NEW YORK, September 17 – Yen Press announced today that it will publish a manga adaptation of the first book in Lisi Harrison's #1 New York Times bestselling series, THE CLIQUE, published by the Poppy imprint of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Yen's visualization will be released in July 2010 as a trade paperback and is illustrated by manga artist Yishan Li.

With nearly 8 million copies sold and a popular feature film from Warner Bros. and Executive Producer Tyra Banks out on DVD, THE CLIQUE (called “Sartre with lip gloss” by Time magazine), is set at Westchester County's most exclusive girls' private middle school, and it exactly captures the super-pressured environment in which today's teenagers compete in every way to be the “best”. Through these endlessly entertaining stories readers live vicariously (and often, hilariously) through the lives of the memorable “Pretty Committee” where the only thing harder than getting in is staying in.

Kurt Hassler, Publishing Director of Yen Press, says “THE CLIQUE has been an absolute phenomenon in the young adult publishing world, and Yen Press is extremely grateful to be able to work on this visual adaptation of Lisi's story. It's exciting to be able to work on a project like this that has such amazing potential to introduce a new generation of young female readers to the medium of comics.”

Yen Press's manga visualization of the story will be the perfect companion for legions of existing fans of THE CLIQUE as well as an ideal introduction to the series for the ever-expanding number of manga enthusiasts, particularly in the area of shojo manga which specifically targets female readers between the ages of 10 and 18.

Artist Yishan Li was born in Tianjin, China but currently resides in Edinburgh, Scotland. One of her best known projects was "The Adventures of CG!”, a monthly manga strip which appeared in the pages of CosmoGirl magazine to which she contributed from August 2007 to April 2008.

While living in New York City, Lisi Harrison created and developed shows for MTV. She now resides in Laguna Beach, CA, where she is at work on her next novel in THE CLIQUE series. Visit her online at www.lisiharrison.com, and for more information on THE CLIQUE, join The Clique at www.jointheclique.com, or www.pickapoppy.com.

Yen Press, founded in 2006, is the manga and graphic novel imprint of Hachette Book Group US. Visit www.yenpress.com. 

SHOCHIKU¹S ENDEARING ANIME SKETCHBOOK TO STREAM ON CRUNCHYROLL

The Number One Online Destination for Anime and Asian Entertainment with
Japan¹s Leading Movie Studio Brings a Poignant Story to Fans Worldwide

San Francisco, CA (August 17, 2009) ‹ Japan¹s leading movie studio Shochiku
brings the delightful and poignant anime SKETCHBOOK to Crunchyroll anime
members and fans in North America starting September 17th at 6pm PDT.  More
information can be found at www.crunchyroll.com <http://www.crunchyroll.com>
.

SKETCHBOOK was originally created by Totan Kobako and is directed by
Yoshimasa Hiraike, written by Mari Okada with character designs by Isao
Sugimoto,. SKETCHBOOK is a tale of rediscovering beauty in the rustic and
one young girl¹s desire to seize the moments of life through her sketches.

This title will be available to all Crunchyroll fans and members residing in
the U.S., American Samoa, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam,
Virgin Islands, and Canada.

Title Synopsis:

SKETCHBOOK
A high school girl, Sora Kajiwara, joins the art club. Sora carries around a
sketchbook to wherever she goes, in order to capture cherished moments. She
asks herself, "If I really wanted to remember the moments in everyday life,
and to seize every moment of all the events that happen, why not use a
camera or video camera?" However, it just isn't the same. What's not shot,
what's not spoken, what's not heard, but what is left in her drawings; which
flourishes and blooms inside her heart.

Those who are a bit tired of the busy everyday life will enjoy rediscovering
the beauty of ordinary things such as animals, plants, and the changing
colors and scenery of the sky.

About Shochiku
Founded in 1895, Shochiku has established itself as a leading entertainment
firm. Shochiku produces, distributes, and exhibits motion pictures as well
as TV programs and has also become a symbol of enduring tradition as the
exclusive promoter of kabuki theater in Japan. Recent movie productions
include "Departures", which was awarded for 81st Academy Award as Best
Foreign Language Film. Shochiku's animation lineup includes "VEXILLE",
"Summer Days with Coo", "Sketchbook", "Le Chevalier D'Eon", "Sengoku BASARA"
and more.

About Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll is an online video service and community that offers full-length
episodes and movies of the very best in Japanese anime and Asian
entertainment. Crunchyroll's content is provided by Asian media leaders
including TV TOKYO, Shueisha, d-rights, Fuji Creative Corporation, Pony
Canyon, Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation, Toei Animation, Gonzo, Munhwa
Broadcasting Corporation America, and many others.

Crunchyroll was founded in June 2006 and has offices in San Francisco and
Tokyo. Crunchyroll is a pioneer and innovator in the Japanese anime industry
and the only video service in the world to offer hit programs like NARUTO
SHIPPUDEN, GINTAMA and many others online to its subscribers within one hour
of its Japanese broadcast. Crunchyroll is a member of the Association of
Japanese Animations (AJA) and the Licensing International Merchandisers
Association (LIMA) and is funded by leading venture capital firm, Venrock.


The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are
"forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are based on
current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and
uncertainties. The Company cautions readers of this press release that a
number of important factors could cause Crunchyroll.com¹s actual future
results to differ materially from those expressed in any such
forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation,
product delays, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and
industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of
relationships with key personnel, vendors and third-party developers,
international economic and political conditions. The Company may change its
intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon
any changes in such factors, in the Company's assumptions or otherwise. The
Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date
hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Gardena, CA (September 15, 2009) - Pop Japan Travel, originator of the best pop-culture tours of Japan, is excited to announce the tour that every manga lover should join, the Mind Over Manga tour!!! On this amazing tour, you'll get to visit the land where manga originated, and go to a manga cultural event like no other, Comitia 90! At Comitia, amateur and professional artists alike create and sell their own manga called "doujinshi", and you can see the up and coming stars of Japan right there! Tour attendees can even make their own doujinshi to sell at Comitia, and Pop Japan Travel will take care of the table space and booth costs for it's attendees so that they can sell their own books to the Comitia 90 audience! Even if you don't make your own doujinshi, there's tons of things at Comitia to keep you occupied, and Pop Japan Travel will even make arrangements to visit a hot spring, or do some shopping once you've had your fill of the convention! 

On the tour you'll also get to see the Toei Animation gallery, as well as do some shopping in pop-culture meccas Shibuya and Harajuku! On the optional tour extension* to Kyoto, you'll get to visit the amazing Osamu Tezuka Museum, to see amazing works by the proclaimed "Godfather of Manga". The Mind Over Manga Tour is a ton of fun, and you can check out the tour memories from last year on the Pop Japan Travel site under Tour Memories! 

The Mind Over Manga Tour takes place from November 11th-20th, and you still have time to sign up and join the fun! The tour signup deadline is October 9th, so don't miss the opportunity to join a group of fellow manga lovers, artists, and pop culture aficionados to participate in a cultural event that has been captured in multiple manga, and regarded the world over. The Mind Over Manga tour is $1988 plus tax and fuel charge. Or you can meet the tour group in Japan for a land only price of $1598. Contact Pop Japan Travel for more information at travel@popjapantravel.com, or visit us online at www.popjapantravel.com! 

We look forward to having you join us for an amazing time in Japan!!!

VIZ MEDIA TEAMS WITH DISNEY XD TO PRESENT NARUTO SHIPPUDEN TO TELEVISION AUDIENCES THIS FALL  

Newly Launched Disney XD Channel To Host World’s Most Popular Ninja With New Action-Packed Episodes To Debut Weekly Beginning In October 

San Francisco, CA, September 10, 2009 – In a landmark agreement, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced that its animated series NARUTO Shippuden has been acquired by Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group for debut on Disney XD (www.DisneyXD.com) television channel beginning in October.  

Disney XD is a new basic cable channel and multi-platform brand that showcases a compelling mix of live-action and animated programming for kids age 6-14, hyper-targeting boys and their quest for discovery, accomplishment, sports, adventure and humor. New dubbed episodes of NARUTO Shippuden will premiere on the network. 

In the NARUTO manga and animated series, Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja in training, wants to be the best ninja in the land. He's done well so far, but Naruto knows he must train harder than ever and leaves his village for intense exercises that will push him to his limits. NARUTO Shippuden begins two and a half years later, when Naruto returns to find that everyone has been promoted up the ninja ranks—except him. Sakura is a medic ninja, Gaara has advanced to Kazekage, and Kakashi… well, he remains the same. But pride isn’t necessarily becoming of a ninja, and Naruto quickly regains his focus when he learns that Sasuke never returned from his search for Orochimaru and that the mysterious Akatsuki organization is still an ever-present danger. The more Naruto finds out about Akatsuki’s sinister plot, the more he realizes that nothing in his world is as it seems. Naruto is finding that he’s older, but will he also prove wiser and stronger? 

“Disney XD is a growing destination for our key demographic, boys 6-14, and we're looking forward to bringing the adventures of NARUTO Shippuden to our lineup," says Tracy McAndrew, Director, Acquisitions and Co-Productions, Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group.  

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 and has sold more than 92 million copies 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), is one of VIZ Media’s most successful properties and has captivated millions of fans across North America, Europe and South America. NARUTO is a co-production of TV TOKYO, VIZ Media parent company Shueisha Inc., and Pierrot Co., Ltd. 

“We’re very pleased to partner with Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group to bring NARUTO Shippuden to U.S. television audiences this fall,” says Bill Germain, Director of Programming Sales, VIZ Media. “With Disney XD as its new broadcast home base, NARUTO Shippuden is poised to take viewers, both new and old, to unprecedented levels of ninja-excitement!”   

More information on NARUTO is available at www.Naruto.com.  

About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including the popular monthly manga anthology SHONEN JUMP magazine, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.

SPIKE TV TO PRESENT ENCORE PRESENTATION OF “AFRO SAMURAI: RESURRECTION” ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 IN HONOR OF THE NETWORK’S FIRST PRIMETIME EMMY®-NOMINATED PROGRAM

Program Nominated For Outstanding Animated Program, Winner To Be Announced During 2009 Emmy Creative Arts Awards Ceremony On September 12

Winner Of Juried Emmy Award For Outstanding Individual Achievement In Animation

New York, NY, September 8, 2009  – Spike TV will present a special encore presentation of the critically-acclaimed, funktastic anime series “Afro Samurai: Resurrection,” in honor of its Primetime Emmy®-nomination for Outstanding Animated Program (for programming one hour or more) this Friday, September 11 (1:00 - 3:00 AM, ET/PT).  This is Spike’s first-ever Primetime Emmy®-Nomination from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.  The winner of this animation category will be revealed during the 2009 Creative Arts Awards on Saturday, September 12 at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles.  “Afro Samurai: Resurrection” has already been honored with a 2009 juried Primetime Emmy® Award for Art Director Shigemi Ikeda, Art Director for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation.

“Afro Samurai: Resurrection” is the sequel to the network’s 2007 premiere of “Afro Samurai” and is based on the original art and story telling of manga artist Takashi Okazaki about a black samurai’s quest for revenge and justice for his murdered father.  Academy-Award®-nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson, who also serves as an executive producer, stars in a dual role, as the uncompromising hero, Afro, as well as his motor-mouthed sidekick Ninja Ninja.  When his father’s body is stolen from its grave, Afro is forced to pick up his sword again and wreak bloody vengeance against an army of deadly foes led by a sadistic mastermind.  

“Afro Samurai: Resurrection” also featured the voices of Emmy Award®-nominated actress Lucy Liu, Mark Hamill and Yuri Lowenthal. The original score for “Afro Samurai: Resurrection” was provided by award-winning artist The RZA.  

 “Afro Samurai: Resurrection” was produced for Spike TV by Japanese studio GONZO in association/partnership with GONZO K.K. and FUNimation Entertainment.  

About FUNimation Entertainment

FUNimationEntertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation, is the leading company for home video sales of Japanese animation in the United States.  FUNimation has a proven formula for launching and advancing brands, and manages a full spectrum of rights for most of its brands including broadcasting, licensing, production, internet, and home video sales and distribution. For more information about FUNimation Entertainment and its brands, visit www.funimation.com.

About GONZO K.K.

GONZO KK is a globally-focused Japanese media company founded in February 2000.  The group produces cutting edge entertainment for teens and young adults through the famous GONZO animation brand and for kids and family under the Gonzo Films and Gonzino brands.  Gonzo KK is a world leader in content development that targets both domestic and international audiences with Japan's trend-setting animation culture and, usually, GONZO controls licensing management and international distribution for the content it produces. GONZO group companies include Future Vision Music K.K., GONZINO K.K., and GK Entertainment K.K .

About SPIKE

Spike TV is available in 96.1 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks.  A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV's press site at http://www.spike.com/press.