VIZ MEDIA LAUNCHING
BLEACH AND NARUTO ANIMATED FEATURE FILMS
ON iTunes
Now Available for Download for the First Time Ever
San Francisco, CA, March 27, 2009 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the debut of the smash-hit animated feature film BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF A NOBODY along with three full-length NARUTO animated movies; NINJA CLASH IN THE LAND OF SNOW, GUARDIANS OF THE CRESCENT MOON KINGDOM and LEGEND OF THE STONE OF GELEL on the iTunes® Store (www.iTunes.com) in U.S. and Canada (www.iTunes.ca).
The movies are dubbed in English and available for purchase in standard-definition format for $9.99, for rent in high-definition for $3.99, and for rent in standard-definition for $2.99 in the U.S. In Canada the movies are available for purchase in standard-definition format for $14.99, for rent in high-definition for $4.99, and for rent in standard-definition for $3.99.
“BLEACH and NARUTO are two of the most popular animated properties to ever come to North America from Japan, and we’re very excited for fans to check out these feature films on iTunes,” says Ken Sasaki, Vice President of Strategy & Business Development, VIZ Media. “These movies can be enjoyed on a Mac or PC, a widescreen TV with Apple TV, or on the go with an iPod with video or iPhone, giving fans the opportunity to watch their favorite anime wherever they are. The availability of the feature films is a great addition to the already wide selection of BLEACH and NARUTO TV episodes available on iTunes now.”
BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF NOBODY (Rated 'T' for Teens) is the first feature film adapted from the wildly popular animated series and best-selling manga graphic novel series (both distributed and published in North America by VIZ Media) created by acclaimed Japanese artist Tite Kubo. The film begins as unidentified beings known as “Blanks” start popping up. They are soon followed by a Soul Reaper named Senna who makes them disappear. Puzzled by these unknown beings and the even more mysterious girl, main characters Ichigo and Rukia set out to learn more and soon uncover an evil plot when a menacing clan tries to kidnap Senna. Banished from the Soul Society long ago, the clan’s leader has sent the World of the Living and the Soul Society on a collision course, and Senna seems to be the key to his diabolical plot for revenge. Can Ichigo and his fellow Soul Reapers save the two worlds from annihilation?
NARUTO THE MOVIE: NINJA CLASH IN THE LAND OF SNOW (Rated 'T' for Teens) finds Naruto and his team on a mission to guard Yukie Fujikaze, a popular actress starring in the hit movie The Adventures of Princess Gale. The crew is heading toward the Land of Snow, a land forever covered in snow, to shoot the final scenes of the film. When Yukie refuses to go and escapes from the set, she is brought back by force by Naruto and his teammates. But little do they know there are three rogue Snow Ninja lying in wait with a sinister purpose that forces Yukie to make a crucial decision and face her hidden past.
NARUTO THE MOVIE 2: LEGEND OF THE STONE OF GELEL (Rated 'T' for Teens) begins as Naruto, Shikamaru and Sakura are in the middle of returning a lost ferret to its owner, supposedly the easiest mission ever. Or so they think! When a young knight, Temujin, attacks them out of nowhere, they are drawn into a fierce struggle over a treasure harboring legendary power – the Stone of Gelel. Temujin's master wants to use the Stone’s power to create a utopia, while the last of the clan who once controlled the Stone wants to keep it sealed away forever. Naruto and the others, along with help from Gaara and Kankuro, must protect the Stone from those who want to misuse its power. When the dream of utopia becomes a nightmare, it'll take a ninja to set things right!
NARUTO THE MOVIE 3: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom (Rated 'T' for Teens) is the latest feature adventure featuring everyone’s favorite band of ninjas. Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi team up with Rock Lee to protect Prince Michiru and his son Hikaru on their return home to the Crescent Moon Kingdom. Easy enough, until the royal family becomes a royal pain! Prince Michiru can’t help indulging his son, even buying him a circus along the way! Naruto has a tough time putting up with both the spoiled Hikaru and a saber-toothed tiger, but the real adventure begins when they reach the Land of the Moon and find themselves facing a villainous uprising. Does Naruto have what it takes to save an entire kingdom?
More information on NARUTO is available at www.Naruto.viz.com More information on BLEACH is available at www.Bleach.viz.com.
