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Column by Scott Green

TOKYOPOP, best known to consumers as a manga publisher, has announced that the company will be producing a live action adaptation of the socially claustrophobic vampire drama manga Lament of the Lamb.

The manga by Kei Toume follows a teenage boy disorientated by the onset of his family's hereditary blood cravings, whose problems are both alleviated and complicated by the arrival of a sister who had had not known. Rather than treating vampirism as a source of horror or romantic metaphor, the work grapples with family secrets, terminal afflictions and forbidden relationships. In keeping with this focus, the original manga was deliberate instead of sensational.

While TOKYOPOP'S popular manga properties, Priest and Pet Shop of Horrors, have been recently acquired for film adaptation by Sony Screen Gems and Focus Features, respectively, Lament of the Lamb signals the company's first move into theatrical feature film production. TOKYOPOP's previous production credits include the TV series' Street Fury (G4), GTO (Showtime), Rave Master (The Cartoon Network) and Reign the Conqueror (The Cartoon Network and Showtime).

Stu Levy, TOKYOPOP CEO & Chief Creative Officer, is producing the film. "We are honored to be spotlighted at one of the world's most significant film festivals. I believe what impressed the committee most about Lament of the Lamb was the distinctive East-meets-West approach to our production," Levy stated. "We'll script the story in Hollywood, attach a Japanese director, cast in the West, and shoot in Eastern Europe. Clearly, this production represents what TOKYOPOP as a media company is all about, from its business model to its creative approach."

In 2003, the manga series was adapted into a four episode anime direct to home video OVA directed by Street Fighter II's (the anime movie) Gisaburô Sugii. This version of the series is not currently available in North America.

Lament of the Lamb creator Kei Toume's manga concerning a crippled samurai, Kuro Gane is available in English through Del Rey.