Check out GodzillaOnDVD for the latest specs for GHIDORAH and INVASION OF
ASTRO-MONSTER. Photo courtesy of Classic Media. © 1964 Toho Co., Ltd.

Source: Classic Media
Official site: Godzilla on DVD

Classic Media’s official Godzilla website has updated with a description and specs for their upcoming DVDs of GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER and INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER. The latest information can be found on the site’s Godzilla Blog page.

GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER and INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER will be available in stores and from online retailers on June 5th.

Classic Media is offering a coupon to save on either GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN or MOTHRA VS GODZILLA. Photo courtesy of Classic Media. © 1955, 1964 Toho Co., Ltd.

Source: Classic Media
Official site: Godzilla on DVD

In celebration of the April 3rd release of GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN and MOTHRA VS GODZILLA, Classic Media is offering Godzilla fans a coupon for $3 off either DVD at participating retailers.

Get the coupon here.

English edition of Empire of the
Ants. © 1991 by Editions Albin
Michel S.A./ © 1996 Bantam Press

Adaptation of French novel will mix live action and animation
Author: Loomis (Kim Song-ho)
Source: The Seoul Shinmun, The Segye Ilbo, various
Official Author Site: Bernard Werber

According to South Korean newspapers, the French novelist Bernard Werber’s bestseller Empire of the Ants (Les Fourmis) will be adapted into a feature film.

The film version will be a South Korean-French co-production, and an amalgam of 50% live action and 50% animation. Kim Moon-saeng, of the 2003 animated feature WONDERFUL DAYS (Wondapul Deijeu, known as SKY BLUE in the U.S.) fame, will direct. Werber, who is now on tour to promote his latest directorial effort OUR EARTHMEN FRIENDS (Nos amis les Terriens) confirmed it in an interview with The Seoul Shinmun.
Continued…

Authors: James Ballard and Keith Aiken
Special Thanks to Oki Miyano and Stuart Galbraith IV
Source: Asahi

Fuyuki Murakami as Dr. Tanabe in GODZILLA. © 1954 Toho Co., Ltd.

Fuyuki Murakami, one of Toho’s regular supporting actors, passed away on Thursday, April 5th as a result of stomach cancer. He was 95 years old.

Fuyuki Murakami was born as Saisyuu Murakami in Fukuoka on December 23rd, 1911. After graduating from the Tokyo University Department of Economics, he began acting in theatre with the New Tsukiji Troupe. The troupe combined traditional Japanese theater with European-style drama, and helped launch the careers of several popular film actors of the time, including Minoru Chiaki (THE HIDDEN FORTRESS, GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN.) Following this, Murakami contracted to Toho in 1950, launching a career spanning more than 55 years working as an actor, voice actor, model, and narrator.
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Frankenstein (Koji Furuhata) poses with Baragon in a
studio shot for FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD.
© 1965 Toho Co., Ltd.

3 Complete Versions of the Film on a 2-Disc DVD Set from Media Blasters
Author: Keith Aiken
Source: Media Blasters, Inc.
Special Thanks to Richard York

Media Blasters has completed work on their highly anticipated DVD of FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD and revealed the final specs for the June 26 release. Today, Media Blasters’ publicist Richard York announced, “We crammed this two-disc special edition of FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD with three complete versions of the film and other assorted goodies — it’s practically pregnant with entertainment!”

One big change from earlier reports is that the Japanese version will not have a seamless branching option for the alternate “Frankenstein vs the Giant Devilfish” ending. Richard York explained, “The branching option can be quite troublesome. While we would have been able to make it work, some players just aren’t quick enough to make it truly seamless and we didn’t want to upset anyone if their transition wasn’t smooth enough. So the DVD author concluded that it would be better just to put two entire features on one disc. The US version is on another disc, so there’ll be three complete versions of the film in this set.”
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Advertisement for the “Japanese Garden” concert featuring the music of Akira Ifukube. © 2007 Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra

VERY early news of the live concert performance in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Author: Ed Godziszewski
Official Site: Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Special Thanks to Kazuo Sumiya

Mark your calendars now. It may be a year away, but Akira Ifukube fans will have the rare chance of listening to one of the maestro’s premier classical pieces, “Ritmica Ostinata”, performed live by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra on March 28, 2008 and featuring the keyboard skills of Reiko Yamada. Presented as part of a musical tribute to Japan, Ifukube’s piece will highlight a program which will also feature pieces by Toru Takemitsu and Paul Hindemith.
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Original Japanese Poster for THE BAD SLEEP WELL.
© 1960 Toho Co., Ltd.

Series to focus on 1960 Japan
Author: Bob Johnson
Sources: The San Francisco Chronicle, Japan 1960 Blog

Stanford University’s Center for East Asian Studies is presenting its third annual film series, this one focusing on films from Japan that were made in the year 1960. Films are presented each Friday from now until June 1, 2007 in the Cubberley Auditorium on the Stanford Campus. Admission is free!

The series’ coordinator, Jim Reichert of Stanford’s department of Asian languages, states that 1960 was the peak production year for the Japanese film industry and marked the passing of the baton from the classical directors of the prewar era to a new generation.

The series, which opens this Friday, features films by directors Nagisa Oshima, Akira Kurosawa, Kon Ichikawa and Yasujiro Ozu.
Continued…

Source: New York Anime Festival

Fans of anime and manga may now look forward to a brand new annual festival celebrating the very best of Japanese popular culture launching later this year in New York City. Reed Exhibitions, the organizer of New York Comic Con, has today announced the creation of the New York Anime Festival (NYAF) which will take place December 7-9, 2007 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in midtown Manhattan. “New York finally has an anime event of its own!” proclaims John McGeary, Show Manager for NYAF. Show planners note that the new event will be an extravaganza featuring the latest in anime, manga, Japanese cinema, music, and games, and the best of anime-influenced comics, animation, and film from around the world. Show staff also note that by being in New York City , NYAF will allow exhibitors to interact with one of the largest anime fan bases in the country and at the same time garner tremendous exposure by being in the media capital of the world.

For more information, please see the press release from Reed Exhibitions.

Source: ADV Films
Official Site: Newtype USA

© 2007 Newtype USA, Inc.

The swashbuckling LE CHEVALIER D’EON graces the cover of Newtype USA’s April 2007 issue. The magazine gives you all the ammo you need to watch D’Eon dish out justice on his 17th-century campaign for carnage, including interviews with anime creator Tow Ubukata as well as English dub director Steven Foster, plus more art from the show than you can shake a stick at. A quest for vengeance never looked this good!

Newtype USA keeps the exclusives with previews of such highly anticipated shows as CODE GEASS, El CAZADOR, KIDDY GRADE 2 and THE WINGS OF REAN. Also in the issue are features on FATE/STAY NIGHT and COYOTE RAGTIME SHOW; the Official Art of GUNBUSTER 2; pics and info on Hello Kitty’s latest goth-punk gear; reviews of all the latest anime, manga, video games, music and toys; and columns and commentary from anime actors, writers and industry insiders. This month extras include the next manga installment of Once Upon a Glashma, the free April DVD featuring episodes of KURAU PHANTOM MEMORY, .hack//Roots and SHINGU: SECRET OF THE STELLAR WARS, and a double-sided poster insert of the ladies of MABURAHO.

Newtype USA Vol. 6, Issue 4 is now on sale.