VIZ Media has announced a variety of upcoming new animated titles that will make unique gift ideas this holiday season.

Set for release throughout November and December, this new collection includes the long awaited North American debut of “Hunter x Hunter,” a fantasy action adventure.

Also eagerly anticipated is the debut of the “Death Note” DVD Box Set Volume 1, a collection of the first 20 episodes from the popular series that has captivated millions with its highly original supernatural crime thriller plot.

Other releases to entice the anime lover on many gift lists this year include “Naruto the Movie 3: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom,” “Buso Renkin” Volume 2 Box Set, and a perennial favorite with younger viewers this holiday season, the new “Pokémon” Diamond and Pearl Box Set II.

“With the 2008 holiday season approaching, VIZ Media is pleased to highlight a variety of upcoming anime releases that will delight fans of all ages,” says Gonzalo Ferreyra, vice president of sales and product marketing for VIZ Media.

“These new titles showcase an array of stories, characters and visual styles that make animation such a dynamic visual genre. We are pleased to offer this wide palette of titles and invite friends, colleagues and loved ones to begin to consider the perfect gifts for this coming holiday season.”

• “Pokémon” Diamond and Pearl Box Set II Volumes 3-4. Rated “A” for all ages. MSRP: $24.98.

Beautiful cities, passionate Gym Leaders, mysterious legends of time and space, cruel villains, and of course, new Pokémon all await Ash Ketchum as he explores the Sinnoh region in the ultimate quest to become the greatest Pokémon master.

Ash, Brock and their new friend Dawn continue to catch and train new Pokémon on their travels. Along the way they meet up with Pokémon regenerated from fossils and a mercenary Pokémon thief who can out-thieve even Team Rocket.

If those challenges can’t bring our heroes down, nothing can. Except maybe a Pokémon dress-up competition?

This special set includes two DVDs (Episodes 18-34), Volumes 3-4 of the “Pokémon” Diamond and Pearl series.

• “Naruto the Movie 3: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom.” Rated “T” for teens. MSRP: $29.98.

In this latest feature adventure featuring everyone’s favorite band of ninjas, Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi team up with Rock Lee to protect Prince Michiru and his son Hikaru on their return home to the Crescent Moon Kingdom. Easy enough, until the royal family becomes a royal pain.

Prince Michiru can’t help indulging his son, even buying him a circus along the way. Naruto has a tough time putting up with both the spoiled Hikaru and a saber-toothed tiger, but the real adventure begins when they reach the Land of the Moon and find themselves facing a villainous uprising. Does Naruto have what it takes to save an entire kingdom?

Special bonus features include the original Japanese movie booklet (translated) and “Naruoto the Movie 3” trivia questions where fans are invited to check their knowledge of “Naruto” and receive a ninja ranking.

• “Death Note” DVD Box Set Volume 1. Rated “T+” for older teens. MSRP: $69.98. Available Nov. 18.

Available for the first time as a DVD box set, this first volume features five discs containing the first 20 episodes from the hit animated series based on Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata’s best selling manga.

Meet Light Yagami, a brilliant but bored high school student whose life is changed when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami, or god of death, named Ryuk. When Light discovers that any human whose name is written in the book dies, he vows to use its power to rid the world of evil.

But every action has its consequences, and Light soon finds himself in a life or death battle of wits with the mysterious genius detective called L. Humanity itself becomes the battleground to determine what form of justice will prevail.

• Buso Renkin DVD Box Set Volume 2. Rated “T+” for older teens. MSRP: $49.98.

“Buso Renkin” is based on the popular manga series by Nobuhiro Watsuki, creator of the samurai epic “Rurouni Kenshin,” and introduces audiences to Kazuki Muto, a high school student who thinks he’s saving a girl from a monster, but it turns out that he’s the one who needs saving.

Kazuki is stabbed and killed while fighting a homunculus, a malevolent creature that feeds on humans. A mysterious girl named Tokiko Tsumura revives him by replacing his heart with an alchemical device called a kakugane.

With this device, Kazuki can now create his own Buso Renkin, a powerful alchemical weapon in the form of a huge lance, capable of destroying homunculi.

With his new weapon, Kazuki decides to join forces with Tokiko to eliminate the evil homunculi and destroy their master, the strange and eccentric Papillon Masked Creator.

• “Hunter X Hunter” DVD Box Set Volume 1. Rated “T+” for older teens. MSRP: $49.98. Available Dec. 9.

Based on the popular “Hunter X Hunter” manga series by Yoshihiro Togashi (also published by VIZ Media), this new fantasy action series introduces audiences to Hunters, a special breed of adventurers dedicated to tracking down treasure, magical beasts, and even humans.

But such pursuits require a license, and less than one in a hundred thousand can pass the grueling qualification exam.

Gon might be a country boy, but he has high aspirations. Despite his aunt’s protests, Gon decides to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a legendary Hunter. The journey begins on the long, arduous road to the Exam Hall, where he meets Leorio and Kurapika, two applicants with the same determination.

Gon and his two companions must now prove their worth and earn the right to call themselves Hunters through a variety of amazing tests and trials.

Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay St., San Francisco, CA 94133; phone (415) 546-7073; fax (415) 546-7086; or visit the website at www.VIZ.com.