Viz Brings Naruto to Television Viewers in Canada
VIZ MEDIA BRINGS SHONEN JUMP'S NARUTO TO TELEVISION VIEWERS IN CANADA
Japanese Phenomenon Added To Fall Line-up on YTV
San Francisco, CA, August 31, 2005– Viz Media, LLC. (Viz Media), one of
the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive manga
and animation licensing and publishing companies, will introduce
Japan's mega hit NARUTO to Canadian TV audiences on YTV, Canada's #1
Kids' Television Network, beginning September 16, 2005 at 9:30 p.m. The
release of NARUTO in Canada marks the third Viz Media TV series to
debut on YTV this year.
Targeting tweens and teens, NARUTO takes place in a world where ninjas
hold the ultimate power. Infused with the spirit of a once fearsome
nine-tailed fox, Naruto Uzumaki is a ninja-in-training who is learning
the art of Ninjutsu with his classmates Sakura and Sasuke. The trio
studies under the instruction of their teacher, Kakashi, who helps the
group face a series of dangerous and daunting tests and
challenges. Through their adventures, the young ninjas learn the
importance of friendship, teamwork, loyalty, hard work, creativity,
ingenuity, and right vs. wrong.
“NARUTO offers an incredibly rich & intricate story line that
transports viewers into the dynamic world of ninjas. The story, the
exciting characters and the striking animation will leave them both
fascinated and spellbound,” said John Easum, executive vice president
of Viz Media. “We are excited to offer this hugely successful show to
Canada's YTV .”
NARUTO was introduced to audiences in Japan in October 2002 on TV TOKYO
and is now considered one of the most popular and successful animated
shows in Japan's history. The series is co-produced by Shueisha, Inc.,
PIERROT CO., LTD. and TV TOKYO. It has achieved immense success as a
manga and TV title as well as a licensed property for toys, trading
card games and videogames. NARUTO makes its TV debut in the U.S. on
Cartoon Network this fall.
“We are very pleased to feature NARUTO in our fall line-up and we are
confident that Canadian TV viewers will be as enthralled with the show
as audiences in Japan and the U.S.,” said Phil Piazza, Vice President,
Programming, Corus Kids Television.”
First introduced into the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in Japan in 1999,
NARUTO, by revered creator Masashi Kishimoto, quickly became Japan's
most popular ninja manga. In 2000, NARUTO was expanded into a series of
graphic novels and is currently in its 28th volume, with over 50
million copies sold in total in Japan. Weekly Shonen Jump is published
by one of Japan's largest publishers, Shueisha, Inc. and is considered
the world's most successful comic magazine with almost 3 million copies
printed weekly in Japan alone.
About YTV
YTV, Canada's #1 youth network, is seen in over eight million homes
across Canada. As a major force in Canadian kids' entertainment, YTV
has triggered over $1 billion in Canadian independent production;
developed a website that averages over 40 million monthly page views;
published a successful kids' magazine, Whoa!;and conducts a highly
respected annual survey, The YTV Tween Report.
YTV is owned by Corus Entertainment, a Canadian-based media and
entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in both specialty TV
and Radio. Corus also owns Nelvana Limited, an internationally
recognized producer and distributor of children's programming and
products. The Company's other interests include music, television
broadcasting and advertising services. A publicly traded company, Corus
is listed on the Toronto (CJR.B) and New York (CJR) Exchanges. Corus'
Web site can be found at www.corusentertainment.com.
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.com.
Japanese Phenomenon Added To Fall Line-up on YTV
San Francisco, CA, August 31, 2005– Viz Media, LLC. (Viz Media), one of
the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive manga
and animation licensing and publishing companies, will introduce
Japan's mega hit NARUTO to Canadian TV audiences on YTV, Canada's #1
Kids' Television Network, beginning September 16, 2005 at 9:30 p.m. The
release of NARUTO in Canada marks the third Viz Media TV series to
debut on YTV this year.
Targeting tweens and teens, NARUTO takes place in a world where ninjas
hold the ultimate power. Infused with the spirit of a once fearsome
nine-tailed fox, Naruto Uzumaki is a ninja-in-training who is learning
the art of Ninjutsu with his classmates Sakura and Sasuke. The trio
studies under the instruction of their teacher, Kakashi, who helps the
group face a series of dangerous and daunting tests and
challenges. Through their adventures, the young ninjas learn the
importance of friendship, teamwork, loyalty, hard work, creativity,
ingenuity, and right vs. wrong.
“NARUTO offers an incredibly rich & intricate story line that
transports viewers into the dynamic world of ninjas. The story, the
exciting characters and the striking animation will leave them both
fascinated and spellbound,” said John Easum, executive vice president
of Viz Media. “We are excited to offer this hugely successful show to
Canada's YTV .”
NARUTO was introduced to audiences in Japan in October 2002 on TV TOKYO
and is now considered one of the most popular and successful animated
shows in Japan's history. The series is co-produced by Shueisha, Inc.,
PIERROT CO., LTD. and TV TOKYO. It has achieved immense success as a
manga and TV title as well as a licensed property for toys, trading
card games and videogames. NARUTO makes its TV debut in the U.S. on
Cartoon Network this fall.
“We are very pleased to feature NARUTO in our fall line-up and we are
confident that Canadian TV viewers will be as enthralled with the show
as audiences in Japan and the U.S.,” said Phil Piazza, Vice President,
Programming, Corus Kids Television.”
First introduced into the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in Japan in 1999,
NARUTO, by revered creator Masashi Kishimoto, quickly became Japan's
most popular ninja manga. In 2000, NARUTO was expanded into a series of
graphic novels and is currently in its 28th volume, with over 50
million copies sold in total in Japan. Weekly Shonen Jump is published
by one of Japan's largest publishers, Shueisha, Inc. and is considered
the world's most successful comic magazine with almost 3 million copies
printed weekly in Japan alone.
About YTV
YTV, Canada's #1 youth network, is seen in over eight million homes
across Canada. As a major force in Canadian kids' entertainment, YTV
has triggered over $1 billion in Canadian independent production;
developed a website that averages over 40 million monthly page views;
published a successful kids' magazine, Whoa!;and conducts a highly
respected annual survey, The YTV Tween Report.
YTV is owned by Corus Entertainment, a Canadian-based media and
entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in both specialty TV
and Radio. Corus also owns Nelvana Limited, an internationally
recognized producer and distributor of children's programming and
products. The Company's other interests include music, television
broadcasting and advertising services. A publicly traded company, Corus
is listed on the Toronto (CJR.B) and New York (CJR) Exchanges. Corus'
Web site can be found at www.corusentertainment.com.
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.com.
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