SDCC 2012 – VIZ Media Heads to San Diego Comic-Con
VIZ Media is heading to San Diego Comic-Con 2012 with an exciting and expansive roster of special personal appearances, exciting panels, anime feature film premieres, and fun giveaways and convention exclusives. They’ll be located in booth #2813.
On Friday July 13th catch a rare personal appearance by Eiko Tanaka, Founder and CEO of Studio 4ºC, which produced the new dark fantasy epic Berserk: The Golden Age Arc film trilogy. VIZ Media will release the first movie on Neon Alley this fall. Ms. Tanaka will make an in-person appearance at the VIZ Media booth for a signing session at 3PM. She will also be a special guest at the Berserk Panel, 5:30PM in Room 32AB, where fans can find out what it really takes to transform the stark manga into an animated feature. Finally, Ms. Tanaka will make introductory remarks at the exclusive Comic-Con screening of Beserk: The Golden Age Arc I – The Egg of the King, 8:30PM in Room 32AB.
The recently announced Neon Alley will be featured at Comic-Con. A brand new 24-hour digital anime channel launching on a major game platform this fall, Neon Alley will feature the world’s best anime titles, including blockbusters Blue Exorcist, Naruto Shippuden, Tiger & Bunny and more. Get the scoop straight from Brian Ige, VIZ Media’s VP of Animation, at the Neon Alley Panel on Friday July 13th, 1PM, Room 32AB. At the VIZ Media booth, fans can sign up for the mailing list and get the first-ever Neon Alley collectible tote bag. Fans will have a chance to be featured on Neon Alley, as VIZ Media will be filming clips at the company’s booth throughout the show. Check the daily schedule for filming times.
Digital manga will also be a highlight of the VIZ Media booth this year. The fun starts on Comic-Con Preview Night – Wednesday, July 11th – with commemorative tote bags given to the first 500 attendees that stop by the booth featuring Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha. The totes will be available at other times throughout the weekend to visitors that complete a round of “passport” activities stationed around the VIZ Media booth.
During Comic-Con, fans that purchase an annual membership to Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha will receive a limited edition YU-GI-OH! Slifer The Sky Dragon trading card (limited quantities available – please visit the booth at show opening for a ticket).
Also be on the lookout for a special photo activity with a life-size 3D Luffy from the hit pirate manga adventure, One Piece. Collectable digital photos will be emailed to participants after the event. Fans can take part in this activity at the VIZ Media booth, or at the Shonen Jump Alpha Jump Truck fan meet-up on Saturday, July 14th at 3PM at the 5th Avenue Landing, behind Hall H of the San Diego Convention Center. Meet up visitors will also receive free ice-cream (while supplies last) and have the opportunity to take part in cosplay & fan art contests to win other cool SJ ALPHA prizes!
Attend the Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha Panel on Saturday July 14th, 12PM in Room 7AB, and get the latest news, expert opinions and a behind-the-scenes look into the manga world from special guests from Japan Yoshihisa Heishi (Editor-in-Chief of Weekly Shonen Jump, founding editor of YU-GI-OH!), Kouji Yoshida (editor of DEATH NOTE), and Kengo Monji (editor of BAKUMAN｡). The guests will also have a heated Q&A showdown with the SJ Alpha editors!
The VIZ Media booth will buzz with a variety of fun activities and giveaways. Don’t miss other fun free VIZ Media product giveaways including VIZ Kids manga and graphic novel samplers, the Haikasoru science fiction imprint samplers, special show lanyards, and an array of assorted anime and manga patches, posters and more (while supplies last)!
Gamers will want to be sure to check out playable demos for Namco Bandai’s latest Naruto Shippuden video game. Stop by and play the demo and also get free Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations tchotchkes.
Streaming content provider Hulu also joins in the fun at the VIZ Media booth. Get your show badge scanned to enter to win one of 4 Xbox 360 systems and a 3-month gift card for Hulu Plus. The first 1,000 attendees scanned will receive a limited edition promotional card, featuring Naruto Shippuden, with a free 30-day trial to check out the Hulu Plus subscription service.
Don’t miss the annual VIZ Media Panel, Thursday July 12th, 3PM in Room 7AB, for all the latest updates and exciting news from VIZ Media staff on your favorite manga and anime! Also get the scoop on new acquisitions, upcoming releases, and upcoming projects. Be in line early and get a raffle ticket for a chance to win prizes!
