VIZ MEDIA PARTNERSWITH
JAPAN’S ANIMATE AND LIBRE PUBLISHING
TO LAUNCH SuBLime, A NEW YAOIMANGA LINE
North American Manga PublishingPowerhouse
Launches A Bold New Initiative
To Deliver Acclaimed Boys’ LoveTitles Digitally
And In Print To An Eager Fan Base
VIZ Media has announced the launch of its highly anticipated newyaoi manga (graphic novel) line – SuBLime– which represents an innovative new partnership between VIZ Media and Japan’sAnimate, Ltd. (Animate) and Libre Publishing Co., Ltd. (Libre Publishing).
Thisbold, global publishing initiative will present English-speaking fans everywherewith a broad selection of high quality titles. SuBLime will offer titles digitally worldwide on its dedicated website at SuBLimeManga.com, with manyavailable in Download-to-Own format, and selections in print also available inEnglish-language editions worldwide. From the supernatural men of Naono Bohra’stales of fantasy to the sexy actors portrayed in some of Youka Nitta’s bestworks, SuBLime will offer somethingfor even the most discerning yaoi manga fan.
“Theyaoi manga genre enjoys a sizeable and very passionate following, and thelaunch of SuBLime will give fansaround the world an entirely new outlet that will deliver an exciting range oftitles,” says Leyla Aker, Vice President of Publishing, VIZ Media. “We invitefans to join us as we prepare to bring some of the best new boys’ love mangatitles to North America and beyond!”
“I’m very excited to open the way to providing boys’ lovemanga to fans all over the world,” says Shingo Kunieda, Director of Animate'sOverseas Division. “There are many wonderful yaoi manga titles released everymonth in Japan, and we know that fans want to read them as soon as possible. Weare always moving forward to find new ways of doing business, and by partneringwith VIZ Media, we can make yaoi fans happy and release boys’ love titles asquickly as possible!”
Toshiko Ohta, President of Libre Publishing, concurs,saying, “Libre’s dream is to bring our content to yaoi fans around the world.In partnership with VIZ Media, this is now a reality. We look forward toreaders’ support for SuBLime!”
SuBLime’s first round of digital manga titlesare scheduled to launch this December, and will feature LOVE PISTOLS Vol. 1, byTarako Kotobuki, and the North American debut of DANNASAMA TO MITSUGETSUCHUVol. 1, by Haruka Minami. January 2012 sees the debut of OUSAMA NO BED, bySakae Kusama, and in February, SWEET POOL Vol. 1, by Nitro+CHiRAL. Additionalnew titles slated for 2012 include SHIZUKUHANABIRA RINGO NO KAORI Vols. 1 and 2 by Toko Kawai, DEVIL’S HONEY by IsakuNatsume, KEKKON ZENYA by Kou Fujisaki, ADULT TEACHER WA OSUKI? by Kiu Aion, andYOKUBOU NO SHIZUKU by You Higashino.
SuBLime’s first print titles are scheduled tobe THREE WOLVES MOUNTAIN, by Naono Bohra, and HACHIMITSU DARLING, by NorikazuAkira, which will both be released in Spring 2012, followed by PUNCH UP Vol. 1,by Shiuko Kano, and AITSU NO DAIHONMEI Vol. 1, by Suzuki Tanaka, to be releasedin the Summer of 2012.
For up-to-datenews and release information, please visit the SuBLime website at www.SuBLimeManga.com,or follow SuBLime on Twitter at @SuBLimeManga and Facebook at facebook.com/SuBLimeManga.
