VIZ Media, Manga Entertainment Sign Distribution Deal

CANNES, April 7: Manga Entertainment has secured a
deal to distribute a wide range of VIZ Media’s DVD titles to the U.K. and
Ireland, starting with the release of Death Note Vol. 1 on April 28.

In addition to Death Note, other titles under in the deal
include the hit series Bleach and new series such as MÄR and Buso Renkin.

“We are incredibly excited to be able to work with
VIZ Media in delivering their fantastic catalogue to anime fans in the U.K. and
Ireland,” said Colin Lomax of Anchor Bay Entertainment/Manga Entertainment U.K.
“We also look forward to working with VIZ Media in growing the anime market in
these territories and implementing creative strategies to reach an even wider
audience in the home-video sector.”

“VIZ Media has been privileged to represent some of
the strongest animated content from Japan; and we have many exciting new
projects in the pipeline,” commented John Easum, the president of VIZ Media
Europe. “By expanding our close partnership with Manga Entertainment through
this DVD distribution agreement, we will offer our fans in the U.K. and
Ireland, a variety of rich and exciting new series from Japan.”

—By Kristin Brzoznowski