Avril Lavigne on Anime Network Mobile

Rock Singer/Songwriter to Promote New Manga Series, Make 5 Wishes, Tied to Launch of New CD Release, The Best Damn Thing Houston, TX – April 24, 2007 – Inspired by the edgy, pop-culture cool of manga and anime (Japanese graphic novels and animation), rock singer/songwriter Avril Lavigne has used both mediums in a new business surrounding her upcoming CD release, The Best Damn Thing. She not only penned her own manga, but she has also developed animated manga shorts that will air on Anime Network mobile offerings—a rare treat for both music and manga fans. Lavigne's new cross-promotional relationship with Anime Network is part of a unique multimedia project developed by her management company Nettwerk and BMG to extend both the reach and brand value of the popular Grammy Award nominated artist.

Under the terms of the agreement, , the #1 producer-distributor of anime outside of Japan, will promote the artist's new April 17th CD release and Make 5 Wishes manga series across its Anime Network, America's #1 Anime Channel, and , the premier anime and manga monthly magazine. In exchange, Lavigne will provide ADV Films with broadcast and mobile distribution rights to the animated manga shorts. Additionally, the rock star will provide online advertising, record promotional IDs and sign copies of her manga and CD for online sweepstakes and giveaways.

The deal was orchestrated by Index Global Rights (IGR), a digital media consultancy based in New York and Tokyo. Both the manga series and the music videos deal with an introverted teenager, Hana, whose life is changed forever when she meets her hero Avril Lavigne and, through her, finds the courage to conquer her own personal demons. Bringing the manga series to life, music videos incorporating songs from Lavigne's new CD release The Best Damn Thing with animations from the manga series, are available to view and/or download (at $1.

99 per episode) online through the dedicated website, www.make5wishes.com and Nettwerks' website.

The Best Damn Thing, Lavigne's third album, finds the artist returning to the fun, colorful sound of her debut album yet also demonstrating her growth as an artist. The project features writing and production collaborations between Lavigne and Dr. Luke (Lady Sovereign, Pink), Rob Cavallo (Green Day, The Goo Goo Dolls), Butch Walker, and her husband Deryck Whibley of the platinum-selling band Sum 41.

Among the titles included in the new CD and featured in the manga-based animations are the hit song "Girlfriend," "Everything Back But You" and "I Can Do Better." New music video animations are released weekly on the Make5wishes.com website.

Nettwerk Music Group (http://www.nettwerk.com) is a large Vancouver, British Columbia based record label and music management firm.

The label was founded in 1984 by Terry McBride, Mark Jowett, and Ric Arboit in Vancouver, initially to release albums by Jowett's band Moev. Today, Nettwerk represents such artists as Avril Lavigne, Bare Naked Ladies, Billy Tlaent, Sarah McLachlan and Sixpense None the Richer, among others and has additional branch offices in New York City, Los Angeles, London UK, Boston, Nashville, and Hamburg, Germany. Sony BMG Music Entertainment (http://www.

sonybmg.com/)is a global recorded music joint venture with a roster of current artists that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars, as well as a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. Sony BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT is 50% owned by Bertelsmann A.

G. and 50% owned by Sony Corporation of America. ADV encompasses a multitude of complementary media divisions, spanning publishing, television, home video, licensing and merchandising, and continues to expand into emerging digital media distribution.

ADV Films is the #1 producer-distributor of anime outside Japan; Anime Network™ TV reaches more than 40 million households as America's #1 network dedicated to bringing anime and anime-related programming to consumers nationwide 24 hours a day via traditional broadcast, broadband and mobile offerings; Newtype USA is the premier anime and manga monthly magazine; ADV Manga™ provides a comprehensive line of graphic novels; and the group's Amusement Park Media division offers a full array of pre- and post-production services, including new media preparation. Headquartered in Houston, the company has offices in Europe and Japan. For more information, visit www.

advfilms.com. You don't need to be well to do to start your anime collection-- all you need is a few bucks, an idea of where to look, and some time.

Of course, you'll want to be wary of bootlegs, and of course, crap. Read all about it in this week's Super Plastic! It's all about love this week with heartbreak, loneliness, and ethereal girls at your every beck and call.

- Ah! My Goddess S2 v.1
Volume 9 features an unusual amount of characterization, which is a welcome change of pace, even if the developments go beyond straining or spraining credulity and instead grab credulity by both ends and snap its spine over their collective knee.

It seems that those optimistic souls who made "it gets better later" claims for Valkyrie are suffering from some confusion as to the difference between the words "more serious" and "better," namely the fact that the two aren't necessarily one and the same. The first manga series by the creator of Ouran High School Host Club, this shojo manga stands at least slightly above the norm despite its weak artistry. It is almost worth checking out for its great side story alone.

The logical preciseness of a police procedural, combined with classic themes of beyond-the-grave spirituality—yet Kurosagi is far from formulaic, and it often takes unexpected detours of plot. The first couple of pages are in full color, leading into beginning of the story where the main character is standing in the shower..

. having his very first period. Although the volume begins in typical fashion, two major bombshells alter the nature and course of the series.

By the end of the volume it is a different – and better – series than it was at the start. With this volume the title pushes fully into the realm of romantic comedy, with an emphasis on the serious side of the all-girl love triangle. Quality writing highlights a story that would work just fine even without its central sex-change gimmick.

If the delicious blend of action, intrigue, and the supernatural drew you in during the first volume then the second will not fail to sustain your interest and enthusiasm. Its clever adaptation of actual history remains a particular highlight. Despite their artistic quality control issues, episodes 9-12 provide plenty enough reasons to keep watching: good pacing, intriguing plot developments, a strong soundtrack, and lead characters that are finally showing some real personality.

If you know anything about the first series, then you already know what to expect: maximum boobs, maximum pantyshots, and zero intelligence.