Scholastic Partners with Tezuka Productions

Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education, and media company, announced it will be partnering with Tezuka Productions, Co., Ltd., Osamu Tezuka’s IP company, to reimagine five of Tezuka’s original manga titles for children.

Tezuka Productions, Co., Ltd. is a Japanese mass multi-media company founded by Osamu Tezuka, who is often referred to as the “God of Manga.” Tezuka is famously known for jumpstarting Japan’s modern comic and animation industries, producing over 700 stories, including some of his most popular series, Astro Boy, Princess Knight, Kimba the White Lion, and many more.

Scholastic partnered with Tezuka Productions, Co. Ltd. first in 2024 with the reimagining of Tezuka’s UNICO series. Since the UNICO AWAKENING series launched in August 2024, Graphix has released three volumes from acclaimed author, Samuel Sattin, and Eisner Award-winning Japanese artist duo, Gurihiru. The series has become a national bestseller and sold in more than 17 countries around the world. UNICO AWAKENING will culminate with its eighth volume, completing the story arc left unfinished by Tezuka in his lifetime.

In a similar vein to UNICO, Scholastic is partnering with Tezuka Productions, Co., Ltd. to reimagine five properties from Osamu Tezuka. These titles will include, Three Eyed One, Princess Knight, Triton of the Sea, Zero Men, and Atom Cat/Astro Cat. Author Samuel Sattin is tagged once again to spearhead the efforts to develop and reimage these series, working alongside Japanese artists.

“Working with Tezuka Productions and Samuel Sattin on the UNICO AWAKENING series has been a dream come true and I’m thrilled that we’ll be working together to create more reimagined series for children based on the brilliant storytelling of Osamu Tezuka.” says David Saylor, Creative Director and SVP of Graphix at Scholastic.

“We are thrilled to partner with Scholastic and Graphix to bring more of Osamu Tezuka’s beloved stories to global readers. Following the incredible success of the UNICO AWAKENING series in over 17 countries, we have immense trust in Samuel Sattin and his fellow talented artists who will reimagine these five classic titles for children. We look forward to the day when children everywhere discover these timeless worlds,” says Hirotaka Ishiwata, Publishing Manager of Content Division at Tezuka Productions.

“Working with Scholastic and Tezuka Productions to create modern reimaginings of Osamu Tezuka’s work is at once a dream come true and a responsibility I don’t take lightly. Writing UNICO AWAKENING has been an immeasurable honor, and I look forward to bridging art and stories across Japan and the US to bring a new generation of readers to Tezuka’s world—a world I’m deeply excited to continue creating in,” says bestselling and Eisner-nominated author, Samuel Sattin.

About Graphix

For more than 100 years, Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) has been meeting children where they are – at school, at home and in their communities – by creating quality content and experiences, all beginning with literacy. Graphix is the groundbreaking imprint of Scholastic that publishes graphic novels for early, middle grade, and young adult readers. Launched in 2005 with the publication of Jeff Smith’s acclaimed epic series BONE, Graphix is an innovative force in the publishing industry with global bestsellers and acclaimed books including Dog Man and Cat Kid Comic Club by Dav Pilkey, Raina Telgemeier’s books, the Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi, the Heartstopper series by Alice Oseman, the Sunny books by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm, Twins by Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright, Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter, and the graphic novel adaptations of The Baby-sitters Club and Wings of Fire series. Graphix titles continue to receive awards and critical acclaim including multiple Eisner Award wins and nominations, a National Book Award Longlist selection (Hey, Kiddo), a Stonewall Book Award Honor (Drama), a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor (Smile), and an Edgar Allan Poe nomination (The Lost Boy). Graphix also publishes manga for young readers including the bestselling UNICO series by Osamu Tezuka, Samuel Sattin, and Gurihiru, and the American Manga Award-nominated, Hikaru in the Light! by Mai Matsuda. Learn more at www.scholastic.com.

About Tezuka Productions, Co., Ltd.

Tezuka Productions Co., Ltd. is a Japanese multi-media company founded by Osamu Tezuka, who is often referred to as the “God of Manga.” The studio, founded in 1986, is now mainly engaged in management and operation of Tezuka’s copyrighted works, both manga and animation, and in animation production. It is known for notable animation works such as Astro Boy (1980/2003), Jungle Emperor Leo (AKA: Kimba the White Lion), Dororo, and Black Jack.