Viz Media announced at New York Comic Con that it will release the 62-episode Hunter x Hunter anime series in a multi-disk format with the first set slated for the fourth quarter.  Based on the manga series by Yoshihiro Togashi (Yu Yu Hakusho), the Hunter x Hunter anime series aired in Japan from 1999 to 2001. Viz Media also publishes the Hunter x Hunter manga in English and so far, has released 19 of the 25 volumes. Viz Media has been shopping the Hunter x Hunter anime at various video fairs around the globe (see “Viz Media Presenting Hunter x Hunter & Monster Series”).  The initial release of anime series in multi-disksets (at a lower per episode cost) is becoming increasingly common for all but the most highly anticipated series.

Viz has also confirmed that it will release the first Blue Dragon anime DVD in September.  The Blue Dragon anime, which has a strong videogame tie-in, will start its run on the Cartoon Network in May (see “Blue Dragon Anime on the Cartoon Network”).