Gothic-Tinged Animated Series Is Based On Smash Hit Manga Story About A High School Populated By Vampires

London, England, September 30, 2009 – VIZ Media Europe (VME) announced today, at the opening of the 2009 Brand Licensing Europe Expo, that it has acquired the TV, Home Entertainment and Merchandising rights to the VAMPIRE KNIGHT animated series for United Kingdom. VME specializes in managing the development, marketing and distribution throughout Europe of Japanese manga (graphic novels) and animated entertainment.

Brand Licensing Europe, the leading event in Europe for the licensing industry, takes place in London on from September 30th to October 1st and attracts more than 4,000 leading retailers and licensees, as well as manufacturers, distributors and sales promotion agents. VIZ Media Europe will be located in Booth 762.

VAMPIRE KNIGHT is based on the best-selling gothic-romance manga series created by Matsuri Hino. Cross Academy is attended by two groups of students: the Day Class and the Night Class. At twilight, when the students of the Day Class return to their dorm, they cross paths with the Night Class on their way to school. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the Guardians of the school, protecting the Day Class from the Academy's dark secret: the Night Class is full of vampires!

Matsuri Hino burst onto the manga scene with her title Kono Yume ga Sametara (When This Dream Is Over), which was published in LaLa DX magazine. Hino was a manga artist a mere nine months after she decided to become one. With the success of her popular series CAPTIVE HEARTS and MERU PURI, Hino has established herself as a major player in the world of shojo manga. VAMPIRE KNIGHT is currently serialized in LaLa magazine in Japan and was also serialized in Shojo Beat magazine in North America.

VIZ Media in San Francisco has acquired the rights for domestic TV, Home Entertainment, Streaming, DTO, and merchandising rights to the hit VAMPIRE KNIGHT animated series for North America.

About VIZ Media Europe, S.A.R.L. (VME)
Headquartered in Paris, France, VIZ Media Europe (VME) specializes in managing the development, marketing and distribution throughout Europe of Japanese animated entertainment and manga (graphic novels). VME 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. Current VME animated properties include BLEACH, BLUE DRAGON, DEATH NOTE, HAMTARO, HONEY & CLOVER, KEKKAISHI, KILARI, M.A.R NEURO, A PENGUIN’S TROUBLES and ZOIDS GENESIS.  Contact VIZ Media Europe at 9, avenue de l'Opéra, 75001 Paris, France Phone +33 1 72 71 53 53; Fax: +33 1 42 96 97 36; and web site at www.vizeurope.com.