After 37 years as a mainstay in the light novel industry, the iconic Dragon Magazine, published by Kadokawa, will cease publication. Its latest edition will hit stores in March of that same year, according to the Japanese site Oricon. This closure marks the end of an era for the magazine that housed such iconic works as “Full Metal Panic!”, “Slayers,” “Spy Classroom,” “Date A Live,” and the classic harem romantic comedy “High School DxD.” , among many others.
Dragon Magazine was not only a medium of entertainment, but also served as a launching pad for numerous franchises that later became popular anime adaptations. Shoji Gatoh, creator of “Full Metal Panic!”, nostalgically recalled the importance of the magazine in his career: «Dramaga is an entry-level literary magazine offering short, easy-to-read serializations, with illustrations on every page. Looking back, it’s been doing amazing things for over 10 years, and I was able to publish my work there for a long time».
For his part, Ryo Mizuno, author of Record of Lodoss War, expressed his sadness at the announcement: «Although I had already heard it, when it was officially confirmed I felt sad. I wrote TRPG-related articles since the first issue, and I remember the happiness of having Yoshitaka Amano’s illustrations for those articles».
Rui Araizumi, illustrator of Slayers, also shared his regret: «It’s a magazine that has been with me my entire life, so much so that even though they announced its closure, it doesn’t feel real. Life moves on again». The magazine also marked a before and after for fans, who on social networks regretted the news: “I feel like an era has ended“commented an anonymous reader.
Dragon Magazine’s editorial team issued a statement explaining the decision: “Due to recent changes in the reading environment, we are increasingly aware that the role Dragon Magazine has played can no longer be fulfilled through print magazines, and this is our next challenge». This change reflects current trends, in which digital consumption has surpassed paper, even affecting publications as influential as Dragon Magazine.
Although Dragon Magazine will cease publication, Kadokawa has plans to adapt to this new era. The company will launch a new media service called Mekurimekuru in spring 2025, focused on light novel fans. In addition, the Kimirano recommendation service, operational since 2019, will be integrated into this new platform. However, Kadokawa has not specified whether Dragon Magazine’s ongoing works will be moved to Mekurimekuru or will have a different fate.
Fountain: Oricon News
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