Upcoming in North America

Ponyo is scheduled to be released on video March 2nd in a Standard Edition ($29.99), a 2-disc Special Edition that comes with a plush Ponyo figure ($34.99), and a Blu-ray ($39.99)

*



Release details have been announced for the Halo Legends anime anthology.
Produced by 343 Industries, a part of Microsoft Game Studios, the exciting tales-beyond-the-games will be distributed February 9, 2010 by Warner Home Video as a Special Edition 2-disc version on DVD and Blu-Ray™ for $29.98 (SRP) and $34.99 (SRP), respectively, as well as single disc DVD for $19.98 (SRP)
The chapters will also be available On Demand and Digital Download. Shorts runs between 10 and 17 minutes

The Shorts include work from studios range from Production I.G. (Ghost in the Shell, Batman Gotham Knight), Bones (Cowboy Bebop, Fell Metal Alchemist) and Toei Animation (Dragonball Z, Digimon) to Studio 4oC (The Animatrix, Batman Gotham Knight) and Casio Entertainment.

Creator supervisors includecreative supervisors Shinji Aramaki (Appleseed) and Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell) with directors directors Shinji Aramaki (Appleseed), Hideki Futamura (The Animatrix), Daisuke Nishio (Dragonball Z), Hiroshi Yamazaki (Karas), Toshiyuki Kanno (Black Lagoon), Koichi Mashimo (Blade of the Immortal) and Koji Sawai (Patlabor); directors/action designers Tomoki Kyoda (Eureka Seven, Evangelion 1.0) and Yasushi Muraki (Macross Plus, Vampire Hunter D); and writer Dai Sato (Cowboy Bebop).


Halo Legends - 2 Disc Special Edition version will have several hours of incredible bonus features, including:

* The Making of Halo Legends – An introduction to Halo Legends followed by a making-of segment for each episode.
* Halo: Gaming Evolved – Explaining the Halo phenomenon from its inception as an Xbox video game to a present day entertainment franchise.
* Audio Commentary with directors Frank O’Connor and Joseph Chou
* Widescreen (1.78:1)

Halo Legends Blu-Ray will also include Halo: The Story so Far, an overview of the Halo universe up until the end of Halo 3



BASICS
HALO LEGENDS - Single Disc
Street Date: February 9, 2010
Languages: English and Spanish
Audio: Dolby Surround Stereo
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: Estimated 119 min.
Price: $19.98 SRP / No MAP


HALO LEGENDS – 2 Disc Special Edition
Street Date: February 9, 2010
Languages: English and Spanish
Audio: Dolby Surround Stereo
Rating: PG-13
Runtimes: Disc 1 – Estimated 119 min.
Disc 2 – Estimated 89 minutes
Price: $29.98 SRP / No MAP

HALO LEGENDS – Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def
Street Date: February 9, 2010
Languages: English and Spanish
Audio: Dolby Surround Stereo
Rating: PG-13
Runtimes: Estimated 223 min.
Price: $34.99 SRP / No MAP

SXaniMedia notes that Seraphim Digital Studios (formerly known as ADV Studios and Amusement Park Media) has been tapped by Microsoft's 343 Industries and Warner Brothers to handle English co-production, adaptation and voice direction.


John Ledford, founder of ADV Films is involved as co-Executive Producer, with Joey Goubeaud and Eiichi Takahashi - the former an ADV production manager and Producer, the latter Executive co-Producer of Sentai Filmworks (Clannad / Clannad After Story) - and finally, long-time ADV Films Director, Steven Foster (Appleseed Ex Machina, Le Chevalier D'Eon, Gilgamesh, Kiba) is involved in the adaptation, casting and voice direction.


*

Deb Aoki at About.com:manga spoke to Garrett Boast about plans for a Shojo Berry manga anthology

CMX

RAMPAGE VOL. 1
Written and illustrated by Yunosuke Yoshinaga
CMX/FLEX COMIX. China: 184 A.D., a time of great turmoil. A young drifter named Zhang Fei stumbles upon a slaughtered village and encounters the volunteer army of Liu Bei. He joins them in time to help in the defense of a walled city. But later, while attempting to save the life of a little girl, he’s struck by an arrow and thrown off a cliff. Rescued by two wizards, he is revived and given great powers. But the price could cost him his very soul!
Advance-solicited; on sale February 10 • 5.5” x 8” • 202 pg, B&W, $12.99 US • MATURE


BALLAD OF A SHINIGAMI VOL. 3
Illustrated by Asuka Izumi
Original story by K-Ske Hasegawa
CMX. The final collection of stories featuring Momo, the beautiful Shinigami. In this volume, a girl copes with guilt over something she was thinking the day before her sister died. A set of twins and their stepbrother cope with the loss of someone they all loved. Then see what happens to a cat who gets caught up in the aftermath of a young romance torn apart by sudden death.
Advance-solicited; on sale February 3 • 5" x 7.375" • 192 pg, B&W, $9.99 US • TEEN PLUS


SWAN VOL. 15
Written and illustrated by Kyoko Ariyoshi
Advance-solicited; on sale February 10 • 5" x 7.375" • 184 pg, B&W, $9.99 US • EVERYONE


VENUS IN LOVE VOL. 8
Written and illustrated by Yuki Nakaji
Advance-solicited; on sale February 17 • 5" x 7.375" • 208 pg, B&W, $9.99 US • TEEN
"

A TALE OF AN UNKNOWN COUNTRY VOL. 2
Written and illustrated by Natsuna Kawase
Advance-solicited; on sale February 17 • 5" x 7.375" • 192 pg, B&W, $9.99 US • EVERYONE


THE BATTLE OF GENRYU: ORIGIN VOL. 2
Written and illustrated by Shouko Fukaki
Advance-solicited; on sale February 24 • 5" x 7.375" • 162 pg, B&W, $9.99 US • TEEN PLUS

DMP
New Digital Manga Publishing licenses announced at Yaoi-Con

Doki Doki imprint

Double Cast by Ellie Mamahara (Shinshokan Publishing's Dear+ Comics) - due Mid-2010

I Want to Bite You (Kamitsukitai. novel) by Isaya Takamori (Shinshokan's Dear+ Bunko), Illustrated by Chigusa Kawai (La Esperança) - due Mid-2010

Koyoi wa Kami to Chi no Kiss o (A Bloody Kiss Tonight) by Makoto Tateno (Shinshokan's Dear+ Comics) - due Late 2010

Juné imprint
Café Latte Rhapsody by Toko Kawai (Libre's Be-Boy Comics) - due Early 2010

Your Love Sickness (Ayashi no Kimi no Koiwazurai) by Kuku Hayate (Libre's Be-Boy Comics) - due Early 2010

The Tyrant Falls in Love (Koi suru Bo-kun) by Hinako Takanaga (Kaiousha's Gush Comics) - due Summer 2010

Stay Close to Me (Soba ni Oitene.) by Yaya Sakuragi (Hey, Sensei) (Libre's Be-Boy Comics, formerly Biblos - due Mid-2010

Seven Days: Monday-Thursday Art by Rihito Takarai (Taiyoh Tosho's Million Comics Craft Series) Story by Venio Tachibana - due Mid-2010

Endless Comfort (Koukyu no Arika) nby Sakura Sakuya (Taiyoh Tosho's Million Comics Hertz Series) - die Mid-2010

Doushitemo Furetakunai (No Touching at All) by Kou Yoneda (Taiyoh Tosho's Million Comics Craft Series) - due Mid-2010

Spiral of Sand by Yuna Aoi (Awaken Forest) (Taiyoh Tosho's Million Comics Hertz Series) - due Late 2010

Kizuna Deluxe Edition (2-in-1 omnibus volumes) by Kazuma Kodoka (Libre's Be-Boy Comics Deluxe Edition, formerly Biblos) - due Late 2010

801 Media import
Deeply Loving a Maniac (Cho Maniac ni Aishite) by Yuu Higashino (Libre's Super Be-Boy Comics) - due Early 2010


FUNumation
FUNimimation has posted a number of trailers including Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne (an especially good one, well worth watching)







IDW
A new four issue Transofmers Bumblebee miniseries is scheduled to premiere in December.
Written by Zander Cannon with art by Chee, TRANSFORMERS: BUMBLEBEE spins out of events in the new ongoing TRANSFORMERS series. Chee and Guido Guidi will provide the covers.


Manga Entertainment
The Anime on DVD forum confirmed that Manga Entertainment will release Ghost in the Shell 2.0 on DVD 1/12/10 for $24.97.
The remix movie will be available on Blu-ray this month.

Speaking of Manga Entertainment, Anime News Network's podcast spoke to Manga's Steve Sargent, who confirmed that the licenses for End of Evangelion, Miyazaki's Lupin III: Castle and Satoshi Kon's Perfect Blue have expired.

Media Blasters
2/2/2010

RAMEN FIGHTER MIKI - LiteBox - Volumes 1-3, Eps. 1-12 - 3 Discs - $19.99

2/9/2010
GIRLS HIGH - LiteBox - Volumes 1- 3, Eps. 1-4 - 3 Discs - $19.99
GAOGAIGAR SEASON ONE - King of the Braves - LiteBox - Volume 1-5, Eps. 1-25 - 5 Discs - $29.99

2/23/2010
DAIRUGGER - Anta Baka?! - Vols. 1-3, Eps. 1-18 with Collectors Box - 3 Disc - $34.99

DAIRUGGER
The original Japanese show that was edited to create "Voltron: Defender of the Universe" now available uncut for the first time!

In the past, pioneers bet their youth on the sea. Now, in the year 2200 AD, mankind searches for intelligent life in the sea of stars. Aki, Walter and Keats lead the three Rugger Teams from their base on the military flagship Rugger Guard. Using their specialized space vehicles, they uncover the ruins of spacefaring civilizations and explore uncharted planets. When they cross over into the territory of the brutal Galbeston Empire, they're forced to defend themselves by merging their machines into the powerful Dairugger XV!

GAOGAIGAR
This is the story of the brave men and women who will defend our world.
On a desolate road in the snowy mountains, a childless couple wished upon a falling star. The star is revealed to be Galeon, a mechanical lion who delivers the baby Mamoru into their arms. Years later, Mamoru lives the life of an ordinary grade school student, until the day comes when his class is caught up in a ferocious attack by the mechanoid alien Zonders. Just as all hope is lost, the young cyborg hero, Gai Shishio, is sent by the UN alien de fence force "3G," the Gutsy Geoid Guard. He risks his own life without question to protect Mamoru's class and all of Earth. Drawn by the legacy of his mysterious origins, Mamoru becomes a member of 3G, joining the ranks of humanity's bravest defenders. They wage all-out war against the Zonders with their advanced vehicles, weapons and AI robots. When their backs are up against the wall, Gai Fuses with Galeon and 3G's Gao Machines to form the indomitable King of all robots: GaoGaiGar!
But even in the face of these awe-inspiring machines, the bravery of humanity in its darkest hour is the true Key to Victory!

GIRLS HIGH
Eriko and her friends finally make it to an exclusive high school and they're ready to make the most of it! For these girls, having fun is priority number one. Right from the start, they're causing trouble, meeting boys, forging friendships, making enemies — you know, typical teenage girl behavior. The hit series GIRL'S HIGH gives you a raw, hilarious fly-on-the-wall peek into the lives of these girls as they experience for the first time the awkwardness, embarrassment and camaraderie of high school life.


RAMEN FIGHTER MIKI
In a world where terror grips the land, one girl walks the line between life and death to bring her own special brand of... ramen. Miki Onimaru works at her mother's ramen shop, making deliveries, waiting tables, and attracting customers with cute, girlish charm. But somehow, Miki can't complete even one of these simple tasks without her bone-crunching, skull-splitting martial arts. Can Miki get through the day without messing up and angering her mom, who makes her look like a gentle kitten in comparison?

Rescheduled releases include

A Blood Pledge (Removed Until Further Notice)
Akihabara@Deep Movie (Removed Until Further Notice)
Akihabara@Deep Movie+Manga (Removed Until Further Notice)
Art of The Devil 3 (Has moved to Feb)
Dirty Laundry Running 4 weeks late)
F3: Frantic, Frustrated, and Female (Removed Until Further Notice)
God's Left Hand, Devil's Right Hand(Removed Until Further Notice)
Hansel & Gretel(Removed Until Further Notice)
Ichi The Killer Blu-ray(Has moved to Feb)
Immoral Sisteemoved Until Further Notice)
Kid with the Golden Arm (Removed Until Further Notice)
Like A Dragon (Has moved to Feb)
Rare Flix Collection 6 (Thunder Kick, Drifter TDK, and Showdown) (Removed Until Further Notice)
Riot on 42nd Street (Has a new street date of 1/12/2009)
Sukisho LiteBox (Removed Until Further Notice)
Versus Blu-ray (Removed Until Further Notice)
Wicked Lake Blu-ray with Soundtrack (Removed Until Further Notice)

Media Blaster has also picked up the licenses for risqué fighting anime Ikkitousen Great Guardians and risqué fantasy anime Queen's Blade

Section23 Films
YOU’RE UNDER ARREST: FAST & FURIOUS COLLECTION 1 - on sale now
You’re Under Arrest: Fast & Furious Collection 1 contains the first 13 episodes of the second season in the hit anime TV series You’re Under Arrest. Based on the original manga by Fujishima Kousuke, the creator of Ah! My Goddess.


SYNOPSIS: From drunken karaoke binges to baseball-themed vigilantes, the Bokuto Police Station is a magnet for the weird and unusual! Fortunately, car crazy Miyuki, insanely strong Natsumi and the rest of the station’s enforcers of justice are always ready to place their well-drawn bodies between the public and the line of fire! It’s non-stop, pedal to the metal action and hilarity as Japan’s most irregular team of police officers hits the streets in You’re Under Arrest: Fast & Furious!


Title: YOU’RE UNDER ARREST: FAST & FURIOUS COLLECTION 1
Running Time: 325 min.
Age Rating: TV PG (V)
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $39.98

Ki-gai - on sale now
Ki-gai – The Complete Series Collection (Live action) collects all of Hiroshi Nagai’s supernatural series about an unlikely pair of beautiful women who team up to investigate the paranormal. This live action DVD release from Switchblade Pictures features beautiful babes and plenty of action.

SYNOPSIS: When Miki Takenotori starts talking about ghosts, ghouls and things that go bump in the night, most people dismiss her stories as just the fantasies of a rather weird teenager. Unfortunately for Miki, the things she’s talking about are REAL, and most of them don’t like being talked about! So when Miki joins forces with beautiful archaeologist Reiko Kaguya to investigate the latest mysterious apparition, they usually find themselves in imminent danger of being eaten by giant birds, water demons or some other equally horrific fate! And then there’s the strangely androgynous being that calls itself Hekiru: is “he” a friend or foe? And why is “he” somehow linked to almost every supernatural event they investigate? The answers will be unveiled as two young women do their best to keep aliens, demon mirrors and even giant dragons from destroying Japan in Kigai – The Complete Series Collection!

Title: KI-GAI
Running Time: 130 min.
Age Rating: Unrated - V
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
Published by: Switchblade Pictures
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Pre-Book Date: 10/6/2009
SRP: $19.98


January releases include the first DVD sets of anime series Hidamari Sketch, Glass Mask, and Neo Angelique Abyss. Also coming from Sentai Filmworks in January are the second and final volumes of You’re Under Arrest: Fast & Furious, Special A, and Tears to Tiara.

Hidamari Sketch adapts the four panel manga about girls living in an artists' haunt

Glass Mask adapts the classic shoujo theatre manga

Neo Angelique Abyss adapts koei's bishonen game

Switchblade Pictures, another Section23 client, has three “live-action” DVD releases straight from Japan, including Akiballion: Battlemaids of Akihabara and the double features Female Combatants Battle School & Demonic Heroine In Peril, and Birthday Mail & Kokurri-san.

From AEsir Holdings, a colleded edition of Petite Princess Yucie Complete Collection.

PETITE PRINCESS YUCIE COMPLETE COLLECTION
Running Time: 650 min.
Language: English, Japanese with English Subtitles
Published by: AEsir Holdings
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Street Date: 1/5/2010
Format: DVD
SRP: $49.98

AKIBALLION: BATTLEMAIDS OF AKIHABARA COMPLETE COLLECTION
Running Time: 187 min.
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
Published by: Switchblade Pictures
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Street Date: 1/5/2010
Format: DVD
SRP: $19.98

YOU'RE UNDER ARREST: FAST & FURIOUS COLLECTION 2
Running Time: 325 min.
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Street Date: 1/5/2010
Format: DVD
SRP: $39.98

FEMALE COMBATANTS BATTLE SCHOOL /
DEMONIC HEROINE IN PERIL DOUBLE FEATURE
Running Time: 154 min.
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
Published by: Switchblade Pictures
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Street Date: 1/12/2010
Format: DVD
SRP: $19.98

HIDAMARI SKETCH SEASON 1 COLLECTION
Running Time: 350 min.
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Street Date: 1/12/2010
Format: DVD
SRP: $39.98

GLASS MASK COLLECTION 1
Running Time: 650 min.
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Street Date: 1/19/2010
Format: DVD
SRP: $49.98


SPECIAL A COLLECTION 2
Running Time: 300 min.
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Street Date: 1/19/2010
Format: DVD
SRP: $39.98

BIRTHDAY MAIL / KOKURRI-SAN DOUBLE FEATURE
Running Time: 126 min.
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
Published by: Switchblade Pictures
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Street Date: 1/26/2010
Format: DVD
SRP: $19.98

NEO ANGELIQUE ABYSS SEASON 1 COLLECTION
Running Time: 325 min.
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Street Date: 1/26/2010
Format: DVD
SRP: $39.98

TEARS TO TIARA COLLECTION 2
Running Time: 325 min.
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Street Date: 1/26/2010
Format: DVD
SRP: $59.98

Tokyopop
Upcoming Natsuki Takaya release include the second and final Fruits Basket fanboy Fruits Basket Banquet, and My Song, Your Smile, Just Because: Stories From The Creator Of Fruits Basket, with includes a side story to TSUBASA: THOSE WITH WINGS.

RATMAN by Sekihiro Inui, the creator of COMIC PARTY and MURDER PRINCESS is due in May. RATMAN tells the story of Shoto Katsuragi, who is a superhero fanatic. Unfortunately for him, he's too short to achieve his dream of becoming just like his idol, Mr. Thunder...That is, until he's tricked into participating in a mad science experiment!

.HACK//LINK by Megane Kikuya, on sale in July.

The Quasar Of Stigmata, from the artist of behind the My-Hime manga is due in August.
The manga takes place in a near future, and follows the trials and tribulations of two students from a Japanese Eastern Orthodox school. The students and the whole school are confronted with an all-out war between the Church and the Adepts, a sect of powerful individuals. "Filled with violence that's not for the faint of heart, the manga also takes a cue from MY-HIME with a liberal dose of fan service! "


The final volumes of Legends of Dark Crystal and Return to Labyrinth, based on the Henson movies are also due this Summer.

Viz
VIZ Media announced that the release of Rumiko Takahashi’s original manga series in new VIZBIG omnibus editions. Published by the company’s SHONEN SUNDAY imprint, INUYASHA VIZBIG Volume 1 debuts November 10th, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens, and carries an MSRP of $17.99 U.S. / $24.00 CAN.


Each omnibus edition features three volumes of the original graphic novel series presented in a larger 5-3/4 x 8-5/8 size (larger than the standard 5 x 7-1/2 manga). The VIZBIG INUYASHA series is also presented in a right-to-left reading format, just like the original manga counterpart.

YU-GI-OH! r, Vol. 1 • Rated ‘T’ for Teens • MSRP: $9.99 US / $12.99 CAN • Available Now
YU-GI-OH! R is the shocking manga-only sequel to Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duelist and the prequel to Yu-Gi-Oh!: Millennium World. Volume 1, with story and art by Akira Ito


RIN-NE, Vol. 1 • Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens • MSRP: $9.99 US / $12.99 CAN • Available Now
RIN-NE is the brand new series from celebrated manga creator Rumiko Takahashi (INUYASHA).


WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 • Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens • MSRP: $12.99 US / $16.99 CAN • Available Now
A poignant collection of intersecting vignettes depicting twenty-something angst, Inio Asano’s WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD explores the various ways that modern life can be at once ridiculous and sublime, terrible and precious, wasted and celebrated. In Volume 1, what begins with a college dropout bored of her mediocre routine soon becomes a fantastic series of stories about the unexpected ways that different lives intersect. Filled with magical realism in the face of the cold reality of daily modern life, at their core these stories are about young people discovering something precious amidst the chaos of existence.

BEAST MASTER, Vol. 1 • Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens •
MSRP: $9.99 US / $12.99 CAN • Available November 3rd
Leo Aoi looks like a crazy animal with wild eyes, and he goes berserk whenever he feels threatened and sees blood. That doesn't stop animal-lover Yuiko Kubozuka from befriending him, however. In fact, Yuiko is the only person Leo will listen to when he has one of his violent fits...

DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd (Novel) • MSRP: $17.99 US / $24.00 CAN • Available Now

POKÉMON: Giratina & the Sky Warrior! Ani-Manga, Vol. 1 •
Rated ‘A’ for All Ages • MSRP: $11.99 US / $15.99 CAN •

INUYASHA (VIZBIG), Vol. 1• Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens •
MSRP: $17.99 US / $24.00 CAN • Available November 10th

GO GO MONSTER, Vol. 1 • Rated ‘T’ for Teens •
MSRP: $27.99 US / $36.00 CAN • Available November 17th
Third grader Yuki Tachibana lives in two worlds. In one world, he is a loner ridiculed by his classmates and reprimanded by his teachers for telling stories of supernatural beings that only he can see. In the other world, the supernatural beings vie for power with malevolent spirits who bring chaos into the school, the students' lives, and even nature itself.

This gorgeous edition is available in hardcover format with a four-color slipcase.

GO GO MONSTER was created by Taiyo Matsumoto, whose other works include BLUE SPRING, NO. 5 and TEKKONKINKREET: BLACK & WHITE, which are all published in North America by VIZ Media. TEKKONKINKREET won a prestigious Will Eisner Award in 2008 and was also adapted into an animated feature film.

OISHINBO THE JOY OF RICE, Vol. 6 • Rated ‘T’ for Teens •
MSRP: $12.99 US / $16.99 CAN • Available November 17th


THE ART OF GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE †, ARINA TANEMURA ILLUSTRATIONS • MSRP: $19.99 US / $27.00 CAN • Available November 17th

BUTTERFLIES & FLOWERS, Vol. 1 • Rated ‘M’ for Mature Audiences •
MSRP: $9.99 US / $12.99 CAN • Available December 1st
Choko Kuze is the sensible daughter of a venerable family who went bankrupt. She joins a real estate company as an entry-level office worker, but her eccentric boss is harder on her than anyone else in the company! After hearing him inadvertently call her "milady," she realizes he was the young servant boy she knew as a child. At work he's a tyrant, but after hours he insists on treating her like a lady of the nobility. Is romance even possible for a couple locked in such a crazy role reversal?

Anime
NAOKI URASAWA’S MONSTER Box Set 1 • Rated 'M' for Mature • MSRP: $59.90 US / $85.99 CAN • Available December 8
What would you do if a child you saved grew up to be a monster? An ice-cold killer is on the loose, and Dr. Kenzo Tenma is the only one who can stop him! Tenma, a brilliant neurosurgeon with a promising future, risks his career to save the life of a critically wounded young boy named Johan. When the boy, now a coldhearted and charismatic young man, reappears nine years later in the midst of a string of unusual serial murders, Tenma must go on the run to uncover the story of Johan and stop the monster he set loose upon the world. Conspiracies, serial murders, and secret government experiments set against the grim backdrop of the former East Germany are masterfully woven together in this compelling psychological thriller. (Episodes 1-15)


HONEY AND CLOVER Box Set 2 • Rated 'T+' for Older Teens • MSRP: $59.90 US / $85.99 CAN • Available December 15

SHONEN JUMP releases include:
NARUTO Shippuden Volume 4 • Rated 'T+' for Older Teens • MSRP: $24.92 US / $35.99 CAN • Available December 8
Two powerful jonin of the Leaf, Kakashi and Guy, have taken on their Akatsuki rivals Itachi and Kisame. While Guy battles to save his team from a water prison, Kakashi exhibits his genius ninja prowess by seeing through Itachi's most subtle tactics. Turns out the battle wasn't quite what it seemed, and Kakashi and Granny Chiyo are fearful of the implications. Naruto and the team are forced to face the bitter truth--they might already be too late! (Episodes 14-17)

BLEACH Volume 23 • Rated ‘T’ for Teens • MSRP: $24.92 US / $35.99 CAN • Available December 15

HUNTER X HUNTER Box Set 4 • Rated 'T+' for Older Teens • MSRP: $49.95 US / $71.99 CAN • Available December 1

From VIZ Pictures: (Live Action Feature Films)

20TH CENTURY BOYS 1: BEGINNING OF THE END • MSRP: $24.92 US / $35.99 CAN • Available December 15
It all begins in 1969 when a young boy named Kenji and his friends write "The Book of Prophecy" in which they write about a future where they fight against an evil organization trying to takeover the world and bring about doomsday. Years later in 1997, a mysterious cult being lead by a man only known as "Friend" emerges and begins to gain strong influence over society. A series of catastrophic events begin to occur mirroring the prophecies made up by the young Kenji and the greatest fear is the climax of "The Book" becoming a reality; December 31st, 2000, a terrifying giant virus-spreading robot will attack the entire city of Tokyo leading to the end of mankind. The only people who know about "The Book" are Kenji and his childhood friends. Who is "Friend"? Will Kenji and his friends be able to save mankind and live to see the 21st Century?

2/9
NARUTO SHIPPUDEN VOL. 6

2/16
BLEACH UNCUT BOX SET 4 PART 2

2/24
BLEACH, VOL. 25

Warner Home Video
Superjail! Season one will be released on DVD February 23rd for $19.97



Watson-Guptill

Drawing Manga Animals, Chibis, and Other Adorable Creatures by J.C. Amberlyn will be released Nov 17, 2009
It starts with the basics of creating manga-style characters—everything from drawing heads and faces to eyes and expressions, to creating incredibly cute chibis. Part two features a valuable reference section on the mythological and real animals that have shaped Japanese artwork and stories. The final section has step-by-step demonstrations on using computer programs such as Photoshop and Corel Painter to create manga art and comics.

The Manga Artist’s Workbook by Christopher Hart has recently been released


Yen PRess
Yen Press will be producing OEL manga based on James Patterson's alien hunting novels, Daniel X. The work scheduled for next summer will be produced by Seung-hui Kye (Recast)

Upcoming in Japan

Promos and Previews

A look forward to the winter anime season

A look at
Despera Anime by Yoshitoshi Abe




Staff

Despera is an upcoming anime series, directed by Ryutaro Nakamura, written by Chiaki J. Konaka and featuring character designs by Yoshitoshi ABe. This is the second time all the three main creators of psychological thriller anime Serial Experiments Lain will be collaborating once again for the new project, and is Nakamura and Konaka’s third collaboration, after their work on Ghost Hound. The title Despera derives from a poem of the same title by Japanese Dadaist poet Jun Tsuji. Though the title of Tsuji’s poem comes from the word “desperation” or “despair”, the official blog states that it also implies the Spanish word desperado. A graphic novel serialization relating to the anime is being published in Japanese magazine Animage, beginning from its July 2009 issue.

Plot

The story centers around a 14 year old girl named Ain, who often builds devices despite the lack of scientific background for them. The sci-fi alternative period story is set in Tokyo during the Taisho era in 1922, one year before the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake.


Madhouse's Mai Mia Miracle



Loups-Garou - Production I.G's adaptation of Natsuhiko Kyogoku's “virtual reality werewolf” novel, featuring Jpop act Scandal - the novel is scheduled to be released in North America by Viz

Production I.G's English language profile

Kiddy Girl - follow-up to girls with guns sci-fi Kiddy Grade

stills of Oshii's Assault Girls

The documentary looking at the work of horror manga luminarie Kazuo Umezu

Eden of the East movie trailer




Precure Allstars DX2

Liar Game: The Final Stage - live action adaptation of manga, previously adapted into TV drama

Not really anime/manga related, but of note, Kazuaki Kiriya and Gary Shore's Cup of Tears

The Cup of Tears film trailer. Dir. Gary Shore from Gary Shore on Vimeo.

For Kaiju fans


Anime
Nausicaa.net reports that the next Ghibli Museum short will be "Cyu (Mouse Squeak) Zumou", scheduled to start January 3.

Runtime: 13 minutes
Source: Japanese folktale
Project origin, scenario: Hayao Miyazaki
Director, storyboards: Akihiko Yamashita
Music: Manto Watanebe (Ghiblies episode 2)

20th Anniversary Sailor Moon re-issues will hit on December 11, 2009. A special event titled "GO! GO! 20th ANNIVERSARY" is to be held, attended by the voice actresses of the five Sailor Senshi(Sailor Scouts).



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The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya anime movie is schedule to premiere February 6th

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A preorder date of December 23rd is being listed for the seventh episode of the Hellsing Ultimate OVA

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The Blu-ray release of new Universal Century (time line of the original Gundam) Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn anime series will have a simultaneous overseas release on March 12 with Japanese and English dubbing, as well as Japanese, English, French, Spanish, and Chinese subtitles. The first of six DVD volumes will ship on the same day with Japanese dubbing as well as Japanese and English subtitles.



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Kazuya Minekura's bishonen adaptation of Saiyuki, the Journey to the West/Monkey King epic will get another anime adaptation, this time based on her Saiyuki Gaiden

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Clive Barker and Ryuhei Kitamura (Midnight Meat Train) have plans to adapt Barker's “In the Hills, the Cities” into anime

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Yoshitaka Amano's Yasai no Yousei - N.Y. Salad television anime series will be adapted into 3D film, scheduled for early next spring.

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Britain's Got Talent's Susan Boyle will be performing the theme song for Himitsu Kessha Taka no Tsume The Movie 3 ~http://takanotsume.jp wa Eien ni~, the third adaptation of Flash-animated Himitsu Kessha Taka no Tsume gag comedy television shorts from the animator FROGMAN.

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MADHOUSE's literature adaptation series Aoi Bungaku will spawn a movie compilation of Osamu Dazai's No Longer Human (Ningen Shikkaku) - featuring character by Takeshi Obata (Death Note, Hikaru no Go, Bakuman)

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A House Foods campaign will be giving away DVDs of One Piece episode 0, adapting the episode 0 manga that ties into the upcoming One Piece Film Strong World movie. The prequel to the latest movie adaptation of the pirate manga features Pirate King Gold Roger versus the legendary pirate "Gold Lion" Shiki.

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excercise anime seems to the new thing. As such, the DVD release of Spice and Wolf II will be packaged with short "Wacchi to Sutorecchi"(lit. Stretch with Wacchi; Holo's characteristic pronoun "Wacchi" sort of rhymes with "stretch" in Japanese)



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The XXXHOLiC Rou will be packaged with a limited edition of volume 17 of CLAMP's manga, scheduled for release April 23rd.

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The Time of Eve (Eve no Jikan) will be edited, with new footage, into a compilation movie, scheduled to hit Japanese theatres next spring.



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Gintama, a Shonen Jump action comedy about an alien conquered Edo Japan, will be adapted into a movie - teaser here

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Classic "real robot" mecha anime will be included new spring in OVA Soko Kihei VOTOMS: Gen-ei Hen (Armored Trooper Votoms: Phantom Arc)



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Junichi Sato (Aria, Princess Tutu) announced plans for a new iyashikei (calming or healing) anime called Tamayura, to be released as an OVA next year

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The Blu-ray release of girls action anime My-Hime will feature a new bonus episode

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Rikiya Koyama, dub voice of 24's Jack Bauer, take of the role of Detective Conan/Case Closed's Kogoro Mouri following the departure of Akira Kamiya

Manga
Political manga writer Kaiji Kawaguchi will be ending Zipang, the story of a modern destroyer sent back to World War II, and prparing for his next work of manga.

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2Luv Ru's Kentaro Yabuki has a new manga scheduled to hit Jump Square in its February issue

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The latest issue of Monthly Manga Town has announced that new installments of the late Yoshito Usui's Crayon Shin-chan will continue until the March issue, which will ship on February 5, 2010.

Live Action
A live action adaptation of lock picking action manga Saru Lock will hit Japanese theatres February 27th. A TV drama has recently concluded.

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Shinsengumi based samurai manga Peace Maker Kurogane is being adapted into a live action drama, scheduled to debut January 2010 on the TBS/MBS television

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A new live action the Girl Who Leapt Through Time, starring Riisa Naka, voice of Makoto in the 2006 anime, has been confirmed. The fourth theatrical adaptation of Tsutsui’s classic novel will be live-action, distributed by stylejam, and will be hitting Cinequanon’s Human Trust Cinema Shibuya and Yurakucho 1-chome sometime in March 2010
The film will be the feature length debut of director Masaaki Taniguchi, who has served as assistant director under Yojiro Takita, Kichitaro Negishi, Kazuyuki Izutsu, and Tetsuo Shinohara.

Misc

Digital Distrobution News

Nico Nico Douga, a YouTube equivilent with time synched feedback is launching a US precense starting with coverage of the Shuttle Atlantis

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Crunchyroll will be streaming Yumeiro Pâtissière (Dream-Colored Pastry Chef)

Crunchyroll and Boxee announced a partnership to allow Crunchyroll's streaming content on the Boxee media center. "Boxee's free software for Windows, Mac, and Linux does a good job of integrating personal media with Internet media, overlaying both with social features. "


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Astro Boy and other manga by late manga legend Osamu Tezuka (including Black Jack and Phoenix) will soon appear on iPhones and iPods in the United States

The English-language "Weekly Astro Boy Magazine" will be available for iPhone and iPod touch users as early as this month in volumes of about 100 pages each, said Tezuka Productions Co. and D-Arc Inc.

The first mobile-device trial volume is free. Each volume afterwards will sell at 99 US cents per weekly.

For more information see here

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Recent additions to the Anime Network's online playet include Otaku Unite! (documentary), Odin (anime feature), Black Lion (anime feature)

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Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot on Hulu

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Best Buy is expected to announce that it will sign a deal with online video provider CinemaNow to offer a digital download service for movies.
Best Buy is the largest DVD retailer in the country, but DVD sales have been down by 13% in 2009 and the company has had flagging physical media sales overall in recent years.

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Episodes 1-6 (dubbed) of the animated series are now available for download for $1.99 each via the PlayStation Network’s VIZ Media Channel page.

The service is available exclusively for PSP (PlayStationPortable) and PLAYSTATION3 (PS3) entertainment systems.

MONSTER is based on the critically acclaimed manga series, rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens, created by Naoki Urasawa that is also published in North America by VIZ Media.

Speaking of PlayStation Network, the top anime download of October were announced
Top 10 Anime Movie downloads for October
Bleach the Movie 2 - The DiamondDust Rebellion
Afro Samurai Resurrection
Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom
Bleach the Movie: Memories of Nobody
Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel
Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow
Origin: Spirits of the Past
Ghost In The Shell
Blood: The Last Vampire
Vexille

Top 10 Anime Series Episode downloads for October
Devil May Cry - Devil May Cry
Devil May Cry - Highway Star
Naruto | Season 4, Volume 4 - Departure
Afro Samurai - Revenge
Devil May Cry - Stylish!
Devil May Cry - Not Love
Xam'd: Lost Memories - Xam'd at the Dawn of War
Afro Samurai - The Dream Reader
Samurai Champloo - Tempestuous Temperaments
Devil May Cry - Rolling Thunder

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) announced the addition of a variety of entertainment offerings from Lucasfilm Ltd., Cinetic FilmBuff, ContentFilm International, Image Entertainment, Inc., MPI Media Group and New Video to the PlayStationNetwork video delivery service. The content, which were made available on November 2, 2009 for purchase or rent.

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Jason Gray has twittered Madhouse and Beijing's Net Movie Holdings Ltd partnering to stream Chinese-subbed anime at 20,000 net cafes. First title is Barefoot Gen.

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As Japan does not have daylight savings time FUNimation has changed the One Piece streaming time to remain one hour following each episode debut on Japanese broadcast.

Starting Saturday, November 7 tune in to www.onepieceofficial.com at 8:00 pm CST for the newest episode. This week’s episode is number 425

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Aaron Colter, Marketing Coordinator, Dark Horse Books, Eric Reynolds, Marketing Director, Fantagraphics Books
and Brett Warnock, Publisher, Top Shelf on the Comics in the Age of Digital Piracy roundtable

On TV

Anime Vice has noted that Syfy's AniMonday block will air Now and Then, Here and There starting November 23rd. The haunting look at familiar anime tropes follows an energetic boy transported to a post apocalyptic world in which children are pressed into military service.

Bakugan is running on Cartoon Network Saturdays at 7:00pm
The line-up includes
7:00 - Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's
7:30 - Bakugan Battle Brawlers
8:00 - Hot Wheels: Battle Force 5
8:30 - Batman: The Brave and the Bold
9:00 - The Secret Saturdays
9:30 - Justice League Unlimited


Cartoon Network has ordered new live action programming "Tower Prep" and "Unnatural History." Production begins on both in January.

Paul Dini is the executive producer on Tower Prep

Anime x Games

Big Tent Entertainment announced a series of five Nintendo DSi™ games starring internet superstar and pop culture sensation Domo. Through the worldwide (excluding Asia) agreement, Nintendo will publish and release the Nintendo DSi games Crash-Course Domo™, Hard-Hat Domo™, Pro-Putt Domo™, Rock-n-Roll Domo™ and White-Water Domo™. More details can be found here




A Sgt Frog RPG might be in the works from Bandai Namco's Tales of team

A look at the PSP game adaptation of risqué fighting anime/manga Ikki Tousen

Screenshots of Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans

UltraSeven's DinoTank in Kaiju Busters

A detailed look at changes made for the console version of Tatsunoko VS Capcom

Anime cut scenes for God Eater



Super Robot Taisen Neo was recently released featured mecha anime include
Mazinger Z
Great Mazinger
Jushin Liger
Shin Getter Robo
GoShogun
NG Knight Lamune & 40
Galaxy Cyclone Braiger
Absolutely Invincible Raijin-Oh
Genki Bakuhatsu Ganbaruger
Hot-Blooded Strongest Go-Saurer
Kanzen Shouri Daiteioh
Iron Leaguer
Mobile Fighter G Gundam
Lord of Lords Ryu Knight

The Business

Hollywood Report is describing Imagi's Astro Boy as a bomb in Japan, but a success in China


After opening on more than 200 screens on the weekend of Oct. 10-12, "Astro Boy" pulled in a disappointing $328,457 in its first week, an average of just over $1,500 per screen, to put it at the bottom of the week's rankings. For comparison, the same week's top film, NTV's "Kaiji," took over $4 million from just over 300 screens at an average of over $13,200.

If distributor Kadokawa was hoping for a slow burner, it was to be disappointed as "Atom," as it was titled locally, dropped out of the top 10 and out of sight the following week. The latest overseas adaptation of a much-loved manga and TV series, it looks to have gone the way of other recent attempts such as the live-action versions of "Speed Racer" and "Dragonball Evolution," which both failed to ignite the boxoffice in the land of their origin.

However, in China, "Astro Boy" set an opening weekend boxoffice record in China for a CG-animated movie, taking 40 million yuan ($5.9 million) on about 1,100 screens, Imagi said in a statement. It broke the mark set previously by "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs," which opened with 30 million yuan.


The adaptation of manga Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji took the top spot in Japan's box office during Astro Boy's run

In the US release, Astro Boy dropped 54% in its box office take, falling to 8th on the chart at $3 million in ticket sales.


The Animation Guild blog on Astro Boy's lack of success in the US and Japan

Cartoon Brew's post mortem

In the wake of the Astro Boy release, Imagi announced Ting Chuk Kwan has resigned as an Executive Director and the Acting CEO with effect from 1 November 2009; and Mr. Phoon Chiong Kit, an Executive Director, has assumed the role of CEO with effect from 1 November 2009.

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In their quarterly conference call, FUNimation parent company Navarre stated that will the closure of their BCI unit, despite a 26% decline in Q2 sales, the company made a a $2.3 million profit during, compared to a $44.5 million loss during the same period last year. FUNimatio now reportedly controls 56-60% of the US anime market.

It was also stated that FUNimations receives "a first look at all opportunities in terms of licenses. We’re seeing them all, we have an opportunity to bid on them all." So basically he's saying Japan goes to FUNimation first to get a title licensed, & if they pass then they look elsewhere. Deacon also said that Funi is being "pretty selective" overall.

There's been the suggestion that FUNimation made a package deal with Gonzo for all work up to and including Strike Witches

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A consortium of Japanese media companies including Toho, Ghilbi and Sunrise have formed Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA) to fight domestic and overseas Internet piracy. The initiative will start with the monitoring of 10 to 15 works, such as Ponyo and Mobile Suit Gundam 00, on major video-sharing websites in China in the middle of November. Thereafter, the system will expand the number of sites it monitors to those outside China.

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ICV2's top 25 manga properties of Q3 2009
1 - Naruto - Viz Media
2 - Fruits Basket - Tokyopop
3 - Vampire Knight - Viz Media
4 - Bleach - Viz Media
5 - Death Note - Viz Media
6 - Rosario & Vampire - Viz Media
7 - Full Metal Alchemist - Viz Media
8 - Maximum Ride - Yen Press
9 - Negima - Del Rey
10 - Ouran High School Host Club - Viz Media
11 - Tsubasa - Del Rey
12 - Chibi Vampire - Tokyopop
13 - The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya - Yen Press
14 - Ottomen - Viz Media
15 - D.N. Angel - Tokyopop
16 - D. Gray-Man - Viz Media
17 - Yu-Gi-Oh! - Viz Media
18 - Wild Ones - Viz Media
19 - Shugo Chara - Del Rey
20 - Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei - Del Rey
21 - One Piece - Viz Media
22 - Berserk - Dark Horse
23 - The Gentlemen's Alliance - Viz Media
24 - Return To Labyrinth - Tokyopop
25 - Skip Beat - Viz Media

Top 10 Shonen Properties--Q3 2009
1 - Naruto - Viz Media
2 - Bleach - Viz Media
3 - Death Note - Viz Media
4 - Rosario & Vampire - Viz Media
5 - Fullmetal Alchemist - Viz Media
6 - Negima! - Del Rey
7 - Tsubasa - Del Rey
8 - Chibi Vampire - Tokyopop
9 - The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya - Yen Press
10 - D. Gray-Man - Viz Media

Top 10 Shojo Properties--Q3 2009
1 - Fruits Basket - Tokyopop
2 - Vampire Knight - Viz Media
3 - Ouran High School Host Club - Viz Media
4 - Ottomen - Viz Media
5 - D.N. Angel - Tokyopop
6 - Wild Ones - Viz Media
7 - Shugo Chara - Del Rey
8 - The Gentlemen's Alliance - Viz Media
9 - Skip Beat - Viz Media
10 - Kitchen Princess - Del Rey

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Media on All About... Manga as a marketing medium


Japan’s new prime minister may have axed plans for a national manga museum, but there’s no doubt manga remains a massively popular form of entertainment in Japan, and is growing in other markets. The medium’s high penetration has not gone unnoticed by brands, and a number of innovative manga- and anime-focused campaigns have been rolled out in recent years.
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Dave McCaughan, Asia-Pacific strategic planning director at McCann Worldgroup, describes manga as a “mainstream medium”. He notes that while books remain the most widespread format, mobile is the fastest-growing. Mobile manga uses a subscription model and usually takes two forms: either a direct conversion of the printed story, or a parallel story that acts as a complement to the print version.

According to Gregory Birge, MD of F5 Digital Consulting, mobile has opened up manga to female readers who felt embarrassed buying hard-copy ‘adult’ comics; he says around 70 per cent of mobile readers are female.


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Japanese studio Nikkatsu is launching an extreme gore label, Sushi Typhoon, to produce films from Japan’s leading cult directors including Takashi Miike (Yatterman) and Yoshihiro Nishimura (Tokyo Gore Police).
The first project from the label is action Samurai drama, Alien Vs Ninja, directed by Yuji Shimomura (Death Trance).

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Tsuburaya Chaiyo and Chaiyo Production have won an Ultraman rights dispute relating to creation of the giant super hero and related merchandising in Guangdong, China. While Tsuburaya won a similar decision against Sompote Saengduenchai in Thailand, but was rejected as rejected by the Japanese Supreme Court.

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Gonzo Rosso, the game development/online game sibling of animation studio Gozno has sold a majority share to game publisher Atlus

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Christopher Butcher at Comics212 questions the business acumen of Shojoberry's founder

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In a Q&A, Marvel's editor-in-chief Joe Quesada was asked about whether the comic publisher would be pursuing more manga projects. "Quesada said that traditional manga readers haven't fully embraced manga versions of the Marvel characters."

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Toei has signed Latin American broadcast deals for Digimon Data Squad, Saint Seiya and Dragon Ball.

Buena Vista in Argentina picked up 48 half-hour episodes of Digimon Data Squad to begin airing in December or January. Medcom in Panama went for 114 half-hour episodes of Japanese manga series Saint Seiya and 153 half-hours of Dragon Ball.

In addition to broadcast deals, Toei secured a DVD agreement with Brazil’s Playarte, for Dragon Ball and Saint Seiya: The Hades Sanctuary. Playarte will release a DVD box set featuring 28 Dragon Ball episodes this December. The company has already debuted Saint Seiya: The Hades Sanctuary on DVD, featuring 13 episodes from the series.

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Borders announced the closing of approximately 200 Waldenbooks stores - leaving 130 mall locations open. The closings will result in the termination of some 1,500 jobs, the majority of which are part-time positions.

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Movie Gallery, which owns the Hollywood Video and Movie Gallery video store chains, is in the process of closing 400 to 450 stores

Event News

Cult Japanese horror movie Hausu has a Janus Film site and screening dates



November 18
Cleveland, OH - Cleveland Museum of Art

November 27 - December 3
Seattle, WA - Central Cinema

December 12
Rochester, NY - George Eastman House

December 18 & 19
Denver, CO - Denver Film Society



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LA's Cinefamily is sunning a Wakamatsu Koji program this month

Divisive, exploitative, cruel, vengeful, erotic, political, provocative, avant-garde -- Koji Wakamatsu is all these things, and a ridiculous amount more. A country bumpkin who wandered his way through the Yakuza and into one of the most prolific directing careers in Japan, Wakamatsu has created an unsurpassed, massive filmography of unique and disobedient works. While inextricably connected to the