Vampire Knight DVD Launch Set for July

Viz Media will launch the Vampire Knight anime in the U.S. with the release of the first DVD, Vampire Knight Vol. 1, on July 20th at an MSRP of $19.97. This will be the first U.S. release of the original, uncut episodes.

The Vampire Knight anime launch will be supported with large scale marketing events at San Diego Comic-Con, Anime Expo, and select Twilight conventions nationwide.

Viz will cross-market the anime with the manga, which was the#2 shojo manga of 2009 and the #3 manga over-all . The DVD Volume 1 will include a manga mini-sampler; and the anime will be advertised in future Vampire Knight manga releases.

Viz Confirms 'Shojo Beat' Cancellation

Viz Media has confirmed that the July 2009 issue of Shojo Beat, its monthly shojo anthology magazine, will be the last. The final issue hits newsstands June 16th.

Subscribers will receive a free copy of the August issue of Shonen Jump with information on their subscription or refund options.

“We are very proud of the past issues of Shojo Beat magazine and the efforts of the entire team,” a Viz spokesperson said. “The magazine developed quite a fan base but unfortunately in today’s difficult economic climate we felt the need to place our resources elsewhere at this time.”

The Shojo Beat graphic novel imprint and Website will remain active, and “all of our great shojo manga titles previously serialized in Shojo Beat magazine will still be published and available as graphic novels under the Shojo Beat imprint from Viz Media," according to the spokesperson.

The Shojo Beat magazine launched in 2005, but never achieved anything near the sales levels of Shonen Jump.