VIZ MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2009 COMIC-CON
Array Of Notable Personal Appearances, Events And Activities
In Booth 2813
Showcase ULTIMO And New Imprint SHONEN SUNDAY
AND SIGIKKI.COM
San Francisco, CA, July 15, 2009 – (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced an exciting lineup of personal appearances, events and activities for 2009 Comic-Con International taking place July 22-26 at the convention center in San Diego, CA. VIZ Media will be located in Booth #2813.
Eagerly anticipated by excited fans will be an in-person appearance by Stan Lee and Mr. Hiroyuki Takei, creators of the historical collaborative project ULTIMO, in the VIZ Media booth for a signing session on Friday, July 24th at 2:15pm. VIZ Media will also welcome Mr. Lee and Takei-sensei, along with his editor, Mr. Takanori Asada, as part of the SHONEN JUMP Panel on Friday July 24th at 10:30am in Room#10. Panel attendees will receive an ULTIMO poster and SHONEN JUMP Magazine sampler featuring ULTIMO, while supplies last. ULTIMO is currently serialized in SHONEN JUMP Magazine, and is rated ‘T’ for Teens.
Also making an appearance will be Mr. Hideki Egami, Editor-in-Chief of Monthly IKKI magazine in Japan, at the IKKI Panel on Saturday, July 25th at 12:00pm in Room #3. In partnership with the VIZ SIGNATURE line of graphic novels, IKKI, home of some of the most innovative, bold and compelling series in the world of contemporary manga, is bringing the works of some of its top creators to the English-language audience via a groundbreaking online monthly manga magazine at www.sigikki.com, launched May 2009. Each month new chapters of featured series will be offered for viewing online in their entirety, for free; the first series featured was CHILDREN OF THE SEA by Daisuke Igarashi.
VIZ Media will be highlighting the new SHONEN SUNDAY imprint at the VIZ Media Anime and Manga Panel on Friday, July 24th from 3:00pm to 4:30pm in Room #32AB. An exclusive double-sided RIN-NE poster and SHONEN SUNDAY release calendar will be available for free while supplies last. The annual VIZ MEDIA collectible canvas convention bag for 2009 will also feature RIN-NE on one side, NARUTO Shippuden on the other.
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A variety of fun games and activities will be featured in the VIZ Media booth this year. Those who show up dressed in NARUTO garb at the allotted time (fans can check VIZ Media’s activity board for times) may be chosen to participate in the daily NARUTO Trivia Game. Everyone wins a prize at the VIZ Media Treasure Trove, close your eyes and grab a coin from the VIZ Media treasure chest to see if you are a lucky winner. Fans can try their luck at the NARUTO Shippuden claw catcher game. Shojo fans can stop at the VAMPIRE KNIGHT photo opportunity area to take one-of-a-kind photos with their favorite characters.
Giveaways in the booth will include free manga samplers, SHONEN JUMP magazine samplers featuring ULTIMO, posters and activity sheets from the VIZ Kids lineup of titles, and much more, while supplies last. Back again this year – the VIZ Media Bling, a fan favorite. The VIZ Media Prize Patrol will be awarding prizes to fans around the convention center caught wearing the colorful VIZ Media beads.
VIZ Media has partnered with several leading game manufacturers to preview anime-related interactive video games throughout the show. On Friday, SEGA will showcase the upcoming BLEACH: The 3rd Phantom for Nintendo DS. Saturday will bring an advance look at NARUTO Shippuden: Legends: Akatsuki Rising for the Sony Playstation Portable from Namco/Bandai Games America. Finally, TOMY will demo NARUTO Shippuden: Clash of Ninja® Revolution III for the Nintendo Wii.
The VIZ Media retail area will once again be a popular destination for fans. The forthcoming NARUTO Shippuden: KAKASHI CHRONICLES anime special will be highlighted with the advance availability of themed merchandise including T-shirts, tote bags and patches. Other pre-street offerings will include selections from the newly announced SHONEN SUNDAY imprint, INUYASHA Vol. 39; SHONEN JUMP MAGAZINE September 2009 issue and ROSARIO+VAMPIRE Vol. 8; from VIZ Signature: 20TH CENTURY BOYS Vol. 4 and PLUTO: URASAWA X TEZUKA Vol. 4; from Shojo Beat: VAMPIRE KNIGHT Vol. 7 and BLACK BIRD Vol. 1; from VIZ Kids: THE LEGEND OF ZELDA Vol. 6 and POKEMON ADVENTURES Vol. 2; from Studio Ghibli Library: THE ART OF PONYO, PONYO FILM COMIC Vol. 1, and STARTING POINT 1976-1996.
Finally, VIZ Media is proud to have 4 titles nominated for 5 awards at the 2009 Will Eisner Industry Awards, considered the Oscars of the comic book industry. NAOKI URASAWA’S MONSTER is nominated in two categories, Best Continuing Series and Best U.S. Edition of International Material – Japan. COWA!, by the renowned Akira Toriyama (also the creator of DRAGON BALL and DRAGON BALL Z), is a contender for Best Publication for Kids. Finally, CAT EYED BOY, created by Kazuo Umezu, and SOLANIN, created by Inio Asano, are also up for consideration for Best U.S. Edition of International Material – Japan. The awards ceremony will be held on Friday, July 24th at 8:30PM at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel, Indigo Ballroom.
“This year’s Comic-Con International promises to be a bigger and better show than in previous years, and we are excited to be a part of the festivities,” says Evelyn Dubocq, Sr. Director, Public Relations. “There is something for everyone with our full line up of fun activities, discussions, in-person appearances and product exclusives from VIZ Media. Each day of this year’s show will be a truly memorable event for new as well as veteran fans!”
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For more information and live Twitter updates on the VIZ Media happenings at Comic-Con, please visit http://www.viz.com/sdcc09/ or follow VIZ_Media on TWITTER.
About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.
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