Viz Media, one of the largest manga publishers in North America, has announced a new subscription service that will allow readers to access new English-translated chapters of popular manga titles on the same day as their release in Japan. The service is called “Viz Manga” and is priced at $1.99 per month.
The move is a significant development for the manga industry, as it addresses one of the most common frustrations of manga readers outside of Japan – the delay in English translations. Manga series are often released in Japan months before their English-translated counterparts, leaving non-Japanese readers with no choice but to wait for the translations or seek out unofficial translations online.
By offering same-day translations, Viz Manga hopes to attract readers who have been frustrated with delays and to combat piracy by providing a legal and affordable way to read the latest chapters. The service will also provide access to a library of over 10,000 manga volumes, including popular series like “One Piece,” “My Hero Academia,” and “Demon Slayer.”
The timing of the announcement is significant, as the popularity of manga and anime continues to grow globally. According to the Motion Picture Association’s Theatrical and Home Entertainment Market Environment (THEME) Report, the anime market in North America alone was worth $2.5 billion in 2020, up from $2.2 billion in 2019. Manga sales also increased by 4.4% in North America in 2020, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Viz Media’s move is not the first attempt to address the issue of delayed translations. Some manga publishers, such as Shonen Jump, have previously released “simulpubs” that provide digital translations of manga chapters a few weeks after their release in Japan. However, Viz Manga’s same-day translations are a major step forward for the industry.
Overall, Viz Manga’s new service is an exciting development for manga fans. With same-day translations and a large library of titles, the service offers an affordable and legal way for readers to stay up-to-date with their favourite series. It will be interesting to see how other manga publishers respond to this development and whether same-day translations become the norm in the industry.
