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 CMXRAMPAGE 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)
Upcoming in Japan
Promos and Previews A look forward to the winter anime season A look at Despera Anime by Yoshitoshi AbeStaff 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).* The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya anime movie is schedule to premiere February 6th* A preorder date of December 23rd is being listed for the seventh episode of the Hellsing Ultimate OVA* 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.* 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* Clive Barker and Ryuhei Kitamura (Midnight Meat Train) have plans to adapt Barker's “In the Hills, the Cities” into anime* Yoshitaka Amano's Yasai no Yousei - N.Y. Salad television anime series will be adapted into 3D film, scheduled for early next spring.* 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.* 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)* 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.* 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)* The XXXHOLiC Rou will be packaged with a limited edition of volume 17 of CLAMP's manga, scheduled for release April 23rd.* The Time of Eve (Eve no Jikan) will be edited, with new footage, into a compilation movie, scheduled to hit Japanese theatres next spring.* Gintama, a Shonen Jump action comedy about an alien conquered Edo Japan, will be adapted into a movie - teaser here* Classic "real robot" mecha anime will be included new spring in OVA Soko Kihei VOTOMS: Gen-ei Hen (Armored Trooper Votoms: Phantom Arc)* 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* The Blu-ray release of girls action anime My-Hime will feature a new bonus episode* 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.* 2Luv Ru's Kentaro Yabuki has a new manga scheduled to hit Jump Square in its February issue* 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.* 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* 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* 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. "* 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* Recent additions to the Anime Network's online playet include Otaku Unite! (documentary), Odin (anime feature), Black Lion (anime feature)* Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot on Hulu* 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.* 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.* 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.* 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* 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 hereA 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.* 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* 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.* 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* 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. ... 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.* 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).* 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.* Gonzo Rosso, the game development/online game sibling of animation studio Gozno has sold a majority share to game publisher Atlus* Christopher Butcher at Comics212 questions the business acumen of Shojoberry's founder* 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."* 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.* 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.* 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 datesNovember 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 * 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