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Column by Scott Green
Upcoming in Japan
Promos
Kamen Rider - The Movie
Sokyuu no Fafner: Heaven and Earth
Fractale
Hana-Saku Iroha
Oh My Goddess OAD
Wandering Son
Blue Exorcist
ANN notes Tensai Okamura (Darker than BLACK, Wolf's Rain, Kikaider) is directing off scripts supervised by Ryota Yamaguchi (Cutey Honey Flash, Digimon: Data Squad, Sailor Moon Sailor Stars). Keigo Sasaki (Senko no Night Raid) is designing the characters, and Hiroyuki Sawano (Mobile Suit Gundam UC, Sengoku Basara, Zombie-Loan) is composing the music.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal
The adaption of Tezuka's Buddha, which, for some reason, will feature X Japan music
Norageki!
From Hiroaki Ando (Digital Juice, Steamboy & Tekkonkinkreet CGI director) is directing the animators at Sunrise with writer Dai Sato (Freedom, Eureka Seven). Masaru Gotsubo (Shounen Tantei Inugami Geru, Samurai Champloo manga) and Kimitoshi Yamane (Escaflowne, Cowboy Bebop) are responsible for the character and mechanic designs, respectively. The cast includes Miyu Irino (Koseinen, "Good Young Man"), Takako Honda (Ii Onna, "Good Woman"), Kazuma Mori (Chunen Otoko, "Middle-Aged Man"), MEG (Ota-Onna, "Female Otaku"), and Seizo Katou (Rojin, "Old Man").
Akiyuki Shinbo's Puella Magi Madoka Magica
“Fractale”
Anime
The next Ghibli movie will be an adaptation of Chizuru Takahashi and Tetsuro Sayama's Kokuriko-Zaka Kara manga, directed by Hayao Miyazaki's son, Goro, who prevously directed an adaptation of Tales of Earthsea - based on a script by Hayao. The movie is scheduled to hit Japanese theatres in summer 2010.
The story is set in Showa 38 (1963, a year before the Tokyo Olympics) and follows the coming of age of an ordinary, pigtailed high school girl named Komatsuzaki in Yokohama, a harbor city near Tokyo. Her sailor father went missing after an accident, and her photographer mother is frequently going abroad for work. Her family now runs a lodging house The manga recounts Komatsuzaki's everyday life of "laughter and tears" with two boys — a school newspaper member and the student council president.
a translation of Ghibli's 5 Year Plan and intension to work with young directors
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Yamato live action director Takashi Yamazaki will be directing 3D CG kids movie Friends: Naki of Monster Island.
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Production has begun on a new Space Battleship Yamato TV series and movie.
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Second seasons of Bakuman and Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan have been confirmed. Muscian HYDE will be voicing a character in Bakuman, based on the manga about manga creation.
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Shonen Jump eating adventure manga Toriko will be adapted into a television series, to air in Dragon Ball Kai's time slot.
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The site for Ring ni Kakero 1 indicates that the new adaptation of Masami Kurumada's (Saint Seiya) is scheduled for April.
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A limited edition release of the Macross Triangle Frontier PSP game will be packaged with a "Cho Jiku Gekijo" anime UMD
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Aliens open Japan alternate history action/comedy Gintama will return to anime next Spring. The manga version is released in North America by Viz and the anime by Section23
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Mecha designers Kunio Okawara hinted that a new Gundam series might be announced next spring.
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Tow Ubukata's (Chevalier D'eon) Tenchi Meisatsu, about mathematician Shunkai Shibukawa, will be adapted into an anime movie
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Showa Monogatari, "the first anime for seniors" will be a movie and 13 episode TV series
Sunrise is developing original anime Phi Brain: Kami no Puzzle from Junichi Sato (Kaleido Star, Princess Tutu, Tamayura), slated for next fall
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Hideto Komori will be directing a Manglobe anime movie adaptation of Hayate the Combat Butler
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Kazue Kato’s Blue Exorcistmanga will be getting an anime adaptation
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Seven Arcs (Lyrical Nanoha, Sekirei) will produce anime series Dog Days, based on a concept from Lyrical Nanoha A manga artist Tsuzuki Maki
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The next Cragon Shinchan movie will be Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: The Golden Spy Mission, directed by Soichi Masui
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Gag manga Nekogami Yaoyorozu will be getting an anime
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Yukito Ayatsuji's horror novel Another, previously adapted into manga by Hiro Kiyohara, will be adapted into anime
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The new season for gender swap action comedy Kämpfer is scheduled for March
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Rino Mizuho’s shoujo horror manga Chocola no Mahou ~ The Magic of Chocolate will be adapted into an anime series
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Yoshihiro Yamada's Hyouge Mono - Tea for Universe, Tea for Life, a manga about Nobunaga Oda and tea, is being adapted into anime
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Volume 13 of the Princess Resurrection will be offered with a limited edition that features a bonus anime episode based on the 9th volume.
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Toei is expected to announce a new Yu-Gi-Oh anime series early next year
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Fairy Tail spin-off Welcome to Fairy Hills!! will be adapted into an anime episode to be packaged with the 26th volume of the manga
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Okinawa is sponsoring the production of Shimanchu MiRiKato promote local agricultural and industrial businesses.
Kyuma Oshita (character designer of Rocket Girls, Hi no Tori, Top Secret ~The Revelation~) and Yasushi Hirano (series script supervisor of 6 Angels, Brave Exkaiser, Dinosaur King, Metal Fighter Miku) are producing and directing the project. Hiroshi Kato (art director of Ah! My Goddess, Blood: The Last Vampire) and Yota Tsuruoka (sound director of Afro Samurai, Appleseed, Inuyasha) are also involved.
Manga
Takehiko Inoue will be indefinately shelfing Vagabond while he attempts to regain enthusiasm for the fictionalized biography of "Sword Saint" Miyamoto Musashi
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Mizuki Shigeru's (Gegege no Kitaro) look at fortune God of Poverty, God of Luck, is being published inn a new collection
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The Japanese publisher Shueisha is relaunching its manga magazine Monthly Young Jump as sci-fi focused bimonthly magazine Miracle Jump in January.
Sakurako Gokurakuin (Sekirei), Atsushi Nakayama (Traumeister), Tohru Fujisawa (GTO), Hiroya Oku (Gantz), Kazuki Funatsu (Addicted to Curry), Peach-Pit (Rozen Maiden) and Nakaba Suzuki (Kongoh Bancho) will be contributing
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Tokuma Shoten will be publishing new editions of Satoshi Kon and Mamoru Oshii's Seraphim: 2-Oku 6661-Man 3336 no Tsubasa and Kon's manga Opus
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Soul Eater Not!, a second Soul Eater manga series, will launch in Monthly Shonen Gangan in January.
Live Action
A live aciton adaptation of 80's crime manga Black Angels will be going straight to DVD
Misc
The 16th and final volume of the Spice and Wolf light novel series will ship in February.
Upcoming in North America (and Other English Speaking Territories
AnimEigo
AnimEigo is going to be releasing Secret of the Urn this spring, featuring the Kinnosuke Nakamura as Tange Sazen - a one eyed, one armed ronin with an important spot in the lineage of characters from Dororo and Blade of the Immortal
Aniplex
The creators of R.O.D –Read or Die- and R.O.D. –THE TV posted messages to promote/celebrate the release of the Read or Die OVA and TV series (to be released in the US on January 18th)
Aniplex of America Inc. announced that The Garden of Sinners - Blu-ray Disc Box will be imported from Japan and released in North America on February 8th, 2011 through anime distributor Right Stuf.com.
The ser features the seven theatrical chapters, and an bonus chapter, all subtitled in English over eight Blu-ray discs
The BD box will be released almost simultaneously with Japan's release date (February 2nd), and will mark the first time that The Garden of Sinners - Blu-ray Disc Box is officially made available in North America.
The Garden of Sinners - Blu-ray Disc Box features:
The Garden of Sinners Blu-ray Disc Box can be pre-ordered and purchased at:
Right Stuf: http://www.Right Stuf.com/i/4534530040961
Product number and UPC bar code
Street Date SKU # UPC SRP Store price
February 8th 2011 ANZX-3921?3928 4534530 040961 $598.98 $398.98
About The Garden of Sinners
“The Garden of Sinners” is a series of hit cult novels written by KINOKO NASU of TYPE-MOON (“Tsukihime -Lunar Legend-”, “Fate/stay night”) and published in KODANSHA BOX series. The best-selling novel series has since been adapted into seven fully animated theatrical films, of which each corresponding movie directly covers one of the original seven chapters. In Japan, the series of movies was released in theaters, starting December 2007. Each successive release became a box office smash with record numbers of attendees, while skyrocketing DVD sales of each movie outperformed many other series and movies.
Story of The Garden of Sinners
After spending two years in a coma caused by a traffic accident, Shiki Ryougi awakens with amnesia. Inexplicably, she finds, in turn, that she has also obtained “Mystic Eyes of Death Perception” in which she can see the invisible lines of mortality that hold every living and non-living thing together. Working for a small independent agency, Shiki attempts to unravel the baffling mystery behind a series of abnormal, horrifying incidents, but are they a foreshadowing that leads to something even more tragic and ominous? Things are not what they appear to be on the surface, but what dark revelations lie underneath? This is a modern occult-action thriller where Shiki must tackle supernatural incidents with her special abilities while searching for a reason to live.
Bandai Entertainment
Bandai Ent's single February release is a Anime Legends priced Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set
Dark Horse
BRIDE OF THE WATER GOD VOLUME 8
Mi-Kyung Yun (W/A)
On sale May 18
b&w, 184 pages
$9.99
TPB, 6" x 8"
GANTZ VOLUME 17
Hiroya Oku (W/A)
On sale May 18
B&w, 224 pages
$12.99
TPB, 5" x 7"
GHOST TALKER’S DAYDREAM VOLUME 6
Saki Okuse (W) and Sankichi Meguro (A)
On sale May 18
b&w, 240 pages
$10.99
TPB, 5" x 7"
THE SKY: THE ART OF FINAL FANTASY
Yoshitaka Amano (W/A)
On sale May 18
FC, 800 pages
129.99
HC, 10 3/4" x 11 3/4" x 3 1/4"
Yoshitaka Amano is one of the world’s foremost fantasy artists, and this tremendous boxed set of five books gathers his ethereal illustrations for all ten Final Fantasy games to date!
The Sky is divided into three softcover volumes, each printed on high-quality stock. Volume 1 (144 pages) contains Amano’s work for Final Fantasy I-III, volume 2 (276 pages) contains his contributions for Final Fantasy IV-VI, and volume 3 (156 pages) features art for Final Fantasy VII-X.
The fourth book in the boxed set, All about Yoshitaka Amano, is a smaller softcover. Its 128 pages include an interview with Amano, information about his work, a bibliography, and a visual index of each illustration that appears in the three Sky art books.
Completing the set are an acetate print, two postcards, and a 96-page The Sky premium flipbook that lets you see two examples of Amano’s art in motion. All fit snugly inside a hinged, decorated box.
USAGI YOJIMBO #136
Stan Sakai (W/A)
On sale Mar 30
b&w, 24 pages
$3.50
Ongoing
Funimation
FUNimation Entertainment is launching the first two English dubbed episodes on FUNimation.com/video as well as YouTube. In honor of the event, FUNimation has also announced the full cast of the English dub of the action anime series Sacred Blacksmith:
Character Actor
Cecily Cambell Cherami Leigh
Luke Ainsworth Blake Shepard
Lisa Monica Rial
Aria Anastasia Munoz
Charlotte E. Firobisher Alexis Tipton
Doris Maxey Whitehead
Margot Trina Nishimura
Penelope Jamie Marchi
Evadne Clarine Harp
Siegfried J. Michael Tatum
Hannibal Quasar Mark Stoddard
Hugo Housman Christopher Bevins
Reginald Drummond Chris Cason
Areviy Irving Barry Yandell
Augustus Arthur Kenny Green
Justina Albright Cynthia Cranz
Lancelot Douglas Grant James
Fio Atkins Leah Clark
Lucy Cambell Lydia Mackay
Patty Baldwin Kara Edwards
Francesca Colleen Clinkenbeard
Jack Strader R Bruce Elliott
Elsa Brina Palencia
Elsa’s Father Cole Brown
About The Sacred Blacksmith
The knight Cecily wants to defend the weak, but her lack of skill makes her an unlikely heroine – until the blacksmith Luke comes to her aid, using magic to forge blades of supernatural strength. Cecily wields this sacred steel and charges forth to face a new threat; a cloaked fiend is unleashing demons upon the land, and though he lurks in shadows, the villain is closer than Cecily knows.
FUNimation Entertainment will release the entire series on DVD in one set in January 25, 2011.
Robert's Anime Corner Store is reporting Funimation is discontinuing the collections
Black Lagoon Season 1 & 2 Complete DVD Boxed Set GN-08318
Ergo Proxy Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Re-Release) GN-08662
Gungrave Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Thin-Pak) GN-08653
Hellsing Ultimate (All regular and LE volumes)
Kamichu Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Thin-Pak) GN-08441
Karin (Chibi Vampire) Complete DVD Boxed Set GN-08741
Kyo Kara Maoh Season 1 Complete DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-39) GN-08665
Kyo Kara Maoh!, Season 2, Complete DVD Boxed Set (Eps #40-78) GN-08664
Law of Ueki Complete Series Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-51) GN-08301
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-13) GN-08697
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A DVD Boxed Set (Thin-Pak) (Eps #1-13) GN-08557
Paradise Kiss Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set GN-08692
Rozen Maiden + Traumend Season 1 & 2 Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set GN-08744
Shana (Shakugan no Shana) Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Thin-Pak) FN-08355
Tales of Phantasia DVD GN-08551
The Familiar of Zero DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-13) (S.A.V.E. Edition) GN-08695
Story of Saiunkoku Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Thin-Pak) GN-08693
When They Cry: Higurashi, Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set GN-08743
Whether new editions of these titles are planned remains to be seen
IDW
GODZILLA: MONSTER WORLD by Eric Powell (The Goon), Tracy Marsh and Phil Hester (Kevin Smith's The Green Hornet) will be released starting in March. The comic will also feature Mothra, King Ghidorah and Rodan.
Kodansha Comics
Kodansha Comics has announced its North American plans
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney returns in this new manga series written by Kenji Kuroda and illustrated by Kazuo Maekawa. Volume 1 releases in June followed by Volume 2 in August.
Monster Hunter Orage, by Fairy Tail creator Hiro Mashima, is adapted from the Capcom game and debuts in June, with a second volume in August.
And speaking of Hiro Mashima, his bestselling Rave Master series wraps up with an omnibus collecting the final three volumes of the series in May
Deltora Quest, adapted by Makoto Niwano from Emily Rodda’s novels, debuts in July. The anime is currently running on TV on The Hub.
The Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex adapts the story from the anime, which is inspired by the works of Masamune Shirow. TGITS:SAC is adapted by Yu Kinutani.
Sanami Matoh’s Until the Full Moon makes its triumphant return to the U.S. in July. This story of a boy who becomes a girl under the full moon turns the werewolf legend on its head
Mardock Scramble is adapted by Yoshitoki Oima from Tow Ubukata’s novel. This exciting sci-fi tale has also been adapted into a stunning anime. The first volume releases in August.
Animal Land, by manga legend and Zatch Bell creator Makoto Raiku, tells the hilarious and heartwarming story of a baby raised by animals. This is set for an August release.
Masashi Tanaka’s Gon returns, giving fans a chance to rediscover the adventures of this ferocious, tiny dinosaur! August release.
Bloody Monday, written by Ryou Ryumon and illustrated by Kouji Megumi, is an exciting thriller about a computer hacker’s attempt to foil a terrorist plot! August release.
Cage of Eden by Yoshinobu Yamada is best described as Battle Royale meets Lost by way of Negima! August release.
And finally, Negima! gets an omnibus release in June, collecting the first three volumes with a new translation
In addition, several ongoing series (formerly released by Del Rel) will make their return:
Air Gear 18 (June), Air Gear 19 (August)
Arisa 2 (May), Arisa 3 (July)
Fairy Tail 13 (May), Fairy Tail 14 (July)
I am Here! 2 (July)
Negima! 29 (May), Negima! 30 (July)
Negima?! Neo (June)
Ninja Girls 5 (May), Ninja Girls 6 (July)
Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei 9 (June), Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei 10 (August)
Shugo Chara! 10 (May), Shugo Chara! 11 (July)
The Wallflower 25 (June)
Lion's Gate
The Last Unicorn, the adaptation of Peter S. Beagle's novel by proto-Ghibli studio Topcraft will be released on a Blu-ray/DVD combo on February 22nd
Madman
Australia's Madman Entertainment has acquired the rights to Studio Ghibli's Karigurashi no Arrietty, with plans to release it theatrically in 2011.
Manga Entertainment
Dead Space™ Aftermath, based on theElectronic Arts Inc. videogame will be released January 25th.
DEAD SPACE™: AFTERMATH Blu-ray™
Street Date: January 25, 2011
Cat. #: BD22291
UPC: 0 1313 22291-9 5
Run Time: 78 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
SRP: $34.99
Genre: Animated / Horror / Sci-Fi
Format: Anamorphic Widescreen (2.40:1)
Audio: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Bonus Feature: Dead Space 2 Game trailer
DEAD SPACE™: AFTERMATH DVD
Street Date: January 25, 2011
Cat. #: ST22290
UPC: 0 1313 22290-9 6
Run Time: 78 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
SRP: $26.98
Genre: Animated / Horror / Sci-Fi
Format: Anamorphic Widescreen (2.40:1)
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Bonus Feature: Dead Space 2 Game trailer
The year is 2509. The first-responder ship USG O’Bannon has arrived at Aegis VII, attempting to hold the planet together in the wake of the catastrophe that destroyed the Ishimura. But only four members of the O’Bannon crew have survived, and the catastrophe remains unchecked. What went wrong? What secrets do they hide? And what new threats have been revealed…in the Aftermath!
Dead Space: Aftermath is a fast paced, horrifying thrill ride told through the perspective of the 4 survivors by several renowned international directors, each vision unique and bold in its own way. Voiced by an excellent cast led by Christopher Judge (“Stargate: SG-1”), Peter Woodward (“Babylon 5”, “Charmed”), Ricardo Chavira and Gwendoline Yeo.
Media Blasters
Media Blasters has licensed the upcoming OVA Mazinger spin-off MazinKaizer SKL
Loveless and Kashimashi will be getting English dubbed "Vocal" collections.
March releases include
Genshiken: Complete Collection (Season 1 & 2 + OVA Series) - $43.98 - 3/1/11
Kanokon - The Girl Who Cried Fox: Complete Collection - $25.98 - 3/22/11
Loveless: Vocal Collection - $16.98 - 3/29/11 [English Dubbed]
Picture Box
Picture Box will be collecting the animated works of underground manga artist King Terry
Terry 100 Channels
King Terry
Terry 100 Channels is a 30 minute animated film drawn at the peak of King Terry's powers and directed by the cult filmmaker Shinya (Tetsuo: The Iron Man) Tsukamoto. It was first issued in 1985 on VHS as part of a series of illustration-based videos produced in Japan. I am proud to reissue this, Terry’s only film, and declare it a masterpiece of drawn cinema and a truly funky good time. Long live the King. Strictly limited edition, man.
Section23
The complete NYAN KOI! has been released
Title: NYAN KOI! COMPLETE COLLECTION
Running Time: 300 min.
Age Rating: TV PG
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
CAT: SF-NY100
UPC: 814131014214
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Street Date: 12/14/2010
Format: DVD
SRP: $49.98
SYNOPSIS: When cat-allergic Junpei Kosaka damages a statue of a cat deity, the cats don't just get his tongue, they put theirs in his mouth! Now cursed with the ability to understand felines, Junpei must perform one hundred great favors for cat-kind or face the fate of being turned into a cat himself! (Hey, would you want to spend the rest of your life licking your own backside?) Life quickly becomes a purrfect hell as every cat in the neighborhood starts sending Junpei their list of "requests." And if the kitties weren't already whipping him into a catatonic stupor, the women in his life are making things even worse. His sister, mom and the girl he has secret feelings for are all cat-crazy; the local Yakuza's daughter is playing cat and mouse; the local cat-owning monk's daughters are acting catty; and Junpei's childhood best friend is ready to use him as a scratching post! Get ready for the ultimate catfight on the road to purrdition in this cataclysmic complete collection of Nyan Koi!
Coming March 2011
Shin Koihime†Muso - Complete Collection
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 3/1/2011
Format: DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $49.98
SYNOPSIS: What do you do once you’ve made your epic journey and accomplished the legendary quest you set out for yourself. Well, you could hang around the village looking important, but when Kan'u and Chouhi's rescue a mysterious girl, they find that a more enjoyable option may be a brand new quest! Especially when it turns out that this new girl is Ryuubi, and the Ryuubi that Kan’u and her sword-sisters faced previously was an imposter who stole this Ryuubi’s name and heirloom sword! Meanwhile, the three Chou sisters have gotten their hands on a magical book of spells that’s just a little more dangerous than they think. Get ready for an inspired new journey in search of magical arts and artifacts as the ancient Chinese epic Romance Of The Three Kingdoms puts on an all new, all-female front in Shin Koihime†Muso – Complete Collection!
Includes 12 episodes PLUS Special OVA!
AKANE IRO NI SOMARU SAKA COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 3/8/2011
Format: DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $49.98
SYNOPSIS: Junichi Nagase was a real delinquent in middle school, one nasty enough that he earned the nickame "Geno Killer," and it's by this less than flattering epithet that Yuuhi Katagiri first comes to know him when he rescues her from two thugs one evening. Needless to say, both are stunned when not only does Yuuhi find herself transferred into the same high school class as "the Killer," but that shock grows into outright stupefaction when Yuuhi shows up at Junichi's house with the mind-blowing announcement that she's supposed to move in with him! It seems that they're engaged, and since this is the first that Junichi and his younger sister Minato have first heard of the arranged marriage set up by their parents, it's an idea that's going to take a little getting used to. Get ready for ties that bind and gag as bad boy and good girl collide cohabitationally while the entire school gets to watch! Truth IS stranger than fiction in Akane iro ni Somaru Saka - The Complete Collection!
CLANNAD THEATRICAL
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 95 min.
Street Date: 3/15/2011
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $29.98
SYNOPSIS: Plagued by a seemingly endless stream of haunting dreams, Tomoya drifts through life with an almost overwhelming sense of anger and emptiness. Then, one fateful day, he meets the mysterious and beautiful Nagisa, and his world begins to change. While helping Nagisa revive the defunct Drama Club at their high school, Tomoya discovers that she has the same dreams. Their story starts beneath the cherry blossoms, but where will fate lead them? Discover a stunning new vision of one of anime's classic love stories in Clannad Theatrical.
GHOST SWEEPER MIKAMI COLLECTION 3
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 275 min.
Street Date: 3/22/2011
Format: DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $49.98
SYNOPSIS: The insanity that surrounds the Mikami Detective agency continues as our intrepid… okay, maybe not intrepid… as our financially motivated band of heroes are back on the case, attempting to solve the supernatural puzzles, occult conundrums and ancient mysteries (some from the early 1990s!) that plague a ghost and demon infested modern Japan. But it's not all death and destruction and there are the occasional time-outs for loftier goals or as Yokoshima admirably admits: "I've always wanted to sing 'Johnny B Good' at Nippon Budokan filled with nothing but beautiful naked girls before I die!" Okay, perhaps not such admirable content, but it got 'naked' into the synopsis and you have to appreciate his honesty! And honesty is what you get, along with all the usual action, drama and spooktacularly bad jokes and puns in the absolutely certifiable third collection of GHOST SWEEPER MIKAMI!
GUIN SAGA COLLECTION 1
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 3/29/2011
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98
SYNOPSIS: He awakens in the dark forest of a mythical land with some type of leopard mask that he cannot remove. The only thing he remembers is his name - Guin - and that he is a warrior of unimaginable power. And when the two twins of Parros, innocent victims of a civil war arrive, Guin knows what he must do. But the journey to save the children means much more than just slaughtering a few hundred well-trained Mongoul soldiers. Victory means he must battle magical desert tribes, assemble forces that have fought each other for hundreds of hears, and divine a mysterious plan that he is central to. Prepare for a sweeping anime epic of mystery and magic! Of violent clashes and dark double-crosses. Ready yourself for the battle with GUIN SAGA.
GUIN SAGA COLLECTION 1 BLU-RAY EDITION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 3/29/2011
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $69.98
SYNOPSIS: He awakens in the dark forest of a mythical land with some type of leopard mask that he cannot remove. The only thing he remembers is his name - Guin - and that he is a warrior of unimaginable power. And when the two twins of Parros, innocent victims of a civil war arrive, Guin knows what he must do. But the journey to save the children means much more than just slaughtering a few hundred well-trained Mongoul soldiers. Victory means he must battle magical desert tribes, assemble forces that have fought each other for hundreds of hears, and divine a mysterious plan that he is central to. Prepare for a sweeping anime epic of mystery and magic! Of violent clashes and dark double-crosses. Ready yourself for the battle with GUIN SAGA.
Shout Factory
The Marvel Knights Animation adaptation of Reginald Hudlin and John Romita Jr.’s Black Panther will be released on DVD January 18th.
Cast includes Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond) as Black Panther; music artist and actress Jill Scott as Storm; Kerry Washington (For Colored Girls) as Princess Shuri; Alfre Woodard (True Blood) as both Dondi Reese and Queen Mother; Carl Lumbly (Alias) as Uncle S’Yan; and the legendary Stan Lee as General Wallace.
Synopsis
Deep in the heart of Africa lies Wakanda, an advanced and unconquerable civilization. A family of warrior-kings possessing superior speed, strength and agility has governed this mysterious nation as long as time itself. The latest in this famed line is young King T’Challa, the great hero known worldwide as the Black Panther.
Now, outsiders once again threaten to invade and plunder Wakanda. Leading this brutal assault is Klaw, a deadly assassin with the blood of T’Challa’s murdered father on his hands, who brings with him a strong army of super-powered mercenaries. Even with Wakanda’s might and his own superhuman skills, can the Black Panther prevail against this deadly invading force?
Extensive DVD Special Features
Looking Back at Black Panther with Reginald Hudlin
Exclusive Music Video
Trailers
UDON Entertainment
UDON Entertainment is collection fan art tributes to Megman for an upcoming book.
UDON is sending out a call to comic artists, video game artists, freelance illustrators, and fan artists all around the world to show us your artistic tribute to Mega Man! Give us your best artwork featuring the cast of Mega Man, Mega Man X, Mega Man Zero, Mega Man ZX, and Mega Man Legends. All styles are welcome – anime, western comic style, cartoon, pixel-based, sculptures – whatever you can come up with as your tribute to the blue bomber!
The best pieces submitted will be included in Mega Man Tribute, which will premiere as a special 300-page limited-edition hardcover book at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con. UDON’s past tribute books have had a huge artist turnout, with Street Fighter™ Tribute and Darkstalkers™ Tribute each receiving thousands of entries. As one of the most beloved characters in video game history, and with hundreds of characters to work with from across the Mega Man franchise, Mega Man Tribute is poised to be UDON’s most diverse and exciting art book yet!
VIZ Media
BLEACH UNCUT DVD SET 8 will be released on 3/22
POKEMON: DIAMOND AND PEARL GALACTIC BATTLES VOL. 1 will be released on March 15th
Yuuki Iinuma’s manga (graphic novel) series ITSUWARIBITO will be released on December 14th. The new series will be published under the company’s Shonen Sunday imprint, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens, and will carry and MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.
Utsuho’s truthfulness as a child resulted in an enormous catastrophe, and he decided to lie from that day forward. Raised in a village of orphans by a monk, Utsuho is an unrepentant troublemaker. The monk eventually inspires him to help people, but there’s no way Utsuho’s going to lead an honest life! Instead, he’s going to use his talents for mischief and deception for good!
Cover Art Copyright: ITSUWARIBITO UTSUHO © 2009 Yuuki IINUMA/Shogakukan
Shojo manga (graphic novels for female readers) romantic comedy, KAMISAMA KISS was recently release. The new series, created by Julietta Suzuki, will be published under the company’s Shojo Beat imprint, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.
Nanami Momozono is alone and homeless after her dad skips town to evade his gambling debts and the debt collectors kick her out of her apartment. So when a mysterious man she's just saved from a dog attack offers her his home, she jumps at the opportunity. But it turns out that his place is a shrine, and Nanami has unwittingly taken over his job as a local deity!
Julietta Suzuki's debut manga The Day One Becomes A Star appeared in Hana to Yume Plus magazine in 2004. Her other published works include The Devil And Sweets, Karakuri Odette, and Kamisama Kiss, which is currently featured in Hana to Yume.
VIZ Media, announced the release of DEATH NOTE BLACK EDITION, an oversized version of the acclaimed supernatural crime thriller.
Volume 1 hits stores on December 28th and includes the first two editions of the popular manga (graphic novel) series as well as added full-color pages. The DEATH NOTE BLACK EDITION will be offered under the Shonen Jump Advanced imprint, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens, and will retail for $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN.
DEATH NOTE © 2003 by Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata/SHUEISHA Inc.
Viz will relaunch of its popular SHONEN JUMP monthly manga magazine, and also grows the publication’s online presence. Beginning with the January 2011 issue, available now from retailers, SHONEN JUMP magazine will feature a new look, and expanded web content.
As part of this upgrade, the magazine also launches several new subscriber-only initiatives on the SHONEN JUMP website at: www.ShonenJump.com. Among these features will be digital subscriber-only premiums and content, as well as the debut of a brand new manga series, NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN (rated ‘T’ for Teens) that will be serialized online. This will be SHONEN JUMP’s first title to be serialized digitally on ShonenJump.com.
For its print counterpart, SHONEN JUMP, which continues to be the best-selling manga anthology in North America, debuts 2 new series - the science fiction thriller, PSYREN, and YU-GI-OH! 5D’S.
Warn Home Video
Venture Bros. Complete Season 4 will be released on Blu-ray 3/22
All-Star Superman will be released on Blu-ray & DVD 2/22/11
Event News
Studio Ghibli's Toshio Suzuki indicated that Hayao Miyazaki's animated short Yadosagashi will screen at a New York cultural event, the first time that's been screened outside the Ghiblie Museum
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The live action adaptation of GANTZ is making its world premiere in 325 movie theaters in an exclusive one-night Fathom event on Thursday, January 20th, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CT / 6:00 p.m. MT / 8:30 p.m. PT (tape delayed).
Following the feature, GANTZ’s two leading actors, Kazunari Ninomiya (Letters from Iwo Jima) and Kenichi Matsuyama (Death Note, Detroit Metal City) will participate in an exclusive live interview that can only be seen at this event.
Tickets are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. For a complete list of theater locations and prices, please visit the web site (theaters and participants are subject to change).
Presented by NCM Fathom and NEW PEOPLE, in association with Dark Horse Comics, GANTZ (English dubbed) tells the story of childhood friends Kei Kurono and Masaru Kato who are accidentally killed while trying to save another man’s life. Rather than find themselves in the hereafter, however, they awaken in a strange apartment in which they find a mysterious black orb they come to know as “GANTZ.” Along with similar abductees, they are provided with equipment and weaponry and manipulated into playing a kind of game in which they are sent back out to the greater world to do battle with alien beings, all while never quite knowing whether this game is an illusion or their new reality.
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The New York International Children's Film Festival will present Winter Wondershorts 2010 the next two weekends
Recommended all ages
Fri-Sun, Dec 24-26 - 11:00am - IFC Center, 323 Sixth Avenue (at West Third)
Celebrate snowballs, skates and sledding with this all-new collection of short films devoted to the coldest season of the year. Grab some cocoa (or hot popcorn) and come hibernate with some of our chilliest, flurriest, wintriest films ever - suitable for all ages! Program includes:
Snowflakes and Carrots - US Premiere
Animation, Samantha Leriche-Gionet, Canada, 2010, 4 min
A little girl is stealing the noses off of all the snowmen in sight, but who are they for?
The Rocket Cat
Animation, Kaminski/Jansson, Germany/Sweden, 2000, 12.5 min
While out ice-fishing, an eccentric inventor and his pet cat get stranded in a storm and spend New Year's Eve huddled together in an igloo fending off the bitter cold.
Pingu Steals
Claymation, Silvio Mazzola, Netherlands, 1997, 5 min
Pingu, the infectiously amusing and understated little clay animated penguin, steals a cake and attempts to hide it from his mother.
Fellows
Animation, Cecilia Marreiros Marum, Belgium, 2003, 8.5 min
A little boy will need to be inventive to protect his snowman from the changing weather.
KJFG No. 5
Animation, Alexey Alexeev, Hungary, 2008, 2 min
Three musicians, the Bear, the Rabbit, and the Wolf, are working on their hit song in the forest, when suddenly the hunter turns up...
Shikashika
Documentary, Stephen Hyde, Peru/USA, 2008, 10.5 min
Direct from the Peruvian Andes, a real-life look at the lengths some people go to to get a snowcone.
Pingu and the Band
Claymation, Liz Whitaker, UK, 2005, 5 min
Pingu and his baby sister are driving mother crazy, drumming all over the igloo! But then grandfather inspires Pingu to make music instead of noise.
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CINEMA ASIA RELEASING, ELEVEN ARTS and FUNimation Entertainment announced the release schedule of the second of the EVANGELION film series in the U.S. EVANGELION 2.0: YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE opens on January 21, 2011 while there are a few exceptions. Some theaters will also show the first chapter, EVANGELION 1.0: YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE, prior to the release of the second feature.
Release Schedule
Date(from) Term State Area Theater EVA 1,0
2011/1/19 1 day TX Austin Alamo Lake Creek 1/18 (1 day)
2011/1/20 1 day CA San Diego Ultra Star Chula Vista 10
2011/1/20 1 day CA San Diego Ultra Star Mission Valley - Hazard Center
2011/1/20 1 day CA San Diego Ultra Star Mission Marketplace
2011/1/20 1 day CA Anaheim UltraStar GardenWalk 14
2011/1/20 1 day CA Riverside Ultra Star University Village 10
2011/1/21 2 days AK Anchorage Bear Tooth Theatre -
2011/1/21 1 week AZ Phoenix, Tempe Valley Art Theatre 1/21- (3 days on matinee)
2011/1/21 1 week CA San Francisco New People 1/17- (4 days)
2011/1/21 1 week CO Denver Denver FilmCenter/Colfax 1/18- (3 days)
2011/1/21 2 days FL Tampa Bay Clearwater Cinema Café TBA
2011/1/21 1 week GA Atlanta Plaza Atlanta -
2011/1/21 1 week HI Maui Maui Mall Megaplex Cinemas 12 -
2011/1/21 3 days IN Indianapolis Georgetown 14 Cinemas 1/20 (1 show at night)
2011/1/21 1 week MO Kansas City Screenland Crossroads 1/21- (2 days on matinee)
2011/1/21 1 week NC Greensboro Carousel Luxury Cinemas
2011/1/21 2 days NM Albuquerque The Guild Cinema 1/14, 15
2011/1/21 1 week NY New York Big Cinemas Manhattan 1/19- (2 days)
2011/1/21 1 week TX Dallas/Fort Worth Harkins Theatres - Southlake 14 1/21- (3 days on matinee)
2011/1/21 1 week WA Seattle Grand Illusion Cinema 1/14- (1 week)
2011/1/28 1 week CA Los Angeles Downtown Independent 1/14- (1 week)
2011/1/28 1 week OR Portland Living Room Theatre -
2011/2/8 4 days HI Honolulu Doris Duke Theatre -
2011/3/18 2 days OK Oklahoma City Oklahoma City Museum of Art -
TBA 1 day FL Fort Lauderdale Cinema Paradiso
TBA 1 week CA Irvine Regency South Coast Village
*: More theaters will be added.
You can check the latest schedule on www.funimation.com/evangelion
Cineplex will be screening an event showing of Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance in Canadian theatres on January 20, 2011.
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Screening at the Viz Cinema in San Francisco's New People
The Lower Depths Sunday, 12/19 – Monday, 12/27
(1957, 125 minutes, 35mm, Japanese with English Subtitles)
Mifune and Kurosawa transform Maxim Gorky’s classic proletariat play The Lower Depths in their own way firmly situated in the postwar world. Remaining faithful to the original with its focus on the conflict between illusion and reality, their film making styles converge to create unique masterpieces.
High And Low Monday, 12/27 – Thursday, 1/6
(1957, 125 minutes, 35mm, Japanese with English Subtitles)
Toshiro Mifune is unforgettable as Kingo Gondo, a wealthy industrialist whose family becomes the target of a cold-blooded kidnapper in Akira Kurosawa’s highly influential High and Low, a compelling race-against-time thriller and a penetrating portrait of contemporary Japanese society.
Stray Dog Tuesday, 12/28 – Thursday, 1/6
(1949, 122min, 35mm, Japanese with English Subtitles)
When a pickpocket steals a rookie detective’s gun on a hot crowded bus, the cop goes undercover in a desperate attempt to right the wrong. Kurosawa’s thrilling noir probes the squalid world of postwar Japan and the nature of the criminal mind.
Drunken Angel Wednesday, 12/29 – Wednesday, 1/5
(1948, 98min, 35mm, Japanese with English Subtitles)
In this powerful early noir from the great Akira Kurosawa, Toshiro Mifune bursts onto the screen as a volatile, tubercular criminal who strikes up an unlikely relationship with Takashi Shimura’s jaded physician.
Seven Samurai Sunday, 1/2 at 1:30pm
(1954, 207 minutes, 35mm, Japanese with English Subtitles)
Kick-off 2011 with one of the most thrilling movie epics of all time, Seven Samurai! This three-hour ride featuring Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura tells the story of a sixteenth-century village whose desperate inhabitants hire eponymous warriors to protect them from the invading bandits. Screening will include a special New Year’s reception party.
VIZ Cinema’s last SENIOR FREE MOVIE DAY of the year is our all-time-favorite film Ping Pong!
Ping Pong Wednesday, 12/22 at 1:30pm
(Directed by SORI, 2002, 114min, Digital, Japanese with English Subtitles)
Best friends Peco and Smile have been playing ping pong since they were little kids. While the unique and brazen Peco plays to win and loves the sport, the quiet and introverted Smile thinks of it as just a way to kill time with friends, but plays only because he looks up to Peco as his hero. And though Smile is the more talented player, he frequently and intentionally loses to Peco out of a misguided sense of friendship
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Pop Japan Travel announced their Cold Steel Redux Tour. the 2011 tour will include a flight to the northern island of Hokkaido for the Sapporo Snow Festival and a visit to Tokyo, with an extention to the Kamakura Festival in Yokote, Akita Prefecture
The Cold Steel Redux Tour is scheduled to take place from February 7 until February 14, with the extension to Yokote and Akita running through February 16
Cool Figures News
Kotobukiya announced the following model imports
ARMORED CORE GA GAN01-SUNSHINE-E FEEDBACK FINE SCALE MODEL KIT
Rocketing out of the Variable Infinity Series from Armored Core For Answer is a new variant on the GA flagship model, GA GAN01-SUNSHINE-E FEEDBACK!
Standing just over 7 inches tall (1/72 scale), this powerful unit is comprised of approximately 600 parts and when fully assembled it has 20 points of articulation for extreme poseability! AC kits require easy snap fit assembly with included pictorial assembly instructions and do not need to be painted.
srp $54.99
Available APRIL
© 1997-2011 FromSoftware, Inc. All rights reserved.
MUV-LUV ALTERNATIVE TOTAL ECLIPSE ~ SIRANUI NIGATA DEMONSTRATION COLOR FINE SCALE MODEL KIT
Fine Scale Model robot units from the epic Muv-Luv Alternative side story Total Eclipse is SIRANUI NIGATA DEMONSTRATION COLOR!
This fighting mecha comes with multiple alternate hands and weapons for both melee and long-ranged combat. Standing nearly 7 inches tall, the Siranui Nigata is comprised of about 500 parts with 40 points of articulation for excellent poseability!
srp $49.99
Available in APRIL
©2011 âge All rights reserved. ©2011 ACID All rights reserved.
SUPER ROBOT TAISEN ~ BYLEFOL FINE SCALE MODEL KIT
The next member of the elite Super Robot Taisen Fine Scale Model Kits is the “brother” machine of the previously released Laldabaoth, the martial arts fighting BYLEFOL!
Standing over 7 ½ inches tall (1/144 scale), the Bylefol is comprised of approximately 240 parts that can be put together without any glue. The mecha engineers at Kotobukiya have revolutionized the articulation system for this model, taking advantage of the many armor pieces to come up with the highest possible degree of poseability. With over 30 points of articulation, the robot has independently moving shoulder armor plates, poseable shoulders, elbows that move 180 degrees, and extra joints in the chest and hips! The Bylefol also comes with multiple weapons as well as two sets of hands (gripping and flat).
srp $49.99
Available in APRIL
©SRWOG PROJECT
SUPER ROBOT TAISEN ~ COMPATIBLE KAISER FINE SCALE MODEL KIT
The fighting unit stands nearly 8 inches tall (Non scale), and has over 20 points of articulation. The flashy robot comes with its signature weapons, the Over Kaiser Sword, Kaiser Boomerang, and Spiral Knuckles. Fully poseable, the Compatible Kaiser looks great atop Kotobukiya’s original M.S.G. Flying Base 3 (sold separately), and as a special bonus includes a mini figure of pilot Fighter Roa!
srp $49.99
Available in MAY
©SRWOG PROJECT
GOD BLESS THE MACHINE DANCOUGA ~ DANCOUGA D-STYLE MODEL KIT
Yet another classic anime series brought to life in a whole new style, 1985’s “God Bless The Machine Dancouga” joins the D-Style lineup with the titular robot and one of the highest requested characters in a Kotobukiya questionnaire, DANCOUGA! The combined form of four Cyber Beast Machines, this super-deformed “giant” robot was piloted by four soldiers in the fight to free Earth from the Muge Zorbados Empire. The Dancouga D-Style model kit captures the look of the original mecha with stunning detail in a cute little package. With 60 pre-painted parts and easy snap-fit assembly, no glue or paint is necessary! In his iconic black, gray, yellow, and red color scheme Dancouga comes ready to fight with his “DankuKen” Sword and “DankuHo” Huge Beam Cannon that can be mounted on his back. The robot can also be displayed with two wings (Booster Units) on its back with interchangeable parts, and it looks great on the Kotobukiya M.S.G. Flying Base 3 (sold separately). Standing almost 5 inches tall, this little Dancouga has approximately 20 points of articulation.
srp $19.99
Available in MAY
(C)PRODUCTION REED 1985
Kotobukiya has been awarded Best Hardlines (Retail Product) Licensee by Warner Bros. Consumer Products for their DC COMICS x BISHOUJO STATUE SERIES.
Under the international category this year, 3 out of 5 awards were given to Japanese companies with remarkable accomplishments; amongst them were Toyota, UNIQLO and Kotobukiya. The results for the 2010 awards were first announced this past June in Los Angeles at the main office of Warner Bros. Consumer Products. For the Japanese companies, the awards reception was held at The Ritz Carlton in Tokyo on December 8th.
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Gainax's classic Gunbuster mech is finally getting is own Revoltech
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A Revoltech Ironman is in the works
Custom Mazinger Z by Touma
