VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES DVD RELEASE OF POKÉMON: THE RISE OF DARKRAI

Latest Feature Film From Iconic Children’s Property Offers Exciting New Adventure Featuring Popular “Diamond and Pearl” Characters Dialga and Palkia, Also Introducing the Mysterious Darkrai

San Francisco, CA, May 27 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the DVD release of the latest Pokémon movie – Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai to hit store shelves today and will carry an SRP of $19.98.

Pokémon remains one of the most successful children's properties worldwide, generating billions in global sales to date. In North America the Pokémon television series airs seven days a week on Cartoon Network and the property continues to be one of the network’s top ranked programs in all key demographics. Pokémon is also the top-ranked show on Toonami JetstreamT, an online service developed jointly by Cartoon Network and VIZ Media that allows users to watch streamed episodes from several of the network’s hit series.

In Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai, young hero Ash may think he's seen everything when it comes to Pokémon, but is he ready to face the mysterious Darkrai in his latest awesome adventure? While touring Alamos Town - home of the Space-Time Tower - with the beautiful Alice, Ash and his friends discover that the town's special garden has been decimated! Baron Alberto, a dashing but arrogant fellow, immediately blames the destruction on Darkrai. As if it just overheard the accusation, Darkrai appears and confronts our heroes! Who is Darkrai? Is it a friend... or an enemy in disguise? And as a battle between Legendary Pokémon Dialga and Palkia rages directly above Alamos Town, and threatens to tear a hole in the space-time continuum, will Ash and his friends survive this showdown and learn Darkrai's true nature?

“Pokémon continues to be a cornerstone of VIZ Media’s catalog of unique children’s titles and we’re extremely pleased to announce the DVD release of this latest feature film, Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai,” says Mark Chang, Director, Product Marketing, VIZ Media. “For more than a decade, Pokémon has captivated millions of kids with positive messages about cooperation and friendship. VIZ Media was one of the first companies to bring Pokémon home videos and DVDs to a domestic audience and in coming months we plan on releasing a variety of new Pokémon DVDs, manga and puzzle books and we look forward to fans catching them all!”

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.