VIZ MEDIA TEAMS with AUTODESK ON ART FOR HOPE TO BENEFIT JAPAN DISASTER RELIEF

VIZ MEDIA TEAMS WITH AUTODESK ON ART FOR HOPE TO BENEFIT JAPAN DISASTER RELIEF Curated Digital Artwork Created With Autodesk SketchBook Apps Will Be Unveiled At The VIZ Media 25th Anniversary Event At Comic-Con San Francisco, CA, July 7, 2011 - VIZ Media, the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in the North America, announced today a collaboration with Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) to create a limited edition digital art book anthology that will be sold through VIZ Media's Manga App, with 100% of VIZ Media's net proceeds going to support disaster relief efforts in Japan. All of the artwork in the collection, titled ART FOR HOPE, will be created using Autodesk SketchBook digital paint and drawing software applications.

VIZ Media and Autodesk have already started working with artists to create works that deliver a message of hope to victims of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Artists interested in submitting work to be considered for the collection can email artforhope@viz.com. The VIZ Media editorial team, together with Autodesk's team, will select and curate the selections for the digital anthology, which will be released later this fall exclusively through the VIZ Manga App, available on iPad , iPod touch and iPhone . VIZ Media will donate 100% of its net proceeds to the disaster relief and rebuilding efforts in Japan.

It has been several months since the earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan, and financial support is needed now more than ever, said Hidemi Fukuhara, President and CEO of VIZ Media. ART FOR HOPE is a very special project for VIZ Media, and we thank Autodesk for making it possible for artists and fans to support the relief efforts in such a unique manner.

Digital painting and drawing is within everyone's reach, and we're excited to help unlock the artistic potential of VIZ Media fans and professional artists alike for this extremely worthy cause, Samir Hanna, vice president of the Autodesk Consumer Products Group.

Autodesk and VIZ Media will unveil some of the artwork from the ART FOR HOPE project at the VIZ Media 25th Anniversary Event to be held during Comic-Con on Thursday, July 21st at the Andaz Hotel in San Diego. VIZ Media will also announce a groundbreaking new initiative for the manga community.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan. Owned by three of Japans largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular monthly manga anthology SHONEN JUMP magazine and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages. VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products. Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

About Autodesk, LLC

Autodesk, Inc., is a leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software. Customers across the manufacturing, architecture, building, construction, and media and entertainment industries -- including the last 16 Academy Award winners for Best Visual Effects -- use Autodesk software to design, visualize and simulate their ideas. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk continues to develop the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art software for global markets. For additional information about Autodesk, visit www.autodesk.com.

Autodesk, AutoCAD, and SketchBook Pro are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. Academy Award is a registered trademark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

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