WHY DEMOCRACY? - TAXI TO THE DARKSIDE WINS AN OSCAR®

SBS & MADMAN set to distribute the DVD of 2007 Oscar® winning documentary.

MELBOURNE, Wednesday, 27 February, 2008 ? Featured as a part of SBS television?s event documentary series, WHY DEMOCRACY?, TAXI TO THE DARKSIDE recently received outstanding recognition when it was awarded the ?Best Documentary Feature? Academy Award® at the February 24th Oscars® ceremony.

Directed by Alex Gibney (ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM) and Eva Orner, TAXI TO THE DARKSIDE follows the case of an Afghan taxi driver, beaten to death in 2002 while in U.S. military custody, and forms the heart of an examination of the abuses committed during the detainment and interrogation of political prisoners. When New York Times reporter Carlotta Gall investigates the death of cab driver Dilawar - officially declared by the military to be from natural causes - she uncovers incontrovertible evidence to the contrary.

The broadcast version of TAXI TO THE DARKSIDE features on SBS and MADMAN ENTERTAINMENT?S release of the SBS Television series, WHY DEMOCRACY? SBS Television joins forces with 25 other broadcasters worldwide to screen a series of programs under the theme WHY DEMOCRACY? The programs were screened simultaneously across the planet in October 2007. The series had two purposes: to examine the real prospects for global democracy, the dominant idea of our time, and to debate a new style for this emerging democracy, which may not necessarily be based on Western ideals.

Also featured on WHY DEMOCRACY?, PLEASE VOTE FOR ME, has also received strong recognition, being named on the shortlist alongside TAXI TO THE DARKSIDE for the 2007 Academy Awards®, and also awarded the Sterling Feature Award at the 2007 Silverdocs Documentary Festival.

WHY DEMOCRACY? is released on DVD April 23rd.

For Bleach fans, we have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that the awesome red BLEACH hoodies are in stock and available now - make sure you look at the range for your anime customers.

The bad news, is due to a production issue, the Charcoal coloured version of the same hoody has been cancelled. Any preorders will be refunded and please direct your customers to the Red version of the same article.

Contact your sales rep for more information

VIZ MEDIA TEAMS WITH MADMAN TO BRING HOT MANGA TITLES TO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

Country's Mix Of Western And Asian Culture Creates A Growing Demand For Diverse Titles.

Melbourne, Monday, 25 February 2008 - VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced its continued global expansion with a new distribution agreement with Madman Entertainment to offer a wide variety of Shueisha manga (graphic novel) series to the burgeoning market in Australia and New Zealand. Shueisha Inc., is one of Japan's largest publishers and is a parent company of VIZ Media.

Some initial VIZ Media titles to be published will include smash hit properties like NARUTO, set to debut in March, BLEACH, scheduled to launch in April, and DEATH NOTE, which will be introduced in May. Several popular shojo series such as THE GENTLEMEN'S ALLIANCE, FULL MOON, LOVE*COM and NANA are also set for publication this year along with action favorites that include ONE PIECE, D. GRAY MAN, BLACK CAT and CLAYMORE.

Madman is Australia's number one distributor of manga (graphic novels), with a wide range of popular titles already available, including some of the industry's biggest licenses. In late 2006-early 2007, Madman was a key sponsor of the Tezuka - The Marvel of Manga exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria and the Gallery of New South Wales, and also launched a dedicated manga section on its website, www.madman.com.au.

"Madman is honored to be working with VIZ Media and their incredible range of manga brands, and thrilled at the prospect of introducing these to a wide range of readers in our territories," says Tim Anderson, Managing Director of Madman Entertainment. "Australian and New Zealand readers have developed a real thirst for manga and based on similar agreements forged in other rising markets, Madman looks forward to combining efforts with VIZ Media to offer the most comprehensive catalogue to date in these countries."

"Madman Entertainment has become a dominant player in the emerging Australian and New Zealand manga scene and we are excited to partner with them to bring some of the hottest titles to readers there." says Hyoe Narita, Executive Vice President, VIZ Media. "Manga has become a truly global entertainment medium and agreements like this will continue to provide innovative means to develop and establish international markets offering a range of compelling content."


About MADMAN ENTERTAINMENT

THE MADMAN ENTERTAINMENT GROUP proudly showcases the best in Japanese anime, world cinema, art house film, Australian independent features and animation. Madman is Australia's leading distributor of home entertainment and an industry innovator with a sought-after interactive and DVD authoring studio; printing division; film production involvement; and a range of DVD and video labels. Madman was recently awarded exclusive DVD distribution rights to the Cartoon Network and SBS home entertainment labels. Web site: www.madman.com.au


About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan's largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs and audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.

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Reports from the US have indicated that Warner Brothers will be adapting the Akira manga into two films starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Little is known so far but the movies are said to cover six volumes of the Akira manga and will be relocated to New Manhattan. The first of the too films will be released around August 2009.

Due to shipping delays we regret to inform that all items as part of the Death Note apparel range will be delayed until late March 2008.

Madman Otaku Wear apologies for any inconveniences this may have caused.

TOKYOPOP titles scheduled for release in February will be delayed. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Please check out our other great titles available in February including Fruits Basket 23, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time 1, Hellsing 3 and many more!

Madman is pleased to announce the winners of its Ultimate Naruto Competition!

This competition was massive, with plenty of fans using their 25-words-or-less Jutsu to vie for an incredible prize pack.

Without further ado, the grand prize winner -


Sarah Jacobs


Congratulations Grand Master Sarah, you win the major prize:

NARUTO Airbrushed Xbox 360
NARUTO Xbox 360 Game
NARUTO the Movie - Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow
NARUTO V1-8 DVDs & COllectors Boxes
NARUTO Merch - the Jacket, hoodie, Leaf Headmand and all 4 NARUTO tshirts
Giant range of Naruto 3", 4", and 12" figures
A Massive Shurricane and Naruto Training Deluxe

Well done also to our Runners Up, who each win a great prize pack:

NARUTO Xbox 360 Game, NARUTO the Movie - Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow and the NARUTO Leaf T-Shirt - here they are:

Steven Weir
Yongky Ong
Sang Pham
Laetitia Ramm
Skaidris Pinnis
Steven Dopper
Zelph Auseuga
Nicholas Udo
Dayne Georgiou
Laurent Hermitte

Many thanks to all our entrants and keep your eye on the FANZONE for more great competitions and click the link below for more on NARUTO

Apologies folks but it looks like our Bleach Hoodies will be delayed until Jan 08. Bleach Tees will still be available in the next few weeks so Pre-Order now!

Relaunched in September with a newly developed, high quality, lightning fast player, the Madman Screening Room is *the* place to watch anime trailers on the web. Our screening room already boasts over 200 high resolution trailers with new trailers for our latest upcoming titles added every month.

What's more, we've been trawling through our back catalogue and will soon have over 90% of the trailers on our site in this new format.

Don't know what the fuss is all about? Head over to there now and check it out for yourself. You'll wonder how you ever lived without a video player so darn big, beautiful and fast (YuckTube, take note!)

From anime to docos, through to Australian film and back again - we've already got most bases covered. But if you think we've overlooked something, then head over to the Madman Madboards and tell us what you'd like to see uploaded next.

That precocious scamp Naruto not only wants to be the best on DVD and TV but his new game NARUTO: RISE OF THE NINJA for Xbox360 debuted at #3 on the gaming sales charts! In fact the only games ahead were megahits Halo 3 and the Orange Box.

No wonder fans have come out in force to play the game, as it faithfully recreates the hit anime down to a T.

Naruto can be seen on Channel 10 Mon-Thu at 7am, and weekdays at 8.30pm on Cartoon Network. Naruto also stars in his first feature this month, NINJA CLASH IN THE LAND OF SNOW, out now on Madman DVD!

If that isn't enough to make you do the Explode-With-Excitment-Jutsu, you still have till November 30 to enter THE ULTIMATE NARUTO COMPETITION, the prize pack including a one of a kind Xbox 360 console, games, DVDs, apparel and merchandise!

It's Naruto fever alright! Believe it!

Check out more on Naruto here: