Viz

Overview

VIZ Media is a major American publisher and distributor of Japanese manga and anime. Since its founding in 1986, the company has been instrumental in introducing and popularizing manga across North America and other English-speaking territories. VIZ is jointly owned by three Japanese publishing giants: Shueisha, Shogakukan, and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions.

What They Do

VIZ Media specializes in:

• Manga Publishing – Localizing and releasing English-language editions of popular Japanese manga
• Anime Distribution – Licensing and distributing anime titles across TV, DVD, Blu-ray, and streaming platforms
• Digital Platforms – Offering digital manga through their website, apps, and services like Shonen Jump and VIZ Manga
• Merchandising – Producing and licensing official products tied to their top manga and anime series

They also launched a one-shot manga submission program to support new creators, encouraging original short story submissions.

Notable Titles and Franchises

• Dragon Ball
• Naruto
• One Piece
• Bleach
• Death Note
• My Hero Academia
• JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
• Case Closed (Detective Conan)
• Sailor Moon
• Pokémon Adventures

Creator Relationships

VIZ Media works closely with Japanese publishers and top manga creators, ensuring faithful localizations and quality releases. Many of the industry’s biggest names — like Akira Toriyama, Masashi Kishimoto, Eiichiro Oda, and Naoko Takeuchi — have had their work introduced to international readers through VIZ’s efforts.

Cultural Impact

VIZ Media helped spark the global manga boom, bringing fan-favorite series to bookstores, schools, libraries, and streaming platforms around the world. Their influence has helped shape a generation of anime and manga fans, and they continue to lead in delivering Japanese pop culture to international audiences.