When was Studio Proteus founded by Toren Smith?
Toren Smith founded Studio Proteus in 1986. The company was established in San Francisco to handle the entire process from acquisition to translation.
Common questions about Studio Proteus
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What manga titles did Studio Proteus publish under Toren Smith?
Studio Proteus published acclaimed manga titles including Akira, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Ghost in the Shell, Outlanders, 3×3 Eyes, Oh My Goddess!, and Ranma ½. The company also released Club 9, What's Michael?, Version, and The Rebel Sword.
When did Toren Smith leave Studio Proteus?
Toren Smith left Studio Proteus completely by 2006. Dark Horse Comics announced the purchase of Studio Proteus translation rights in February 2004, and Smith stayed on as an adviser and translator until his departure.
Why did Toren Smith close Studio Proteus?
Toren Smith closed Studio Proteus because he felt the market was becoming too corporate and he was burning out after producing over 70,000 pages of manga in 15 years. He believed the industry had become commodified and moved out of his league.
What was the last manga produced by Studio Proteus staff?
The last manga produced by Studio Proteus staff in the flipped American comic format was Blade of the Immortal #131 in November 2007. The series then moved to a graphic-novel-only format.