VIZ Media Europe Announces Blue Dragon Anime Series To Air On Italia Uno Network

Paris, France, September 14, 2009 – VIZ Media Europe (VME), 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. VME specializes in managing the development, marketing and distribution throughout Europe of Japanese manga (graphic novels) and animated entertainment.

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) 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.

via VIZ Media Europe