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Author Archive for Lissa Pattillo

Viz Media Bundles Kids’ Comics Under New Imprint, Perfect Square

By Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, July 18, 2013

As part of their SDCC presence,Viz Media announced via press release yesterday that they’ve launched a new imprint for their kids’ targeted content – Perfect Square.

Manga series included under Perfect Square include the Legend of Zelda and Pokemon manga series, plus Happy Happy Clover. It also includes western media licenses such as UglyDoll, Ben 10 and Winx Club, and Viz Media’s newly acquired license for Bravest Warriors, which is a very fun series from the creators of Adventure Time. The new imprint already has a website set up at PerfectSquare.com.

The creation of this imprint isn’t likely to really impact Viz Media books as we know them. The majority of each manga series included have already been released under the previous imprint, VizKids. The only thing I see changing is book packaging which will now have the new Perfect Square logo on it. And who wouldn’t want that? It shows such excellent taste in colour choice – Kuriousity-approved! My only worry is that with the Pokemon manga on-going, we’ll suddenly have the collector-dreaded mismatch between spines when/if the books suddenly switch over to the Perfect Square logo mid-release.

Along with a cute logo, I like that Viz is promoting Perfect Square as having books “aimed at kids and “kids at heart.”” As someone who purchases all of their Pokemon manga and Legend of Zelda books, it’s nice to be acknowledged as a reader of comics which are appropriate and fun for all, regardless of age.

Along with the adjustment to their print titles, Viz Media will also soon be launching a smartphone & tablet app dedicated to their Perfect Square series.

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Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: Happy Happy Clover, Legend of Zelda, Manga, Pokemon

PR: Viz Media Launches Perfect Square Kids Imprint

By Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, July 18, 2013

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VIZ MEDIA EXPANDS CHILDREN’S PUBLISHING INITIATIVE WITH NEW PERFECT SQUARE IMPRINT

New Brand Delivers “Squarely Perfect Storytelling” And Will Launch BRAVEST WARRIORS Books And Be New Home Of Popular Kids Comics and Manga Titles

San Francisco, CA, July 17, 2013 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga, graphic novels and anime in North America, has launched a brand new comprehensive publishing imprint aimed at kids and “kids at heart.”

The Perfect Square imprint was unveiled at the recent 2013 Comic-Con International and will be focused on delivering comics, manga (graphic novels) and other children’s books with an emphasis on strong storytelling, eye-popping graphics, empowering themes, and a dash of irreverence, that captures the imagination of a whole new generation.

Among the original publishing projects Perfect Square plans to debut in 2014 will be books based on BRAVEST WARRIORS, the popular animated science fiction/action/adventure series created by Pendleton Ward (creator of Adventure Time) and produced by Frederator Studios. The animated comedy set in the far future follows the adventures of four teenaged heroes-for-hire as they warp through the universe to save adorable aliens using the power of their emotions. Since its debut November 2012, the Shorty Award-winning Bravest Warriors season 1 has averaged more than 1.5 million views per episode on Frederator’s innovative YouTube-funded channel Cartoon Hangover. Season 2 of Bravest Warriors will debut in fall 2013, and is heralded by five one-minute mini-sodes beginning in August.

“Frederator is honored to have VIZ Media join our team of Cartoon Hangover licensees and help BRAVEST WARRIORS leap from the digital world into the physical one with the new titles from Perfect Square,” says Fred Seibert, CEO and Executive Producer, Frederator Studios.

The Perfect Square imprint will also offer a wide range of original graphic novel series including HELLO KITTY®, MAX STEEL, BEN 10: OMNIVERSE, UGLYDOLLS, MONSUNO: COMBAT CHAOS, MAMESHIBA and MR. MEN LITTLE MISS™. Popular manga titles published by the VIZ Kids imprint, including POKÉMON and THE LEGEND OF ZELDA, round out the catalog. A digital component for the new imprint has also been announced with the launch of the Perfect Square App, which has titles available for the Apple iPad® and iPad® Mini.

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Perfect Square, Viz Media

On The Shelf: July 17th, 2013

By Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, July 17, 2013

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The last volume of Sailor Moon is out this week! Noooooo… … Well, at least until the two volumes of short story extras come out. But still, very sad.

Another classic is getting a new go, fresh from the start – Lone Wolf and Cub. The length and odd format of this series has always been a deterrent to me, but now at a larger trim size and in omnibus format, I may finally read one of the longest running manga series in North America.

07-Ghost (Vol.05) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
I’ll Give It My All…Tomorrow (Vol.05) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Limit (Vol.06) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Lone Wolf and Cub Omnibus (Vol.01) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Missions of Love (Vol.04) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Sailor Moon (Vol.12) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]

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Categories: On The Shelf
Tags: 07 Ghost, Dark Horse, I'll Give It My All, Kodansha Comics, Limit, Long Wolf and Cub, Missions of Love, Sailor Moon, SIG Ikki, Vertical Inc, Viz Media

Digital Manga Goes Big With Acquisition of the Tezuka Library

By Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, July 16, 2013

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One of the biggest pieces of manga news at Anime Expo earlier this month came from Digital Manga Publishing, who announced that they’ve called official dibs on Osamu Tezuka’s entire available library for publication – to put it simply.

I’m rarely surprised to see companies grab onto a Tezuka title, but having someone step up to lay claim on them all was a bit of a shocker. There aren’t a lot of details on what this deal – which partners Digital Manga with Tezuka Productions – entails, but we do know it encompasses both series that have never been published in English and titles that have.

This, of course, is no small task. As the well-earned bearer of the title God of Manga, Tezuka has (according to Wikipedia) over 700 titles under his beat, equating to thousands and thousands and thousands of individual pages. Digital Manga couldn’t confirm any specific series, despite the umbrella of ‘all’, but did say they were now the official distributor of his titles in English.

Digital Manga has released a few of Osamu Tezuka’s titles including Unico, Barbara and Swallowing the Earth. The majority of Tezuka titles released in English have been done by Vertical Inc. including Princess Knight, Black Jack and Buddha. Viz Media previously released a few Tezuka books, including Phoenix, while Dark Horse published series including Astro Boy and Metropolis. Recently a new company, Kansai Club, had a successful Kickstarter to fund Tezuka’s The Crater, which they had hoped would be the first of more Tezuka titles they release. Might not be so after this.

Currently the majority of titles will be released digitally – likely through DMP’s website, eManga – while the occasional book may see print via more Kickstarter campaigns. I’ll cross that moral-highroad again when we come to it. Digital Manga has said that any title already released in English will not be considered for print editions. Fortunately there’s little shortage of those previously printed (Amazon CAN/US) that are still available, and more still upcoming such as Vertical Inc’s release of Twin Knight.

So where does that leave Tezuka readers now? Had Vertical Inc. not already stated they had no plans to license more older titles, I’d lament this DMP news as it’d mean no more Tezuka titles in Vertical’s more than capable hands. Now, however, there is some comfort in knowing that many of Tezuka’s yet-to-be-published work could yet be made be available in English. With the majority of his best known titles already released in English, it’s also good that his titles now rest in the hands of a company with a fairly well established digital distribution set-up. I don’t see a market big enough to support print for most of the titles we’ve yet to see, and boy are there a lot of them, so digital seems the way to go. Plus, as much as I love adding to the bookshelves, the potential for hundreds and hundreds more from one creator? I think that’s a job better suited to my iPad.

Digital Manga says more news about this massive acquisition will be coming in the next few weeks, so we’ll see what new details and title-specific news comes with it.

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Categories: Licensing, News
Tags: Conventions, Digital, DMP, Manga, Osamu Tezuka

PR: Seven Seas Launches on Air, Land and Sea

By Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, July 16, 2013

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LOS ANGELES, July 15, 2013 – Seven Seas Entertainment is delighted to announce a trio of military-themed manga series, each focusing on a different aspect of combat. The three licenses are Strike Witches, which zeroes in on aerial dogfights, Girls und Panzer which targets terrestrial tank battles, and Arpeggio of Blue Steel, which spotlights submarine and battleship duels. All three action-packed series are slated for publication in 2014.

Strike Witches (story by Shimade Fumikane, art by Tanaka Yuuki)

Strike Witches reimagines World War II as a confrontation between allied human forces and invading aliens, pitting super-powered human girls against alien aircraft. Strike Witches combines the popular “dieselpunk” genre with moe-styled characters.

Strike Witches has become a massive franchise, spanning novels, manga, video games, anime and other merchandising. The franchise has received two anime seasons, along with a movie that premiered in Japan last year. North American anime distributor FUNimation has released both seasons on home-video.

Strike Witches: Maidens in the Sky Vol. 1 will be released in February 2014. Volume 2 will follow in April 2014, and further related titles in the Strike Witches franchise will be released in summer and fall.

Girls und Panzer (story by Seisaku Iinkai, art by Saitaniya Ryouichi)

Girls und Panzer is part military tactics, part cute-girls-doing-cute-things…in tanks! Girls und Panzer brings an immensely entertaining experience to readers, juxtaposing an all-girls academy with a military backdrop.

Girls und Panzer has been adapted into an anime, which aired last fall in Japan and is currently streaming on Crunchyroll. In addition, Sentai Filmworks licensed the anime and will release it on home-video later this year. The anime has also spawned a theatrical animated film, which is set to debut in 2014.

Seven Seas will publish the first volume of the Girls und Panzer manga series in June 2014, with volume two to follow in September 2014.

In Fall, 2014, Seven Seas will launch the series prequel Girls und Panzer: Little Army.

Arpeggio of Blue Steel (story & art by Ark Performance)

Arpeggio of Blue Steel is set in the near-future, where humans must wage a war of survival against a mysterious invading force whose battleships are sentient girls. Humanity’s only hope is to launch its own sentient superweapon: a girl able to transform into a deadly submarine.

Arpeggio of Blue Steel, known in Japan as Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio, has recently received an anime adaptation, which is currently in production from renowned animation-studio SANZIGEN.

Arpeggio of Blue Steel is a beautiful, yet stark manga that displays humanity’s courage against overwhelming odds, and is sure to appeal to fans of Attack on Titan.

Volume 1 of Arpeggio of Blue Steel will be released in July 2014 and volume 2 will follow in October 2014.

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Seven Seas

PR: SuBLime Debuts Three New Yaoi Series

By Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, July 16, 2013

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GLOBAL YAOI MANGA PUBLISHER SuBLime DELIVERS STEAMY SUMMER LOVIN’ WITH THE LAUNCH OF THREE NEW SERIES, SLEEPING MOON, FALSE MEMORIES, AND HIDE AND SEEK

Time Travel, Unexpected Reunions And Romantic Trysts Heat Up Summertime Reading

San Francisco, CA, July 15, 2013 – SuBLime, the global yaoi manga (graphic novel) publishing initiative between VIZ Media and Japan’s Animate, Ltd. (Animate), heats up summer reading for yaoi fans with the North American debut of creator Kano Miyamoto’s SLEEPING MOON, Isaku Natsume’s FALSE MEMORIES, and Yaya Sakuragi’s HIDE AND SEEK; all three available at retailers now. Each series is rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers and carries an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $14.99 CAN.

A digital version of FALSE MEMORIES will also be available for an MSRP of $5.99 U.S. / CAN each and will offer fans digital access to the debut volume in two ways on SuBLimeManga.com – a DRM-free downloadable PDF that is viewable on any enabled eReader device and computer, as well as via the online manga viewer found on the web site.

In Kano Miyamoto’s SLEEPING MOON, in order to solve the mystery of a rumored curse that brings early death to the male descendants in his lineage, Akihiko Odagawa goes back to stay in his family’s ancestral home. One night, he experiences a time slip that lands him 100 years in the past! There he meets Eitaro, a student from the Meiji Period who is also trying to solve the same mystery. Bridging the gap between the past and the present, the two men traverse time and space as they work together to unravel the family’s secret.

SLEEPING MOON creator Kano Miyamoto has developed over a dozen yaoi manga series, several of which have been published internationally. Her previous English language releases also include Say Please, Two of Hearts, and Lovers and Souls. She has also published over two dozen independent comics (doujinshi) under the penname “Curve.”

Creator Isaku Natsume’s FALSE MEMORIES offers a romantic story of a long lost high school romance that is rekindled. Although they were once best friends in high school, Nakano and Tsuda haven’t talked in ten years, which may have a little something to do with the fact that not only were they more than best friends, but also that Tsuda broke Nakano’s heart, leaving him to pick up the pieces. Now that they’ve been thrown back together thanks to a work project, Nakano is determined to put the past behind him, and both men decide to keep their relationship strictly professional. The question is, can they?

Manga artist Isaku Natsume’s previous works include DEVIL’S HONEY, also available from SuBLime, as well as Dash!, Tight Rope, and her debut title, No Color. She has also published several doujinshi (independent comics) titles under the circle names “139” and “Cheke-rara.”

Manga creator Yaya Sakuragi’s HIDE AND SEEK is a spinoff of the popular SuBLime yaoi series, BOND OF DREAMS, BOND OF LOVE. In this story, Shuji, a divorced single dad running a modest corner shop, has an easy-going attitude and an eye out for anything to break the boredom of his days. So when Saji, the serious, reserved pediatrician who’s been coming into his store, suddenly declares that he’s gay and wants to take Shuji home, Shuji goes along with it out of simple curiosity. He thought they’d just mess around, have some fun, and that would be that. But he gets a lot more than he bargained for in this story of opposites in love!

Yaya Sakuragi’s previous English-language yaoi releases include Tea For Two, Hey, Sensei?, and Stay Close to Me, in addition to BOND OF DREAMS, BOND OF LOVE.

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi, SuBLime

Viz Media Rescues Deadman Wonderland, Licenses Gangsta and Revives Old Fan-Favourites

By Lissa Pattillo on Saturday, July 13, 2013

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Anime Expo had a bunch of great announcements from manga publishers last week, and I swear I’ll be caught up with them eventually! Viz Media had its panel on Sunday and pleased audiences with two new licenses:

Deadman Wonderland – Kazuma Kondou/Jinsei Kataoka
Gangsta – Kohske

Many manga readers probably recognize Deadman Wonderland as a Tokyopop title. Before shutting down, Tokyopop had released five volumes of the series. Viz Media will be beginning with their new, re-translated edition at volume one starting in February 2014. The volumes will sell for the standard Viz Media book price of $9.99/US, $12.99/CAN

I’m looking forward to getting to finish Deadman Wonderland, which I had mixed feelings about. The story follows a boy named Ganta who is locked up in a prison known as Deadman Wonderland after he’s framed for killing his classmates. There he must learn to survive through organized death matches against fellow inmates.

Gangsta is a series new to English publication. I’m not familiar with it, but a simple Google image search and a look at those cover images was all I needed to be excited. The artwork looks amazing. The story follows two men who take on an assortment of jobs from both gangs and the police in their city.

Viz Media will begin releasing Gangsta in February as well, but this title will be released at the slightly higher price point of $12.99/US, $14.99/CAN. This matches the price of other ‘premium’ series such as Dorohedoro and Dogs, so I’m hopeful that means Gangsta will get the same large trim treatment.

Other news from the panel included confirmation the Shonen Jump series, Nisekoi, would be released in print starting in January, as well as the new full-colour edition of Dragonball in February. The Dragonball volumes will be released in a size closer to North American graphic novels, which I think will suit the bright colours nicely. Both of these titles have been running chapter-by-chapter in the digital edition of Shonen Jump.

Viz Media is also re-releasing Ranma 1/2, offering the title as 2-in-1 omnibus editions released in their original right-to-left reading orientation for the first time in English. Yay! These books will be $14.99/US, $16.99/CAN a volume and will begin publication in March.

Credit for the news’ details goes to AnimeNewsNetwork

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Categories: Licensing, News
Tags: Akira Toriyama, Conventions, Deadman Wonderland, Dragonball, Gangsta, Manga, Nisekoi, Omnibus, Ranma 1/2, Rumiko Takahashi, Shonen Jump, Viz Media, Viz Signature

On The Shelf: July 10, 2013

By Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, July 11, 2013

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Books, book, books. Make sure you don’t miss your second – and possibly last – chance to buy two of my favourite manga series, with Fullmetal Alchemist 3-in-1 (Vol. 05) and Tokyo Babylon Omnibus (Vol. 02). I’m really loving this new(ish) omnibus trend. They’re often worth every penny and then some~

Case Closed (Vol.47) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
The Flowers of Evil (Vol.06) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Fullmetal Alchemist 3-in-1 (Vol.05) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
RIN-NE (Vol.12) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Tiger & Bunny (Vol.02) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Tokyo Babylon Omnibus (Vol.02) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]

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Categories: Licensing, News, On The Shelf
Tags: Case Closed, CLAMP, Dark Horse, Fullmetal Alchemist, Omnibus, Rin-Ne, The Flowers of Evil, Tiger & Bunny, Tokyo Babylon, Vertical Inc, Viz Media

PR: Viz Media Debuts Weekly Shonen Jump in the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand

By Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, July 10, 2013

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VIZ MEDIA DEBUTS WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP IN THE U.K., IRELAND, SOUTH AFRICA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

The Home Of NARUTO, ONE PIECE, BLEACH And More Expands Global Audience For Acclaimed Weekly Digital Manga Magazine Featuring The Latest Chapters Released The Same Day As Japan Starting This Month!

San Francisco, CA, July 8, 2013 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, significantly expands the global English audience for WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP as it debuts the innovative digital manga (graphic novel) magazine in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa starting on July 4th. WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP is VIZ Media’s weekly digital serial anthology that features the latest chapters from a variety of popular manga (graphic novel) series on the same day they appear in the Japanese Weekly Shonen Jump magazine.

Issues in the new territories will be available every Monday at 10 am Pacific Standard Time through the WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Newsstand App available for the Apple iPad®, iPhone and iPod touch. WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP currently features the latest installments of some of the world’s most popular manga series including ONE PIECE, NARUTO, NISEKOI, BLEACH, TORIKO, WORLD TRIGGER and coming soon, JACO THE GALACTIC PATROLMAN by Akira Toriyama, released each week to English readers on the same day as their general release in Japan. Monthly series such as BLUE EXORCIST and YU-GI-OH! ZEXAL debut on the closest Monday after the Japanese release. Also serialized in the anthology is ONE-PUNCH MAN as well as a new color version of DRAGON BALL.

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP International Subscription Pricing:

o UK – £1.99 / month
o Ireland – 2,69 € / month
o Australia – $2.99 (AUD) / month
o New Zealand – $4.19 (NZD) / month
o South Africa – R24.99 / month

“The launch of WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP in these new territories is an important milestone for international manga publishing, and will give English reading fans in these countries access to the same award winning content contained the Japanese edition appearing on newsstands the same day,” says Andy Nakatani, Editor-in-Chief. “VIZ Media is committed to the global growth of the Shonen Jump brand and to utilizing digital technology and innovation to deliver manga content in the best possible way to readers everywhere. We look forward international fans joining the global WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP movement!”

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Shonen Jump, Viz Media

Manga Minis: Sailor Moon Delay, New Hetalia, Shonen Jump Grows and CLAMP Slows

By Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, July 7, 2013

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RightStuf announced that they have plans to publish the next two volumes of Hetalia in their continued partnership with Tokyopop. Hetalia (Vol. 04-05) will be available “before the holiday season” according to the Tokyopop manga twitter. Exact date obviously varies! RightStuf and Tokyopop previously released the third volume exclusively through their online sites, and print-on-demand issues of the first two. (Source: AnimeNewsNetwork)

Kodansha Comics revealed at Anime Expo that they’ll be speeding up their release of Attack on Titan. Starting in August the company will be releasing one volume a month in both print and digital formats. By doing this they should be caught up to the Japanese volumes by the end of the year. This is fantastic news for the manga readers! The only downside is as someone trying to stick to just the anime until it catches up, this pains me on a very conflicted level. The pressure! The temptation! It’s sad and beautiful. (Source: AnimeNewsNetwork)

Some actually sad news came from Kodansha Comics when they had to announce that the 20th Anniversary Sailor Moon art book would be delayed. The book was supposed to come out sometime this year, but has been pushed to 2014. At least the reasoning isn’t bad – it’s said that the delay is because Naoko Takeuchi is still working on new content for the book. The art book isn’t the only thing from the Sailor Moon anniversary that’s met with delays as the new anime has been pushed to some undetermined time in 2014 as well. (Source: @debaoki)

Flipping back to good news, Viz Media announced that their digital Shonen Jump will now be available in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom. Yay! This is fantastic news indeed. While those living in those areas will not be able to access the back issues, they’ll still get all the same content on a weekly basis as those already subscribed. It’s a fantastic deal, guys, so get on that and enjoy! (Source: AnimeNewsNetwork)

Convention guest news: Dark Horse and San Diego Comic Con are welcoming the creator of Lone Wolf and Cub, Kazuo Koike, to it’s event later this month. Then in August, California Japan Expo is hosting the manga artist and character designer for Neon Genesis Evangelion, Yoshiyuki Sadamoto.

And last but not least, there’s been speculation for a while that CLAMP’s Gate 7 series is on hiatus and CLAMP fans have found plenty of new evidence to support it. While the story hasn’t really clicked for me, the loss of eye-candy alone makes this sad news indeed. While the original plan to release this series globally on the same day didn’t happen, Dark Horse has still been releasing the volumes in English as they become available. CLAMP’s currently on-going series include xxxHolic and Drug & Drop, a continuation of Legal Drug.

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