VIZ MEDIA LAUNCHES HIT ACTION ANIME SERIES MÄR™ ON DVD

Date: Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Series About A Nerdy Boy Transformed Into A Hero Also A Popular Manga And A Staple Of Toonami Jetstream



San Francisco, CA, June 13, 2007 " VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the launch of the anime series MÃ"Râ"¢ on DVD. The first volume, Gateway To MÃ"R, contains four episodes, is rated "T" for Teens and debuts this week for $19.98. Special foil packaging and a limited edition double-sided poster are also featured as special premiums.



MÃ"R is a popular staple of Toonami Jetstream, an innovative online service launched last year by Cartoon Network and VIZ Media. MÃ"R was the most watched show on Toonami Jetstream for the week of 5/21-5/27, is #3 overall in lifetime views, and also enjoys a dedicated and growing fan-base on the network's broadcast side.



MÃ"R is based on a popular 15-volume manga by Nobuyuki Anzai (FLAME OF

RECCA) which is also distributed by VIZ Media. It tells the story of Ginta Toramizu, a 14-year-old middle school student, who has had 102 dreams about the "World of MÃ"R," yet he isn't sure what they mean. Ginta is short, nerdy and has terrible eye-sight. He is often the subject of teasing at school and life is pretty bad until one day while in class a dimensional door opens, propelling him into the world of MÃ"R. In this new World, Ginta is still short, but his eyesight improves and he now possesses incredible strength. A chance meeting with a pretty sorceress named Dorothy teaches him about magic in MÃ"R, which resides in a type of magical jewelry called an Ã"RMâ"¢ (which can turn into all kinds of defensive or offensive devices and serve both good and evil depending on the wearer and his intentions). Ginta meets and befriends a talking magical Ã"RM of his own named Babbo. Unfortunately everyone in the World of MÃ"R also wants to meet and have Babbo, especially the Chess Pieces, a rogue army that Ginta and Babbo must defeat to save the World of MÃ"R from evil domination. Now part of Team MÃ"R, Ginta and Babbo fight in the War Games against the Chess Pieces to save the World of MÃ"R. But will Ginta's mission be compromised by his ally's secrets?


"MÃ"R is a fast-rising star of the VIZ Media repertoire and we are pleased to launch it on DVD following the strong embrace by fans on Toonami Jetstream," states Liza Coppola, Sr. Vice President, Marketing, VIZ Media. "Extending the success of the manga series, the blend of action and comedy with out-of-this-world characters has made the anime counterpart a hit with teen and pre-teen demographics and we look forward to the series continuing to develop broad appeal."

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 Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs, audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages.