Viz Media Appoints Evolution USA As North American Licensing Agent

Written By Samantha Ferreira

Source: Viz Media
Summary:

Viz Media announced that brand management firm Evolution USA, LLC will be working as the company’s North American licensing agent. Evolution will be tasked with representing Viz’s anime and media catalog, expanding retailer relationships, and developing new merchandise. The company will also attempt to identify new licensing and brand expansion opportunities.

Viz Media announced that brand management firm Evolution USA, LLC will be working as the company’s North American licensing agent. Evolution will be tasked with representing Viz’s anime and media catalog, expanding retailer relationships, and developing new merchandise. The company will also attempt to identify new licensing and brand expansion opportunities.

viz-media-horizontal-logo-color

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VIZ MEDIA APPOINTS EVOLUTION USA AS ITS NORTH AMERICAN LICENSING AGENT

Leading International Agency To Develop New Product And Retail Opportunities For VIZ Media’s Extensive Multimedia Entertainment Catalog Across Broad Consumer Markets

San Francisco, CA, September 27, 2016 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, has tapped the premiere global licensing and brand management firm Evolution USA, LLC as its new licensing agent.

Evolution will represent VIZ Media’s vast catalog of anime and original multimedia content and will be focused on developing new merchandise and expanded retail relationships. The team will also identify and monetize North American licensing opportunities to expand VIZ Media’s consumer presence into untapped new vertical markets.

“VIZ Media’s extensive multimedia catalog aligns perfectly with Evolution’s focus on monetizing intellectual properties and character-driven brands into new media, location-based entertainment, consumer products, and fashion apparel,” says Travis J. Rutherford, Evolution‘s President of Licensing & Retail. “There’s tremendous brand loyalty and awareness for VIZ Media’s unique properties, and we’re excited to bring new products to life that will appeal to new and existing fans alike.”

“Partnering with the team at Evolution will be a critical component in the ongoing execution of our consumer licensing strategies,” says Brad Woods, Chief Marketing Officer, VIZ Media. “As we continue to develop and expand our catalog we wanted to have an expert merchandise and retail partner who can help to drive the North American business.”

VIZ Media’s acclaimed catalog of anime, manga and original properties includes smash hit series such as ONE-PUNCH MAN, NARUTO, HUNTER X HUNTER, and JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE. The company’s manga titles are regularly featured on New York Times and Nielsen Bookscan national bestseller lists, and its anime series are widely viewed on major broadcast outlets such as Adult Swim on Cartoon Network. The company marked the 30th Anniversary of its founding this year.

For additional information on anime and manga titles distributed and published by VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

About Evolution USA, LLC

Evolution has the expertise to fully monetize all forms of intellectual properties through licensing and merchandising, digital monetization, promotions, location based entertainment, retail development and brand management on a global basis.  Evolution is also adept at managing manufacturing and distribution, which enables it to develop intellectual properties from concept to the retail shelf. www.evomgt.com

About VIZ Media, LLC

Established in 1986, VIZ Media is the premier company in the field of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing. Along with its popular digital magazine WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, DRAGON BALL, SAILOR MOON, and POKÉMON, VIZ Media offers an extensive library of titles and original content in a wide variety of book and video formats, as well as through official licensed merchandise. Owned by three of Japan’s largest publishing and entertainment companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is dedicated to bringing the best titles for English-speaking audiences worldwide.

Learn more about VIZ Media and its properties at www.VIZ.com.

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About the author

Samantha Ferreira

Samantha Ferreira is Anime Herald’s founder and editor-in-chief. A Rhode Island native, Samantha has been an anime fan since 1992, and an active member of the anime press since 2002, when she began working as a reviewer for Anime Dream. She launched Anime Herald in 2010, and continues to oversee its operations to this day. Outside of journalism, Samantha actively studies the history of the North American anime fandom and industry, with a particular focus on the 2000s anime boom and bust. She’s a huge fan of all things Sakura Wars, and maintains series fansite Combat Revue Review when she has free time available. When not in the Anime Herald Discord, Samantha can typically be found on Bluesky.

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