What VIZ Media does

VIZ Media, LLC is a privately held California-based company founded in 1986 and headquartered in San Francisco, operating as the largest English-language manga and anime publisher and distributor in North America. The company licenses and publishes content from major Japanese publishers (notably Shueisha and Shogakukan) under trademarks such as SHONEN JUMP (licensed from Shueisha) and its own imprints Shojo Beat, Haikasoru, Studio Ghibli Library, and VIZ Originals. Its catalog spans 300+ manga series and 20,000+ digital chapters.

The core technology product is a digital publishing and distribution platform comprising Shonen Jump (digital edition of Weekly Shonen Jump, $3.99/month with 20,000+ chapter vault and simulpub release cadence) and VIZ Manga (simulpub platform, $1.99/month with 10,000+ chapter library), both available via iOS and Android apps and viz.com. Anime distribution is operated through licensing partnerships with Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, and the Toonami block on Adult Swim; theatrical distribution is handled via a partnership with Fathom Entertainment. Physical manga volumes, Blu-rays, and merchandise are sold through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, comic book shops, Kindle/Google Play/iBooks/Nook, and proprietary storefronts (VIZ Shop and Shonen Jump Store).

Revenue is generated through five streams: digital subscriptions (Shonen Jump $3.99/month, VIZ Manga $1.99/month), physical manga and graphic novel sales, anime licensing and Blu-ray/DVD distribution, direct merchandise sales, and IP licensing to third-party manufacturers (e.g., JAKKS Pacific for Naruto toys). Primary end customers are English-speaking manga readers and anime fans across 10 countries (US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Philippines, Singapore, India); secondary B2B customers include streaming platforms, major retailers, and merchandise licensees.

Name

VIZ Media

Legal name

VIZ Media, LLC

Website

https://viz.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

VIZ Media is the largest North American publisher of Japanese manga and anime, licensing 300+ series from Shueisha and Shogakukan, and distributing via Shonen Jump and VIZ Manga digital subscriptions ($3.99/$1.99 monthly), anime streaming on Hulu/Netflix/Disney+, theatrical releases, and branded merchandise storefronts for English-speaking fans globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Manga Publishing & Anime Distribution

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Software Publishers (513210), Book Retailers and News Dealers (45921)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Manga Publishing (Japanese & Global) (MPAJAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Comics, Manga & Serialized Reading Platforms (BPAMAJAJ), Comic Books, Graphic Novels & Manga Retail (CRALAAAF), Anime & Niche Genre Streaming Platforms (Horror/Faith/Indie/etc.) (MPACAAAH)

Keywords

• Manga publishing
• Digital manga subscription
• Anime licensing
• Japanese content distribution
• Simulpub manga platform

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Digital Subscriptions: Monthly subscription revenue from Shonen Jump ($3.99/month) and VIZ Manga ($1.99/month) services, offering access to digital manga vaults and simulpub content
2. Physical Manga Sales: Sales of print manga volumes and graphic novels through retail partners including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, VIZ Shop, and comic book stores
3. Anime Licensing and Distribution: Licensing anime titles to streaming platforms (Hulu, Netflix, Disney+) and selling Blu-ray/DVD copies through retailers
4. Merchandise Sales: Sales of anime and manga merchandise through VIZ Shop and Shonen Jump Store, including apparel, plushies, figures, and accessories
5. Licensing IP for Merchandise: Licensing VIZ-owned intellectual property (such as Naruto) to third-party manufacturers for toys, costumes, and merchandise production

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

VIZ Media is the largest publisher of manga in North America, publishing 300+ manga series in print and digital formats and operating subscription reading platforms (VIZ Manga at $1.99/month and Shonen Jump at $3.99/month) that deliver simultaneous-release chapters backed by a vault of 20,000+ chapters. Beyond publishing, VIZ licenses anime to major streamers (Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, Adult Swim's Toonami), distributes anime on Blu-ray/DVD, and sells branded merchandise through the VIZ Shop and Shonen Jump Store e-commerce storefronts.

Product overview

VIZ Media operates a multi-platform manga and anime publishing and distribution business. Its core digital products are VIZ Manga (a digital manga service with free simulpub chapters and a 10,000+ chapter subscription library at $1.99/month) and Shonen Jump (a digital magazine subscription replicating Weekly Shonen Jump with 20,000+ chapters for $3.99/month). The company also publishes print manga volumes across over 300 series, distributes anime via streaming (Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, Toonami) and physical media (Blu-ray/DVD), runs the VIZ Originals imprint for creator-submitted original graphic novels, and operates two e-commerce stores (VIZ Shop and Shonen Jump Store) for branded merchandise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shojo Beat: An imprint of VIZ Media dedicated to shōjo manga, featuring titles targeted at teenage and young adult female audiences.
• Studio Ghibli Library
• Haikasoru
• VIZ Originals

Products and services

• VIZ Manga Digital manga subscription service offering same-day-as-Japan simulpub chapters of selected series plus a 10,000+ chapter library for $1.99/month, targeted at English-speaking manga readers.
• Shonen Jump (digital membership) Digital English edition of Weekly Shonen Jump with free access to the newest 3 chapters of ongoing series and a subscription vault of 20,000+ manga chapters for $3.99/month.
• VIZ Originals Imprint publishing original graphic novels developed by manga-inspired creators in fantasy, adventure, romance, horror, sci-fi, and slice-of-life genres, targeting YA and adult readers; accepts submissions via an online portal.
• VIZ Anime (distribution & licensing) Licensing and distribution of anime titles (TV series and movies) via streaming platforms (Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, Adult Swim/Toonami), digital download, and physical Blu-ray/DVD releases.
• VIZ Shop Official online merchandise store selling branded apparel, plushies, posters, figures, and T-shirts for franchises including Naruto, One Piece, RWBY, and others, with fast shipping and easy returns.
• Shonen Jump Store Official U.S. Shonen Jump Store for exclusive and limited merchandise drops from manga series, produced in very limited quantities.
• VIZ Mobile Apps (VIZ Manga and Shonen Jump) Native iOS and Android applications delivering the VIZ Manga and Shonen Jump reading services; VIZ Manga requires iOS 14.0+ or Android 6.0+, Shonen Jump requires iOS 13.0+ or Android 6.0+.

Quantifiable outcome

• 54,130 copies sold in first week for Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 30 - highest single manga volume first-week sales record in the US
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CypiccoreTechnology or Integration · 27 April 2026Cypic is the animation studio producing the Kagurabachi TV anime adaptation scheduled for April 2027. VIZ Media is involved in the global distribution partnership with Shueisha and CyberAgent.
• Fathom EntertainmentcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 13 April 2026Fathom Entertainment and VIZ Media brought Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity to US cinemas for a limited theatrical engagement from June 25-29, featuring both subtitled and English-dubbed versions alongside exclusive behind-the-scenes content. Fathom Entertainment is owned by AMC Entertainment, Cinemark Holdings, and Regal Cineworld Group.
• Studio PierrotcoreTechnology or Integration · 13 April 2026Studio Pierrot is the animation studio producing Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity. VIZ Media partners with Studio Pierrot for theatrical releases and broadcast distribution of the anime adaptation.
• MrBeastminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 February 2026YouTuber MrBeast partnered with Naruto Shippuden and VIZ Media to launch a limited-edition apparel collection featuring jackets, hoodies, hats, and graphic T-shirts. The first wave of merchandise was available through the MrBeast online store beginning February 16, with MrBeast describing it as a 'full-circle moment' as he grew up watching the series.
• Streaming Platforms (Hulu, Netflix, Disney+)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVIZ Media licenses anime content to major streaming platforms including Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, and the Adult Swim Toonami block for distribution to consumers in North America and internationally.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Crunchyroll: Owned by Sony, Crunchyroll is the dominant Western anime streaming platform and a direct competitor to VIZ's anime licensing distribution. Both monetize anime fandom in English-speaking markets, though Crunchyroll focuses on SVOD streaming while VIZ spans print, digital manga, and anime licensing.
• Aniplex of America: US arm of Aniplex (Sony), distributes and produces anime including Demon Slayer and Fate series. Competes with VIZ on the anime licensing side and could disintermediate VIZ by going directly to streaming platforms.
• Bandai Namco Entertainment: Major Japanese anime/manga franchise operator spanning games, merchandise, and animation. Comparable as a broad incumbent monetizing Japanese IP in Western markets and a potential licensor or competitor to VIZ on multi-media IP rights.
• ComiXology: Amazon-owned digital comics platform that distributes VIZ titles alongside other publishers. Comparable as a digital comics distribution channel and ecosystem peer, though ComiXology is a marketplace rather than a publisher.
• Manga Plus by Shueisha: Shueisha's official global simulpub platform for Weekly Shonen Jump and other titles. Most directly comparable as a simulpub competitor and represents the upstream licensor's potential disintermediation play against VIZ.

Direct peers

• Yen Press: Joint venture between Kadokawa and Shueisha (similar to VIZ's Japanese publisher ties), Yen Press publishes English-language manga and light novels. Most directly comparable as a competing manga publisher sourcing from Japanese partners.
• Kodansha USA: US subsidiary of Kodansha, one of Japan's largest manga publishers. Directly competes with VIZ for English-language manga rights and reader attention across similar genres.
• Seven Seas Entertainment: Independent English-language manga and light novel publisher with a comparable licensing-driven business model. Competes with VIZ for North American shelf and digital manga share, particularly in seinen and shojo segments.
• TOKYOPOP: Pioneer English-language manga publisher that has operated print and digital manga distribution since the late 1990s. Comparable as a competing licensed manga publisher targeting similar Western fan segments.

Emerging players

• Webtoon Entertainment: Digital serialized comics platform with a strong mobile subscription and free-tier model, comparable to VIZ Manga and Shonen Jump apps. Overlaps with VIZ in digital comics distribution, though focused on Korean webtoons rather than Japanese manga.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VIZMedia
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/vizmedia
• Facebookfacebook.com/anna.walkowska
• Instagraminstagram.com/vizmedia
• TikToktiktok.com/@vizmedia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/viz-media

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VIZ Media