Jump to content

Viz Media

From Alfawiki
Viz Media, LLC
Company typePrivate
IndustryEntertainment
PredecessorViz, LLC
Founded1986
FounderSeiji Horibuchi
Headquarters
San Francisco, California
,
United States
Area served
United States, international (Europe, South America, Philippines, India)
Key people
Ken Sasaki (President and CEO), Seiji Horibuchi (Chairman)
ProductsManga publication, anime licensing, film and television licensing
OwnerShueisha, Shogakukan, Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions (ShoPro)

Viz Media, LLC is a U.S.-based entertainment firm located in San Francisco, California, focusing on the publication of manga and the licensing of Japanese anime, films, and television programs.

Established in 1986 under the name Viz, LLC by Seiji Horibuchi, the company combined with ShoPro Entertainment in 2005 to create Viz Media. Ownership is shared among Japanese publishers Shueisha and Shogakukan, as well as the production entity Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions (ShoPro). By 2017, Viz Media commanded a 23% portion of the U.S. graphic novel retail market, positioning it as the leading publisher within that sector.

Origins

Seiji Horibuchi, originally from Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, relocated to California in 1975 before settling in San Francisco. After initially exporting American cultural products to Japan, he developed an interest in bringing Japanese manga to the American audience after encountering Katsuhiro Otomo's Domu: A Child's Dream in 1985. With an initial investment of $200,000 provided by Masahiro Ohga, managing director of Shogakukan, Horibuchi launched Viz Communications in 1986.

The company's debut publications in 1987 included Legend of Kamui, though early sales were limited due to a small market for manga. To increase appeal, Viz diversified into general publishing by releasing art books in 1992 and repositioned manga as graphic novels suitable for mainstream bookstores. This approach resulted in dedicated manga sections and boosted sales significantly, particularly after securing the license for the well-known series Ranma ½.

Expansion continued as Viz entered the anime distribution arena and introduced an English version of Weekly Shōnen Jump under the title Shonen Jump. The acquisition of popular titles like Inuyasha further strengthened its catalog. By the late 1990s, Viz extended its reach internationally into European and South American territories.

Joint ownership with Shueisha (2000–2005)

In 2002, Shueisha joined as a co-owner of Viz, prompting both Shogakukan and Shueisha to release their manga exclusively through Viz. This collaboration expanded Viz's market presence and global footprint, likely as a strategic response to competition from Raijin Comics, a rival publisher formed by former Shueisha personnel.

Despite this exclusivity arrangement, certain exceptions were made: Shueisha permitted some subsidiaries such as DC Comics' CMX Manga to license titles including Tenjho Tenge (which was later re-licensed by Viz) and Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne. Dark Horse Comics obtained licenses for series like Gantz, Lady Snowblood, Shadow Lady, The Monkey King, Blood Blockade Battlefront, and CLAMP's Gate 7. Other licensors comprised Udon Entertainment with The Rose of Versailles and Seven Seas Entertainment acquiring titles such as Hayate X Blade, To Love Ru, Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs, and Super HxEros. Tokyopop held licenses for Kodocha, Marmalade Boy, and Digimon Next, while Manga Planet licensed Silver Fang -The Shooting Star Gin-. Kodansha USA controlled American rights for the Battle Angel Alita manga.

Shogakukan authorized Tokyopop to license works like Corrector Yui and Yumi Tsukirino's Stitch!, leveraging Tokyopop’s exclusive rights to Disney manga in North America. Seven Seas also licensed several series including Dai Dark and Polar Bear Cafe, whereas Digital Manga secured rights to Osamu Tezuka's The Amazing 3. Udon Entertainment acquired licensing for the manga version of Infini-T Force despite Viz managing the anime license. Dark Horse also licensed titles such as Crying Freeman, New Lone Wolf and Cub, and Mob Psycho 100. Yen Press, part of Hachette Book Group, licensed series including Azumanga Daioh, Silver Spoon, and My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU. Notably, Yen Press’s licensing often involved intricate arrangements due to overlapping rights involving Shogakukan and ASCII Media Works.

In March 2010, Shogakukan collaborated with Fantagraphics Books to publish a curated line of manga overseen by editor Matt Thorn. In 2003, reacting to Shogakukan and Shueisha’s partnership with Viz, Kodansha partnered with Del Rey Manga to strengthen their foothold in the North American market.

ShoPro Merger and Organizational Changes (2005–2013)

In 2005, Viz Communications combined operations with ShoPro Entertainment, the American branch of Shogakukan, resulting in the rebranding to Viz Media. Horibuchi assumed the role of chairman and initiated Viz Pictures to handle distribution of select live-action films within the U.S. market.

On December 17, 2008, Viz Media formed a distribution partnership with Warner Home Video (currently known as Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment) to manage both new releases and existing titles. While Viz maintained control over licensing and production, this collaboration utilized Warner’s broad distribution capabilities to extend Viz’s market presence. CEO Hidemi Fukuhara regarded this alliance as a strategic effort to broaden their anime portfolio.

Due to economic pressures, Viz Media conducted staff reductions: layoffs took place in February 2009 and again in May 2010, when 60 positions were eliminated alongside the closure of the New York office. Despite these workforce adjustments, the company confirmed that all product lines and business functions would continue uninterrupted.

Leadership shifted on April 2, 2012, when Ken Sasaki, formerly senior vice-president and general manager, succeeded Hidemi Fukuhara as president and CEO. Fukuhara continued as vice-president, ensuring leadership stability throughout this period of reorganization.

Strategic Alliances and Growth (2013–present)

In 2013, Viz extended its distribution network to the Philippines, followed by an official release of 75 Shueisha titles in India in 2014, formalizing what had previously been unofficial circulation.

On July 3, 2019, Viz Media entered into a partnership with Crunchyroll for home video and electronic sell-through distribution of selected licensed titles across the U.S. and Canadian markets.

The year 2020 saw Viz achieve a 70% increase in U.S. market sales, paralleling a national manga sales growth of 43%.

Starting July 3, 2020, Funimation began streaming the original Naruto series along with additional Viz titles such as Hunter × Hunter, Sailor Moon R: The Movie, and two Berserk films. By September 9, 2020, Funimation formalized a distribution agreement with Viz Media to expand access to Viz titles on its streaming platform.

On May 9, 2023, Viz launched "Viz Manga," a digital platform offering licenses from Shogakukan and Shueisha that were not available on "Shonen Jump," providing simultaneous English releases of ongoing manga series.

On July 5, 2024, following the shutdown of its original parent company Rooster Teeth, Viz acquired the rights to the RWBY series as part of its content expansion strategy.

Manga Content Ratings

Viz developed distinct manga ratings tailored for its publications based on thematic content; these are separate from television and film rating systems:

  • A (ALL AGES) 6+: Appropriate for all readers; may include mild language and fantasy violence but excludes swearing or nudity.
  • T (TEEN) 13+: Intended for early teenagers and older; may contain violence, occasional strong language, suggestive elements, crude humor, alcohol consumption, or tobacco use.
  • T+ (TEEN PLUS) 16+: Suitable for older teens and adults; potentially featuring intense violence, sexual material, frequent strong language, and substance use.
  • M (MATURE) 18+: Restricted to adults; includes graphic violence, mature subject matter, and explicit content.

While initially applied to some licensed anime titles as well, these ratings were eventually replaced by localized rating standards for animation.

Reception

In 2007, Diamond Comic Distributors honored Viz Media with the Manga Publisher of the Year Gem Award, highlighting its dominant presence in the North American market. The company's catalog boasts best-selling franchises such as Dragon Ball, One Piece, Detective Conan (marketed as Case Closed), Bleach, Inuyasha, and Naruto, which have significantly contributed to its revenue and expansion. Additionally, Viz Media received the Manga Trade Paperback of the Year accolade for the fourteenth volume of the Naruto series.

Publication style

By 2002, Viz Media adopted a dual approach, offering both original right-to-left manga formats alongside mirrored left-to-right versions tailored to Western audiences. Dallas Middaugh, senior marketing manager, pointed out that the left-to-right edition of Neon Genesis Evangelion outsold its right-to-left counterpart by a three-to-one ratio, reflecting consumer preferences for reading convenience. Meanwhile, creator Akira Toriyama insisted that Dragon Ball retain its original orientation to maintain authenticity. Similarly, titles like Vagabond were published right-to-left to preserve historical accuracy. Middaugh also noted that younger readers generally adapted more readily to right-to-left reading styles compared to older demographics.

Selective censorship has been applied by Viz; for instance, Dragon Ball was released in both censored and uncensored formats to meet varying market standards.

Viz Productions

Operating out of Los Angeles, Viz Productions oversees licensing Japanese content—including manga, literature, and films—for American studios, facilitating collaboration between Japanese creators and U.S. companies. Its notable projects include the live-action adaptation of All You Need Is Kill, retitled as Edge of Tomorrow, featuring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, as well as the 2017 U.S. adaptation of the supernatural manga thriller Death Note, directed by Adam Wingard with Nat Wolff in the lead role.

Viz Productions also collaborates with various authors and celebrities; a highlight is the award-winning cosplay film that premiered at the 2013 Tokyo Anime Festival starring JadexRoyal as Kirata Uchiha. The division's portfolio further includes projects connected to Masashi Kishimoto, as well as titles like Full Moon and Last Quarter.

Films

Television

New People

Established in November 2005 as an affiliate of Viz Media, New People (formerly known as Viz Pictures) specializes in distributing live-action Japanese films that appeal to niche audiences interested in "kawaii and cool" pop culture themes. In 2007 alone, it released seven theatrical titles including Train Man: Densha Otoko and Honey and Clover. Initially, DVD distribution was handled by Viz Media; however, New People has since become operationally independent and no longer shares staff or office space with Viz Media. Currently, DVD and Blu-ray releases under New People are not distributed by Viz Media.

Entertainment complex

In August 2009, New People (formerly Viz Pictures and distinct from Viz Media) inaugurated a three-story entertainment venue in San Francisco named New People. The facility features a 143-seat theater dedicated to screening anime and Japanese live-action films. Additional amenities include a cafe, a retail store selling anime and manga merchandise, and shops offering Japanese fashion items.

Neon Alley

Neon Alley was a streaming platform introduced in October 2012 that specialized in anime content. The service was discontinued in May 2016 after its programming was transferred to Hulu, leading to the retirement of the Neon Alley brand.

Animerica

Starting in 1993, Animerica was a monthly publication offering reviews and articles related to anime, manga, and associated media, including preview chapters. In 1998, Animerica Extra debuted as a manga anthology concentrating on shōjo works but ceased publication in 2004.

In April 2005, Viz transformed Animerica into two separate free magazines: one designed primarily for convention advertising and another for general retail distribution, both featuring condensed content with fewer pages. The original monthly edition concluded with its June 2005 issue (Volume 13, No. 6).

As one of the earliest professional magazines dedicated to anime and manga in the United States, Animerica reached a peak circulation of 45,000 copies in 2004. Nevertheless, declining sales and competition from Newtype USA prompted its shift to a free digest format.

Game On! USA

Game On! USA was a monthly publication centered on Japanese video games, particularly those imported to the U.S. market. Serving as the American edition of Shogakukan's Game On!, it ran from May through November 1996, producing seven issues. The magazine featured news, reviews, and articles on classic fighting games such as Street Fighter, Samurai Shodown, and Virtua Fighter. It also serialized manga adaptations based on video games, including Super Street Fighter II: Cammy by Masahiko Nakahira and Samurai Shodown by Kyoichi Nanatsuki and Yuki Miyoshi, along with a standalone story for Battle Arena Toshinden illustrated by character designer Tsukasa Kotobuki.

Manga Vizion

Launched by Viz in 1995, Manga Vizion is regarded as the first manga anthology published within the United States. Its inaugural issue in March 1995 included series such as The Tragedy of P, Samurai Crusader: The Kumomaru Chronicles, and Ogre Slayer. The anthology was published for over three years before it was discontinued in August 1998.

Pulp

Introduced by Viz in 1997, Pulp was a monthly manga anthology aimed at mature readers, featuring titles like Uzumaki, Banana Fish, and Dance till Tomorrow. Despite catering to a specialized audience, the magazine was discontinued in 2002.

Shonen Jump

Debuting in November 2002 with a January 2003 cover date, Shonen Jump is an English-language adaptation of Shueisha's renowned Japanese weekly anthology, Weekly Shōnen Jump. Published monthly for the U.S. audience, it serialized chapters from seven manga series alongside articles covering Japanese culture, manga, anime, video games, and collectibles. To support this initiative, Viz created multiple imprints dedicated to related media including manga volumes, anime DVDs, light novels, fan books, and art books.

To fund the launch, Shueisha acquired an ownership stake in Viz and collaborated on promotional efforts with Cartoon Network, Suncoast Motion Picture Company, and Diamond Comic Distributors. The initial issue surpassed expectations by selling over 300,000 copies through three print runs. By 2008, the magazine sustained strong sales with a monthly circulation of 215,000 and received the ICv2 "Comic Product of the Year" award in 2002.

Shojo Beat

Introduced by Viz in June 2005 as a companion to Shonen Jump, Shojo Beat was a magazine dedicated to shōjo manga. It serialized chapters from six manga series and included features on Japanese culture, fashion, beauty, anime, and manga. To complement the magazine's themes, Viz launched corresponding "Shojo Beat" imprints spanning its manga, light novel, and anime divisions.

Aimed primarily at females aged 16 to 18, the debut issue circulated 20,000 copies, increasing to an average distribution of 38,000 by 2007, with roughly half of those through subscriptions. The publication concluded in May 2009 after releasing 49 issues, attributing its closure to unfavorable economic conditions. Nonetheless, Viz continued issuing titles under the "Shojo Beat" imprint, sustaining its involvement in the shōjo manga sector.

Haikasoru

Haikasoru was established by Viz Media in January 2009 as an imprint focusing on Japanese science fiction novels for English-speaking readers. The initial catalog featured four novels: Issui Ogawa's The Lord of the Sands of Time, Otsuichi's ZOO, Hiroshi Sakurazaka's All You Need Is Kill, and Hōsuke Nojiri's Usurper of the Sun. Additionally, Haikasoru published an expanded edition of Kōshun Takami's Battle Royale and released Project Itoh's Harmony in 2010, which earned a Special Citation from the Philip K. Dick Award. Distribution responsibilities are managed by Simon & Schuster, facilitating Viz Media’s growth into specialized literary markets.

SuBLime

In October 2011, Viz Media launched SuBLime, an imprint dedicated to boys' love manga available in both print and worldwide digital formats. This venture was developed alongside Japanese publisher Libre and parent company Animate to serve the expanding international audience for this genre. While the initial offerings come from Libre's catalog, SuBLime intends to broaden its selection by incorporating works from additional Japanese publishers to strengthen its position within this niche market.

Business partnerships

Viz Media has strategically enhanced its operations through significant alliances. In March 2016, it joined forces with United Talent Agency to create live-action adaptations based on prominent anime properties, capitalizing on cross-media potential. Later, on July 3, 2019, Viz Media formed a partnership with Crunchyroll to distribute select Crunchyroll-licensed titles via home video and electronic sell-through across North America while also streaming chosen Viz titles on Crunchyroll’s platform. This collaboration bolstered Viz’s international reach and digital presence.

Viz Originals
Viz Media

† - Volumes currently being published

†† - Series incomplete in publication

††† - Digital rights owned by Yen Press due to licensing from Square Enix

Previously licensed

  • 2001 Nights

... [list truncated for brevity]


Currently licensed

... [list truncated for brevity]


Previously licensed

... [list truncated for brevity]


Currently licensed

  • JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable Chapter I

Previously licensed

... [list truncated for brevity]


Haikasoru

... [list truncated for brevity]

Viz Media

... [list truncated for brevity]

Shojo Beat

... [list truncated for brevity]

Shonen Jump

... [list truncated for brevity]

Studio Ghibli Library

... [list truncated for brevity]


Previously licensed

... [list truncated for brevity]


Website

Viz Media once provided an email subscription called Viz Mail, which attracted 1,000 subscribers within its initial two weeks. This service included stationery and letterhead designs featuring characters from Viz’s catalog.

While Viz Media holds licensing rights to distribute in Canada, it has been criticized for the lack of online anime simulcasts available to Canadian viewers.

See also

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=Viz_Media&oldid=10212"