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
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.
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
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.
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)
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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. "
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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."
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.
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 pinku eiga (Japanese soft-core film), Wakamatsu himself has always insisted that his films were something more. Certainly they contain copious amounts of sex and nudity, but this often was a cover for leftist political diatribes decrying Japan’s imperial inclinations, and its subservience to US foreign affairs on Asian politics. Now in his seventies and having produced more than 200 films in his career, Wakamatsu and his uncompromising worldview show no signs of slowing. In addition to his latest epic transgression, United Red Army (2008), The Cinefamily is thrilled to present six of Wakamatsu's other treasures -- some of which have never before screened in America!
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The DC Anime Club will be screening Osamu Tezuka adaptation Metropolis on November 13th
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Ghost in the Shell 2.0 will screen at at the Alamo Drafthouse West Oaks on November 16, 2009 at 7:30 PM.
Sad Vacation, November 6th–19th
Award-winning director Shinji Aoyama, known for Eureka (2000), completes his cinematic trilogy set in his hometown of Kitakyushu with a powerful tale of family karma. Kenji (Tadanobu Asano) makes his living coordinating smuggling from China and carries the pain of his father’s suicide and being abandoned by his mother while still a child. He is surprised to reencounter her during a smuggling run and wants revenge. Although initially angry, the pair eventually begins living together and Kenji is gradually impressed by the strength of his mother’s love.
Happily Ever After, November 20th-26th
In this heart-warming film based on a smash hit manga comic, devoted wife Yukie (Miki Nakatani) works hard at a noodle shop and struggles to make ends meet, while her husband Isao (Hiroshi Abe) hangs around all day gambling and getting into trouble. Everyone advises Yukie to leave Isao, but her love for him is unconditional because he was the one who initially saved her from misery with his unconditional love. Miki Nakatani won the 31st Japanese Academy Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal of Yukie.
Fine, Totally Fine, November 27th – December 3rd
Fine, Totally Fine is a well-crafted comedy about a love triangle between three oddball characters. Teruo, the eldest son of a used bookstore owner, has a dream to build the world’s scariest haunted house. But his dreams take a back seat to his immaturity and unglamorous part-time job as a tree trimmer. Teruo’s friend, Hisanobu, works at a hospital and hesitantly goes along with his longtime pal’s strange hobby, and things get complicated when an attractive but hopelessly clumsy painter named Akari enters best friends’ lives. As the two men each become romantically interested in Akari, their quirky personalities, rivalries, and romantic ineptitude sets the stage for all sorts of hilarious scenarios that are complemented by an equally eccentric cast of supporting characters.
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Upcoming NYCIFF screenings include
OSAMU TEZUKA: ASTRO BOY & KIMBA
In English - Recommended all ages
Sat & Sun, Nov 28 & 29, 11:00am - Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street)
The hugely influential comic artist and animator Osamu Tezuka literally invented the genre of Japanese anime, and his archetypal characters and bold designs have reverberated with a massive pop culture impact that continues to this day. Part one of this two-part retrospective includes his best known and best loved early works (which parents of a certain age will remember from Saturday morning television).
ASTRO BOY
Animation, Osamu Tezuka, 1963, Japan
One of the most iconic animated figures of all time, Astro Boy is the adventure of a robot boy who, although a product of technology himself, sets out to combat those who would exploit technology for evil.
KIMBA THE WHITE LION
Animation, Osamu Tezuka, 1967, Japan
A plucky lion cub with a cute lioness girlfriend... his father is killed and he must take over as king... but first he must vie for power with his evil usurping uncle who is supported by a band of hyena lackeys. Sound familiar? Well, it's not Simba, it's Kimba - the original 1966 lion king. A free set of tickets for the first person to sing the Kimba TV theme song on the festival answering machine... really.
OSAMU TEZUKA: LEGEND OF THE FOREST
Recommended ages 8 to adult
Sat, Nov 28, 1pm - Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street)
Part two of our retrospective includes three of Tezuka's most beautiful and imaginative films. Tales of a Street Corner and Legend of the Forest come from opposite ends of his career, yet both use classical music as the backdrop for epic battles of good and evil, while the third film, Jumping, offers a humorously wry commentary on the state of the world.
LEGEND OF THE FOREST
Animation, Osamu Tezuka, Japan, 1987, 29 min
In his career-capping masterpiece Legend of the Forest, Tezuka traces the stylistical evolution of animation from 19th-century etchings, through Disney and Fleischer, the UPA style of Mr. Magoo, all the way to contemporary anime, in a Fantasia-like tale of forest faeries, sprites, wizards, and animals defending themselves against greedy industrialists bent on destroying nature.
TALES OF THE STREET CORNER
Animation, Osamu Tezuka, Japan, 1962, 39 min
A girl who has lost her teddy bear and a family of Leo Lionni-esque mice inhabit this otherwise empty streetscape with walls plastered in posters. But the posters come to life, and their characters tell the story of an era -- and of a descent from playful optimism to war as the images of art and advertising are covered over with the face of a fascist dictator.
JUMPING
Animation, Osamu Tezuka, Japan, 1984, 6 min
In this highly entertaining short, we take the point of view of a bouncing ball, whose ever higher bounds land us farther and farther afield, and give us a series of two-second snapshots of the human condition.
Comment: Films contain brief shots of animated breasts as well as a couple of racially insensitive poster images.
WINTER WONDERSHORTS
In English - Recommended all ages
Sat, Jan 23, 11am and 1pm - Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street)
The weather outside is frightful, but these shorts are so delightful! - Experience all of the splendor and magnificence of winter without the chattering teeth and frostbitten fingers. Grab your friends, your family, and your hot cocoa and come curl up in front of the big screen as the New York Int'l Children's Film Festival presents three beautiful animated short films celebrating snow, ice and all of winter's exciting wonders!
The program includes:
LEON IN WINTERTIME
Animation, Canada, Pierre-Luc Granjon and Pascal Le Notre, 2007, 27 min
Winter has descended on the kingdom and a mountain ogre has kidnapped beautiful Molly Gingerbread, the king's daughter. Meanwhile, Leon, a young bear adopted by a family of beekeepers, runs away from home, falls in love with the princess, and lands himself in all kinds of unexpected and perilous adventures.
SPOT & SPLODGE IN SNOWSTORM
Animation, Sweden, Uzi Geffenblad and Lotta Geffenblad, 2008, 7.5 min
It snows outside and Spot and Splodge run about building a snowman, having a snowball fight, and making snow angels. All of a sudden the wind is strong, the snow sticks all over their bodies, there isn't a spot of Spot to be seen! And where is Splodge? Where's the house?
CHOO-CHA
Animation, Russia, Garry Bardin, 1997, 25 min
A young boy is ignored by his parents and the other adults at a festive holiday gathering, and there are no other children to play with. So after concocting some minor mischief for the grownups, the boy retreats upstairs to the attic, where he rummages through odds and ends to create a special playmate for himself.
ANIMAL TREASURE ISLAND
Japan, Hiroshi Ikeda, 1971, 78 min
In English - Recommended ages 3 to 8
Sat, Jan 30, 11am and 1pm - Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street)
Key Animation by Hayao Miyazaki - A decade before he became renowned for animated masterworks like Castle in the Sky, Nausicaa, and My Neighbor Totoro, and eventually won the Oscar for Spirited Away, a young Hayao Miyazaki was lead animator for Toei Studios. His Animal Treasure Island is an anime adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure about a young boy who discovers a treasure map and goes toe to toe with the double-crossing, pegged-leg pirate Long John Silver. In this version Long John Silver is a cat, the pirates are all animals, and the young boy is joined by a tough-girl companion on a high seas adventure through imaginative worlds made even more fantastic by Miyazaki's boldly simple but beautiful style. The English language dub is reminiscent of 70's Hong Kong kung fu flick, but that somehow enhances the retro feel of the picture.
Awards and Recongition
Compuser Joe Hisaishi, a frequent Ghibli movie contributor, has been recognized with Japan's Medals of Honour.
The National Film Board of Canada’s animated documentary Tying Your Own Shoes by Shira Avni was honoured with the Golden Dove Award for a short film at the 52nd International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film. The film made its world premiere at the festival.
About Tying Your Own Shoes
Tying Your Own Shoes is an animated documentary offering a rare opportunity to hear the unique perspectives of four adult artists with Down Syndrome. Shira Avni follows her award-winning animation, John and Michael, with this auteur hybrid film in which Petra, Matthew, Daninah and Katherine discuss their pasts, relationships and ambitions, challenging widely-held stereotypes. While Down Syndrome is often discussed in terms of disability, Tying Your Own Shoes is an artful, four-way essay about ability.
Cool Figures News
Photos from Revoltech Expo 2009 Tokusatsu Revoltech
Alien - due in Spring 2010
Daimajin
Kaijyuu Booska
Gamera vs. Gyaos
Giant Robo & GR2
Paragon
Jack Skellington
Batman Begins
Dark Horse has announced plans for the next wave of Domo figures.
Currently, Domo is the centerpiece of a chainwide promotion at 7-Eleven, with his own Slurpee flavor in collector cups. A component of this rollout is a group of four custom Domo Qee toys in unique packaging, including a Slurpee cup.
A second wave of Domo Qee mystery box figures is scheduled for release in March. Current release include the first wave, and 4-inch size, hitting stores this November and 2.5 figures in blister card packaging
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New Yamato USA items available for pre-order include
DaiShogun – Kiriko Hattori in Ninja Costume
PVC statue designed by
Based on a the character illustration of Shunya Yamashita and sculpted by the master Mitsumasa Yoshizawa (REFLECT), Kiriko stands at an impressive 13.25", is equipped with katana and hair stick, and comes complete with base in a Japanese style collector’s window box. Available February / March 2010.
Story! Image! Figure! EX: Needless - Eve
From the manga/anime Needless, Yamato presents a special 1/7 scale (approximately 9.00")
Eve comes complete with Giga Drill which can be attached to arm and a display base all packaged in a Japanese style collector's window box.
Available January / February 2010.
Story! Image! Figure! EX: Umi Monogatari - Marin
Meet Marin from the new magic girl anime Umi Monogatari (Sea Story) directed by Junichi Sato (Kaleido Star, Aria, Princess Tutu).
In the first ever PVC figure of Marin, Yamato presents this charming 1/7 scale (approximately 9.00") PVC statue of Marin in her swimsuit as she joyfully bursts from the sea.
Available January / February 2010.
Project Dynamite #002: Naked Star, Baby Blue
Sculpted by the talented TOUSHIROU (Cobra-Kai) (same sculptor as Yamato's Project Dynamite #001: Ikkitousen - Kanu), this massive 1/5 scale PVC statue is drawn from the manga of the same name by manga-ka Oh!
Available January / February 2010.
vmf: Queen’s Blade – Leina, White
An alternate paint version of Yamato's popular Queen Blade Reina. One-seventh scale, Reina stands approximately 9.00", features 16 points of articulation, interchangeable wrists, sword and shield, and an extra 'damaged' head new to this version of the figure all packaged in a Japanese style collector's window box.
If you saw Inhumanoids, you'd probably remember it. With undead giants and psuedo-Cthuhlu, it was one of the more traumatizing toy commercial/cartoons.
CollectionDX remember it and reviews the Redlen figure - "Easily one of the ten best tree action figures"
An adaptation of 80's rock girl cartoon Jem and Holograms might be in the works. Either way, it looks like Peter Barsocchini, who wrote the High School Musical films, will be on board, either as writer or producer.
Anime News Network and Nikkei news source report that a work by the late manga and anime creator Shotaro Ishinomori will be adapted into a live-action and computer-graphics film in Hollywood in 2012. Ishinomori conceived of several popular classics, including Kamen Rider, Cyborg 009, Harmagedon, and The Skull Man.
Before going bankrupt, Osamu Tezuka's Osamu Tezuka's Mushi Productions produced some interesting anime. Perhaps the most interesting is Belladona of the Sadness
Recent episodes of the Anime Today podcast include episode 104's interview with David Bowers and Maryann Garger – the director and producer of Imagi Studios’ ASTRO BOY movie
episode 105 features an interview with translators Frederik L. Schodt & Jared Cook
In this new, three-segment interview, Schodt and Cook discuss their work on Naoki Urasawa’s reimagining of Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy manga, how Dr. Tezuka may have reacted to the recent adaptations of his work, and their unique, two-person translation process.
Long-time translation partners Schodt and Cook collaborated on the English translations and adaptations of Osamu Tezuka’s Phoenix and Princess Knight (excerpt for Viz’s Shojo Beat magazine), prior to their work on Pluto. The author of The Astro Boy Essays: Osamu Tezuka, Mighty Atom and the Manga/Anime Revolution, Schodt has been recognized with the Osamu Tezuka Culture Special Prize and by the Japanese government with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette for his contributions to the appreciation of manga and Japanese culture worldwide.
