VIZ to premiere HUNTER X HUNTER on Adult Swim starting today

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE PREMIERE OF

HUNTER X HUNTER ON ADULT SWIM

Reboot Of Fantasy Adventure Anime Series Based On Bestselling

HUNTER X HUNTER Manga Launches With A Brand New English

Dub Cast On Leading Animation Network April 16th

VIZ Media excites action/adventure fans as it announces the launch of the all new HUNTER X HUNTER anime series on Adult Swim’s Toonami.

The first episode of the action-packed, supernatural adventure series will premiere today, Saturday, April 16 at 1:00 a.m. EST/PST, with future episodes to air each Saturday. Toonami is the anime programming block on Adult Swim, Turner’s network offering original and acquired animated and live-action series for young adults.

This latest anime property to join the VIZ Media catalog was produced in 2011 by the famed animation studio, MADHOUSE, and was broadcast in Japan on Nippon TV. The series reboots the popular HUNTER X HUNTER manga series created by Yoshihiro Togashi. For the North American debut, VIZ Media has assembled a fresh cast of talented voice actors that includes Erica Mendez as Gon Freecss, Cristina Vee as Killua Zoldyck, Matthew Mercer as Leorio, Keith Silverstein as Hisoka, and Erika Harlacher as Kurapika.

In the original HUNTER X HUNTER manga series, which is also published in print and digitally by VIZ Media (rated ‘T’ for Teens), Hunters are a special breed, dedicated to tracking down treasures, magical beasts, and even other people. But such pursuits require a license, and less than one in a hundred thousand can pass the grueling qualification exam. Those who do pass gain access to restricted areas, amazing stores of information, and the right to call themselves Hunters.

In the HUNTER X HUNTER anime series, abundant riches, hidden treasures, fearsome monsters, and exotic creatures are scattered around the world... Gon departs on a journey to become a Pro Hunter who risks his life in search of the unknown. Along the way, he meets other applicants for the Hunter exam: Kurapika, Leorio, and Killua. Can Gon pass the rigorous challenges of the Hunter exam and become the best Hunter in the world!? His wild and epic journey is about to begin!!

“HUNTER X HUNTER is a fast-paced fantasy adventure beautifully animated by studio MADHOUSE and we are pleased to debut the series on Adult Swim’s Toonami with a first-ever English dub that adheres very closely to the storyline depicted in the original manga series,” says Charlene Ingram, Senior Marketing Manager, Animation. “We invite audiences to immerse themselves in this action-filled anime series and catch a new episode broadcast premiere each week!”

VIZ Media is the official North American distributor of the HUNTER X HUNTER anime series and holds the broadcast rights, digital streaming rights, home video rights and merchandising rights to the series.

For more information on HUNTER X HUNTER and anime titles from VIZ Media, visit www.VIZ.com.

INUYASHA: THE FINAL ACT premieres on Toonami tomorrow

 VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES PREMIERE OF

INUYASHA: THE FINAL ACT ON TOONAMI

Venerable Fantasy Action Anime Series Reaches

Grand Finale Beginning This Weekend!!

VIZ Media has announced the domestic broadcast premiere of INUYASHA: THE FINAL ACT, the finale to the long-running animated adventure saga, set to be broadcast on Adult Swim’s Toonami.

The first episode of the final story arc of the famed action/adventure/fantasy anime series will premiere at 2:00am on Sunday, November 16th with future episodes to air each subsequent Sunday. Check local listings for channel availability and specific regional broadcast times. Adult Swim’s (AdultSwim.com) Toonami is the Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s network for offering original and acquired animated and live-action series for young adults.

INUYASHA: THE FINAL ACT is based on the massively popular manga series (also published by VIZ Media, rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) by famed creator Rumiko Takahashi. The INUYASHA anime series has run for 193 episodes in total and has also spawned several popular feature films. Pulled back in time to Japan's ancient past, Japanese high school girl Kagome finds her destiny linked to a dog-like half-demon named Inuyasha, who remembers Kagome's previous incarnation as the woman who killed him - and to the Shikon Jewel, or "Jewel of Four Souls," which can fulfill the greatest dreams of any man or monster. Now Kagome and Inuyasha must work together to search for the scattered shards of the jewel before everyone's nightmares are given the power they need to come true.

INUYASHA: THE FINAL ACT offers the culmination of the epic quest to restore the shattered Shikon Jewel. In the final episodes, the half-demon Inuyasha and modern schoolgirl Kagome face the deadly and cunning enemy demon mastermind, Naraku. With the Shikon Jewel nearly whole, the race to collect the remaining shards intensifies and a battle of epic proportions is brewing on the horizon!

“This legendary anime series reaches its ultimate conclusion with the exciting premiere of THE FINAL ACT on Toonami and plenty of action and quite a few plot surprises are in-store as Inuyasha and Kagome finally see the realization of their quest to restore the Shikon Jewel,” says Charlene Ingram, Senior Marketing Manager of Animation. “INUYASHA first premiered on Toonami and the series has played a pivotal role in helping to spawn the massive popularity that manga and anime now enjoys in North America. It’s very fitting that Toonami hosts the grand finale of one of anime’s most famous properties. Don’t miss the exciting premiere this weekend!”

Fans also can explore colorful INUYASHA art books and the complete manga series, which is published in North America by VIZ Media, along with the entire anime series and related INUYASHA animated feature films available on DVD.

For more information on INUYASHA and other anime and manga titles from VIZ Media, visit www.VIZ.com.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN debuts on Adult Swim's Toonami on Sunday

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF NARUTO SHIPPUDEN

ANIME SERIES ON ADULT SWIM’S TOONAMI IN 2014

VIZ Media has announced the debut of the NARUTO SHIPPUDEN anime series on Adult Swim’s Toonami programming block beginning in January 2014. North American fans can catch dubbed and uncut adventures featuring the world’s most popular ninja from the beginning with a new episode airing each week. The first episode, "Homecoming," airs at 12:30AM Eastern/Pacific this Sunday, January 5th, with a new episode each weekend thereafter. Check local listings for specific airtimes and channel availability.

Adult Swim (AdultSwim.com), launched in 2001, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s network offering original and acquired animated and live-action series for young adults. Airing nightly from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET/PT), Adult Swim is basic cable’s #1 network with persons 18-34 and 18-49, and is seen in 99 million U.S. homes.

Created by Masashi Kishimoto, NARUTO was first introduced in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in Japan in 1999 and quickly became that country’s most popular ninja manga properties. The manga series (rated ‘T’ for Teens, in print and digital editions) and animated counterpart (NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN rated ‘TV-14’) are some of VIZ Media’s most successful titles and have captivated millions of fans across North America, Europe and South America.

In the NARUTO manga and animated series, Naruto Uzumaki wants to be the best ninja in the land. He's done well so far, but Naruto knows he must train harder than ever and leaves his village for intense exercises that will push him to his limits. NARUTO SHIPPUDEN begins two and a half years later, when Naruto returns to find that everyone has been promoted up the ninja ranks – except him. Sakura’s a medic ninja, Gaara’s advanced to Kazekage, and Kakashi…well he remains the same. But pride isn’t necessarily becoming of a ninja, especially when Naruto realizes that Sasuke never returned from his search for Orochimaru. Plus, the mysterious Akatsuki organization is still an ever-present danger. As Naruto finds out more about the Akatsuki’s goals, he realizes that nothing in his universe is as it seems. Naruto is finding that he’s older, but will he also prove wiser and stronger?

More information on NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN is available at www.Naruto.com.

Additional information on titles available from VIZ Media is available at www.VIZ.com.