ACF 1588: VIZ Manga App now includes Google Nexus 7; "End of Summer" digital manga sale continues thru August 20th

KEKKAISHI © 2004 Yellow TANABE/Shogakukan

VIZ MEDIA EXPANDS VIZ MANGA APP INTEROPERABILITY

TO INCLUDE THE RECENTLY RELEASED GOOGLE NEXUS 7

North America’s Premiere Digital Manga Platform
Expands Range Of Enabled Devices

Leading North American manga (graphic novel) publisher VIZ Media has notably expanded the range of digital devices that feature the VIZ Manga App to the recently released Google Nexus 7.  The VIZ Manga App, which is available for free from the Google Play store, is now available for 7-inch Android tablets and smaller in addition to smart phones running Android 2.2 or higher.

With the VIZ Manga App, VIZ Media’s innovative digital manga application allows fans complete interoperability to read manga from supported Android-enabled devices as well as for the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, and with VIZManga.com for desktop/laptop computers. With one account, registered users are able to view their purchases across more devices than ever. Content purchased on Android devices will be synchronized across the entire VIZ Manga digital network, including VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga apps for iOS devices.

Fans are invited to take advantage of the VIZ Manga “End of Summer” sale on ALL digital manga (graphic novel) titles currently available for digital download through the VIZ Manga App and featured on VIZManga.com. The sale runs through August 20th and offers up to 20% off on over 700 digital manga volumes across 80 different series (Reg. MSRP: $4.99).

NARUTO © 1999 by Masashi Kishimoto/SHUEISHA Inc.

VIZ Manga Android device users can also subscribe to WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA, which brings manga fans in North America the latest chapters of their favorite series only two weeks after they debut in Japan’s massively popular WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Magazine. This week’s issue features the latest chapters of BLEACH, BLUE EXORCIST, NARUTO, TORIKO and YU-GI-OH! ZEXAL, as well as two hot new action series, BARRAGE and TAKAMA GA HARA. A special ROAD TO NARUTO MOVIE manga one-shot by creator Masashi Kishimoto is also featured.

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA is available through an annual membership that provides access to 48 weekly issues for 52 weeks for just $25.99. Single issues of WEEKLY SJ ALPHA can be read for a four-week rental from the time the reader purchases it for only $0.99. Each issue, once received on one device, can be read on all other enabled devices through the easy-to-use integrated VIZ Manga app and website.

The VIZ Manga App is available for free through the iTunes Store and the Google Play store, and all manga volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada within the application for $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) per volume. More than 80 series and 700 volumes are currently available. Download the free VIZ Manga App for all Android and iOS devices at www.VIZ.com/apps.

ACF 583: Anime series KEKKAISHI avail for free download for limited time

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES FREE KEKKAISHI DOWNLOAD EPISODE

Special Promotion To Celebrate the Domestic Broadcast
Launch of the Shonen Sunday Animated Series

VIZ Media invites fans to explore the demon-battling action adventure of popular Shonen Sunday KEKKAISHI anime series with a FREE Download-to-Own (DTO) episode through VIZ Media partners iTunes, Xbox Live's Zune Marketplace, PlayStation®Network and Amazon Video on Demand.

KEKKAISHI Episode 1 will be available for free download through June 17th to celebrate the recent domestic broadcast launch of KEKKAISHI on Adult Swim.

KEKKAISHI is based on the hit manga series by Yellow Tanabe (also published in North America by VIZ Media). A story of mystical forces powerful in the region known as Karasumori. For over 400 years, it has been the duty of a clan of “kekkaishi”—barrier masters—to guard this land and exterminate the supernatural creatures that are drawn to it night after night.

Yoshimori Sumimura is a junior high school student at Karasumori Academy, which is built upon the Karasumori grounds. By night, Yoshimori follows the tradition passed down through generations and fulfills his destiny as the twenty-second “kekkaishi” of the Sumimura clan. But by day, Yoshimori's got other demons to contend with, like an obsession with cake making and a seriously crotchety grandfather! Yoshimori's pretty neighbor, childhood friend and rival, Tokine Yukimura, is also a “kekkaishi,” but their families are caught up in a feud over who is the true practitioner of the art. Protecting ordinary people from the ever-present danger of the Karasumori grounds, Yoshimori will continue to grow stronger as he battles the forces of evil again tonight!

For more information on the KEKKAISHI anime and manga series (both rated “T” for Teens), please visit http://www.shonensunday.com/ or http://www.viz.com/.

ACF 553: Kekkaishi to air on Adult Swim beginning May 29th

VIZ MEDIA LICENSES KEKKAISHI ANIME
SERIES TO ADULT SWIM

Life Is A Wild Adventure For A Teenager Balancing Girls,
Junior High School And Nighttime Demon Slaying

VIZ Media has licensed 52 episodes of the popular Shonen Sunday KEKKAISHI anime series to Adult Swim for domestic broadcast beginning May 29th, 2010.

KEKKAISHI is based on the hit manga series by Yellow Tanabe (also published in North America by VIZ Media). A story of mystical forces powerful in the region known as Karasumori. For over 400 years, it has been the duty of a clan of “kekkaishi”—barrier masters—to guard this land and exterminate the supernatural creatures that are drawn to it night after night.

Yoshimori Sumimura is a junior high school student at Karasumori Academy, which is built upon the Karasumori grounds. By night, Yoshimori follows the tradition passed down through generations and fulfills his destiny as the twenty-second “kekkaishi” of the Sumimura clan. But by day, Yoshimori's got other demons to contend with, like an obsession with cake making and a seriously crotchety grandfather! Yoshimori's pretty neighbor, childhood friend and rival, Tokine Yukimura, is also a “kekkaishi,” but their families are caught up in a feud over who is the true practitioner of the art. Protecting ordinary people from the ever-present danger of the Karasumori grounds, Yoshimori will continue to grow stronger as he battles the forces of evil again tonight!

“Kekkaishi spotlights compelling cool characters, in an intense yet fun-filled supernatural action adventure saga. It possesses all of the hallmarks of great anime!” says William Germain, Director, Programming & Music Sales, VIZ Media. We are very excited to add KEKKAISHI to the Adult Swim anime lineup for U.S. fans to enjoy.”

More information on KEKKAISHI at http://www.shonensunday.com/.

ACF 457: Kekkaishi available on Hulu

© 2006, 2010 Yellow Tanabe/Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise

Under license to VIZ Media, LLC from Sunrise.

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF

THE KEKKAISHI ANIMATED SERIES ON HULU

VIZ Media is bringing the animated demon-battling action and adventure of KEKKAISHI to Hulu, an online video service that offers hit TV shows, movies and clips at Hulu.com and other online destination sites — anytime in the U.S. The series debuts with 5 episodes with new installments launching each week. View KEKKAISHI at http://www.Hulu.com/.

KEKKAISHI is based on a hit manga series by Yellow Tanabe (also published in North America by VIZ Media). Mystical forces are powerful in the region called Karasumori. For over 400 years, it has been the duty of a clan of “kekkaishi”—barrier masters—to guard the land and exterminate the supernatural creatures that are drawn to the area night after night.

Yoshimori Sumimura is a junior high school student at Karasumori Academy. Following in the tradition that's been passed down through generations, he is the twenty-second “kekkaishi” of the Sumimura clan. But by day, Yoshimori's got other demons to battle: an addiction to sweets and a seriously crotchety grandfather! Yoshimori's pretty neighbor, childhood friend and rival, Tokine Yukimura, is also a “kekkaishi,” but their families are feuding over who is the true practitioner of the art. Protecting people from danger while growing stronger himself, Yoshimori will battle the forces of evil again tonight!

“KEKKAISHI is the latest series to join the VIZ Media family of animated titles available to U.S. audiences on Hulu and we hope that fans will enjoy its lively mix of adventure, comedy and demon-slaying action,” says Candice Uyloan, Director, Brand Management at VIZ Media. “We are committed to utilizing the web to deliver the best in anime through innovative web-based, video streaming outlets like Hulu. KEKKAISHI is an exciting addition to all the other top-rated anime from VIZ Media and we invite audiences to dive into this new series!”

Other VIZ Media animated titles available on Hulu include: BLEACH, BUSO RENKIN, DEATH NOTE, HIKARU NO GO, HONEY & COVER, INUYASHA and INUYASHA: THE FINAL ACT, NANA, NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, and THE PRINCE OF TENNIS.

For more information on KEKKAISHI or other SHONEN SUNDAY series, visit http://www.shonensunday.com/ or http://www.viz.com/.