Limited edition artbook BLANC ET NOIR: TAKESHI OBATA ILLUSTRATIONS to debut May 3rd

OBATA TAKESHI ILLUSTRATIONS -Blanc et Noir- © 2006 by Takeshi Obata/SHUEISHA Inc.

VIZ MEDIA TO RELEASE

LIMITED EDITION ART BOOK

BLANC ET NOIR: TAKESHI OBATA ILLUSTRATIONS

Special Slipcased Hardcover Features Work By The Artist Of

DEATH NOTE, BAKUMAN。And ALL YOU NEED IS KILL

As Well As Fold-Out Posters, Artist Commentary And Much More!

VIZ Media offers something very special for pop culture, pop art and manga fans as it proudly announces the release of BLANC ET NOIR: TAKESHI OBATA ILLUSTRATIONS, a limited edition art book collecting the work of renowned manga artist Takeshi Obata.

BLANC ET NOIR: TAKESHI OBATA ILLUSTRATIONS will debut on May 3rd in an oversized slipcased hardcover edition under the Art of Shonen Jump imprint. This limited edition art book will be released in a print run of only 10,000 copies. BLANC ET NOIR: TAKESHI OBATA ILLUSTRATIONS will carry an MSRP of $99.99 U.S. / $119.99 CAN.

Experience a masterful presentation of legendary artist Takeshi Obata’s works from 2001–2006, including definitive illustrations from smash-hit series DEATH NOTE and HIKARU NO GO, as well as surprises (video game design!), original works created for this art book and rare novel illustrations. This gorgeous oversized art book is encased in a silver-stamped slipcase and is stuffed with 132 pages of full-color art, several massive foldout posters, deluxe paperstock and 12 pages of artist commentary, including a “how to draw” section. The edition also includes three large double-sided laminated posters.

“BLANC ET NOIR: TAKESHI OBATA ILLUSTRATIONS is an extraordinary art book with a beautiful, high-end treatment befitting its limited edition run. It will be a wonderful addition to any ardent DEATH NOTE fan’s personal collection,” says Hope Donovan, Managing Editor. “Takeshi Obata is one of Japan’s foremost manga artists and is internationally acclaimed for his elegantly designed characters and crisp style. We invite fans and collectors to savor this special release!”

Manga artist and illustrator Takeshi Obata first achieved international recognition as the artist of the wildly popular Weekly Shonen Jump title, HIKARU NO GO (also published by VIZ Media), which won the 2003 Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize: Shinsei "New Hope" Award and the 2000 Shogakukan Manga Award. He went on to illustrate the smash hit supernatural crime thriller, DEATH NOTE, as well as the hugely successful manga series BAKUMAN。and ALL YOU NEED IS KILL. All three of these titles are published in print and digital editions by VIZ Media.

For additional information on Takeshi Obata and manga titles published by VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

ALL YOU NEED IS KILL omnibus edition is coming on November 4th

ALL YOU NEED IS KILL © 2014 by Hiroshi Sakurazaka, Ryosuke Takeuchi, yoshitoshi ABe, Takeshi Obata/SHUEISHA Inc. 

VIZ MEDIA PREMIERES OMNIBUS PRINT

EDITION OF ALL YOU NEED IS KILL MANGA

Sci-Fi Action Manga By Takeshi Obata, Creator Of DEATH NOTE,

Adapts The Award-Winning Japanese Novel That Inspired

The Summer Blockbuster Film Edge Of Tomorrow

VIZ Media announces the print launch of famed manga artist Takeshi Obata’s latest manga (graphic novel) masterpiece with the release of ALL YOU NEED IS KILL as an oversized omnibus edition on November 4th.

ALL YOU NEED IS KILL collects both volumes into this complete edition and features color inserts, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and will be available under the Shonen Jump Advanced imprint with a print MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN.

Digital editions for the pair of individual volumes are also available for $6.99 each across all platforms serviced by VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App, and are similarly available on the storefronts for the Kindle, iBooks, GooglePlay, Kobo, ComiXology, and Nook. The free VIZ Manga App continues to be the top application for reading digital manga and features a massive library of the most popular series in the world. With the dynamic platform, fans can explore and enjoy a massive catalog of classic manga series that spans more than 2,200 volumes across more than 200 different series.

Takeshi Obata’s ALL YOU NEED IS KILL originally premiered in VIZ Media’s WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP digital manga anthology earlier this year and is the stunning manga realization of the popular Japanese sci-fi novel, written by Hiroshi Sakurazaka. In this rousing action story, when the alien Mimics invade, Keiji Kiriya is just one of many recruits shoved into a suit of battle armor called a Jacket and sent out to kill. Keiji dies on the battlefield, only to be reborn each morning to fight and die again and again. On his 158th iteration, he gets a message from a mysterious ally – the female soldier known as the Full Metal Bitch. Is she the key to Keiji's escape or his final death?

The bestselling ALL YOU NEED IS KILL novel also inspired the live-action summer blockbuster – Edge of Tomorrow – which starred Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt and Bill Paxton.

The original novel also was the launch title in 2009 for Haikasoru, VIZ Media’s unique literary imprint dedicated to publishing the most compelling contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy for English-speaking audiences. VIZ Media also published a special movie tie-in version of the ALL YOU NEED IS KILL/EDGE OF TOMORROW novel over the summer to support the release of the live-action film.

“Coming just after Takeshi Obata’s first-ever U.S. appearance at the recent New York Comic Con, we are very excited to announce the print debut of his action-packed manga treatment of ALL YOU NEED IS KILL,” says Mike Montesa, Editor. “Hiroshi Sakurazaka’s award winning novel comes to life with tense and engrossing characters and plenty of visceral battle scenes, all wonderfully depicted with Obata’s signature highly detailed style. The alien Mimics are bent on destroying humanity but they are about to meet their match in this exceptional new release from VIZ Media!”

Manga artist Takeshi Obata was born in 1969 in Niigata, Japan, and is the artist of the wildly popular SHONEN JUMP title HIKARU NO GO (available from VIZ Media), which won the 2003 Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize: Shinsei "New Hope" award and the 2000 Shogakukan Manga award. Obata is also the artist of the smash hit series, DEATH NOTE (also published by VIZ Media), as well as Arabian Majin Bokentan Lamp Lamp, Ayatsuri Sakon, Cyborg Jichan G. ALL YOU NEED IS KILL is his latest work following the hugely successful series BAKUMAN｡ (also published by VIZ Media).

For more information on ALL YOU NEED IS KILL or other manga and/or anime titles published by VIZ Media, visit www.VIZ.com.

VIZ announces special events & convention exclusives for 2014 New York Comic-Con

ALL YOU NEED IS KILL © 2014 by Hiroshi Sakurazaka, Ryosuke Takeuchi, yoshitoshi ABe, Takeshi Obata/SHUEISHA Inc.

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES SPECIAL EVENTS & CONVENTION

EXCLUSIVES FOR 2014 NEW YORK COMIC CON

North America’s Leading Anime & Manga Publisher Presents

Legendary Manga Artist Takeshi Obata And Details Special Panels,

Exclusive Retail Items, Booth Activities, Screenings And More!

VIZ Media brings a potent dose of anime and manga excitement to New York City as it announces four consecutive days jam-packed with special events and convention exclusives for the 2014 New York Comic Con.

VIZ Media rolls into the Javits Convention Center between October 9th- 12th for the East Coast's biggest and most exciting popular culture event that features the latest and greatest in comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies, and television. VIZ Media will be located in Booth #1944. Full details on New York Comic Con are available at: http://www.newyorkcomiccon.com.

VIZ Media will delight NY Comic Con goers with a thrilling schedule of an ultra-rare manga (graphic novel) artist live guest appearance, WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP, SAILOR MOON and VOLTRON panel discussions, prize-winning booth activities, VOLTRON, DORAEMON and SAILOR MOON photo opportunities, as well as special artist meet-and-greet and signing sessions, exclusive retail products and a host of convention anime screenings.

New York Comic Con Guest of Honor Manga Artist Takeshi Obata

Join VIZ Media to welcome one of Japan’s preeminent manga artists – Takeshi Obata – for his first-ever U.S. personal appearance! The groundbreaking artist of smash hit manga series such as DEATH NOTE, BAKUMAN。, HIKARU NO GO, RALΩGRAD and ALL YOU NEED IS KILL will appear in-person at several events during the 2014 New York Comic Con.

VIZ Media presents Takeshi Obata in-person as part of its WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP panel programming as well for an exclusive appearance and signing. Stop by the VIZ Media Booth in the Javits Main Hall for details and to secure advance tickets for the exclusive New York Comic Con Takeshi Obata signing, taking place Thursday, October 9th from 7:30pm to 8:30pm at the Javits Center.

Obata will also make a pair of additional off-site appearances at Kinokuniya and Barnes & Noble bookstores as part of New York Super Week. Full details are available at: www.newyorksuperweek.com.

VIZ Media Convention Exclusives & Special Retail Collectables:

Stop by the VIZ Shop located in the VIZ Media Booth for a wide selection of manga and anime titles, collectables and special convention exclusives. Manga fans can pick up pre-street copies of ALL YOU NEED IS KILL, RESIDENT EVIL (Vol. 1) as well as the shojo premiere of KISS OF THE ROSE PRINCESS and PRINCESS MONONOKE THE FIRST STORY, a new hardcover storybook from the Studio Ghibli Library featuring watercolor art by Hayao Miyazaki, the film’s legendary director.

Collectors and pop culture aficionados will not want to miss special Convention Exclusives that include editions of the HELLO KITTY, HELLO 40 Commemorative Art Book, with a foil-accented cover and gilded pages - only 250 copies printed, and the BRAVEST WARRIORS: THE SEARCH FOR CATBUG book, also a special limited edition with foil-accented cover and gilded pages - only 250 made – celebrating the smash hit adventure series created by Pendleton Ward. Also don’t miss the New York Comic Con Exclusive edition of VOLTRON: FROM DAYS LONG AGO, A 30th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION book. VIZ Media will welcome artists from all of these titles for special booth signings throughout New York Comic Con. Check the daily booth schedule for posted times.

Fans with a penchant for anime can pre-order a forthcoming copy of SAILOR MOON Set 1 Part 1 (DVD/Blu-ray) ahead of its November release in partnership with RightStuf.com. Receive a special SAILOR MOON collectable coin as a free gift with this special pre-order convention purchase (while supplies last)! Attendees also can select from a variety of other VIZ Media Blu-ray and Combo Pack releases currently available including GARGANTIA ON THE VERDUROUS PLANET, BLOOD LAD, RANMA ½ and more.

SAILOR MOON collectable coins and t-shirt ©N.T./PNP, T.A.

Also available for purchase will be a limited quantity of new, exclusive New York Comic Con SAILOR MOON convention t-shirts as well as replica BLEACH sword umbrellas, with two different design variations featuring the sword hilt of Soul Reapers Rukia or Ichigo. Also grab a sneak peek at the first officially licensed North American DORAEMON products, and an exclusive selection of hand numbered ONE PIECE and NARUTO replica art prints, along with many, many other items.

VIZ Media New York Comic Con Panels:

Thursday October 9th

3:15PM – 4:00PM Panel: VIZ MEDIA PANEL (Room 1A14)
Join VIZ Media and pull back the curtain on favorite manga and anime series. Be among the first to hear about upcoming releases and new acquisitions and throw questions at staff and grab FREE manga prizes while supplies last.

6:00PM – 6:45PM Panel: THE FUTURE OF WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP (Room 1A14)
 Join the editors of VIZ Media’s WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and editors from Japan’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine to welcome Takeshi Obata for an enlightening personal discussion on what's new and what's next for the long-running manga anthology which launched best-selling titles such as NARUTO, BLEACH, ONE PIECE, DRAGON BALL as well as Obata’s BAKUMAN。and DEATH NOTE series.

Friday October 10th

2:00PM – 2:45PM Panel: VOLTRON: A 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION PRESENTED BY PERFECT SQUARE (Room 1A21)
In 1984, Voltron: Defender of the Universe hit the TV, and the world of giant robots has never been the same. In honor of Voltron’s 30th anniversary, join the staff of VIZ Media’s Perfect Square imprint for a very special peek behind the curtain at this cultural phenomenon with special guests, new product announcements and much, much more.

5:00PM – 5:45PM Panel: WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP PRESENTS TAKESHI OBATA, MANGA ARTIST (Room 1A21)
Join VIZ Media and the staff of WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP to welcome very special guest Takeshi Obata and his editor Koji Yoshida for a conversation about Obata's beginnings as an artist, his extensive history working in the manga industry, and the creative process behind his works. Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity.

Saturday October 11th

4:15PM – 5:00PM Panel: OFFICAL SAILOR MOON PANEL (Room 1A14)
Come on a journey with the legendary Guardian of love and justice, Sailor Moon! Members of the VIZ Media SAILOR MOON animation team will talk about the impact of this beloved anime series, show footage from the re-mastered episodes and celebrate the long-awaited return of Usagi and her friends.

Scheduled Booth Activities:

The VIZ Media booth will buzz with continual activity throughout New York Comic Con with a host of fun in-booth games and activities.

• VIZ Media Prize Wheel of Destiny: Take a spin for a chance to win a surprise goodie like t-shirts, posters, stickers and more! While supplies last.
• DORAEMON Meet & Greet: Drop by for a photo op with everyone's favorite big blue cat-type robot from the future!
• SAILOR MOON PHOTO SESSION: Meet Guardian Sailor Moon (official cosplayer) and bring your own camera/phone and take your own “Sailor Selfie”!
• VOLTRON Mascot Appearance: Become a Defender of the Universe with an official photo.
• VIZ Media /WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Newsletter Sign-Up: Receive the latest digital news about your favorite anime and manga titles and get a free Takeshi Obata full-color poster!

Convention goers should check the daily master schedule for a complete listing of that day’s confirmed in-booth activities.

VIZ Media New York Comic Con Anime Screenings:

Catch some of VIZ Media’s hottest and newest anime titles with special premieres happening throughout the New York Comic Con. Don’t miss special presentations of NARUTO THE MOVIE: ROAD TO NINJA, SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL & SAILOR MOON (Original Series), BLOOD LAD, RANMA ½, GARGANTIA ON THE VERDUROUS PLANET, and TIGER & BUNNY THE MOVIE: THE RISING.

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

Manga artist Takeshi Obata to appear at New York Comic Con in October

Wildly Popular Manga Artist and Creative Force Behind

Death Note, Bakuman。 and All You Need Is Kill to participate

in Panels and Autographing on October 9 and 10, 2014

New York Comic Con is rolling out power-packed appearances that showcase the hottest talent from around the globe. In continuing its unwavering commitment to celebrate the vast expanse of all things pop culture, ReedPOP, the world’s largest producer of pop culture events and producers of the event, today announced that renowned manga artist Takeshi Obata will be appearing as part of autographing and panels the Thursday and Friday of the show.

Obata is the artist of the wildly popular Shonen Jump title Hikaru no Go, which won the 2003 Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize: Shinsei “New Hope” award and the 2000 Shogakukan Manga award. Obata is also the artist of Arabian Majin Bokentan Lamp Lamp, Ayatsuri Sakon, Cyborg Jichan G, and the smash hit manga Death Note. Following the hugely successful series Bakuman。 Obata’s latest work is All You Need Is Kill, a 2-volume adaptation of the novel which was also the basis for this year’s Tom Cruise blockbuster Edge of Tomorrow. Hikaru no Go, Death Note, Bakuman。and All You Need Is Kill are all published in North America by VIZ Media. Takeshi Obata is appearing at New York Comic Con with support of VIZ Media and the Japan Foundation.

“Our vision for New York Comic Con is to bring a wide range of pop culture content from all over the world to fans every year,” said Lance Fensterman, Global Senior Vice President of ReedPOP. “Takeshi Obata is one of the leading manga artists in the world and one of the best creative forces in entertainment today. We couldn’t be more excited about his participation in New York Comic Con this year.”

In addition to Obata’s appearance at New York Comic Con, he will also participate in a special signing outside the Javits Center as part of New York Comic Con's Super Week (www.newyorksuperweek.com). More information about Obata's events will be revealed in the coming weeks.

New York Comic Con (taking place on October 9- 12 at the Javits Center in New York City) is the East Coast's biggest and most exciting popular culture convention with the latest and greatest in comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies and television. New York Comic Con’s panels and autograph sessions give fans a chance to interact with their favorite creators, while screening rooms feature sneak peeks at films and television shows months before they hit either big or small screens. New York Comic Con is the second largest pop culture convention in America and the only one that takes place in the comic book, publishing, media, and licensing capital of the world — Gotham City.

More exciting details about New York Comic Con, events, talent and sponsors will be revealed in the coming weeks. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.NewYorkComicCon.com or and New York Comic Con’s social media pages (Facebook, Twitter & Instagram).

ABOUT REEDPOP
ReedPOP is a boutique group within Reed Exhibitions, which is exclusively devoted to organizing events, launching and acquiring new shows, and partnering with premium brands in the pop culture arena. ReedPOP is dedicated to producing celebrations of popular culture throughout the world that transcend ordinary events by providing unique access and dynamic personal experiences for consumers and fans. The ReedPOP portfolio includes: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) Prime, East, South and Australia, Star Wars Celebration, New York Super Week, Special Edition: NYC, Oz Comic-Con, BookCon and the UFC Fan Expo. In 2013 ReedPOP (has) added Star Wars Celebration Europe and PAX Australia to its rapidly expanding portfolio of international events. The staff at ReedPOP is a fan based group of professionals producing shows for other fans, thus making them uniquely qualified to service those with whom they share a common passion. ReedPOP is focused on bringing its expertise and knowledge to world communities in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia/Pacific (including Australia). (www.reedpop.com )

ACF 1005: Entire uncut & subtitled Death Note anime series now available on Netflix

DEATH NOTE based on the comic "DEATH NOTE"
by Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata originally
serialized in "WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP"
published by SHUEISHA Inc.
© Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata/Shueisha
© DNDP, VAP, Shueisha, Madhouse

VIZ MEDIA BRINGS THE EDGY PSYCHOLOGICAL
SUSPENSE OF DEATH NOTE TO NETFLIX

Acclaimed Supernatural Crime Mystery Based On Popular Manga Is
The Latest VIZ Media Anime Series To Be Streamed By Netflix

VIZ Media has announced the premiere of the entire uncut and subtitled DEATH NOTE anime series on Netflix, Inc., the world’s leading Internet subscription service for enjoying movies and TV shows. The supernatural suspense thriller is now available to watch instantly for subscribers in the U.S.

A unique storyline and complex characters, combined with visually stunning animation by Madhouse, made DEATH NOTE one of the most popular anime series to ever be released in Japan and North America. The complete 37 episode series joins several other VIZ Media anime titles such as BLEACH, NARUTO, and INUYASHA, which can now be instantly streamed from Netflix.

DEATH NOTE (rated TV-14, subtitled) was inspired by a 12-volume manga counterpart (published in North America by VIZ Media) written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. The anime series follows the adventures of Light Yagami, an ace student with great prospects but who is bored out of his mind. All of that changes when he finds the Death Note, a strange notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god named Ryuk. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals mysteriously begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer. With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight of his noble goal - or his life?

More information on DEATH NOTE is available at DeathNote.viz.com.

ACF 911: Two anime series from VIZ debut on multiple online content outlets

VIZ MEDIA DEBUTS ANIME SERIES HIKARU NO GO AND MÄR FOR DOWNLOAD FROM MULTIPLE LEADING ONLINE CONTENT OUTLETS

iTunes, PlayStation® Network, And Amazon Video On Demand
Begin Offering Both Hit Adventure Series To Rent Or Own

VIZ Media has announced the availability of hit anime series HIKARU NO GO and MÄR for Download-To-Rent / Download-To-Own (DTR/DTO) from leading online content providers iTunes, PlayStation® Network, and Amazon Video on Demand.

The complete series for HIKARU NO GO (Episodes 1-75) and MÄR (Episodes 1-52) will be presented dubbed and uncut, and will be available immediately from the iTunes Store in the U.S. (http://www.itunes.com/) and Canada (http://www.itunes.ca/). As a special promotion, Episode 1 from each series will be available for FREE download through August 23, 2011!

Amazon Video on Demand and the PlayStation® Network video delivery service, available exclusively for the Sony PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) and PlayStation®3 (PS3™) entertainment systems, will offer Season 1 of HIKARU NO GO and MÄR, beginning with Episodes 1-3. New installments will be released every Monday. Episode 1 from each series will be available for FREE download through March 22, 2011.

All episodes are $0.99 each for Download-To-Rent and $1.99 for Download-To-Own across all platforms.

HIKARU NO GO is a unique story that revolves around the ancient Japanese strategy game of Go, and is based on the manga written by Yumi Hotta and illustrated by Takeshi Obata (also published domestically by VIZ Media). Hikaru Shindo is like any sixth-grader in Japan: a pretty normal kid with a two-tone head of hair and a penchant for antics. His life completely changes when he finds an old bloodstained go board in his grandfather's attic. The ghost of an ancient go master named Fujiwara-no-Sai was trapped in the board and soon becomes a part of Hikaru's consciousness. Together Hikaru and Sai make an unstoppable go-playing team!

MÄR is based on the hit manga series by Nobuyuki Anzai (creator also of FLAME OF RECCA), published in North America by VIZ Media. An ordinary middle-school boy with an overactive imagination, Ginta Toramizu dreams about fairy tales and make-believe lands. One day at school, a gate appears and he enters the World of MÄR, the world of his dreams. Within the World of MÄR exist ÄRM: accessories with unique powers. Soon, Ginta stumbles upon Babbo, an ÄRM that can speak, and learns that he has been summoned to this mythical world to stop the Chess Pieces, a group of rogue soldiers, from destroying the World of MÄR. Now part of Team MÄR, Ginta and Babbo fight in War Games against the Chess Pieces to save the MÄR World. But will Ginta’s mission be compromised by his ally’s secrets?

For more information on the HIKARU NO GO and MÄR anime and manga series, visit VIZAnime.com.