Viz Europe to Expand

Japanese publishers Shogakukan and Shueisha have acquired ownership of French anime translation & distribution firm Kaze and German translator/distributor Anime-Virtual. Both companies will be merged into Shogakukan and Shueisha’s existing subsidiary distributor Viz Media Europe, which is based in Paris. Viz Media Europe president John Easum will continue to oversee the company. Kaze president Cedric Littardi and former president of Anime Virtual Nicolas Weber-Krebs will become managing directors under Viz Media Europe.

The Nikkei newspaper reports that the combined French & German speaking anime market generates 2.3 billion yen ($24 million USD) annually.

Source: Anime News Network & ICv2