VIZ Media Showcases Anime For All Ages At MIPCOM

VIZ Media and VIZ Media Europe, the Paris-based subsidiary of VIZ Media, will showcase a variety of hot anime properties at the 2008 MIPCOM show in Cannes, France, October 13-17 at the Palais des Festivals. VIZ Media will be located in Booth A0-12.

VIZ Media is a master licensor of Japanese anime and manga content to a fast growing international audience. The company will offer a diverse selection of animated properties for teens and young adults including BLEACH, DEATH NOTE, BLUE DRAGON, BUSO RENKIN, HUNTER X HUNTER, KILARI and others.

The properties VIZ Media will be highlighting at MIPCOM include:

BLEACH: 109 episodes, approx. 30 minutes each
Ichigo Kurosaki is an ordinary 15-year-old boy who happens to be able to see ghosts. His fate takes an extraordinary turn when he meets Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper who shows up at Ichigo's house on the trail of a Hollow, a malevolent lost soul. Drawn to Ichigo's high level of spiritual energy, the Hollow attacks Ichigo and his family, and Rukia steps in to help but is injured and unable to fight. As a last resort, Rukia decides to transfer part of her Soul Reaper powers to Ichigo. Ichigo, now a full-fledged Soul Reaper, and Rukia, minus her powers, join together to face the challenges that lie ahead. Find out why Tite Kubo's BLEACH has become an international manga smash-hit!

BLUE DRAGON: 51 episodes, approx. 30 minutes each
Based on the popular Microsoft Xbox 360 video game developed by Hironobu Sakaguchi (the creator of Final Fantasy) and featuring character designs by Akira Toriyama (the creator of Dragon Ball), the BLUE DRAGON anime series is a classic adventure story of magical Shadow powers, flying air fortresses, and unbounded heroism! Brought together by fate, Seven Soldiers of Light must awaken the Shadow within themselves in time to overcome a despotic power and bring peace to their land. Their ensuing journey through a rich fantasy world is also an internal journey to awaken the great power within each of them. Journey with them into the world of BLUE DRAGON!

BUSO RENKIN: 26 episodes, approx. 30 minutes each
Alchemist Warrior Tokiko Tsumura comes to Ginsei City and uses herself as bait for the homunculi, artificial life forms that lurk in the darkness to devour unsuspecting humans. Unaware of Tokiko's intentions, high school student Kazuki Muto tries to save her and is killed in the process. Tokiko restores Kazuki's life with an alchemic talisman called a "kakugane," and now he fights at Tokiko's side to save his friends.

DEATH NOTE: 37 episodes, approx. 30 minutes each
The series depicts the adventures of Light Yagami, an ace student with great prospects but who is bored out of his mind. All of that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals mysteriously begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to investigate, and he is soon hot on the trail of Light, who must now reevaluate his one noble goal.

HONEY & CLOVER: 38 episodes, approx. 30 minutes each
College life is a good time, full of energy, promise and friendship. Sure, students are poor and live in old, small apartments, but they're in college -- a time when happiness is based on all the little things in life. But add love to the equation, and things start getting quite complicated! It's love at first sight when dorm mates Yuta and Shinobu meet the cute Hagumi, yet no one has a clue about the others' feelings. And Ayumi's in love with Takumi who's in love with Ruka who's still in love with her late husband. With so much love to go around, why is everyone still single?

HUNTER X HUNTER: 62 episodes, approx. 30 minutes each
Being a "Hunter" is a profession. A person who tracks down people, searches for treasure and explores lands of mystery. A person that protects the order of mankind and nature is called a "hunter." HUNTER X HUNTER depicts the fantastic adventures of Gon, the son of a famous Hunter. Wanting to follow in his father's footsteps, young Gon works hard to learn how to seek treasure and master Nen, a mysterious power. But in order to truly become like his father and a licensed Hunter, Gon must pass the arduous and dangerous Hunter Exam. It is said that only one in hundreds of thousands can pass the test. Now Gon sets out on a dangerous and exciting adventure to become a great Hunter like his father.

KILARI: 156 episodes, approx. 30 minutes each
Kilari is the story of a cute, 14-year-old girl named Kilari Tsukishima whose main obsession is food. That is, until one day when she falls in love with Seiji, the singer of a pop idol duo, Ships. From then on, to get close to the idol she likes, Kilari announces that she too will become a singer. Swept away in the exciting world of music entertainment and film, Kilari's adventures take her through the challenge and excitement of becoming a teen idol to win Seiji's heart!

MAR: 156 episodes, approx. 30 minutes each
MAR, created by Nobuyuki Anzai, is targeted to kids ages 6-14. Ginta, a 14-year-old boy has his world turned upside down when a mysterious portal suddenly transports him into the fairy tale world he has always dreamed of. This is the World of MAR, where Ginta acquires superhuman strength and a "strange new travel companion" named Babbo, a talking magical weapon known as anARM. Together, Ginta and Babbo embark on a quest to save the World of MÄR from total domination. Season 3 now available!

MEGAMAN STAR FORCE: 13 episodes, approx. 30 minutes each
An extension of the popular MEGAMAN NT WARRIOR series, MEGAMAN STAR FORCE is set in the year 220X in a world that has advanced toward radio-wave technology, and is connected through the Wave Road. Meet Subaru Hoshikawa, a fifth-grade student who lost his father in a space accident. Subaru meets an extraterrestrial radio-wave being named War-Rock, descending from a distant FM planet. War-Rock claims to know about Subaru's father, but many alien beings are after War-Rock. The two work together and merge into Rockman, a radio-wave human capable of traversing the Wave Road and battling the radio-wave viruses and FMs that threaten the Earth.

NANA: 50 episodes, approx. 30 minutes each
Twenty-year-old Nana Komatsu has endured an unending string of boyfriend problems. Moving to Tokyo, she's hoping to take control of her life and put her capricious love life behind her. Singer Nana Osaki arrives in Tokyo at the same time, with plans to kick down the doors to Tokyo's rock 'n' roll scene. Though from completely different backgrounds, the two Nanas meet and become best friends in a whirlwind of love, music, fashion, gossip, and all-night parties!

NAOKI URASAWA'S MONSTER: 74 episodes, approx. 30 minutes each
The riveting story of brilliant Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a famous surgeon with a promising career at a leading hospital. Tenma risks his reputation and promising career to save the life of a critically wounded young boy. Unbeknownst to him, this child is destined for a terrible fate. A string of strange and mysterious murders begin to occur soon afterward, ones that professionally benefit Dr. Tenma, and he emerges as the primary suspect. Conspiracies, serial murders, and a scathing depiction of the underbelly of hospital politics are all masterfully woven together in this compelling thriller.