February 8th, 2010 6:37 am
In News, DVD / Blu-ray, News, Events, News, Godzilla / Toho
Win a 20TH CENTURY BOYS 2 DVD Gift Pack!
Get the 20TH CENTURY BOYS 2: THE LAST HOPE DVD and More for Free, Courtesy of VIZ Pictures and SciFi Japan
Source: VIZ Pictures
Official Movie Site: 20thboysfilms.com (US), 20th Boys (Japanese)
Special Thanks to Rieko Fuji
A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE
The popular 20TH CENTURY BOYS (20-Seki Shonen) live-action movie trilogy is now being released on Region 1 DVD by VIZ Pictures and VIZ Media. The films are based on the critically acclaimed 20th Century Boys manga series created by Naoki Urasawa, which is a national phenomenon in Japan, selling over 20 million copies to date. The 20TH CENTURY BOYS movies were released in Japan by Toho and quickly shot to the top of the domestic box office. The three films made their US premieres at the VIZ Cinema in San Francisco in August of 2009.
VIZ Pictures and SciFi Japan now follow up December’s 20TH CENTURY BOYS 1: BEGINNING OF THE END Gift Pack Giveaway with a new contest for the second film in the series, 20TH CENTURY BOYS 2: THE LAST HOPE. SciFi Japan readers in the United States and Canada have a chance to win one of three Gift Packs, each with the 20TH CENTURY BOYS 2: THE LAST HOPE DVD, the US theatrical poster, and a 20TH CENTURY BOYS button.
The 20TH CENTURY BOYS 2: THE LAST HOPE DVD will be available for purchase on February 16th. The suggested retail price is $24.92.
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February 7th, 2010 10:19 pm
In News, Anime, News, DVD / Blu-ray
VIZ Media DVD Releases for March 2010
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen
VIZ Media, LLC has announced their list of DVD titles scheduled for release in March 2010. This includes the final box set release of HONEY AND CLOVER, the next installments of the POKÉMON ELEMENTS series, as well as the latest episodic releases of the popular BLEACH and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN series.
Also releasing is the live action feature film – HISASHI TENMYOUYA: SAMURAI NOUVEAU from VIZ Pictures.
VIZ Media DVD titles are distributed (in English) in the U.S and Mexico by Warner Home Video and in Canada by Allegro.
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February 6th, 2010 10:04 am
In News, Godzilla / Toho
MEGA MONSTER BATTLE: ULTRA GALAXY – DVD & Blu-ray w/English subtitles
New Ultraman Movie On DVD & Blu-ray In Japan With English Subtitles
Author: James M. Ballard
Official Movie Site: Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy
Source: Bandai Visual
The latest Ultraman movie MEGA MONSTER BATTLE: ULTRA GALAXY (Daikaiju Batoru Urutora Ginga Densetsu THE MOVIE) will be released on DVD and Blu-ray in Japan on April 23 and will feature English subtitles. The DVD editions will be Region 2 encoded (only compatiable with DVD players in Japan, Europe and other Region 2 countries), while the Blu-ray disc will be fully compatiable with Blu-ray players in North America.
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February 4th, 2010 8:01 am
In News, DVD / Blu-ray, News, Events, News, Godzilla / Toho
VIZ Pictures to Release 20TH CENTURY BOYS 2: THE LAST HOPE on DVD
Special Theatrical Screening Planned for February 9th; DVD Arrives on February 16th
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Official Movie Site: 20thboysfilms.com (US), 20th Boys (Japanese)
Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen
VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, will release the science fiction feature 20TH CENTURY BOYS 2: THE LAST HOPE (20-Seiki Shonen: Dai 2 Sho- Saigo no Kibo, 2009) on DVD on February 16th in North America through its distributor, VIZ Media. 20TH CENTURY BOYS will carry a MSRP of $24.92 US / $35.99 CAN.
The 20TH CENTURY BOYS saga is based on Naoki Urasawa’s manga series, 20th Century Boys (published in the US by VIZ Media), which has become a national phenomenon in Japan, selling over 20 million copies of the 24 volumes. Urasawa is the creator of many famous works such as the hit manga series, Monster and Pluto also published in the US by VIZ Media.
In 20TH CENTURY BOYS 2: THE LAST HOPE it is 2015, and “Friend” rules a disturbing new world. Kenji has been missing since the Bloody New Year’s Eve of 2000, and his niece Kanna is now in high school. Her history textbook contains a fabricated story about Kenji and his friends being the terrorists behind the horrific events of 2000. Kanna, knowing the truth, openly resents this, and as a result she is marked as a problem child by her teacher and sent to the Friend Land program because of her anti-Friend behavior.
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February 3rd, 2010 11:59 pm
In News, Anime, News, Events
JAPANIMATION Movies at the Barbican Centre in Feb and March
ASTRO BOY and THE SKY CRAWLERS Screenings in London
Source: Barbican Centre, Sarah Harvey Publicity press release
Special Thanks to Helene Muron
The Barbican Centre’s in London continues their JAPANIMATION event series with screenings of the computer animated film ASTRO BOY (2009) this month and Mamoru Oshii’s THE SKY CRAWLERS (Sukai Kurora, 2008) in March. Both films will be introduced by anime expert and author Helen McCarthy (The Anime! Movie Guide, Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation, and founder of the magazine AnimeFX).
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January 31st, 2010 7:17 am
In News, Godzilla / Toho, News, Kaiju / Monsters, News, Merchandise
BANDAI MARKET REPORT
An Overview and Price Guide for the Bandai Godzilla Toy Market
Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis
Special Thanks Mike Russo, Jean Carbajal, Brandon Shields, Bob Johnson, Greg Cordaro, Andy Shields, and James Bond
A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE
Welcome to the market overview and price guide to Bandai Godzilla collectibles. The Bandai Company for decades now has been the standard for producing toys based on popular Japanese characters; they are essentially the Mattel of Japan. As it pertains to this article, they began producing toys based on characters in the Godzilla Series in 1983. Over the years since, both the output and quality of the company has steadily increased. The figures themselves are made of vinyl and have been primarily produced in two sizes, 6 inch and 8 inch scale, with the 8 inch scale being the most popular with collectors. There are also larger figures which vary between the 14 and 24 inch scale.
The decision to focus on the Bandai market is due to the company’s immense popularity among Godzilla fans and a general need to know where the toys currently stand as far as pricing and rarity. We have done research and kept our eyes on general trends from sales on the internet and at shows throughout the year such as G-Fest (the annual celebration of Godzilla and Toho Sci-Fi), the San Diego and New York Comic-Cons, Chiller Theater (the legendary toy and horror film expo in New Jersey), and other collector shows and marketplaces such as Frank & Son (in California) and the like. We also keep our eye on shops in the major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Finally, we also go to the people closest to the toys— dealers and collectors— to get their opinions and observations.
Also included in this market report is pricing on GODZILLA-related Bandai figures such as the REBIRTH OF MOTHRA trilogy, the GAMERA series, and even Toho’s YAMATO TAKERU (OROCHI THE EIGHT HEADED DRAGON). We are not, however, pricing DX (deluxe), battery operated, or candy toys. This article strictly covers the standard figures in their various scales.
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January 30th, 2010 12:00 pm
In News, Superheroes, News, Tribute
KYODYNE Star Yusuke Natsu: 1950 -2010
Toei Hero Dies at Age 59
Author: Keith Aiken and Oki Miyano
Translations: Oki Miyano and Hiro Sono
Source: Yahoo Japan, various
Special Thanks to JR Lipartito
SciFi Japan is sad to report the passing of actor Yusuke Natsu, one of the stars of the 1976 Toei Co., Ltd. television series SPACE IRONMEN KYODYNE (Uchu Tetsujin Kyodain), who died at a Tokyo hospital from stomach cancer on January 27th. He was 59 years old.
Besides KYODYNE, Natsu appeared in a number of television shows and movies from Toei, Nikkatsu, Toho, and other studios. A partial list of credits includes CHARGE! HUMAN!! (Totsugeki! Human!!, 1972), SWEET REVENGE (Kiri no Hata, 1977), NEVER GIVE UP (Yasei no Shomei, 1978), THE YAKUZA WIVES 2 (Gokudo no Onna-Tachi 2, 1987), and AFTERNOON WHEN FLOWERS FELL (Hana no Furu Gogo, 1989). He is best known for the TV drama SPECIAL CRIME INVESTIGATION (Tokusou Saizensen, 1977), in which he co-starred with Hiroshi Fujioka of MASKED RIDER fame.
Fujioka only learned of his old friend’s illness shortly before Natsu’s death, when one of his acquaintances told him that Natsu had only a few days to live. On the 27th he told a reporter that, “Natsu’s serious attitude towards acting was impressive. He was still so young… I’ve lost my comrade.”
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January 30th, 2010 6:48 am
In News, Anime, News, Kaiju / Monsters, News, Merchandise
VOLTRON: DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE Game Coming from MONSTERPOCALYPSE
Voltron Lands this Summer
Source: Privateer Press press release
Official Sites: monsterpocalypse.com, voltron.com
Privateer Press has announced that the highly anticipated VOLTRON: DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE battle miniatures game (PIP 50030) for MONSTERPOCALYPSE will be released July 2010 with an MSRP of $49.99.
The VOLTRON game will include everything two players need to stage epic battles between the forces of Voltron and the Galaxy Alliance and Lo-Tron of the fiendish Drule Empire. Part of the popular MONSTERPOCALYPSE line, VOLTRON: DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE will be completely compatible with all current MONSTERPOCALYPSE series.
In celebration of the release, Privateer Press is offering the VOLTRON: DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE Launch Kit (PIP 50033, MSRP $399.92) to brick-and-mortar retailers. The kit includes eight copies of the VOLTRON: DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE battle miniatures game and two limited edition Mega Voltron figures for use in promoting the game’s release in the store. Retailers can pre-order the VOLTRON: DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE Launch Kit through their distributor now.
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January 28th, 2010 9:26 pm
In News, Superheroes, News, Tribute
In a Flash – Tetsuo Narikawa: 1944-2010
SPECTREMAN Star Passes Away
Author: Bob Johnson
Additional Research and Translations: Daisuke Ishizuka
Source: Yahoo Japan, various
Special Thanks to Oki Miyano and Keith Aiken
2010 got off to a sad and shocking start with the loss of the star of one of Japan’s more unique superhero series. Actor Tetsuo Narikawa died of lung cancer on January 1 in Tokyo, Japan. He was 65 years old.
Narikawa is best known for his leading role as Joji Gamou (aka; George) in the P Productions TV series SPECTREMAN (Supekutoruman) from January 2, 1971 through March 25, 1972. After SPECTREMAN, he went on to guest star in a few other superhero series, notably LION MARU (Kaiketsu Raion-Maru, 1972) episodes 3 and 5, MASKED RIDER (Kamen Raidaa, 1972) episode 63, ROBOT DETECTIVE (Robot Keiji, 1973) episode 25, and ULTRAMAN LEO (Urutoraman Leo, 1974) episode 36.
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January 27th, 2010 11:44 pm
In News, Anime, News, Events, News, International Cinema
February Film Schedule for VIZ Cinema
Romance, Anime, and 20TH CENTURY BOYS 2 in San Francisco
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Official Site: NewPeopleWorld.com
Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen
February is the month of love and VIZ Cinema, the nation’s first and only movie theatre dedicated to Japanese film, sweetens this theme with a pair of captivating love stories by director Isshin Inudo, presented in association with Asmik Ace Entertainment. Don’t miss the chance to attend the West Coast premieres of these heartwarming cinematic masterpieces. How far would you go in the name of LOVE?
VIZ Cinema is privileged to present director Inudo’s JOSEE, THE TIGER AND THE FISH, screening February 5th –18th; and LA MAISON DE HIMIKO, showing February 18th – March 4th. To celebrate the spirit of Valentine’s Day for the entire month of February, filmgoers who also bring a date (or a friend) will receive a special 50% discount on the second person’s admission.
Anime fans can also look forward to a special double-feature encore showing of GURREN LAGANN: THE MOVIE 1 & 2 – for one night only – on Sunday February 21st at 5:00pm and 7:30pm respectively. VIZ Cinema will offer special combo tickets for $15.00 to attend both showings.
VIZ Cinema will also host a one night only DVD Release Screening of 20TH CENTURY BOYS 2: THE LAST HOPE on Tuesday, February 9th.
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January 26th, 2010 12:29 pm
In News, Events, News, Godzilla / Toho, News, Merchandise, News, Tokusatsu / FX
SUPER FESTIVAL 51
A Look at the International Model and Toy Show Held in Tokyo on January 10, 2010
Author: Ed Godziszewski
Official Site: Super Festival
In years past, it used to be a big deal to attend toy shows such as Super Festival— each show yielded not only its share of exclusive items, but they were a expeditious way to accomplish a good deal of shopping all in one place. Rather than spending time and train fare scurrying about Tokyo, Super Festival offered one-stop shopping where you could find not only most every current item, but also a nice selection of vintage (and sometimes otherwise unheard of) items.
Due to a change in my business trip schedule, it had been almost 6 years since the last time I attended Super Festival, so attending this most recent incarnation this past January 10 impressed upon me just how much times have changed.
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January 19th, 2010 8:07 pm
In News, Anime
KEKKAISHI Anime Series Now Available on Hulu
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Official Site: shonensunday.com/series/kekkaishi
Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen
Today, VIZ Media, LLC brings the animated demon-battling action and adventure of KEKKAISHI to Hulu, an online video service that offers hit TV shows, movies and clips at Hulu.com and other online destination sites — anytime in the U.S. The series debuts with 5 episodes with new installments launching each week. To view KEKKAISHI, please visit Hulu.com.
KEKKAISHI is based on a hit manga series by Yellow Tanabe (also published in North America by VIZ Media). Mystical forces are powerful in the region called Karasumori. For over 400 years, it has been the duty of a clan of “kekkaishi”— barrier masters— to guard the land and exterminate the supernatural creatures that are drawn to the area night after night.
“KEKKAISHI is the latest series to join the VIZ Media family of animated titles available to U.S. audiences on Hulu and we hope that fans will enjoy its lively mix of adventure, comedy and demon-slaying action,” says Candice Uyloan, Director, Brand Management at VIZ Media. “We are committed to utilizing the web to deliver the best in anime through innovative web-based, video streaming outlets like Hulu. KEKKAISHI is an exciting addition to all the other top-rated anime from VIZ Media and we invite audiences to dive into this new series!”
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January 15th, 2010 5:36 pm
In News, Events, News, International Cinema
ZATOICHI, THE FUGITIVE Screening in NYC, 1/22
Japan Society Presents the Second Installment of “The Double-Edged Sword” Chambara Film Series
Source: Japan Society
Special Thanks to Sean Levine
New York – Japan Society’s latest Monthly Classics film series “The Double-Edged Sword: The Chambara Films of Shintaro Katsu & Raizo Ichikawa” pays tribute to two Japanese screen legends in their most respected, representative and stylish chambara (sword fighting) films. Curated by film expert and author Chris D. (Outlaw Masters of Japanese Film), the series screens monthly through May 2010. Having opened in December, the second installment in the series is ZATOICHI, THE FUGITIVE on Friday, January 22 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $11/$7 Japan Society members, students and seniors.
ZATOICHI, THE FUGITIVE (Zatoichi kyojo-tabi)
Friday, January 22, 7:30 pm
1963, 86 min., 35 mm, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. Directed by Tokuzo Tanaka. With Shintaro Katsu, Miwa Takada, Masayo Banri, Junichiro Narita, Katsuhiko Kobayashi.
As the iconic blind masseur Zatoichi, Katsu enters this fourth episode of the saga— one of the most acclaimed— with a bounty on his head. Soon, he is up to his neck slicing and dicing through a throng of yakuza thugs, fending off a long-lost love and battling a ruthless ronin for hire.
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January 14th, 2010 12:34 am
In News, Anime, News, DVD / Blu-ray
New Anime DVDs from FUNimation
Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith
FUNimation Entertainment moves into 2010 with several new Region 1 DVDs of popular anime series and movies for fans in North America. Read on for plot descriptions, DVD specs, and a look at the cover art for:
CASE CLOSED MOVIE: THE LAST WIZARD OF THE CENTURY
CASE CLOSED MOVIE: CAPTURED IN HER EYES
CASE CLOSED MOVIE: COUNTDOWN TO HEAVEN
BLASSREITER THE COMPLETE SERIES: PART 2 Box Set
BACCANO! THE COMPLETE SERIES Box Set
DRAGONAUT: THE RESONANCE PART 2 Box Set
D GRAY-MAN: SEASON 2, PART 2 Box Set
BAMBOO BLADE: PART 2
LINEBARRELS OF IRON Box Set
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January 13th, 2010 7:00 am
In News, Events, News, International Cinema
DAIDO MORIYAMA: STRAY DOG OF TOKYO Documentary from VIZ Pictures
DVD Release and Special San Francisco Screening on January 26
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Official Site: VIZ Pictures
Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen
VIZ Pictures will release the newest volume of its ongoing NEW PEOPLE ARTIST SERIES – DAIDO MORIYAMA: STRAY DOG OF TOKYO (Near Equal Moriyama Daidou, 2001) on DVD January 26th. This intriguing documentary profiles the life and art of Japan’s foremost photographer and highlights his unorthodox style and technique. The DVD will carry an MSRP of $24.92 U.S. / $35.99 CAN and will be distributed by VIZ Media.
Daido Moriyama has been a major force in artistic photography since the late 60’s, but his true persona has been hidden behind a veil of mystery since he has refused any major media appearances – until now. This new documentary follows the charismatic Moriyama as he displays his trademark photographic technique of taking quick snapshots without looking in the viewfinder. Often shot in black and white, out of focus and dramatically cropped or tilted, the themes of Moriyama’s images have been said to convey a sense of the disordered human condition and the conflicting realities of modern urban life.
In celebration of this new release, VIZ Pictures has scheduled a special one night only theatrical screening of DAIDO MORIYAMA: STRAY DOG OF TOKYO on January 26th at VIZ Cinema. Tickets are $25.00, which includes a pass to the film screening, a copy of the DVD, a postcard and a NEW PEOPLE original pin button.
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