VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES VARIETY OF EXCITING ANIMATED RELEASES ON DVD FOR THIRD QUARTER 2008

Standard As Well As Deluxe Box Set Editions Featuring Special Collectible Figurines And Wall Scrolls Expand DVD Libraries For Popular Series DEATH NOTE, BLEACH, NARUTO, INUYASHA And RANMA ½

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced an exciting array of new DVD releases for the 3rd Quarter of 2008 that expand some of the most popular animated series in North America.

The new releases include DVD Box Sets and Special Editions containing limited edition collectible figurines, as well as the latest single disc editions for popular series including BLEACH, NARUTO, and DEATH NOTE, as well as much-loved classics like INUYASHA, and RANMA ½.

DEATH NOTE Releases Include:
DEATH NOTE Volume 6 With Limited Edition Collector’s Figure · Rated “T+” for Older Teens · 4 Episodes · MSRP: $39.98 US / $49.99 CAN · Available August 26, 2008
The Yotsuba Group enlists an investigator to uncover L’s identity, while Misa, who’s been hired as their spokesperson, does some investigating of her own. When she discovers the identity of the owner of the Death Note, it’s a race between the killer and the task force — who will catch up to the other first? Time is of the essence, especially when the new Kira makes the trade for the Shinigami Eyes!

DEATH NOTE Volume 6 Standard Edition · Rated “T+” for Older Teens ·
4 Episodes · MSRP: $24.98 US / $34.99 CAN · Available August 26, 2008
DVD-only collection featuring episodes from the hit series, no figure included.

BLEACH Releases Include:
BLEACH Volume 11: THE RESCUE · Rated “T” for Teens ·  4 Episodes · MSRP: $24.98 US / $34.99 CAN · Available Now!
While trying to evade the pursuing Soul Reapers and rescue Rukia, Orihime and Uryu are confronted by the captain of Squad 12, the despicable Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who plans on using them as guinea pigs for his experiments! Meanwhile, Yoruichi has revealed her true form to the astonishment of Ichigo and the others, and must use all her tricks and skills to keep her fellow intruders from losing everything for which they’ve fought so hard.

BLEACH Volume 12: THE RESCUE · Rated “T” for Teens ·  4 Episodes MSRP· $24.98 US / $34.99 CAN · Available September 23, 2008
Lieutenant Momo Hinamori recalls her days in training at the Soul Reaper Academy, where she first met Captain Sosuke Aizen. In the present, the letter Aizen left for her at his death scene leads Momo to believe she has identified his killer... While Ichigo and Renji train with Yoruichi to achieve bankai, Rukia recalls a bit of her own past in a dream that she believes will prepare her to face her execution--which has been moved up to the next day!

NARUTO Releases Include:
NARUTO UNCUT, Vol. 9 SPECIAL EDITION BOX SET · Rated “T+” for Older Teens ·  3 DVDs · MSRP: $69.98 US / $89.99 CAN · Available Now!
Naruto returns to the Hidden Leaf Village to find Sasuke, frustrated with Naruto's sudden growth, thirsting to fight to decide who the better ninja is once and for all. Kakashi stops the fight before the worst can happen, but soon Orochimaru's henchmen arrive in the village to lure Sasuke to Orochimaru with the promise of greater power, a promise Sasuke can't refuse. In order to retrieve Sasuke, newly appointed chunin Shikamaru forms a squad of genin, including Naruto, to pursue the terrifying Sound Ninja Four. Will they catch up before Orochimaru gets his hands on Sasuke? Let the chase begin. Special Edition Box Set comes with a Limited Edition Collectible: Summoning Creature – Manda.

NARUTO UNCUT, Vol. 9 STANDARD EDITION BOX SET · Rated “T+” for Older Teens · 3 DVDs · MSRP: $49.98 US / $64.99 CAN · Available Now!
DVD-only collection featuring episodes from the hit series, no collectible summoning creature included.

NARUTO Volume 25: THE BOND OF SHINOBI · Rated “T” for Teens ·4 Episodes · MSRP: $19.98 US / $24.99 CAN · Available Now!
Naruto and Jiraiya head home with Tsunade and Shizune in tow, and the four stop at a hot spring resort for a little relaxation and an unexpected adventure. But at home again in Hidden Leaf Village, it's back to business. Tsunade's first task: heal the injured ninja. The others are successfully revived, but Tsunade has bad news for Rock Lee. While the village cheerfully prepares for Tsunade's inauguration as Fifth Hokage, Rock Lee must ponder the possibility that he will never fulfill his ninja dreams.

NARUTO Volume 26: THE RACE IS ON! · Rated “T” for Teens ·  4 Episodes · MSRP: $19.98 US / $24.99 CAN · Available Now!
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura are on the ultimate mission: discover what Kakashi looks like behind his mask! Then, Tsunade sends Squad Seven to the Land of Tea and the village of Degarashi, where every four years two rival families hold a race to decide who will rule the village for the next four years. Jirocho, who represents the Wasabi family, asks the teammates to protect their runner, Idate. But the task proves difficult when Idate, who has nothing but contempt for ninja, takes off running the wrong way!

NARUTO Volume 27: THE BATTLE BEGINS · Rated “T” for Teens · 4 Episodes · MSRP: $19.98 US / $24.99 CAN · Available September 2, 2008
Naruto has always thought of Sasuke as a friend, but when Sasuke awakens in the hospital to discover that Naruto has grown stronger, Naruto finds himself on the receiving end of Sasuke's fury. It's Chidori vs. Rasengan! Kakashi steps in to stop the battle, while in the shadows Orochimaru's Sound Ninja Four steal their way into the village with an offer for Sasuke he may not be able to refuse! Will the promise of greater power lure Sasuke away from everything he's known and everyone who cares about him – forever?!

NARUTO Volume 28: SOUND vs. LEAF · Rated “T” for Teens ·  4 Episodes · MSRP: $19.98 US / $24.99 CAN · Available September 30, 2008!
News of Sasuke’s departure reaches the Fifth Hokage, who immediately gives new chunin Shikamaru his first mission as leader—bring back Sasuke! Shikamaru recruits some of his best friends for the job: Naruto, Choji, Neji and Kiba. With a chunin and four top genin on their heels, the sound Ninja Four race to get Sasuke over the border and into Orochimaru’s hands. The Leaf ninja use all their wiles to ambush the Four, but find themselves trapped in a giant dome of earth that’s sucking up every last drop of their chakra!

INUYASHA Releases Include:
INUYASHA SEASON 5 DELUXE BOX SET · Rated “T” for Teens ·  5 DVDs · MSRP: $119.98 US / $149.99 CAN  · Available Now!
Half-demon Inuyasha, modern-day schoolgirl Kagome and their companions face their deepest fears and worst nightmares as their quest to find the Sacred Jewel shards continues in this exciting fifth season box set. The deadly Band of Seven, a group of mercenaries executed for their crimes, have returned from the dead to wreak havoc, and Inuyasha is determined to stop them. But the battle leads them all to the sacred and mysterious Mount Hakurei, where a barrier not only renders demons, including Inuyasha, powerless, but also hides a terrible secret about their worst enemy—Naraku! The Deluxe Box Set includes 5 DVDs and also features a special “Sesshomaru Wall Scroll” and bonus Inuyasha footage.

INUYASHA SEASON 5 STANDARD BOX SET · Rated “T” for Teens ·  5 DVDs · MSRP: $99.98 US / $129.99 CAN · Available Now!
DVD-only collection of the fifth season episodes, no wall scroll included.

RANMA ½ Releases Include:
RANMA ½ SEASON 7: RANMA FOREVER · Rated “T+” for Older Teens · 5 DVDs · MSRP: $49.98 US / $64.99 CAN · Available Now!
It's not easy being teenage martial artist Ranma Saotome, but it's even worse when your martial-artist father Genma takes you from home at an early age to go on a decade-long training mission. He doesn't speak a word of Chinese, and yet he insists upon bringing you to the cursed training ground known as Jusenkyo, where falling into one of the many springs there instantly turns you into whoever – or whatever – drowned there last. And then, the two of you have this little accident...
From now on, a splash of cold water will turn your father into a giant panda, while you... well, you turn into a red-haired (and problematically well-built) female version of yourself. Hot water will reverse the effect, but only until the next time. What's a half-guy, half-girl to do?