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Join our life-changing mission to develop education for our half a billion (and growing!) learners around the world.
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About the role...
We're looking for a Managing Editor, Character IP to lead Duolingo's manga and anime expansion in Japan. This isn't a role for someone who manages timelines and coordinates vendors from a distance. You'll get into the weeds — developing Duo's Japanese character voice, writing plots when needed, identifying the right manga artists, and building the studio and TV network relationships that turn a great concept into something millions of people actually watch. Our roadmap goes manga first, then anime, with a TV morning show slot (think Chiikawa) as the target format for animation. This role reports into the Director of Design Studio Brand team, with a dotted line to the Director of Country Marketing Japan and Korea team.
🧠 You will...
- Set and uphold Duolingo’s high quality bar across all creative projects in this pipeline
- Partner with Design Studio Creative Directors to define Duo's Japanese character profile — tone of voice, personality details, backstory — while staying true to his globally established character bible
- Write your own plots and lead original story development when needed
- Scout and brief manga artists and illustrators who match the look and feel we're going for
- Build and manage relationships with publishers and editors to get manga projects off the ground
- Select and manage anime production studios — handling contracts, budgets, schedules, and quality
- Pitch to and build relationships with TV networks, with the goal of securing a morning show slot
- Set visual quality standards appropriate to each format and platform (TV, streaming, short-form)
- Keep global and local stakeholders aligned and get buy-in at the right moments
✅ You have...
- Hands-on manga editing / directing experience at a publisher, editorial production company, or IP firm
- Proven ability to develop original stories — you've written plots yourself, not just managed others who do
- Sharp editorial / directorial instincts for capturing a character's voice and making it feel alive on the page
- Real relationships with publishers, manga artists, and writers, and a track record of getting projects made
- Working knowledge of anime production: studio contracts, budgets, and how to get quality work at a fair value
- Existing connections with major TV networks and experience pitching concepts for broadcast slots
- Exceptional collaboration skills, seeking consensus and feedback when making decisions
- Business-level English needed for collaborating with our global team — strong written English vs. spoken fluency
⭐ Exceptional candidates will have...
- Experience taking a manga property all the way through to anime adaptation
- Familiarity with social-native formats (vertical, short-form, platform-specific)
- Background in brand licensing, merchandise, or IP business development
- Experience with inbound or outbound IP localization (foreign IP in Japan or Japanese IP abroad)
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Accommodations: We will do everything we can within reason to make sure that your interview takes place in an environment that fairly and accurately assesses your skills. If you need assistance or accommodation, please contact accommodations@duolingo.com.
Equal Employment Opportunity: Duolingo is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
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