Anime Titles Will Be Must-Haves On Many Holiday Wish Lists This Year

San Francisco, CA, OCTOBER 31, 2008 — VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media VIZ Media, one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies has announced a variety of upcoming new animated titles that will make unique and thoughtful gift ideas this holiday season.

Set for release throughout November and December, this new collection includes the long awaited North American debut of HUNTER X HUNTER, a fantasy action adventure based on the best-selling manga (graphic novel) series by Yoshihiro Togashi (also published by VIZ Media). Also eagerly anticipated is the debut of the DEATH NOTE DVD Box Set Volume 1, a collection of the first 20 episodes from the popular series that has captivated millions with its highly original supernatural crime thriller plot. Other exciting releases to entice the anime lover on many gift lists this year include NARUTO THE MOVIE 3: GUARDIANS OF THE CRESCENT MOON KINGDOM, BUSO RENKIN Volume 2 Box Set and perennial favorite with younger viewers this holiday season, the new Pokémon DIAMOND and PEARL Box Set II.

“With the 2008 holiday season approaching, VIZ Media is pleased to highlight a variety of upcoming anime releases that will delight fans of all ages,” says Gonzalo Ferreyra, Vice President, Sales & Product marketing, VIZ Media.  “These new titles showcase an array stories, characters and visual styles that make animation such a dynamic visual genre. We are pleased to offer this wide palette of titles and invite friends, colleagues and loved ones to begin to consider the perfect gifts for this coming Holiday season!”

Pokémon DIAMOND and PEARL Box Set II Volumes 3-4 • Rated “A” for All Ages • MSRP: $24.98 US / $34.99 CAN Each • Available November 4, 2008
Beautiful cities, passionate Gym Leaders, mysterious legends of time and space, cruel villains, and of course, new Pokémon all await Ash Ketchum as he explores the Sinnoh region in the ultimate quest to become the greatest Pokémon master. Ash, Brock and their new friend Dawn continue to catch and train new Pokémon on their travels. Along the way they meet up with Pokémon regenerated from fossils and a mercenary Pokémon thief who can out-thieve even Team Rocket! If those challenges can’t bring our heroes down, nothing can! Except maybe a Pokémon dress-up competition?! This special set includes 2 DVDs (Episodes 18-34), Volumes 3-4 of the Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl series.

NARUTO THE MOVIE 3:  GUARDIANS OF THE CRESCENT MOON KINGDOM •
Rated “T” for Teens • MSRP: $29.98 US / $39.99 CAN • Available November 11, 2008
In this latest feature adventure featuring everyone’s favorite band of ninjas, Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi team up with Rock Lee to protect Prince Michiru and his son Hikaru on their return home to the Crescent Moon Kingdom. Easy enough, until the royal family becomes a royal pain! Prince Michiru can’t help indulging his son, even buying him a circus along the way! Naruto has a tough time putting up with both the spoiled Hikaru and a saber-toothed tiger, but the real adventure begins when they reach the Land of the Moon and find themselves facing a villainous uprising. Does Naruto have what it takes to save an entire kingdom? Special bonus features include the original Japanese movie booklet (translated) and NARUTO THE MOVIE 3 trivia questions where fans are invited to check their knowledge of NARUTO and receive a ninja ranking.

DEATH NOTE DVD Box Set Volume 1 • Rated “T+” for Older Teens • 5 Discs •
MSRP: $69.98 US / $89.99 CAN • Available November 18, 2008
Available for the first time as a DVD Box Set, this first volume features 5 discs containing the first 20 episodes from the hit animated series based on Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata’s best selling manga. Meet Light Yagami, a brilliant but bored high school student whose life is changed when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami, or god of death, named Ryuk. When Light discovers that any human whose name is written in the book dies, he vows to use its power to rid the world of evil. But every action has its consequences, and Light soon finds himself in a life or death battle of wits with the mysterious genius detective called L. Humanity itself becomes the battleground to determine what form of justice will prevail!

BUSO RENKIN DVD Box Set Volume 2 • Rated “T+” for Older Teens •
MSRP: $49.98 US / $64.99 CAN • Available October 7, 2008
BUSO RENKIN is based on the popular manga series by Nobuhiro Watsuki, creator of the samurai epic RUROUNI KENSHIN, and introduces audiences to Kazuki Muto, a high school student who thinks he’s saving a girl from a monster, but it turns out that he’s the one who needs saving! Kazuki is stabbed and killed while fighting a homunculus, a malevolent creature that feeds on humans. A mysterious girl named Tokiko Tsumura revives him by replacing his heart with an alchemical device called a kakugane. With this device, Kazuki can now create his own Buso Renkin, a powerful alchemical weapon in the form of a huge lance, capable of destroying homunculi. With his new weapon, Kazuki decides to join forces with Tokiko to eliminate the evil homunculi and destroy their master, the strange and eccentric Papillon Masked Creator!

HUNTER X HUNTER DVD Box Set Volume 1 • Rated “T+” for Older Teens •
MSRP: $49.98 US / $64.99 CAN • Available December 9, 2008
Based on the popular HUNTER X HUNTER manga series by Yoshihiro Togashi (also published by VIZ Media), this new fantasy action series introduces audiences to Hunters, a special breed of adventurers dedicated to tracking down treasure, magical beasts, and even humans. But such pursuits require a license, and less than one in a hundred thousand can pass the grueling qualification exam. Gon might be a country boy, but he has high aspirations. Despite his aunt’s protests, Gon decides to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a legendary Hunter. The journey begins on the long, arduous road to the Exam Hall, where he meets Leorio and Kurapika, two applicants with the same determination. Gon and his two companions must now prove their worth and earn the right to call themselves Hunters through a variety of amazing tests and trials!

Aug. 11, 2008

Anyone who loves Pokémon® knows a rare treasure when they see one. A treasure that is sure to be sought after is Nintendo’s new Nintendo DS™ Limited Edition Pokémon Pack, which includes a Pokémon-themed Nintendo DS game system and exclusive Pokémon premiums.

Available on Aug. 17, the Nintendo DS Limited Edition Pokémon Pack features a custom Onyx Nintendo DS emblazoned with images of Dialga and Palkia, two of the most legendary characters from the Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl games. The set also includes a never-before-released animated special – Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Darkness (based on the story of the two newest Pokémon DS titles) – plus a cool Dialga and Palkia carrying case, and collectible mini-poster.

The Nintendo DS Limited Edition Pokémon Pack will be available at a suggested retail price of $129.99. For more information about Pokémon, visit www.Pokemon-Games.com.

Mainichi Daily News reported, “A blackmail letter threatening to disrupt an event featuring the popular Pokemon character has led its organizer to cancel several shows, officials at Pokemon Company said.”

“The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has started investigating the case on suspicion of forcible obstruction of business.”

“We thought the safety of our customers is our top priority. We deeply apologize for the cancellation,” a company spokesman said.

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Randomized Dungeons, Online Features Fuel Latest Mystery Dungeon Adventures

REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 26, 2008 – Ever wondered what it would be like to become a Pokémon? With the April 20 launch of Pokémon® Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Pokémon® Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness for Nintendo DS™, hand-held gamers will soon find out.

In this pair of action-packed adventures, players journey as actual Pokémon through a fantastic land untouched by humans. Before the game starts, players take a test to help them figure out which of 16 Pokémon best represents their personalities. Players then experience their adventure through the eyes of a Pokémon as they explore the land and embark on an epic journey through time and darkness. They talk and team up with other Pokémon to set out on an epic voyage while navigating an endless array of randomly generated dungeons.

More than 490 Pokémon populate these new games, guaranteeing strategic, intense battles and infinite possibilities, no matter which Pokémon players become. To widen their circle of Pokémon friends, Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection lets users engage in wireless rescue operations and send alerts to their friends via e-mail or mobile text message.

“Only the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series lets players experience the thrill of actually becoming a Pokémon character,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “It’s a unique perspective that delights both longtime Pokémon fans and newcomers alike.”

Fans of the two previous Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games, Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, will marvel at the greatly enhanced graphics, new story and grand adventure in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness. For Game Boy® Advance owners, the fresh look and wireless aspects of these new Pokémon titles provide even more reasons to upgrade to Nintendo DS. And best of all for budget-conscious parents, Nintendo DS is also able to play the entire library of Game Boy Advance games.

For more information about these two new Pokémon games, visit Nintendo.com.

About Nintendo: The worldwide innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii™, Nintendo DS™, Game Boy® Advance and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. Since 1983, Nintendo has sold nearly 2.5 billion video games and more than 430 million hardware units globally, and has created industry icons like Mario™, Donkey Kong®, Metroid®, Zelda™ and Pokémon®. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, visit the company’s Web site at www.nintendo.com.

About Pokémon USA: Pokémon USA, Inc., a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia, which includes licensing, marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, an animated TV series, the Pokémon Trading Figure Game, home entertainment and the official Pokémon Web site. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 for play on Nintendo’s Game Boy® and has since evolved into a global cultural phenomenon. Pokémon was introduced in North America in 1998 and today is one of the most popular toy and entertainment properties in the world. For more information, visit www.pokemon.com.