Viz enters Europe

Viz Media have announced that they will bring their manga and animation series to Europe via a newly created European branch. According to AnimeNation the company brand in Europe will be “Viz Media B.V.” and will be co-owned by Viz and a London company. The European Viz offices open in Amsterdam on October 3rd.

• “VIZ Media B.V., with access to some of the most popular manga and animation properties owned by VIZ Media’s parent companies, Shueisha Inc. and Shogakukan Inc., the largest publishing houses in Japan, and ShoPro (Japan) will become a market leader for successful Japanese manga and animation content in Europe. Able to manage all the rights associated with a property, including publishing, retail, broadcast, home entertainment, merchandising and promotional, the venture will be able to exploit fully opportunities across all categories to realize long-term growth of its properties.”

The full press release can be read here.

Viz state that amongst the first titles they intend to bring to Europe are Dekko Bokko Friends, Mar and Bleach.

With Gollancz already bringing Viz’s Shounen-Jump manga to the UK, this could mean that some of Viz’s other manga and anime properties make it to the UK through VIZ Media B.V., either via regular retail outlets or TV broadcast.