Interview: Jason Hoffs on VIZ Productions
So you probably remember a while back when VIZ announced the formation of VIZ Productions, a Hollywood-based arm of the company that would be working on developing live-action adaptations of VIZ(/Shueisha/Shogakukan) titles in the States. Shortly after that I was given the opportunity to ask Jason Hoffs, VIZ Productions’ Head of Productions, a few questions– and here are the results! The full interview is after the jump.
Gia Manry: Obviously the biggest question people have is “what titles are you working towards films of,” but since I assume we’ll know as soon as you can tell us, I’ll ask instead: how soon might we hear an announcement?
Jason Hoffs: VIZ Productions is working on several properties simultaneously. Because it takes some time to package creative elements, and get signed deals from studios, there is a lag time before we can officially make an announcement. We expect to announce some exciting new developments soon.
GM: Do you think that movies based on manga will be thought of as “comic book movies”? If so, will they be subject to the same trends as comic book films? For example, the most recent/upcoming (successful) comic book films have been considerably darker and more adult in content: Dark Knight, Watchmen, etc. So do you think we’re more likely to see movies of darker and more adult titles like Monster or Black Lagoon, or of the more popular teen-oriented series like Naruto, Bleach, Host Club, Vampire Knight, etc?
JH: When I consider all of the VIZ Media titles you?ve mentioned, I see a common thread that reaches across all of these genres. In each of these stories, you have a protagonist that is human, vulnerable, and immensely relatable to its audience. Our everyman character is thrown into an exotic, rich world that challenges him or her to face obstacles they never imagined they would have to confront or be able to surmount. The common thread is that someone like you and I are thrust into a heightened environment, and forced to survive and thrive against great odds.
Japanese manga has such universal appeal because of the strength of their characters, whether they are ninja, vampires, or regular high school kids. VIZ Productions feels very fortunate in being able to draw from the diverse libraries of our parents companies. We have the superhero stories that are the staple of American comic books, but there are rich veins of characters and worlds that add something new for audiences.
GM: Is the entirety of the VIZ Media manga catalogue potentially available to be made into a film, or are there some titles where the rights are being handled differently? How about Battle Angel Alita, which VIZ Media publishes the manga of but which already has some film rights in the hands of others? Or Ghibli, where Disney deals with the anime films but VIZ publishes the manga? And how about manga titles belonging to Shogakukan or Shueisha that aren’t (or aren’t yet) published by VIZ Media?
JH: The film rights to Battle Angel Alita is owned by James Cameron, and we hope he makes it into a film soon. As far as available properties, every one must be treated individually. Each property is the brainchild of a creator who will determine whether it should be produced as a Hollywood film, and how. It is very important that we communicate the wishes and opinions of the creators and our parent publishers to potential creative and financial partners in the US.
We are exploring the many fantastic properties in our parent companies libraries that were never translated into English, as well as new titles that are just being published in Japan, and have not yet been introduced here. It is very exciting to read a great new title that is hot off the presses of our parent publishers in Japan, and imagine how it can made into a film here.
GM: Will VIZ Productions work only toward getting movie versions of VIZ Media manga titles, or could the company theoretically work as liaison between other publishers and Hollywood?
JH: There is such a wealth of great titles in the Shogakukan and Shueisha libraries, that VIZ Productions could source them for years and years without looking outside. That said, we might also elect to explore properties from outside creators and publishers as well.
Thanks for answering my questions, Jason, and we all look forward to seeing what VIZ gives us in the future!
Tags: adaptations, live-action, shogakukan, shueisha, viz, viz productions, western industry
September 10th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
why do we need live action of anime?
September 10th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Xewleer: Of manga, actually.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Nice interview. Question, did they throw you any hints of anything they’re working on?
September 13th, 2008 at 11:24 am
No No No we don’t need for Hollywood to drag the manga culture down along with western. I think this is a move of desperation and VIZ should be wiser.
September 13th, 2008 at 11:31 am
I think Viz was already doing well enough with translated Shonen jump. I feel it’s a bit extreme and wreckless to throw some of the the most valued japanese works into the hands of hollywood contractors. I know the film industry is being destroyed but don’t our manga down with it please.
September 13th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
I’ve heard some good things about this blog. Remember to balance the pics with the text tho. cheers!