VIZ Media has secured the television, home video, and non-video game merchandising rights for the Americas, Europe, and Oceania to Blue Dragon, a new anime series based on the Microsoft Xbox 360 Role Playing Game by the same name.
Blue Dragon the game was developed by Hironobu Sakaguchi and features characters by Akira Toriyama. It will be released in North American and Europe in August 2007.
The anime series is “a classic adventure story of magical Shadow powers, flying air fortresses, and unbounded heroism! Brought together by fate, Seven Soldiers of Light must awaken the Shadow within themselves in time to overcome a despotic power and bring peace to their land. Their ensuing journey through a rich fantasy world is also an internal journey to awaken the great power within each of them.” It debuted on Japan’s TV Tokyo on 7 April 2007 and is produced by Studio Pierrot.
VIZ Media’s Vice President of Content Management Linda Espinosa said “Blue Dragon represents the latest convergence of video gaming and anime. We look forward to leveraging the tremendous momentum that drives both to make this property a success across multiple market sectors and age groups.” She also said “Anime continues to be one of the most robust segments of the entertainment arena. Blue Dragon‘s story of overcoming conflicts through adventure and friendship will both entertain and inspire.”
VIZ Media is a manga publisher, and also distributes animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. It is owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation: Shueisha, Shogakukan, and Shogakukan Production Co. (ShoPro Japan).