VIZ MEDIA BRINGS HOT MANGA PROPERTIES TO 2007 FRANKFURT BOOK FAIR

UNIQUE TITLES TO BE HIGHLIGHTED IN HALL 3.0 BOOTH J835 INCLUDING- DEATH NOTE, NARUTO, MÄR, KEKKAISHI, KIRARIN REVOLUTION AND BLEACH

San Francisco, CA , October 3, 2007 — VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will bring some of the hottest manga titles gaining international attention to the 2007 Frankfurt Book Fair, taking place in Frankfurt, Germany October 10-14. VIZ Media will be located in Hall 3.0, Booth J835.

The Frankfurt Book Fair is the world's largest trade show for the publishing industry and is the preeminent venue for publishers, agents, booksellers, librarians, translators, authors and suppliers dealing with publishing rights, licenses and international property rights. VIZ Media will showcase a variety of manga titles that are available for international license which have received critical acclaim and have captivated millions of fans in North America and beyond. 

“Manga continues to experience tremendous international growth and VIZ Media is poised to remain on the cutting edge of global manga publishing,” states John Easum, President/Gérant of VIZ Media EuropeS.A.R.L. (VME). “The Frankfurt Book Fair is a critical platform to showcase some of the hottest manga titles to an international audience. This year we will continue to present some of the world’s most successful series, which include DEATH NOTE, NARUTO and BLEACH, as well as KIRARIN REVOLUTION, a new shojo title aimed at the growing international legion of female manga fans.”

Some titles that VIZ Media will be highlighting include:

DEATH NOTE:

Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects, but he's bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer. With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight of his noble goal… or his life?

NARUTO:

NARUTO has become one of VIZ Media’s most successful manga properties in terms of sales and has emerged as one of the best selling and most popular manga series throughout North America, regularly placing in both Graphic Novel and Overall General Fiction categories on noted literary sales rosters including BookScan and the USA Today Top 150. It was also the first manga to ever win a noted Quill Award in 2006. Naruto is a ninja-in-training with a need for attention, a knack for mischief and, sealed within him, resides a strange, formidable power. His antics amuse his instructor Kakashi and irritate his teammates, intense Sasuke and witty Sakura, but Naruto is serious about becoming the greatest ninja in the village of Konohagakure!

BLEACH:

Ichigo Kurosaki never asked for the ability to see ghosts--he was born with the gift. When his family is attacked by a Hollow – a malevolent lost soul – Ichigo becomes a Soul Reaper, dedicating his life to protecting the innocent and helping the tortured spirits themselves find peace. Find out why Tite Kubo's BLEACH has become an international manga smash-hit!

MÄR:

MÄR is the latest manga title to hit North American shores from Nobuyuki Anzai, who also created the popular FLAME OF RECCA series. MÄR tells the story of Ginta Toramizu, an impish 14-year-old kid in junior high school who doesn't have a lot going for him. He is near-sighted, doesn't do well in school, fails at sports, and to top it off, he's short! But Ginta is a dreamer and he has had the same dream 102 times – a vivid fantasy world where he is a hero. One day a supernatural figure appears at his school and transports him to the fabulous fantasy world of his dreams. In this strange universe filled with magic and wonder, Ginta is now strong, tough, agile, and he can finally see without his glasses! The boy begins a quest in search for the magical items known as ÄRMs, one of which may have the power to send him home. Joining him on this epic journey are his companion Jack and a valuable living, talking, mustachioed iron-ball weapon known as “Babbo,” which everybody wants but, it seems, only Ginta can possess!

KEKKAISHI:

By night, junior high student Yoshimori Sumimura is a "kekkaishi" – a demon-hunter who specializes in creating magical barriers around his prey. By day, Yoshimori's has some other demons to battle including an addiction to sweets and a seriously crotchety grandfather! Yoshimori's pretty 16-year-old neighbor and childhood friend, Tokine Yukimura, is also a kekkaishi, but their families are feuding over who is the true practitioner of the art.Yoshimori couldn't care less about catching demons…until he realizes that his apathetic attitude is taking a toll on his friendship with Tokine. Just as he decides to take matters into his own hands, a couple of amphibious demons and the pesky ghost of a pastry-chef show up to complicate matters!

KIRARIN REVOLUTION:

KIRARIN REVOLUTION is the story of a cute, 14-year-old girl named Kirari Tsukishima whose main obsession is food. That is, until one day when she falls in love with Seiji, the singer of a pop idol duo, Ships. From then on, to get close to the idol she likes, Kirari announces that she too will become a singer. Swept away in the exciting world of music entertainment and film, Kirari’s adventures take her through the challenge and excitement of becoming a teen idol to win Seiji’s heart!

About VIZ Media Europe, S.A.R.L. (VME)

Headquartered in Paris, France, VIZ Media Europe (VME) is a subsidiary of San Francisco-based VIZ Media, LLC.   VME specializes in the development, marketing and distribution throughout Europe of Japanese animated entertainment and graphic novels (manga).  It handles some of the most popular Japanese manga and animation properties from initial production, through television placement and distribution to merchandise licensing and promotions for consumers of all ages.  VME offers both "shonen" manga (aimed at male readers) and "shôjo" manga (aimed at female readers) properties owned by the largest Japanese publishing houses, Shueisha Inc. and Shogakukan Inc., as well as those properties licensed through animation & merchandising giant ShoPro (Japan).  Current VME animated properties include BLEACH, DEATH NOTE, BLUE DRAGON, HONEY & CLOVER, MÄR, ZOIDS GENESIS and KIRARIN.

Contact VIZ Media Europe at 90 avenue des Champs-Elysées, 75008, Paris, France; Phone (33) 1 56 43 50 34; Fax: (33) 1 56 43 50 30; and web site at www.vizeurope.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. (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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