Anime News

Naruto & Bleach Movies on iTunes

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:46:00 -0400

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?

Shippuuden Dubbed!

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:45:00 -0400

Earlier in the week, Viz Media staff member Ho Lin confirmed in an official blog entry that Viz Media had been dubbing the series since last year. Lin said that the air dates and network which the series will be aired on has not been finalized yet, but it is expected to be released somehow in a dubbed fashion.

The blog post has since been replaced with the statement: "I've just gotten word that we'll be making an official announcement shortly about some fun updates to the Naruto.com site -- stay tuned to the VIZ news room for more to come ..."

Yesterday Viz Media announced a few of the confirmed fast members, official re-confirming that the dubbing of Naruto: Shippuden!

The confirmed cast members are:

Maile Flanagan - Naruto Uzumaki
Kate Higgins - Sakura Haruno
Dave Wittenberg - Kakashi Hatake
Brian Donovan - Rock Lee

Watch & Win!

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:42:00 -0400

San Francisco, CA, March 25, 2009 � VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has launched a new watch-and-win contest on its official NARUTO web site at www.NARUTO.com beginning March 27th. Every week, a new NARUTO Shippuden episode (English subtitled) will stream for free on the site and fans are invited to watch and take part in the contest by answering a trivia question about each new installment. The contest runs through September 2009.

Winners will be announced weekly and are eligible for a variety of exciting prizes, from action figures and apparel to video games. Leading video game publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. sponsors the first 4 weeks of the contest and will award each lucky winner a copy of Ultimate Ninja® 4: NARUTO™ Shippuden, the first video game released in North America based on the NARUTO Shippuden animated series. On the fourth week the company will award one lucky fan a copy of the video game and a PlayStation®2 game console.Ultimate Ninja® 4: NARUTO Shippuden features several unique game modes allowing players to experience perspectives as different characters in this immersive world of the ninja. The video game combines role-playing and action-platforming elements, telling the story of how Naruto returned to the Hidden Leaf Village after his training with Jiraiya - an original narrative arc that fans won’t find anywhere else. Packed with new NARUTO Shippuden characters, as well as updated versions of fan favorites, the game offers a total of 52 playable characters to take into battle and also features the series’ trademark one-on-one ninja battles for one or two players.“This NARUTO Shippuden watch-and-win contest is a unique and fun way for fans to flex their knowledge of each week’s new episode to win special NARUTO prizes,” says Gonzalo Ferreyra, Vice President Sales & Product Marketing, VIZ Media. “We invite fans to visit the official NARUTO web site, NARUTO.com, regularly over the coming months for more chances to win and updates on future prize sponsors.”

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 80 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.
In the NARUTO manga and animated series, Naruto Uzumaki 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 becoming of 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?
Earlier NARUTO episodes are also currently available for free through a variety of other web-based, video streaming outlets that have partnered with VIZ Media, including iTunes®, HULU and JOOST.More information on NARUTO is available at www.NARUTO.com.

The Ultimate Ninja Makes His Shippuden Debut!

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:44:00 -0400

March 24, 2009 - SANTA CLARA, Calif., (March 24, 2009) � Leading video games developer and publisher NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. announced today that Ultimate Ninja 4: NARUTO Shippuden has shipped to retailers for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. Fierce one-on-one ninja battles return along with new modes, a new storyline and new characters for the most comprehensive NARUTO video game experience yet. Ultimate Ninja 4: NARUTO Shippuden is the first video game for North America based on the NARUTO Shippuden animated series from VIZ Media.

"Ultimate Ninja 4: NARUTO Shippuden will give North American gamers a first-look into the exciting new world of NARUTO Shippuden," said Todd Thorson, director of marketing and public relations for NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. "Ultimate Ninja 4: NARUTO Shippuden combines over 50 characters, new modes, the new NARUTO Shippuden storyline and the acclaimed Ultimate Ninja fighting engine into one of the most intense and complete NARUTO experiences ever."

Naruto returns to Hidden Leaf Village after two and a half years of strict training with his mentor Jiraiya. After reuniting with his friends, Naruto learns that the ever present Akatsuki organization has become a larger threat than ever before. Take control of an older and more powerful Naruto as he takes on a new quest to rescue his rival Sasuke from the evil Lord Orochimaru and battle the ever-looming Akatsuki.

Ultimate Ninja 4: NARUTO Shippuden features several unique game modes that offer different experiences as players immerse themselves in the world of ninja. A new Master Mode combines role-playing and action-platforming elements. This new mode tells original narrative arc that fans won't find anywhere else; the story of Naruto's return to the Hidden Leaf Village after training with Jiraiya. Players can also collect items to unlock characters in Free Battle Mode which features the series' trademark one-on-one ninja battles for one or two players. Packed with new NARUTO Shippuden characters including Deidara, Sasori and Chiyo as well as updated versions of fan favorites, the game features 52 total playable characters to take into battle.

Developed by CyberConnect2, Ultimate Ninja 4: NARUTO Shippuden is rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB and will have a MSRP of $39.99. For more information on the game, please visit www.namcobandaigames.com and www.hokagesroom.com. For more information on NARUTO and to view free episodes of NARUTO Shippuden, please visit www.naruto.com.

Official Ultimate Ninja 4 Web site

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:42:00 -0400

Ultimate Ninja 4: NARUTO Shippuden hits the stores March 24th 2009, and the official site has just launched! You can check it out at http://NarutoUN4.namcobandaigames.com