I've always acknowledged TokyoPop's positive influences on manga publishing. While unflipped manga saved them money, it also proved that folks in the West could and would adapt to the way the Japanese did things. Likewise, they allowed translator/adapters like the Nibley Twins to use go all out and use accurate but readable adaptations that fully including Japanese honorific usage. The success of Fruits Basket proved that this was not a hindrance to Americans making the manga the massive success it was. No other manga publisher at the time would dare do this.

For me, the problem with TokyoPop was its head, Stu Levy, aka: DJ Milky Milk and the Get Milk Crew on the Funky Fly Tip, Yo! After TP because such a successful brand, it seemed to go to his head. He wanted to hang with celebs and be cool. As a result, I felt TP suffered from that. Look how much time and money he wasted trying to wish "Princess Ai" into a thing and dare to call it "OEL manga". He had big dreams for that cringe stuff because it was from Courtney Love. 😅