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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 Media Debuts Library Wars Manga Series

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Monday, May 10, 2010

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A LOVE OF BOOKS AND READING
INSPIRES A GIRL TO STAND AGAINST CENSORSHIP IN NEW MANGA SERIES
LIBRARY WARS: LOVE AND WAR

New Shojo Adventure Follows A Young Recruit
In The Library Defense Forces As She Protects The Right To Read

San Francisco, CA, MAY 10, 2010 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, brings a new literary manga adventure to North American readers with the release of LIBRARY WARS: LOVE & WAR on June 1st. The series, with story and art by Kiiro Yumi and based on the original concept by Hiro Arikawa, 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.

In the near future, the federal government creates a special committee to rid society of books it deems unsuitable. But the libraries vow to protect their collections, and with the help of local governments, form a military group to defend themselves – the Library Defense Forces!

In the opening volume, Iku Kasahara has dreamed of joining the LDF ever since one of its soldiers stepped in to protect her favorite book from being confiscated in a bookstore when she was younger. But now that she’s finally a recruit, she’s finding her dream job to be a bit of a nightmare. Especially since her hard-hearted drill instructor seems to have it in for her!

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PR: Viz Media Releases I’ll Give It My All… Tommorrow

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, May 6, 2010

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VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE OF NEW MANGA SERIES
I’LL GIVE IT MY ALL…TOMORROW

Story Of A Salaryman Who Embarks On A Quest To Become A Manga Artist Offers A Unique Journey Of Self-Discovery

San Francisco, CA, May 6, 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 I’LL GIVE IT MY ALL… TOMORROW. The series, created by Shunju Aono, will debut on May 18th under the VIZ Signature imprint, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN.

This is the story of a hapless forty year-old salaryman who quits his job to pursue his dream of becoming a manga artist – and the family that has to put up with him. While not terribly unhappy, Shizuo Oguro can’t fight the feeling that something in his life just isn’t right, so he walks away from his stable (yet boring) day job to embark on a journey of self-discovery. Unfortunately for his family, this journey also involves playing video games all day while his teenage daughter and elderly father support him. Will Shizuo succeed in creating a true manga masterpiece, or will he be just another dropout living a life of slack?

In the opening volume, Shizuo Oguro is living his dream… sort of. Feeling like his life has been a complete waste Shizuo breaks free from the corporate rat race and charts a new and fairly random career course to become a published manga artist. Sure, he lacks the talent, discipline, or any of the other skills necessary to become a success in the manga industry, but that won’t stop Shizuo from achieving his dream!

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PR: Tokyopop Presents Hetalia Axis Powers

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, May 2, 2010

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Los Angeles, CA (April 30, 2010) – TOKYOPOP is thrilled to announce the release of the international bestselling manga Hetalia: Axis Powers. The Japanese webcomic by Hidekaz Himaruya has swept the internet in a worldwide campaign, and its tankobon has sold more than a million units in Japan alone. Now the English-language edition will breach bookstores everywhere this Fall, just in time for International Hetalia Day.

Hetalia is an utterly hilarious and thoroughly politically incorrect view of history, where each country is anthropomorphized into bishōnen characters. The main plot follows Axis Powers Italy, Germany, and Japan from the fall of Rome through World War II. Hilarity arises when spotlights shine on each country’s stereotypes, including Italy’s singular euphoric love for pasta and America constantly yelling, “I’m the hero!”—sometimes muffled by a mouthful of hamburger. Also, countries rarely understand each other, as seen in statements such as, “In America, it is common to see men and women in various states of undress basking on the lawn.” (However, a quick visit to TOKYOPOP near the Southern California beaches this summer may prove this statement to be true after all!)

TOKYOPOP editor Cindy Suzuki says, “Hetalia is going to be very exciting. It will be a challenging project on many levels, but we are working closely with our friends at FUNimation as well as the Japanese publisher of the manga in hopes of bringing the fans an authentic product.”

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Tags: Tokyopop

PR: VIZ Media releases SATURN APARTMENTS on May 8th!

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, April 28, 2010

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AN EXTRAORDINARY VIEW OF THE FUTURE
SHINES IN SATURN APARTMENTS MANGA SERIES
FROM VIZ MEDIA

A Young Window Washer Offers A Panoramic View
Into A Future Space Colony

San Francisco, CA, April 29, 2010 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, brings the newest title from its partnership with Japan’s IKKI magazine to domestic audiences with the release of SATURN APARTMENTS on May 8th. Created by Hisae Iwaoka, the manga series will be published under the VIZ Signature imprint, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN.

Far in the future, humankind has evacuated Earth in order to preserve it. Humans now reside in a gigantic structure that forms a ring around the earth, 35,000 kilometers up in the sky. The society of the Ring System is strictly stratified: the higher the floor, the greater the status. Mitsu, the lowly son of a window washer, has just graduated. Five years after his father disappears and is assumed dead, Mitsu takes on his father’s occupation. As he struggles with the transition to working life, Mitsu’s job treats him to an outsider’s view into the living-room dioramas of the Saturn Apartments.

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Viz Media

PR: Viz Media Debuts Flower In A Storm

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, April 21, 2010

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FLOWER IN A STORM BRINGS ON A FRENZIED ROMANTIC CHASE IN FUN NEW SHOJO SERIES FROM VIZ MEDIA

When A Boy Just Won’t Take No For An Answer Sometimes All A Girl Has Left Are Her Superpowers

San Francisco, CA, April 20, 2010 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, offers FLOWER IN A STORM, an imaginative romantic comedy from a fresh new talent of the shojo manga world, Shigeyoshi Takagi. Set to be published under the Shojo Beat imprint and released on May 4th, FLOWER IN A STORM is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

Riko Kunimi is trying to lead a normal high school life when Ran Tachibana bursts into her classroom carrying a gun and tells her that her life is now his. Ran, who is the richest and most powerful 17-year-old in Japan, wants her as his wife, and he’s not taking no for an answer!

If Ran can’t capture her by five o’clock the next day, he’ll give up, but he has all that money can buy at his disposal. However, Riko has one trick up her sleeve—she has superpowers!

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

PR: Viz Media Transports Readers to Kingyo Used Books

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, April 15, 2010

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VIZ MEDIA TRANSPORTS READERS TO
KINGYO USED BOOKS – A FANTASTIC PLACE WHERE READERS FIND THEIR DREAMS IN MANGA

A Charming Bookshop with a Special Inventory Becomes a Place Where Lives Are Changed Through Manga

San Francisco, CA, April 15, 2010 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, transports readers to an unassuming store that stocks all the manga a fan could ever desire with the release of KINGYO USED BOOKS on April 20th. The new series, by Seimu Yoshizaki, will be published under the VIZ Signature imprint, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN.

In KINGYO USED BOOKS, a businessman discovers how his childhood memories can brighten his day. An art student finds inspiration. An archer hits a surprising bull’s-eye. A housewife rediscovers romance. A teenager discovers his true self in the pages of a manga magazine. Welcome to Kingyo Used Books, a place where people find their dreams in manga…

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Viz Media

PR: Vampire Hunter D On Playstation’s Digital Comics

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, April 15, 2010

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IDW AND DIGITAL MANGA LAUNCH VAMPIRE HUNTER D
ON PLAYSTATION’S DIGITAL COMICS

Partnership brings first manga title to PSP™(PlayStation®Portable)

San Diego, CA (April 15, 2010) – IDW Publishing and Digital Manga Publishing forge ahead in the world of digital comics today by bringing the first manga title to Sony’s hot new PSP Digital Comics offering: Vampire Hunter D, as part of continued growth to become one of the best selling manga titles globally. Vampire Hunter D first gained notoriety when it landed ashore as an anime property in the late 1980’s. Its popularity has continued to grow with subsequent feature anime films, English adapted novel series and jumping boundaries over to manga form. With over 17 million copies sold in books, video, and merchandise worldwide, the Vampire Hunter D property now debuts in this new digital medium.

“We’re very excited to release the very first digital manga on the PSP and to kick off our partnership with Digital Manga,” said Jeff Webber, Director of ePublishing at IDW. “Vampire Hunter D is an excellent story to launch the PSP manga catalogue, offering this popular series for manga fans worldwide through this new platform. We’ll be rolling out the first volume of the series as a new chapter each week for the next six weeks.”

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: DMP

PR: Viz Media Announces Bakuman Manga

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, April 14, 2010

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FIND OUT WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE IT TO THE TOP AS A MANGA CREATOR
IN THE NEW SHONEN JUMP SERIES BAKUMAN。

Two Students Must Have Perseverance, Innovation And An Uncompromising Will To Succeed In The New Series From The Creators Of DEATH NOTE

San Francisco, CA, April 14, 2010 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the upcoming release of the manga series BAKUMAN。. The series, rated ‘T’ for Teens, will be released on August 3rd under VIZ Media’s popular Shonen Jump imprint and will carry a MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. Previews for the series will start to run in the May 2010 issue of VIZ Media’s popular monthly manga anthology – SHONEN JUMP magazine which is on stands now.

BAKUMAN。is written by the author of DEATH NOTE, Tsugumi Ohba, and the artwork is by Takeshi Obata, the artist known for series such as DEATH NOTE, HIKARU NO GO and RALΩGRAD. The story follows average student Moritaka Mashiro, who enjoys drawing for fun, but when his classmate and aspiring writer Akito Takagi discovers his talent, he begs Moritaka to team up with him as a manga-creating duo. But what exactly does it take to make it in the manga-publishing world?

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Tags: Bakuman, Viz Media

PR: Animate USA Releases Libre Books on Kindle

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, April 13, 2010

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ANIMATE USA RELEASES ENGLISH VERSIONS OF LIBRE BOOKS ON KINDLE

TOKYO, JAPAN – APRIL 13 – Animate U.S.A., Inc. is very pleased to announce that English versions of Libre books have been released for the Kindle Store on Amazon now!

“We would like to express our thanks for our fans’ loyal patronage. We’re very, very excited about the fact that our fans all over the world will be able to enjoy our books,” said Takao Iwakoshi, President of Libre Publishing, Co., LTD.
The following 4 titles are released in April, and over 4 titles a month will be released after that. Animate U.S.A., Inc. will keep fans informed about the release schedule for each title on its website, www.animate-world.com, www.b-boy.jp.

April 2010:
You Asagiri – “Golden Cain”
Haruka Minami – “Love a La Carte!”
Nase Yamato – “Pet on Duty”
CJ Michalski – “Delivery Cupid”

About Animate U.S.A., Inc.
From North to South, it’s by far the largest chain of Anime shops in Japan! Character goods from anime, manga, game, comics, game, as well as art supplies… You name it! All anime/manga-related merchandise is available! Additionally, you can find original Animate goods, specials, etc. Furthermore, we have special events such as autograph sessions, panel discussions, campaigns, and more! Come to Animate filled with ‘Dreams’ and ‘Hope’!!
See http://www.animate.co.jp/ for more information. (Japanese site)

About Libre Publishing Co., Ltd.
The biggest BL publisher in Japan. The company name “Libre Publishing Co., Ltd.” is taken from the Latin base “Lib” which can mean “Book” or “Liberty.” Such is the aim of our company, to be able to share this love of “books” and “freedom” by the unique contents of the works that we offer, for the enjoyment of our readers. See http://www.libre-pub.co.jp/ for more information. (in Japanese)

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

PR: Seven Seas Relaunches Gunslinger Girl & Blood Alone

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, April 8, 2010

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Seven Seas Relaunches Gunslinger Girl & Blood Alone

(LOS ANGELES, April 8, 2010) – Seven Seas is pleased to announce the revival of two fan-favorite manga series—Gunslinger Girl and Blood Alone. Featuring all-new translations and lettering, Seven Seas will release the previously-published books in omnibus editions that contain three volumes in one, priced at $15.99 each. Seven Seas will then introduce subsequent books in the series that have never been published in North America.

“We’re thrilled to get the chance to put our stamp of quality on these two great titles,” says Seven Seas Senior Editor Adam Arnold. “Since neither of these books were continued by their previous American publishers, we’re excited to be rescuing these series for existing fans. Plus, our low-cost omnibus editions of the early volumes in the series make them the ideal entry point for new fans as well.”

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Seven Seas