ACF 350: NARUTO SHIPPUDEN now on iTunes - 1st episode free!

VIZ MEDIA BRINGS THE LATEST
NARUTO SHIPPUDEN STORY ARC TO iTUNES FOR DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

FIRST EPISODE NOW AVAILABLE FOR FREE

Company Announces Availability Of New Episodes Featuring
The World’s Most Popular Ninja At The 2009 Comic-Con International

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), announced at 2009 Comic-Con International the exclusive download-to-own debut of NARUTO Shippuden on the iTunes Store (www.iTunes.com) in the US and the iTunes Store in Canada (www.iTunes.ca)

The series launches with the first 4 episodes (English dubbed) of the hit series, and the first episode will be available for download for free beginning now through August 31st. Four new NARUTO Shippuden episodes will follow beginning in October.

Created by Masashi Kishimoto, NARUTO was first introduced in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in Japan in 1999 and quickly became that country’s most popular ninja manga targeting tweens and teens and has sold more than 85 million copies to-date. The manga series (rated ‘T’ for Teens) and animated counterpart (NARUTO rated ‘T’ for teens, and NARUTO Shippuden rated ‘T+’ for older teens) is one of VIZ Media’s most successful properties and has captivated millions of fans across North America, Europe and South America. NARUTO is a co-production of TV TOKYO, VIZ Media parent company Shueisha Inc., and Pierrot Co., Ltd.

“We’re very excited to bring the latest NARUTO Shippuden story arc to iTunes,” says Ken Sasaki, Vice President of Strategy & Business Development, VIZ Media. “NARUTO Shippuden is the latest addition to the more than 150 earlier NARUTO episodes and several feature films that are offered on the iTunes Store. These new Shippuden episodes are being made available well in advance of the eventual DVD release and offer fans the flexibility, 24/7 accessibility and convenience of digital download. As the world’s most popular ninja continues to capture the imaginations of millions, we look forward to continue to offer episodes on iTunes and deliver the most exciting anime properties to fans around the world.”

In the NARUTO manga and animated series, Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja in training, wants to be the best ninja in the land. He's done well so far, but Naruto knows he must train harder than ever and leaves his village for intense exercises that will push him to his limits. NARUTO Shippuden begins two and a half years later, when Naruto returns to find that everyone has been promoted up the ninja ranks—except him. Sakura’s a medic ninja, Gaara’s advanced to Kazekage, and Kakashi… well, he remains the same. But pride isn’t necessarily about becoming a ninja, especially when Naruto realizes that Sasuke never returned from his search for Orochimaru. Plus, the mysterious Akatsuki organization is still an ever-present danger. As Naruto finds out more about the Akatsuki’s goals, he realizes that nothing in his universe is as it seems. Naruto is finding that he’s older, but will he also prove wiser and stronger?

More information on NARUTO is available at www.Naruto.com. NARUTO Shippuden episodes are available on iTunes at www.itunes.com/tv/narutoshippuden.

ACF 349: Inuyusha available on iTunes - 1st episode free through August 31st, 2009

VIZ MEDIA’S INUYASHA ANIME EPISODES
NOW AVAILABLE ON THE ITUNES STORE
FIRST EPISODE NOW AVAILABLE FOR FREE

More news about Inuyasha from Viz:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), has announced the exclusive availability of its popular INUYASHA animated series on the iTunes Store (www.iTunes.com) in the US and the iTunes Store (www.itunes.ca) in Canada. iTunes is launching with episodes 1-13 for $1.99 per episode or $22.99 for one full season. More episodes will be added at future dates. Find out more at www.itunes.com/tv/inuyasha.

As a special promotion, the first episode of INUYASHA will be exclusively available on iTunes as a free download beginning through August 31, 2009.

INUYASHA is a hit TV anime series based on the manga by famed creator Rumiko Takahashi, who won the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award for INUYASHA in 2002. Many of the Takahashi titles have been adapted into other media such as anime, live-action TV series, and film. Takahashi’s manga, as well as the other formats her work has been adapted into, have continued to delight generations of fans around the world.

Distinguished by her wonderfully endearing characters, Takahashi’s work adeptly incorporates a wide variety of elements such as comedy, romance, fantasy, and martial arts. Rumiko Takahashi is an artist who truly represents the very best from the world of manga. Please visit the new official North American web site for all Rumiko Takahashi-related news and information located at www.TheRumicWorld.com.

“We are thrilled to launch INUYASHA on iTunes, adding this mega popular anime to the many other titles now available on iTunes”, says Ken Sasaki, Vice President, Strategy & Business Development, VIZ Media. “The ease of downloading these episodes from iTunes will excite die-hard INUYASHA fans as well as entice new ones’.”

INUYASHA storyline: Pulled back in time to Japan's ancient past, Japanese high school girl Kagome finds her destiny linked to a dog-like half-demon named Inuyasha, who remembers Kagome's previous incarnation as the woman who killed him - and to the Shikon Jewel, or "Jewel of Four Souls," which can fulfill the greatest dreams of any man or monster. Now Kagome and Inuyasha must work together to search for the scattered shards of the jewel before everyone's nightmares are given the power they need to come true.

VIZ Media publishes many titles by Rumiko Takahashi including the INUYASHA manga and THE ART OF INUYASHA. For more information on the INUYASHA anime please visit Inuyasha.viz.com. For more information on VIZ Media please visit www.viz.com.