ACF 418: VIZ Anime DVD Holiday Releases

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VIZ MEDIA ANIMATES THE HOLIDAYS WITH
NEW DVD RELEASES TO BE AMONG
MUST-HAVES ON WISH LISTS THIS SEASON

Punk Rock Romance, Psychological Crime Dramas, Soul Reapers, Ninja, College Life And Pokémon Among New Box Set Releases

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media) has announced a variety of hot new anime titles that will top many wish lists this year.

New releases include box set debuts of two of the most anticipated new series to hit North America – NANA, HONEY AND CLOVER and NAOKI URASAWA’s MONSTER. BLEACH and NARUTO fans can both look forward to the release of new feature films as well as episodic box sets. Finally, fans and shoppers alike can round out their holiday gift lists with a fun variety of new POKÉMON releases to delight young and older audiences!

“We have lots of buzz-worthy titles coming out in time for the holidays,” says Brian Ige, VIZ Media Director of Sales, Home Entertainment. “There’s something here for everyone this year, ranging from kids to teens and adults, and makes a fun way to animate the holidays!”

NAOKI URASAWa’s monster Box Set 1 ·

Rated ‘M’ For Mature Audiences · MSRP: $59.90 U.S. / $85.99 CAN · Available December 8th

MONSTER is based on a critically acclaimed manga (graphic novel) series by Naoki Urasawa that is also published in North America by VIZ Media (rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens). What would you do if a child you saved grew up to be a Monster? An ice-cold killer is on the loose, and Dr. Kenzo Tenma is the only one who can stop him! Tenma, a brilliant neurosurgeon with a promising future, risks his career to save the life of a critically wounded young boy named Johan. When the boy, now a coldhearted and charismatic young man, reappears nine years later in the midst of a string of unusual serial murders, Tenma must go on the run to uncover the story of Johan and stop the Monster he set loose upon the world. Conspiracies, serial murders, and secret government experiments set against the grim backdrop of the former East Germany are masterfully woven together in this compelling psychological drama. The anime is being broadcasted on the Syfy channel.

For more information on the MONSTER anime visit monster.viz.com.

NANA Box Set Vol. 2 · Rated ‘M’ For Mature Audiences ·

MSRP: $59.90 U.S. / $85.99 CAN · Available November 24th

NANA is the animated counterpart to the smash hit manga series by Ai Yazawa that has sold more than 43 million copies in Japan. Careers, friendship, love--can two bright young women named Nana manage to have it all? Nana K.'s Tokyo experiment is in jeopardy when she finds herself strapped for cash and her relationship with Shoji on uncertain ground. Nana O.'s love life takes an unexpected turn when she's reunited with her old flame, Ren from Trapnest. With such a close connection to her favorite band, will Nana K. get to meet the man of her dreams--Takumi? Sometimes dreams do come true...Includes Episodes 12-22.

Don’t miss the manga series, also published by VIZ Media!

HONEY AND CLOVER BOX SET 2 · Rated ‘T+’ For Older Teens ·
MSRP: $59.90 U.S. / $85.99 CAN · Available December 15th

Can life's answers be found where the road ends?

Shinobu has disappeared to America, leaving both Yuta and Hagumi with very mixed feelings. But talk about mixed up! If Takumi's feelings are so tied up with Rika, why is he tied up in knots over his coworker Nomiya's romantic pursuit of Ayumi? Plus, senior projects are getting everyone down, but none more than Yuta, who in a sudden burst of reckless abandon takes off on his bicycle on an epic journey of self-discovery...Ah, the enthusiasm of youth! Includes episodes 13-24. For more information on HONEY AND CLOVER visit honeyandclover.viz.com.

New BLEACH Releases Include:

BLEACH THE MOVIE 2: THE DIAMONDDUST REBELLION ·

Rated ‘T’ For Teens · MSRP: $29.92 U.S. / $42.99 CAN · Available Now!

Adapted from the wildly popular animated series and best-selling BLEACH manga series by acclaimed Japanese creator, Tite Kubo (both distributed and published in North America by VIZ Media), the animated feature film BLEACH THE MOVIE 2: The DiamondDust Rebellion continues the action-packed adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki. After the treasured Ouin is stolen, Toshiro Hitsugaya disappears and becomes suspected of treason. When the Soul Society calls for his capture and execution, Substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki vows to prove Hitsugaya's innocence. Will the secret of the Ouin and Captain Hitsugaya's motives be revealed before his honor, his life, and the Soul Society are destroyed? For fans of the popular manga and anime series, this is definitely an adventure not to be missed!

BLEACH UNCUT BOX SET 4, Part 1 · Rated ‘T’ For Teens ·

MSRP: $49.95 U.S. / $71.99 CAN · Available Now!

Ichigo and his friends return from the Soul Society to the World of the Living and try to resume their normal lives. But when strange abductions start happening, it's up to them to solve the riddle. More Soul Reapers arrive to help uncover the truth behind a mysterious clan known as Bounts. Will these allies be strong enough to stop the Bount leader from stealing human souls and feeding his dangerous ambition? Contains episodes: 64-79 (Original and Uncut.)

For more information on the BLEACH anime visit Bleach.viz.com.

New NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Releases Include:

The NARUTO SHIPPUDEN animated series picks up two years after Naruto left to train with his teacher and mentor Jiraiya. Now a teenager, the stories in the new series take a more mature and sometimes darker approach as Naruto returns to the Hidden Leaf Village to reunite with his old friends and discover that they are stronger than before – and maybe even stronger than he is! Catch the adventures of the world’s most popular ninja in three new episodic DVD box sets!


NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T+’ For Older Teens ·

MSRP: $24.92 U.S. / $35.99 CAN · Available Now!

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Vol. 2 · Rated ‘T+’ For Older Teens · MSRP: $24.92 U.S. / $35.99 CAN · Available Now!

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Vol. 3 · Rated ‘T+’ For Older Teens · MSRP: $24.92 U.S. / $35.99 CAN · Available November 24th

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: THE MOVIE · Rated ‘T+’ For Older Teens · MSRP: $24.92 U.S. / $35.99 CAN · Available Now!

In the newest animated adventure, which is the first NARUTO SHIPPUDEN movie series, a powerful spirit that once threatened to destroy the world is back! Naruto’s mission is to protect a priestess named Shion, who is the only one with the power to seal away the monster. She also has the uncanny ability to predict someone’s fate, and her latest prophecy is that Naruto will die. His only hope is to abandon Shion, but that’s not Naruto’s style. He decides to challenge her prediction head on, but it may very well cost the young ninja’s life!

For more information on NARUTO SHIPPUDEN please visit Naruto.viz.com.

New POKÉMON Releases Include:

POKÉMON DIAMOND and PEARL BATTLE DIMENSION Vol. 5/Vol. 6 ·

Rated ‘A’ For All Ages · MSRP: $14.98ea U.S. / $21.99ea CAN ·

Available Now!

The episodes of POKÉMON: Diamond and Pearl Battle Dimension Box Set 3 split into two standard disc editions.

POKÉMON DIAMOND and PEARL BATTLE DIMENSION BOX 3 ·

Rated ‘A’ For All Ages · MSRP: $24.92 U.S. / $35.99 CAN ·

Available Now!

Villainy is afoot as Ash and friends continue their journey through the Sinnoh region. But first they'll have to graduate from the Pokémon Summer Academy! Will they learn to handle Team Rocket's newfound moxie, or Pokémon Hunter J's latest poaching scheme? Ash also gets to take on the Hawthorne City Gym Leader, but first he's going to have to deal with a new rival, Barry! And if Dawn thought the Celestic Town Pokémon Contest was a challenge, things really heat up when Team Galactic rolls into town!

POKÉMON ELEMENTS: DARK · Rated ‘A’ For All Ages ·

MSRP: $9.98 U.S. / $14.99 CAN · Available November 24th

POKÉMON ELEMENTS: ICE · Rated ‘A’ For All Ages ·

MSRP: $9.98 U.S. / $14.99 CAN · Available November 24th

Following the POKÉMON All Star series set, the POKÉMON: ELEMENTS collection consists of the most important episodes commemorating the different types of Pokémon characters. Each disc showcases a Pokémon type with three all-time favorite episodes.

For more information on POKÉMON and other VIZ KIDS titles visit www.vizkids.com.

To purchase visit Store.viz.com.