AnimEgo has released the eighth episode of their documentary series The Anime Business. In this episode, it features Kurt Hassler, Yen Press’ Publisher and Managing Director, as well as the CEO of KADOKAWA World Entertainment.
In the episode, Hassler recalls being profoundly impacted by his early experiences with manga, most notably by Rumiko Takahashi (creator of Ranma ½ and Urusei Yatsura). He played a major role in helping manga to penetrate the North American retail market during his tenure as a buyer for Waldenbooks and Borders in the early 2000s.
Buoyed by the success of publishers such as TOKYOPOP, Del Ray, and VIZ Media, Hassler co-founded Yen Press in 2006 with former DC Comics VP Rich Johnson and financing from the Hachette Book Group. He has gone on to build the publisher into one the biggest manga/manhwa brands in the United States with bestsellers such as Yotsuba&I, Toilet-bound Hanako-kun, Delicious in Dungeon, Solo Leveling, and Semantic Error.
In the interview, Hassler notes a commitment to original content from the very beginning and highlights several Young Adult graphic novel series by award winning creator, Svetlana Chmakova. He was also an early advocate for Light Novels and published hits that included That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime and So I’m a Spider, So What?, and Ascendance of a Bookworm. Hassler and Yen Press have also enthusiastically embraced Korean content, led by Editor-in-Chief, JuYoun Lee, and the bestseller, Solo Leveling. He also notes the burgeoning world of WebToon and how it is transforming content and its delivery.
Source: Press Release
