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Press Releases

All press releases are posted as-is from companies and industry professionals. All press releases can be sent to lissa (a) kuriousity.ca. Kuriousity staff reserve the right not to post PR we do not feel is relevant to our site's readers.

PR: Viz Calls Out To Artists To Submit Work For Art For Hope

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, August 18, 2011

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VIZ MEDIA CALLS OUT TO DIGITAL ARTISTS TO SUBMIT WORK FOR ART FOR HOPE TO BENEFIT ONGOING JAPAN DISASTER RELIEF

Unique Art Book Project In Partnership With Autodesk Will Curate Digital Artwork Created With Autodesk SketchBook® Software

VIZ Media reaches out to visual, graphic and manga/comic-inspired artists to submit original work and participate in ART FOR HOPE, a special limited edition digital art book anthology, to be sold through VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App for iOS devices, with 100% of net proceeds supporting ongoing disaster relief efforts in Japan. Artists interested in submitting work to be considered for the collection can get the full details at www.viz.com/artforhope.

The unique project was launched in partnership with Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK), a leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software, and was initially announced at the 2011 Comic-Con International. All of the artwork for the ART FOR HOPE collection will be rendered using Autodesk SketchBook® digital paint and drawing software applications.

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PR: Japanese Manga Portal Website JManga.com Launches

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, August 17, 2011

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Japanese Manga Portal Website JManga.com Has Launched in North America

Japan¹s Digital Comic Association (*1), comprised of 39 prominent Japanese manga publishers, has launched JManga.com, the DCA¹s new manga portal website, in North America. The plan to launch JManga.com was also announced at a JManga panel and industry release reception held at Comic-Con International San Diego on July 22nd 2011.

JManga.com provides online manga for sale by chapter and volume, made purchasable using a monthly point subscription system, free previews available to be read by all, as well as information regarding manga currently published in North America. JManga.com also offers special feature content regarding manga culture, such as manga artist interviews, hoping to close the gap between the manga fans, authors and publishers.

JManga.com launches with a couple hundred titles including such diverse titles as; NARUTO, Kekkaishi, Crayon Shinchan, Devil King, Cigarette Kisses, Dragon Girl, Tujiurauri, Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru, Young-kun, ADEKAN, Manga Science, and many more new to the North American market. JManga plans to update their catalog every Tuesday, increasing to a few thousand titles within the next year and onto 10,000 by 2013.

The JManga Portal aims to become a hub to unite readers worldwide more dynamically than ever before providing readers and fans a platform to read manga, interact with one another via forums and other social features both within the site and on staple social networking sites such as Facebook, while at the same time providing a direct link to the artists and publishers that make manga a reality.

Read more…

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PR: Viz Media Debuts The Art of Vampire Knight

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, August 17, 2011

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VIZ MEDIA DEBUTS
THE ART OF VAMPIRE KNIGHT

New Hardcover Edition Features Captivating Artwork From The Bestselling Manga Series By Matsuri Hino

VIZ Media invites fans to savor the lavish, gothic-inspired illustrations of manga (graphic novel) creator Matsuri Hino in THE ART OF VAMPIRE KNIGHT, scheduled for release on September 6th. The new hardcover edition will carry an MSRP of $24.99 U.S./$28.99 CAN.

THE ART OF VAMPIRE KNIGHT is an ideal companion to the bestselling manga series, and contains your favorite images in color plus never-before-seen artwork in the United States. The new book features an extensive character gallery with author comments, a how-to tutorial, and an exclusive full-color VAMPIRE KNIGHT poster.

Cross over into this mysterious and dangerous world of vampires with the lush artwork of Matsuri Hino. VAMPIRE KNIGHT takes readers to Cross Academy, which is attended by two groups of students: the Day Class and the Night Class. At twilight, when the students of the Day Class return to their dorms, they cross paths with the Night Class on their way to school. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the Guardians of the school, protecting the Day Class from the Academy’s dark secret: the Night Class is full of vampires!

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Shoujo Beat, Vampire Knight, Viz Media

PR: Digital Manga Guild Launches First Title on eManga.com

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Monday, August 15, 2011

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Tired of Waiting for Love Now Available Online!

Gardena, CA (August 15, 2011) – Digital Manga Inc. is proud to announce the release of its very first manga title, Tired of Waiting for Love, under the Digital Manga Guild initiative. This first title launch is in conjunction with Japanese publisher, Taiyo Tosho, and localized by the Kawaii Neko group. You can purchase and read this exciting manga now at eManga.com.

The Digital Manga Guild (DMG), first announced at Yaoi Con 2010, is a collaboration between Digital Manga, Inc., Japanese publishers, and a community of localizers to produce hundreds of manga titles for online distribution . This revolutionary alliance breaks down old systems, allowing a flood of untapped manga content from participating Japanese publishers, to reach the hands of hungry manga fans everywhere. Taiyoh Tosho, a premiere Japanese yaoi publisher and long time licensor to DMP’s June imprint, is one of the first publishers to support DMG. Localizing group, Kawaii Neko is one of the first groups activated to work on titles for DMG. You can read more about DMG and Kawaii Neko group in this recent interview at Publisher’s weekly and at The Digital Manga Guild website.

Tired of Waiting for Love, written and illustrated by yaoi fan favorite duo Aida Saki and Yugi Yamada, is about yakuza Kyousuke Sawaragi. Having been sentenced to five years in prison for dealing drugs, he just wants to finish his term and start a normal life. After parole, when he runs into former cellmate Shuuya, he’s in no hurry to renew their acquaintance. Fate seems to have other ideas, the yakuza and Shuuya repeatedly cross his path. Can he really turn his back on all of it, especially if it holds his one chance at finding true love?

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi, DM Guild, DMP

PR: August Sizzles With New Digital Releases for VizManga.com

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, August 4, 2011

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AUGUST SIZZLES WITH NEW DIGITAL RELEASES FOR VIZMANGA.COM AND THE VIZ MANGA APP FOR iPAD, iPHONE AND iPOD TOUCH

The First Half Of August Features The Debut Of OISHINBO And WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD!; Updates To 22 Popular Series

VIZ Media delivers even more new digital manga (graphic novel) fun for the first-half of August as the company announces a pair of new titles that will be available on VIZManga.com and for digital download on the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad™, iPhone™ and iPod™ touch.

The latest round of updates features the debut of OISHINBO, the appetizing series about Japanese gourmet cooking and cuisine, as well as the launch of WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD!, Inio Asano’s poignant collection of vignettes depicting twenty-something angst, on August 8th.

Updates for the first-half of August are further augmented by new additions to 22 existing VIZ Media manga series, including AI ORE! Vol. 2 and THE STORY OF SAIUNKOKU Vol. 4, launching digitally with their print counterparts’ national release.

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Fushigi Yugi, Shoujo Beat, Vampire Knight, Viz Media

PR: Animaritime 2011 A Sunny Success With 1200+ Attendees

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, July 28, 2011

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Moncton, NB, July 21, 2011 – With 2011’s event behind them, Animaritime’s staff is excited to announce it was another successful year of anime, gaming and cosplay. The three day event held over Canada Day weekend saw over 1200 individuals in attendance and raised thousands for the IWK Health Centre.

The event broke single-day records from past events with over 800 attendees processed within a couple hours of the convention opening early Friday afternoon. By the time doors closed on Sunday the organizers greeted 1268 anime and gaming fans.

“We couldn’t be happier with this year’s turnout and the money raised for the IWK. All the staff, volunteers, guests and attendees were amazing – we’re lucky to always work with such a fantastic group here in the Maritimes!”

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Animaritime, Canada, Conventions

PR: Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys Wins a 2011 Eisner Award

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, July 28, 2011

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VIZ MEDIA’S NAOKI URASAWA’S 20th CENTURY BOYS
WINS A 2011 EISNER AWARD

Manga Masterpiece Recognized With The Comic Book Industry’s Most Prestigious Award

San Francisco, CA, July 28, 2011 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, is proud to announce that NAOKI URASAWA’S 20th CENTURY BOYS was recognized with an Eisner Award in the Best U.S. Edition of International Material – Asia category during award ceremonies held at the recent Comic-Con International event in San Diego, CA. NAOKI URASAWA’S 20th CENTURY BOYS is published in North America by VIZ Media’s Signature imprint. Volume 17 of the series will be released in August.

20th CENTURY BOYS is the story of a group of boys who try to save the world. Humanity, having faced extinction at the end of the 20th century, would not have entered the new millennium if it weren’t for them. In 1969, during their youth, they created a symbol. In 1997, as the coming disaster slowly starts to unfold, that symbol returns.

For Kenji, a simple convenience store manager who once dreamed of becoming a rock ‘n’ roll musician, a host of memories from his past come rushing back when one of his childhood friends mysteriously commits suicide. Could this new death be related to the rise of a bizarre new cult that’s been implicated in several other murders and disappearances? Determined to dig deeper, Kenji reunites with some of his old buddies in the hope of learning the truth behind it all.

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: 20th Century Boys, Viz Media, Viz Signature

PR: Viz Media Launches VizManga.com!

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Friday, July 22, 2011

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VIZ MEDIA LAUNCHES VIZMANGA.COM

Extension of VIZ Media’s Digital Platform Expands Manga Audience to All Web Users in U.S. and Canada

San Francisco and San Diego, CA, July 22, 2011 – VIZ Media, the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in the North America, announced the launch of VIZManga.com at their 25th Anniversary Party last night in San Diego during the annual Comic-Con International convention. The website joins VIZ Media’s existing digital manga platform and launched with 40 series currently available on the VIZ MANGA App for iOS devices, including the wildly popular titles NARUTO, BLEACH, BLUE EXORCIST, OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB and VAMPIRE KNIGHT. With this expansion of the platform, fans can browse and access their digital manga from VIZManga.com and through the VIZ Manga Apps for the iPad™ and iPhone™/iPod™ touch. With one account, registered users will be able to view their purchases across even more devices than ever.

“Our digital publishing team wants manga to be available to as many fans as possible, no matter what device or digital experience people prefer,” said Brian Piech, Vice President, Digital Publishing. “Making our extensive library of the best titles direct from Japan available on VIZManga.com is a natural extension of our current VIZ MANGA apps available on all iOS devices. One purchase can now be read across multiple devices.”

VIZ Media’s digital manga platform allows for universal access for fans from their iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, or now, VIZManga.com. Pricing for manga titles on the web will be identical to the VIZ MANGA app. The first chapter of all manga titles will be available as a free preview. Through July 31st, all Volume 1 manga titles will be 40% off.

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Shoujo Beat, Vampire Knight, Viz Media

PR: Square Enix Manga Store Offers Free Volumes of FMA and Other

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, July 21, 2011

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SQUARE ENIX MANGA STORE to Offer Free Volume of Fullmetal Alchemist and Other Popular Digital Comics

Los Angeles, California (July 21, 2011) – Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix®) today announced a special offer to be conducted at its North American digital manga distribution site, the SQUARE ENIX MANGA STORE. For a limited time, eligible users will be able to download the first volume of numerous popular comic series free of charge.

Since its December 2010 launch, the SQUARE ENIX MANGA STORE has blazed new trails in PC-based digital manga distribution, offering over one hundred volumes of manga in pay-to-view streaming format and achieving tremendous popularity among manga fans. The free manga offer is part of a comprehensive effort to introduce Square Enix manga to an ever-wider audience—an effort that will also feature an official Facebook page opened in June 2011, and an exhibit at the San Diego Comic-Con to be held from July 20–24, 2011.

All attendees of the Comic-Con as well as all users who “Like” the official Facebook page will be eligible to receive the digital edition first volume (a $5.99 value) of any one of fifteen bestselling Square Enix comic series including FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST, SOUL EATER and Black Butler available for purchase at the store.

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Black Butler, Fullmetal Alchemist, Yen Press

PR: Project-H Launches in August!

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, July 20, 2011

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Gardena, CA (July 20, 2011) – Digital Manga inc. is proud to announce the launch of our latest imprint: PROJECT-H!

Project-H is a special publishing imprint, http://www.projecth-books.com/, powered by 801 Media. The titles are explicit Seinen Hentai manga with the age rating M 18+. The first three titles to be released are Riosuke Yasui’s Shocking Pink! (Aug 24th), Hiroshi Itaba’s Three P (Oct 20th), and KUON Michiyoshi’s Embrace and Bloom (Nov23rd)!

Pre-orders for the two books are available now through Akadot Retail, akadot.com, and for wholesale through Digital Manga Direct , http://www.dmd-sales.com/

SHOCKING PINK! written and illustrated by Riosuke Yasui – Rated M (Ages 18+), 5″ x 7.2″, MSRP: $17.95 US, $19.99 CAD, Available: August 24, 2011

*Available for Pre-order Now!

When a girl claiming to be the descendent of Lui Bei, the founding emperor of the Shu Han state of the ancient Three Kingdoms of China, approaches you because your name is almost identical to said emperor’s chancellor and prize strategist, what is a boy to do? Especially when she is very attractive and really, really, really wants you to become her royal strategist as she carves out her destiny? Join in the romp of course, and enjoy the delights offered along the way!

THREE P written and illustrated by Hiroshi Itaba – Rated M (Ages 18+), 5″ x 7.2″, MSRP: $17.95 US, $19.99 CAD, Available: October 20, 2011

*Available for Pre-order TBA

Come and check out the 3 sizzling hot college co-eds: Reika, Sara and Mizume. Reika – she looks conservative, like a girl next door, but watch out! She’s the wild one! She always gets what she wants! Sara – men just don’t know how to say “no” to her pretty cute face! And Mizume – is the beautiful one and she plays hard-to-get with men. These gal pals have no secrets from each other! They talk about their boyfriend problems, sex problems and compare notes! What would you do if you found out that your boyfriend is cheating on you? Would you be mad or would ask them if you can join them for a threesome? They’ll show you how to have fun! This oneshot contains 9 short stories of these 3 co-eds having lots of naughty sex!

EMBRACE & BLOOM written and illustrated by Kuon Michiyoshi – Rated M (Ages 18+), 5″ x 7.2″, MSRP: $17.95 US, $19.99 CAD, Available: November 23, 2011

*Available for Pre-order TBA
This anthology features works about hot & steamy sexcapade of nine delicious young ladies who aim to please and be pleased. Lots of erotic scenes to get your senses tickled! Come and check out which one of the nine you like the best!

*Pre-orders available through Digital Manga Direct, DMI’s Publisher’s Direct program. Please visit our website at www.dmd-sales.com to make an account and an order.

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: DMP, Project-H