Viz Media Nominated in Multiple Categories at First Annual American Anime Awards

VIZ MEDIA NOMINATED IN MULTIPLE CATEGORIES AT FIRST ANNUAL AMERICAN
ANIME AWARDS

INUYASHA, NARUTO, BLEACH, MONSTER And DEATH NOTE Among The Popular
Anime
and Manga Series Nominated

San Francisco, CA, January 12, 2006 – Viz Media, LLC (Viz Media), one
of
the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive
publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the
nominations of several of the company’s anime and manga series for
the
first annual American Anime Awards.

The awards program will spotlight and celebrate the growing popularity
of anime and manga in North America and recognize properties that have
established themselves with fans and critics. Fans are invited to vote
on the nominated titles in a variety of categories on the award’s
official web site at: http://www.americananimeawards.com/. Winners will
be announced at an industry gala on February 24 during the 2007 New York
Comic-Con, at which Viz Media will be a major exhibitor and participant
in the programs offered.

Viz Media properties received nominations in nearly every voting
category that includes major selections for Best Anime Series, Best
Manga Series, Best Animated Feature and Best Short/Long Anime Series
among others. Anime series INUYASHA, MAISON IKKOKU, RANMA ½, ZATCH
BELL!, BLEACH and NARUTO were nominated. On the manga side, popular VIZ
Media properties MONSTER, DEATH NOTE, BLEACH and NARUTO have also been
nominated.

“We are pleased to have so many fine Viz Media manga and anime
properties nominated for the 2007 American Anime Awards,” states Liza
Coppola, Sr. Vice President, Marketing, Viz Media. “The awards are a
unique event, Viz Media has been a dominant figure on the North
American
anime and manga scenes for over 20 years and we look forward to fans
responding enthusiastically and lending their support to our titles.”

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. (Sho-Pro 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.