Industry Leader in Japanese Animation To Wow the Show from Booth #4505

New York, NY June 20, 2006 — VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive manga and animation licensing and publishing companies, arrives at Licensing International 2006 Conference and Exhibition this year, Booth #4505, with a variety of exciting properties for both North American and International markets. Held at the Javits Convention Center in New York, June 20-22, Licensing International is the world's only U.S based event that brings together more than 525 leading licensors and agents with more than 23,000 key decision-making retailers, manufacturers, marketing, and advertising professionals across all consumer product.

VIZ Media will be featuring a rich selection of properties including Shonen Jump's NARUTO, ZATCH BELL!, and INUYASHA which all air on Cartoon Network in the U.S. and YTV in Canada, as well as DEKO BOKO FRIENDS, :30 interstitials airing on Noggin—Nickelodeon's commercial-free educational network for preschoolers in the U.S. and YTV's Treehouse in Canada.

New brands being showcased at Licensing International include Shonen Jump's BLEACH and MÄR.

Shonen Jump's BLEACH, by creator Tite Kubo, is an animated, hyperkinetic, all-purpose, ghost-busting action series targeted to teens. BLEACH is the story of an average 15 year-old, Ichigo Kurosaki, who was born with the ability to see ghosts. When his family is attacked by a Hollow—a malevolent lost soul—Ichigo encounters a Soul Reaper and absorbs her powers. Now he is dedicating his life to protecting the innocent and helping the tortured souls find peace. A dedicated website is forthcoming at bleach.viz.com.

MÄR, created by Nobuyuki Anzai, is targeted to kids ages 6-14. Ginta, a 14-year-old boy has his world turned upside down when a mysterious portal suddenly transports him into the fairy tale realm he envisions as a dream. This is the World of MÄR, where Ginta acquires superhuman strength and a strange new friend named Babbo, a talking magical weapon known as an ÄRM. Together, Ginta and Babbo embark on a quest to save the World of MÄR from total domination!

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. (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, 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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