VIRGIN MEGASTORE JOINS AS FIFTH VENUE FOR BIG APPLE ANIME FEST

World¹s Largest Entertainment Store to Host Signings
and Sales in Partnership with BAAF

NEW YORK (August 20, 2001)‹The Big Apple Anime Fest (BAAF) announced today
the Virgin Megastore Times Square as the fifth venue of the weekends
(October 26th‹28th) events celebrating Anime Manga culture. In its role as a
sponsor of the festival, the Virgin Megastore will become the Guest
Appearance Venue where Big Apple Anime Fest VIPs will sign autographs as
well as participate in "meets and greets" at the Times Square location. As
of August 20, fifteen guests are to appear over the course of the festival
weekend.

"The Virgin Megastore has always been on the cutting edge with music,
videos, and DVD¹s," said Hiro Awanohara, Marketing & Sales Manager for Big
Apple Anime Festival. "Now Virgin is cutting edge with the Anime Manga
culture and we are pleased to be a partner with them."

As one of New York City¹s biggest attractions and the largest entertainment
store in the world, the Virgin Megastore Times Square store has 600
listening posts, 100 video viewing stations and a one-and-a-half story music
video screen. Anime lovers can watch continuous anime programming on the
"jumbo" screen throughout the entire weekend of the Big Apple Anime
Festival. In addition to hosting top anime artists and their works, Virgin
will have an Anime and Graphic Novel sale. Big Apple Anime Fest goers can
look for big savings on new and classic Japanese animation DVD¹s and graphic
novels.

"With sales of anime on the upswing, a partnership between Virgin and The
Big Apple Anime Festival is a perfect match," said Andy Moreno, East Coast
Marketing Manager for Virgin Megastores. "Our customers love anime and we
love our customers and expect Halloween weekend will be a huge success for
both Virgin and The Big Apple Anime Festival."

Virgin will also run promotional campaigns for the Big Apple Anime Festival
at all 3 of its New York locations, which include Times Square, Union Square
and Westbury, LI. Anime fans can look for ticket give-aways, posters,
flyers, DJ announcements and much more.

About Big Apple Anime Fest (BAAF):
Taking place over Halloween weekend, October 26 to 28, 2001, at the
Directors Guild of America Theater and other venues in mid-town Manhattan,
the Big Apple Anime Fest considers itself to be the "Cannes Film Festival of
the Anime Manga Culture." Japanese animation (anime) is one of the hottest
media trends among today¹s global youth. The Big Apple Anime Fest includes
both premieres and historical retrospectives in the over 250 hours of anime
programming to be presented during the weekend. The enthusiastic
participation of thousands of anime celebrities, industry executives, and
eager fans make Big Apple Anime Fest one of the most highly anticipated
annual events within Anime Manga Culture.
http://www.bigappleanimefest.com

About Virgin Megastore:
Virgin Entertainment Group is the world¹s leading multi-channel music and
entertainment retailer, providing consumers with a range of superior
entertainment experiences through a family of integrated Virgin-branded
businesses. The "category killer" Virgin Megastores and Virgin Megastore
Online at www.virginmega.com are integral parts of a strategy to provide
entertainment customers what they want, how they want it, and when they want
it.