Punainen jättiläinen
Punainen jättiläinen is a Finnish manga and manhwa publishing imprint associated with Tammi.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Punainen jättiläinen, whose name means “Red Giant” in Finnish, is a Finnish publishing imprint focused on Japanese manga and Korean manhwa. It was established in April 2005 by Antti Grönlund, who served as its chief executive, at a time when translated manga was becoming a more visible part of Finland’s book and comics market. The imprint’s catalogue has included action, fantasy, romance, comedy, science fiction, historical, and youth-oriented series, giving it a broad genre range rather than a narrowly specialist list. A notable characteristic of Punainen jättiläinen has been its presentation of manga as bookstore-oriented books. Its releases have generally used relatively large formats compared with manga commonly sold at newsstands or magazine kiosks in Finland. This format and distribution approach helped distinguish the imprint from more conventional periodical-style manga publishing. Azumanga Daioh and Yotsuba&!, however, were identified as exceptions: they were issued in smaller formats and sold through magazine-stand channels, reflecting a more familiar manga retail model. The imprint’s early catalogue included titles such as Ragnarök, Les Bijoux, Kill Me, Kiss Me, Princess Ai, Gunnm, Azumanga Daioh, Vampire Hunter D, and Yotsuba&!. Later releases broadened the list with properties including Karin, Black Lagoon, Eerie Queerie!, Ginga Nagareboshi Gin, Chrono Crusade, Wolf’s Rain, Planetes, K-On!, Basilisk, Nichijou, Vampire Knight, Kuroshitsuji, and A Bride’s Story. The catalogue also contains several entries from the Ginga canine-adventure franchise, including Ginga Densetsu Weed, Ginga Densetsu Akame, Ginga Densetsu Weed: Orion, Ginga: The Last Wars, and Ginga Densetsu Noah. In 2009, Tammi acquired Punainen jättiläinen. Following the acquisition, the imprint continued its manga publishing activities within Tammi’s publishing infrastructure and worked together with Sangatsu Manga, another Finnish manga publisher associated with Tammi. This arrangement placed Punainen jättiläinen within a larger publishing organization while preserving its identity as a recognizable manga-oriented label. Later catalogue additions included One Punch Man in 2020, Ginga Densetsu Noah in 2021, Isabella Bird in Wonderland in 2023, and Parasyte in 2025. These releases demonstrate the imprint’s continuing use for Finnish editions of established Japanese comics properties. Publicly available reference material does not provide a complete account of its current staff, sales, financial performance, or detailed contractual arrangements. Its documented role is that of a Finnish manga and manhwa imprint operating in cooperation with Tammi and Sangatsu Manga.
History
Punainen jättiläinen was founded in Finland in April 2005 by Antti Grönlund, who also served as its chief executive. The imprint was created as a specialist publisher of Japanese manga and Korean manhwa, contributing to the expansion of translated Asian comics in the Finnish market. Its first documented release was Ragnarök in June 2005, followed by a varied group of titles covering Korean comics, Japanese action manga, fantasy, romance, comedy, and science fiction. During its initial years, Punainen jättiläinen developed a recognizable publishing model. Rather than relying exclusively on small, magazine-stand editions, it was associated with comparatively large-format releases intended for bookstores. This approach gave the imprint a book-publishing identity within the Finnish comics market. Azumanga Daioh and Yotsuba&! were notable format and distribution exceptions, appearing in smaller editions sold through magazine stands. The catalogue expanded quickly between 2005 and 2009. Early and mid-period titles included Les Bijoux, Kill Me, Kiss Me, Princess Ai, Gunnm, Azumanga Daioh, Hideyuki Kikuchi's Vampire Hunter D, Yotsuba&!, Karin, Black Lagoon, and Princess Princess. In 2009, Tammi acquired Punainen jättiläinen. The acquisition changed the imprint's corporate setting but did not eliminate its manga identity. It subsequently operated using Tammi's facilities and worked together with Sangatsu Manga. The post-acquisition catalogue continued to grow. Releases documented from 2010 and 2011 included Eerie Queerie!, Ginga Nagareboshi Gin, Ghost!, La Esperanca, Chrono Crusade, Wolf's Rain, Planetes, K-On!, Suzunari!, S.S. Astro, Ginga Densetsu Weed, Basilisk, and later titles such as Nichijou, Vampire Knight, Kuroshitsuji, and Kill Me Baby. These selections show the imprint's willingness to publish both established commercial properties and titles aimed at more specialized manga readerships. Subsequent releases included A Bride's Story in 2014, several additional entries in the Ginga franchise in 2016 and 2019, One Punch Man in 2020, Ginga Densetsu Noah in 2021, Isabella Bird in Wonderland in 2023, and Parasyte in 2025. The recorded list indicates continued activity under the Punainen jättiläinen name, although publicly available material does not establish a separate current corporate structure, current executive roster, financial results, or complete information about the imprint's present distribution arrangements.
- 2025
Parasyte release
[1]Parasyte was listed as a March 2025 release.
- 2023
Isabella Bird in Wonderland release
[1]Isabella Bird in Wonderland was listed among the imprint's later releases.
- 2020
One Punch Man added to catalogue
[1]The imprint released a Finnish edition of One Punch Man.
- 2009
Acquisition by Tammi
[1]Tammi acquired Punainen jättiläinen, after which the imprint operated using Tammi's facilities and in cooperation with Sangatsu Manga.
- 2008
Yotsuba&! release
[3]Yotsuba&! was released in April and, like Azumanga Daioh, used a smaller format and magazine-stand distribution.
- 2007
Azumanga Daioh release
[1]Azumanga Daioh was released in August and was identified as one of the imprint's smaller-format, magazine-stand exceptions.
- 2005
Imprint founded
[1]Antti Grönlund founded Punainen jättiläinen in Finland in April as a publisher specializing in Japanese manga and Korean manhwa.
- 2005
First documented release
[1]Ragnarök became the imprint's first documented release, appearing in June.
Products and positioning
A Finnish manga-focused publishing imprint known for translating Japanese manga and Korean manhwa and frequently presenting them as relatively large-format bookstore books. Its catalogue spans mainstream action and fantasy titles, comedy, romance, science fiction, historical manga, and youth-oriented works.
Manga · 2005
Ragnarök
Ragnarök was the imprint's first documented publication, launching the catalogue in June 2005 and establishing its focus on translated Asian comics.
Comedy manga · 2007
Azumanga Daioh
Azumanga Daioh was one of the imprint's notable smaller-format releases. It was distributed through magazine stands rather than following the larger bookstore-oriented format commonly associated with Punainen jättiläinen.
Comedy manga · 2008
Yotsuba&!
Yotsuba&! was another smaller-format title sold through magazine-stand channels. Its inclusion illustrates the imprint's willingness to use a different physical and retail format for accessible comedy manga.
Adventure manga · 2011
Ginga Densetsu Weed
Ginga Densetsu Weed was part of a recurring group of canine-adventure titles in the imprint's catalogue. Related entries later included Ginga Densetsu Akame, Ginga Densetsu Weed: Orion, Ginga: The Last Wars, and Ginga Densetsu Noah.
Action manga · 2020
One Punch Man
One Punch Man was added to the imprint's catalogue in August 2020, extending its range with a prominent contemporary action title.
Historical manga · 2014
A Bride's Story
A Bride's Story, released in July 2014, represents the historical and relationship-focused side of the imprint's catalogue and contrasts with its action and fantasy properties.
Science-fiction horror manga · 2025
Parasyte
Parasyte was listed as a March 2025 release, adding a science-fiction horror title to the imprint's documented catalogue.
Brand decisions
2009
Tammi acquisitionM&ABackground
Punainen jättiläinen had established a catalogue of translated manga and manhwa as an independent Finnish specialist publisher.
Action taken
Tammi acquired the imprint and incorporated its subsequent operations into Tammi's publishing environment.
Aftermath
The Punainen jättiläinen name continued to be used for manga publishing, with the imprint working together with Sangatsu Manga under Tammi's facilities.
Recent events
- 2025
Punainen jättiläinen publishes Parasyte[1]
Product launch
Parasyte was listed among the imprint's later Finnish manga releases.
- 2020
Punainen jättiläinen publishes One Punch Man[1]
Product launch
One Punch Man was added to the imprint's documented Finnish manga catalogue.
- 2009
Punainen jättiläinen is acquired by Tammi[1]
M&A
Tammi acquired the Finnish manga and manhwa publisher. Punainen jättiläinen subsequently continued its activities using Tammi's publishing infrastructure and in cooperation with Sangatsu Manga.
Sources4 sources
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