Viz Media Announces The Canadian Broadcast Premiere Of Naoki Urasawa’s MONSTER On Super Channel, Presented By Manga Entertainment

Animated Psychological Suspense Masterpiece Anime, is Based On Critically Acclaimed Manga Series, Offers aTale of Conspiracy, Political Intrigue and Murder

San Francisco, CA (March 19, 2010) — VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the recent Canadian broadcast debut of the animated series, Naoki Urasawa’s MONSTER, featured by Starz Media’s Manga Entertainment on Super Channel. MONSTER is based on the critically acclaimed manga series by Naoki Urasawa that is published in North America by VIZ Media.

New episodes of Naoki Urasawa’s MONSTER, rated TV-MA will air each Monday night at 10 p.m. ET on Super Channel, Canada’s only national pay television network.

What would you do if a child you saved grew up to be a monster? An ice-cold killer is on the loose, and Dr. Kenzo Tenma is the only one who can stop him! Tenma, a brilliant neurosurgeon with a promising future, risks his career to save the life of a critically wounded young boy named Johan. When the boy, now a coldhearted and charismatic young man, reappears nine years later in the midst of a string of unusual serial murders, Tenma must go on the run from the police, who suspect him to be the killer, to find Johan and stop the monster he set loose upon the world. Conspiracies, serial murders, and secret government experiments set against the grim backdrop of the formerly communist Eastern Europe are masterfully woven together in the compelling work of suspense that is Naoki Urasawa’s MONSTER.

“Naoki Urasawa’s MONSTER weaves an engaging story of psychological intrigue,” says William Germain, VIZ Media’s Director of Programming Sales. “The multifaceted plot and mysterious characters that make Naoki Urasawa’s manga a smash hit are adapted seamlessly in this animated series that stays absolutely true to the original story. We look forward to Canadian fans of manga and anime as well as mystery and suspense tuning in each week to catch the suspense and excitement of MONSTER!”

“We are very pleased to add Naoki Urasawa’s MONSTER to the strong anime lineup on Super Channel,” said Gene George, executive vice president of worldwide distribution for Starz Media. “We know the excitement of MONSTER will engage anime fans that are regular viewers of this anime block of programming.”