One Piece 'Blitz' anytime soon?

ghed · April 29th, 2007, 06:58 PM

With the friday annoucement of a Naruto manga release blitz, I was wondering if Viz has mentioned any plans to do the same thing for One Piece? If theres been no word, what are the chances? One Piece has a long way to catch up, but does it even have the reader base to justify this kind of marketing strategy?

Also slighty off topic, does anyone think Viz's attempt at catching up to Japanese releases (or possibly a concurrent US/Japanese debut) will become a common practice?

lav2k4 · April 29th, 2007, 07:07 PM

Good question. Id really like them to speed up One Piece manga but as of lately I think that won't happen. Naruto is Viz's new flag ship title. With Inuyasha out of the way they really want to go all out on the Naruto franchise based on this decision. However, Viz has been neglecting One Piece to death. With Viz following the 4kids version really makes me hate them even more (edits,translations,etc). I can't see them working on it faster until FUNI starts releasing One Piece on dvd.

**John** · April 30th, 2007, 07:12 AM

I don't expect to see Viz back One Piece with the same vehemence they're putting into Naruto. Viz Media's sister company ShoPro Entertainment is the master licensor for Naruto. That means, by extension, every bit of Naruto merchandise in America (manga, toys, DVD, video games, t-shirts, CCG, etc.) directly benefits Viz.

One Piece is a different situation. Viz only has rights to the One Piece manga. They don't even have DVD rights anymore. So Viz has much less to gain from heavily promoting One Piece than they can earn from pushing Naruto.

ghed · April 30th, 2007, 04:28 PM

Not the answer I wanted to hear but thanks for the reply

Maybe FUNI's releases can boost the series popularity in the future.

April 29th, 2007, 06:58 PM	#1
ghed ~ Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 77	One Piece 'Blitz' anytime soon? With the friday annoucement of a Naruto manga release blitz, I was wondering if Viz has mentioned any plans to do the same thing for One Piece? If theres been no word, what are the chances? One Piece has a long way to catch up, but does it even have the reader base to justify this kind of marketing strategy? Also slighty off topic, does anyone think Viz's attempt at catching up to Japanese releases (or possibly a concurrent US/Japanese debut) will become a common practice?

April 29th, 2007, 07:07 PM	#2
lav2k4 Tensai Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 5,586	Good question. Id really like them to speed up One Piece manga but as of lately I think that won't happen. Naruto is Viz's new flag ship title. With Inuyasha out of the way they really want to go all out on the Naruto franchise based on this decision. However, Viz has been neglecting One Piece to death. With Viz following the 4kids version really makes me hate them even more (edits,translations,etc). I can't see them working on it faster until FUNI starts releasing One Piece on dvd.

April 30th, 2007, 07:12 AM	#3
John Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,105	I don't expect to see Viz back One Piece with the same vehemence they're putting into Naruto. Viz Media's sister company ShoPro Entertainment is the master licensor for Naruto. That means, by extension, every bit of Naruto merchandise in America (manga, toys, DVD, video games, t-shirts, CCG, etc.) directly benefits Viz. One Piece is a different situation. Viz only has rights to the One Piece manga. They don't even have DVD rights anymore. So Viz has much less to gain from heavily promoting One Piece than they can earn from pushing Naruto.

April 30th, 2007, 04:28 PM	#4
ghed ~ Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 77	Not the answer I wanted to hear but thanks for the reply Maybe FUNI's releases can boost the series popularity in the future.