VIZ PICTURES ANNOUNCES DVD RELEASE OF LIVE-ACTION FILM NANA

Manga-Inspired Film Offers Realistic Portrayal of Two Modern Women Searching For Love, Careers and a Sense of Purpose

VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, announced the release of the manga-inspired live-action film Nana on DVD which hit store shelves April 8. The film, which features English subtitles, will have an estimated retail price of $24.98. The release follows a special week-run theatrical screening that began on Friday, April 4 in New York’s IMAGINASIAN THEATRE.

Nana follows the adventures of two girls both named Nana. While they share the same name, they couldn't be more different. Nana "Hachi" Komatsu (played by Miyazaki Aoi) follows her boyfriend to Tokyo and hopes to make a new start, while Nana Osaki (played by Nakashima Mika), who arrives in the city at the same time, is a punk rock beauty who has the ambition to make it big in the world of rock and roll. Although these two young women come from vastly different backgrounds, they quickly become best friends. What sets them apart, however, is the stark difference between their lives. One Nana comes from a small town, following her friends and boyfriend but ultimately looking for her own goal to obtain, while the other Nana has a single-minded aim to make her dream and band, the Black Stones, among the best in Japan.

Nana performed well at the Japanese box office upon its release in 2006, grossing more than 4 billion yen and remaining in the Top 10 for several weeks. The main theme song from the film, “Glamorous Sky,” took the number 1 spot on Japan’s Oricon charts in its first two weeks of sales and quickly sold over 450,000 copies. Another song from the film, “Endless Story,” took the number 2 spot on the same chart in its first week of release and sold over 300,000 copies.

Nana was inspired by a wildly successful shojo manga (graphic novel) series of the same name by Ai Yazawa, which has sold over 22 million copies in Japan. The English version of the manga, rated 'M' (for mature) is published domestically by VIZ Media

“Nana is a stylish film with a rollicking soundtrack that depicts the romantic and personal dramas of two women coming of age in Tokyo,” says Manami Iiboshi, Director, Marketing, VIZ Pictures. “While it remains true to the original story presented in Ai Yazawa’s manga series, the film presents a fresh and edgy interpretation with strong on-screen synergy between the two main actors. Music fans will especially delight in seeing J-Pop star Nakashima Mika’s performance as the punk rock Nana Osaki and witnessing the intense performances her band, the Black Stones. We invite fans of all stripes to check out this newest film from VIZ Pictures!”