VIZ Media, a leading global producer of anime, manga and original graphic novels, has signed a strategic partnership with The Gotham Group to develop film and television adaptations based on its growing portfolio of original intellectual property, including its acclaimed VIZ Originals graphic novel line and the globally recognized RWBY franchise.
The collaboration marks a significant expansion of VIZ Media’s entertainment business, bringing its creator-driven stories to the screen through one of Hollywood’s leading production and management companies. VIZ is the #1 destination for manga in America and home to some of the most prestigious anime brands driving the industry, including One Piece, Demon Slayer, Naruto, and Jujutsu Kaisen.
Under the agreement, The Gotham Group—whose credits include Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Search for WondLa, Washington Black, the Maze Runner franchise and the Bruce Springsteen feature Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere—will identify and package projects drawn from VIZ Media’s expanding library of original IP.
At the heart of the collaboration is RWBY, the landmark animated franchise created by the late Monty Oum. Since its debut in 2013, RWBY has become one of the world’s most successful independently created animation properties, amassing more than 350 million views globally while expanding into publishing, video games, consumer products and multiple spinoffs, including RWBY: Ice Queendom and two Justice League x RWBY animated crossover films.
Widely recognized as the first anime series produced in the United States—and the first Western-produced anime to be dubbed and distributed in Japan—RWBY helped pave the way for a new generation of globally developed anime-inspired storytelling.
“From the beginning, our vision for RWBY has been to build a global franchise that connects with fans across every medium,” said Brad Woods, President and CEO VIZ Media. “With Volume 10 officially underway, we’re excited to take the next step by partnering with The Gotham Group to develop RWBY, alongside our growing portfolio of original graphic novels, for film and television. Together, we look forward to bringing these stories to new audiences around the world.”
“We are thrilled to be working with the iconic VIZ on RWBY and beyond,” said The Gotham Group’s Founder & CEO Ellen Goldsmith-Vein. Its titles have captivated audiences for decades and VIZ has been instrumental in bringing the global phenomena of manga and anime to the US. The RWBY franchise is one of the most prolific out there and we’re excited to be a part of bringing new stories to life.”
The deal also includes VIZ Originals, VIZ Media’s original manga imprint. Featuring works from acclaimed creators Rem & Bikkuri (Devil’s Candy), bestselling author Rainbow Rowell (Fangirl), best-selling Eisner nominee Sam Sattin (Lynx), and globally renowned artist Acky Bright (Galaxic Baseball League) among many others, VIZ Originals continues to champion the next generation of international storytellers shaping the future of manga.
