ACF 722: VIZ launches new manga series CROSS GAME next Tuesday, October 12, 2010

VIZ MEDIA SET TO SCORE A HOME RUN
WITH THE LAUNCH OF NEW CROSS GAME MANGA

Celebrated Manga Artist Mitsuru Adachi’s
Much Anticipated Series
Begins In October

Anime Counterpart Streams On VIZAnime.com

VIZ Media is bringing manga legend Mitsuru Adachi’s celebrated series about the game of life and baseball – CROSS GAME – to North American readers on October 12th, this coming Tuesday. The poignant drama will be published in a hefty expanded edition under the Shonen Sunday imprint, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and the first volume, containing the first three volumes as originally released in Japan, will carry an MSRP of $19.99 U.S. / $27.00 CAN. Subsequent volumes will retail for $14.99 U.S. / $19.99 CAN, and will contain two complete volumes from the Japanese release.

The CROSS GAME anime series also streams – for free – on VIZ Media’s own VIZAnime web site (www.VIZAnime.com). To celebrate the launch of the manga, a special double-episode installment of new anime episodes (subtitled) will be available on the site the week of October 11th. CROSS GAME anime episodes are also available from streaming content provider HULU (www.Hulu.com).

CROSS GAME is a moving drama that is heartfelt and true, yet in the brilliant hands of creator Mitsuru Adachi, the story delightfully flows with a light and amusing touch. The series centers around a boy named Ko, the family of four sisters who live down the street, and the game of baseball. This poignant coming-of-age story will change readers’ perception of what shonen manga can be.

“Anticipation has grown steadily for the release of the CROSS GAME manga since we first previewed it on the Shonen Sunday web site, and we’re honored to offer this realistic coming of age drama from one of Japan’s true manga legends,” says Andy Nakatani, Senior Manager, Editorial and Editor-In-Chief, Shonen Sunday. “Mitsuru Adachi has crafted a touching story about adolescence, tragedy and first love that is skillfully combined with the excitement of the sport of baseball. We look forward to fans exploring this new manga series and also checking out the anime counterpart on VIZAnime.”

One of the biggest names in the manga industry today, Mitsuru Adachi made his debut in 1970 with Kieta Bakuon in the pages of Deluxe Shonen Sunday. The creator of numerous mega-hits such as Touch, Miyuki, and Cross Game, Adachi-sensei received the Shogakukan Manga Award for all three of the aforementioned series. Truly in the top echelon of the manga industry, his cumulative works have seen over 200 million copies sold, and many of his series have been adapted into anime, live-action TV series and film. A master of his medium, Adachi has come to be known for his genius handling of dramatic elements combined with romance, comedy and sports. He, along with Rumiko Takahashi, has become synonymous with the phenomenal success of Shonen Sunday in Japan.

View subtitled CROSS GAME animated episodes (rated ‘T’ for Teens) and other VIZ Media animated titles at www.VIZAnime.com.

More information on the CROSS GAME manga (rated ‘T’ for teens) and other titles from VIZ Media’s Shonen Sunday imprint is available at www.ShonenSunday.com.