Stu Levy
Stuart J. Levy | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1967 (age 58–59) |
| Alma mater | University of California at Los Angeles, Georgetown University |
| Occupations |
|
| Title | Founder and former CEO of Tokyopop |
Stuart J. Levy (born 1967), also known by the pen name D.J. Milky,[1][2] is a producer[3] of manga and films and writer of manga.[1][4]
Levy founded the media company Tokyopop and established the manga market in North America.[5] He was an executive producer on the major motion picture Priest in 2011 distributed by Sony Pictures.[6] Additionally, he directed the documentary Pray for Japan and mockumentary Van Von Hunter.[7] Van Von Hunter won him "Best Director" at the Los Angeles based Mock Film Fest 2011.[8] He created/wrote Princess Ai with singer Courtney Love.[9][10] Levy also is a chair of the International Producers Guild of America.[11][12] Levy appeared as a speaker for the Middle East Film & Comic Con 2018 for his experience as a businessman and producer/artist.[13] Levy's manga series, Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero's Journey was nominated for two 2018 Diamond GEM awards.[14][15]
Levy moved to Berlin in January 2020. In March 2023, Levy stepped back from his position as CEO, but took a "similar position" at Tokyopop Germany.[16]
In August 2025, Levy was the subject of Episode 7 of The Anime Business, a documentary interview series produced and hosted by Justin Sevakis for AnimEigo and parent company MediaOCD, subtitled The Rise, Fall and Rebirth of TOKYOPOP. In the episode, Levy discussed bringing manga to major retailers such as Waldenbooks and Borders, pioneering publishing standards including the right-to-left reading format and the use of original Japanese sound effects, promoting J-pop music and anime soundtracks in the United States, and developing manga-inspired projects with prominent U.S. entertainers. He also addressed the financial pressures placed on Tokyopop by its venture capital investors and the convergence of factors during the 2008 global financial crisis — including the collapse of major retail partners — that caused the company to go dormant before eventually rebounding.[17]
References
- ^ a b "Writer of the 'Nightmare Before Christmas' sequel comic just gave us a release date". The Daily Dot. October 5, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
- ^ "Stuart LEVY - Anime News Network". www.animenewsnetwork.com. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
- ^ "Finalists for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) Award Announced in Greater Los Angeles; Award Winners Named at Gala Event on June 27". Business Wire (Press release). Retrieved March 28, 2018.
- ^ "ICV2 INTERVIEW: TOKYOPOP'S STU LEVY". ICv2. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
- ^ "The Muscle Behind 'Manga in America'". Pop Matters. April 27, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
- ^ "Stu Levy and the Rise and Fall of Tokyopop". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: TOKYOPOP's Stu Levy Talks Disaster Doc 'Pray for Japan'". Indie Wire. March 30, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
- ^ "Award Winners 2011". Mock Film Fest. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
- ^ Gustines, George Gene (December 28, 2004). "Girl Power Fuels Manga Boom in U.S." The New York Times. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
- ^ "PRINCESS COURTNEY!". NME. July 16, 2003. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
- ^ "PGA National Committees: International". Producers Guild of America. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
- ^ "Opening ceremony of Chinese American Film Festival held in LA". China.org. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
- ^ "Meet The Stars". MEFCC. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
- ^ "2018 DIAMOND GEM Award Nominees". Newsarama. Archived from the original on January 5, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
- ^ "Tokyopop's The Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero's Journey Nominated for Diamond Gem Awards". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
- ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 7, 2023). "Tokyopop Confirms Founder, CEO Stu Levy Has 'Stepped Back' From U.S. Operations". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ "AnimEigo Announces Episode 7 of Ongoing Documentary Series – The Anime Business". Anime News Network (Press release). August 27, 2025. Retrieved March 7, 2026.