Latest episodes of popular series created by Rumiko Takahashi will be made available exclusively through The Right Stuf and VIZ online stores

San Francisco, CA, October 25, 2004 - VIZ, LLC, one of the leading publishers and distributors of manga and anime for North American audiences, has announced the release of the next two Maison Ikkoku DVD box sets for the popular anime series. MAISON IKKOKU, a romantic comedy from famed manga artist Rumiko Takahashi, who also created such popular titles as INUYASHA and RANMA 1/2.

MAISON IKKOKU Box Set Volumes 4 and 5 will include a total of 24 episodes, and will be available exclusively through the official VIZ online store at store.viz.com and through a new partnership with The Right Stuf (www.rightstuf.com), a leading online catalog service that provides the latest Japanese animated videos, DVDs, t-shirts, and related products.

MAISON IKKOKU Box Set 4 will be released on November 9, 2004, with an MSRP of $49.98. Box Set 5 will be released on May 17, 2005, also with an MSRP of $49.98. Each set will contain 12 complete episodes of the series on three DVDs and will come with both the original Japanese dialogue with English subtitles and a first-ever dubbed English track.

In recent years, a surge of popularity has arisen around several Rumiko Takahashi titles, most notably INUYASHA and RANMA 1/2, also distributed by VIZ. Takahashi is currently the best selling and most successful female comic book artist in the world. Originally created as a manga, MAISON IKKOKU was made into a highly successful ninety-six episode anime series in 1986 that ran for two years. It presents a touching and classic love story revolving around the lives of a hapless young student named Yusaku Godai, the beautiful manager of his apartment block, Kyoko Otonashi, and the unique and sometimes crazed tenants of dilapidated Ikkoku-kan complex.

"MAISON IKKOKU is an adult romance that blends highly believable characters and real world plots with the artistic style and humor for which Rumiko Takahashi is known," says Anthony Jiwa, director of marketing for VIZ. "The phenomenal success of INUYASHA has generated an interest in Takahashi's work, and these two new releases will undoubtedly create excitement among those already familiar with MAISON IKKOKU. VIZ is thrilled to team with The Right Stuf to bring this classic anime series to fans in a series of box sets.

About VIZ, LLC
Founded in 1986, VIZ is a multi-media entertainment company specializing in Japanese entertainment properties for U.S. audiences. VIZ offers an integrated product line including magazines, graphic novels, videos, DVDs and audio soundtracks. Each month, VIZ publishes three magazines - ANIMERICA, ANIMERICA EXTRA and SHONEN JUMP; over 20 graphic novel titles, including ALICE 19th, BOYS OVER FLOWERS, DRAGON BALL Z, FUSHIGI YÛGI, GUNDAM, INUYASHA, RANMA 1/2, and YU-GI-OH!; and distributes home video for BOYS OVER FLOWERS, HAMTARO, INUYASHA, POKÉMON, PROJECT ARMS, and ZOIDS.

Based in San Francisco, VIZ is one of the top five comics publishers in the U.S. and a subsidiary of Shogakukan and Shueisha Inc., two of the top publishers in Japan. VIZ is the leading publisher of manga for English speaking audiences, serving a growing market of dedicated fans of all ages. Estimating a core audience of nearly 15 million fans, the company holds more than a 50% market share of Japanese comics in the U.S. With some of the most innovative products in the industry, VIZ has expanded its offerings to its loyal fans through web sites such as www.animerica-mag.com, www.shonenjump.com, and its corporate site, www.viz.com.

Contact VIZ, LLC at: 655 Bryant Street, San Francisco, CA 94107-1612; Phone: (415) 546-7073; Fax: (415) 546-7086; Web site: www.VIZ.com

back to the top