VIZ Media Europe and its Italian merchandising agent, RTI/Mediaset are proud to announce that they have signed more than 25 licensees in Italy for Blue Dragon, the new hit TV series broadcast on Ita ...

VIZ MEDIA EUROPE’S LICENSING NEWS FLASH!!!

THE “SCOOP”: VIZ MEDIA EUROPE LICENSES RECENTLY GRANTED

THE “PROPERTY”: BLUE DRAGON
As seen on TV, the BLUE DRAGON series is based on Microsoft’s BLUE DRAGON Xbox360 game, developed by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator Final Fantasy, and features character designs by Akira Toriyama, the creator of the best-selling DRAGON BALL series of manga. The anime series debuted in Japan on TV Tokyo on April 7, 2007 and is produced by Studio Pierrot.

THE “PLAYERS”:
Licensor: VIZ Media Europe, S.A.R.L.
Headquartered in Paris, France, VIZ Media Europe (VME) specializes in managing the development, marketing and distribution throughout Europe of Japanese animated entertainment and manga (graphic novels). VME handles some of the most popular Japanese manga and animation properties from initial production, through television placement and distribution to merchandise licensing and promotions for consumers of all ages. Current VME animated properties include BLEACH, BLUE DRAGON, DEATH NOTE, HAMTARO, HONEY & CLOVER, KEKKAISHI, KILARI, M.A.R NEURO, A PENGUIN’S TROUBLES and ZOIDS GENESIS. Contact VIZ Media Europe at 9, avenue de l'Opéra, 75001 Paris, France Phone +33 1 72 71 53 53; Fax: +33 1 42 96 97 36; and web site at www.vizeurope.com.

Licensing Contact Information: VIZ Media Europe
Pascal Bonnet / pascal.bonnet@vizeurope.com

THE “LICENSEE”: Gabest S.r.l.
Licensee Contact Information
a.carabelli@gabestsrl.191.it / Tel: +39 02/26922356 / Fax: +39 02/21872184

THE “PRODUCTS”: The following products have been licensed:
T-shirt, shirts, dress, vest, trouser, skirt, legging, short pants, overall, jacket, sweater, cardigan, coat, swimsuit, rain jacket, beach slipper, indoor slipper, sandals, sport shoes, snow boots, winter boots

THE “TERRITORY”: The following territory/territories include:
Italy

THE “CATEGORIES”
The following category/categories pertain to the license that has been recently granted:
Apparel
Shoes
The following category/categories pertain to what is available now for licensing: (i.e. what licenses are OPEN now)

Please contact VIZ Media Europe for info on available categories & territories.

Public Relations Contact Information: VIZ Media Europe
Evelyn Dubocq, Senior Director, Public Relations/ Evelyn.Dubocq@viz.com
VIZ Media/VIZ Media Europe

VIZ MEDIA EUROPE ANNOUNCES BLUE DRAGON ANIME SERIES TO AIR ON ITALIA UNO NETWORK

Leading Italian Broadcast Network To Air Fantasy Action Series Based On Popular Xbox 360 Video Game
Beginning Today!

Paris, France, September 14, 2009 – VIZ Media Europe (VME), has announced that the BLUE DRAGON animated series will premiere on Italia Uno, one of Italy’s leading broadcast networks, beginning today. Episodes from the first and second season of BLUE DRAGON will air three times a week as part of the network’s regular animated programming. VME specializes in managing the development, marketing and distribution throughout Europe of Japanese manga (graphic novels) and animated entertainment.

Mediaset/RTI owns and operates Italia Uno and is Italy's leading commercial broadcaster with more than 9.9 million viewers and a total audience share of nearly 40 percent. VIZ Media is the master licensor for the television, home video and non-video game merchandising rights for BLUE DRAGON in the Americas, Europe and Oceania. Mediaset’s launch of BLUE DRAGON follows Cartoon Network Italy’s broadcast of the series which began last April.

BLUE DRAGON is a fantastic 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!

The video game “BLUE DRAGON” debuted on the Xbox 360 entertainment system, and was developed by Hironobu Sakaguchi (the creator of Final Fantasy) and features characters designed by Akira Toriyama, the creator of the best-selling DRAGON BALL series of manga (which is published in North America by VIZ Media and featured in SHONEN JUMP Magazine).

About VIZ Media Europe, S.A.R.L. (VME)
Headquartered in Paris, France, VIZ Media Europe (VME) specializes in managing the development, marketing and distribution throughout Europe of Japanese animated entertainment and graphic novels (manga). VME handles some of the most popular Japanese manga and animation properties from initial production, through television placement and distribution to merchandise licensing and promotions for consumers of all ages. Current VME animated properties include BLEACH, BLUE DRAGON, DEATH NOTE, HAMTARO, HONEY & CLOVER, KEKKAISHI, KILARI, M.A.R NEURO, A PENGUIN’S TROUBLES and ZOIDS GENESIS. Contact VIZ Media Europe at 9, avenue de l'Opéra, 75001 Paris, France Phone +33 1 72 71 53 53; Fax: +33 1 42 96 97 36; and web site at www.vizeurope.com.

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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 magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, 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.

VIZ MEDIA EUROPE’S LICENSING NEWS FLASH!!!

THE “SCOOP”: VIZ MEDIA EUROPE LICENSES RECENTLY GRANTED

THE “PROPERTY”: BLUE DRAGON
As seen on TV, the BLUE DRAGON series is based on Microsoft’s BLUE DRAGON Xbox360 game, developed by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator Final Fantasy, and features character designs by Akira Toriyama, the creator of the best-selling DRAGON BALL series of manga. The anime series debuted in Japan on TV Tokyo on April 7, 2007 and is produced by Studio Pierrot.

THE “PLAYERS”:
Licensor: VIZ Media Europe, S.A.R.L.
Headquartered in Paris, France, VIZ Media Europe (VME) is a subsidiary of San Francisco-based VIZ Media, LLC. VME specializes in managing the development, marketing and distribution throughout Europe of Japanese animated entertainment and graphic novels (manga).VME handles some of the most popular Japanese manga and animation properties from initial production, through television placement and distribution to merchandise licensing and promotions for consumers of all ages. Current VME animated properties include BLEACH, BLUE DRAGON, DEATH NOTE, HAMTARO, HONEY & CLOVER, KEKKAISHI, KILARI, M.A.R NEURO, A PENGUIN’S TROUBLES and ZOIDS GENESIS. Contact VIZ Media Europe at 9, avenue de l'Opéra, 75001 Paris, France Phone +33 1 72 71 53 53; Fax: +33 1 42 96 97 36; and web site at www.vizeurope.com.

Licensing Contact Information: VIZ Media Europe
Pascal Bonnet / pascal.bonnet@vizeurope.com

Public Relations Contact Information: VIZ Media Europe
Evelyn Dubocq, Senior Director, Public Relations/ Evelyn.Dubocq@viz.com
VIZ Media/VIZ Media Europe

THE “LICENSEE”: Panini S.p.A.

The Panini Group was established almost 50 years ago in Modena, Italy and with its subsidiaries throughout Europe and Latin America , it is the world leader in the published collectibles sector. Panini is also the leading multi-national publisher of comics, children's magazines and manga in Europe and Latin America. The Panini Group is expected to record sales in 2008 of approximately USD 1 billion, has distribution channels in more than 100 countries, and employs a staff of more than 700.

Licensee Contact Information: Panini
Monica Bellei / mbellei@Panini.it
Elisabetta Mussini / emussini@Panini.it / +39 059 382 111

THE “PRODUCTS”:
The following products have been licensed:

Stickers collections with albums of all sizes and shapes
Sticker sheets
Stick and lift line
Staks, waps, kraks
Trading cards

THE “TERRITORY”: The following territory/territories include:
Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vatican, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Oman, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Bahrain, British Indian Ocean Territory, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestinian territory, Qatar, Reunion, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates

THE “CATEGORIES”
The following category/categories pertain to the license that has been recently granted:
Stickers & sticker albums
Staks, waps and kraks
Trading Cards

The following category/categories pertain to what is available now for licensing: (i.e. what licenses are OPEN now)

Please contact VIZ Media Europe for info on available categories & territories.

VIZ MEDIA EUROPE’S LICENSING NEWS FLASH!!!

THE “SCOOP”: VIZ MEDIA EUROPE LICENSES RECENTLY GRANTED

THE “PROPERTY”: BLUE DRAGON
As seen on TV, the BLUE DRAGON series is based on Microsoft’s BLUE DRAGON Xbox360 game, developed by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator Final Fantasy, and features character designs by Akira Toriyama, the creator of the best-selling DRAGON BALL series of manga. The anime series debuted in Japan on TV Tokyo on April 7, 2007 and is produced by Studio Pierrot.

THE “PLAYERS”:
Licensor: VIZ Media Europe, S.A.R.L.
Headquartered in Paris, France, VIZ Media Europe (VME) is a subsidiary of San Francisco-based VIZ Media, LLC. VME specializes in managing the development, marketing and distribution throughout Europe of Japanese animated entertainment and graphic novels (manga).VME handles some of the most popular Japanese manga and animation properties from initial production, through television placement and distribution to merchandise licensing and promotions for consumers of all ages. Current VME animated properties include BLEACH, BLUE DRAGON, DEATH NOTE, HAMTARO, HONEY & CLOVER, KEKKAISHI, KILARI, M.A.R NEURO, A PENGUIN’S TROUBLES and ZOIDS GENESIS. Contact VIZ Media Europe at 9, avenue de l'Opéra, 75001 Paris, France Phone +33 1 72 71 53 53; Fax: +33 1 42 96 97 36; and web site at www.vizeurope.com.

Licensing Contact Information: VIZ Media Europe
Pascal Bonnet / pascal.bonnet@vizeurope.com

Public Relations Contact Information: VIZ Media Europe
Evelyn Dubocq, Senior Director, Public Relations/ Evelyn.Dubocq@viz.com
VIZ Media/VIZ Media Europe

THE “LICENSEE”: Giochi Preziosi S.p.A.
Giochi Preziosi is a very successful European toy group founded by Enrico Preziosi. The Group, run by Dario Berté and Oddone Pozzi, is the market leader in Italy and one of the four largest worldwide players in the toy industry. Its activities cover a wide range of toy products but also include back to school, snack foods, clothing and other consumer products aimed at the youth market. Giochi Preziosi is based in Italy with subsidiaries in France, Spain, Greece, Germany, Eastern Europe. The recent acquisition of the English distributor Flair and the establishment of Preziosi U.S.A. Inc.- a wholly owned subsidiary - in January 2008, will enable the Group to gain a leading role also in these markets, strategic for its development policies.

Licensee Contact Information
Jenny Bosi, Licensing Department
licensing@giochipreziosi.it / Tel: +39 02 964751


THE “PRODUCTS”: The following products have been licensed:
Bandai Toys and Action figures

THE “TERRITORY”: The following territory/territories include:
Italy

THE “CATEGORIES”
The following category/categories pertain to the license that has been recently granted:
Toys

The following category/categories pertain to what is available now for licensing: (i.e. what licenses are OPEN now)

Please contact VIZ Media Europe for info on available categories & territories.

THE “SCOOP”: VIZ MEDIA EUROPE LICENSES RECENTLY GRANTED

THE “PROPERTY”: BLUE DRAGON
As seen on TV, the BLUE DRAGON series is based on Microsoft’s BLUE DRAGON Xbox360 game, developed by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator Final Fantasy, and features character designs by Akira Toriyama, the creator of the best-selling DRAGON BALL series of manga. The anime series debuted in Japan on TV Tokyo on April 7, 2007 and is produced by Studio Pierrot.

THE “PLAYERS”:
Licensor: VIZ Media Europe, S.A.R.L.
Headquartered in Paris, France, VIZ Media Europe (VME) is a subsidiary of San Francisco-based VIZ Media, LLC. VME specializes in managing the development, marketing and distribution throughout Europe of Japanese animated entertainment and graphic novels (manga).VME handles some of the most popular Japanese manga and animation properties from initial production, through television placement and distribution to merchandise licensing and promotions for consumers of all ages. Current VME animated properties include BLEACH, BLUE DRAGON, DEATH NOTE, HAMTARO, HONEY & CLOVER, KEKKAISHI, KILARI, M.A.R NEURO, A PENGUIN’S TROUBLES and ZOIDS GENESIS. Contact VIZ Media Europe at 9, avenue de l'Opéra, 75001 Paris, France Phone +33 1 72 71 53 53; Fax: +33 1 42 96 97 36; and web site at www.vizeurope.com.

Licensing Contact Information: VIZ Media Europe
Pascal Bonnet / pascal.bonnet@vizeurope.com

Public Relations Contact Information: VIZ Media Europe
Evelyn Dubocq, Senior Director, Public Relations/ Evelyn.Dubocq@viz.com
VIZ Media/VIZ Media Europe

THE “LICENSEE”: Edibas
Headquartered in Turin, Italy, Edibas Collections is an international company with its core business being collectible products targeting children aged between 6 and 15. Innovation, which has always been the strength of Edibas, leads in 2001 to the introduction of Lamincards (cards printed on transparent PET plastic material), now well known as a trendsetter on the European market. Edibas offers traditional products such as sticker albums, 3D mini figurines and trading cards based on main international brands and properties. Contact Edibas Collections at Strada Settimo 407, 10156 Torino, Italy, Phone +39 011 2979773, Licensing contact marco.gallo@edibas.com

Licensee Contact Information:
Marco Gallo, Licensing and Marketing Manager
marco.gallo@edibas.com / Tel. +39 0112979773 - x105 / Fax. +39 0112732343

THE “PRODUCTS”: The following products have been licensed:
Lamincards, calendars, posters, small collectible figures

THE “TERRITORY”: The following territory/territories include:
Italy

THE “CATEGORIES”
The following category/categories pertain to the license that has been recently granted:
Kiosk products

The following category/categories pertain to what is available now for licensing: (i.e. what licenses are OPEN now)
Please contact VIZ Media Europe for info on available categories & territories.

THE “SCOOP”: VIZ MEDIA EUROPE LICENSES RECENTLY GRANTED

THE “PROPERTY”: BLUE DRAGON
As seen on TV, the BLUE DRAGON series is based on Microsoft’s BLUE DRAGON Xbox360 game, developed by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator Final Fantasy, and features character designs by Akira Toriyama, the creator of the best-selling DRAGON BALL series of manga. The anime series debuted in Japan on TV Tokyo on April 7, 2007 and is produced by Studio Pierrot.

THE “PLAYERS”:
Licensor: VIZ Media Europe, S.A.R.L.
Headquartered in Paris, France, VIZ Media Europe (VME) is a subsidiary of San Francisco-based VIZ Media, LLC. VME specializes in managing the development, marketing and distribution throughout Europe of Japanese animated entertainment and graphic novels (manga).VME handles some of the most popular Japanese manga and animation properties from initial production, through television placement and distribution to merchandise licensing and promotions for consumers of all ages. Current VME animated properties include BLEACH, BLUE DRAGON, DEATH NOTE, HAMTARO, HONEY & CLOVER, KEKKAISHI, KILARI, M.A.R NEURO, A PENGUIN’S TROUBLES and ZOIDS GENESIS. Contact VIZ Media Europe at 9, avenue de l'Opéra, 75001 Paris, France Phone +33 1 72 71 53 53; Fax: +33 1 42 96 97 36; and web site at www.vizeurope.com.

Licensing Contact Information: VIZ Media Europe
Pascal Bonnet / pascal.bonnet@vizeurope.com

Public Relations Contact Information: VIZ Media Europe
Evelyn Dubocq, Senior Director, Public Relations / Evelyn.Dubocq@viz.com
VIZ Media/VIZ Media Europe

THE “LICENSEE”: Seven S.p.A.
The Seven Group is a leader company in back to school, stationery and gift items. The company is based in Italy - Turin with branches in Spain (Barcelona), in France and Hong Kong. The Group is organized in four business units depending on the age groups to which the products are targeted:
Junior: dedicated to children 3-8 years with licensed brands coming from the tv series and toys world as Blue Dragon, Kilari, Barbie, Hot Wheels, Huntik, Looney Tunes, etc; Seven: developing Seven own brand and the main target is 8-14; Special: licensed brands dedicated to teenagers 12-16 years old coming from the fashion apparel and characters world such as Pucca, Hello Spank, Deha, A-Style or the sport world such as Kappa; Invicta: Seven bought Invicta company and brand in 2006 and with this brand develops a wide range of products from backpacks to gloves to outdoor accessories.

Licensee Contact Information
Marcella Longo Vaschetti, Licensing Department
marcella.longo@sevenspa.it / Tel: +39 011 9970511
/ Fax: +39 011 9970546

THE “PRODUCTS”: The following products have been licensed:
Medium Backpack; Small Trolley; Pencil Cases; Sakky Bag; Satchel; Belt Book; Ring Binder; Stationery Set 2d; Ruler; Glue; Marker; Stapler; Stickers For Books; Badge Holder; Key Ring; Band; Mobile Phone Charms; Big Backpack; Big Round Trolley; Small Pencil Bag; Lunch Box; Waist Bag; Drawing Album; Drawing Case; Stationary Set 3d; Eraser; Pencil; Scissors; Colour Boxes; Address Book; Wallet; Photo Album; Wrist Band; Mug; Square Backpack; Square Trolley; Big Pencil Bag; Bag; Shoulder Bag; Notebook; Diary; Sharpener, Pen; Coloured Pencil; Felt Tip Pen; Colour Bags; Cards Holder; Purses; Sun Visor; Mobile Phone Accessories Kit

THE “TERRITORY”: The following territory/territories include:
Italy, Spain, Portugal, Andorra

THE “CATEGORIES”
The following category/categories pertain to the license that has been recently granted:
Back to School, Stationery

The following category/categories pertain to what is available now for licensing: (i.e. what licenses are OPEN now)
Please contact VIZ Media Europe for info on available categories & territories.