TOKYOPOP Teams up with the NBA
Exciting New Line to Feature NBA Greats Shaquille O'neal, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan and Jason Kidd
LOS ANGELES (April 26, 2004)--TokyoPop Inc. and the National Basketball Association (NBA) have given basketball a new way to transcend the court. The companies have teamed up to develop a first-of-its-kind series of NBA Sports Manga--the signature moves and greatest moments of basketball's top stars captured in an awesome visual format for readers. Using full-color digital images freeze-framed into action-packed spreads and peppered with manga-style word balloons and captions, each book highlights the career of a different player. The debut series-titled Greatest Stars of the NBA-features Shaquille O'neal, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan and Jason Kidd. Each NBA Sports Manga carries the suggested retail price of $7.99, and all four volumes are slated to hit stores this winter.
"We are excited to partner with TOKYOPOP for this one-of-a-kind initiative and become the first professional sports league to venture into this category of business," says Charlie Rosenzweig, Vice President of Entertainment and Player Marketing, NBA.
The Greatest Stars of the NBA series will become part of the Read to Achieve program, the NBA's year-round campaign to help young people develop a lifelong love for reading and encourage adults to read regularly with children. Reaching an estimated 50 million children a year, Read to Achieve is the most extensive educational outreach initiative in the history of professional sports.
"We are thrilled to bring the excitement from the court to the Sports Manga format, giving fans a whole new way to enjoy the game and follow their favorite players," says series editor Jod Kaftan.
Sports Manga is the latest spin-off of TOKYOPOP's blockbuster Cine-Manga(TM) line, which is currently sold by retailers throughout the U.S., including major booksellers and mass merchants.
ABOUT TokyoPop Inc.
TokyoPop Inc. is the leading North American publisher of manga, the fastest growing segment within the publishing industry. With exclusive rights to hundreds of licensed and original book, video and music properties, the company has rapidly become a media convergence leader. TOKYOPOP has millions of books in print and publishes many hit manga series, including Love Hina, Chobits, Rave Master, Initial D, GTO, Battle Royale and Cowboy Bebop. The company pioneered Cine-Manga(TM), releasing such titles as Finding Nemo, SpongeBob SquarePants, Lizzie McGuire and Transformers: Armada. TOKYOPOP television properties include Rave Master, GTO and Reign: The Conqueror. The company has also expanded its presence as a licensor, representing merchandising rights for Rave Master, Initial D, Stray Sheep and others. Visit www.TOKYOPOP.com for additional information. TOKYOPOP is a registered trademark of TokyoPop Inc.
LOS ANGELES (April 26, 2004)--TokyoPop Inc. and the National Basketball Association (NBA) have given basketball a new way to transcend the court. The companies have teamed up to develop a first-of-its-kind series of NBA Sports Manga--the signature moves and greatest moments of basketball's top stars captured in an awesome visual format for readers. Using full-color digital images freeze-framed into action-packed spreads and peppered with manga-style word balloons and captions, each book highlights the career of a different player. The debut series-titled Greatest Stars of the NBA-features Shaquille O'neal, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan and Jason Kidd. Each NBA Sports Manga carries the suggested retail price of $7.99, and all four volumes are slated to hit stores this winter.
"We are excited to partner with TOKYOPOP for this one-of-a-kind initiative and become the first professional sports league to venture into this category of business," says Charlie Rosenzweig, Vice President of Entertainment and Player Marketing, NBA.
The Greatest Stars of the NBA series will become part of the Read to Achieve program, the NBA's year-round campaign to help young people develop a lifelong love for reading and encourage adults to read regularly with children. Reaching an estimated 50 million children a year, Read to Achieve is the most extensive educational outreach initiative in the history of professional sports.
"We are thrilled to bring the excitement from the court to the Sports Manga format, giving fans a whole new way to enjoy the game and follow their favorite players," says series editor Jod Kaftan.
Sports Manga is the latest spin-off of TOKYOPOP's blockbuster Cine-Manga(TM) line, which is currently sold by retailers throughout the U.S., including major booksellers and mass merchants.
ABOUT TokyoPop Inc.
TokyoPop Inc. is the leading North American publisher of manga, the fastest growing segment within the publishing industry. With exclusive rights to hundreds of licensed and original book, video and music properties, the company has rapidly become a media convergence leader. TOKYOPOP has millions of books in print and publishes many hit manga series, including Love Hina, Chobits, Rave Master, Initial D, GTO, Battle Royale and Cowboy Bebop. The company pioneered Cine-Manga(TM), releasing such titles as Finding Nemo, SpongeBob SquarePants, Lizzie McGuire and Transformers: Armada. TOKYOPOP television properties include Rave Master, GTO and Reign: The Conqueror. The company has also expanded its presence as a licensor, representing merchandising rights for Rave Master, Initial D, Stray Sheep and others. Visit www.TOKYOPOP.com for additional information. TOKYOPOP is a registered trademark of TokyoPop Inc.
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