Italian
East-West collaboration breathes new life into horror and manga
A new era for horror and manga fans
In a groundbreaking move, Through the Lens Entertainment, the film studio that made waves at Cannes last year, has inked a deal with the iconic horror magazine Fangoria. This partnership marks Fangoria’s return to filmmaking after a period of corporate instability. The collaboration promises to redefine the horror and manga experience, offering fans an immersive journey into the macabre through motion pictures.
Reviving the horror genre with manga adaptations
The first three manga titles set for film adaptation are from the legendary Japanese horror mangaka, Ito Junji. These titles include Bloodsucking Darkness, The Mystery of the Haunted House Part 1, and The Mystery of the Haunted House Part 2. This selection is poised to captivate both horror enthusiasts and manga fans alike.
The team behind the magic
The production team for these films is a powerhouse of talent. Armen Aghaeian, Tara Ansley, and Abhi Goel will produce for Fangoria Studios, alongside Ito Junji. They will be joined by Kutami Yasu and Yamaguchi Tsubasa of Amuse Group USA, and Aditya Chand and Jay Van Hoy from Through the Lens Entertainment. The deal was brokered by indie producer Carlos Aguirre, who will serve as an executive producer.
Fangoria’s storied history
Established in 1979, Fangoria rose to prominence in the pre-internet era with its behind-the-scenes photos and in-depth interviews with horror creators. The magazine hosted its own awards shows, sponsored conventions, and expanded into film production and distribution in the 1990s. However, the 2010s saw irregular publication until new owners acquired the title in 2018 and again in 2020.
A multimedia transformation
Under the current ownership of Ansley and Goel, Fangoria operates as a quarterly glossy edited by Phil Nobile Jr.. The company has developed plans to become a multimedia operation, launching Fangoria Studios in 2021 to produce film, television, and podcasts under the Fangoria, Starlog, and Gorezone brands.
Universal appeal of horror stories
Armen Aghaeian, SVP of Fangoria Studios, emphasized the universal appeal of horror stories, stating, “There’s no better way to commence our partnership with Through the Lens Entertainment than with the legendary horror author and artist Ito’s stories. After all, everyone screams in the same language.”
Aditya Chand, founder of Through the Lens Entertainment, added, “Working with a visionary manga creator like Ito Junji, alongside a cornerstone platform of horror culture with Fangoria, pushes the boundaries of what East-West collaboration can achieve in the modern age. Manga adaptation must be culturally sensitive, balancing Japanese nuances with innovative horror sensibilities, allowing for a new cinematic experience for enthusiasts and manga fans.”
New leadership and future projects
The new deal also marks the arrival of filmmaker Jay Van Hoy as Through the Lens Entertainment’s chief producing officer. Van Hoy, known for his work on American Honey, The Lighthouse, and The Witch, is expected to set up a new collective of behind-the-camera talent and establish a modern ecosystem for film production.
Expanding horizons with Hoshi Studios
In partnership with Shogakukan Asia, the Southeast Asian subsidiary of Japan’s Pokémon book series publisher Shogakukan, Through the Lens Entertainment recently launched Hoshi Studios. This manga development and publishing startup has outposts in Singapore and Japan, further expanding the company’s reach and influence.
Upcoming projects to watch
Through the Lens Entertainment is also an associate producer on Eephus, a comedy-drama by Carson Lund that debuted in May at the Cannes Film Festival’s Directors’ Fortnight. Other notable projects include The Incident Report with Britt Lower (Severance), directed by Naomi Jaye and executive produced by Charlie Kaufman; Lefthanded Girl, a Taiwanese feature film written and directed by Shih Ching Shou (Tangerine) and produced by Sean Baker (The Florida Project), currently in post-production; and Skysong, a South-Asian fairytale developed as a comic book and feature film with Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire) and her company Freebird Films.
This collaboration between Through the Lens Entertainment and Fangoria is set to bring a fresh wave of innovation to the horror and manga genres, promising an exciting future for fans worldwide.
