FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES

CANADIAN THEATRICAL DEBUT OF

 BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF NOBODY

 

Special One-Night-Only Event of Mega-Hit Anime Series To Delight Fans Countrywide in Canada

 

 

San Francisco, CA, October 3, 2008 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced a special one-night-only movie event – BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF NOBODY on Monday, October 20th across Canada. BLEACH THE MOVIE will screen at select Cineplex Entertainment and Empire Theatres locations across Canada on Monday, October 20, 2008.  For more information, advance tickets and a complete list of participating theatres go to, www.cineplex.com or www.empiretheatres.com/bleach.

 

Adapted from the wildly popular animated series and best-selling manga series (both distributed and published in North America by VIZ Media) by acclaimed Japanese artist Tite Kubo, BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF NOBODY will make its Canadian debut in a special one-night only event at theatres across the country.

 

BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF NOBODY begins as unidentified beings known as “Blanks” start popping up. They are soon followed by a Soul Reaper named Senna who makes them disappear. Puzzled by these unknown beings and the even more mysterious girl, Ichigo and Rukia set out to learn more, but uncover an evil plot when a menacing clan tries to kidnap Senna. Banished from the Soul Society long ago, the clan’s leader has sent sending the World of the Living and the Soul Society on a collision course, and Senna seems to be the key to his diabolical plot for revenge. Can Ichigo and his fellow Soul Reapers save the two worlds from annihilation?

 

“Cineplex Entertainment is very pleased to present BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF NOBODY on the big screen to our guests across the country,” said Pat Marshall, Vice President, Communications and Investor Relations for Cineplex Entertainment.  “Past screenings of animated and manga series movies have become extremely popular with our guests and we are excited to offer them the ability to be one of the first to see this movie.”

 “Canadians have long embraced film genres outside of the regular Hollywood fare. Anime and Manga properties are no exception, as we have seen with the releases of DEATH NOTE and NARUTO. We know that there is a huge following for BLEACH in Canada and we look forward to serving those fans and introducing this great property to others.” said Dean Leland, Vice President of Media and Studio Relations for Empire Theatres.

 

“We are extremely excited to bring the first BLEACH theatrical movie to enthusiastic fans across Canada,” says Liza Coppola, Sr. Vice President, Corporate Relations & Partnerships, VIZ Media. “Anticipation has been steadily building for BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF NOBODY and this theatrical showing with its non-stop action and exciting plot twists is sure to delight and surprise audiences.  This will be a unique opportunity to see one of the hottest animated titles on the big screen and we look forward to new and old fans coming out in force to enjoy this special one night only event.”

 

BLEACH is a tremendously successful multimedia property internationally. The manga series (rated ‘T’ for teens) has been licensed to more than a dozen countries, and has sold over 50 million copies in Japan alone. In North America the manga series has been a sales hit and millions in the United States and Canada view the popular animated series weekly. This success has further spawned an array of related video games, apparel, action figures, trading cards and other merchandise. For more information on BLEACH and BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF NOBODY please visit the official BLEACH website at bleach.viz.com or www.viz.com.

 

About Cineplex Entertainment LP:

Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Cineplex Entertainment LP owns, leases or has a joint-venture interest in 129 theatres with 1,317 screens serving approximately 61 million guests annually.  Cineplex Entertainment LP is the largest motion picture exhibitor in Canada operating the following brands: Cineplex Odeon, Coliseum, Colossus, Famous Players, Galaxy, SilverCity, Cinema City and Scotiabank Theatres.  The units of Cineplex Galaxy Income Fund, which owns approximately 76% of Cineplex Entertainment LP, are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol CGX.UN).

About Empire Theatres Limited

Empire Theatres Limited is a 100% owned subsidiary of Empire Company Limited with its corporate headquarters in Stellarton, NS and regional offices in Halifax, NS, Toronto, ON and Calgary, AB. Empire Theatres owns and operates 50 theatres with 372 screens across Canada from Newfoundland to British Columbia. Empire Theatres is Canada’s second largest and fastest growing film exhibition company providing an exciting out-of-home entertainment experience including traditional film exhibition as well as other content using its digital and satellite capabilities.  2008 marks Empire Theatres’ 30^th year in the motion picture exhibition business. With approximately 3,000 employees, Empire Theatres provides excellent employment opportunities for the youth of Canada in an exciting and energetic industry.

 

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.