EXCLUSIVE: Industry giant VIZ Media—renowned worldwide for its massive manga, anime, and original graphic novel catalog—has joined forces with The Gotham Group to bring its proprietary intellectual property to film and television. The partnership spans both the acclaimed VIZ Originals graphic novel imprint and the globally celebrated animated phenomenon, RWBY.
As a powerhouse in the entertainment space, VIZ oversees some of the most iconic anime franchises in history, such as Naruto, One Piece, Demon Slayer, and Jujutsu Kaisen.
Per the new agreement, The Gotham Group will spearhead the discovery and packaging of screen adaptations from VIZ’s original catalog. The production company boasts an impressive slate of past and upcoming credits, including Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Search for WondLa, Washington Black, the Maze Runner film series, and the Bruce Springsteen biographical film Deliver Me From Nowhere.
The centerpiece of this alliance is RWBY, the groundbreaking creation of the late Monty Oum. Since its 2013 launch, the franchise has pulled in over 350 million views worldwide, branching out into video games, publishing, merchandise, and various spin-offs, including the RWBY: Ice Queendom series and a pair of animated crossover films teaming up with DC’s Justice League.
Celebrated as the pioneering American-produced anime—and the first Western-made series of its kind to receive a Japanese dub and distribution—RWBY has been instrumental in inspiring a modern wave of global, anime-influenced storytelling.
The narrative of RWBY unfolds in the realm of Remnant, a land plagued by terrifying monsters dead-set on human annihilation. Humanity’s survival rests upon elite warriors known as Huntsmen and Huntresses. The plot follows four trainees—Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long—as they venture outside Beacon Academy to face formidable foes and safeguard their world.
“From the beginning, our vision for RWBY has been to build a global franchise that connects with fans across every medium,” stated VIZ Media President and CEO Brad Woods. “With Volume 10 officially underway, we’re excited to take the next step by partnering with The Gotham Group to develop RWBY, alongside our growing portfolio of original graphic novels, for film and television. Together, we look forward to bringing these stories to new audiences around the world.”
Additionally, the partnership covers VIZ Originals, the company’s dedicated original manga imprint. This catalog features standout projects from notable creators like author Rainbow Rowell (Fangirl), creative duo Rem & Bikkuri (Devil’s Candy), Eisner Award nominee Sam Sattin (Lynx), and acclaimed artist Acky Bright (Galaxic Baseball League), among others.
“We are thrilled to be working with the iconic VIZ on RWBY and beyond,” said Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Founder and CEO of The Gotham Group. “Its titles have captivated audiences for decades and VIZ has been instrumental in bringing the global phenomena of manga and anime to the US. The RWBY franchise is one of the most prolific out there and we’re excited to be a part of bringing new stories to life.”