VIZ MEDIA DETAILS AN EXCITING WEEKEND OF ACTVITIES AND CONVENTION EXCLUSIVES FOR OTAKON 2015

North America’s Biggest Anime/Manga Company Returns To One Of The East Coast’s Largest Anime Conventions With Fun Booth Activities And An Exciting Selection Of Exclusives

VIZ Media prepares its return to Otakon, one of the East Coast’s most renowned anime conventions, with a roster of informative panel discussions, interactive booth activities, promotional giveaways, anime screening premieres, and a special selection of retail products available exclusively at the event.

Otakon 2015 takes place July 24^th through July 26^th at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, MD. Full details are available at: www.otakon.com. VIZ Media will be located in Booth # IND006.

Fans are invited to catch the following product exclusives and special advance releases available (while supplies last) at the VIZ Media booth:

·         Early pre-street manga releases for:

o   MY HERO ACADEMIA Vol. 1 ($10)

o   TOKYO GHOUL Vol. 2 ($13; Vol. 1 also available)

o   ULTRAMAN Vol. 1 – ($13)

o   MAID-SAMA 2-in-1 Omnibus – ($15)

·         WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Annual Digital Subscription – 12-month digital subscription to the world’s most popular manga magazine includes exclusive NARUTO Game Mat, Collectible Yearbook (shipped to subscribers Fall 2015) and YU‐GI‐OH! Promo Card: Frightfur Tiger! ($25)

·         Exclusive SAILOR MOON R T-shirts – Ladies & Unisex sizes; available only from VIZ Media! ($15 each)

·         Shojo Beat 10^th Anniversary Calendar Giveaway - Celebrate Shojo Beat’s 10^th anniversary! Claim an Anniversary Calendar at the Shojo Beat Panel and VIZ Media booth while supplies last!

A limited edition VIZ Media tote bag featuring favorite characters in 3 different designs will be given as a free gift with purchase. Choose from SHONEN JUMP (double‐sided featuring Luffy and Naruto), SAILOR MOON R or THE LEGEND OF ZELDA!

Located on the Otakon main show floor, VIZ Media’s booth will be a central hub of activity that will be a must-visit for anime and manga fans. Check the daily posted schedule for each day’s events. Stop by the booth throughout the convention for a FREE TOKYO GHOUL poster giveaway, and take a SAILOR MOON survey to score a free poster featuring the legendary Sailor Guardians.

VIZ Media also invites attendees to take part in the SAILOR MOON Quest for the Time Key treasure hunt throughout the convention. Begin your mission at the VIZ Media booth by collecting a SAILOR MOON tiara, then find the Guardians and reawaken each one’s memories.

VIZ Media Otakon Panels & Special Events:

Friday July 24^th

10:15AM - 11:15AM    The Classics of Shonen Jump Panel

                                      Panel 5 (Hilton Holiday 4-6)

Shonen Jump brought us many classic manga series such as KNIGHTS OF THE ZODIAC, DRAGON BALL and RUROUNI KENSHIN. Think you know them all? Find out at this panel as VIZ Media goes through a list of legendary Shonen Jump classics and how you can get them! 

2:00PM – 3:00PM         Official VIZ Media Panel

                                      Panel 7 (Hilton Key 1-6)

Come party with VIZ Media! Hear thrilling tales of upcoming releases and other Earth-shattering announcements from North America's largest distributor of manga and anime! VIZ Media has brought you thousands of your favorite titles including huge hits like Naruto, Death Note, Sailor Moon, Ranma ½, Tokyo Ghoul and more! Warning: panel may include trivia, prizes, yelling and probably some clapping. 

Saturday July 25^th

11:30AM - 12:30PM    Official SAILOR MOON Panel

                                      Panel 2 (BCC Ballroom II)

Join the VIZ Media staff as well as cast members, Sandy Fox (Chibi-Usa) and Lauren Landa (Michiru Kaioh/Sailor Neptune) from the legendary series for news, updates and fun as only the Guardians of Love and Justice can provide. Everyone attending will receive a special treat while supplies last!

1:30PM – 3:30PM         Screening - SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL Dub East Coast Premiere

                                      Video 3 (BCC Ballroom III-IV)

Be among the first fans to catch the newest English dubbed episodes of SAILOR MOON!

4:30PM – 5:30PM         Official SHOJO BEAT Panel

                                      Panel 6 (BCC Ballroom III-IV)

Celebrate the 10^th Anniversary of Shojo Beat manga with us! VIZ Media’s editors Amy Yu and Nancy Thistlethwaite will look back on a decade of publishing Shojo Beat manga, answer your questions, and let you know what’s coming up in the future! 

Sunday July 26^th

11:30AM – 12:30PM              VIZ Media Animation Panel

                                      Panel 1 (BCC 314-315)

Find out all that's new and awesome with the VIZ Animation team! We'll be talking about upcoming releases, share some announcements and tell you all about the anime streaming service, Neon Alley. Bring all your anime questions, too because we'll be here to answer them!

Finally, don’t forget to check the Otakon 2015 screening schedule for a variety of exciting VIZ Media anime titles including showings of BLOOD LAD and RANMA ½!

For more information on anime and manga titles licensed, published and distributed by VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

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