A NEW OFFICAL WEB DESTINATION FOR SOME OF THE HOTTEST ANIME CONTENT  

Optimized Technology Allows Fans To Connect And Interact And Spend Less Time Looking For The Latest Anime Episodes And More Time Enjoying Them 

San Francisco, CA, March 15, 2010 – In a significant news announcement, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has detailed the launch of VIZ Anime – a brand new, free-to-use interactive web destination that will become a permanent home to some of the company’s best-loved animated series as well as new content which will be added on a weekly basis. VIZ Anime is accessible at: www.VIZAnime.com.  

VIZ Anime kicks off with more than 400 episodes from hit series such as BLEACH, BUSO RENKIN, DEATH NOTE (complete series), HIKARU NO GO, HONEY & CLOVER, INUYASHA (complete series) and INUYASHA: THE FINAL ACT, NANA, NARUTO (complete series) and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN as well as THE PRINCE OF TENNIS. The site will also be the future web home for many other eagerly anticipated anime series set to launch later this year! 

Episodes can be streamed for free with new ones being added weekly. A variety of interactive social networking tools and features also help foster an official online home and community for VIZ Media anime fans allowing them to connect on and discuss favorite shows, and offer ratings and opinions of various episodes. New functionalities will be added regularly. 

“We’re committed to developing VIZ Anime as a premiere online destination, and hope to offer a real community for VIZ Media fans to interact with each other and share their love of anime,” says Ken Sasaki, Senior Vice President & General Manager of VIZ Media. “We will also utilize the site as a means of two-way communication to better understand what our fans enjoy most and want, and how they engage with anime and manga online. With a lot of content to select from, VIZ Anime will become a favorite site to visit again and again!” 

Synopsis: What would you do if a child you saved grew up to be a monster? An ice-cold killer is on the loose, and Dr. Kenzo Tenma is the only one who can stop him!  Tenma, a brilliant neurosurgeon with a promising future, risks his career to save the life of a critically wounded young boy named Johan. When the boy, now a coldhearted and charismatic young man, reappears nine years later in the midst of a string of unusual serial murders, Tenma must go on the run to uncover the story of Johan and stop the monster he set loose upon the world. Conspiracies, serial murders, and secret government experiments set against the grim backdrop of the former East Germany are masterfully woven together in this compelling psychological thriller. (Episodes 1-15)

Review: This is a series that we all never thought would make it to DVD.  The stand-out thing about Naoki Urasawa's Monster anime is that it is almost an identical match with the preceeding Naoki Urasawa's Monster manga.  For those not familiar manga is a Japanese form of comic books, but more in actual book format.  Its the same as if someone took a book and almost identically translated it onto the big screen.  That hardly ever happens.

This box set represents the first 15 episodes of the 74 episode series.  Naoki Urasawa's Monster delves into political drama in 1986 Germany.   A demoted mayor...a rebellious doctor..and a child that grows to be a psychopathic monster.  I don't want to spoil this series for you, but you NEED to check this one out.

This series has been airing on the SyFy network, but its so accomplished and so involved that you'll want to own this one on DVD.  I can't hardly believe that this set made it to DVD in America.  This is the type of show that can make leaps and bounds at legitimizing anime in America.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Synopsis: Two powerful jonin of the Leaf, Kakashi and Guy, have taken on their Akatsuki rivals Itachi and Kisame. While Guy battles to save his team from a water prison, Kakashi exhibits his genius ninja prowess by seeing through Itachi's most subtle tactics. Turns out the battle wasn't quite what it seemed, and Kakashi and Granny Chiyo are fearful of the implications. Naruto and the team are forced to face the bitter truth--they might already be too late! (Episodes 14-17)

Review: This new single disc release from the Naruto Shippuden series collects episodes 14 through 17.....  14. Naruto's Growth, 15. The Secret Weapon Is Called… 16. The Secret of Jinchuriki, 17. The Death of Gaara!


The Hidden Leaf Ninjas and the Sand Village continue their epic feud with the evil and horrendous Akatsuki.  We get to see Naruto growing from the sly and funny youth to an accomplished ninja.  These episodes are a great blend of humor, lessons and action.

A warning to parents, you shouldn't allow anyone under the age of 12 to view this series.  Anime is very adult-centric, so don't assume that its ok for your kids, just because its animation.  This is a single disc release.  I'd prefer a box set, but at least Viz is releasing these at a steady rate for the fans.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars