Viz Media Cuts 40% Staff, Go Comi Disappears

[Chris Beveridge]

Through information sent to Publishers Weekly (http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/book-news/comics/article/43145-viz-media-lays-off-60.html), news has come down that the company has closed its New York office comprising of five employees while another 55 or so jobs were eliminated or consolidated at the company's San Francisco headquarters...

More... (http://www.mania.com/viz-media-cuts-40-staff-comi-disappears_article_122522.html)

[sir_integra]

Gee, this has been posted for a few hours and no wailing about the end of VIZ-something which I doubt will occur. (GoComi! is another matter, however.)

Sadly, in times such as this, the easiest, quickest, and least creative way to increase the bottom line is to lay people off. And often that's was asked of management and even idiot management can implement layoffs. I often wonder if companies really try to find internal economies that would save jobs.

However, I'm sure the product will suffer in some ways, after all, why were those folks there anyway? I hope VIZ doesn't think that they get away with staffing with unpaid "college credit" interns. The State of California had been looking into the unpaid intern issue and if a lay-off is involved...hmm, interesting.

[simon_jones]

Sadly, in times such as this, the easiest, quickest, and least creative way to increase the bottom line is to lay people off. And often that's was asked of management and even idiot management can implement layoffs. I often wonder if companies really try to find internal economies that would save jobs.

I think I touched upon this very subject a couple of years ago when people were just beginning to wonder what would happen when major properties ended... unlike Japan, the US market isn't large enough, or have enough of a war chest, to weather a lull between manga hits without sacrifices. But it also isn't small enough to be able to react nimbly and creatively in the face of changing conditions. This is an overhead/capacity problem that cannot be solved with trifling cuts here and there.

It would be very premature to say that Viz was taking the "easiest, quickest" route. If the decision-making at Viz were undertaken with callousness or driven by fear, they would have made these layoffs a lot sooner.

[sir_integra]

It would be very premature to say that Viz was taking the "easiest, quickest" route. If the decision-making at Viz were undertaken with callousness or driven by fear, they would have made these layoffs a lot sooner.

A layoff at Viz in this economic climate and in this current anime and manga market is not surprising, but the size of it certainly is. I do think that numerous, small layoffs are very bad for morale and show poor management perception of a business, but a single 40% staff layoff is very high and would indicate to me someone was not paying attention to the business climate in general and to their own business in particular.

When I made the statement that you cited, I wasn't speaking to Viz in particular. I think most companies when they're up against it go for the easiest target and that's the employees. I'm fortunate that I work for a company that does everything it can to avoid layoffs. We do everything we can to drive the cost of operation down and to keep people employed. And it's a lot of work to do that. It would be easier to lay people off but management is committed to the idea that lower cost of operation keeps us competitive and in business.

[Helschadenfreude]

okay, I'll say it.

NOOOOO VIz is dying!

Okay, I don't think they are, since they do have the japanese company backing them, just that they need to shrink down and only publish their popular selling titles. Notice how almost all the companies in the industry today subsist only because they're backed by another parent company.

[insaneben]

Quoting Viz:

"Be assured VIZ Media remains committed in its obligations to you. We have no plans at this time for drastic measures such as product cancellations or business line closures. Your favorite series are not going away."

I hope that doesn't translate to: "Your favorite titles will face a significant reduction in quality and increase in spelling/gramatical errors (a la Del Rey Manga as of late)". I have to wonder which side will feel a more immediate impact: the anime or manga side? I know 40% is not a number to take lightly, but if their latest volumes of One Piece call Zolo/Zoro "Zowo", I might as well jump ship.

As for Go Comi, I kinda knew this was going to happen. Not that I like it when manga publishers disappear without a trace, much less some sort of notice (ADV Manga, Infinity Studios and DR Master are all guilty of this), but seeing as how the last thing they published was a volume of Ultimate Venus back in October, and hadn't made any announcements since then, it was pretty much curtains for them.

I sure hope someone license-rescues 07-Ghost, Ultimate Venus and Japan Ai, though we're kinda running out of places that can salvage lost titles, much less keep themselves afloat...

[Thomas Alan]

I hope that doesn't translate to: "Your favorite titles will face a significant reduction in quality and increase in spelling/gramatical errors (a la Del Rey Manga as of late)

Hopefully Viz won't make the mistake of firing their Microsoft Word spellchecker.

[Dicrel Seijin]

Of all the companies that published manga, I would have thought Viz would have been better able to withstand the economic situation. What surprised me was the actual size of the company (and even more so now).

[sir_integra]

I would have thought - just looking at the gross numbers and percentage of the layoff - that VIZ would have been required to file notice of the layoff under the WARN Act which requires that a company that employs at least 75 people to give 60 days notice to employees when 50 or more people are to be laid off regardless of the layoff percentage. (California's WARN is much stronger than the federal version - California counts pt workers). Looks as if they laid off at least one contractor (doesn't count) to bring them under the 50. There was no filing on the CA state WARN website. It's a shame; at least people would have got a heads up and could make plans.

[WTK]

via VIZBlog (http://www.viz.com/vizblog/index.php?date=2010-5-12)
posted 5-12-2010 (http://www.viz.com/vizblog/index.php?date=2010-5-12) 11:40 AM by VIZ Media
Restructuring at VIZ Media

VIZ Media is in the process of refining its focus and is restructuring to adjust to changing industry and financial market realities.

As part of the restructuring the company had to refine its workforce by eliminating certain positions and making cuts in other areas.

We are of course saddened by these departures, and sincerely appreciate the hard work, passion and dedication of those that have moved on, but we feel confident that with these changes VIZ Media will be more streamlined and able to withstand the climate of the economy at this time.

This restructuring was not insignificant; however, this was primarily an internal reprioritization to build toward our future. We wish to apologize to our wonderful fans if this news has caused you concern. Be assured VIZ Media remains committed in its obligations to you. We have no plans at this time for drastic measures such as product cancellations or business line closures. Your favorite series are not going away.

[sir_integra]

via VIZBlog (http://www.viz.com/vizblog/index.php?date=2010-5-12)
posted 5-12-2010 (http://www.viz.com/vizblog/index.php?date=2010-5-12) 11:40 AM by VIZ Media
Restructuring at VIZ Media

Your favorite series are not going away.

But you might not see them for awhile. Nothing said about the "not so favorite" titles though.

Yeah, I know Viz isn't going down the tubes, but a 40% staff layoff?! Something has to be affected.

[guyverfanboy]

Wow, Viz laid off 40% of their staff? That's too bad. :(

It's too bad about Go Comi. I never read anything they released though. :sd:

[magicalgirlj]

whoa I did not know Go Comi died. Well I never bought a book from them, too many shoujo titles, that did not intrest me, but it's sad to see another comapany kick the bucket

[Njr Scrawl]

Now I'm really worried about Monster's future releases. The curse that has affected Urasawa anime releases for R1 (Master Keaton poor sales. Yawara! only licensed to ep 40.) seems ready to strike again.

[LordGeo]

Now I'm really worried about Monster's future releases. The curse that has affected Urasawa anime releases for R1 (Master Keaton poor sales. Yawara! only licensed to ep 40.) seems ready to strike again.

Well, I guess with one curse partially broken (Masami Kurumada's seemingly existing curse that none of his titles can be fully released in North America was broken, manga-wise, this past February with Saint Seiya Volume 28 being released, by Viz no less), another has to be even stronger...

Maybe.