Wizards of the Coast's MapleStory iTCG will be directed at a kids audience of ages 10 and up.

Viz Pictures has acquired the North American theatrical and DVD rights to the two live action Death Note features: Death Note and Death Note: The Last Name .

New York Anime Festival will include a focus on Japanese culture as a way to expand the experience for convention-goers beyond anime, manga, and toys.

Max Makowski has been signed to direct the adaptation of the Kung Fu TV series for Legendary Pictures.

With the announced resignation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a number of candidates are being suggested to replace him, including Foreign Minister Taro Aso, who's a big supporter of Japan's anime and manga industries.

Tsuburaya Productions, the creator of the Ultraman TV series and features, is being acquired by TYO, an advertising, film, and animation company.

We recently caught up with Viz Senior Vice President Liza Coppola to discuss the current state of the manga and anime markets, and what's coming from Viz. In Part 3, we talk about the anime market, including the relatively nascent shojo market, the sales channels for anime, Viz's live action program, and the comparison between the Japanese and American markets.

In Part 2, we talk about Viz's manga anthologies, the plans for Naruto in 2008, the 'next Naruto,' and Viz's fiction program.

In Part 1, we talk about the manga market in the states, where it's sold, the number of releases in 2007 and 2008, and OEL manga.

The Japanese advertising agency Dentsu is once again the sole owner of Geneon USA .