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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: Silly Fun w/ Heart for Younger Readers – Panda Man and Taro

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, October 27, 2010

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TWO NOVEMBER RELEASES FROM VIZ KIDS

PANDA MAN TO THE RESCUE! and TARO AND THE MAGIC PENCIL Combine Stories of Fun and Mischief with Brain Tickling Puzzles and Games

San Francisco, CA, October 27, 2010 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, gives younger readers something to look forward to with the release of PANDA MAN TO THE RESCUE! and TARO AND THE MAGIC PENCIL on November 2nd.

PANDA MAN TO THE RESCUE!, TARO AND THE MAGIC PENCIL, and the subsequent books in each series, were created to tap into every child’s sense of play. The new titles, recommended for readers ages 6 years or older and part of the VIZ Kids imprint, tell the stories of a flatulent panda and a brave little pup. Each book offers a unique reading experience, mixing comic book elements with traditional prose. In addition, readers solve mazes, puzzles and riddles to move the stories along.

“We are really excited to offer these two new series,” said Traci Todd, Senior Editor, Children’s Publishing. “PANDA MAN TO THE RESCUE! and TARO AND THE MAGIC PENCIL are good, silly fun mixed with a lot of heart.”

THE ADVENTURES OF PANDA MAN: PANDA MAN TO THE RESCUE ·
MSRP: $7.99 US / $9.99 CAN · Available November 2nd
Boing Oing! It’s Panda Man, a roly-poly hero with a bottomless belly and the power of pee-yew! Evil villains are no match for our hero’s funky feet and flatulence, but he still needs your help! Together you can solve the mazes and puzzles that stand between Panda Man and ultimate justice…or his next meal. Whichever comes first!

THE ADVENTURES OF TARO: TARO AND THE MAGIC PENCIL ·
MSRP: $7.99 US / $9.99 CAN · Available November 2nd
Before his comic book drawings came to life, Taro was an ordinary boy. Now his characters are in danger, and it’s up to him to save them! With the flick of a magic pencil, Taro transforms into Terrie (a terrier) and enters his comic book world. The adventures ahead are more amazing than anything he ever imagined!

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PR: Viz Media Offers Ninja Action in New Naruto Illustration Book

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, October 21, 2010

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NINJA ACTION LEAPS OFF THE PAGE IN THE NARUTO ILLUSTRATION BOOK FROM VIZ MEDIA

Full Color Character Portraits By Creator Masashi Kishimoto Are Depicted In Addition To A Fold Out Poster And Collectible Stickers

San Francisco, CA, October 21, 2010 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the release of the vividly colored NARUTO ILLUSTRATION BOOK on October 26th. The new soft cover edition is offered by the Shonen Jump imprint, features nearly 100 pages of original illustrations by creator Masashi Kishimoto, and will carry an MSRP of $19.99 U.S. / $27.00 CAN.

Naruto is a young shinobi (or ninja) with an incorrigible knack for mischief. He’s got a wild sense of humor, but Naruto is completely serious about his ongoing mission to be the world’s greatest ninja! The NARUTO ILUSTRATION BOOK features a variety of character portraits depicting the young ninja in action, as well as his cohorts including Sasuke, Sakura and Kakashi. A color pull-out double-sided poster and a sticker sheet are also included.

Created by Masashi Kishimoto, NARUTO was first introduced in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in Japan in 1999 and quickly became that country’s most popular ninja manga targeting tweens and teens with more than 100 million copies in circulation to-date. The manga series (rated ‘T’ for Teens) and animated counterpart (NARUTO rated ‘T’ for Teens, and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) are among VIZ Media’s most successful properties and have captivated millions of fans across North America, Europe and South America.

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PR: Eric Kim’s Manga Dojo in Toronto Cartoonists Workshop

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Saturday, October 16, 2010

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Renowned Manga Creator Eric Kim
Set to Reveal Craft and Technique in “The Manga Dojo”

Eric Kim’s Manga Dojo kicks off Saturday, November 6, 2010

TORONTO, ONTARIO – Oct 15, 2010 – Toronto’s own Eric Kim will be bringing his many skills and accomplishments to the table when he takes on the role as instructor in the Toronto Cartoonists Workshop’s Manga Dojo.

The Manga Dojo is a hands-on, practical course – ideal for both beginner and intermediate artists. Students will be guided through the process of story creation and obtain a firm grasp of the fundamental elements involved in the Art of Japanese Manga.

Dates: November 6, 2010 to December 18, 2010
Time: Saturday afternoons 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Length: 7 weeks of 3 hour classes
Cost: $350. plus H.S.T.
Location: 486A College Street, Toronto

ABOUT ERIC KIM: Eric Kim has been working in comics and illustration for the past seven years. His book credits include Love as a Foreign Language, Degrassi: The Next Generation Vol. 3, Battle Academy, The Sidesteppers, Streta, and most recently, the Complete Plays of William Shakespeare. As an illustrator, he has worked for numerous book and editorial clients across North America as well as Japan.

Eric’s website is http://www.inkskratch.com. He’s also a smart cookie.
ABOUT THE TORONTO CARTOONISTS WORKSHOP: The Toronto Cartoonists Workshop is a learning environment where aspiring cartoonists can study with working professionals in the North American comic book, webcomics, animation and illustration fields.

Workshops are seven weekly sessions of three hours each and attendance is limited to a maximum of 15 students to optimize individual learning.

The TCW does not offer a certificate or degree. It is a continuing education experience where students are encouraged to sample various instructors and pick the learning styles and philosophies that work best for them.
The TCW’s new permanent home is located at 486A College Street, just west of Bathurst. For more information on the TCW, see http://cartoonistsworkshop.wordpress.com

-30-

For further information, images or photos, please contact:
Sean Menard
Director, Marketing and Publicity
Toronto Cartoonists Workshop
Phone: 647.328.1656
info@cartoonistsworkshop.com

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Canada, Global Manga

PR: New Animate USA Releases for October 2010

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Friday, October 15, 2010

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ANIMATE USA – NEW RELEASES FOR AMAZON KINDLE

TOKYO, JAPAN – October 15 – Animate U.S.A., Inc. is pleased to announce its October release lineup for the Amazon Kindle Store!

Libre Publishing in Japan is proud to announce the release of two more Yaoi titles. Released this month are continuation of beloved series by Youka Nitta as well as a brand new story by Shiuko Kano! Fans should also look forward to a secret surprise release later this month!

For more information, please visit www.animate-world.com, www.b-boy.jp, and to keep on top of all things about Nitta Youka, nittayouka.com!!

October 2010:
Youka Nitta – “Sound of My Voice – Golden Goose Part 4”
Shiuko Kano – “Manly Construction Training – Gaten na Aitsu”

“Sound of My Voice – Golden Goose Part 4” by Youka Nitta

A lifelong dream of fame and fortune has been the driving force of Wataru Jouchi’s entire life. Now, after much self-doubt, he’s decided to fulfill his destiny and become a voice actor　for anime videos.

At first, he is thrilled to discover that his long lost friend, Renji Kazama, is considered a top star in the industry. But Kazama does not seem at all pleased about their unexpected reunion.

Is he simply wary of this newfound competition, or is there another reason why he seems intent on keeping Wataru at arm’s reach?

“Manly Construction Training -Gaten na Aitsu-” by Shiuko Kano

A sweet story of Yuusaku and Taizo from the popular series, “Manly Construction Training -Gaten na Aitsu-.”

Yuusaku wants to have a date with Taizo, so he negotiates with his dad.
However, his dad tells him to go to Osaka and work in construction for training…

So Toono sneaks into the school at night!?
Toono’s mom and dad, and even the super-smart student council president, appear!
Of course, Cute Chibi Toono-kun appears too!

This is the anticipated second episode of the super popular series!

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi

PR: DMP and Tokyopop bring twelve new titles to eManga.com!

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, October 14, 2010

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Gardena, CA (October 14, 2010) – Digital Manga, one of the manga industry’s most unique and creative publishers, is proud to announce an online collaboration with TOKYOPOP, a leading manga publisher and pop-culture digital entertainment company. The partnership will launch with the addition of twelve new titles from TOKYOPOP’s BLU Manga yaoi imprint to eManga’s online library.

The BLU Manga yaoi will be available for purchase through eManga’s online manga service, emanga.com, which streams content through an Adobe Flash player, allowing readers to access their library wherever they have an internet connection. Originally sold for $14.99 in print, the BLU volumes will be available on eManga.com for $5.99, making it more affordable than ever to read old and new favorites.

The first twelve BLU titles will include: Liberty Liberty! by Hinako Takanaga, Calling by Miu Otsuki, Croquis by Hinako Takanaga, Cute Devil by Hiro Madarame, Isle of Forbidden Love by Duo Brand, Blood Honey by Sakyou Yozakura, Love Knot by Lemon Ichijo, Madness volumes 1 & 2 by Kairi Shimotsuki, Scarlet by Hiro Madarame, Secretary’s Love by Tohko Akiba and Stray Cat by Halco.

For more information about our eManga system and to begin reading right away, visit www.emanga.com and click on the TOKYOPOP tab under “publishers”.

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi, DMP, Hinako Takanaga, Tokyopop

PR: Viz Media Offers a Haunted Tale in New March Story

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, October 13, 2010

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BEAUTIFUL WORKS OF ART ARE HAUNTED IN NEW MANGA SERIES
MARCH STORY FROM VIZ MEDIA

Evil Lurks Beneath The Surface of Great Masterworks And Only One Demon Hunter Can Vanquish The Fiendish Spirits In A Dark New Tale From The VIZ Signature Imprint

San Francisco, CA, October 13, 2010 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will release the supernatural manga (graphic novel) series MARCH STORY on October 19th. The latest addition to the VIZ Signature imprint, by Hyung Min Kim with artwork by Kyung Il Yang, is rated ‘M’ for Mature readers and will carry an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN.

Among the quiet villages and towns of 18th century Europe, demons known as the Ill hide within the most beautiful works of art and are sparked to life by the torment of their creators. Attracted by their jewel-like allure, unwary viewers can find themselves possessed by the Ill and will be driven to horrific acts of violence. Only the hunters of the Ciste Vihad can dispel the Ill. March is one such hunter, tracking the Ill from town to town to find the antiques that contain the demons before they can possess anyone. If the worst has come to pass, March’s full powers are unleashed to battle the fiendish Ill.

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Shonen Sunday, Viz Media

PR: Viz Media Launches Cross Game Manga Series

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, October 5, 2010

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VIZ MEDIA SET TO SCORE A HOME RUN WITH THE LAUNCH OF NEW CROSS GAME MANGA

Celebrated Manga Artist Mitsuru Adachi’s Much Anticipated Series Begins In October; Anime Counterpart Streams On VIZAnime.com

San Francisco, CA, October 5, 2010 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, brings manga legend Mitsuru Adachi’s celebrated series about the game of life and baseball – CROSS GAME – to North American readers on October 12th. The poignant drama will be published in a hefty expanded edition under the Shonen Sunday imprint, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and the first volume, containing the first three volumes as originally released in Japan, will carry an MSRP of $19.99 U.S. / $27.00 CAN. Subsequent volumes will retail for $14.99 U.S. / $19.99 CAN, and will contain two complete volumes from the Japanese release.

The CROSS GAME anime series also streams – for free – on VIZ Media’s own VIZAnime web site (www.VIZAnime.com). To celebrate the launch of the manga, a special double-episode installment of new anime episodes (subtitled) will be available on the site the week of October 11th. CROSS GAME anime episodes are also available from streaming content provider HULU (www.Hulu.com).

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Rumiko Takahashi, Shonen Sunday, Viz Media

PR: Kodansha and RH Transform U.S. Publishing Relationship

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Monday, October 4, 2010

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New York, NY – October 4, 2010 – Kodansha Ltd. and Random House Inc. have announced their plans to change and expand their manga publishing relationship in North America. The companies are shifting from a licensing relationship to a sales and distribution arrangement as of December 1, 2010.

The current relationship between Kodansha and Random House began in 2003, with the first titles debuting in 2004 under the latter’s Del Rey Manga imprint. Since then, more 500 volumes have been published, including many bestselling manga series.

Under the new arrangement, Kodansha’s subsidiary, Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC, established in 2008 and led by Yoshio Irie, will be publishing Kodansha-originated manga themselves directly in the U.S. English-language market with strong support from Random House Publisher Services (RHPS), Random House’s third-party distribution division. Del Rey Manga associate publisher Dallas Middaugh will remain with the program, transferring to RHPS.

“We are very excited to extend our relationship with Random House,” said Yoshio Irie, president and CEO of Kodansha USA Publishing. “Both companies see opportunity in the American manga market, and we look forward to working together to further the distribution and exposure of manga in the United States.”

“We are thrilled to have a publisher as distinctive as Kodansha USA Publishing join the Random House Publisher Services portfolio,” said Jeff Abraham, the division’s president. “Kodansha is one of the great worldwide publishing brands for the manga category, and we will do everything to support their efforts with our many booksellers and distributors who love selling manga titles.”

Del Rey’s ongoing manga titles which were licensed by Kodansha will be gradually taken over by Kodansha USA Publishing on a per-title basis.

Tokyo-based Kodansha established Kodansha USA Inc. on the occasion of their company’s 100th anniversary. Kodansha USA Publishing began by publishing Akira and The Ghost in the Shell in 2009 under the Kodansha Comics imprint. They plan to expand their strong line-up of manga under this exciting new collaboration with Random House Publisher Services.

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Del Rey, Kodansha Comics

PR: Undead Recital – Viz Releases Grand Guignol Orchestra

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, September 30, 2010

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ATTEND A RECITAL FILLED WITH THE UNDEAD IN NEW MANGA SERIES GRAND GUIGNOL ORCHESTRA COMING IN OCTOBER FROM SHOJO BEAT

Queen Of Gothic Manga Kaori Yuki Delivers A Dark Masterpiece In A New Series Arriving In Time For Halloween

San Francisco, CA, September 29, 2010 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the launch of a new series from iconic manga (graphic novel) creator Kaori Yuki. Her latest series, GRAND GUIGNOL ORCHESTRA, will be published under the Shojo Beat imprint, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. The series debuts on October 5th.

Lucille loves heading up the traveling Grand Orchestra, roving from town to town, entertaining the masses and making money. But now the musicians have met their toughest audience yet: people infected with the Guignol Virus, turning them into zombie dolls intent on killing all humans!

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Viz Media

PR: Animate USA Adds Youka Nitta and Hinako Takanaga Titles

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, September 1, 2010

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ANIMATE USA – NEW RELEASES FOR AMAZON KINDLE

TOKYO, JAPAN – September 1 – Animate U.S.A., Inc. is pleased to announce its September release lineup for the Amazon Kindle Store!

Five more Yaoi titles published by Libre Publishing in Japan, including the Kindle Exclusive title “Kiss Ariki – Episode 1” by Youka Nitta, have been added. Also, Hinako Takanaga, one of the most popular BL artists, has finally arrived in the Kindle Store!

For more information, please visit www.animate-world.com, www.b-boy.jp, and to keep on top of all things about Nitta Youka, nittayouka.com!!

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Awkward Silence, Boys' Love/Yaoi, Hinako Takanaga, Makoto Tateno, Manga