VIZ, LLC, one of the leading publishers and distributors of manga and anime for North American audiences, has announced the upcoming release of YU-GI-OH! THE MOVIE™ ANI-MANGA. The single 288-page full color graphic novel provides a blow-by-blow summary of the animated theatrical film. Included in the first 100,000 copies will be one of the three Yu-Gi-Oh! Egyptian God Cards, previously unavailable in the U.S. The new Ani-Manga is rated “A” for All Ages and will be on sale nationwide on November 23 retailing for $13.99.

The official Ani-Manga of YU-GI-OH! THE MOVIE brings the film to life with full-color art and sound effects! Based on the manga, trading card and television series phenomenon, YU-GI-OH! THE MOVIE is the story of Yugi, a boy captivated by a card game sweeping the nation.

But there’s more to the game than meets the eye, for it contains ancient mystical energies that can change the course of history! Deep below the sands of Egypt, an old evil has awakened. Anubis, who was defeated centuries ago by Yugi’s mysterious alter ego – the Pharaoh – has returned for revenge to destroy Yugi and take over the world! Can Yugi and his friends conquer their most powerful foe yet before the planet is buried in the sands of time?

“The Ani-Manga for YU-GI-OH! The Movie serves as the perfect complement to the theatrical release of the feature film and VIZ is pleased to offer it in a captivating full-color format,” states Yumi Hoashi, vice president of SHONEN JUMP. “YU-GI-OH! has been an extremely popular and successful SHONEN JUMP manga property for years and this newest edition will be highly sought after by fans of the manga series, the anime, and the trading card game. For new fans, the Ani-Manga also provides a good overview of all the characters and presents an action packed and exciting self contained story that readers of all ages can pick up again and again.”

Yu-Gi-Oh! translates as “King of Games” and debuted in 1996 as a manga serial by Kazuki Takahashi in the pages of the trendy Japanese manga anthology, Weekly Shonen Jump, which is published by Shueisha, Inc., one of VIZ’s parent companies. The story quickly developed a massive following. Since coming to North America, Yu-Gi-Oh! has become one of the most popular and successful manga and anime properties to-date, with an array of products that include graphic novels, a television series, trading cards, action figures, apparel and video games. The anime series, which airs on Kid’s WB is top rated among boys aged 6-17. The YU-GI-OH! manga series is serialized monthly in VIZ’s SHONEN JUMP Magazine, the leading North American monthly manga anthology and the graphic novel, also published by VIZ, is one of the company’s most successful titles.

Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie was released in theaters nationwide in August 2004 by Warner Bros., and is adapted from the popular graphic novel series, trading card game, and anime. With the help of special playing cards that cast magic spells, hero kid Yugi Muto has been winning duels as well as fans. According to Forbes.com, in it’s annual listing of Top-Earning Fictional Characters, YU-GI-OH! made it in the Top Ten. With Yu-Gi-Oh! trading cards and video games topping the sales charts, it is no surprise that Yu-Gi-Oh! mania generated $1.6 billion in 2003; up from $725 million in 2002.

About VIZ, LLC
Founded in 1986, VIZ is a multi-media entertainment company specializing in Japanese entertainment properties for U.S. audiences. VIZ offers an integrated product line including magazines, graphic novels, videos, DVDs and audio soundtracks. Each month, VIZ publishes three magazines -– -ANIMERICA, ANIMERICA EXTRA and SHONEN JUMP; over 20 graphic novel titles, including ALICE 19TH, BOYS OVER FLOWERS, DRAGON BALL Z, FUSHIGI YŰGI, GUNDAM, INUYASHA, RANMA 1/2, and YU-GI-OH!; and distributes home video for BOYS OVER FLOWERS, HAMTARO, INUYASHA, POKéMON, PROJECT ARMS, and ZOIDS.

Based in San Francisco, VIZ is one of the top five comics publishers in the U.S. and a subsidiary of Shogakukan and Shueisha Inc., two of the top publishers in Japan. VIZ is the leading publisher of manga for English speaking audiences, serving a growing market of dedicated fans of all ages. Estimating a core audience of nearly 15 million fans, the company holds more than a 50% market share of Japanese comics in the U.S. With some of the most innovative products in the industry, VIZ has expanded its offerings to its loyal fans through web sites such as, www.shonenjump.com, and its corporate site, www.viz.com.

Contact VIZ, LLC at:
655 Bryant Street
San Francisco, CA 94107-1612
Phone: (415) 546-7073
Fax: (415) 546-7086
Web site: www.VIZ.com