ACF 998: New manga series AI ORE! set to debut May 3rd, 2011 from VIZ Media

Aiwo Utauyori Oreni Oborero! Volume 1 © Mayu SHINJO 2010

COMEDY, ROCK ‘n’ ROLL AND ROMANCE SET THE STAGE FOR THE DEBUT OF VIZ MEDIA’S NEWEST SHOJO MANGA SERIES AI ORE!

The Boy (Who Looks Like A Girl) Meets Girl (Who Looks Like A Boy)
Romance From The Creator Of SENSUAL PHRASE

VIZ Media expands its extensive catalog of shojo manga (graphic novels for girls) titles with the launch of AI ORE! on May 3rd. The new series, created by Mayu Shinjo, will be published under the Shojo Beat imprint, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $14.99 CAN.

Mizuki is the female "prince" of her all-girls school and the lead guitarist in an all-girl rock band. Akira is the male "princess" of his all-boys school and wants to join her band. Love may be on his mind, but romance is difficult when everyone keeps mistaking Mizuki for a boy and Akira for a girl!

“Cool rocker Mizuki, who has worked hard to cultivate her “princely” reputation, meets her match in Akira, a boy who isn’t afraid to use his “feminine wiles” to get what he wants in this fun romp by Mayu Shinjo,” says Nancy Thistlethwaite, Editor. “AI ORE! has the hallmarks that readers love about master creator Mayu Shinjo’s work—great characters and passionate romance—but this series also reveals Shinjo’s irrepressible sense of humor. Fans have been waiting for a new release by the creator of the hit series SENSUAL PHRASE, and we are pleased to bring this manga to North America.”

AI ORE! creator Mayu Shinjo hails from the city of Nagasaki and debuted as a manga artist in 1994 with I Want to be Dyed in Your Color in the pages of Shogakukan’s Shojo Comic magazine. She has been a prolific creator with over fifteen titles to her name.

For more information on AI ORE! and other VIZ Media shojo manga titles, visit www.ShojoBeat.com.

ACF 531: Conclusion of manga THE GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE† is released

THE GENTLEMEN ALLIANCE -CROSS- © 2004 by Arina Tanemura/SHUEISHA Inc.

VIZ Media has announced the release of the conclusion of Arina Tanemura’s popular shojo drama THE GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE†. Here's some info about it:

This entertaining love story for older teens is set in a high society high school where a spirited girl falls for the President of the student body.

Published under the popular Shojo Beat imprint, THE GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE† is from creator Arina Tanemura known best for her spunky female characters and beautiful artwork.

Don't miss the conclusion to this fun shojo story that proves why Arina Tenemura has international fame in the shojo arena.

ACF 358: KIMI NI TODOKE: FROM ME TO YOU

(KIMI NI TODOKE © 2005 Karuho Shiina / SHUEISHA Inc.)

VIZ MEDIA DEBUTS CELEBRATED ROMANTIC MANGA SERIES
KIMI NI TODOKE: FROM ME TO YOU

Karuho Shiina’s celebrated romantic shojo manga (graphic novels for girls) series KIMI NI TODOKE: FROM ME TO YOU is now available from VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media). The new series, published under VIZ Media’s SHOJO BEAT imprint, is rated ‘T’ for Teens and carries an MSRP of $8.99 U.S. / $10.50 CAN. Bonus stickers are also included in limited quantities of Volume 1.

Sawako Kuronuma is the perfect heroine – for a horror movie! With her jet-black hair, sinister smile and silent demeanor, she’s often mistaken for the haunting movie character Sadako. But behind her scary façade is a very misunderstood teenager. Too shy to fit in, all she wants to do is make some friends. But when the most popular boy in class befriends her, she's sure to make more than just that – and she's about to make some enemies too!

KIMI NI TODOKE: FROM ME TO YOU is creator Karuho Shiina’s second manga series following several one-shot stories, but it has received numerous accolades and appeared on many "Best Manga of the Year" lists. Winner of the 2008 Kodansha Manga Award for the shojo category, KIMI NI TODOKE: FROM ME TO YOU also placed fifth in the first-ever Manga Taisho (Cartoon Grand Prize) contest held in 2008. An animated series is in production in Japan as well. In North America, KIMI NI TODOKE: FROM ME TO YOU was recently selected as a Hot Fall Graphic Novel for Libraries at the 2009 Book Expo America (BEA), the nation’s largest publishing event.

“Sawako is actually very sweet and considerate and readers will root for her as she struggles to overcome her shyness and open up to the one boy in her school who can see beneath her seemingly dark and cold exterior,” says Gonzalo Ferreyra, Vice President, Sales & Marketing for VIZ Media. “KIMI NI TODOKE: FROM ME TO YOU shows how appearances can be deceiving, and lots of drama ensues as Sawako becomes the subject of jealousy and judgments from her peers. For anyone who has experienced this situation or appreciates the adage of ‘opposites attract,’ KIMI NI TODOKE: FROM ME TO YOU will be a heartwarming read.”

ACF 248: April 2009 Shojo Beat Magazine will be Annual Art Issue

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES ANNUAL ART ISSUE OF SHOJO BEAT MAGAZINE

April 2009 Issue Covers Visual Arts And Techniques Taught By Leading Manga Creators Well As Fashion, Crafts And More

The April 2009 issue of Shojo Beat magazine will be a special art issue. It will be available Tuesday, March 17, 2009. Here's some info about it from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media) announces an exciting issue for its annual Art Issue of SHOJO BEAT magazine, expected to hit newsstands nationwide on March 17th. In addition to the next installments of the currently serialized shojo manga series CRIMSON HERO, HONEY AND CLOVER, HONEY HUNT, HARUKA: BEYOND THE STREAM OF TIME, SAND CHRONICLES and VAMPIRE KNIGHT, this special issue will allow readers to explore the latest trends in Japanese kawaii artwork, evaluate the approaches of top shojo manga creators and more!

The special April 2009 Art Issue of SHOJO BEAT, a continual favorite with readers takes a broad approach to art, focusing not only on visual arts but also fashion, crafts, and cooking. “The Fine Art of Kawaii” spotlights five key Japanese artists who have captured the often elusive cutting-edge of cute. "Manga Art Schooled” analyzes the varied and distinctive art styles of five master shojo manga creators including Matsuri Hino (VAMPIRE KNIGHT), Arina Tanemura (THE GENTLEMEN'S ALLIANCE †, FULL MOON), and the talented female artists who compose CLAMP (X/1999). Readers and budding artists can gain tremendous insight into each of these artists’ styles and understand and apply these unique techniques to their own work. Finally, “Cooking: Feast for Your Eyes" will offer up 10 easy and creative tips for artistic food plating.

“We are excited to present SHOJO BEAT’s annual Art Issue knowing the tremendous interest it generates among our very creative readers,” says Narasu Rebbapragada, Senior Editor, Shojo Beat Magazine. “Research has shown that SHOJO BEAT readers draw regularly or are similarly creatively inclined, so we‘re confident that this year’s issue combining fun and savvy articles will again be a huge success!”

The issue also contains an exclusive preview of Rinko Ueda’s TAIL OF THE MOON PREQUEL: THE OTHER HANZO(U), whose story is a prelude to the popular romantic ninja comedy TAIL OF THE MOON.

For more information on Shojo Beat magazine, which is rated T+ for older teens, please visit www.ShojoBeat.com.