PR: Viz's SuBLime Imprint Announces New Licenses At Yaoi Con 2014

LOVE STAGE!!, THE WORLD’S GREATEST FIRST LOVE,

GINGER HONEY, THE NIGHT BEYOND THE TRICORNER WINDOW, And More!

San Francisco, CA, September 15, 2014 – SuBLime, the global yaoi manga publishing initiative between VIZ Media and Japan’s Animate, Ltd. (Animate), provided detailed updates for a variety of brand-new and continuing yaoi manga titles during its YaoiCon 2014 panel this past weekend in San Francisco. News of the acquisitions of several exclusive new digital and print titles thrilled fans in attendance.

To the delight of many fans, SuBLime announced plans to release Eiki Eiki and Taishi Zaou’s LOVE STAGE!! (Rated ‘M’ for Mature) in print starting May 2015 with additional volumes to follow every other month. In this romantic comedy, the protagonist’s family is packed with famous celebrities but Izumi Sena is actually a huge otaku with aspirations of becoming a manga creator.

SuBLime also detailed plans to publish GINGER HONEY (Rated ‘M’ for Mature), creator Isaku Natsume’s humorous follow-up to DEVIL’S HONEY (also published by SuBLime), which is set for digital-only release February 2015.

Fujoshi O'Clock (7/12/14)

What time is it? It's Fujoshi O'Clock, the biweekly feature at Nagareboshi Review, when I bring to you the latest fujoshi-related news and reviews and various shiny BL-flavored things. Why? Because rotten girls need love too!

This week on Fujoshi O'Clock:

• Otaku Champloo shares their fujoshi shopping guide in Japan, with plenty of pictures and helpful links. Of course Akihabara is included!
• Filed under "it's about time!": SuBLime Manga has licensed the Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi manga for English language release. It to set to hit shelves early next year as a print-only release.
• Falling under the 'T' of LGBT but still relevant all the same, The Beautiful World blog has a list of manga with transgender protagonists. Naturally, Wandering Son/Hourou Musuko is on the list, as well as After School Nightmare and Riyoko Ikeda's Claudine.
• MangaGamer will be localizing and releasing pa-rade's No, Thank You!!!, the boys' love/bara PC game, for Western players. The game is about an amnesia-stricken boy who ends up working at a mysterious bar during his recovery. Some of the photos in the link are NSFW.

Reviews:

• There are no reviews this week :(

Am I missing your blog? Got some awesome fujoshi-related news and reviews you think deserve a shout-out? Poke me with a link and a bit of description over at my Twitter: @theseventhl. I'm always on the look out for more BL love!

PR: SuBLime Titles Now Available On Kobo eBookstore

Oku-san's Daily Fantasies
© Noboru Takatsuki 2011

GLOBAL YAOI PUBLISHER SuBLime LAUNCHES EXTENSIVE DIGITAL MANGA CATALOG ON

KOBO eBOOKSTORE

Most Diverse English-Language Yaoi Publisher Gives Fans A New Way To Enjoy Its Complete Catalog Of Popular Digital Manga Titles On World's Fastest-Growing eReading Service

San Francisco, CA, March 24, 2014 – SuBLime, the global yaoi manga publishing initiative between VIZ Media and Japan’s Animate, Ltd. (Animate), has announced the launch today of its diverse yaoi manga library to Kobo, a global leader in eReading.

Fans are invited to access Kobo’s eBookstore and enjoy a seamless yaoi manga eReading experience with the company’s E Ink eReaders, the award-winning Kobo Arc Android tablet, and top-ranking free apps for iOS, BB10 smartphones, and Android devices.

Digital volumes are generally available for purchase and immediate download directly from the Kobo eBookstore for $5.99 (U.S. / CAN) each. Individual volumes are generally rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers. New series debuts and updates for ongoing titles will be added regularly as part of SuBLime’s regular digital release schedule throughout 2014. Please visit the Kobo eBookstore for a complete list of available titles.

Fujoshi O'Clock (1/30/14)

What time is it? It's . . . Fujoshi O'Clock, the biweekly feature at Nagareboshi Review, when I bring to you the latest fujoshi-related news and reviews and various shiny BL-flavored things. Why? Because rotten girls need love too!

This week on Fujoshi O'Clock:

• You don't have to wait too long to get into the water again: a second season of Free! has been confirmed, air date currently unknown.
• The Gravitation: Lyrics of Love OVA now has clips of its English dub available online. Nozomi Entertainment is its licensing company and is partnered with Starz Media for the release.
• Viz's yaoi imprint SuBLime has recently celebrated its second year of publishing. The anniversary was marked with a limited time sale on select titles.
• Kou Yoneda's BL manga title Doushitemo Furetakunai/No Touching At All will be getting a live-action film; actors have already been chosen for the main male roles.
• ふう子 at Hazukashii Kedo posts her first ever boys' love manga haul video. It's a long one!
• Mikki at Deremoe asks "are otaku homophobic?" in an incredibly thought-inducing post, and hits upon such things as crossplay and Japanese culture.
• Lastly, in a post that hits more upon LGBT issues than BL issues, Matt Thorn discusses manga-ka Inio Asano's gender identity. Asano is best known for such titles as Nijigahara Holograph, Solanin, What A Wonderful World, and Oyasumi Punpun.

No reviews this week.

Am I missing your blog? Got some awesome fujoshi-related news and reviews you think deserve a shout-out? Poke me with a link and a bit of description over at my Twitter: @theseventhl. I'm always on the look out for more BL love!

PR: Boys' Love Imprint SuBLime Celebrates 2-Year Anniversary

HIS FAVORITE © 2008
Suzuki Tanaka/Libre Publishing

GLOBAL YAOI PUBLISHER SuBLime CELEBRATES

2-YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH SPECIAL MANGA SALE AT LEADING ONLINE RETAILER RIGHT STUF

Diverse Yaoi Imprint Marks Second Birthday With Up To 50% Off Selected Yaoi Manga Bundles And Individual Volumes

San Francisco, CA, January 17, 2014 – SuBLime, the global yaoi manga publishing initiative between VIZ Media and Japan’s Animate, Ltd. (Animate), marks its 2-year anniversary with the announcement of a special sale on print editions of a variety of celebrated yaoi manga titles from its catalog at leading anime/manga online retailer/distributor Right Stuf.

For a limited time through January 20^th, yaoi readers can take advantage of 50% off select SuBLime manga bundles. This is an ideal opportunity to enjoy a specially curated selection of acclaimed SuBLime series for half-off their regular print MSRP. 

Access the complete list of SuBLime sale titles at RightStuf.com. For our global readers, RightStuf does ship internationally.

Fujoshi O'Clock (1/16/14)

What time is it? It's . . . Fujoshi O'Clock, the biweekly feature at Nagareboshi Review, when I bring to you the latest fujoshi-related news and reviews and various shiny BL-flavored things. Why? Because rotten girls need love too!

This week on Fujoshi O'Clock:

• Viz's BL manga line SuBLime has a new title out: NIGHTS by Kou Yoneda, a mature-rated collection of stories.
• Fantagraphics announces a new license, the erotic anthology Massive, which had been previously licensed by PictureBox Inc. It features yaoi manga-ka such as Gengoroh Tagame, well known for his bara work.
• Oguie Maniax's Fujoshi Files is nearly in the nineties with its two latest entries: Yamada Moe of Princess Ringo's Adventures in "Wota" Land and srhshr of gdgd Fairies.

Reviews:

• Fandom Post reviews Hot Space Cowboys, a hentai anime release also known as Legend of the Blue Wolves, which is a surprisingly layered sci-fi yaoi title.
• Naru at OASG reviews Lies Are A Gentleman's Manners by Marta Matsuo, a one-shot BL manga centered around a professor and his student.
• Experiments In Manga reviews volume one of Castle Mango by Narise Konohara and Muku Ogura as part of their Week In Manga feature.

Am I missing your blog? Got some awesome fujoshi-related news and reviews you think deserve a shout-out? Poke me with a link and a bit of description over at my Twitter: @theseventhl. I'm always on the look out for more BL love!

PR: SuBLime's Newest Title, BLUE MORNING, Now Available

Yuuutsu na Asa Volume 1
© Shoko Kidaka 2009   

GLOBAL YAOI MANGA PUBLISHER SuBLime LAUNCHES THE NEW SERIES BLUE MORNING

Courtly Intrigue Between A Noble Family’s Capable Butler And His Young Charge Offers A Tender Story Of The Conflict Between What Duty Demands And What The Heart Desires

San Francisco, CA, May 16, 2013 – SuBLime, the global yaoi manga (graphic novel) publishing initiative between VIZ Media and Japan’s Animate, Ltd. (Animate), delivers an intriguing new series about aristocratic drama and the intricate relationship between the loyal butler of a noble family and a young heir he is duty-bounty to look after in the print debut of BLUE MORNING, by creator Shoko Hidaka. The new manga (graphic novel) series launched on May 14^th, is rated M’ for Mature Audiences, and will carry an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $14.99 CAN.

At only ten years of age, Akihito Kuze suddenly inherits the Kuze viscountship after his father’s death. The family's capable butler, Tomoyuki Katsuragi, takes over the task of raising the boy, serving as his tutor and mentor. However, the handsome and intelligent Katsuragi, well respected even among the aristocracy, remains cool towards his charge. Akihito finds himself relentlessly drawn to Katsuragi, frustrated by the distance between them and driven to discover the reasons why.

PR: SuBLime Announces Yaoi Titles For 2013

GLOBAL YAOI PUBLISHER SuBLime ANNOUNCES ELEVEN NEW MANGA TITLES FOR RELEASE IN 2013 INCLUDING YOUKA NITTA’S EMBRACING LOVE

Publisher Delights Fans At YaoiCon 2012 As It Details Multiple New BL Manga Titles Scheduled To Debut During The First-Half Of Next Year

San Francisco, CA, October 24, 2012 – SuBLime, the global yaoi manga (graphic novel) publisher, thrilled fans during its packed panel discussion at the recent YaoiCon 2012 with the announcement of eleven new manga (graphic novel) titles the imprint plans to release throughout 2013.

The forthcoming new titles are rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers. Select releases will be offered as either print-only editions with an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $14.99 CAN, or as digital-only releases with an MSRP of $5.99 (U.S. / CAN). Other titles will be made available in both formats.

For digital releases, the $5.99 purchase price will offer readers digital access to two versions of each manga volume on www.SuBLimeManga.com – a downloadable PDF that is viewable on any enabled eReader device and computer or via the embedded online manga viewer found on the web site.

PR: The Summer Continues to Sizzle With New Yaoi Titles Debuting Today fr. SuBLime

Bond of Dreams, Bond of Love
© 2008 Yaya SAKURAGI 

GLOBAL YAOI MANGA PUBLISHER SuBLime CONTINUES THE SUMMER SIZZLE WITH THE DEBUT OF BOND OF DREAMS, BOND OF LOVE AND

STARTING WITH A KISS

Bold English-Language Yaoi Publisher Will Delight Fans With Both Debuts Available Now In Print And STARTING WITH A KISS Also Available Digitally From SuBLimeManga.com

San Francisco, CA, August 14, 2012 – SuBLime, the global yaoi manga (graphic novel) publisher, delivers more hot summer romance with the debut of Yaya Sakuragi’s BOND OF DREAMS, BOND OF LOVE, and Youka Nitta’s STARTING WITH A KISS. Both new series launch today, are rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers, and carry a print-version MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $14.99 CAN.

STARTING WITH A KISS is also available as a digital edition worldwide from www.SuBLimeManga.com for $5.99 (USD), and is downloadable as a PDF for viewing on any enabled eReader device or computer, as well as accessible via the online manga viewer found on the SuBLime web site.

Fujoshi O'Clock (7/26/12)

What time is it? It's . . . Fujoshi O'Clock, the biweekly feature at Nagareboshi Review, when I bring to you the latest fujoshi-related news and reviews and various shiny BL-flavored things. Why? Because rotten girls need love too!


This week on Fujoshi O'Clock:

• AnimeNation: Media Blasters has announced a trio of new titles, including the most recent OVA adaptation of the light novel BL series Ai No Kusabi. Note: link contains NSFW cover art.
• Boys-Luv.com: Picture Box Inc. is to publish a collection of bara stories by Gengoroh Tagame, available in print and in English this upcoming spring 2013. Bara is BL targeted at gay men, by gay men, and are often centered around men who are burly and muscularly.
• ANN: JManga has added several new titles to their site, including Dousei Ai by Setona Mizushiro, a yaoi manga about classmates and a shared tragedy.
• AnimeNation: Kadokawa announces the release of a new Junjou Romantica OAD, to be bundled with the manga's sixteenth tankoubon.
• Ogiue Maniax continues the Fujoshi Files series with file 49, Yuria of Hanjuku Fujoshi, and file 50, Yajima Mirei of Genshiken and Genshiken II.
• Over at SuBLime Manga, they've created a super handy guide on how to download their manga files as well as transfer them to other devices. Cool!

Reviews:

• The manga habit reviews Yuujin ga Yuusha by Chocodoughnuts, a story of RPG heroes and fluffy video game meta. Plus, sheep! I'm gonna need DMP or SuBLime or anyone to license this for English release ASAP.
• Connie from Slightly Biased Manga reviews Honey Colored Pancakes by Keiko Kinoshita, a decent story of taking in a stray that is very familiar.
• Boys-Luv.com reviews Tender Master by Yamila Abraham and Ero Pinku and naturally, the story falls completely flat.

Am I missing your blog? Got some awesome fujoshi-related news and reviews you think deserve a shout-out? Poke me with a link and a bit of description over at my Twitter: @theseventhl. I'm always on the look out for more BL love!

Fujoshi O'Clock (6/28/12)

What time is it? It's . . . Fujoshi O'Clock, the biweekly feature at Nagareboshi Review, when I bring to you the latest fujoshi-related news and reviews and various shiny BL-flavored things. Why? Because rotten girls need love too!

This week on Fujoshi O'Clock:

• ANN: Viz's boys' love imprint, SuBLime, is offering fixes for the Kindle editions of its manga. Affected titles include several by Kano Miyamoto and Nase Yamato's Cigarette Kisses.
• Kuriosity reports on a new omnibus now available for pre-order: Games With Me, a BL OEL comic written by Tina Anderson, known for her comic Loud Snow. Anderson is also hosting a giveaway for a chance to win a copy of Games With Me that involves writing reviews.
• Because I didn't post last week, you now have two Fujoshi Files from Ogiue Maniax to look forward to! File 45 is Aoba Tsugumi from Kannagi and File 46 is Kagawa Rika from Otaku no Musume-san. I think I need to read this OnMs, yes?
• Over at the Manga Bookshelf, the latest edition of BL Bookrack is up; Michelle and Melinda are looking at the latest titles as well as some classic light novels and a most excellent new webcomic from Alex Woolfson (author of Artifice!).

Reviews: 

• Norikazu Akira is popular again in the review section, as ANN's Rebecca reviews Honey Darling and Connie from Slightly Biased Manga also reviews Honey Darling. It's interesting to read two differing opinions on a single work. Maybe I'm next up to review this one?
• Connie from Slightly Biased Manga has also reviewed the sixth book in Ayano Yamane's Finder series, Passion Within The Viewfinder. Even she admits that no one reads Finder for the story. Just look at the covers!
• Lissa at Kuriousity.ca reviews Three Wolf Mountain by Naono Bohra, a hotly anticipated title that looks to be quite excellent. Plus, Naono Bohra in English and in print! That is always excellent news.
• And not to toot my own horn, but let's do. I've posted several boys' love reviews over the past week, including ones for Miki Araya's I'll Be Your Slave, Kano Miyamoto's Two of Hearts, Aki Morimoto's light novel Like A Love Comedy, and  Kou Yoneda's one-shot Kanjou Spectrum. All wonderful titles, really!

 
Am I missing your blog? Got some awesome fujoshi-related news and reviews you think deserve a shout-out? Poke me with a link and a bit of description over at my Twitter: @theseventhl. I'm always on the look out for more BL love!

PR: SuBLime Debuts THREE WOLVES MOUNTAIN and HONEY DARLING in Print & Digitally!

Honey Darling© 2011 Norikazu Akira

GLOBAL YAOI/BOYS’ LOVE MANGA PUBLISHER SuBLime DEBUTS FIRST PRINT RELEASES WITH HONEY DARLING AND THREE WOLVES MOUNTAIN

Bold Yaoi/Boys’ Love Manga Publisher Releases

Two Acclaimed New Titles This June

San Francisco, CA, June 12, 2012 – SuBLime, the global yaoi manga (graphic novel) publishing initiative between VIZ Media and Japan’s Animate, Ltd. (Animate), delivers its first pair of print editions with the worldwide debuts of HONEY DARLING, by Norikazu Akira, and THREE WOLVES MOUNTAIN, by Bohra Naono. 

Both new manga (graphic novel) are available now, are rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers, and carry an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $14.99 CAN.

Digital versions are available worldwide in a download-to-own format for $5.99 each from www.SuBLimeManga.com, are viewable as a PDF on any enabled eReader device or computer, and also may be accessed via the online manga viewer found on the web site.

Fujoshi O'Clock (2/08/12)

What time is it? It's . . . Fujoshi O'Clock, the new weekly feature at Nagareboshi Review, when I bring to you the latest fujoshi-related news and reviews and various shiny BL-flavored things. Why? Because rotten girls need love too!


This week on Fujoshi O'Clock:

• About.com Manga reports that SuBLime Manga, Viz's BL imprint, has released their first digital-only yaoi titles. These include Love Pistols and Husband, Honeymoon, as well as several one-shots.
• On the heels of that, fans have noticed that SuBLime releases contain some censorship, like the infamous glowing shapes slapped on boys' genitals.
• Kuriosity: Digital Manga has licensed another new title, Shoko Takaku's "I've Seen It All, about a doctor who specializes in male equipment of a certain sort. Sounds like fun.

Reviews:

• Connie at Slightly Biased Manga reviews Bed Of My Dear King by Sakae Kusama and Entangled Circumstances by Kikoku Kikuya.
• Animemiz reviews Healing Music by Tatsumi Kaiya, a Digital Manga Guild release, and finds it an enjoyable read.
• Wolfen at Sequential Tart reviews the first volume of Husband, Honeymoon by Haruka Minami, which turns out to be an enjoyable "guilty pleasure" read.
• In case you missed it, Sarah at Nagareboshi Reviews (!!!) reviews Emirain's Teahouse chapter one, which was absolutely fantastic.

Am I missing your blog? Got some awesome fujoshi-related news and reviews you think deserve a shout-out? Poke me with a link and a bit of description over at my Twitter: @theseventhl. I'm always on the look out for more BL love!

PR: Announcing The Debut of SuBLime Digital Yaoi Manga Titles!

GLOBAL YAOI MANGA PUBLISHER SuBLime KICKS OFF 2012 WITH TANTALIZING DIGITAL OFFERINGS

Oku-san's Daily Fantasies
© Noboru Takatsuki 2011 

Bold New Publisher Releases Acclaimed Boys’ Love Manga

LOVE PISTOLS, OKU-SAN’S DAILY FANTASIES,

THE BED OF MY DEAR KING, And HUSBAND, HONEYMOON

San Francisco, CA, February 1, 2012 – SuBLime, the global yaoi manga (graphic novel) publishing initiative between VIZ Media and Japan’s Animate, Ltd. (Animate) and Libre Publishing Co., Ltd. (Libre Publishing), opens 2012 with a variety of notable new releases. Today, the company launches LOVE PISTOLS Vol. 1 by Tarako Kotobuki, HUSBAND, HONEYMOON Vol. 1 by Haruka Minami, OKU-SAN’S DAILY FANTASIES by Noboru Takatsuki, and THE BED OF MY DEAR KING by Sakae Kusama.

The new titles are rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers and carry an MSRP of USD $5.99 each. The $5.99 purchase price offers fans digital access to two versions of each manga volume on www.SuBLimeManga.com – a downloadable PDF that is viewable on any enabled eReader device and computer, and via the online manga viewer found on the web site.

“Yaoi fans will not to want to miss this collection of exciting releases available now from SuBLime,” says Jennifer LeBlanc, Editor, SuBLime. “Haruka Minami and Tarako Kotobuki are two of the most acclaimed creators within the genre. We invite fans to visit the SuBLime web site to take advantage of the speed and ease of digital download, and to further explore these titles.”

Fujoshi O'Clock: The First of 2012 Edition

What time is it? It's . . . Fujoshi O'Clock, the new weekly feature at Nagareboshi Review, when I bring to you the latest fujoshi-related news and reviews and various shiny BL-flavored things. Why? Because rotten girls need love too!


This week on Fujoshi O'Clock:

•  ふう子 at Hazukashii Kedo does her BL 'year in review' for 2011, looking back at her favorite BL manga, manga-kas, and couples of the past year.
• At Boys' Luv.com, Lissa also does her manga favorites of 2011 list, which includes a few boys' love picks as well.
• Oguie Maniax continues its Fujoshi Files with Takayo of the manga Fujoshi no Hinkaku, an office worker who even carries a daily planner for fujoshi events.
• And with their latest update, the third chapter of Teahouse is complete and will be on hiatus until the 18th of January. My heart, she yearns for more Teahouse!
• SuBLime, Viz's yaoi imprint, has their e-newsletter available for sign-up; all they require is your e-mail address and date of birth.

Reviews:

• Connie at Slightly Biased Manga reviews A Truthful Picture by Sumako Kari, one of the releases by the Digital Manga Guild currently available on eManga's website.
• Rebecca Silverman at Anime News Network reviews Mr. Convenience by Nase Yamato and is entertained well enough by the art and likeable main couple.

Am I missing your blog? Got some awesome fujoshi-related news and reviews you think deserve a shout-out? Poke me with a link and a bit of description over at my Twitter: @theseventhl. I'm always on the look out for more BL love!

Fujoshi O'Clock: The Last of 2011 Edition

What time is it? It's . . . Fujoshi O'Clock, the new weekly feature at Nagareboshi Review, when I bring to you the latest fujoshi-related news and reviews and various shiny BL-flavored things. Why? Because rotten girls need love too!


This week on Fujoshi O'Clock:

• ふう子 at Hazukashii Kedo announces the winner for the DameBL contest.
• SuBLime is certainly busy this week. They've launched their site as well as announced a new title, Yebisu Celebrities by Iwamoto Kaoru and Fuwa Shinri.
• Digital Manga also has two new manga licenses: Private Teacher volume 3 and Secretary's Job.
• Via Crunchyroll: Kotabukiya is bringing Durarara!! "Dream Pillows" to Comiket, and they are certainly for BL fans of the Shizuo/Izaya variety.

Reviews:

• Melinda and Michelle review Climb On To My Shoulders, Pet on Duty, and The Rule of Standing on Tiptoe in the last BL Bookrack of the year.
• Connie at Slightly Biased Manga reviews the fifth volume of the Viewfinder series by Ayano Yamane and the second volume of Kazuma Kodaka's Bad Teacher's Equation (omnibus edition).

Am I missing your blog? Got some awesome fujoshi-related news and reviews you think deserve a shout-out? Poke me with a link and a bit of description over at my Twitter: @theseventhl. I'm always on the look out for more BL love!

Fujoshi O'Clock (11/02/11)

What time is it? It's . . . Fujoshi O'Clock, the new weekly feature at Nagareboshi Review, when I bring to you the latest fujoshi-related news and reviews and various shiny BL-flavored things. Why? Because rotten girls need love too!

This week on Fujoshi O'Clock:

• Deb Aoki at About.com Manga is giving a closer look at 26 recent yaoi titles from Digital Manga Publishing, including some absolutely gorgeous cover art.
• According to ANN, the Junjo Mistake anime is to air as the sixth episode of Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi's second season; Junjo Mistake is a spin-off from the Junjo Romantica series.
• Also at About.com Manga, an interview with the editors of Viz's new BL imprint SuBlime, which took place at this year's YaoiCon 2011.

Reviews:

• Connie at Slightly Biased Manga reviews You Higashino's A Fallen Saint's Kiss, and is not entertained by the book's handling of S&M and rape themes, to say the least.
• ふう子 at Hazukashii Kedo reviews the works of Minazuki Akira, whose third tankoubon has just been released recently (some scans NSFW).

Am I missing your blog? Got some awesome fujoshi-related news and reviews you think deserve a shout-out? Poke me with a link and a bit of description over at my Twitter: @theseventhl. I'm always on the look out for more BL love!

PR: SuBLime, A New Yaoi Manga Line fr. VIZ Media, In Partnership with Animate & Libre!

VIZ MEDIA PARTNERS WITH JAPAN’S ANIMATE AND LIBRE PUBLISHING TO LAUNCH SuBLime, A NEW YAOI MANGA LINE

North American Manga Publishing Powerhouse Launches A Bold New Initiative To Deliver Acclaimed Boys’ Love Titles Digitally And In Print To An Eager Fan Base

San Francisco, CA, October 24, 2011 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has announced the launch of its highly anticipated new yaoi manga (graphic novel) line – SuBLime – which represents an innovative new partnership between VIZ Media and Japan’s Animate, Ltd. (Animate) and Libre Publishing Co., Ltd. (Libre Publishing).

This bold, global publishing initiative will present English-speaking fans everywhere with a broad selection of high quality titles. SuBLime will offer titles digitally worldwide on its dedicated web site at SuBLimeManga.com, with many available in Download-to-Own format, and selections in print also available in English-language editions worldwide. From the supernatural men of Naono Bohra’s tales of fantasy to the sexy actors portrayed in some of Youka Nitta’s best works, SuBLime will offer something for even the most discerning yaoi manga fan.

“The yaoi manga genre enjoys a sizeable and very passionate following, and the launch of SuBLime will give fans around the world an entirely new outlet that will deliver an exciting range of titles,” says Leyla Aker, Vice President of Publishing, VIZ Media. “We invite fans to join us as we prepare to bring some of the best new boys’ love manga titles to North America and beyond!”

“I’m very excited to open the way to providing boys’ love manga to fans all over the world,” says Shingo Kunieda, Director of Animate's Overseas Division. “There are many wonderful yaoi manga titles released every month in Japan, and we know that fans want to read them as soon as possible. We are always moving forward to find new ways of doing business, and by partnering with VIZ Media, we can make yaoi fans happy and release boys’ love titles as quickly as possible!”