Metreon—A Sony Entertainment Center Presents the First Annual Metreon Festival of Anime

Business Wire, Oct 8, 2001

About Viz Communications, Inc.

Viz Communications, Inc., is the leading U.S. publisher of Japanese animation and comics (anime and manga) for English-speaking audiences, serving a growing market of dedicated fans of all ages. Founded in 1986, Viz publishes over 20 titles every month including "Ranma 1/2", "Pokemon", "Gundam" and "Dragon Ball Z". Viz also offers an integrated product line of consumer entertainment that includes magazines, comics, graphic novels, videos, DVDs and audio soundtracks. Based in San Francisco, California, Viz is one of the top five comics publishers in the U.S. and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Shogakukan, one of Japan's three largest publishers. With some of the most innovative products in the industry, Viz has expanded its offerings to its loyal fans through web sites such as www.animerica-mag.com, www.pulp-mag.com, www.j-pop.com and its corporate site, www.viz.com.

About Entertainment Robot America (ERA), Sony Electronics Inc.

Established in January 1999, Entertainment Robot America is a divisional company of Sony Electronic Inc. Headquartered in Los Angeles, ERA maintains sales, marketing and engineering operations in the U.S. For further product and sales information on Sony AIBO Entertainment Robot and a complete list of AIBO accessories please visit www.aibo.com or call 1-888-917-7669.

Color slides and/or digital photos of anime can be immediately
requested from:

Kirsten Maynard
Metreon--A Sony Entertainment Center
(415) 537-3417, kmaynard@metreon.com