Manga giants Shogakukan, Shueisha, and their JV Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions (see “Shueisha Invests in Sho Pro”) have jointly acquired two companies, one French and one German, which will be integrated into their European operations as part of Viz Media Europe. The new entity will report directly to the Japanese parents, rather than through Viz Media in the
The two companies being acquired are Kaze, which operates primarily in French-speaking territories; and Anime Virtual, which operates in German-speaking territories. They give Viz Media Europe direct DVD publishing in
John Easum, President of Viz Media Europe (headquartered in