VIZ MEDIA APPOINTS EVOLUTION USA AS ITS NORTH AMERICAN LICENSING AGENT

Leading International Agency To Develop New Product And Retail Opportunities For VIZ Media’s Extensive Multimedia Entertainment Catalog Across Broad Consumer Markets

San Francisco, CA, September 27, 2016 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, has tapped the premiere global licensing and brand management firm Evolution USA, LLC as its new licensing agent.

Evolution will represent VIZ Media’s vast catalog of anime and original multimedia content and will be focused on developing new merchandise and expanded retail relationships. The team will also identify and monetize North American licensing opportunities to expand VIZ Media’s consumer presence into untapped new vertical markets.

"VIZ Media's extensive multimedia catalog aligns perfectly with Evolution’s focus on monetizing intellectual properties and character-driven brands into new media, location-based entertainment, consumer products, and fashion apparel,” says Travis J. Rutherford, Evolution‘s President of Licensing & Retail. “There's tremendous brand loyalty and awareness for VIZ Media's unique properties, and we're excited to bring new products to life that will appeal to new and existing fans alike."

“Partnering with the team at Evolution will be a critical component in the ongoing execution of our consumer licensing strategies,” says Brad Woods, Chief Marketing Officer, VIZ Media. “As we continue to develop and expand our catalog we wanted to have an expert merchandise and retail partner who can help to drive the North American business.”

VIZ Media’s acclaimed catalog of anime, manga and original properties includes smash hit series such as ONE-PUNCH MAN, NARUTO, HUNTER X HUNTER, and JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE. The company’s manga titles are regularly featured on New York Times and Nielsen Bookscan national bestseller lists, and its anime series are widely viewed on major broadcast outlets such as Adult Swim on Cartoon Network. The company marked the 30^th Anniversary of its founding this year.

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

About Evolution USA, LLC

Evolution has the expertise to fully monetize all forms of intellectual properties through licensing and merchandising, digital monetization, promotions, location based entertainment, retail development and brand management on a global basis.  Evolution is also adept at managing manufacturing and distribution, which enables it to develop intellectual properties from concept to the retail shelf. www.evomgt.com

About VIZ Media, LLC

Established in 1986, VIZ Media is the premier company in the field of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing. Along with its popular digital magazine WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, DRAGON BALL, SAILOR MOON, and POKÉMON, VIZ Media offers an extensive library of titles and original content in a wide variety of book and video formats, as well as through official licensed merchandise. Owned by three of Japan's largest publishing and entertainment companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is dedicated to bringing the best titles for English-speaking audiences worldwide.

Learn more about VIZ Media and its properties at www.VIZ.com.