Just days before the big con in San Diego, VIZ Media announced that they have launched a new wholly-owned Hollywood-based company named VIZ Productions. It’s main agenda is to produce and license live-action theatrical film and television projects that are based on anime and manga titles. The new company will be drawing from a vast catalog of manga properties from companies such as Shogakugan, Shueisha, and Hakusensha. VIZ Productions will also serve as a liaison between Japanese creative licensors and other Hollywood production houses, studios, and agents, and plans to produce or license live action films using a wide variety of genres. The newly appointed Head of Production, Jason Hoffs, had this to say:
VIZ Productions will give Hollywood a unique conduit to some of the most innovative and unique entertainment properties from Japan. Hollywood has always looked to comic books and graphic novels and has recently discovered the untapped pool of Japanese manga for development into live action features. Worldwide, the creators of manga are viewed as artists, and the rich storylines are already a hit with the coveted 12-34 demographic.
With our pool of resources of dramatic storylines and incredible characters coming from manga and animation, we are confident that the development of many new projects will attract the best talent, actors, directors, writers and bring a new array of films to domestic audiences.
Hidemi Fukuhara, President and CEO of VIZ Media was also quoted on Mr. Hoffs new position:
We are proud to have Jason Hoffs as Head of Production for VIZ Productions; he brings a great deal of knowledge gained from over 15 years in Hollywood and has a keen eye for great stories. Our parent companies Shogakukan and Shueisha are the top manga publishers in Japan and hold a wealth of rich characters and storylines in their extensive catalog. Jason Hoffs will helm the effort to bring these wonderful stories to Hollywood and to build a bridge between the creative talents both in Hollywood and in Tokyo.
No word on what their first project will be. Though I’m personally holding out for the one where the teenage couple has an arranged marriage, and the guy turns into a girl whenever he’s splashed with cold water.
Source:Â VIZ Media (Via Press Release)
