VIZKIDS Imprint Expands With New POKÉMON: DIAMOND and PEARL, POKÉMON: BATTLE FRONTIER and POKÉMON: ALL STARS DVD Releases

San Francisco, CA, September 3, 2008 — VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies has announced the forthcoming release of a variety of exciting new Pokémon DVDs that expand the company’s VIZKIDS imprint of animated content aimed specifically at younger audiences. The new Pokémon DVD releases include POKÉMON: DIAMOND and PEARL BOX SETS Vols. 1-2, POKÉMON: BATTLE FRONTIER BOX SETS Vols. 1-2, and POKÉMON: ALL STARS Vols. 11-12.

More than a decade after Pokémon was introduced to North America, the powerhouse property remains extremely popular among children and has generated over $26 billion in worldwide sales to-date. The POKÉMON: DIAMOND and PEARL animated series debuted on Cartoon Network in June 2007 as the most watched show for children in the overall 6-11 demographic. Lending even more momentum to the franchise was the highly anticipated recent release of Nintendo’s Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl video games, which introduced more than 100 new Pokémon characters. The record-breaking titles sold over 1 million copies in the first 5 days, making them the fastest selling Pokémon games ever.

“With its cute and imaginative characters and positive storyline which emphasizes teamwork, friendship and embracing the spirit of competition, POKÉMON continues to be a kids’ favorite that parents can select with confidence,” says Gonzalo Ferreyra, Vice President Sales & Product Marketing, VIZ Media. “Our new Pokémon titles releasing throughout the Third Quarter expand the VIZKIDS imprint and will delight young viewers with an array of new and exciting Pokémon adventures."

POKÉMON: BATTLE FRONTIER BOX SET 1 • Rated “A” for All Ages • MSRP: $39.98 US / $49.99 CAN Each • Available Now!
Ash and his friends fight their way across the Battle Frontier – the ultimate Pokémon challenge! Will Ash defeat the Frontier Brains? Will May qualify for the Kanto Grand Festival? Will Team Rocket ever give up stealing Pokémon? Find out in the first half of Pokémon: Battle Frontier!

POKÉMON: BATTLE FRONTIER BOX SET 2 • Rated “A” for All Ages • MSRP: $39.98 US / $49.99 CAN Each • Available September 16, 2008 Ash, Pikachu and their Pokémon friends give their all as they battle their way across the Battle Frontier! Will Ash win the ultimate prize and become a Frontier Brain? May faces challenges of her own when she goes up against her most determined rivals in the Grand Festival. But Ash and May's toughest battle of all may be – against each other?

POKÉMON: DIAMOND and PEARL BOX SETS Volumes 1-2 • Rated “A” for All Ages • MSRP: $24.98 US / $34.99 CAN Each • Available September 16, 2008
POKÉMON: DIAMOND and PEARL - Also Available As Individual Single DVD Volumes For $14.98 US / $19.99 CAN Each • Available September 16, 2008
Beautiful cities, passionate Gym Leaders, mysterious legends of time and space, cruel villains, and, of course, new Pokémon, all await Ash Ketchum as he explores the Sinnoh region in the ultimate quest to become the greatest Pokémon master. Joining him in this box set is a new character named Dawn who seeks to become a Top Pokémon Coordinator. But standing in her way are tough competitors like Zoey and Jessie of Team Rocket. As for Ash, with his friends and faithful Pikachu at his side and the right Pokémon to train and battle with, he’s confident he’ll make it into the Sinnoh league – if his new rival Paul doesn’t get there first!

POKÉMON: ALL STARS Volume 11: MEOWTH • Rated “A” for All Ages • MSRP: $9.98 US / $12.99 CAN Each • Available Now!
Due to the popularity of the first 10 volumes of POKéMON: All Stars, 10 additional DVDs will be released to commemorate top Pokémon characters. Volume 11 highlights Meowth and features 3 classic episodes featuring this memorable feline character.

POKÉMON: ALL STARS Volume 12: TREECKO • Rated “A” for All Ages • MSRP: $9.98 US / $12.99 CAN Each • Available Now! The next volume in the POKÉMON: ALL STARS series features the calm, cool forest dwelling Treecko and offers 3 complete episodes highlighting this Pokémon that first appeared during the series’ popular Hoenn adventures.