Manga Entertainment UK to help produce an Animated Series based on WAYWARD

UK Anime distributor Manga Entertainment UK have today announced that they will be working with Writer Jim Zub and illustrator Steven Cummings to help bring their comic book series known as WAYWARD to an animated TV series.

As explained in the press e-mail Jim Zub and Steven Cummings will act as creative consultants on the project, including development of the initial story treatment along with character and creature designs while Manga Entertainment UK will act as support in production of the animated series; as Jerome Mazandarani, COO of Manga Entertainment,explains:

“We are very excited to be working with Jim and Steven to bring the characters and world of WAYWARD to life for the screen. Jim and Steven have managed to create a truly unique high stakes action-drama that feels fresh and authentic in its mixture of Japanese and Celtic mythology. We are very confident this story will connect with audiences across Asia and the rest of the world.”

Meanwhile Jim Zub, writer for WAYWARD, also explains his reasoning and ideals behind this new partnership with Manga Entertainment UK:

“As soon as Jerome and I started talking about a collaboration, I had a good feeling Manga Entertainment would be the right place to develop Wayward. The crew at Manga intimately understand the anime market and have helped popularize some of the biggest brands in that space. As Japanese art and animation continues to go global, co-producing Wayward at a Japanese studio with Manga taking the lead is a natural choice.”

Synopsis: WAYWARD is an action-drama set in modern Tokyo where Yokai, Japanese creatures and spirits of legend, battle against teenagers imbued with newfound supernatural power. The series launched to critical acclaim in August 2014 and is currently available in monthly comic format and four collected trade paperbacks, with a new deluxe hardcover collection arriving in July. WAYWARD’s first volume, ‘String Theory’, made the Young Adult Library Services Association’s 2016 List of ‘Great Graphic Novels for Teens’ and has been favorably reviewed by many outlets, including Kirkus.

We expect that further details surrounding WAYWARD will be revealed over time; but in the mean time it is interesting to see Manga Entertainment UK expand their reach from distribution of anime-related-products to production of anime-styled-products.