Viz Media Set to Score a Home Run with New Cross Game Manga

Celebrated Manga Artist Mitsuru Adachi's Much Anticipated Series Begins In October; Anime Counterpart Streams On VizAnime.com

San Francisco, CA, October 5, 2010 – Viz Media, LLC (Viz Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, brings manga legend Mitsuru Adachi's celebrated series about the game of life and baseball – CROSS GAME – to North American readers on October 12th. The poignant drama will be published in a hefty expanded edition under the Shonen Sunday imprint, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and the first volume, containing the first three volumes as originally released in Japan, will carry an MSRP of $19.99 U.S. / $27.00 CAN. Subsequent volumes will retail for $14.99 U.S. / $19.99 CAN, and will contain two complete volumes from the Japanese release.

The CROSS GAME anime series also streams – for free – on Viz Media's own VizAnime web site (www.VIZAnime.com). To celebrate the launch of the manga, a special double-episode installment of new anime episodes (subtitled) will be available on the site the week of October 11th. CROSS GAME anime episodes are also available from streaming content provider HULU (www.Hulu.com).

CROSS GAME is a moving drama that is heartfelt and true, yet in the brilliant hands of creator Mitsuru Adachi, the story delightfully flows with a light and amusing touch. The series centers around a boy named Ko, the family of four sisters who live down the street, and the game of baseball. This poignant coming-of-age story will change readers' perception of what shonen manga can be.

“Anticipation has grown steadily for the release of the Cross Game manga since we first previewed it on the Shonen Sunday web site, and we're honored to offer this realistic coming of age drama from one of Japan's true manga legends,” says Andy Nakatani, Senior Manager, Editorial and Editor-In-Chief, Shonen Sunday. “Mitsuru Adachi has crafted a touching story about adolescence, tragedy and first love that is skillfully combined with the excitement of the sport of baseball. We look forward to fans exploring this new manga series and also checking out the anime counterpart on VizAnime.”

One of the biggest names in the manga industry today, Mitsuru Adachi made his debut in 1970 with Kieta Bakuon!! in the pages of Deluxe Shonen Sunday. The creator of numerous mega-hits such as Touch, Miyuki, and Cross Game, Adachi-sensei received the Shogakukan Manga Award for all three of the aforementioned series. Truly in the top echelon of the manga industry, his cumulative works have seen over 200 million copies sold, and many of his series have been adapted into anime, live-action TV series and film. A master of his medium, Adachi has come to be known for his genius handling of dramatic elements combined with romance, comedy and sports. He, along with Rumiko Takahashi, has become synonymous with the phenomenal success of Shonen Sunday in Japan.

To view subtitled CROSS GAME animated episodes (rated ‘T’ for Teens) and other Viz Media animated titles please visit www.VIZAnime.com.

For more information on the Cross Game manga (rated ‘T’ for teens) and other titles from Viz Media's Shonen Sunday imprint, please visit www.ShonenSunday.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 the popular monthly manga anthology SHONEN JUMP magazine, 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 website at www.VIZAnime.com.