Company will handle all merchandise related to the anime

Viz Media announced on Thursday that it has been named the North American master merchandise licensee for the Jojo's Bizarre Adventure anime series. The company unveiled an English logo for the animation, pictured right.

Starting this year Viz Media plans to release a variety of products based on the animated series, which is itself based on Hirohiko Araki's manga. Viz is already slated to release the first arc of the manga, Phantom Blood, later this month, and the second arc, Battle Tendency, in March. Viz Media released the third arc, Stardust Crusaders in 2005.

Image © Hirohiko Araki / SHUEISHA, JoJo's Animation Project

Update: Viz confirmed that the agreement covers the merchandise based on the anime, not the anime itself.