Additional partners announced for ONE-PUNCH MAN products

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL LICENSED

PRODUCT PARTNERS FOR ONE-PUNCH MAN

A Variety Of High Quality Consumer Products Based On

The Smash Hit Anime/Manga Action Series To Be

Created By Additional Leading Brand Partners

VIZ Media continues to expand consumer product licenses for the hit anime/manga action property, ONE-PUNCH MAN.

The ONE-PUNCH MAN manga series has become one of the most popular graphic novel titles in North America and is regularly on literary bestseller lists such as the New York Times and Nielsen BookScan, while the anime counterpart is watched by millions of fans online.

VIZ Media will showcase ONE-PUNCH MAN among its extensive catalog of multimedia properties at the upcoming 2016 Licensing Expo in Las Vegas, NV. As the fan base for ONE-PUNCH MAN continues to expand across multiple key demographics throughout North America, the property will be well-supported by a diverse range of consumer products beginning later this year.

The new product partners cover a diverse array of consumer categories including apparel, lighting, collectible figures and bobble-heads, playmats and binders, and other personal accessories. Partners include Buckle Down, Just Funky, Just Toys, Rabbit Tanaka, Ultra PRO, and Zag Toys.

Buckle Down
Product Description: Belt Buckles

Just Funky
Product Description: Drink Wears and Accessories

Just Toys
Product Description: 2D Laser Cut Keychains, Trading Cards, Stickers&Sticker album, Dog Tags, Character Rings, Backpack Hangers etc.

Rabbit Tanaka
Product Description: LED Lights, Mirror Art Blocks, Wooden Wall Plaques

Ultra PRO
Product Description: Playmats, Deck Protectors, Deck Boxes, Binders, and Plush Holders.

Zag Toys
Product Description: Mini Figures, Mini Bubbleheads, Mini Wobbling Figures, Pencil Toppers, Plush Beanies, Domez

In ONE-PUNCH MAN, nothing about Saitama passes the eyeball test when it comes to superheroes, from his lifeless expression to his bald head to his unimpressive physique. However, this average-looking guy has a not-so-average problem – he just can’t seem to find an opponent strong enough to take on! Every time a promising villain appears, he beats the snot out of ’em with one punch! Can Saitama finally find an opponent who can go toe-to-toe with him and give his life some meaning? Or is he doomed to a life of super-powered boredom?

For additional information on ONE-PUNCH MAN and other anime and manga titles distributed and published by VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

Multiple new licensed product partners for ONE-PUNCH MAN

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES MULTIPLE NEW LICENSED

PRODUCT PARTNERS FOR ONE-PUNCH MAN

A Collectible Array Of Unique High Quality Products

Based On The Smash Hit Anime/Manga Action Series

To Be Produced By Leading Brand Partners

VIZ Media has announced several notable new product licensing partners for the hit anime/manga action property, ONE-PUNCH MAN.

The announcement comes ahead of VIZ Media’s participation at the upcoming 2016 Licensing Expo in Las Vegas, NV later this month and positions ONE-PUNCH MAN for penetration into the substantial North American consumer market. The manga series is widely read and featured regularly on literary bestseller lists such as the New York Times and Nielsen BookScan, while the anime counterpart is watched by millions of fans online.

The new product partners cover a diverse array of consumer categories including apparel, collectible figures, posters, and other personal accessories. Partners include Ata-Boy, Inc., Bioworld Merchandising, Inc., Great Eastern Entertainment, Isaac Morris Limited, and Trends International LLC. Products from these companies are carried by some of the nation’s leading retailers including Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, FYE, Game Stop, Hot Topic, JC Penny’s Target, and Walgreens.

Ata-Boy, Inc.
Product Description: Magnets and Buttons

Bioworld Merchandising, Inc.
Product description: Underwear, Loungewear, and Apparel Accessories (headwear, bags, gloves, knit headwear, scarves, hosiery, wallets)

Great Eastern Entertainment
Product Description: Assorted Accessories and Novelties

Isaac Morris Limited
Product Description: Apparel and Accessories Including Men's, Juniors, and Ladies T-shirts, Tanks, Hoodies, Fashion Tops, Swimwear, Scarves, Key Chains, Hats, Backpacks, Plush Wallets Mugs, and Bedding

Trends International LLC
Product Description: Collectible Full-Color Posters

“ONE-PUNCH MAN is a riveting anime and manga series that has become extremely popular with audiences and we are very happy to build upon this success with an array of new licensed product partners that will give fans plenty of fun ways to celebrate their love of this property,” says Kensuke Mase, Director, Consumer Products, VIZ Media. “We look forward to ONE-PUNCH MAN continuing to captivate audiences and to announcing additional product licensing news very soon.”

In ONE-PUNCH MAN, nothing about Saitama passes the eyeball test when it comes to superheroes, from his lifeless expression to his bald head to his unimpressive physique. However, this average-looking guy has a not-so-average problem – he just can’t seem to find an opponent strong enough to take on! Every time a promising villain appears, he beats the snot out of ’em with one punch! Can Saitama finally find an opponent who can go toe-to-toe with him and give his life some meaning? Or is he doomed to a life of super-powered boredom?

For additional information on ONE-PUNCH MAN and other anime and manga titles distributed and published by VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

VIZ Media offering manga samplers in support of Free Comic Book Day

ONE-PUNCH MAN © 2012 by ONE, Yusuke Murata/SHUEISHA Inc.

VIZ MEDIA SUPPORTS 2016 FREE COMIC BOOK DAY WITH

MANGA SAMPLERS SHOWCASING EXCITING NEW TITLES

Visit And Support Local Comics Retailers On May 7th To Receive

Two FREE Samplers Featuring POKÉMON POCKET COMICS,

ONE-PUNCH MAN And MY HERO ACADEMIA!

VIZ Media has announced its continued support and sponsorship for FREE COMIC BOOK DAY with a pair of special FREE manga (graphic novel) samplers that will include excerpts from VIZ Media’s newest POKÉMON POCKET COMICS: LEGENDARY POKÉMON release as well as a Shonen Jump sampler containing action-packed excerpts from ONE-PUNCH MAN and MY HERO ACADEMIA.

Scheduled for Saturday, May 7th at thousands of locations nationwide, Free Comic Book Day is an annual promotional campaign developed by the North American comic book industry to help bring new readers of all ages and interests into independent comic book stores. Free Comic Book Day began in 2002 and is coordinated by the industry's single largest distributor, Diamond Comic Distributors. Readers should visit freecomicbookday.com to find local participating retailers in their area.

VIZ Media participates this year as a Gold Level Sponsor and offers the following two FREE exclusive releases (available while supplies last).

©2015 Pokémon.

©1995-2015 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc. TM, ®, and character names are trademarks of Nintendo.

BAKUSHO 4KOMA DENSETSU NO POKEMON O SAGASE!! © 2013 Santa HARUKAZE /SHOGAKUKAN

POKÉMON POCKET COMICS FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2016 SAMPLER
A sample of the newest addition to VIZ Media’s expansive POKÉMON library, presenting fun quizzes and Pokémon statistics accompanied by four-panel gag comic strips. To the forest! To the sea! To Legendary Island! Join our Pokémon pals on a quest through the Unova region for the Legendary Joke—while testing your Pokémon knowledge and laughing all the way! MSRP: $9.99 US / $12.99 CAN

SHONEN JUMP FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2016 SAMPLER
Check out the superhero action of two smash hit titles from VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump imprint—ONE-PUNCH MAN and MY HERO ACADEMIA.

Action fans can sample an excerpt from the smash hit series about an unlikely superhero in ONE-PUNCH MAN. Nothing about Saitama passes the eyeball test when it comes to superheroes, from his lifeless expression to his bald head to his unimpressive physique. However, this average-looking guy has a not-so-average problem—he just can’t seem to find an opponent strong enough to take on! Volume 6 of the series will be released on May 3rd! MSRP: $9.99 US / $12.99 CAN

In MY HERO ACADEMIA, imagine what the world would be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks”? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy, of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless? Catch the debut of Volume 4 on May 3rd! MSRP: $9.99 US / $12.99 CAN

For more information on these and other manga titles published by VIZ Media, visit www.viz.com.

VIZ Media and Simon & Schuster Australia announce distribution deal

ONE-PUNCH MAN © 2012 by ONE, Yusuke Murata/SHUEISHA Inc.

SIMON & SCHUSTER AUSTRALIA TO DISTRIBUTE

VIZ MEDIA IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

VIZ Media and Simon & Schuster Australia have announced a comprehensive sales and distribution agreement to manage VIZ Media’s extensive manga (graphic novel) catalogue across Australia and New Zealand.

Simon & Schuster has been the exclusive distribution partner of VIZ Media for the United States and Canadian markets since 2004, the United Kingdom since 2007, and India starting in 2014. The new agreement will see the Australian arm of the business provide a full range of retail and wholesale distribution services for VIZ Media’s substantial library of manga titles. Simon & Schuster Australia will also manage the distribution of all VIZ Media’s imprints including Shonen Jump, Shonen Jump Advanced, Shojo Beat, Shonen Sunday, Perfect Square, VIZ Signature, Studio Ghibli Library and Haikasoru.

TOKYO GHOUL © 2011 by Sui Ishida/SHUEISHA Inc.

“I am delighted to join my colleagues in New York, London and New Delhi in bringing VIZ Media to our customers in Australia and New Zealand,” said Dan Ruffino, Managing Director of Simon & Schuster Australia. “We know there is a keen market here and look forward to working closely with VIZ Media to grow sales and awareness.”

“Simon & Schuster is a key strategic partner for VIZ Media, and together we share a strong commitment to support a fervent international fan base for high quality established series as well as emerging new titles,” said Kevin Hamric, Senior Director, Publishing Sales & Marketing, VIZ Media. “Australia and New Zealand are extremely strong markets for manga, and we look forward to working closely with Simon & Schuster Australia to bring a variety of exciting titles to a wide range of readers.”

New digital anime update for December from VIZ

VIZ MEDIA CONCLUDES 2015 WITH AN ACTION AND

DRAMA-FILLED DIGITAL ANIME UPDATE FOR DECEMBER

Catch HUNTER X HUNTER And Season Finales For K And

ONE-PUNCH MAN, As Well As Simulcasts, Newly-Dubbed

SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL, The Premiere of SAILOR STARS,

And More!

VIZ Media has announced details on a brand new digital update for its anime content streaming platform for December.

This month audiences are invited to catch the exciting streaming premiere of the supernatural action adventure, HUNTER X HUNTER. Season 1, Episodes 1-13 are available to stream in their entirety now and feature new subtitles that are true to VIZ Media’s original translations of the manga series by Yoshihiro Togashi. In HUNTER X HUNTER, Gon is a young boy who dreams of following in his father’s footsteps to become a Hunter. But first he must pass the notoriously difficult and dangerous Hunter Qualification Exam. Throughout his journey, Gon overcomes many obstacles, while making new friends along the way!

Don’t miss hard-hitting new episodes of ONE-PUNCH MAN, simulcast every Sunday. Catch Episodes 10-12 (subtitled) in December with the not-to-be missed explosive Season 1 finale (Episode 12) scheduled to premiere on Sunday, December 20th.

The saga of seven kings and their clansmen reaches a powerful conclusion with the final episodes (Episodes 10-13) of Season 2 of the psychological anime action drama, K: RETURN OF KINGS.

SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL has captivated anime fans and the series continues this month with the English dubbed premiere of Episodes 4-7 of the Dark Kingdom Arc with one new episode added every Friday. New dubbed episodes from the classic SAILOR MOON anime series will continue to debut every Monday throughout December. The classic anime also continues with SAILOR MOON SUPER S (Season 4) Episodes 164-166 set to premiere ahead of the start of the streaming premiere of the never before seen in North America SAILOR MOON SAILOR STARS (Season 5) on Monday, December 14th with Episode 167.

The frenetic ninja action of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN also continues with weekly simulcasts every Thursday during December of streamed installments of the latest episodes straight from Japan. Don’t miss the simulcasts of Episode 439 on December 3rd, Episode 440 on December 10th, followed by Episode 441 on December 17th, Episodes 442 on December 24th and rounded out by Episode 443 on December 31st.

The December 2015 digital anime update is further highlighted by additions to several other top-rated VIZ Media series including:

BLEACH
• Continue the epic supernatural action and drama of BLEACH (dubbed) with the addition of Season 25, Episodes 343-354 (dubbed) available to steam now! BLEACH is also currently available to stream subtitled with Episodes 1-366.

K: RETURN OF KINGS
• Season 2 Episodes 10 will be available to stream (subtitled) on Friday December 4th, with a new episode each week! These episodes join the complete first season, available dubbed or subbed! • With the balance of power between the seven kings shifting once again, Silver King Yashiro Isana finally makes his return to the world, this time to face his destiny head-on.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN
• Ninja action continues with Season 2 of the NARUTO SHIPPUDEN anime series during December with Episodes 68-72 available to stream December 27th in their entirety with dubbed English dialogue! Get your friends into Naruto Shippuden over the holidays with over 70 episodes streaming from the very start.

 

ONE-PUNCH MAN
• Catch the simulcast premiere of Season 1, Episodes 10 (subtitled) on Sunday December 6th, with a new episode available to stream each week!
• And don’t miss the Season 1 finale (Episode 12) on December 20th
• Saitama is a hero who only became a hero for fun. After three years of “special” training, though, he’s become so strong that he’s practically invincible. In fact, he’s too strong – even his mightiest opponents are taken out with a single punch, and it turns out that being devastatingly powerful is actually kind of a bore. With his passion for being a hero lost along with his hair, yet still faced with new enemies every day, how much longer can he keep it going?

RANMA ½
• The hilarious hijinks of the classic anime martial arts adventure, RANMA ½, continues with the addition of Season 5, Episodes 93-115 available to stream now in their entirety with dubbed English dialogue!

VIZ Media’s consolidated online destination for FREE streaming anime content in the U.S. has over 4,100 subtitled and English dubbed episodes and movies from more than 36 series! VIZ Media’s streaming content also reaches an expansive on-demand U.S.-based audience on Hulu, which enables viewers to watch shows anytime, anywhere across devices including Xbox One, PlayStation®4, Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and mobile devices. A full list of Hulu -enabled devices can be found at http://www.hulu.com/plus/devices.

Additional information on VIZ Media’s streaming anime is available at: http://www.viz.com/anime/streaming/.

VIZ announces multi-territory media distribution for ONE-PUNCH MAN

 VIZ MEDIA, VIZ MEDIA EUROPE AND ANIME CONSORTIUM

JAPAN ANNOUNCE ACQUISITION OF MULTI-TERRITORY

MEDIA RIGHTS TO ONE-PUNCH MAN ANIME SERIES

Action-Driven Superhero Series By Studio Madhouse Based

On The Bestselling Manga Series About A Superhero Who

Just Needs A Villain Strong Enough To Take Him On

VIZ Media has teamed with VIZ Media Europe S.A.R.L. (VME), the leader in Japanese Entertainment content in Europe, and Anime Consortium Japan Inc. (ACJ), the Japanese company for official anime streaming, to jointly announce the acquisition of the multi-territory media distribution rights for the anime series, ONE-PUNCH MAN.

Announced earlier this year, the ONE-PUNCH MAN anime is based on a bestselling manga series, created by writer ONE and artist Yusuke Murata, about an average-guy-turned-superhero who packs quite the punch! Three content distribution companies will join force to manage the digital distribution, home media, merchandise, and TV rights to the newly produced anime series for their respective territories.

• VIZ Media will manage the master license for ONE-PUNCH MAN in North America, Latin America and Oceania, as well as stream the series in the U.S.
• VIZ Media Europe will oversee & stream the property for EMEA, including Russia
• In addition, ACJ will stream the subtitled version of the program in all above territories

Additional details about availability will be forthcoming.

“ONE-PUNCH MAN is a beautifully produced, action-driven series, and we will leverage our expertise in developing anime content across all major consumer formats with a savvy combination of proprietary and partner distribution channels to bring this series to audiences on the widest possible range of media devices and platforms,” says Brad Woods, Chief Marketing Officer, VIZ Media.

“We are very excited to bring ONE-PUNCH MAN to European audiences. Our extensive distribution and licensing infrastructure across the region will ensure that fans will be able to catch every episode localized for their countries and across an array of multimedia platforms and a variety of licensed goods ” says Pascal J. Bonnet, Senior Director TV Sales & Licensing, VIZ Media Europe

“We are very pleased to add ONE-PUNCH MAN to our anime digital media streaming service, and look forward to delivering this extraordinary superhero action series to our users around the world,” says Ririko Kubo, Sales Promotion Division, Anime Consortium Japan Inc.

VIZ Media also publishes the ONE-PUNCH MAN manga series (rated ‘T’ for Teens) under its Shonen Jump imprint. The series is currently serialized in VIZ Media’s WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP magazine, and full volumes are available digitally first in North America via the VIZ Manga platform and partner digital storefronts. The series launches in print in September.

ONE-PUNCH MAN was animated by the renowned Japanese studio, Madhouse, and helmed by famed anime director, Shingo Natsume, (Space Dandy, Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos) and features character designs by Chikashi Kubota (From the New World, Robotics:notes). In the series, Saitama is a hero who only became a hero for fun. After three years of “special” training, though, he’s become so strong that he’s practically invincible. In fact, he’s too strong—even his mightiest opponents are taken out with a single punch, and it turns out that being devastatingly powerful is actually kind of a bore. With his passion for being a hero lost along with his hair, yet still faced with new enemies every day, how much longer can he keep it going?

Manga creator ONE began ONE-PUNCH MAN as a web comic, which quickly went viral and garnered over 10 million hits. Japanese manga publisher (and VIZ Media parent company) Shueisha eventually secured the publishing rights to the series which has sold more than 4.5 million copies to-date. In addition to ONE-PUNCH MAN, ONE writes and draws the series Mob Psycho 100 and Makai no Ossan.

Yusuke Murata is a highly acclaimed and skilled manga artist best known for his work on the football series, EYESHIELD 21 (also published in North America by VIZ Media). In 1995, Murata won the prestigious 122nd Hop Step Award for his series, Partner, and placed second in 1998 in the semi-annual Akatsuka Awards for Samui Hanashi.

For more information on ONE-PUNCH MAN or other anime titles from VIZ Media, visit www.VIZ.com/opm/.