Candy Candy Trials and Merchandise

In 1997, Kyoko Mizuki (author) brought a Civil Action Lawsuit against her old friend and partner, Yumiko Igarashi (manga illustrator) over the unauthorized production and selling of Candy Candy merchandise. Yumiko Igarashi, on the other hand, believed she had the right to sell the Candy Candy goods without her consent, since she drew the illustrations. She claimed, "I drew Candy Candy based on the story I wrote all by myself and Mizuki's story is not the original." The publisher Kodansha Ltd. refuted her claim and supported the fact that the CC manga was based on Mizuki's original, unpublished novel.

The bitter trials between the "mothers" of Candy Candy lasted for nearly five years until the final judgement fell in favor of Kyoko Mizuki by the Japanese Supreme Court on October 25, 2001. Those unfamiliar with this infamous Candy Candy Trial, can read the timeline of the "Candy Candy lawsuits" at this Japanese/English website: We Love Candy. There is also a good summary of the trials and the outcome at the Anime News Network.


Illustrated by Angela

In the final sentencing on May 30, 2002, Yumiko Igarashi and her accomplices were ordered to pay damages worth over 30,000,000 yen. Kyoko Mizuki was also reconfirmed as the copyright holder of Candy Candy in the "first degree" while Yumiko Igarashi held the copyright in the "second degree". In any case, any future Candy Candy merchandise cannot be produced or sold without both parties' consent.  Igarashi is prohibited by law to draw and sell any new Candy Candy illustrations or goods without Mizuki's authorization.


Kyoko Mizuki's Message to Candyfans on 10/29/2001 after the last Supreme Court Trial
(quoted from her overseas guestbook)

Dear all overseas Candy Candy fan,

I'm so sorry not writing you back that I always feel so bad.

On October 25th, finally I have won the Candy Candy copyright dispute extensively at the highest court judgment, the Supreme Court in Japan. As Kyoko Mizuki, I was confirmed as the author of Candy Candy in law. That means those Candy Candy merchandise were consented and produced by the Mangaka (Ms. Igarashi) only herself are all illegal ones, which is confirmed in law.

It was really long way for me to get the judgment. It's been for 5 years since I brought it to the court. During having the dispute, it was detected that the Mangaka had consented to sell Candy Candy merchandise in overseas with some goods maker. Thank you all for the information on illegal Candy Candy merchandise that you've found near you. I really appreciate it. I wanted to provide you legal ones, and I wanted you to enjoy them, truly. However, I regret that those illegal merchandise have spread in many countries.

In spite of the Mangaka infringed Toei holing the Candy Candy trademark, the issue that the Mangaka sued Toei over the Candy Candy trademark came to the conclusion and Toei has won. However, this dispute caused a broadcast freeze on the series, and so far it is impossible to release whole series on videos and DVDs in the world, even in Japan.

We are also working on investigation the information on Candy Candy DVDs in Asian countries, Canada, Mexico, France, and Germany. And all of those DVDs are very suspicious not only just a bootleg, but illegal merchandise that the Mangaka might be involved.

As the author of Candy Candy, I do hope the work, Candy Candy will be cleaned up. As long as those illegal merchandise appears on the world market, I'm very sad to see the image of Candy Candy getting dirty. I do hope you will tell your friend who is also Candy Candy fan in the world all about this.

I always read all yours posted message here. I'm sorry I didn't write you back because of my poor English. I'm so happy to get yours thoughtful and the warmest message. Thank you for your support. I really appreciate it.

Kyoko Mizuki

 


Where can I buy Candy Candy Merchandise?

Just about every Candyfan wants the answer to this question! For the moment, "legal" CC merchandises are rare and hard to find in many countries where Candy Candy was televised. On auction sites such as ebay and anime/manga online stores, one may still be able find "older" CC memorabilia produced in Europe, Latin, and Asian countries, where Candy was very popular in the 1970's and 80's. Most of the CC merchandise that recently appeared within the last decade were actually illegally produced and purchasing these items are highly discouraged by TOEI and Mizuki supporters. This Japanese/English website "Candy Candy Bootlegs" describes most of the bootleg CC merchandise circulating in parts of Asia and other countries.

Then on November 2005, these mysterious publicity ads appeared in the certain anime/manga and ladies magazines in France announcing the release of the French Candy Candy DVDs! Two DVD box sets, each containing 23 episodes were produced under a relatively unknown logo called "Pony Girls" and sold in discreet manga boutiques and ebay.


While pursuing another company in court for illegally producing and selling the French Goldorak DVDS, TOEI Animation filed a suit to block the sale of these French Candy DVDs, claiming that they never gave the rights to this company to exploit them.  On May 2006, the French courts decided in favor of TOEI and the companies responsible (Poly Production and DDV) were ordered to surrender the French CC video masters and pay a huge commercial fine.  The details of this "Candygate" affair can be found (only in French) at Nonoche's site: Goldorak-Gate.

As a result of the copyright trials between Mizuki and Igarashi, TOEI had decided not to produce any DVDs of the anime series. The company felt that Igarashi had infringed on TOEI's trademark "Candy Candy" and no longer wanted to associate itself with the product due to the "Candy Candy scandal".  The proliferation and selling of illegal DVD bootlegs had also prevented them from broadcasting the series and producing and distributing future DVD release.
 


So where can I obtain "legal" Candy Candy Merchandise?

You can purchase some "legal" Candy Candy merchandise through some established online stores like www.amazon.jp.  Some "legal" products are available in online auctions, but the difficulty for fans is knowing which products are legally made (meaning authorized by Mizuki) and which are not (meaning bootlegs). Regardless of this dilemma, many Candyfans are eager to purchase a piece of Candy and are willing to pay the price.

Aside from the Candy Candy Novel, the following Candy CD is the last known "authorized" product available to fans in the market:

On December 2003, France's LOGA-RYTHME released a musical CD containing the BGM (background music) composed by Takeo Watanabe in the 1979 Candy Candy animated series! What a coup for Candyfans! The original music was first produced on vinyl record 33pm in November 1981 by Nippon Columbia, Ltd.

This CD contains bonus Karaoke background music for the Japanese opening and ending theme songs "Candy Candy" and "Ashitaga Suki", as well French Candy Candy music sung by Dominique Poulain and Dorothée. Included with the CD is a french jacket displaying some fanarts and summaries of Candy Candy's history and its impact in France along with the lyrics to the Japanese and French music. Interesting to note is that our dear candyfriend Sophie, webmistress of www.candyneige.com, is credited for her contributions to this precious CD!

As an update, this French CD is no longer in production and most of the online stores that have sold it are now out of stock. Please check the online auctions for any availability.