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https://blacknerdproblems.com/introducing-the-viz-originals-one-shots-program/
So I went to the Viz website to look up when the second volume of Hirayasumi drops and stumbled upon the news that the manga publisher was launching a new project tiled the VIZ Originals One-Shots program created “for aspiring mangaka,” run by former Weekly Shonen Jump editor-in-chief Hisashi SASAKI!
I love manga and adore a good one-shot via manga. A one shot in manga is more commonly known as a single, sometimes standalone story. It is the manga equivalent of a short story and an excellent way for readers to get a feel for a manga creator’s storytelling and art style. The first one-shots in this new project–which are free to read–dropped this weekend on June 7th and I went on to read them and gave my thoughts below!
Minor and major spoilers may follow below
Looking up more information on the Viz website I learned:
“VIZ Originals One-Shots showcase aspiring mangaka working in English. You can read all-new stories by up-and-coming creators and be the first to read the hits of the future.
The program is led by renowned former Weekly Shonen Jump editor-in-chief Hisashi SASAKI! For the first time outside of Japan, the editor who helped bring to life some of manga’s greatest hits is lending his expertise to develop exciting new talent.
Select one-shots will be expanded into a series, so read and cheer for your favorite new manga! Check back monthly for new one-shots – only in VIZ Manga!”
Ancient Melody
Story and Art by Jonathan Lareva
Lettering by Mark McMurray
Ancient Melody is a treat as its world is perhaps my favorite in this batch of one-shots: Olan, a scrappy guy who lives in the slums below, dreams of visiting the cities that float in the sky above him. Along with the next one shot below, Skin & Bone, they are the longest entries. The creator pulled me into the world of Olan wanting a better life for himself (and loved one) and ends up with a crew of Troy the mechanic and Mina the talented musician. An airship to fix up is a proverbially vehicle to freedom and there is a lot of cool set pieces, characters, and objects (of course, I like Mina and I love the design of the guardian of the egg nest, etc.) that made this one first to reread for me.
I also really appreciate the emotional depth to Ancient Melody as I liked the parallels of Mina and Olan’s characters of defining home and the absence of family in their lives. How the creator connected them both through a certain character long gone that was hinted at and later revealed was pretty endearing and moving. This one-shot was evenly paced the whole way through, and I seriously hated to get to the end of it. The editor note for this entry made me ponder the influence of manga and how using that influence to create a story of a brown skinned boy dreaming of seeing new heights with fantastical elements makes for a thrilling ride. I could absolutely see more of this story but instead of chapter by chapter, I’d love to have a volume of it ready to read.
Skin & Bone
Story by Josh Tierney / Art by Valentin Serber
Lettering by Annaliese “Ace” Christman
Skin & Bone stands out for this fantastical and highly stylized artwork, and this one-shot carries big explosive energy throughout the entire work. In a world filled with the undead, a bounty hunter of this type of menace named Marr and a woman with mysterious powers team up. In just the first ten pages, readers get a glimpse of so much. We get the introduction of the main character, a bit of his origin story, the ally, the cute character, the backstory of the world, a lot of split panels of artwork, the chibi characters for comedic effect, and even a really neat little villainous character. This one-shot is one of the longer ones at fifty pages, and it is a visual feast for the eyes.
While Skin & Bone is incredibly busy–there’s a lot happening and really fast–this one shot feels the most ready to expand to into something more. I could see myself reading more of this story chapter by chapter. How the creative team of Tierney (co-creator and writer of World Piece), Serber and Christman worked the final battle and bookended some parts of the story truly had that Shonen Jump feel to it. One small criticism is that while I loved the dynamic of the bounty hunter and the mysterious woman who is hunting for something–I felt there could have been a tighter editing. I felt a few pages through the work dragged the story on. Overall: quickly paced, visually stimulating showing, here!
Cinematic Certitude
Story and Art by NAF
Lettering by Annaliese “Ace” Christman
With artwork being more or less the most realistic in this first batch of one-shot entries, Cinematic Certitude (seriously, what a title) carries the weight of being also the shortest, just barely over thirty pages. Perhaps the most impressive feat by the creator here is the way he crafted a near perfect story from start to finish with such a satisfying ending. The title of NAF’s work hints at the content: two soldiers sent on a dangerous search and rescue mission and their dialogue is funny, not too wordy, and points to a playful yet solid relationship between these two soldiers that makes me invested.
I don’t know much about this world or much about these two men, yet the reveal of what they are hunting and the fun that they poke at each other colors the creator’s storytelling in a successful one-shot that nails all the familiar story beats. Other readers may have wanted a longer story or a chance to get to know more about the soldiers, the organization they belong to, and the world that they inhabit–I personally think this was a pretty good showing of how to break down a story–all three acts and give us a memorable ending. I would love to see NAF’s ability with other characters in this universe outside these two as he has proven to be able to write and create a tight ship, storytelling wise.
The Stranger
Story and Art by Liam Naughton
Lettering by Mark McMurray
Ahhh…….The Stranger. This one-shot is giving so much: story, artwork, tone that is dark, haunting, atmospheric, and mysterious. Invoking a more fantasy story in a more modern world, this one-shot follows Grace who goes home and re-enters the life of someone she once knew some five years later. Louise is the old friend Grace has returned to see, someone that she did not last meet on a positive note years ago. She is also the person who comes to need Grace’s help and protection upon her return.
Naughton’s work here strikes me as being influenced by manga (and media) of yesteryear. The Stranger seems to be bringing together neo-noir, science fiction, detective comics and so much more wrapped up in nearly thirty pages or so. There are pages that startle me, unsettle me, and make me think of what makes us humans–us. I love when one-shots get me thinking and questioning! This work made me as a reader think about why people quest and search for answers. Loneliness, desperation, curiosity, regret, purpose…The Stranger attempts to balance them all and is mostly successful and ends on such a philosophical, yet abrupt end.
About VIZ Originals One-Shots:
The One-Shots program is a showcase for aspiring manga creators, led by renowned former Weekly Shonen Jump editor-in-chief Hisashi SASAKI! The Viz website goes on to put out a call to action: “Whether you are an established creator with a new idea or are putting the finishing touches on your very first one-shot, if you are passionate about manga, we want to hear from you! Learn more about how to submit your work.”
Read all the one-shots from aspiring creators chosen as the first batch in this exciting new project here!
Read more about the VIZ Originals One-Shots Program and read Hisashi SASAKI’s thoughts on each selected entry on the Viz website!
Love reading manga? See more on our site!
Want to get Black Nerd Problems updates sent directly to you?
Sign up here! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and Instagram!
The post Introducing the VIZ Originals One-Shots Program appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
So I went to the Viz website to look up when the second volume of Hirayasumi drops and stumbled upon the news that the manga publisher was launching a new project tiled the VIZ Originals One-Shots program created “for aspiring mangaka,” run by former Weekly Shonen Jump editor-in-chief Hisashi SASAKI!
I love manga and adore a good one-shot via manga. A one shot in manga is more commonly known as a single, sometimes standalone story. It is the manga equivalent of a short story and an excellent way for readers to get a feel for a manga creator’s storytelling and art style. The first one-shots in this new project–which are free to read–dropped this weekend on June 7th and I went on to read them and gave my thoughts below!
Minor and major spoilers may follow below
Looking up more information on the Viz website I learned:
“VIZ Originals One-Shots showcase aspiring mangaka working in English. You can read all-new stories by up-and-coming creators and be the first to read the hits of the future.
The program is led by renowned former Weekly Shonen Jump editor-in-chief Hisashi SASAKI! For the first time outside of Japan, the editor who helped bring to life some of manga’s greatest hits is lending his expertise to develop exciting new talent.
Select one-shots will be expanded into a series, so read and cheer for your favorite new manga! Check back monthly for new one-shots – only in VIZ Manga!”
Ancient Melody
Story and Art by Jonathan Lareva
Lettering by Mark McMurray
Ancient Melody is a treat as its world is perhaps my favorite in this batch of one-shots: Olan, a scrappy guy who lives in the slums below, dreams of visiting the cities that float in the sky above him. Along with the next one shot below, Skin & Bone, they are the longest entries. The creator pulled me into the world of Olan wanting a better life for himself (and loved one) and ends up with a crew of Troy the mechanic and Mina the talented musician. An airship to fix up is a proverbially vehicle to freedom and there is a lot of cool set pieces, characters, and objects (of course, I like Mina and I love the design of the guardian of the egg nest, etc.) that made this one first to reread for me.
I also really appreciate the emotional depth to Ancient Melody as I liked the parallels of Mina and Olan’s characters of defining home and the absence of family in their lives. How the creator connected them both through a certain character long gone that was hinted at and later revealed was pretty endearing and moving. This one-shot was evenly paced the whole way through, and I seriously hated to get to the end of it. The editor note for this entry made me ponder the influence of manga and how using that influence to create a story of a brown skinned boy dreaming of seeing new heights with fantastical elements makes for a thrilling ride. I could absolutely see more of this story but instead of chapter by chapter, I’d love to have a volume of it ready to read.
Skin & Bone
Story by Josh Tierney / Art by Valentin Serber
Lettering by Annaliese “Ace” Christman
Skin & Bone stands out for this fantastical and highly stylized artwork, and this one-shot carries big explosive energy throughout the entire work. In a world filled with the undead, a bounty hunter of this type of menace named Marr and a woman with mysterious powers team up. In just the first ten pages, readers get a glimpse of so much. We get the introduction of the main character, a bit of his origin story, the ally, the cute character, the backstory of the world, a lot of split panels of artwork, the chibi characters for comedic effect, and even a really neat little villainous character. This one-shot is one of the longer ones at fifty pages, and it is a visual feast for the eyes.
While Skin & Bone is incredibly busy–there’s a lot happening and really fast–this one shot feels the most ready to expand to into something more. I could see myself reading more of this story chapter by chapter. How the creative team of Tierney (co-creator and writer of World Piece), Serber and Christman worked the final battle and bookended some parts of the story truly had that Shonen Jump feel to it. One small criticism is that while I loved the dynamic of the bounty hunter and the mysterious woman who is hunting for something–I felt there could have been a tighter editing. I felt a few pages through the work dragged the story on. Overall: quickly paced, visually stimulating showing, here!
Cinematic Certitude
Story and Art by NAF
Lettering by Annaliese “Ace” Christman
With artwork being more or less the most realistic in this first batch of one-shot entries, Cinematic Certitude (seriously, what a title) carries the weight of being also the shortest, just barely over thirty pages. Perhaps the most impressive feat by the creator here is the way he crafted a near perfect story from start to finish with such a satisfying ending. The title of NAF’s work hints at the content: two soldiers sent on a dangerous search and rescue mission and their dialogue is funny, not too wordy, and points to a playful yet solid relationship between these two soldiers that makes me invested.
I don’t know much about this world or much about these two men, yet the reveal of what they are hunting and the fun that they poke at each other colors the creator’s storytelling in a successful one-shot that nails all the familiar story beats. Other readers may have wanted a longer story or a chance to get to know more about the soldiers, the organization they belong to, and the world that they inhabit–I personally think this was a pretty good showing of how to break down a story–all three acts and give us a memorable ending. I would love to see NAF’s ability with other characters in this universe outside these two as he has proven to be able to write and create a tight ship, storytelling wise.
The Stranger
Story and Art by Liam Naughton
Lettering by Mark McMurray
Ahhh…….The Stranger. This one-shot is giving so much: story, artwork, tone that is dark, haunting, atmospheric, and mysterious. Invoking a more fantasy story in a more modern world, this one-shot follows Grace who goes home and re-enters the life of someone she once knew some five years later. Louise is the old friend Grace has returned to see, someone that she did not last meet on a positive note years ago. She is also the person who comes to need Grace’s help and protection upon her return.
Naughton’s work here strikes me as being influenced by manga (and media) of yesteryear. The Stranger seems to be bringing together neo-noir, science fiction, detective comics and so much more wrapped up in nearly thirty pages or so. There are pages that startle me, unsettle me, and make me think of what makes us humans–us. I love when one-shots get me thinking and questioning! This work made me as a reader think about why people quest and search for answers. Loneliness, desperation, curiosity, regret, purpose…The Stranger attempts to balance them all and is mostly successful and ends on such a philosophical, yet abrupt end.
About VIZ Originals One-Shots:
The One-Shots program is a showcase for aspiring manga creators, led by renowned former Weekly Shonen Jump editor-in-chief Hisashi SASAKI! The Viz website goes on to put out a call to action: “Whether you are an established creator with a new idea or are putting the finishing touches on your very first one-shot, if you are passionate about manga, we want to hear from you! Learn more about how to submit your work.”
Read all the one-shots from aspiring creators chosen as the first batch in this exciting new project here!
Read more about the VIZ Originals One-Shots Program and read Hisashi SASAKI’s thoughts on each selected entry on the Viz website!
Love reading manga? See more on our site!
Want to get Black Nerd Problems updates sent directly to you?
Sign up here! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and Instagram!
The post Introducing the VIZ Originals One-Shots Program appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Acclaimed Actors Join Previously-Announced A-List Cast for Enthralling, Faith-Based Animated Family Film
JUNE 4, 2024 (Seoul, South Korea) – Academy Award winner Sir Ben Kingsley, beloved James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan and Star Wars universe luminary Mark Hamill form the ultimate vocal rogues’ gallery in Mofac Animation’s upcoming The King of Kings, an animated family film inspired by a little-known short story by Charles Dickens depicting the life and times of Jesus Christ.
Kingsley voices High Priest Caiaphas, who presided over the Sanhedrin trial of Jesus. Hamill takes on the role of King Herod, who according to the Gospel of Matthew, ordered the Massacre of the Innocents in an attempt to kill Jesus as an infant. And Brosnan gives animated life to Pontius Pilate, who ultimately ordered the crucifixion of Jesus. The triumvirate of villainous voices further enhances the A-list cast behind the faith-based animated film, which also includes Academy Award & Emmy Award winners Kenneth Branagh (Belfast) and Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland), Golden Globe winners Oscar Isaac (Show Me A Hero) and Uma Thurman (Hysterical Blindness), and Golden Globe nominee Roman Griffin Davis (Jojo Rabbit).
Mofac Animation is currently seeking potential domestic and international distributors for The King of Kings, which is now in its final stages of production. The filmmakers anticipate a release date in close proximity to Easter 2025.
In the film, Charles and Walter Dickens embark on a multi-dimensional adventure as the master storyteller engages his youngest son’s vivid imagination with the fascinating life of Jesus, his well-known trials and tribulations, and his notable colleagues and foes. The film’s rich animation allows the Dickens pair (and the family cat Willa) to become intrinsically immersed in the ancient tale, interacting with Jesus, his disciples and his detractors – while the stellar cast behind the voices bring these well-known characters to animated life like never before. The result is an animated film that makes the biblical journey easily relatable, readily understood and captivatingly entertaining for families and, especially, to children of all ages.
“The true measure of a hero is always judged by the strength of his foes, and Sir Ben Kingsley, Pierce Brosnan and Mark Hamill deliver impactful performances that elevate their respective villains to appropriately biblical heights,” says producer Anfernee Kim. “This cast is laden with winners of every major acting award, and they’ve all bought their A-games for a story most deserving of their impressive collective talents.”
After earning an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and two BAFTA Awards for his riveting portrayal of Indian social leader Mahatma Gandhi, Sir Ben Kingsley has continued to bring unequaled detail and nuance to each role he portrays, remaining a coveted and ubiquitous talent. Spanning more than half a century, Kingsley’s film career includes an additional trio of Academy award nominations for his performances in Bugsy, Sexy Beast and House of Sand and Fog, and a wide range of outstanding showings in movies like Schindler’s List, Operation Finale, DaliLand, Jules, Searching for Bobby Fischer; Elegy, Iron Man 3, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Hugo, Ender’s Game; and The Boxtrolls, for which he won the Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Voice Acting in an Animated Feature. Kingsley’s notable television work includes Emmy Award nominated performances in Mrs. Harris and Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story, and a Screen Actors Guild award-winning role in Anne Frank: The Whole Story. Steeped in British theatre, he began his professional acting career with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1967, performing in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, Julius Caesar, and in the title roles of Othello and Hamlet, among others. His diverse theatrical portfolio has also encompassed productions of The Country Wife, The Cherry Orchard, A Betrothal and Waiting for Godot. Kingsley was recently seen in Wes Anderson’s Academy Award-winning adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar. He’ll next reprise his beloved Marvel Cinematic Universe character Trevor Slattery in the upcoming series Wonder Man for Disney+; star in Lionsgate’s The Killer’s Game; play Emperor Kisra in the Rupert Wyatt’s actioner Desert Warrior;stars in Simmons/Hamilton Production’s upcoming shark-infested thriller Deep Water and in Nick Hamm’s upcoming biopic William Tell; and perform in Terrence Malick’s The Way of the Wind. He will also join The King of Kings co-star Pierce Brosnan in Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club. In 1984, he was awarded the Padma Sri by Indira Gandhi and the government of India; and in 2002, Kingsley was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in the New Year’s Eve Honors List. Kingsley received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010.
Pierce Brosnan is a legendary Irish American actor, film producer, environmentalist, philanthropist, artist and two-time Golden Globe Award nominee known for his rich and extensive career in front of the camera and behind-the-scenes. Brosnan is notable for his roles in iconic films such as Mrs. Doubtfire, Mamma Mia, The Thomas Crown Affair and the James Bond franchise (GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, Die Another Day). Most recently, Brosnan was seen in The Last Rifleman, which is inspired by a true story of a World War II veteran living in a care home in Northern Ireland who, on the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, decides to escape the home and embark on a journey to France to pay his final respects. He was also recently seen in director Phillip Noyce’s hitman thriller, Fast Charlie based on Victor Gischler’s Edgar Award-nominated novel, Gun Monkeys, and in the DC/Warner Bros. film Black Adam. Upcoming, Brosnan will star in Max’s The Great Lillian Hall opposite Jessica Lange; the sports drama Giant; the Focus Features spy thriller Black Bag for director Steven Soderbergh; and in the Irish romance film Four Letters of Love opposite Helena Bonham Carter. Brosnan expanded the range of his film work by launching his own production company, Irish DreamTime. Alongside his wife, Keely Shaye, he is an advocate for environmental causes, actively supporting various organizations dedicated to conservation. Brosnan’s involvement extends to co-producing documentaries like “Poisoning Paradise,” shedding light on pressing environmental issues. Beyond acting and activism, he showcases his artistic talent through painting, with his works exhibited in prestigious galleries and auctions worldwide. Recently, Brosnan debuted his first solo art exhibition, “So Many Dreams,” encapsulating his artistic journey throughout the years. Brosnan was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1997.
Mark Hamill’s career has encompassed all aspects of entertainment including stage, screen, television and new media. He is best known as Luke Skywalker in George Lucas’ original Star Wars trilogy – A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. He later reprised the role for Lucasfilm’s latest Star Wars trilogy – The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. Hamill’s film career has included The Big Red One, Brigsby Bear, The Machine and the cult classic Corvette Summer. He is currently co-starring as Arthur Pym in Mike Flanagan’s latest limited series, The Fall Of The House Of Usher, and recently wrapped production on Flanagan’s latest Stephen King-based project, Life Of Chuck. Additionally, his TV career has boasted roles in classics ranging from The F.B.I., The Partridge Family, One Day at a Time and The Streets of San Francisco to contemporary offerings like The Flash (1977 & 2015), Just Shoot Me, Criminal Minds, What We Do in the Shadows, The Big Bang Theory and The Mandalorian. Hamill has also crafted a prolific voiceover career, performing in hundreds of television cartoons, feature films and video games. Hamill first played the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series, a role for which he established the standard in animation – ultimately winning a BAFTA Award for his portrayal of the Joker in the Arkham Asylum video game series. An Emmy Award winner for his performance in Elena of Avalor in 2021, Hamill’s recent voice work includes lending his voice to Granduncle in the English-language version of Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award-winning The Boy and The Heron. Hamill was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018.
The King of Kings is directed by Seong-ho “Jay” Jang (Joint Security Area, The Taste of Money, Last Knights), one of the most respected filmmakers in Korea and an unparalleled pioneer in the visual effects realm. The film is co-written by Jang and Rob Edwards (Disney’s The Princess and the Frog and Treasure Planet). Emmy Award-winning dialogue & casting director Jamie Thomason (Spirited Away, The Tigger Movie) and veteran filmmaking executive Andrew Mann (Imperium, Gold, Transfusion) serve as executive producers. Anfernee Kim (Last Knights, John Woo’s The Crossing 2) is the film’s producer. For more information, please visit the film’s website at www.kingofkingsanimation.com
The post SIR BEN KINGSLEY, PIERCE BROSNAN & MARK HAMILL FORM VILLAINOUS TRIO FOR MOFAC ANIMATION’S THE KING OF KINGS appeared first on The Nerd Element.