Brand Partner To Play A Key Role In The Launch Of The Smash Hit Supernatural Action Series In Brazil In 2011

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced an important licensing agreement to make Angelotti – Licensing & Entertainment Business (Angelotti Licensing) the official brand partner for BLEACH in Brazil. Angelotti Licensing is a Brazilian company specializing in licensing a variety of entertainment and family brands across all media. Angelotti Licensing will seek to leverage the BLEACH brand among key target audiences with a variety of high quality products, accessories and apparel. The agreement comes at a time when the popularity of anime-based media continues to spread across South America. “We are happy to represent this important property, and we consider BLEACH a very potent brand for the Brazilian market,” says Mr. Luiz Angelotti, President of Angelotti Licensing. “We look forward to working closely with VIZ Media to implement an innovative brand strategy that will support and expand its popularity throughout the region”.

“Brazil is an important and growing market for anime and Japanese entertainment media, and partnering with a key agency like Angelotti Licensing will play a vital part in continuing to develop the BLEACH brand,” says Aadil Tayouga, Licensing Analyst, VIZ Media.

BLEACH is a popular manga and animated series (both rated ‘T’ for Teens), distributed domestically by VIZ Media, that follows the adventures of Ichigo, a 15-year old student with the ability to see ghosts. When his family is attacked by a Hollow — a malevolent lost soul – Ichigo encounters Rukia, a Soul Reaper, and inadvertently absorbs her powers. Now, he’s dedicating his life to protecting the innocent and helping tortured souls find peace.

BLEACH is a tremendously successful property internationally. The manga series, created by Tite Kubo, has been licensed in more than a dozen countries and has sold over 50 million copies in Japan alone. In North America, the manga has sold more than 2 million copies, and the English-dubbed version of the animated series is viewed weekly by millions in the United States on Adult Swim. BLEACH animation may also be viewed through a variety of other web-based video download and streaming outlets that have partnered with VIZ Media, including iTunes®, Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, Amazon, and HULU. This success has further spawned an array of related video games, apparel, action figures and other merchandise.

More information on BLEACH is available at Bleach.viz.com.