Sep 12 2004
San Francisco, CA, September 7, 2004 VIZ, LLC, has announced a co-marketing effort with Borders Group, Inc., (BGI), the parent company of Borders and Waldenbooks, to promote the Inuyasha DVD and manga titles released by VIZ.In a recent press release, Viz announced several new Inuyasha features including the new feature film, INUYASHA: Affections Touching Across Time, the First Season DVD box set and a special Graphic Novel box set, which includes Vol.19 and a limited edition Inuyasha figurine.
According the Viz, the campaign will begin this fall and customers will see full color Inuyasha floor displays in 700 Waldenbooks stores nationally. The displays will feature the movie, the DVD box set, the Ani-Manga and the graphic novels, all distributed by VIZ.
The limited edition Demon Box Set will feature the latest manga episode of the series – Volume 19 packaged with a rare action figure of Inuyasha in his demon form. BGI will also be offering a special Inuyasha DVD box set containing the entire first season’s 27 episodes of the Inuyasha television series. As an added enticement to fans, the DVD edition of the first full-length Inuyasha feature film offered in the U.S. – INUYASHA: Affections Touching Across Time will come with a special 3D lenticular cover. These premium items will only be available at Borders and Waldenbooks locations for a limited time. In addition, VIZ will support the home video launch of the Inuyasha movie through a series of television spots set to air on MTV, MTV2, G4TechTV, FUSE and Cartoon Network beginning in September.
The series is based on a popular manga graphic novel by Rumiko Takahashi and enjoys tremendous popularity both in North America and Japan. Inuyasha has spawned three feature films in Japan, with a fourth currently in production. Fans have clamored for the domestic release of INUYASHA: Affections Touching Across Time and VIZ, BGI and Animerica magazine recently co-sponsored free theatrical screenings of the film in several North American cities following the formal July premiere at Comic-Con in San Diego, CA, in July where hundreds of excited fans lined up for hours to get the first peek at the movie.
“VIZ is thrilled to partner with BGI to promote the DVD release of INUYASHA: Affections Touching Across Time,” says Liza Coppola, vice president of marketing and sales for VIZ. “Developing and executing such a robust and comprehensive promotional campaign with a leading retailer such as BGI will continue to create excitement and fan interest for the film’s release on DVD, the first season box set and special Demon Box Set. BGI recognizes the popularity of anime and manga and VIZ looks forward to opportunities to partner with them in the future.”
Inuyasha is one of the most successful anime and manga properties in North America and continues to remain one of the top rated shows on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. VIZ, LLC is the exclusive distributor for both the manga and anime series in North America, selling over 700,000 copies of Inuyasha DVDs since it debuted in North America in 2002.
