MySpace and TOKYOPOP have partnered up to premiere four exclusive new shows based on TOKYOPOP's hit manga series I LUV HALLOWEEN, A MIDNIGHT OPERA, BIZENGHAST and RIDING SHOTGUN. Featuring music from the latest underground acts and cutting edge digital animation from Menfond Electronic Art, pilot episodes will air the week of July 16, 2007, with subsequent episodes running weekly thereafter. MySpace and TOKYOPOP are strategically launching a TOKYOPOP-branded profile (www.myspace.com/tokyopoptv) to host and deliver the shows to create a unique one-on-one relationship with MySpace users.
I LUV HALLOWEEN -- Based on the original manga by Benjamin Roman and Keith Giffen and featuring an original score by Ben Chan, these are the misadventures of a group of particularly disturbing trick-or-treaters as they go about their macabre business one Halloween night.
RIDING SHOTGUN -- Based on the original manga by Nate Bowden and Tracy Yardley with music by Far East Movement and Interceptor, this is a poignant and irreverent comedy depicting an average day for a hit man who's short on cash.
A MIDNIGHT OPERA -- Based on the original manga by Hans Steinbach and featuring music by Hibria and Carbon 9, here is the tale of Ein DeLaLune. Tragic and beautiful, Ein has exploded onto the Paris music scene with his Goth metal band. But Ein is no overnight sensation. He has a lasting advantage over other Goth music powerhouses -- he's undead, a fact he's kept hidden for centuries.
BIZENGHAST -- Based on the original manga by M. Alice LeGrow with music by Divine Madness and Kissing Violet, this is the story of a young girl named Dinah who moves to the forgotten town of Bizenghast, where she uncovers a terrifying collection of lost souls that leads her to the brink of insanity.
"We're always looking for ways to deliver unique and innovative content to our community," said Shawn Gold, svp of marketing for MySpace. "Based on the demand for manga content on the Web, we expect the TOKYOPOP profile to speak to users who want to discover and share these exclusive videos."
"TOKYOPOP is dedicated to revolutionizing the old school image of comicbooks by combining the fresh East-meets-West aesthetic of manga with cutting edge delivery platforms," said TOKYOPOP ceo/cco Stu Levy. "MySpace is the perfect partner to premiere innovative entertainment to a global youth audience."
Marc Honorof, md of TOKYOPOP Digital, added, "The MySpace audience fits TOKYOPOP's demographic to a T. Our four new shows were made specifically for this medium and are the seeds of today's tech-savvy generation's entertainment landscape."
TOKYOPOP maintains profiles on MySpace Comics where fans may get more detailed information on I LUV HALLOWEEN, A MIDNIGHT OPERA, BIZENGHAST and RIDING SHOTGUN, as well as TOKYOPOP's library of popular manga series.
Comicbook fans may check out MySpace Comic Books profile (www.myspace.com/comicbooks ). This profile is the official community for manga, graphic novels and comicbooks on MySpace, where fans and friends of MySpace Comic Books can find the latest comicbook news, interviews, special features, contests, exclusives and more. MySpace Comic Books spotlights exciting projects, creators and events in the industry, including user generated comics by MySpace members themselves.
TOKYOPOP (www. TOKYOPOP.com) is hailed as a leading youth-oriented entertainment brand and an innovator of manga creation, with a revolutionary artistic vision that transcends countless platforms. From the introduction of the first-ever extensive manga publishing program in North America, to the development of its manga-originated intellectual properties into film, television and digital entertainment, TOKYOPOP has changed the way teens experience pop culture. The company's global reach has expanded to Europe and Asia, with recent offices opening in the U.K. and Germany and partnerships in Australia and China, in addition to its original Los Angeles and Tokyo operations.
MySpace, a unit of Fox Interactive Media Inc., is the premier lifestyle portal for connecting with friends, discovering popular culture, and making a positive impact on the world. By integrating web profiles, blogs, instant messaging, e-mail, music streaming, music videos, photo galleries, classified listings, events, groups, college communities and member forums, MySpace has created a connected community. As the first ranked web domain in terms of page views, MySpace is the most widely used site of its kind and is committed to providing the highest quality member experience. MySpace's international network includes localized community sites in the U.S., France, Germany, Australia, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Mexico, Switzerland, Austria, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, Japan, Sweden, Austria, Latin America and the U.K.
