Bandai Visual USA Two New Title Announcements: Shigofumi: Letters from the Departed and True Tears

Torrance, Calif. January 30, 2008 – Bandai Visual USA announced today the release of
two of the most heartfelt and captivating tales from Bandai Visual's library: Shigofumi: Letters
from the Departed and True Tears both consisting of seven volumes with the first volumes to be
released on DVD beginning in May 2008. Both titles are currently airing on Japanese television
and will have a near simultaneous release with only a two-month delay from the Japanese release
and only a five-month delay from the original broadcast airing.

Shigofumi - Letters from the Departed comes from a dream team of highly acclaimed
anime creators including Tatsuo Satō (Stellvia, Nadesico), Ichiro Okochi (Code Geass, Planetes)
and Kouhaku Kuroboshi (Kino's Journey). The story follows Fumika, a not-so-ordinary mail
messenger who delivers not-so-ordinary letters, which Shota, a 16-year-old rocket enthusiast,
soon discovers when Fumika and her talking staff Kanaka suddenly appear on his rooftop
workshop to deliver a letter from the father of his friend (and love interest), Asuna. However,
Asuna's dad was dead when he wrote it...

And the other May release is True Tears a solid YA drama with a realistic storyline
sensitively animated by veteran director Junji Nishimura whose resumé includes such titles as
Simoun and You'reUnder Arrest. True Tears tells the story of an aspiring picture book author,
Shinichiro Nakagami, who meets Noe Isurugi, an eccentric girl who has lost the ability to cry
which marks the beginning of inevitable and irreversible changes in their lives. Set in a provincial
Japanese city, True Tears is the tale of a group of adolescents and their tribulations.

Bandai Visual USA is also preparing a special version of Shigofumi and True Tears for
their dot-anime customers. The details will be announced shortly.


For further information please visit the Official Shigofumi Website at
http://www.bandaivisual.us/Shigofumi and the Official True Tears Website at
http://www.bandaivisual.us/truetears.


Shigofumi - Letters from the Departed Specs and Features:
• Color / MPEG-2 / DVD-5 / 16:9 anamorphic (LB) / CSS
• 12-page Full-Color Booklet
• Japanese Language Audio (Dolby Digital Stereo) with Optional English Subtitles
• Volumes 1-6 each contain 2 episodes, Volume 7 contains 1 episode and priced
$29.99

Title: Shigofumi - Letters from the Departed Delivery 1
Format: DVD
Catalog #: BUDH0153
UPC #: 8 58604 00153 0
Street Date: May 13, 2008
SRP: $39.99

True Tears Specs and Features:
• Color / MPEG-2 / DVD-5 / 16:9 anamorphic (LB) / CSS
• 8-page Full-Color Booklet
• Japanese Language Audio (Dolby Digital Stereo) with Optional English Subtitles
• Volume 1 contains 1 episode, Volumes 2-7 each contain 2 episodes and priced
$39.99

Title: True Tears Volume 1
Format: DVD
Catalog #: BUDH0160
UPC #: 8 58604 00160 8
Street Date: May 27, 2008
SRP: $29.99

BANDAI VISUAL USA INC. was established in 2005 as a wholly owned subsidiary of
BANDAI VISUAL CO., LTD. with a mission to facilitate stronger, more active involvement in
positioning, marketing and distribution of BANDAI VISUAL programs in North America. From
its base in Torrance, California, BANDAI VISUAL USA seeks to form new alliances and
reinforce existing ties in an effort to strengthen BANDAI VISUAL's international presence as a
producer and content provider in the ever expanding and diversified specialty programs market.