Viz Media To Debut Wide Array Of New Manga Titles At 2006 BookExpo America Show

San Francisco, CA, May 19, 2006 -€“ VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced a wide array of new manga titles set to debut at the 2006 BookExpo America (BEA) show in Washington DC, May 19-21 at the Washington DC Convention Center. BEA is widely recognized as a leading gathering point for professionals who publish, sell and market books. VIZ Media will be located in Booth 2850.

The estimated value of the domestic manga market continues to grow rapidly and BEA has become a major focal point for VIZ Media to continue to exhibit the diversity of its library to the publishing arena. Retail industry watchdog ICv2 recently quoted the manga revenue for North America for 2005 in its new Retailers Guide to Anime/Manga #14 at
between $155 and $180 million and this figure is expected to continue to rise in coming years.

For the 2006 BEA show, VIZ Media will preview a variety of highly anticipated new manga titles set to release in the Third Quarter in the action, fantasy and shojo genres. Summaries for these titles follow below:

NARUTO ANIME PROFILES - MSRP: $14.99 - Available July 2006
Shonen Jump’s NARUTO has become a top-rated favorite on Cartoon Network and the manga (graphic novel) series, also published by VIZ Media in both SHONEN JUMP magazine and in graphic novel format, consistently ranks as a top seller on several national literary sales charts. The NARUTO ANIME PROFILES book serves as a comprehensive addendum to the series about young ninjas in training, detailing anime episodes 1-37. A variety of original illustrations and production art by series creator
Masashi Kishimoto are featured as well as answers to popular questions. A must-have for any real fan of the NARUTO anime series!

BUSO RENKIN, Vol. 1 - MSRP: $7.99 - Available August 2006

BUSO RENKIN is the next big series from Nobuhiro Watsuki, the creator of RUROUNI KENSHIN, which is one of the best selling SHONEN JUMP manga series. Buso Renkin is the story of teenager Kazuki Muto, who dies trying to save a girl who was being attacked by an eerie monster. The next morning, however, Kazuki is left wondering whether it was all a dream. Lo and behold, the girl, the monster, and his death are all real! The girl, Tokiko Tsumura, was actually trying to slay the homunculus, but Kazuki got in her way. To revive Kazuki, Tokiko replaces his heart with a "kakugane," an alchemic device that allows him to summon a lance with which to fight the monsters. It turns out that Tokiko is a member
of the Alchemist Warriors, an organization sworn to protect the world from the diabolical creatures. Soon, Kazuki joins Tokiko in her quest to terminate the sinister being that creates and controls the homunculus. BUSO RENKIN was originally serialized in the Japanese version of SHONEN JUMP and has sold a total of over 3 million copies to-date in Japan.

THE LAW OF UEKI, Vol. 1 - MSRP: $9.99 - Available August 2006

Ueki is an average junior high student who has the power to change trash into trees. This power was granted to him by Mr. Kobayashi so that Ueki can participate in the "Battle of the Supernatural Powers." If Ueki wins, Kobayashi becomes the new King of the Celestial World while Ueki will receive the "Talent of Blank,” allowing him to choose whatever talent he desires. However, the battle will not be easy since he will have to face many unsavory opponents who also want the "Talent of Blank" for their own selfish reasons. Ueki will undergo many trials and sacrifices in order to win the battle and prevent the "Talent of Blank" from falling into the wrong hands. A unique story by Tsubasa Fukuchi with an environmentally aware subplot, THE LAW OF UEKI was also turned into a popular anime series.

PRINCESS MONONOKE FILM COMICS, Vol. 1 - MSRP: $9.99 - Available September 2006

Set in the Japanese countryside during the lawless and chaotic Muromachi Period, PRINCESS MONONOKE is anime visionary Hayao Miyazaki’s imaginative story of a young man’s quest to reconcile the powerful forces of human civilization and industry with the need to live harmoniously in the natural world. The story revolves around a prince who is infected with an incurable disease by a possessed boar/god. He will die unless he can find a cure to rid this curse from his body. When he arrives to get help from the deer god, he finds himself in the middle of a battle between the animal inhabitants of the forest and an iron mining town that is exploiting and killing the forest. Leading the forest animals in the battle is Princess Mononoke, a spunky young girl raised by wolves. Hayao Miyazaki is the most beloved animator in Japanese history and the creator of several successful films, including the 2002 Academy Award® winning SPIRITED AWAY, CASTLE IN THE SKY, PRINCESS MONONOKE (winner of the Japan Academy Award for Best Film release of 1997), MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO and KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE. Whether working with comics or animation, Miyazaki's work is known for entertaining plots, compelling characters, and breathtaking art.

span style="font-weight: bold"> Train_Man: DENSHA OTOKO - MSRP: $9.99 - Available October 2006

From Densha Otoko a story of a hopeless geek, a beautiful woman, and a fast connection--could the Internet be his ticket onto the express train to romance? A real-life thread on a Japanese Internet forum sparks a nationwide phenomenon! A nerdy otaku meets a girl on a train and posts an urgent query on the Web--how the heck do you talk to girls? What should he wear on their date? Where should they go? The forum's response was amazing, and the thread continued to grow along with their relationship. Eventually published in book format to become a best seller, the thread spawned a blockbuster movie and hit TV series, as well as this heartwarming manga adaptation of an entire Internet community rooting for love and romance.

SHOJO BEAT MANGA ARTIST ACADEMY - MSRP: $14.99 - Available October 2006
For all of you who'€™ve ever dreamed of becoming a shojo manga artist, this book is for you! Join Satomi Panda, whose only skill is her love of manga, as she embarks on a journey to manga stardom! Along the way, Satomi receives the help of many manga greats, including Yuu Watase (FUSHUGI YÛGI, ABSOLUTE BOYFRIEND), Mayu Shinju (SENSUAL PHRASE), Rie Takada (HAPPY HUSTLE HIGH), and Chie Shinohara (RED RIVER).

NARUTO (novel): INNOCENT HEART, DEMONIC BLOOD - MSRP: $9.99 - Available November 2006

The first NARUTO novel to be released as part of VIZ Media’s popular Shonen Jump Fiction imprint. Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja-in-training, is more interested in pranks than in studying ninjutsu, but he's determined to become the greatest ninja ever! Meet your favorite ninja all over again as Naruto's first adventures, from the Ninja Academy to the tragedy in the Land of Waves, are retold in vivid prose. There is also a bonus mini poster inserted in this novel.

FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST ANIME PROFILES - MSRP: $14.99 - Available November 2006
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST began as a popular manga series in Japan and quickly exploded into a worldwide anime hit. In North America, FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST is a top-rated series on Cartoon Network'€™s Adult Swim block of programming. Now available for the first time in English, the FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST Anime Profiles guide will help fans keep track of their favorite episodes and cross-reference all the characters from the popular series. Combining actual cel artwork with summaries of all 51 television episodes, this handy archive of alchemy also contains exhaustive (and definitive) cast biographies, bonus artwork and production notes and a special full-color poster. Essential reading for all FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST maniacs!

BE WITH YOU (novel) - MSRP: $17.99 - Available November 2006

When Takumi’s wife suddenly returns from the grave, he can’t believe his eyes. How could such a thing be possible? Is she here to stay? Has love miraculously triumphed over death? As Takumi starts looking for answers to these questions, he discovers the secret of his wife’s appearance is somehow linked to the past, and the future. Back in 2003, Japanese readers fell in love with Ima Ainiyukimasu, Takuji Ichikawa’s heartbreaking story of a couple’s second chance at first love. The novel was so popular it inspired a blockbuster movie, a top-rated TV series and a best-selling manga. Now published in the U.S. as BE WITH YOU, Ichikawa'€™s novel proves that love is a miracle that lasts a lifetime and beyond.

O-PARTS HUNTER, Vol. 1 - MSRP: $9.99 - Available December 2006

Originally ominously titled 666 Satan, O-PARTS HUNTER is a highly anticipated series by Seishi Kishimoto. In the not too distant future, mankind battles over relics from a lost civilization. These items, known as O-Parts, contain incredible powers if wielded by the right person. Enter Jio, a young boy with a tragic past who trusts only one thing in the world: money. Little does he suspect that inside him is the potential to use O-Parts like no one else can. Jio reluctantly teams up with a young girl named Ruby, and together they go on a quest to find as many O-Parts as the can. Will Jio help Ruby realize her dream of becoming a world class treasure hunter? Will Ruby help Jio realize his dream of world domination?

1 WORLD MANGA: Volume 4: Child Soldiers: Of Boys and Men - MSRP: $3.99 - Available Fall 2006

Mercenaries kidnap our hero and force him to fight in an illegal army side by side with other children ripped from their homes and families. Struggling just to survive from one day to the next, will Rei be able to escape, let alone lead his fellow child soldiers safely to freedom?

About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs, audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages.