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Author Archive for Lissa Pattillo

PR: Anime Gifts for the Holidays, from VIZ Media!

By Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, November 11, 2010

VIZ MEDIA SPOTLIGHTS ACTION PACKED ANIME TITLES FOR THE 2010 HOLIDAY SEASON

Delight That Special Fan This Year With A Variety Of DVD Titles For Popular Properties Including BLEACH, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN,
VAMPIRE KNIGHT And POKÉMON

San Francisco, CA, November 11, 2010 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, gives fans a variety of fun suggestions for action-packed anime titles that will make ideal additions to holiday wish lists and shopping guides.

The DVD releases include the latest animated episodes from popular properties such as BLEACH, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, VAMPRIE KNIGHT, as well as perennial childhood classic POKÉMON. Several of these releases, like NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, also come packaged as Special Edition Box Sets and include limited edition collectable figures.

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

Togainu no Chi Anime Now Streaming at ANN!

By Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, November 11, 2010

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Originally announced back in late-March, the anime adaptation of Togainu no Chi has finally aired and AnimeNewsNetwork is streaming a subtitled version of the episodes free and legally for your convenience!

Though originally based on a boys’ love sim, the anime adaptation – much like the better known version of the manga adaptation – doesn’t have the same focus on boys’ love elements. It should still be chock-ful of the violence, innuendo, drugs and drama that made the original interesting all the same however, plus all the snazzily designed characters.

ANN will be streaming new episodes every Wednesday with the first four episodes currently available to watch.

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Categories: Boys-Luv.com

ANN Review: Black Butler (Vol. 03)

By Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, November 10, 2010

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One of my current favourites for sheer fangirlish pandering that hits all the right buttons for me, I reviewed the third volume of Black Butler for AnimeNewsNetwork.

The story in Black Butler is pretty minimal. It likes teasing at some of the plot it hasn’t fully divulged yet but past that it survives pretty heavily on the effect of its short term events. Only three volumes in however and these enjoyable forays of snappily dressed men being amazing at butler-work and butt-kicking is nowhere near dull yet. Hopefully it doesn’t get to be so either, I’m so enamoured with the artwork, atmosphere and Victorian-charm. Pander away, Black Butler, for now I’m yours! (Except in regards to those three obnoxious housekeepers – why oh why are they still there?)

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: ANN Reviews, Black Butler, Manga, Yen Press

PR: Everyone Has A Little Monster Inside in KUROZAKURO!

By Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, November 9, 2010

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A BULLIED HIGH SCHOOL KID IS IN FOR A WILD ADVENTURE IN NEW MANGA SERIES KUROZAKURO

Be Careful Who You Bully Because They Might Be An Ogre!

San Francisco, CA, November 9, 2010 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will release award-winning artist Yoshinori Natsume’s manga (graphic novel) series KUROZAKURO on November 9th. The new series, to be offered under the Shonen Sunday imprint, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

Mikito Sakurai is tired of being a punching bag for all the delinquents on campus. But what can he do? By nature he’s a gentle and easygoing high school student. That all changes the night he swallows a mysterious orb and meets Zakuro, a strange kid who promises to grant his most heartfelt desire. “When you wake up,” says the pint-sized apparition, “you’ll be stronger and better than a human.”

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Shonen Sunday, Viz Media

Review: Himeyuka & Rozione’s Story

By Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, November 7, 2010

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manga-ka: Sumomo Yumeka
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: July 2010

Synopsis: “Intent on being an independent young woman, high schooler Himeyuka lives on her own in an unremarkable apartment complex in a corner of the city. But one day, she discovers her ordinary building has turned into something extraordinary! Her beloved “castle” is covered in childish scribbles—both inside and out! And waiting for her at the end of this rainbow-colored mess…is the perpetrator of the crime—a little boy named Rozione, who seems to know quite a bit about Himeyuka, though she has no idea who he is. Is he really just someone’s lost child, or is there a greater mystery behind his appearance?”

Sumomo Yumeka is a creator who has several other of her works published in English and as an owner of each one, I was happy to see another of her titles licensed by Yen Press. Unlike the majority of her other English-books, Himeyuka & Rozione’s Story isn’t a boys’ love but instead a sombre shoujo-styled collection of short stories that shows us a Yakuza, a Witch, a Robot and a Doll are all capable of feeling and their stories equally as capable at making us feel for them as a result.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manga, Yen Press

Viz Media Launches Manga App for iPad Users

By Lissa Pattillo on Friday, November 5, 2010

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Viz Media announced the launch of their new iPad application earlier in the week – a digital shop downloadable on iPads where users can purchase volumes of their manga.

Volumes in this digital format will cost $4.99 each and Viz Media is currently offering the first volume of Death Note for free so readers can test out the program. Currently they’re offering the company’s big-name titles such as One Piece, Naruto and Dragonball. iTunes lists volumes of One Piece as being the top sellers on the app since its debut.

Personally this news doesn’t interest me much because, well, I don’t own an iPad. Even if I did, I prefer books in paper-format – personal preferable. For those who have an iPad and enjoy reading comics digitally, however, I can of course see the more jump-for-joy reasoning here.

Looking at from sheerly from an audience perspective, those who own an iPad have proven themselves already the type more apt to pay money for their hobbies and entertainment. It’s a perfect environment to find manga fans and create new ones on those grounds alone. Still, I have to wonder – those who own the iPad, are they the 12-16 year old audience that thebooks Viz Media is offering are aimed for? Highly doubtful. That Viz Media wouldn’t come out of the gate with more mature titles such as their Sig Ikki series, most of which already have at least some kind of digital rights as they’re posted to the imprint’s website on a weekly basis, boggles my mind and is a bit disappointing.

I’m not saying that readers of any age can’t or don’t enjoy the Shonen Jump big-guns, and there’s certainly value in putting out the big-sellers, but they hardly seem strong titles to use in reaching out to the vast majority of iPad owners who likely don’t read manga in the first place. It feels a mix-match of audiences.

Then again, the app has only been out since November 2nd, so who knows how many or how potentially diverse their manga offerings could be in the future.

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Categories: Misc, News
Tags: Manga, One Piece, Viz Media

Yen Press Seeks Fresh Talent for Yen Plus Serialization

By Lissa Pattillo on Friday, November 5, 2010

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Early September marked the first issue of Yen Plus in its digital format for subscribers. For only $2.99 a month – which is set up via PayPal – readers now have access to that month’s issue, which also now includes new chapters of K-on and Yotsuba&! (which was reason enough for me to subscribe right off the bat).

In their first issue they also officially launched their search for new talent to be potential new additions to the monthly magazine. At their request, information was kept off other sites to give subscribers the early-bird advantage. As of today however, the information for their New Talent Search has been posted publicly on Yen Press’s site so now all interested and qualifying artists can read the details.

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Categories: Misc
Tags: Global Manga, Yen Press

PR: Imperial Intrigue Awaits Readers in The Story of Saiunkoku

By Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, November 4, 2010

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IMPERIAL INTRIGUE AWAITS READERS IN THE STORY OF SAIUNKOKU, NEW FROM VIZ MEDIA

Beautifully Illustrated Shojo Beat Series Depicts A Young Girl’s Rise In the Imperial Court To Become A Royal Confidant And Advisor

San Francisco, CA, November 4, 2010 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, delivers shojo-styled drama with the release of THE STORY OF SAIUNKOKU, written by Sai Yukino with artwork by Kairi Yura, available now in stores. The new manga (graphic novel) series will be published under the company’s Shojo Beat imprint, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

Shurei Hong, destitute but of noble birth, has always dreamed of working as a civil servant in the imperial court of Saiunkoku, but women are barred from holding office. The emperor Ryuki, however, refuses to take command, leaving everything to his advisors. Shurei is asked to become a consort to the emperor to persuade the ne’er-do-well ruler to govern.

“THE STORY OF SAIUNKOKU will draw readers in with its beautiful artwork and smart, courageous heroine who dedicates herself to serving her country, rising in the ranks to become the emperor’s trusted advisor,” says Nancy Thistlethwaite, Editor. “This historical fantasy also inspired the popular anime series produced by Madhouse Studios. THE STORY OF SAIUNKOKU is an exciting new addition to the Shojo Beat imprint, especially for those readers who love romance and political intrigue!”

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Viz Media

PR: Viz Puts A New Spin on Art Therapy With Genkaku Picasso

By Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, November 3, 2010

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A TEENAGER’S ARTISTIC TALENT SAVES HIS LIFE IN NEW MANGA SERIES GENKAKU PICASSO FROM VIZ MEDIA

Shonen Jump Series Puts A New Spin On Art Therapy With A Unique Story

San Francisco, CA, November 3, 2010 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, brings the artistic styling of creator Usamaru Furuya’s manga (graphic novel) series, GENKAKU PICASSO, available to domestic readers now. The new property will be published in North America under the Shonen Jump imprint, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

Hikaru “Picasso” Hamura, a grouchy teenager with a talent for drawing, dies in a freak accident. The gods decide to revive him, but only on the condition that he use his artistic gift for the good of humanity. Picasso discovers that sketching a person’s aura yields a surreal portrait of their psyche. Stranger still, Picasso can dive into these dreamscapes and help people by exploring their deepest emotions, memories and perceptions.

“GENKAKU PICASSO blends mind-bending artwork with the teenage drama of a talented adolescent who gets a second chance at life,” says Daniel Gillespie, Editor, Shonen Jump. “Using his artistic skill, Picasso is able to draw a picture symbolizing a person’s subconscious, and then enter that portrait and manipulate the symbols in order to help them recover from past traumas. The series’ unique plot and multi-faceted characters are sure to engage readers on many levels. We recommend GENKAKU PICASSO to any fan of M.C Escher!”

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Viz Media

ANN Review: Deadman Wonderland (Vol. 03)

By Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, November 2, 2010

1 Comment »

Prisons, powers and battles to the death – my review of Deadman Wonderland (Vol. 03) was posted over at AnimeNewsNetwork late-October.

I really, really like the artwork of Deadman Wonderland. I also like the characters and the story concept is pretty snazzy too… but I admit to not being able to follow the story all that well. It’s not confusing per say, but it feels like there’re so many things it doesn’t address, that I feel like I’m stumbling around over what they are. Still, can’t say it isn’t lots of fun to read anyway! Pretty violent content though so reader warning.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: ANN Reviews, Manga, Tokyopop