At the New York Comic-Con Viz Media announced the acquisition of Naruto and Rurouni Kenshin novels.  Anime and manga-related novels have been surprisingly successful especially in the bookstore market (see 'Anime/Manga-Related Novels Boffo') and Naruto and Rurouni Kenshin are two of the most popular anime and manga properties in the American market today. Viz plans on releasing the first (of 2) Kenshin novels in October and the initial Naruto novel (of 3) in November.

Also coming out later this year the fourth Inuyasha movie, which is due in August.  Viz has sold more than a million units (combined) of the three previous Inuyasha movie releases.

Viz also announced several new manga licenses, the most important of which is Busou Renkin, a 9-volume series from Nobuhiro Watsuki, the creator of Rurouni Kenshin.  Viz plans to start publishing Busou Renkin right after publishing the twenty-eighth and final Kenshin volume this summer.  Viz has also acquired Drifting Classroom by Kazuo Umezu.  This post-apocalyptic saga of an entire elementary school transported into a bleak and barren future won the Shogakukan Manga Award in 1975.