Paris, France, October 22, 2007 – VIZ Media Europe (VME), the Paris-based subsidiary of VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), has announced that Mediaset/RTI has been granted the Italian broadcast, DVD and merchandising rights for the BLUE DRAGON™ anime property. The highly anticipated new series is based on a popular Xbox 360 Role Playing Game. VIZ Media is the master licensor for the television, home video and non-video game merchandising rights for BLUE DRAGON in the Americas, Europe and Oceania. Mediaset/RTI is Italy's most important privately owned communications and broadcasting group and also one of the largest in the world.

The anime series debuted in Japan on TV Tokyo on April 7, 2007 and is produced by Studio Pierrot, which is well-known for its work on NARUTO and BLEACH, which are also licensed by VIZ Media. BLUE DRAGON is a fantastic adventure story of magical Shadow powers, flying air fortresses, and unbounded heroism! Brought together by fate, Seven Soldiers of Light must awaken the Shadow within themselves in time to overcome a despotic power and bring peace to their land. Their ensuing journey through a rich fantasy world is also an internal journey to awaken the great power within each of them. Journey with them into the world of BLUE DRAGON!

“We are extremely excited to acquire the terrestrial broadcast and DVD rights to BLUE DRAGON,” says Francesco Mozzetti, Mediaset Children’s Acquisition Director. “Italian audiences have a long established love for anime going back to the 1970s and we are happy to strengthen our business relationship with VIZ Media and VIZ Media Europe following our previous license of the MIRMO anime series. The convergence of anime and gaming is well represented by BLUE DRAGON and the series will be a centerpiece of our future anime offerings.”

 “We are very excited to expand our great relationship with Mediaset/RTI for the launch of BLUE DRAGON in Italy,” says John Easum, President/Gérant of VIZ Media Europe. “BLUE DRAGON represents a major initiative for VIZ Media, and we could not have chosen a stronger partner for the burgeoning Italian market. With the support of MEDIASET and RTI, we are confident that BLUE DRAGON will become a major brand in Italy.”

The exclusive videogame “BLUE DRAGON” debuted on the Xbox 360 entertainment system, and was developed by Hironobu Sakaguchi (the creator of Final Fantasy) and features characters designed by Akira Toriyama, the creator of the best-selling DRAGON BALL series of manga (which is published in North America by VIZ Media and featured in SHONEN JUMP Magazine).

About VIZ Media Europe, S.A.R.L. (VME)
Headquartered in Paris, France, VIZ Media Europe (VME) is a subsidiary of San Francisco-based VIZ Media, LLC. VME specializes in the development, marketing and distribution throughout Europe of Japanese animated entertainment and graphic novels (manga). It handles some of the most popular Japanese manga and animation properties from initial production, through television placement and distribution to merchandise licensing and promotions for consumers of all ages. VME offers both "shonen" manga (aimed at male readers) and "shôjo" manga (aimed at female readers) properties owned by the largest Japanese publishing houses, Shueisha Inc. and Shogakukan Inc., as well as those properties licensed through animation & merchandising giant ShoPro (Japan). Current VME animated properties include BLEACH, DEATH NOTE, BLUE DRAGON, HONEY & CLOVER, MÄR ZOIDS GENESIS and KIRARIN.
Contact VIZ Media Europe at 90 avenue des Champs-Elysées, 75008, Paris, France; Phone (33) 1 56 43 50 34; Fax: (33) 1 56 43 50 30; and web site at www.vizeurope.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 Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro 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 and 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.

Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.Paris, France, October 22, 2007 – VIZ Media Europe (VME), the Paris-based subsidiary of VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), has announced that Mediaset/RTI has been granted the Italian broadcast, DVD and merchandising rights for the BLUE DRAGON™ anime property. The highly anticipated new series is based on a popular Xbox 360 Role Playing Game. VIZ Media is the master licensor for the television, home video and non-video game merchandising rights for BLUE DRAGON in the Americas, Europe and Oceania. Mediaset/RTI is Italy's most important privately owned communications and broadcasting group and also one of the largest in the world.

The anime series debuted in Japan on TV Tokyo on April 7, 2007 and is produced by Studio Pierrot, which is well-known for its work on NARUTO and BLEACH, which are also licensed by VIZ Media. BLUE DRAGON is a fantastic adventure story of magical Shadow powers, flying air fortresses, and unbounded heroism! Brought together by fate, Seven Soldiers of Light must awaken the Shadow within themselves in time to overcome a despotic power and bring peace to their land. Their ensuing journey through a rich fantasy world is also an internal journey to awaken the great power within each of them. Journey with them into the world of BLUE DRAGON!

“We are extremely excited to acquire the terrestrial broadcast and DVD rights to BLUE DRAGON,” says Francesco Mozzetti, Mediaset Children’s Acquisition Director. “Italian audiences have a long established love for anime going back to the 1970s and we are happy to strengthen our business relationship with VIZ Media and VIZ Media Europe following our previous license of the MIRMO anime series. The convergence of anime and gaming is well represented by BLUE DRAGON and the series will be a centerpiece of our future anime offerings.”

 “We are very excited to expand our great relationship with Mediaset/RTI for the launch of BLUE DRAGON in Italy,” says John Easum, President/Gérant of VIZ Media Europe. “BLUE DRAGON represents a major initiative for VIZ Media, and we could not have chosen a stronger partner for the burgeoning Italian market. With the support of MEDIASET and RTI, we are confident that BLUE DRAGON will become a major brand in Italy.”

The exclusive videogame “BLUE DRAGON” debuted on the Xbox 360 entertainment system, and was developed by Hironobu Sakaguchi (the creator of Final Fantasy) and features characters designed by Akira Toriyama, the creator of the best-selling DRAGON BALL series of manga (which is published in North America by VIZ Media and featured in SHONEN JUMP Magazine).

About VIZ Media Europe, S.A.R.L. (VME)
Headquartered in Paris, France, VIZ Media Europe (VME) is a subsidiary of San Francisco-based VIZ Media, LLC. VME specializes in the development, marketing and distribution throughout Europe of Japanese animated entertainment and graphic novels (manga). It handles some of the most popular Japanese manga and animation properties from initial production, through television placement and distribution to merchandise licensing and promotions for consumers of all ages. VME offers both "shonen" manga (aimed at male readers) and "shôjo" manga (aimed at female readers) properties owned by the largest Japanese publishing houses, Shueisha Inc. and Shogakukan Inc., as well as those properties licensed through animation & merchandising giant ShoPro (Japan). Current VME animated properties include BLEACH, DEATH NOTE, BLUE DRAGON, HONEY & CLOVER, MÄR ZOIDS GENESIS and KIRARIN.

Contact VIZ Media Europe at 90 avenue des Champs-Elysées, 75008, Paris, France; Phone (33) 1 56 43 50 34; Fax: (33) 1 56 43 50 30; and web site at www.vizeurope.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 Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro 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 and 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.

Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.