ACF 977: "BLUE EXORCIST premieres on VIZAnime on Wednesday, April 20th

PARANORMAL ANIME ADVENTURE BLUE EXORCIST
PREMIERES ON VIZANIME.COM THIS MONTH

New Aniplex Series About A Teenager And His Infernal Destiny
Launches In The U.S. Only Days After Japanese Debut

VIZ Media has announced that it will serve as an official distribution partner for Aniplex of America’s domestic debut of the BLUE EXORCIST anime series. VIZ Media will carry the new action series (subtitled) on its VIZAnime website beginning Wednesday, April 20th, just days after its eagerly anticipated debut on Japanese TV on April 17th. New episodes will stream on the site every Wednesday.

In the animated series, Rin, along with his twin brother Yukio Okumura are raised by an eminent priest, Shiro Fujimoto, but one day Rin discovers that their biological father is actually Satan! As the border between “Assiah” (the human world) and “Gehenna” (demon’s world) is intruded upon by evils, Rin vows to become the ultimate exorcist to defeat his own father, Satan. To hone his raw skills, Rin enters True Cross Academy to train with other exorcist candidates. Can Rin fight the demons and keep his infernal bloodline a secret? It won't be easy, especially when drawing his father’s sword releases the demonic power within him!

VIZ Media is the official North American publisher of the BLUE EXORCIST manga (graphic novel) series, created Kazue Kato. Volume 1 is on sale now and is published under the company’s Shonen Jump Advanced imprint. BLUE EXORCIST is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and carries an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

BLUE EXORCIST Volume 1 also is scheduled to be available starting today, April 11th, as part of VIZ Media’s expansive digital manga library available exclusively for the VIZ MANGA APP for the Apple® iPad™ mobile device. For more information on the VIZ MANGA APP, visit www.VIZ.com/apps/.

Manga creator, writer and illustrator Kazue Kato won the prestigious Tezuka Award when she was only 19 for her work, Rabbit And I, published in Japan in Akamaru Jump magazine. Her latest manga series, BLUE EXORCIST, debuted in Jump Square magazine in April of 2009.

ACF 966: VIZ to release "Blue Exorcist" manga series by Kazue Kato on April 5th

AO NO EXORCIST © 2009 by Kazue Kato/SHUEISHA Inc.

A TEEN BOY VANQUISHES DEMONS IN
THE NEW PARANORMAL MANGA SERIES
BLUE EXORCIST FROM VIZ MEDIA

A Teenager Fights Against His Infernal Destiny
In A New Shonen Jump Advanced Title

VIZ Media has announced the release of the manga (graphic novel) series BLUE EXORCIST, by creator Kazue Kato, on April 5th. The new title will be published under the company’s Shonen Jump Advanced imprint, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

Raised by Father Fujimoto, a famous exorcist, Rin Okumura never knew his real father. One day a fateful argument with Father Fujimoto forces Rin to face a terrible truth – the blood of the demon lord Satan runs in Rin’s veins! Rin swears to defeat Satan, but doing that means entering the mysterious True Cross Academy and becoming an exorcist himself. Can Rin fight the demons and keep his infernal bloodline a secret? It won't be easy, especially when drawing his father’s sword releases the demonic power within him!

“Kinetic action and a storyline with plenty of twists and surprises awaits readers as the material world collides with the world of demons in this gripping new series,” says Mike Montesa, Editor. “At the True Cross Academy, Rin faces many challenges and makes new friends, but becomes involved in a secret struggle between Mephisto Pheles, the principal of the school, and the Order of the True Cross. Will he ever achieve his goal to become an exorcist? Or will he become something more sinister?”

Manga creator, writer and illustrator Kazue Kato won the prestigious Tezuka Award when she was only 19 for her work, Rabbit And I, published in Japan in Akamaru Jump magazine. From 2005 to 2006 her series, Robo to Usakichi, a sci-fi adventure featuring a rabbit (again!), was published in the monthly magazine Shonen Sirius (Kodansha). Her latest manga series, BLUE EXORCIST, debuted in Jump Square magazine in April of 2009. Kazue Kato has used a rabbit as a self-portrait in her author’s notes and her works often have some relation to rabbits.

For more information on BLUE EXORCIST and other titles from Shonen Jump Advanced, visit: www.ShonenJump.com.