DEATH IS HIS GIFT

Based on the best-selling manga written and illustrated by Katsura Hoshino, and directed by Osamu Nabeshima (Clamp School; Hamtaro), the gothic horror anime D. GRAY-MAN: SERIES 1 - PART 1 comes to DVD in February 2010 as a two-disc release featuring the first 13 episodes of the series' 51-episode first season.

Set in a fictional 19th century England, the plot concerns a secret order of Exorcists embroiled in an ongoing struggle to save the Earth from an ancient being and his army of demonic creatures set on destroying mankind.

Meet Allen Walker, a 15-year-old boy and a born Exorcist who roams the Earth in search of Innocence, a mysterious substance used to create weapons and tools capable of obliterating demons known as Akuma. It is believed that in ancient times, 109 fragments of Innocence were washed to unknown parts of the world by The Great Flood.

Allen's primary anti-Akuma weapon is a cross that is embossed on his red, disfigured left hand, which contains Innocence. But not only does Allen have the ability to destroy Akuma, he also sees them hiding inside a person's soul. Together with a group of fellow exorcists fighting under the command of the Black Order, he joins the battle against the Millennium Earl, an ancient being who intends to 'cleanse' the world by destroying all life on it.

Allen's first perilous mission takes him to southern Italy, where an Innocence has been located. Along with fellow exorcist, Kanda, and Tom, a member of a support group for exorcists called 'finders', Allen must vanquish the Akuma that covets the Innocence.

D. GRAY-MAN: SERIES 1 - PART 1 (cert. tbc) will be released on DVD (£tbc) by Manga on 22nd February 2010. Special Features include: audio commentary for Episode 2; textless opening (Innocent Sorrow); textless closing (Snow Kiss); English 5.1 Surround; Japanese stereo with English subtitles.

Episodes
The Boy Who Hunts Akuma; The Black Order; The Ghost Of Mater; Old Man Of The Soil And A Lonely Night's Aria; Let Me Hear The Lullaby; That Which Calls Forth Disaster; Tombstone Of Memories; The Black Order Annihilation Incident; The Rewinding Town; The Bad Luck Woman's Innocence; Miranda Lotto's Feelings; And Snow Falls Over The Town; With The Coat.

Press contact: Louise Rivers (020 7907 4770)