VIZ Media is bringing the US up to speed with Japan, at least as far as the release of the newest Naruto series is concerned. Episode 101, the newest Naruto Shippuden episode, will be released in Japan on 26 March, and will be streamed for free simultaneously in the US (with English subtitles) on that day, on Naruto.com (Canadian viewers can see it on Joost.com).
According to VIZ’s Evelyn Dubocq, “This is the first time that the official US Naruto web site will simulcast an episode with the broadcast in Japan. Naruto is one of the most popular Japanese anime and manga properties in the world and this special simulcast is part of VIZ Media’s ongoing plan to bring hit animated properties and the latest content to its audience via the web.”
VIZ’s Vice President of Strategy & Business Development Ken Sasaki said “We invite Naruto fans across the US to visit the site on 26 March for this very special presentation. The web site is the ultimate destination for anything Naruto and currently contains nearly 100 full-length episodes, all offered in high quality streaming video, and is completely free for viewers.”
In related graphic novel news, VIZ is accelerating the publishing schedule for upcoming editions of the Naruto manga series: they’ll publish eleven new volumes between February and April—moving the series from Volume 34 to Volume 44—before returning to a quarterly release schedule beginning with Volume 45 in July 2009.
Created by Masashi Kishimoto, Naruto debuted in 1999. It follows “the story of Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja in training, who wants to be the best ninja in the land. He’s done well so far, but Naruto knows he must train harder than ever and leaves his village for intense exercises that will push him to his limits. Naruto Shippuden begins two and a half years later, when Naruto returns to find that everyone has been promoted up the ninja ranks—except him. Sakura’s a medic ninja, Gaara’s advanced to Kazekage, and Kakashi… well, he remains the same. But pride isn’t necessarily about becoming a ninja, especially when Naruto realizes that Sasuke never returned from his search for Orochimaru. Plus, the mysterious Akatsuki organization is still an ever-present danger. As Naruto finds out more about the Akatsuki’s goals, he realizes that nothing in his universe is as it seems. Naruto is finding that he’s older, but will he also prove wiser and stronger?”