Broken Frontier

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, announced today an exclusive retail launch with Borders and Waldenbooks and Hot Topic for the popular teen property, Shonen Jump BLEACH.  

Following its successful debut on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim last month, items from a comprehensive and exclusive consumer products line for BLEACH, focusing on apparel and accessories to appeal to the retailers’ core demographic, will be introduced in Hot Topic and Borders and Waldenbooks stores.  In addition, the bestselling manga series, with over 1.4 million copies in print, is available at all Borders and Waldenbooks stores.

“Borders and Waldenbooks and Hot Topic are destinations for our core fans and are the perfect retailers to launch merchandise for Shonen Jump BLEACH,” said Carol Roeder, Vice President, Consumer Products for VIZ Media.  “We are excited to work with them and will also continue to expand the BLEACH brand by offering products online at www.viz.com.”

“At Borders and Waldenbooks, we continue to expand our selection to complement the very successful and popular manga category,” said Kurt Hassler, graphic novels buyer for Borders Group, Inc. “We share the fans' enthusiasm for the license, and we're eager to provide additional merchandise as BLEACH's popularity grows."

"Hot Topic has been pleased with the success of our anime licenses, and we're excited about further developing that business," said Maria Comfort Senior Vice President and CMO, Hot Topic. “BLEACH already has a huge following with our customers and we are thrilled to be partnering with VIZ Media to launch this brand in the U.S.”

BLEACH, the powerful story of a fifteen-year-old who has the ability to see ghosts, made its debut in Japan in Shonen Jump magazine in 2001 and debuted on television in 2004.  With over 33 million copies sold in Japan, and translated into more than seven languages, BLEACH is one of the most popular manga series worldwide.