The death of manga author Daisuke Ashihara has ignited a social media storm, with fans expressing their grief and anger over perceived mistreatment by the industry.
Ashihara, best known for creating the popular series “World Trigger,” passed away on January 21 at the age of 47 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
“World Trigger’ Live-Action Series Sparks Fan Divide
The controversy stems from the recent adaptation of “World Trigger” into a live-action television series, which faced criticism for deviating significantly from Ashihara’s original work. Screenwriter Erika Yoshida led the adaptation, and the final two episodes faced backlash due to plot deviations. Ashihara intervened to take over the scripts for these episodes, sparking a divide among fans.
The series received strong ratings, garnering over 5% audience share. However, after the show concluded, Yoshida used Instagram to explain the unusual plot changes in the final episodes, indirectly referencing Ashihara’s involvement.
Social media platforms, particularly X, erupted with varying opinions. Some fans sided with Yoshida, defending her creative choices, while others criticized her for straying from the original work. Since Ashihara’s death, posts on X have labeled Yoshida as a “murderer” and blamed Nippon Television, the show’s broadcaster, for not adequately supporting Ashihara.
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Nippon Television Silent Amidst TV Adaptation Controversy
Nippon Television, which owns Hulu Japan and is in the process of acquiring a controlling stake in Studio Ghibli, has yet to respond to inquiries about the controversy.
On Wednesday, Ashihara’s family issued a brief statement through Shogakukan, the publisher of “World Trigger.” The statement expressed bewilderment over their loss and announced that the family would not be accepting media requests for comments.
The passionate reactions on social media reflect the deep connection fans feel to the original works and the emotional investment in adaptations.
As the industry grapples with the loss of a talented creator and the aftermath of a controversial adaptation, discussions around respecting an artist’s vision and the challenges of bringing manga to different mediums continue to unfold in the public sphere.
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