Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox animanga/Header Template:Infobox animanga/Print Template:Infobox animanga/Video Template:Infobox animanga/Footer Smuggler (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Shohei Manabe. It was serialized in Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon from May 2000 to August 2000 and published in a single volume. A live-action film adaptation was released in October 2011.
Production
Manabe took inspiration from the works of filmmaker Quentin Tarantino in the making of the series.[1]
Media
Manga
Written and illustrated by Shohei Manabe, the series began serialization in Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon in May 2000; it completed its serialization in August 2000.[2] Its chapters were collected into a single tankōbon volume, which was released on August 21, 2000.[3] A one-shot prequel was released in August 2011.[4]
In August 2005, Tokyopop announced that they licensed the series for English publication.[5] After Tokyopop ceased publishing the series, it was licensed by One Peace Books in March 2013.[6]
Film
A live-action film adaptation was announced in October 2010.[7] Directed by Katsuhito Ishii and starring Satoshi Tsumabuki, the film was released on October 22, 2011.[8] A spin-off drama for mobile devices was released on October 7, 2011.[8]
In March 2012, Cinema Asia Releasing announced that they licensed the film for international distribution.[9] However, in January 2014 Funimation and Giant Ape Media announced that they licensed the film. They released the film on DVD on April 1, 2014.[10]
Reception
Ken Haley from Pop Culture Shock praised the story and characters, though felt the art in the early portion of the series was ugly and amateurish.[11] In Manga: The Complete Guide, writer Jason Thompson praised the artwork as realistic and the story as "well-written [and] tightly plotted".[12]