Content Specialist (Animation)

About Our Company

VIZ Media has been bringing the finest in manga, anime, and global entertainment to English-speaking fans across the world for nearly 40 years. From classic series like Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, and Naruto to current hits like My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer, and Chainsaw Man, we continue to offer the best in action, romance, fantasy, and adventure stories for fans of all ages.

Our critically acclaimed manga, graphic novels, and books have won Eisner, YALSA, and Hugo awards and are available in both print and digital editions, and our premier catalog of anime titles can be seen on TV and via streaming and digital download, as well as in collectible Blu-ray and DVD sets at major retailers.

Learn more about VIZ Media, anime, and manga at www.viz.com.

Job Summary

VIZ Media, the world leader in English-language versions of manga and anime (Japanese comics and animation), is looking for a Specialist to join our Content team. The Specialist, Content will work closely with the Director and other members of the Content team to facilitate the company’s animation content acquisitions and the Intellectual Property’s product lifecycle. This position is a key role connecting VIZ Media’s internal teams with major partners in Japan, including Licensors, co-production committee members, and other rights holders. The Specialist, Content must be able to communicate in a professional manner in both Japanese and English, with in-depth knowledge and ample experience in the Japanese anime industry and familiarity with the licensing business.

What you’ll do:

1. Research and identify new anime title(s) for acquisition and manga titles for adaptation by gathering and analyzing new title information according to the company’s screening process.


2. Negotiate deal terms with content owners/partners to license and renew new titles/IP. 


3. Work closely with the legal department to accurately reflect the agreed deal terms to the master licensing agreement.


4. Support the newly acquired title’s on-boarding process by communicating the deal term and relevant key information with the company’s cross-functional team. Assist communication between internal teams and the Licensor as needed throughout the IP Lifecycle.


5. Maintain internal trackers related to the content acquisition and deal approvals up to date.  


6. Obtain Licensor approvals and other permissions required for sublicensing deals and other special projects and promotions.


7. Review royalty reports to ensure that the deal terms are accurately reflected in the reporting.


8. Create reports and presentations as needed including but not limited to production committee reports and co-production/acquisition offer presentations. Attend Co-production/acquisition related meetings with Japanese partners as needed. 


9. Act as the point of contact for partner needs.

In addition to these responsibilities, performs other activities as assigned.

The ideal candidate has:

• Business-level spoken and written fluency in Japanese and English a MUST


• 1-3 years of experience and interest in the entertainment/media industry, with prior anime industry experience preferred


• Experience working in a Japanese and/or Japanese-adjacent corporate environment a MUST.


• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite


• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to facilitate interdepartmental collaboration and interact professionally with culturally diverse clients, providers, and staff 


• High attention to detail to maintain complex deal information in the system. 


• Ability to prioritize and balance multiple projects simultaneously, manage time effectively, and meet deadlines


• Bachelor's Degree in a related field, or equivalent experience, with a record that demonstrates suitable preparation for this position

Work Environment & Schedule

Location: The Content Specialist must be local to the San Francisco Bay Area. VIZ Media operates on a hybrid schedule, and employees should expect to work onsite at our downtown San Francisco office 1 day per week.

Schedule: This is a Regular Full-Time position (40 hours per week) with core hours of 10 am to 4 pm with some flexibility outside of core hours as needed. 

Compensation: $72,000 - $85,000 annually, depending on experience, with additional variable compensation