Hot For The Holidays - New Anime Releases From Viz Media

Box Set And Special Editions Of DEATH NOTE, BLEACH And New Installments Of Ongoing Favorites Offer Unique Gift Ideas To Suit Any Budget And Taste

San Francisco, CA, October 5, 2007 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, announced a preview of highly anticipated upcoming anime releases set for the approaching 2007 holiday season.

NARUTO, DEATH NOTE and BLEACH continue to draw legions of fans of all ages and VIZ Media will offer special DVD releases for each title in time for the holidays. The long-awaited DVD debut of DEATH NOTE will feature a Limited Edition Collector's Figurine with the first 15,000 units of each volume at an initial suggested retail price of $39.98. The first season of the popular supernatural action series BLEACH will also be available in a 5-disc Box Set with an exclusive Chain of Fate Wallet Chain limited to just 15,000 copies. The first NARUTO feature, NARUTO THE MOVIE: NINJA CLASH IN THE LAND OF SNOW, will be offered in a 3-disc Deluxe edition with premium packaging, extra content, the complete CD soundtrack, exclusive art prints, and a movie program guide booklet. Other upcoming releases include the latest episodic box sets for PRINCE OF TENNIS, POKÉMON and RANMA ½.

Anime makes a unique gift for fans, family and friends and these new releases from VIZ Media present a range of choices to captivate tastes and interests from kids to teens to adults.

NARUTO THE MOVIE: NINJA CLASH IN THE LAND OF SNOW DELUXE EDITION · Rated "T" for Teens · MSRP: $49.98 · Available November 13, 2007
The long anticipated DVD release of the first NARUTO feature film is a must-have for any fan of the manga or anime series. NARUTO is now one of the most popular and successful manga and anime properties in North America. The series is the top-rated show among boys 6-17 on Cartoon Network's Toonami and also streams online on Toonami Jetstream. NARUTO THE MOVIE: NINJA CLASH IN THE LAND OF

SNOW is a theatrical side story based on the continuity of the animated TV series

and was a box office hit upon its initial release in Japan. This unedited version of the feature comes in a gorgeously illustrated collector's tin containing 3 discs, including the film, a disc of bonus features, a CD of the feature soundtrack, bonus collector’s NARUTO THE MOVIE: NINJA CLASH IN THE LAND OF SNOW art prints and a movie program guide. The movie premiered earlier this summer as a one-night only event to sold out theatres across the country, and follows Naruto and his team as they are sent on a mission to guard Yukie Fujikaze, a popular actress starring in the hit movie "The Adventures of Princess Gale." The crew is heading toward the Land of Snow to shoot the final scenes of the film, and when Yukie refuses to go and escapes from the set, she is brought back by force by Naruto and his teammates. Little do they know there are three rogue Snow Ninja lying in wait with a sinister purpose that forces Yukie to make a crucial decision and face her hidden past. New and existing fans will not want to miss this exciting latest chapter in the ongoing NARUTO saga.

THE PRINCE OF TENNIS DVD Box Set Volume 3 · Rated "A" for All Ages · 13 Episodes · MSRP: $39.98 · Available October 23, 2007
The latest box set installment of the hit series about middle school dramas on and off the tennis court is based on the smash hit manga series by Takeshi Konomi, which has sold more than 30 million copies to-date in Japan and is also published exclusively in North America by VIZ Media. In this collection, tennis prodigy Ryoma Echizen and the Seigaku tennis team have reached the Metropolitan Tournament, the pinnacle of youth tennis. First up, the "golden pair" doubles team of Oishi and Kikumaru are forced to resort to the unusual Australian formation to throw off their opponents. Then Ryoma faces the "Lefty-Killer," who uses a dangerous and devastating twist spin. To fight back, the Prince of Tennis must resort to amazing acrobatics and outrageous innovation! A unique series about an adolescent's quest to find meaning and purpose both on and off the court, THE PRINCE OF TENNIS will delight tennis and sports fans but will also captivate non-sports fans with engrossing stories and dynamic characters.

POKÉMON Season One Box Set, Part II · Rated "A" for All Ages · 26 Episodes · MSRP: $39.98 · Available November 13, 2007
POKÉMON remains one of the most popular and best loved anime series for kids – and has a dedicated adult fan base as well. More than a decade after its debut, POKÉMON continues to set benchmarks. The 10th season of the POKÉMON animated series – Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl – debuted on June 4 on Cartoon Network as the most-watched show of the day with 6-11 year olds and the number one show for 6-11 year old boys across all channels for the entire day. Capture the action from the exciting first season of POKÉMON with the second 3-disc DVD box set which follows Ash, Brock and Misty on their continuing quest to collect POKÉMON, make friends, and battle their way to the Indigo League!

DEATH NOTE · Rated "T+" for Older Teens · 4 Episodes · MSRP: $24.98 · Available November 20, 2007
DEATH NOTE is one of the most anticipated anime releases for 2007. Inspired by the 12-volume manga series (published in North America by VIZ Media), the suspenseful mystery follows Light Yagami, an ace student with great prospects who is bored out of his mind. All that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer. With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight of his noble goal - or his life? The first 15,000 units of the first volume of the DVD will contain a Ryuk Limited Edition Collector's Figurine for an initial suggested retail price of $39.98. Later volumes will include Limited Edition Collector's Figurines of Light, L, Misa, and other popular characters.

BLEACH BOX SET 1: THE SUBSTITUTE · Rated "T" for Teens · 20 Episodes · MSRP: $89.98 · Available November 20, 2007
BLEACH follows Ichigo Kurosaki, who is just like any other ordinary 15-year-old high school student – except for his special ability to see ghosts. So when a teenage girl materializes through his bedroom wall, it should be no call for alarm. The girl is a shinigami death spirit named Rukia, who is hunting a Hollow (an evil spirit that consumes souls). The Hollow proceeds to attack Ichigo's family and Rukia is badly wounded. In order to defeat the evil spirit, Rukia must let Ichigo temporarily become a Soul Reaper by absorbing some of her energy. However, Ichigo inadvertently ends up with all of Rukia's powers and must now take on all the responsibilities of a Soul Reaper until she can figure out how to get her powers back. Now this 15-year-old high school student begins a brand new vocation as a hyperkinetic, all-purpose ghost buster. With enough attitude to make a grown demon blush, Ichigo and crew are cleaning up the afterlife. See all the action of the entire first season in this 5-disc BLEACH Special Edition – limited to only 15,000 copies – that also includes an exclusive BLEACH Chain Of Fate wallet chain as a bonus.

RANMA ½ Season 4 Box Set · Rated "T" for Teens · 5 Discs · MSRP: $49.98 · Available November 27, 2007
The latest installment of the epic anime series (which has over 150 episodes) based on Rumiko Takahashi's (INUYASHA, MAISON IKKOKU) popular manga series (also published by VIZ Media). It's not easy being teenage martial artist Ranma Saotome, but it’s even worse when your martial artist father Genma takes you from home at an early age to embark on a decade long training mission in China. He doesn’t speak a word of Chinese but insists upon bringing his son to a cursed training ground called Jusenkyo, where falling into one of the many natural springs instantly turns the hapless victim into whoever or whatever drowned there last. From now on, a splash of cold water turns Genma into a giant panda and poor Ranma turns into a red-haired (and problematically well-built) female counterpart. Hot water reverses the effects but that is just the beginning of the comedic zaniness that has made this anime series a favorite for almost two decades!

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 and 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.