VIZ Media has launched a new, wholly-owned Hollywood-based company named VIZ Productions to produce and license live-action theatrical film and television projects based on animated and manga series. The new company will draw on the catalog of manga properties owned by its Japanese parent companies Shogakukan and Shueisha, as well as publisher Hakusensha. VIZ Productions will also be an intermediary between Japanese creative licensors and Hollywood production houses, studios, and agents. They plan to produce or license live action films covering a wide range of graphic novel genres.
“VIZ Productions will give Hollywood a unique conduit to some of the most innovative and unique entertainment properties from Japan. Hollywood has always looked to comic books and graphic novels and has recently discovered the untapped pool of Japanese manga for development into live action features,” said VIZ Productions Head of Production Jason Hoffs.
VIZ Media President and CEO Hidemi Fukuhara said “We are proud to have Jason Hoffs as Head of Production for VIZ Productions. He brings a great deal of knowledge gained from over 15 years in Hollywood and has a keen eye for great stories. Our parents companies Shogakukan and Shueisha are the top manga publishers in Japan and hold a wealth of rich characters and storylines in their extensive catalog. Jason Hoffs will helm the effort to bring these wonderful stories to Hollywood and to build a bridge between the creative talents both in Hollywood and in Tokyo.”
Hoffs started his Hollywood career producing low-budget features in the 1980s, and also worked for a time with Fox Television. In 1990, Scott Rudin Productions brought him on board as Vice President of Productions, where he worked on Addams Family, Sister Act, and The Firm. In 1992, he moved to Amblin, and then on to Dreamworks, where he worked on Casper and Deep Impact. He’s also worked for Sony, and most recently headed Jason Hoffs Productions at Dreamworks. ICv2 has a brand new interview with Hoffs at this link.