Anime Meets the Diamond at Anime Expo 2026
VIZ Media turned the Los Angeles convention floor into a launchpad for two ambitious projects that fuse Japanese pop culture with global sports.
The world premiere of Black Torch, a supernatural action series created by mangaka Tsuyoshi Takaki, introduced fans to Jiro Azuma, a teenage shinobi, and his companion Rago, a mononoke cat. The show’s debut was accompanied by an English dub featuring voice actors Keith Silverstein, Acky Bright and Hisashi Sasaki, whose performances add depth to the characters.
Later in the day, VIZ unveiled GalaXic Baseball League, a sci‑fi manga that pits Major League Baseball icons against intergalactic challengers in a tournament that threatens Earth itself. The roster reads like a all‑star lineup, with Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge and Fernando Tatís Jr. slated to appear as both players and promotional ambassadors.
Fan Zones Bring Iconic Titles to Life
The convention floor also hosted the first official Studio Ghibli Pop‑Up Shop in the United States, letting attendees explore My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away merchandise. A Shonen Jump Pop‑Up Shop offered limited‑edition prints and collectibles, reinforcing the event’s role as a cultural bridge for anime fans.
Both VIZ Media and its partners emphasized that the initiatives are more than marketing stunts; they aim to deepen engagement with a generation that consumes content across streaming platforms and live events. With Black Torch now streaming exclusively on Crunchyroll and GalaXic Baseball League available on the VIZ Manga platform, the crossover appears poised to expand into new media formats.