Leading
Italian Broadcast Network To Air Fantasy Action Series Based On Popular Xbox
360 Video Game Beginning Today!
Paris, France, September
14, 2009 - VIZ Media Europe (VME), an affiliate of
San Francisco-based VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), which specializes in managing the
development, marketing and distribution
throughout Europe of Japanese animated entertainment and manga (graphic novels), has announced that the BLUE DRAGON animated series will premiere on Italia Uno,
one of Italy's leading broadcast networks, beginning today. Episodes from the
first and second season of BLUE DRAGON will air three times a week as part of
the network's regular animated programming.
Mediaset/RTI
owns and operates Italia Uno and is Italy's leading commercial
broadcaster with more than 9.9 million viewers and a total audience share of
nearly 40 percent. VIZ
Media is the master licensor for the television, home video and non-video game
merchandising rights for BLUE DRAGON in the Americas, Europe and Oceania.
Mediaset's launch of BLUE DRAGON follows Cartoon Network Italy's broadcast of
the series which began last April.
BLUE DRAGON is a
fantastic adventure story of magical Shadow powers, flying air fortresses, and
unbounded heroism! Brought together by fate, Seven Soldiers of Light must
awaken the Shadow within themselves in time to overcome a despotic power and
bring peace to their land. Their ensuing journey through a rich fantasy world
is also an internal journey to awaken the great power within each of them.
Journey with them into the world of BLUE DRAGON!
The video game "BLUE
DRAGON" debuted on the Xbox 360
entertainment system, and was developed by Hironobu
Sakaguchi (the creator of Final Fantasy)
and features characters designed by Akira Toriyama, the creator of the
best-selling DRAGON BALL series of manga (which is published in North America
by VIZ Media and featured in SHONEN JUMP Magazine).
About VIZ Media Europe, S.A.R.L. (VME)
Headquartered
in Paris, France, VIZ Media Europe (VME) is an affiliate of San Francisco-based
VIZ Media, LLC. VME specializes in managing the development, marketing and
distribution throughout Europe of Japanese animated entertainment and graphic
novels (manga). VME handles some of the most popular Japanese manga and
animation properties from initial production, through television placement and
distribution to merchandise licensing and promotions for consumers of all ages.
Current VME animated properties include BLEACH, BLUE DRAGON, DEATH NOTE,
HAMTARO, HONEY & CLOVER, KEKKAISHI, KILARI, M.A.R NEURO, A PENGUIN'S
TROUBLES and ZOIDS GENESIS. Contact VIZ Media Europe at 9, avenue de
l'Opéra, 75001 Paris, France Phone +33 1 72 71 53 53; Fax: +33 1 42 96 97 36;
and web site at www.vizeurope.com.
