Viz Holiday Season Offerings
VIZ MEDIA OFFERS DIVERSE COLLECTION OF MANGA INSPIRED TITLES FOR THE 2005 HOLIDAY SEASON
Exclusive Box Sets, Art books, Fiction Novels and Picture Books will Make Unique Gift Ideas for Fans of All Ages
San Francisco, CA, November 9, 2005 – Viz Media, LLC. (Viz Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive manga and animation licensing and publishing companies, has announced a diverse collection of new products inspired by popular anime and manga series that will make unique gift ideas for the 2005 holiday season, all available now!
The growth in popularity of manga in North America continues at an unprecedented pace. Viz Media is meeting the demand for innovative and compelling content with an array of new titles covering a variety of subjects aimed at male and female readers in every age group. Several of the titles being released for the 2005 holiday season have received critical acclaim and topped numerous literary sales charts.
This year, Viz Media offers an array of titles that include action, shôjo, art books, picture books, and the latest offerings from the company's recently debuted Viz Media Fiction imprint, which presents a variety of novellas inspired by popular manga series. New and old fans alike looking for unique gift ideas will surely find many choices this season.
Viz Media pleased to announce the release of the following products in time for the holidays.
New Viz Media Manga and Ani-Manga:
BEAUTY IS THE BEAST, Volume 1 • MSRP: $8.99
The latest addition to Viz Media's Shojo Beat library is a romantic school dorm comedy that is sure to delight fans of the shôjo genre. When bubbly eleventh grader Eimi Yamashita discovers her parents are relocating for work, she decides to strike out on her own and move into an all-girl dormitory. Little does she suspect the exciting and romantic adventures that await her there. Eimi's fellow residents are a little crazy, but a whole lot of fun. They rope her into a secret initiation that involves sneaking into the boy's dormitory and returning unnoticed with a special keepsake. Can Eimi pull it off and gain the admiration of her fellow roommates without getting caught by one of the handsomest (and cruelest) boys in the dorm?
STEAMBOY Ani-Manga, Volume 1 • MSRP: $19.99
Released in 2005, STEAMBOY is the latest animated project from acclaimed director Katsuhiro Ōtomo, who also directed the landmark film, AKIRA. This full-color volume presents a captivating action drama set in England in 1866, during the height of the industrial revolution. Young master Ray Steam the latest in a lineage of two generations of geniuses including his father Eddie, and his grandfather Lloyd. But the young man is caught between the conflicted goals of both his elders and their desire for control of the “steam ball,” a powerful technology that could transform the world for better or for worse.
DEATH NOTE, Volume 1 • MSRP: $7.99
The latest manga from Tsugumi Obata and Takeshi Obata (the artist behind the popular HIKARU NO GO series), DEATH NOTE weaves a supernatural story of a Young Ace student who finds a sinister notebook mistakenly dropped by a rogue Shinigami spirit. Any human whose name is written in the book dies, and now the young boy has vowed to use the power of the DEATH NOTE book to rid the world of evil. But when criminals begin dropping dead mysteriously, the authorities send a legendary detective known only as L to track down the killer and discover what is really going on. With the authorities hot in his trail, will the young student lose sight of his goal or lose his life? DEATH NOTE presents a fantastic tale that weaves magic, action and crime drama.
Limited Edition Box Sets:
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST Box Set with Alphonse Figure • MSRP: $19.99
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST Box Set with Edward Figure • MSRP: $19.99
Two special limited edition box sets, each bundled with volume 4 of the most popular manga series to hit North American shores and a special action figure. This is a must-have for any ardent fan. FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST tells the saga of the Elric brothers, Alphonse and Edward, who pay a tragic price after unsuccessfully attempting to use alchemy to resurrect their dead mother. Now, with Edward missing an arm and a leg – and Alphonse reduced to nothing but a soul in a suit of armor – the pair must set out on a quest to find the fabled Philosopher's Stone which is the only thing that can bring them back to normal.
NARUTO Box Set • MSRP: $9.99
Following its massive success in Japan, where it sold more than 50 million copies, NARUTO debuted as one of the hottest selling manga titles in North America and the anime series on Cartoon Network has been top rated. This special box set combines Volume 1 of the manga series with a special 2006 calendar featuring an array of character art by series creator Masashi Kishimoto. NARUTO tells the story of a young boy who has had the spirit of an evil Nine-Tailed Fox Demon imprisoned within him since the day he was born, making him the object of hatred by people in his village. Countering this hate, young Naruto grew into the role of a clown, trying to attract attention by making a fool of himself and his teachers. But within Naruto dwells the dream of becoming Hokage, the strongest ninja of the village. Adventures ensue as Naruto and his teammates train hard and develop the skills needed to become mighty warriors and also learn valuable lessons in friendship and loyalty.
New for the novel lover… from the Viz Media Fiction Line:
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST MSRP: $9.99
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST is currently one of the hottest anime and manga properties in North America. The manga's popularity has placed it on several national literary bestseller lists and inspired a top rated 51-episode anime series that currently airs on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. This paperback novelization, written by Makoto Inoue, is aimed at
younger manga fans and depicts the adventures of Edward and Alphonse as they try to use an alchemy technique called "human transmutation" to raise their mother from the dead with tragic consequences. Now beset with mutated mechanical bodies as a result of the accident, the two brothers set out to find the fabled “Philosopher's Stone,” an object of immeasurable power and the only thing that can return the siblings to their natural states.
GHOST IN THE SHELL 2: INNOCENCE, AFTER THE LONG GOODBYE Novel, • MSRP: $19.99
This dynamic hardcover novel by Masaki Yamada serves as the prequel to the GHOST IN THE SHELL: INNOCENCE full color Ani-Manga Box set released by Viz Media earlier this year. Originally serialized as a manga in the pages of Japan's popular anime monthly, Animage, GHOST IN THE SHELL: INNOCENCE AFTER THE LONG GOODBYE depicts a vivid and futuristic world where the line between humans and machines has been blurred almost beyond distinction. Humans have forgotten that they are human, and those that are left coexist with cyborgs and dolls. Action and mystery ensure with many of the familiar characters from the critically acclaimed series of anime films by master director Mamoru Oshii.
SOCRATES IN LOVE Novel • MSRP: $17.99
SOCRATES IN LOVE is the book that took the Japanese publishing industry by storm and went on to become the most successful and widely read fiction novel in Japan. It depicts the sweet high school romance between an average guy and a beautiful girl. But tragedy ensues when the girl falls ill with leukemia. A bittersweet tale of young love, enduring devotion, and heartbreaking loss, This Is a Love Story to cherish and nurture.
Viz Media Art Books based on popular anime titles:
THE ART OF FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST • MSRP: $19.99
A lushly illustrated hardcover edition featuring an array of original and concept drawings by FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST creator and artist Hiromu Arakawa. Many of these illustrations have never been seen before and are unavailable in any other collection. This is a must-have and a unique gift for any fan of the anime and manga series which are quickly becoming number 1 titles for 2005.
THE ART OF MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO • MSRP: $29.99
Hayao Miyazaki is, without doubt, the titan of anime. His works have received universal acclaim and he won an Academy Award™ in 2002 for the film Spirited Away, for which Viz Media also published the Ani-Manga™. THE ART OF MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, depicts the whimsical characters from the acclaimed film about childhood innocence, friendship and the belief that magic is all around us. A beautiful hardcover coffee table edition that is sure to become a treasured addition to any collection.
Picture Books from Viz Media's Studio Ghibli Library, aimed at younger anime and manga fans:
HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE Picture Book • MSRP: $19.99
Based on the young-adult novel by British author Diana Wynne Jones, HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE was beautifully adapted for the screen by Hayao Miyazaki and reflected on the mix of science and magic that has captured our imaginations since the 19th century. There's a foppish wizard named Howl, a pesky witch from the wastelands, an anthropomorphic chimney fire and a young girl who carries a most unusual curse. And, of course, there's the moving castle – a towering, omnipresent structure that dominates the
landscape. This hardcover picture book, which Viz Media offers will captivate readers of all ages.
MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO Picture Book • MSRP: $14.99
MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO opens with Satsuki and Mei's move to the Japanese countryside with their father. Although Satsuki and Mei are at first frightened by their new surroundings, they quickly discover a magical presence in their midst and meet their new neighbor – a tree guardian named Totoro who lives in the forest behind their house. Soon a wonderful adventure begins. This easy to follow hardcover picture book from the Studio Ghibli Library captures the magic of the film from Hayao Miyazaki and will delight all readers.
Monthly manga Magazines:
SHONEN JUMP • One Year Subscription $29.95
Delight any fan of manga with a year-long subscription to the original and best-selling monthly manga anthology. Each month, SHONEN JUMP presents the latest exciting chapters from the most popular manga serials, including NARUTO, YU-GI-OH!, ONE PIECE, SHAMAN KING and more. Plus, each issue has features on video games, card games, Japanese language and culture, and more.
SHOJO BEAT• One Year Subscription $29.95
SHOJO BEAT Magazine is the female-oriented counterpart to SHONEN JUMP and is quickly becoming a favorite among fans of the shôjo genre. In addition to exclusive manga previews, the magazine includes six exciting serialized titles: KAZE HIKARU, ABSOLUTE BOYFRIEND, CRIMSON HERO, NANA, GODCHILD, and BABY AND ME. The magazine also features articles on fashion, music, video gaming, anime, and much more!
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 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. (Sho-Pro 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.
Contact Viz Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.co
Exclusive Box Sets, Art books, Fiction Novels and Picture Books will Make Unique Gift Ideas for Fans of All Ages
San Francisco, CA, November 9, 2005 – Viz Media, LLC. (Viz Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive manga and animation licensing and publishing companies, has announced a diverse collection of new products inspired by popular anime and manga series that will make unique gift ideas for the 2005 holiday season, all available now!
The growth in popularity of manga in North America continues at an unprecedented pace. Viz Media is meeting the demand for innovative and compelling content with an array of new titles covering a variety of subjects aimed at male and female readers in every age group. Several of the titles being released for the 2005 holiday season have received critical acclaim and topped numerous literary sales charts.
This year, Viz Media offers an array of titles that include action, shôjo, art books, picture books, and the latest offerings from the company's recently debuted Viz Media Fiction imprint, which presents a variety of novellas inspired by popular manga series. New and old fans alike looking for unique gift ideas will surely find many choices this season.
Viz Media pleased to announce the release of the following products in time for the holidays.
New Viz Media Manga and Ani-Manga:
BEAUTY IS THE BEAST, Volume 1 • MSRP: $8.99
The latest addition to Viz Media's Shojo Beat library is a romantic school dorm comedy that is sure to delight fans of the shôjo genre. When bubbly eleventh grader Eimi Yamashita discovers her parents are relocating for work, she decides to strike out on her own and move into an all-girl dormitory. Little does she suspect the exciting and romantic adventures that await her there. Eimi's fellow residents are a little crazy, but a whole lot of fun. They rope her into a secret initiation that involves sneaking into the boy's dormitory and returning unnoticed with a special keepsake. Can Eimi pull it off and gain the admiration of her fellow roommates without getting caught by one of the handsomest (and cruelest) boys in the dorm?
STEAMBOY Ani-Manga, Volume 1 • MSRP: $19.99
Released in 2005, STEAMBOY is the latest animated project from acclaimed director Katsuhiro Ōtomo, who also directed the landmark film, AKIRA. This full-color volume presents a captivating action drama set in England in 1866, during the height of the industrial revolution. Young master Ray Steam the latest in a lineage of two generations of geniuses including his father Eddie, and his grandfather Lloyd. But the young man is caught between the conflicted goals of both his elders and their desire for control of the “steam ball,” a powerful technology that could transform the world for better or for worse.
DEATH NOTE, Volume 1 • MSRP: $7.99
The latest manga from Tsugumi Obata and Takeshi Obata (the artist behind the popular HIKARU NO GO series), DEATH NOTE weaves a supernatural story of a Young Ace student who finds a sinister notebook mistakenly dropped by a rogue Shinigami spirit. Any human whose name is written in the book dies, and now the young boy has vowed to use the power of the DEATH NOTE book to rid the world of evil. But when criminals begin dropping dead mysteriously, the authorities send a legendary detective known only as L to track down the killer and discover what is really going on. With the authorities hot in his trail, will the young student lose sight of his goal or lose his life? DEATH NOTE presents a fantastic tale that weaves magic, action and crime drama.
Limited Edition Box Sets:
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST Box Set with Alphonse Figure • MSRP: $19.99
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST Box Set with Edward Figure • MSRP: $19.99
Two special limited edition box sets, each bundled with volume 4 of the most popular manga series to hit North American shores and a special action figure. This is a must-have for any ardent fan. FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST tells the saga of the Elric brothers, Alphonse and Edward, who pay a tragic price after unsuccessfully attempting to use alchemy to resurrect their dead mother. Now, with Edward missing an arm and a leg – and Alphonse reduced to nothing but a soul in a suit of armor – the pair must set out on a quest to find the fabled Philosopher's Stone which is the only thing that can bring them back to normal.
NARUTO Box Set • MSRP: $9.99
Following its massive success in Japan, where it sold more than 50 million copies, NARUTO debuted as one of the hottest selling manga titles in North America and the anime series on Cartoon Network has been top rated. This special box set combines Volume 1 of the manga series with a special 2006 calendar featuring an array of character art by series creator Masashi Kishimoto. NARUTO tells the story of a young boy who has had the spirit of an evil Nine-Tailed Fox Demon imprisoned within him since the day he was born, making him the object of hatred by people in his village. Countering this hate, young Naruto grew into the role of a clown, trying to attract attention by making a fool of himself and his teachers. But within Naruto dwells the dream of becoming Hokage, the strongest ninja of the village. Adventures ensue as Naruto and his teammates train hard and develop the skills needed to become mighty warriors and also learn valuable lessons in friendship and loyalty.
New for the novel lover… from the Viz Media Fiction Line:
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST MSRP: $9.99
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST is currently one of the hottest anime and manga properties in North America. The manga's popularity has placed it on several national literary bestseller lists and inspired a top rated 51-episode anime series that currently airs on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. This paperback novelization, written by Makoto Inoue, is aimed at
younger manga fans and depicts the adventures of Edward and Alphonse as they try to use an alchemy technique called "human transmutation" to raise their mother from the dead with tragic consequences. Now beset with mutated mechanical bodies as a result of the accident, the two brothers set out to find the fabled “Philosopher's Stone,” an object of immeasurable power and the only thing that can return the siblings to their natural states.
GHOST IN THE SHELL 2: INNOCENCE, AFTER THE LONG GOODBYE Novel, • MSRP: $19.99
This dynamic hardcover novel by Masaki Yamada serves as the prequel to the GHOST IN THE SHELL: INNOCENCE full color Ani-Manga Box set released by Viz Media earlier this year. Originally serialized as a manga in the pages of Japan's popular anime monthly, Animage, GHOST IN THE SHELL: INNOCENCE AFTER THE LONG GOODBYE depicts a vivid and futuristic world where the line between humans and machines has been blurred almost beyond distinction. Humans have forgotten that they are human, and those that are left coexist with cyborgs and dolls. Action and mystery ensure with many of the familiar characters from the critically acclaimed series of anime films by master director Mamoru Oshii.
SOCRATES IN LOVE Novel • MSRP: $17.99
SOCRATES IN LOVE is the book that took the Japanese publishing industry by storm and went on to become the most successful and widely read fiction novel in Japan. It depicts the sweet high school romance between an average guy and a beautiful girl. But tragedy ensues when the girl falls ill with leukemia. A bittersweet tale of young love, enduring devotion, and heartbreaking loss, This Is a Love Story to cherish and nurture.
Viz Media Art Books based on popular anime titles:
THE ART OF FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST • MSRP: $19.99
A lushly illustrated hardcover edition featuring an array of original and concept drawings by FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST creator and artist Hiromu Arakawa. Many of these illustrations have never been seen before and are unavailable in any other collection. This is a must-have and a unique gift for any fan of the anime and manga series which are quickly becoming number 1 titles for 2005.
THE ART OF MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO • MSRP: $29.99
Hayao Miyazaki is, without doubt, the titan of anime. His works have received universal acclaim and he won an Academy Award™ in 2002 for the film Spirited Away, for which Viz Media also published the Ani-Manga™. THE ART OF MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, depicts the whimsical characters from the acclaimed film about childhood innocence, friendship and the belief that magic is all around us. A beautiful hardcover coffee table edition that is sure to become a treasured addition to any collection.
Picture Books from Viz Media's Studio Ghibli Library, aimed at younger anime and manga fans:
HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE Picture Book • MSRP: $19.99
Based on the young-adult novel by British author Diana Wynne Jones, HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE was beautifully adapted for the screen by Hayao Miyazaki and reflected on the mix of science and magic that has captured our imaginations since the 19th century. There's a foppish wizard named Howl, a pesky witch from the wastelands, an anthropomorphic chimney fire and a young girl who carries a most unusual curse. And, of course, there's the moving castle – a towering, omnipresent structure that dominates the
landscape. This hardcover picture book, which Viz Media offers will captivate readers of all ages.
MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO Picture Book • MSRP: $14.99
MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO opens with Satsuki and Mei's move to the Japanese countryside with their father. Although Satsuki and Mei are at first frightened by their new surroundings, they quickly discover a magical presence in their midst and meet their new neighbor – a tree guardian named Totoro who lives in the forest behind their house. Soon a wonderful adventure begins. This easy to follow hardcover picture book from the Studio Ghibli Library captures the magic of the film from Hayao Miyazaki and will delight all readers.
Monthly manga Magazines:
SHONEN JUMP • One Year Subscription $29.95
Delight any fan of manga with a year-long subscription to the original and best-selling monthly manga anthology. Each month, SHONEN JUMP presents the latest exciting chapters from the most popular manga serials, including NARUTO, YU-GI-OH!, ONE PIECE, SHAMAN KING and more. Plus, each issue has features on video games, card games, Japanese language and culture, and more.
SHOJO BEAT• One Year Subscription $29.95
SHOJO BEAT Magazine is the female-oriented counterpart to SHONEN JUMP and is quickly becoming a favorite among fans of the shôjo genre. In addition to exclusive manga previews, the magazine includes six exciting serialized titles: KAZE HIKARU, ABSOLUTE BOYFRIEND, CRIMSON HERO, NANA, GODCHILD, and BABY AND ME. The magazine also features articles on fashion, music, video gaming, anime, and much more!
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 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. (Sho-Pro 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.
Contact Viz Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.co
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