Viz Media and YouTube Launch Free Anime Streaming Channel

Viz Media, the American manga distributor linked to Shueisha since 1986, has partnered with YouTube to launch a dedicated channel offering hundreds of anime episodes for free. The catalog includes classic series such as Sailor Moon (original, not Crystal), Naruto, Death Note, Inuyasha, Hunter x Hunter, and Osomatsu-kun, along with films like Mazinger Z Infinity and Tiger & Bunny. Episodes are not remastered and are available in Japanese with English subtitles. The initiative aims to expand Viz Media's reach and attract new audiences to its manga catalog. The channel is not accessible worldwide. This move follows similar strategies by other distributors like Yamato Video in Italy. The broader context includes the global rise of anime through streaming platforms like Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Disney+, which have transformed niche productions into mainstream content.