VIZ MEDIA AND UNITED TALENT AGENCY ANNOUNCE NEW CONTENT DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP
Nation’s
Leading Manga & Anime Company Will Work Closely With Premier
International Talent Agency To Develop Live-Action Content Based On
Popular Japanese Entertainment Properties
San Francisco, CA, March 23, 2016 –
VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and
licensor of manga and anime in North America, has partnered with the
premier global talent and literary agency, United Talent Agency (UTA),
to develop a diverse range of live-action programming based on titles
from VIZ Media’s extensive catalog of manga and anime properties.
The partnership
will create significant new opportunities to further capitalize on the
strong interest in Japanese pop culture and entertainment brands
expressed by the Hollywood and international film studio communities,
the broadcast industry, and a burgeoning range of emerging multimedia
and online content producers.
“We
are excited to start this partnership to push the boundaries of
storytelling, innovation and character through VIZ Media’s prolific
portfolio,” said UTA’s Howie Sanders, Co-Head, Book Department.
“The
UTA partnership represents an important new direction for VIZ Media and
our colleagues in Japan,” says Brad Woods, Chief Marketing Officer of
VIZ Media. “Bringing the rich stories of manga and anime to life in new
ways is an exciting opportunity with tremendous potential. UTA is an
innovator that shares our vision, and their proven track record and
strong relationships throughout the domestic and international
entertainment sectors will be important factors as we move forward.”
VIZ
Media is the industry leader in international manga and anime
publishing, distribution and licensing. The company’s substantial roster
includes massively popular titles such as BLEACH, DEATH NOTE, NARUTO,
ONE-PUNCH MAN, ONE PIECE and TOKYO GHOUL, which are routinely featured
on the BookScan Top 50 and New York Times bestseller lists. VIZ
Media is the top manga publisher in the U.S. and one of the top three
graphic novel publishers overall. Founded in San Francisco in 1986, VIZ
Media marks its 30th Anniversary this summer.
About United Talent Agency
United
Talent Agency is a premier global talent and literary agency
representing many of the world's most acclaimed figures in every new and
emerging area of entertainment and media, including motion pictures,
television, music, digital, broadcast news, books, theatre, video games,
fine art and live entertainment. The agency is also globally recognized
in the areas of film finance, film packaging, branding, licensing,
endorsements and representation of production talent. UTA additionally
provides corporate consulting, venture funding and strategic advisory
services to companies ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies.
In 2015, UTA acquired The Agency Group, the world’s largest independent
music agency, to form UTA Music, a leading music touring and
representation practice. UTA has offices in Los Angeles, New York,
London, Nashville, Toronto, Miami and Malmo, Sweden.
About VIZ Media, LLC
Established
in 1986, VIZ Media is the premiere company in the field of publishing,
animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing. Along with
its popular digital magazine WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster
properties like NARUTO, DRAGON BALL, SAILOR MOON, and POKÉMON, VIZ Media
offers an extensive library of titles and original content in a wide
variety of book and video formats, as well as through official licensed
merchandise. Owned by three of Japan's largest publishing and
entertainment companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and
Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is dedicated to
bringing the best titles for English-speaking audiences worldwide.
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