Viz Media Launches New One-Shots Manga Series and Creator Training Program
Viz Media, a prominent manga and anime platform, is introducing a new initiative called One-Shots, featuring bite-sized Japanese comic series created by emerging talents. The program is led by former Weekly Shonen Jump editor-in-chief Sasaki Hisashi, known for overseeing Japan’s prestigious Weekly Shonen Jump magazine during a period when some of the most iconic manga creators were being serialized.
The inaugural lineup of One-Shots includes “Cinematic Certitude” by Naf, “Ancient Melody” by Jonathan Lareva, “Skin & Bone” by Josh Tierney and Valentin Serber, and “The Stranger” by Liam Naughton. Additional series will be added on a monthly basis, providing new creators with opportunities to collaborate with Sasaki in the U.S. without the need to travel to Tokyo.
Despite competition from Korean-style webtoons, Viz Media believes in the effectiveness of the Japanese one-shot model for launching debut manga creators. This model involves publishing a complete story ranging from 20-50 pages to an established audience, with a focus on mobile device optimization similar to webtoons.
Successful one-shots at Viz Media can lead to various opportunities such as IP licensing for ongoing digital and print series, anime adaptations, and consumer product development. With a history spanning three decades, Viz Media has evolved from a localization company to a prominent pop culture publisher and producer.
The company’s current endeavors include a vast manga library with 10,000 chapters released simultaneously with Japan, as well as VIZ Originals, which features manga-inspired graphic novels and adaptations of popular books, TV shows, and films. Since its launch in 2020, VIZ Originals has expanded to 14 languages and covers a wide range of genres to cater to diverse audiences.