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LOS ANGELES, CA – July 3, 2026– VIZ Media (booth #1914) delivered one of its biggest Anime Expo showcases to date, headlined by the world premiere of BLACK TORCH, the launch of GalaXic Baseball League, a new original sci-fi manga from acclaimed artist Acky Bright, and fan experiences celebrating some of Japan's most beloved franchises.
Throughout Anime Expo, VIZ brought together fans, creators and industry partners through exclusive premieres, creator programming, retail activations and immersive exhibits, including the debut of the first-ever official Studio Ghibli Pop-Up Shop in the United States, the return of the fan-favorite Shonen Jump Pop-Up Shop, and a one-of-a-kind BLEACH Artist Gallery.
Episode screeners available: publicity@viz.com
VIZ Media and Crunchyroll hosted the world premiere of BLACK TORCH, giving fans an exclusive first look at Episode 1 during a special Anime Expo panel featuring English voice actors AJ Beckles (Jiro) and Keith Silverstein (Rago).
Based on Tsuyoshi Takaki's hit manga, also published by VIZ Media, the supernatural action series follows teenage shinobi Jiro Azuma and the powerful mononoke Rago as an uneasy alliance thrusts them into a hidden war between humans and spirits.
Official Trailer: HERE
Synopsis: When the reluctant shinobi and soft-hearted teenage animal whisperer Jiro meets the mononoke cat Rago, the worlds of humans and spectral beings collide! Japan’s undercover spy agency is eager to contain the damage but Rago’s power isn’t easily contained.
Aspiring manga creators packed VIZ Media's Making Manga panel, where VIZ editors pulled back the curtain on the creative journey from pitch to publication. The session also featured Antoniette Sluytman, creator of the VIZ One Shot Deepseeker, who shared insights into developing original manga.
Anime Expo also marked the launch of GalaXic Baseball League, a new original sci-fi manga from internationally acclaimed artist Acky Bright, developed with editorial guidance from former Weekly Shonen Jump Editor-in-Chief Hisashi Sasaki.
The series imagines a universe where Major League Baseball superstars—including Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Fernando Tatís Jr., Jazz Chisholm Jr., Kyle Schwarber and Paul Skenes—must compete in an intergalactic baseball tournament to save Earth.
Read NOW on VIZ Manga
Official Trailer: HERE
Shonen Jump Pop-Up Shop Returns
Back by popular demand, the official Shonen Jump Pop-Up Shop returned to Los Angeles with exclusive imported merchandise and fan-favorite collectibles.
Media Alert HERE:
Fans stepped into the worlds of My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service, Howl's Moving Castle and more at the first official Studio Ghibli retail pop-up in the United States.
Media Alert HERE:
VIZ also celebrated the legacy of BLEACH with a first-of-its-kind artist gallery featuring more than 20 internationally renowned artists reimagining Ichigo, Rukia and the Soul Society through original artwork, exclusive collectibles and one-of-a-kind installations.
Trailer HERE:
Media Alert HERE:
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About VIZ Media:
Wherever manga and anime fans are, we are! VIZ Media is No. 1 in Japanese pop culture, introducing fans to what’s now, new, and next. Home to the world’s most influential and groundbreaking storytellers and artists, who today drive multiple industries from publishing and animation to film and gaming. If it’s big in Japan, you can find it at VIZ.
VIZ Media is proudly certified as a Most Loved Workplace® in America and Inc Magazine’s Best Workplace. For more information on VIZ Media visit: https://www.viz.com/
Media Contact:
Chantelle Sturt
Head of Global PR & Publicity
chantellesturt@viz.com
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