VIZ Media

VIZ Media
Other Names	VIZ Communications
Founded	July 1986
Industry	Magazines, manga, picture books, light novels, educational books, reference books, etc.
Headquarters	San Francisco, California
Key People	Seiji Horibuchi (Founder) Ken Sasaki (President, CEO) Brad Woods (Vice President)
Affiliates	Shogakukan Shueisha Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions
Website	[1]

VIZ Media, LLC, headquartered in San Francisco, California, is a major American anime, manga and Japanese entertainment company formed by the merger of VIZ Communications, LLC, and ShoPro Entertainment. The company is currently jointly owned by Japanese publishers Shogakukan and Shueisha, as well as the Shogakugan subsidiary licensing house Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions.

Summary

The first issue of the Western Shonen Jump, published by VIZ in late 2002.

VIZ Media, originally VIZ Communications, was founded in July 1986 by Seiji Horibuchi on behalf of Shogakugan. Horibuchi, already a successful importer of Japanese cultural items in San Francisco, became a fan of manga after reading Domu: A Child's Dream while overseas in Japan, and gained approval to import Shogakugan's titles from its then-current director, Masahiro Ohga, in 1985. Although the company debuted to mediocre sales figures, titles such as Ranma ½ quickly became popular in America, and soon the company was able to expand into other fields such as magazines and anime. Following a merger with Shogakukan subsidiary ShoPro Entertainment in 2005, VIZ Communications was renamed to VIZ Media, though Horibuchi remained chairman of the company.

VIZ's first magazine project would be a Western edition of Shueisha's popular Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, retitled as simply Shonen Jump (2002-2012). Prior to the magazine's 2002 debut, Shueisha themselves purchased an equity interest in VIZ Communications, granting them both full access to their extensive catalogue and additional funding for the magazine's marketing campaign. The first issue of VIZ's Jump, accompanied by a major marketing push, was published on November 26, 2002, and quickly met with commercial success. Fueled by Shonen Jump, VIZ would later produce several other manga-related magazines, including Animerica (1993-2004) and its companion magazine Animerica Extra (1998-2004), an adult-oriented seinen and josei manga magazine titled PULP (1997-2002), and the shōjo monthly magazine Shojo Beat (2005-2009).

Following Shonen Jump's "switch to a digital format" in 2012 and the subsequent end of its successor, Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha, in 2018, the company now offers an integrated digital product line of Weekly Shonen Jump serializations and graphic novels, while continuing to license and distribute physical releases for manga and anime.

BAOH

In 1989, twelve years prior to Shonen Jump, VIZ would acquire the license to Hirohiko Araki's second serialized manga, Baoh the Visitor, from Shueisha. Under the shortened title of BAOH, VIZ began releasing the manga in monthly issues in December, with each issue containing two to three chapters of the serialization. The manga proved to be financially unsuccessful, however, and it would take until 1995 for VIZ to re-release it in a form similar to its two tankōbon volumes. Although Araki was credited as the "creator of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" in the author biography of each volume, no plans were in place to localize the JoJo series at the time.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (Paperback)

An advertisement for Part 3 published alongside a preview in Shonen Jump.

Main article: List of English Stardust Crusaders Chapters (Paperback)

After an English release of its OVA adaptation entered production, VIZ would finally begin work on a localization of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure manga, more specifically its Stardust Crusaders arc. Prior to the beginning of its proper publication, VIZ published a preview of the Part's second chapter in the August 2005 issue of Shonen Jump. The first volume of the Part released soon after, on November 1, 2005. The volume publication lacked the redrawn sound effects seen in the magazine preview, but included the Part's first chapter from the previous volume alongside an exclusive prologue chapter detailing the events of Part 1. Similarly to the OVA, disappointing sales figures led to an inconsistent release schedule for the manga, with VIZ's release of the Part's final volume occurring on December 7, 2010.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (Hardcover)

Main article: List of English JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Chapters

On May 3, 2014, a month after Crunchyroll acquired the license to JoJo's anime adaptation, VIZ announced that Stardust Crusaders would be receiving a reprint to coincide with the anime release at the time. VIZ further announced in July that, in addition to publishing Stardust Crusaders digitally, they had also acquired the licenses to publish the JoJonium editions of Phantom Blood and Battle Tendency, maintaining the cover illustrations, color pages, and author afterwords from those releases. The two Parts would initially be released digitally, beginning in September 2014, before later being released in physical hardcover editions quarterly from February 2015 onward. After the JoJonium release of Part 3 completed in Japan, VIZ acquired the license to and subsequently distributed the new hardcover edition of Stardust Crusaders from November 2016 through February 2019.

The first volume of VIZ's deluxe hardcover edition of Part 4.

On July 6, 2018, VIZ announced at their Anime Expo panel that they would continue their hardcover publication of the series with Diamond is Unbreakable, despite the Japanese JoJonium edition ceasing publication at the end of Part 3. VIZ's exclusive "deluxe hardcover editions" would instead be based on the original tankōbon release, but with unique cover designs for each Part and the inclusion of magazine color pages provided by Shueisha. In addition, most of VIZ's volumes would include the contents of two tankōbon volumes, with exceptions at the ends of Parts with odd volume counts. Part 4's English hardcover release began publication on May 6, 2019, and its final volume released on May 4, 2021.

On October 20, 2020, VIZ announced that they had licensed Part 5 of the manga. Part 5 would be published in the same format as Part 4, using the name Golden Wind to match the anime adaptation. The physical publication of Golden Wind ran from August 3, 2021 to August 22, 2023. Stone Ocean's physical release would follow suit, releasing from November 2023 through March 2025, although VIZ had already begun publishing chapters of the Part digitally on a weekly basis. As of late 2024, VIZ has announced plans to publish Steel Ball Run as well.

Other Merchandise

Main article: List of English Spin-Off Chapters and Other Works

Main article: Home Video Releases

Having been named the official North American merchandise licensee for the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series in February 2015, VIZ Media oversees the licensing and development of a comprehensive range of products based on the celebrated property across several key consumer categories.

VIZ's paperback edition of Crazy Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak revives their original logo for the series.

In addition to the main series and BAOH, VIZ Media has also published other works related to the JoJo franchise. In February 2022, VIZ revealed their plans to release the two volumes of the Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan spin-off series as deluxe hardcovers, which they did in September and December of the same year respectively. Crazy Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak, localized as Shining Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak, has also been licensed by VIZ for paperback release from December 2024 through April 2025.

At Anime Expo 2016, alongside the release of Part 4, VIZ also revealed a forthcoming English release in June 2017 of Hirohiko Araki's newest book at the time, Hirohiko Araki's Manga Techniques (under the altered title of Manga in Theory and Practice: The Craft of Creating Manga). VIZ has also licensed the artbooks JoJo 6251 and JOJO A-GO!GO!, with English releases following in May 2023 and October 2024 respectively. Alongside Steel Ball Run, VIZ announced that they would also be releasing the JoJo collaboration issue of Globe-Trotter Travel Guidebook (retitled JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Globetrotter Guidebook) sometime in the summer of 2025.

VIZ also holds distribution licenses for the anime adaptation in America and Australia. At Anime Expo 2016, the company confirmed that they would be releasing every season of the anime on Blu-ray, beginning with the first season. VIZ Media's releases of the anime each contain half of a single season, along with bonus features such as art booklets and interviews with the cast of the English dub.

Name Variants

Main article: Name Variants

In order to avoid lawsuits, some of the character's names were changed in the localization, mainly either being carried over from, or to All-Star Battle, Eyes of Heaven and/or Crunchyroll subtitles of their Anime series after 2014. Some by alternating part of their names while others were completely changed. In 2013, a Facebook post was made from VIZ briefly talking about JoJo with how the media Araki references within the story is from either fashion, music or real people. The problematic ones of the two are fashion and music, as licensing for just even the namesakes can be hard to afford/acquire, VIZ referred to it being a "lawyer's nightmare". So instead VIZ uses "copyright free" names as an official English substitute.

Phantom BloodBattle TendencyStardust CrusadersDiamond is UnbreakableVento AureoStone OceanOther

Localization

Name Variants:

Tarkus & Bruford

Tarukus & Blueford

Page, Jones, Plant and Bornnam

Payju, Jones, Pluton and Barnum

Localization

Name Variants:

Donovan

Donobang

Santana

Santviento

Messina & Loggins

Meshina & Loggs

Suzi Q

Suzie Q

Localization

Name Variants:

Muhammad Avdol

Mohammed Avdol

Enya the Hag

Enyaba

Devo the Cursed

Soul Sacrifice

J. Geil

Centerfold

Steely Dan

Rubber Soul (2005)

Dan of Steel (JoJonium)

Oingo & Boingo

Zenyatta & Mondatta (2005)

Bastet

Bast

Sethan

Set

Daniel J. D'Arby & Telence T. D'Arby

D'Arby the Elder & D'Arby the Younger

Chibi & Buchi

Tiny & Butch

Kenny G.

Billie Jean

Vanilla Ice

Cool Ice

Roses

Rosas

Localization

Name Variants:

Crazy Diamond

Shining Diamond

Echoes

Reverb

Bad Company

Worse Company

Surface

Show Off

Red Hot Chili Pepper

Chili Pepper

Killer Queen

Deadly Queen

Mukade Shopkeeper

Mukade Shoe Store Owner

Sheer Heart Attack

Heart Attack

Atom Heart Father

Heart Father

Highway Star

Highway Go Go

Boy II Man

Boys Man Man

Super Fly

Superfly

Enigma

Misterioso

Cheap Trick

Cheap Trap

Localization

Name Variants:

Gold Experience

Golden Wind

Sticky Fingers

Zipper Man

Black Sabbath

Shadow Sabbath

Moody Blues

Moody Jazz

Soft Machine

Tender Machine

Sex Pistols

Six Bullets

Kraft Work

Arts & Crafts

Aerosmith

Li'l Bomber

Little Feet

Tiny Feet

Purple Haze

Purple Smoke

Man in the Mirror

Mirror Man

Grateful Dead

Thankful Death

Beach Boy

Fisher Man

Baby Face

Babyhead

White Album

White Ice

King Crimson

Emperor Crimson

Clash

Crush

Talking Head

Talking Mouth

Notorious B.I.G

Notorious Chase

Spice Girl

Spicy Lady

Metallica

Metallic

Green Day

Green Tea

Oasis

Sanctuary

Gold Experience Requiem

Golden Wind Requiem

Rolling Stones

Prophecy Stones

Localization

Name Variants:

Stone Free

Stone Ocean

Goo Goo Dolls

G. G. Dolls

Manhattan Transfer

Downtown Transfer

Whitesnake

Pale Snake

Kiss

Smack

Highway to Hell

Highway to Death

Foo Fighters

F.F.

Marilyn Manson

Mary Lynn Manson

Savage Garden

Savage Guardian

Weather Report

Weather Forecast

Jumpin' Jack Flash

Jumpin' Jack Spark

Enrico Pucci

Father Pucchi

Sports Maxx

Sports Maxmimum

Limp Bizkit

Limp Viscuit

Narciso Anasui

Narciso Anastasia

Diver Down

Diver Drive

Viviano Westwood

Vivano Westwood

Planet Waves

Starlight Waves

Dragon's Dream

Drake's Dream

D an G

D an' G

Yo-Yo Ma

YA-YA MA

Green, Green Grass of Home

Green, Green, Green Home

Miuccia Miuller

Mew Mew

Jail House Lock

Jailhouse Lock

Bohemian Rhapsody

Bohemian Ecstatic

Sky High

Sky Guy

Under World

Netherworld

Weather Report

Weather Forecast

Wes Bluemarine

Wes Aquamarine

C-MOON

Sea Moon

Made in Heaven

Maiden Heaven

Localization

Name Variants:

Sumire

Violet

Sunny Stefen Nozzo

Notsuo

Dr. Kasuminome

Professor Hazyeye

Dress Organization

Judas Group

22nd Man

Number 22

Baoh parasite

Parasitic Worm Baoh

Shirasawa

Yuji

Vagrant

Tramp

Mutsu-kabe Hill Yokai

Spirit of Mutsu-kabe Hill

Censorship / Changes

Hardcover (left), Paperback (right)

In the original 2005 Stardust Crusaders release, a few scenes involving animal death were changed. In the Yellow Temperance fight, a panel in which a dog lost its head was changed so that, while the dog still died, it wasn't as bloody. In the Death Thirteen fight, the death of another dog was changed to that of a giant rat, with dialogue altered to remove its owner's association with it.

In 2020, Hirohiko Araki altered the inking on one of the female inmates in Stone Ocean chapter 5, and the banana she is eating was redrawn into a sandwich to avoid allusions to racial caricatures and blackface. This change was published in Shueisha's reprinted tankobons of volume 1 in Japan, Ivrea's Spanish release, and VIZ Media's digital chapter in 2022 and volume release in 2023.

• 

  JoJonium (Left), Paperback (Right)

• 

  Dog to Rat 2

• 

  Poop removed

• 

  Altered inmate in Stone Ocean

Errors

Chapter / Explanation

VIZ Translation

Correct Translation

Original Japanese

Chapter 12

George says that he was born into poverty as well, when he is actually speaking hypothetically.

"I, too, was born into poverty, and may have made the same choice as you did."

"If I, too, was born into poverty, I might have done the same thing."

わたしも貧困の中に生まれたなら同じことをしたかもしれない……

Chapter 115

Joseph says that he met Avdol in Egypt instead of saying that Avdol is from Egypt.

"This is a friend of mine. We met in Egypt three years ago. His name is Avdol."

"This is a friend from Egypt that I met three years ago, named Avdol."

三年前に知り合ったエジプトの友人アヴドゥルだ

Gallery

• 

  Hirohiko Araki's author biography from BAOH

• 

  Afterword to VIZ's release of BAOH

• 

  Ad insert in the final volume of the OVA's English release

• 

  Paperback preview of VIZ's JoJonium release

• 

  VIZ Media addressing copyright changes on Facebook

Videos

In December 2020 VIZ Media posted a small motion comic video on their Twitter account to promote the release of Diamond is Unbreakable Volume 7. In September 2021, VIZ Media posted a second motion comic promoting Golden Wind Volume 1.

Promotional Videos