VIZ Media Partners With Hot Topic to Offer Exclusive T-Shirts and Highlights Collectables Available from the Official Website Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: dora-world.com (Japan). doraemon.com (US) Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

Doraemon Eating Dorayaki Girls T-Shirt from Hot Topic. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © Fijiko-Pro

VIZ Media gives DORAEMON fans a fun way to display their love of the hit anime adventure comedy that currently airs on the Disney XD channel. The company has announced it is teaming up with pop culture and alternative apparel retailer Hot Topic to offer the first-ever officially U.S. licensed DORAEMON t-shirts. Shirt designs offered by Hot Topic include “Many Doraemon” and “Doraemon Waving,” available in distinctive men’s and women’s styles, as well as “Doraemon Eating Dorayaki,” available exclusively in women’s sizes. Shirts are available now at 30 Hot Topic store locations nationwide as well as online at search.hottopic.com/doraemon. Participating Hot Topic Stores Include: Desert Ridge Marketplace (AZ) Flagstaff Mall (AZ) Promenade in Temecula (CA) The Shops at Tanforan (CA) Topanga Mall (CA) Visalia Mall (CA) Aurora (CO) The Avenues (FL) Coastland Mall (FL) Volusia Mall (FL) Cherryvale Mall (IL) Castleton Square (IN) Muncie Mall (IN) Acadiana Mall (LA) Natick Mall (MA) South Shore Plaza (MA) Genesee Valley Mall (MI) Lansing Mall (MI) Galleria of White Plains (NY) Marketplace Mall (NY) Tulsa Promenade (OK) Berkshire Mall (PA) Westmoreland Mall (PA) York Galleria (PA) Knoxville Center (TN) Lufkin Mall (TX) The Outlet Shoppes at El Paso (TX) Everett Mall (WA) Valley Mall (WA) Charleston Town Center (WV) VIZ Media is the exclusive North and Latin American master merchandise licensee for the celebrated anime property, overseeing the licensing and development of a range of DORAEMON products across all categories. The company has announced a variety of additional products and collectables available from the official DORAEMON online store, brought to you by Yes Anime at shop.doraemon.com.

Doraemon Buckle-Down Belt.© Fijiko-Pro

Fans browsing the online store can find unique DORAEMON products, such as the officially licensed t-shirt designs,“Doraemon Exclamation” and “Neon Skipping Doraemon,” as well as DORAEMON Buckle-Down Belts (trademark seatbelt belts made with authentic automotive style seatbelt buckles) and high quality DORAEMON and Nobi Nobita S.H. Figuarts figures. These collectables feature the latest high-grade articulation joints, which allow for realistic posing possibilities and include optional parts to customize each figure with the use of precisely placed magnets! DORAEMON, one of the most beloved character properties worldwide, originated as a manga (graphic novel) series created by Fujiko F. Fujio in 1970. It later became a popular anime series and product franchise in Japan that continues to be a smash hit worldwide, especially in Asia. The comedy series depicts the adventures of Doraemon, a blue cat-type robot from the 22nd century, who travels back in time to help a boy named Noby by using various secret gadgets procured from his Four-Dimensional Pocket. Episodes often involve lessons for young viewers about honesty, cooperation, courage, and respect. DORAEMON marks its 45th Anniversary in 2015 and continues to be a major worldwide franchise with over $500 million in annual global retail sales and over 600 active licensees. Over 140 million copies of the manga have been published. DORAEMON also holds the largest box office attendance record in Japan of any movie franchise, toppling Godzilla, with 34 feature films released to-date and over 100 million tickets sold last year alone. The property’s first 3D feature film, STAND BY ME DORAEMON (STAND BY ME ?????, 2014), is set for release in Japan in August. The Doraemon character is also Tokyo’s bid to act as its Special Ambassador for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Visit the official DORAEMON web site at doraemon.com or Facebook page at facebook.com/DoraemonUS. Additional information on DORAEMON and other titles and properties available can be found at VIZ.com.

Bandai`s Tamashii Nations Robot Spirits: Doraemon figure. © Fujiko Pro

About Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions Co., Ltd.

ShoPro is a subsidiary of Japan`s largest publishing houses: Shogakukan Inc., Shueisha Inc. and Hakusensha Inc. Together, they distribute the majority share of the most popular magazines and comic books in Japan. ShoPro was founded in 1967 for the purpose of licensing and merchandising the properties owned by Shogakukan Inc. ShoPro has since experienced steady growth and expanded into two main sectors: the Media sector and the Educational Development sector. They represent some of the world`s most popular entertainment brands for the Japanese market. By maximizing the advantages of close relations to all Shogakukan group companies, ShoPro provides Shogakukan and Shueisha properties, as well as client companies overseas, with powerful licensing and merchandising programs supported by a comprehensive blend of selected media.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan. Owned by three of Japan`s largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology Weekly Shonen Jump and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages. VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products. Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at VIZ.com.