Viz Media in Charge of North American Development of Sailor Moon Anime, Former Series Also Developing Concurrently

The new anime series Sailor Moon Crystal will begin broadcasting simultaneously around the world in July. In charge of the series’ development in North America is the American manga and anime company Viz Media. From May 16-18, Viz Media participated in the large-scale anime event Anime Central in Chicago and held a panel event on the evening of the 16th. At the panel, they announced that the company had acquired the licensing of Sailor Moon Crystal in North America. In addition, it also acquired the rights to all 200 episodes of the ‘90s TV anime Sailor Moon that broadcast in Japan and the series’ three movies.

Viz Media is now in charge of the North American development of Sailor Moon Crystal. However, the company didn’t touch on how it will be connected to the simultaneous worldwide broadcast beginning on July 5 or its development schedule for the series in North America. On the other hand, they did announce that the old series will be a different version than the one that was broadcast on TV in North America in the ‘90s. To start with, all 200 episodes have been remastered and redubbed. The story, names, and the characters’ relationships with one another will remain faithful to the previous series.

The republished manga volumes have become bestsellers and Sailor Moon Crystal is one of this year’s most noticed Japanese anime in the U.S. This seems to be an appropriate title given that Viz Media has been promoting it full force. However, it’s more than a little surprising that Viz Media acquired the license to the series. Viz Media is owned by the Japanese companies Shogakukan, Shueisha, and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions. The anime Sailor Moon was created by Toei Animation, but the original author was publishing the work through rival company Kodansha. The English version of the manga is also published by Viz Media’s rival, Kodansha USA. So the series is being handled in a way that crosses over several companies.

However, Kodansha doesn’t have a strong foothold in the American anime business, and in recent years Viz Media has had a lack of new hit works. Because of the win-win prospects of this new Sailor Moon endeavour, the companies have joined forces. This will also be noted as a precedent for the way the Japanese anime and manga business should run overseas.

Source: animeanime