Exciting Opportunities Unveiled by VIZ Media for American Writers

Highlights

VIZ Media is launching a portal for American creators to submit their work and potentially be published alongside manga legends like Rumiko Takahashi and Junji Ito.

The platform will showcase bite-sized original manga stories from a range of genres. It will include contributions from both new and experienced writers. Taking inspiration from the Japanese publishing format of one-shot stories, successful submissions will have the chance to be licensed, turned into ongoing series, merchandise, and even anime adaptations. #VIZMedia

VIZ Media, a prominent manga and anime licensor and distributor, is set to launch a unique platform. This portal will enable aspiring American creators to submit their work, giving them the opportunity to have it published alongside renowned legends such as Rumiko Takahashi, Junji Ito, and Haro Aso. These selected works will then be available on the VIZ Manga digital service. The platform boasts a diverse range of "bite-size" original manga stories across various genres, including horror, comedy, romance, and action. Both debutant and seasoned writers have contributed to these selected works, which will now form part of the prestigious VIZ Originals catalog. Acquisitions for the next big hit will be overseen by a key player in the industry. The official launch of the VIZ Media Originals Submissions Portal is slated for Wednesday, October 18th; however, interested parties can already preview the site.

Under the guidance of Hisashi Sasaki, Editor-in-Chief of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump, the renowned magazine witnessed the serialization of several immensely popular titles, such as Eiichiro Oda's One Piece, Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto, and Tite Kubo's BLEACH. Sasaki will now extend his expertise to assist selected creators, marking the first-ever opportunity of its kind in the US. Previously, aspiring creators had to travel to Tokyo to receive similar feedback.

This initiative draws inspiration from the proven Japanese model for manga serialization. It involves creators publishing a short story ranging between 15 and 60 pages, which is then evaluated by an established audience. Based on their verdict, the story may be chosen for serialization as a manga.

Editor-at-Large Sasaki expressed her excitement about implementing the yomikiri storytelling method, which has a successful history in Japan, at VIZ for American writers. As she works with aspiring mangaka, she looks forward to keeping fans enthralled and eager for more of the captivating Japanese pop culture.

Successful one-shots open up various opportunities, such as licensing, establishing an intellectual property (IP) as a continuing series, potential for both print and digital publishing, merchandise production, and the potential for the one-shot to be adapted into an anime series, fulfilling the Bakuman dream.

Since 2020, VIZ Originals has been providing manga-inspired graphic novels and manga adaptations of popular culture. Their notable works include the webcomic Devil's Candy by Ren and Bikkuri, the manga adaptation of Rainbow Rowell's award-winning novel Fangirl, and the horror anthology Betwixt. Betwixt is a collaboration between Western and Japanese creators and features a cover and foreword by renowned horror legend Junji Ito.

Source: VIZ Media Newsletter