VIZ Media and The Licensing Machine announce the long awaited animated series Death Note and Bleach for Italian and German territories

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies and The Licensing Machine, a new division of Panini UK, engaged in TV, Home Video, Promotional, Merchandise, Marketing and Licensing Services announce the launch of the long awaited hit animated series DEATH NOTE and BLEACH in Italy and Germany.

For BLEACH, The Licensing Machine has acquired Television and Home Video rights for Italy, and Home Video rights for Germany. For DEATH NOTE, The Licensing Machine has acquired Television, Home Video and Merchandising rights for Italy, and Home Video and Merchandising rights for Germany.

DEATH NOTE is a suspenseful mystery, inspired by a 12-volume manga series that follows the adventures of Light Yagami, an ace student with great prospects but who is bored out of his mind. All of that changes when he finds the Death Note, a strange notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god named Ryuk. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals mysteriously begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer. With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight of his noble goal - or his life?

BLEACH is based on a popular manga series by Tite Kubo, and tells the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki, an ordinary 15-year-old boy who happens to be able to see ghosts. His fate takes an extraordinary turn when he meets Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper who shows up at Ichigo's house on the trail of a Hollow, a malevolent lost soul. Drawn to Ichigo's high level of spiritual energy, the Hollow attacks Ichigo and his family, and Rukia steps in to help but is injured and unable to fight. As a last resort, Rukia decides to transfer part of her Soul Reaper powers to Ichigo. Ichigo, now a full-fledged Soul Reaper, and Rukia, minus her powers, join together to face the challenges that lie ahead.

“We are very excited to grow our relationship with Panini, while paving the way for Italian and German audiences to enjoy both DEATH NOTE and BLEACH,” says John Easum, President/Gérant, VIZ Media Europe. “Both titles are currently enjoying enormous success across the globe including Japan, North America, France and Spain. They are two of Japan’s richest new series offering striking animation and incredible storytelling. We are thrilled that, in partnership with Panini, we will be able to extend this success to Germany and Italy.”

“The Panini Group have treasured Japanese entertainment for over a decade, bringing to Europe the fantastic manga stories, and masterpieces captivating readers and contributing to the growth of the European manga fan base. DEATH NOTE and BLEACH belong to the privileged category of successful manga and TV programmes which we are so very excited about. We look forward to working closely with Viz Media Europe to give rise to a powerful experience for Japanese animation fans and our partners,” says Giusy Christiana Panari, Director of The Licensing Machine.