Noir Caesar, in collaboration with publisher TOKYOPOP, has announced the North American release of the acclaimed basketball manga series Deep3, set to debut in March 2026. The series, originally serialized in Japan’s Big Comic magazine, will be available in both print and digital formats, bringing its compelling sports drama to English-speaking audiences.
Bringing “Deep3” to a Global Audience
The partnership between Noir Caesar and TOKYOPOP marks a significant step in diversifying manga offerings in the Western market. Deep3, created by Mitsuhiro Mizuno and artist Ryōsuke Tobimatsu, centers on Demian Kawai, a talented young Japanese basketball player with aspirations of becoming the top scorer in the prestigious National Basketball Organization (NBO). His journey is complicated by “the yips,” a condition that causes his arms to stiffen near the goal, threatening his promising career.
Noir Caesar co-founder Johnny O’Bryant, a professional basketball player and former NBA player himself, expressed his long-standing admiration for Deep3. “I’ve been a fan of Deep 3 for years,” O’Bryant stated, recalling how he first discovered the series on Twitter and was captivated by the character designs. His curiosity led him to research the series, studying the artwork and digging through Japanese pages before an English translation was available. Recognizing the series’ unique appeal and the absence of English rights, O’Bryant brought the possibility of its release to his partners at TOKYOPOP, highlighting the potential for English-speaking audiences.
Noir Caesar’s Mission for Diverse Storytelling
Noir Caesar Entertainment operates as an indie creative company dedicated to supporting and nourishing art from marginalized communities across various media, including animation, film, TV, and comics. Their mission aligns with broadening the scope of manga and anime to include diverse narratives and creators, blending Western storytelling with traditional Japanese aesthetics. The company aims to provide platforms for stories that resonate with a wider audience, as articulated by O’Bryant in a previous statement: “We at Noir Caesar strive for the future of representation and diversity in the world of manga, anime, video games, and beyond for those who never saw themselves in any of the aforementioned before.”
This collaboration on Deep3 follows Noir Caesar’s history of bringing unique titles to market and fostering creative partnerships. They have previously engaged in projects that include developing original graphic novels and collaborating with entities like Osamu Tezuka Productions to update classic manga.
The Story of Demian Kawai: Overcoming Adversity
Deep3 delves into both the on-court action and off-court struggles of its protagonist, Demian Kawai. Demian’s dedication to basketball is absolute, driven by his dream of reaching the pinnacle of professional basketball. However, the sudden onset of the yips presents a formidable challenge, forcing him to confront his physical and mental limitations. The manga explores his struggle to overcome this debilitating condition and continue his pursuit of greatness. This theme of perseverance against significant personal hurdles is a core element of the series, promising a compelling and relatable narrative for readers.
The series has been serialized in Japan since January 2021, and its North American release is highly anticipated by fans of sports manga and compelling character-driven stories. The print and digital distribution by TOKYOPOP will make Deep3 readily accessible across North America starting in March 2026.
