VIZBlog

VIZ MEDIA MAKES IT A HOLIDAY SEASON OF SHOJO WITH FUN NEW RELEASES

VIZ Media Staff — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:24:00 -0800

VIZ Media presents several new shojo manga titles that fans and gift givers of all types might consider for wish list priority this holiday season.

The releases include THE ART OF GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE †, a collection of lavish drawings and designs from the hit series by famed shojo artist, Arina Tanemura. New manga title, BEAST MASTER, as well as the latest volume of the popular gothic high school drama VAMPIRE KNIGHT, and the VIZBIG omnibus editions of FUSHIGI YUGI and HOT GIMMICK.

“Shojo manga fans have much to look forward to during this year’s holiday season, with a variety of selections that make wonderful gift ideas to suit any budget,” says Gonzalo Ferreyra, Vice President Sales & Marketing, VIZ Media. “Many of these series have dramatically expanded the core Shojo audience, receiving universal renown and acclaim. From VAMPIRE KNIGHT, which has become a national bestseller, to the launch of the wild new manga, BEAST MASTER, and gorgeous new omnibus editions of other shojo favorites, bookstore shelves have never been stocked with so much must-read Shojo manga!!"

See the full Press Release for more information on these titles.

11 Reasons to Read Beast Master

Narasu Rebbapragada — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:00:00 -0800

Beast Master, by Kyousuke Motomi, will win brownie points with shojo lovers, animal lovers, and lovers of a good laugh. Released last week, volume 1 sets up the unusual friendship between Yuiko Kubozuka, an animal lover who freaks out animals, and Leo Aoi, a sweet guy with an unusual wild side. There are lots of reasons to read this series; here are just a few of our favorites:

• You love animals, even the mean ones.

• Animals don't always love you back, though.

• You tend to fall for the guy who's a little rough around the edges.

• You like a guy who's got your back.

• You might have a teeny, little crush on your best guy friend.

• You like high-school comedies, particularly the dark ones.

• You like when the bad guys get what's coming to them.

• You like when the boss man is a bit of a softie.

• You wonder why small fictional towns (Forks, Washington, anyone?) seem to have danger lurking at every turn.

• You like author's notes that explain the artwork in the volume.

• You like when volume 1 leaves you hanging, just a little.

• Stay tuned for volume 2 (the final volume), coming out in February 2010.

BEAST MASTER © 2007 Kyousuke MOTOMI/Shogakukan

RIN-NE Chapter 28 Live

Mike Montesa — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:14:00 -0800

Rinne tracks the source of the strange apparition that has been frightening the students at school. Finding the origin of a problem is one thing, but solving it is another, especially when it involves a romantic miscommunication!

Read chapter 28 of RIN-NE.

Out Today: NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Movie

Ho Lin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:19:00 -0800

Like a nine-tailed fox spirit unleashed upon the land, the NARUTO SHIPPUDEN movie is out today, and it's out everywhere!

DVD: Naturally, we've got the uncut DVD of the movie (both dubbed and subtitled versions) in the VIZ Media store.

iTunes: You can also download the dubbed uncut version of the movie straight from iTunes.

PlayStation Network: To download the dubbed uncut version of the movie from PSN, log in to your account and look under VIDEO --> OWN --> GENRE --> ANIME.

Enjoy the movie, and be sure to chat about it in the naruto.com forums!

FROM THE CREATOR OF TEKKONKINKREET...VIZ MEDIA RELEASES GOGO MONSTER!

VIZ Media Staff — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:04:00 -0800

VIZ Media has announced the upcoming release of Taiyo Matsumoto’s celebrated manga GOGO MONSTER on November 17th. GOGO MONSTER will be published by the company’s VIZ Signature imprint, rated ‘T’ for Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $27.99 U.S. / $36.00 CAN.

Third grader Yuki Tachibana lives in two worlds. In one world, he is a loner ridiculed by his classmates and reprimanded by his teachers for telling stories of supernatural beings that only he can see. In the other world, the supernatural beings vie for power with malevolent spirits who bring chaos into the school, the students' lives, and even nature itself.

See the full Press Release for more information.

INUYASHA MANGA LOOMS LARGER-THAN-LIFE IN NEW VIZBIG EDITION

VIZ Media Staff — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:15:00 -0800

Debuting November 10th is Rumiko Takahashi's original manga series, INUYASHA in new VIZBIG omnibus editions!

Each omnibus edition features three volumes of the original graphic novel series presented in a larger 5-3/4 x 8-5/8 size (larger than the standard 5 x 7-1/2 manga). The new editions serve as comprehensive introductions for new readers to some best-known titles, and a great way for seasoned fans to revisit favorite manga series from a new perspective. The VIZBIG INUYASHA series is also presented in a right-to-left reading format, just like the original manga counterpart.

Read the Press Release for more details.

Naoki Urasawa’s MONSTER ON THE SONY PLAYSTATION® NETWORK’S VIDEO DELIVERY SERVICE

VIZ Media Staff — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:36:00 -0800

VIZ Media has launched Naoki Urasawa’s MONSTER on the PlayStation®Network video delivery service, available exclusively for PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) and PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) entertainment systems. Episodes 1-6 (dubbed) of the animated series are now available for download for $1.99 each via the Network’s VIZ Media Channel page.

What would you do if a child you saved grew up to be a monster? An ice-cold killer is on the loose, and Dr. Kenzo Tenma is the only one who can stop him! Tenma, a brilliant neurosurgeon with a promising future, risks his career to save the life of a critically wounded young boy named Johan. When the boy, now a coldhearted and charismatic young man, reappears nine years later in the midst of a string of unusual serial murders, Tenma must go on the run from the police, who suspect him to be the killer, to find Johan and stop the monster he set loose upon the world. Conspiracies, serial murders, and secret government experiments set against the grim backdrop of the formerly communist Eastern Europe are masterfully woven together in this compelling work of suspense.

For more information, see the full Press Release.

RIN-NE Chapter 27 Live Now

Mike Montesa — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:57:00 -0800

A strange entity is defacing the more artistic members of the student body, leaving them painted and prostrate in the art room. Nothing Rinne, Sakura and Tsubasa can’t handle, right? But what if the angry apparition isn’t a ghost at all?

Read chapter 27 now.

VIZ MEDIA SERVES UP SCIENCE FICTION, ACTION FANTASY, ROMANCE AND JAPANESE CUISINE FOR NEW FOURTH QUARTER MANGA RELEASES

VIZ Media Staff — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:12:00 -0800

VIZ Media has previewed an array of new manga releases scheduled to debut throughout the Fourth Quarter of 2009. The new titles span a diverse range of genres everywhere from science fiction, fantasy/adventure, and crime thrillers to shojo and teenage coming-of-age stories.

Check out the Press Release for information on these titles.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Premieres on Disney XD Tonight

Ho Lin — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:00:00 -0700

NARUTO is ready to make its return to broadcast TV with a two-hour special on the Disney XD channel tonight at 8:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. Central time). NARUTO SHIPPUDEN dubbed episodes 1-4 will be featured tonight, and moving forward, one new episode will premiere each Wednesday, with episode 5 appearing on November 4 at 8:30 p.m. Stay tuned to all the latest NARUTO news and events at naruto.com.

NAOKI URASAWA'S MONSTER Anime, in Full Swing!

Fernando Bueno — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0700

If you’ve been following NAOKI URASAWA'S MONSTER on the SyFy network’s Ani-Monday block, then you are well aware of just how gripping a story it is. (If not, then be sure to download all six episodes on iTunes immediately before next week’s two fresh episodes!) Anyhow, as someone who has read the manga series and is just now experiencing the anime for the first time (I know, right? gasp!), I am so happy at how well the anime “translates” Naoki Urasawa’s manga masterpiece.

I’m talking about capturing the spirit of the manga. I’m talking about accurately portraying its complex characters in dynamic full color. Like MONSTER does.

A story like MONSTER doesn’t rely on over-the-top action, stealthy ninja, or even flying robots. MONSTER is about characters like Dr. Kenzo Tenma, Inspector Lunge and Nina Fortner. MONSTER is not about bloody battles, it’s about facing your deepest fear. MONSTER is about questioning the choices we make in life. Best of all, MONSTER is about to get even better. So if you haven’t been keeping up, now’s the best time to start watching.

Check out the trailer on monster.viz.com, and tune in to SyFy Ani-Monday’s block every week at 11PM PST.

RIN-NE Chapter 26 Live Now

Mike Montesa — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:21:00 -0700

The damashigami that made off with Sakura’s classmates has retreated to his otherworldly lair and Rinne, Sakura and Tsubasa are in hot pursuit. But getting into the hall of the damashigami is going to require an unexpected disguise…

Read chapter 26 of RIN-NE now.

PLUNGE INTO THE FATAL LAST CASE OF LEGENDARY CRIME DETECTIVE IN NEW NOVEL DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd

VIZ Staff — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:14:00 -0700

VIZ Media expands the thrilling psychological suspense of DEATH NOTE with the release of DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd, a new novel featuring the master detective from the hit animated and manga series. DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd is available now from SHONEN JUMP Fiction.

In an alternative continuity in the DEATH NOTE setting, ace detective L's name has been placed in a Death Note. He has twenty-three days to bring a terrorist group to justice, or they will use a deadly new virus to change the world...by killing off most of humanity.

For more information on DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd, see the full Press Release.
For information on the DEATH NOTE series, visit Deathnote.viz.com.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN on PSN

Ho Lin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:56:00 -0700

The first four uncut episodes of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN are now available on PlayStation Network -- just go to the PSN video store and search under TV Shows > Anime > VIZ Media. Until November 4, you can also get a free download of SHIPPUDEN episode 1.

RIN-NE Chapter 25 Live

Mike Montesa — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 9:25:00 -0700

At the school festival, Sakura and her class have set up a café, but when one of her classmates brings in a ghostly customer, things start to get complicated. The ghost seems to be interested in more than just a cup of coffee, and may not be the departed spirit everyone seems to think it is!

Read the new chapter of RIN-NE now on The Rumic World.

Jiraiya Anime Special at NARUTO.com

Ho Lin — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:44:00 -0700

A few weeks ago we featured a one-hour Jiraiya anime special at NARUTO.com (check it out, it's still there, as are all the previous SHIPPUDEN episodes). Today we launched a fresh one-hour Jiraiya special, and if you've read the manga you'll know that these episodes represent a critical point in the NARUTO storyline. Head on over and watch 'em, and share your feedback in the NARUTO discussion forum.

RIN-NE Chapter 24 Live

Mike Montesa — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:35:00 -0700

Aided by Tsubasa, Rinne faces off with the evil spirit Toichi as it tries to take Hanako's soul. Sending Toichi on to the next world is one thing, and if they manage that they still have to help Hanako pass on. What will it take to put her to rest? And is Rinne going to collect that 100,000 yen bounty for Toichi?

Read RIN-NE chapter 24 now.

MONSTER Anime Episodes on iTunes

Ho Lin — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:00:00 -0700

NAOKI URASAWA's MONSTER is playing every Monday night on the Syfy channel, and moving forward, you'll also be able to download the latest episodes from iTunes. This week episodes 1-2 (dubbed) are up. Just search for "Urasawa Monster" in the iTunes store...

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Episodes 5-8 on iTunes

Ho Lin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:50:00 -0700

We're chugging along with placing new downloadable dubbed NARUTO SHIPPUDEN episodes on iTunes, and today episodes 5-8 enter the fray. Of course, episodes 1-4 are still available if you haven't snapped them up yet. And the NARUTO SHIPPUDEN DVD vol. 2 release is just around the corner, as the disc hits streets the last month of October. Stay tuned for further DVD announcements and previews...

Naoki Urasawa's Monster Anime on Syfy in time for Halloween

Fernando Bueno — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:17:00 -0700

Halloween is right around the corner. With it, come the inevitable sugar highs, trick-or-treaters, and pumpkins carved with surgical precision. So what better time to launch the series debut of the Monster anime than now, right?

Starting tonight at 9 PM, you’ll be able to tune in to the SyFy channel’s Ani-Monday block to catch Naoki Urasawa’s manga masterpiece turned anime every Monday night. Better yet, starting tomorrow night, October 13th, you’ll be able to download each episode on iTunes after it airs!

For those of you that may not be familiar with Naoki Urasawa’s Monster, you’re in for a real treat. Monster (the anime) is based on Naoki Urasawa’s thrilling graphic novel series of the same name. I could tell you about all of the awards the series won, but that probably won’t mean much to you. I could also try to describe the series using words like "mystery," “suspense,” “crime drama” and “roller-coaster ride,” but that probably won’t do it justice either. Instead, I’ll leave you with this question: if you could save a young life that could potentially grow up to become a cold, murderous monster, would you do it?

Ha! Trick or treat, indeed.

To watch the Monster anime trailer go to Monster.VIZ.com.

To learn more about the Monster graphic novel series that inspired the anime, go to VIZSignature.com/Monster!

Bleach Widget Update!

Lex — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:31:00 -0700

Just a reminder that you still have time to enter the Rock Out with BLEACH guitar contest! Get our schnazzy BLEACH widget now featuring a Bankai-ed Ichigo from bleach.viz.com.

A Whole Lotta NARUTO Birthday Stuff

Ho Lin — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:00:00 -0700

We're celebrating Naruto's birthday (October 10) over at naruto.com and the SHONEN JUMP website with a bunch of features, including:

Brand-new Naruto character data wallpaper

Naruto birthday wishes from the fans

NARUTO manga series 10th anniversary celebration

Fans' top-rated NARUTO anime episodes

Check 'em out and join the party!

Submit Your Original Comics

Eric Searleman — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:16:00 -0700

Show us what you’ve got. VIZ Media is now accepting submissions and pitches for original comics. Go to www.viz.com/comics for details.

A New Great Read From VIZ Media's Signature Imprint - WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD

VIZ Media Staff — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:23:00 -0700

VIZ Media expands its notable VIZ Signature manga imprint with the publication of Inio Asano’s WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD! on October 20th. The 2-volume series (each sold separately but launch simultaneously) is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and will carry an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN.

A poignant collection of intersecting vignettes depicting twenty-something angst, WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD! explores the various ways that modern life can be at once ridiculous and sublime, terrible and precious, wasted and celebrated. In Volume 1, what begins with a college dropout bored of her mediocre routine soon becomes a fantastic series of stories about the unexpected ways that different lives intersect. Filled with magical realism in the face of the cold reality of daily modern life, at their core these stories are about young people discovering something precious amidst the chaos of existence. Volume 2 explores similar themes including the cruelty of childhood, the delusion of adulthood, the permanence of death, and how people find a way to remain resolute and laugh in the face of reality.

For more information, see the full Press Release.

RIN-NE Chapter 23 is Live!

Mike Montesa — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 9:46:00 -0700

The curse Hanako-san of the Toilet has brought to Sakura’s school is getting worse, and Tsubasa’s brought in some firepower upgrades. Meanwhile, Rinne learns that the price of the evil spirit Toichi’s power may be more than Hanako of the Toilet is willing to pay!

Read chapter 23 now!

INUYASHA THE FINAL ACT Begins

Mike Montesa — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:47:00 -0700

Well, how about that? Good things come to those who wait, eh? And I know all of you INUYASHA fans have waited long enough for the final episodes of the INUYASHA anime. But you won't have to wait for them any longer because VIZ Media is streaming the subtitled version of INUYASHA THE FINAL ACT on ShonenSunday.com/anime and on Hulu.com the same day each episode airs in Japan.

The same. Exact. Day.

And on top of that, FREE. Pretty darned good deal, IMHO.

Stuff like this just doesn’t happen with the snap of your fingers. It takes a tremendous amount of effort from a dedicated team of people working to extremely tight deadlines to coordinate an international effort like this. I know the crew up in the Animation department has been working like frenzied beavers to make this happen, and my hat is off to them. Getting RIN-NE out simultaneously with the Japan release is a hectic job, so I certainly appreciate what our Animation and Licensing teams have accomplished here.

And if you're looking to catch up on the preceding series, INUYASHA, check out these classic episodes on ShonenSunday.com/anime. Head to Shonen Sunday's INUYASHA series page for information on buying books, DVDs, and digital downloads. You can head to The Rumic World for synopsis information and a character guide too.

I’m gonna go have a look now myself. I’ll put my reactions up in a future post.

One more thing, we also have an online preview of Mermaid Saga, a great horror series by Rumiko Takahashi. Check it out.

-- Mike Montesa, RIN-NE editor

INUYASHA THE FINAL ACT: Watch The Trailer!

Narasu Rebbapragada — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:52:00 -0700

See you Saturday on ShonenSunday.com/anime for the debut episode.

Watch the Inuyasha Anime. All of It.

Narasu Rebbapragada — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:54:00 -0700

You may have been catching some episodes of Inuyasha on Hulu as we've been putting them up over the past few weeks, but now you can head over to our new Shonen Sunday anime page to watch all of them. That's right, all 167 episodes of Inuyasha. That's almost three straight days of anime watching.

Hint: Be sure to watch all the way through the end of episode 167 for a special surprise. What better way to get ready for the first episode of Inuyasha The Final Act, streaming this Saturday?

DVD Releases for November 2009

VIZ Staff — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:05:00 -0700

Check out the VIZ Media DVD's due out in November!
Everything from new NARUTO, BLEACH, NANA and POKeMON - new volumes, new seasons, new box sets!

Read the Press Release for all the details.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN DVD Vol. 1 Now Available!

Ho Lin — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:19:00 -0700

You knew it all along, of course, and marked your calendars -- but just in case you forgot, the NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Vol. 1 DVD is out now. Uncut, unedited, in glorious dubbed and subtitled versions. Enjoy...

And for a chance to win a free SHIPPUDEN DVD plus other prizes, we've got a few contests going on at naruto.com: a "Make a Naruto Birthday Wish" contest and a drawing to win tickets to the U.S. premiere of the SHIPPUDEN movie!

Chapter 22 of RIN-NE is Live

Mike Montesa — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:08:00 -0700

Ever since a childhood incident, Sakura Mamiya has had the power to see ghosts. Now her life has gotten a lot more complicated with the arrival of her mysterious classmate Rinne, who seems to know a thing or two about detecting ghosts himself!

When a huge reward is offered for capturing a powerful spirit, Rinne just can't say no. The trouble is, there's more to this ghost story than meets the eye, and Rinne and Sakura find out that some urban legends may actually be true!

Read the chapter now!

Inuyasha The Final Act Starts Streaming October 3!

Annette Roman — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:41:00 -0700

Fans at New York Anime Festival found out this past weekend, and now we're excited to share the news with loyal Inuyasha fans everywhere!

(Feudal drum roll please...) Starting on October 3, the English subtitled version of Inuyasha The Final Act will stream in the U.S. on our Shonen Sunday website and on Hulu.com — all within mere hours of the original air time in Japan!!!

Of course, if you can’t wait the few scant days till October 3 to start digging into the story, go straight to the source and pick up Inuyasha manga volumes 36 through 40, already on sale.

Oh, and if you missed the first part of the Inuyasha anime (for shame!), go out and get the extras-packed DVDs to prepare yourself for the big day. Or, log on to ShonenSunday.com/anime on starting Wednesday to catch all 167 previously available episodes. Hulu is streaming through episode 160 right now.

Let's see. 167 episodes at 24 minutes each, that comes out to...67 hours of watching...divided by 5 days...which comes out to almost 13 and ½ hours of watching per day. You can do it!

Oh! I gotta go...

Got some, um, work to do.

Really...

-- Annette Roman, Inuyasha manga editor

Ten Saga Updates on the One Piece Official Manga Site!

Lex — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:42:00 -0700

If you missed International Talk Like a Pirate day this past weekend, worry not my fellow Straw Hat Pirates! We have posted up to ten (yes, 10) East Blue Saga updates as of today to the official One Piece manga site.

Now, I could go into gummy details about Luffy, Nami, Zolo and crew, but I'd much rather have you watch the motion manga and read the latest update, Against the Fish-Men!, for yourself.

And as always, check back every Tuesday for the newest updates on onepiece.viz.com or pick up the latest Volume 21 available now!

Haikasoru.com Revamped!

Nick Mamatas — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:30:00 -0700

Hey hey Haikasorunauts, notice anything different? We cleaned up the front page of Haikasoru.com and added pages and excerpts for our latest science fiction books!

Check out:

Battle Royale The Novel, a new edition with revised text, a new introduction by Max Allan Collins, an interview with filmmaker Kinji Fukasaku, and a twenty-two page afterword by author Koushun Takami. This is his longest published work since the novel itself!

The paperback edition of the Batchelder-award winning Brave Story by Miyuki Miyabe!

Also by Miyabe, Haikasoru’s first hardcover: The Book of Heroes. (Robert W. Chambers fans note that the King in Yellow is the baddie in this fantasy novel.)

And last but not least, the thrilling military SF adventure, Yukikaze! Yes, this is that Yukikaze, the one which launched the fame anime.

Check out this interview with me in podcast form for more of the skinny on Haikasoru!

VIZ MEDIA BRINGS THE ANIMATED SHOJO TITLE – HONEY AND CLOVER – TO FANS IN A SPECIAL UNCUT DVD BOX SET

VIZ Media Staff — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:55:00 -0700

VIZ Media will release the first Uncut DVD Box Set for the animated Shojo title, HONEY AND CLOVER, on September 22, 2009. The 3-disc set featuring 13 episodes will be rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and will carry a MSRP of $59.90 U.S. / $85.99 CAN.

Based on the popular manga series created by Chica Umino, HONEY AND CLOVER is a romantic comedy about a group of art school students who try to find their way through college. But when an innocent and talented 19-year-old girl enters their lives, things get a lot more complicated as love triangles result.

For more information, see the full Press Release or visit honeyandclover.viz.com.

VIZ MEDIA RELEASES THE TEENAGE NINJA ACTION ADVENTURE OF NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE ON DVD THIS FALL

VIZ Media Staff — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:15:00 -0700

VIZ Media has announced the DVD release of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE on November 10th. The new film is the fourth in the NARUTO movie series, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens, and will have an MSRP of $24.92 U.S. / $35.99 CAN.

In the newest animated feature film adventure, a powerful spirit that once threatened to destroy the world is back! Naruto's mission is to protect a priestess named Shion, who is the only one with the power to seal away the monster. She also has the uncanny ability to predict someone's fate. Her latest prediction: Naruto will soon die. Naruto's only hope is to abandon Shion, but that's not Naruto's style. He decides to face her fatal prediction head-on--and die!

Full Press Release

For more information on NARUTO Shippuden, and to view NARUTO Shippuden episodes (subtitled) please visit the official NARUTO website at www.naruto.com.

RIN-NE Chapter 21 Live Now

Mike Montesa — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:02:00 -0700

Chapter 21: Sakura, Rinne and friends go to the amusement park for their date, in hopes of helping the ghost of Usui-kun pass on to the afterlife. Rinne does his best to stay focused on the job, but will he end up having a good time in spite of himself?

Visit the The Rumic World for past RIN-NE chapters as well as character and story information.

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE POKÉMON POSTER COLLECTION

VIZ Media — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:15:00 -0700

VIZ Media will delight young as well as adult fans with the release of the company’s first POKÉMON poster collection today!

Packed with 11 full color fold-out posters, this large (16” x 22”) edition is a must-have for any fan of Pikachu and his friends. A variety of favorite characters from the POKÉMON DIAMOND AND PEARL animation seasons, from Pikachu and Piplup to Chimchar and Turtwig, are all featured.

Check out the official Press Release for more details.

September Shojo Beat Anime @ NEW PEOPLE, San Francisco

Amy Mar — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:57:00 -0700

September marks the debut of Shojo Beat Home Video! Join us at two very special anime celebrations, hosted at NEW PEOPLE, San Francisco's Japanese shopping and entertainment center.

Wednesday, September 16: NANA Shojo Beat Anime Night
Tuesday, September 22: Honey and Clover Shojo Beat Anime Night
Get your tickets now!

We're partnering with NEW PEOPLE to show both the live action movies and the first episodes of the anime. Come to meet other Shojo Beat fans and dish about the hottest new titles. We'll have free SB swag and a great poster giveaway at the end.

New Books Debut In September And Push The Boundaries Of Japanese Science Fiction

VIZ Media — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:26:00 -0700

VIZ Media has announced today the forthcoming release on September 15th of ZOO and USURPER OF THE SUN, the latest two books to be published by its Haikasoru imprint. Haikasoru is the first imprint based in the U.S. dedicated to Japanese science fiction and fantasy in translation.

Otsuichi's ZOO has been called, “haunting, emotional, and thoroughly engrossing” by Brian Keene, author of the best-selling horror novel, The Rising. Author Paul Levinson, author of The Plot to Save Socrates, described USURPER OF THE SUN as, “a compellingly poetic first contact story, gleaming with digital savvy, appealing human detail, and alien peril. Think Arthur C. Clarke meets Haruki Murakami, and gaze at Mercury in the sunset and sunrise with new awe.” Haikasoru is the first imprint based in the U.S. dedicated to Japanese science fiction and fantasy in translation.

For more information, please see the full Press Release or www.haikasoru.com.