VIZ Media Announces a Trio of New Trading Cards for the Official NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Collectible Card Game from Bandai

VIZ Media delights fans with the announcement of the forthcoming release of three exclusive new NARUTO trading cards for Bandai America’s official NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Collectible Card Game (CCG).

April 14, 2010 -- VIZ Media delights fans with the announcement of the forthcoming release of three exclusive new NARUTO trading cards for Bandai America’s official NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Collectible Card Game (CCG).

In April, the first card featuring the series’ main character, Naruto Uzumaki, will be included in Bandai's Series 17 Hobby Booster Boxes. Another exclusive card featuring Sakura Haruno will be bundled as a special bonus in Volume 48 of the NARUTO manga series (rated ‘T’ for Teens), set to be published in June. A third card will feature Kakashi Hatake and will be included in the August issue of SHONEN JUMP magazine, the best selling monthly manga anthology in North America. The issue hits retailers on July 6th, 2010. These cards will only be available as exclusives for these products.

Fans that collect all three NARUTO cards are eligible to receive a special fourth card at one of Bandai's numerous SHONEN JUMP Championship Tournament locations. This fun tournament allow players to test their skills against other opponents to win special prizes, and culminates in the National Championships to be held at the Gen Con Indy taking place in Indiana on August 7th and 8th.

In addition, attendees at selected Tournaments will have a chance to win the special fourth card with the autograph of Masashi Kishimoto, author of NARUTO.

For more information on NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN please visit www.NARUTO.com.