Just in time for the feature release of Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean’s fantasy movie Mirrormask, The Jim Henson Company and TOKYOPOP have announced the details of a joint manga publishing deal. Gaiman (Sandman, Neverwhere) will work closely with TOKYOPOP on a prequel manga to the movie, which has a September 30 theatrical release date.
Directed by McKean, the Mirrormask feature combines live action with digital animation to tell the story of a 15-year-old girl named Helena (played by Stephanie Leonidas) who works for her family circus, but wishes to run away to lead a normal life. Her adventures begin when she finds herself in a strange world called Dark Lands, a place populated by giants, monkeybirds and dangerous sphinxes. Her only ticket back is a mysterious object known as the Mirrormask. Jason Barry, Rob Brydon and Gina Mckee round up the cast.
The partnership also includes manga titles tied to two popular Henson features, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. The graphic novels will focus on what happened to the characters from the 1986 feature, Labyrinth, and offer a prequel of sorts to the 1982 feature The Dark Crystal.
