Anime DVD Releases from VIZ Media for January 2010

Press release from VIZ Media:

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES NEW DVD RELEASES FOR JANUARY 2010

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced their list of DVD titles scheduled for release in January 2010. This includes the first box set of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN in regular and special editions, the next installments in POKÉMON ELEMENTS, as well as the latest episodic releases of the popular BLEACH and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN series. VIZ Media DVD titles are distributed (in English) in the U.S and Mexico by Warner Home Video and in Canada by Allegro.

SHONEN JUMP releases include:

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Special Edition Box Set 1 • Rated 'T+' for Older Teens • MSRP: $69.97 US / $99.99 CAN • Available January 26
Naruto Uzumaki is back! After two and a half years of training on the road with Jiraiya of the Sannin, Naruto is back in the Village Hidden in the Leaves, and he's ready to show off his new skills. He and Sakura team up to take on their old master Kakashi, who's pretty impressed with their progress. They'll have plenty of opportunity to put it into action when news arrives from the Sand Village that Gaara, Naruto's former rival and now Kazekage of the Sand, has been kidnapped! And the culprits are the very same group who are after Naruto--the Akatsuki! The Special Edition Box Set features 13 episodes on 3 discs and also includes a collectible NARUTO Shippuden Mininja figure.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Box Set 1 Standard Edition • Rated 'T+' for Older Teens • MSRP: $49.95 US / $71.99 CAN • Available January 26

DVD-only collection featuring 13 episodes from the hit series on 3 discs; (collectible figure is not included.)

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Volume 5 • Rated 'T+' for Older Teens • MSRP: $24.92 US / $35.99 CAN • Available January 12

Team Guy and Team Kakashi finally reach the Akatsuki hideout, only to encounter a tricky five-seal barrier that triggers an even stranger trap. While Team Guy face some pretty tough opponents--themselves!--Kakashi and Naruto must take off after Deidara who has absconded with Gaara. Sakura and Granny Chiyo are left behind to confront Sasori of the Red Sand. Granny Chiyo may be the only one with the ability to see through his many complex traps and skilled puppetry, but even one scratch from his poisoned weapons could mean instant death!

BLEACH Volume 24 • Rated ‘T’ for Teens • MSRP: $24.92 US / $35.99 CAN • Available January 19

Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya is assigned to lead the defense of the Soul Society and mobilize the Soul Reapers to find and kill the intruding Bounts. But the Bount leader Jin Kariya has gathered a huge mob of ruffians and plans to use them in his quest for revenge. Meanwhile, it is discovered that Maki Ichinose, the banished Soul Reaper helping the Bounts, has infiltrated the Seireitei and has been secretly manipulating their data. What strategies will play out, and how can Ichigo and his allies stop them?

New POKÉMON Releases Include:

POKÉMON ELEMENTS, Volume 7: Psychic • Rated 'A' for All Ages • MSRP: $9.98 US/ $14.99 CAN • Available January 26

POKÉMON ELEMENTS, Volume 8: Dragon • Rated 'A' for All Ages • MSRP: $9.98 US / $14.99 CAN • Available January 26

Following the POKÉMON All Star series set, the POKÉMON: ELEMENTS collection consists of the most important episodes commemorating the different types of Pokémon characters. Each disc showcases a Pokémon type with three all-time favorite episodes. [END]