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Oshi no Ko artist releases heartbreaking statement on increasing anime and manga leaks on the Internet

The discouraging working conditions of animators and mangaka are no secret, but the leak or spoiler culture persists. While our favorite creators strive to meet weekly deadlines, their works do not garner the patience they deserve from some viewers. The most famous mangaka from A piece To Blue Castle, have special days just for the chapters to leak on social media sites before the official release.

Hoshino Ai | Photo credit: Doga Kobo

Given that spoiler threads are now common on the internet, Mengo Yokoyari shared her disappointment with her fans. Yokoyari has worked on the popular manga Oshi No Ko since 2020 together with Aka Akasaka. Since the story in the manga has reached its final stage, any leaks run a great risk of affecting the fun and performance of the following chapters.

Mengo Yokoyari shares her disappointment

In the anime “Oshi no Ko” you see a person working on a digital manga in a dark room.
Abiko Sensei is working on her manga in Oshi No Ko Source: Doga Kobo

Yokoyari is quite active on X (formerly Twitter) and often shares Oshi No Ko-related content. She recently posted a post expressing her displeasure over the release of spoilers before the official release of the chapters.

Yokoyari denounces the unfair practices of some people who leak spoilers and entire chapters, saying that even the platform encourages such content. Spoiler threads are made available to a wider audience through recommendations. Moreover, this is not the first time the creator has publicly addressed this issue. Yokoyari has previously made similar posts urging fans not to dwell on the spoilers and wait for the official release.

Unfortunately, such pleas fall on deaf ears as the chapters continue to leak out. Despite the hard work and grueling hours they spend in their studios, animators and mangaka are coming up short.

The discourse on leak culture

Akane's face glows in the picture because of her phone screen in Oshi No Ko
Akane | Credits: Doga Kobo

Some fans, in response to Yokoyari's post, expressed their disdain for the increase in manga leaks. They rightly say that while it is tempting to talk about your favorite manga, it is definitely not acceptable to spoil it for others.

Most popular manga can be read for free through official channels. Just like the official release, there is usually a one-week gap between leaks. This makes one wonder why fans can't wait for the official release when there is also a significant difference in quality. Some fans claim that sometimes the leakers are not even fans, but participate in spoiler culture to gain attention and popularity.

Although Mengo Yokoyari gives this topic the attention it deserves, it is not limited to Oshi No Ko. The recent disaster that saw several anime episodes from the Fall 2024 schedule leak is a testament to how widespread this problem has become. This culture clearly exists because of an existing, widespread demand. When the leaks are so conveniently available, and prematurely that too, supporting the creator becomes a choice. The spoilers circulating online jeopardize the experience of those who wait, creating a vicious cycle.

Oshi No Ko can be read legally and for free on the MangaPlus app and the MangaPlus website.

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