Source: FUNimation Entertainment, NTV (Nippon Television Network)
Official Movie Site: Evangelion 1.0 (US), evangelion.co.jp (Japan)
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith

EVANGELION: 1.0 YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE promotional
art courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. © 2007
Khara/Gainax

On October 4, 1995, the animated TV series NEON GENESIS EVANGELION (Shin Seiki Evangelion) premiered on the Japanese station TV Tokyo. Produced by the animation studio Gainax Co., Ltd., EVANGELION started slowly in the ratings but soon became a international hit that spun off successful videos, books, and toys as well as two feature films; EVANGELION: DEATH AND REBIRTH (Shin Seiki Evangelion Gekiji-ban: Shito Shinsei, 1997) and THE END OF EVANGELION (Shin Seiki Evangelion Gekijo-ban: Air/Magokoro wo, Kimi ni, 1997).

A decade later, the franchise returned to theaters with EVANGELION: 1.0 YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE (Evangelion Shin Gekijoban: Jo), the first of four new movies labeled the “Rebuild of Evangelion” (Evangelion Shin Gekijoban) series. The movie immediately shot to the top of the Japanese box office. FUNimation Entertainment acquired the North American rights to the film, and EVANGELION: 1.0 YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE is currently playing in US and Canadian cinemas (check the FUNimation Films website for a list of theaters and dates) with the Region 1 DVD scheduled for November 17, 2009.
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Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith

© 2007 Asmik Ace Entertainment, Inc./ Marvelous Interactive,
Inc./ Majin Production Committee

FUNimation will be releasing several anime DVD collections over the next two weeks.

Read on for descriptions, DVD specs, and a look at cover art for FULL METAL PANIC! THE SECOND RAID: THE COMPLETE SERIES, ONE PIECE: SEASON TWO- THIRD VOYAGE, TOKYO MAJIN: THE COMPLETE SERIES, D.GRAY-MAN: SEASON TWO, PART ONE, and THE STORY OF SAIUNKOKU: THE COMPLETE SEASON ONE.
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Source: The Associates press release
Official Site: ghostintheshellredux.co.uk
Special Thanks to Farhana Shaikh

Cover art for Manga Entertainment’s UK DVD of GHOST IN
THE SHELL 2.0. Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 1995
/2008 Shirow Masamune/Kodansha · Bandai Visual · Manga
Entertainment

Manga Entertainment UK will release the 2008 anime film GHOST IN THE SHELL 2.0 (Kokaku Kidotai 2.0) to selected cinemas in England beginning October 2nd. The theatrical run will be followed by a 2 disc DVD set and Blu-ray release on October 26th.

In 1995, the animated cyberpunk action-thriller GHOST IN THE SHELL stunned moviegoers and anime fans alike by seamlessly merging traditional animation with the latest CG imagery to create an intelligent and artistic sci-fi spectacle unlike anything seen before. The film enjoyed both critical and popular acclaim at the international box office before going on to reach even greater success on DVD.

Now, director Mamoru Oshii (THE SKY CRAWLERS; AVALON) has revisited his classic masterpiece to create a newly enhanced “director’s cut” for cinemas in the form of GHOST IN THE SHELL 2.0. Containing over 90 altered and enhanced scenes and an all-new soundtrack that includes dialogue re-recorded by the original actors (with the exception of one new voice cast member who adds a unique spin to the plot), this new release represents the perfect opportunity for fans to see this mind-blowing film as originally intended.
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VIZ Media to Stream Smash Hit Anime Mere Hours after Episodes Air in Japan
Source: VIZ Media press release
Official Site: ShonenSunday.com
Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq

Promotional art for INUYASHA THE FINAL ACT. Episodes
will begin streaming in the US next Sunday. Photo courtesy
of VIZ Media. © Rumiko Takahashi /Shogakukan Inc. •
Yomiuri TV • Sunrise 2009

VIZ Media, LLC delighted anime fans at New York Anime Festival yesterday with an announcement of the near simultaneous Japanese/American simulcast of the action-packed conclusion to the INUYASHA animated series- INUYASHA THE FINAL ACT (Inuyasha Kanketsu-hen).

Beginning on October 3rd, INUYASHA THE FINAL ACT (subtitled) will stream on ShonenSunday.com/anime and Hulu.com mere hours after it airs in Japan. A new episode will air every Saturday thereafter. INUYASHA THE FINAL ACT anime is rated ‘T” teens.

“INUYASHA is one of the longest running anime series in North America and we’re very proud to present the final episodes of this epic adventure to fans in the U.S. mere hours after episodes air in Japan,” says Ken Sasaki, Vice President Strategy & Business Development, VIZ Media. “Rumiko Takahashi created a classic with INUYASHA, and ShonenSunday.com/anime will be THE online destination where INUYASHA fans can watch all 167 previously available episodes, as well as follow the newest episodes from INUYASHA THE FINAL ACT!”
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Korean Killer Wild Boar Movie Takes a Bite out of European and Asian Territories
Author: Kim Song-ho and Keith Aiken
Source: Finecut Co., Ltd., Ascot Elite Home Entertainment
Official Movie Site: CHAW
Special Thanks to Lim Ji-yoon

Cover art for the upcoming German Blu-ray disc of CHAW.
© 2009 Polygon Entertainment LLC/Soo Jack Films

On September 11, the South Korean international film sales company Finecut Co., Ltd. announced that their new monster movie CHAW had been picked up for release in the UK. Finecut had signed the agreement with British distributor Optimum Releasing during the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. Finecut also held a private screening of CHAW at the event.

Released in Korea on July 15, CHAW is the tale of various oddball characters who have gathered to hunt down a giant, man-eating wild boar. The film mixes both horror and comedy, and was written and directed by Shin Jeong-won, a former music video producer and art director who had made a successful debut with his first feature TO CATCH A VIRGIN GHOST (Sisily 2km) in 2004. The movie recorded approximately 1.8 million admissions during its domestic theatrical run.

The UK deal marks the latest international sale for CHAW, which had already been picked up for release in Germany, Australia, India, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, Brunei, Austria, Vietnam, Indonesia, Switzerland, and Thailand.
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Ed Godziszewski and Steve Ryfle have provided DVD audio commentaries and other supplemental features for several Toho science fiction films.
Top row: Credits for the 2006 DVDs of GODZILLA from the British Film Institute and MOTHRA VS GODZILLA from Classic Media.
Bottom row: BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE from Sony’s new DVD set ICONS OF SCI-FI: TOHO COLLECTION (2009), and the writing/producing
credit for Classic Media’s documentary BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE (2008). © 1954, 1959, 1964, 2008 Toho Co., Ltd.

Interview by: Richard Pusateri

Sharp-eyed fans of Japanese monster and science fiction films may have noticed the decidedly non-Japanese names Ed Godziszewski and Steve Ryfle repeatedly popping up in the credits of Toho DVDs, materials for theatrical screenings and releases, and various Godzilla-themed events over the past few years.

Following the release of Sony’s ICONS OF SCI-FI: TOHO COLLECTION, Steve and Ed spoke with their old friend Richard Pusateri about their work on the new DVD set and other Godzilla/Toho projects.
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Poster for the rare 70mm showings of FINAL YAMATO in
Tokyo and Osaka. ©1983 Tohokushinsha Film Corp.

SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, Part 8
Author: Tim Eldred, Starblazers.com and Greasemonkeybook.com

Though unexpected turbulence brought the YAMATO III TV series to a close much sooner than expected, executive producer Yoshinobu Nishizaki wasn’t ready to give up on SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO yet. He knew from hard experience there was always a way to bounce back from near-defeat, and said so loud and clear in a text roll at the end of YAMATO III’s final episode:

Although the story of YAMATO III has ended, Yamato will continue to battle for peace. From the time YAMATO was created, next year will be the tenth year. The last production will commemorate YAMATO’s story over these 10 years. Please look forward with hopeful expectation to the summer of 1982. Farewell for now.

It was April 1981, and the seeds were quickly planted for one last adventure when Nishizaki called his writers together and gave them a mission plan. Toei Pictures was willing to back a new feature film for the following summer, and it was up to conclude the saga in the grandest possible fashion.
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The “Masked Rider Decade” Limited Edition Blackbird Fly Twin Lens Reflex Camera comes with a custom leather camera strap and film holder.
Photo courtesy of Freestyle Photographic Supplies. © 2009 PowerShovel, Ltd. Masked Rider Decade © 2009 Ishimori Production, Inc., TV Asahi, ADK, Toei
Company Ltd.

Now Available in the United States
Source: Freestyle Photographic Supplies
Special Thanks to Michael Tullberg

Good guys wear pink: Masked Rider Decade. © 2009 Ishimori Production, Inc., TV
Asahi, ADK, Toei Company Ltd.

Last year, the Tokyo-based camera design, production, and distribution company PowerShovel, Ltd. introduced the Blackbird Fly, a new Twin-Reflex 35mm Plastic Camera made in several different colors. The highly anticipated Blackbird Fly has received glowing reviews from camera and photography aficionados worldwide, and the model has been a strong seller for PowerShovel.

In 2009, the Blackbird Fly received some unexpected and highly visible publicity from MASKED RIDER DECADE (Kamen Raidaa Dikeido), the 19th television series is the popular “Kamen Rider” franchise. Premiering this past January 25 on TV Asahi, the show stars Masahiro Inoue as Kamen Rider Decade’s alter ego, Tsukasa Kadoya. Tsukasa suffers from amnesia and tries to hold onto the world around him by photographing it with his camera of choice… a pink Blackbird Fly.

The camera was featured in many episodes and during the opening credits of MASKED RIDER DECADE. The resulting attention— and consumer interest— convinced PowerShovel to make a Limited Edition production run of a Blackbird Fly inspired by the show. From the “Masked Rider Decade” Blackbird Fly production run, only 50 units will be sold outside of Japan, with Freestyle Photo Supplies in Hollywood, CA the exclusive retailer for this camera in the United States.
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DVD cover art for the newest releases from Sentai Filmworks. ZOMBIE HUNTER RIKA © 2008 GP Museum Soft. LEGENDS OF THE DARK KING: A FIST
OF THE NORTH STAR STORY © 2008 Satelight Inc. Photos courtesy of Section23 Films.

Source: Section23 Films press release
Special Thanks to Chris Oarr

Distributor Section23 Films has released two new DVD titles; Switchblade Pictures’ live action splatter film ZOMBIE HUNTER RIKA (Saikyo Heiki Joshikousei Rika, 2008) and Sentai Filmworks’ anime series collection LEGENDS OF THE DARK KING: A FIST OF THE NORTH STAR STORY (Ten no Hao Hokuto no Ken Rao Gaiden, 2008).
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3-Disc Set Features 13 Episodes of the Animated Shojo Series
Source: VIZ Media press release
Official Site: honeyandclover
Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen

DVD cover art for HONEY AND CLOVER Box 1. Photo courtesy
of VIZ Media. ©2009 Chica Umino/Shueisha- Honey and Clover
Committee

VIZ Media, LLC will release the first Uncut DVD Box Set for the animated Shojo title, HONEY AND CLOVER, on September 22, 2009. The 3-disc set featuring 13 episodes will be rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and will carry an MSRP of $59.90 U.S. / $85.99 CAN.

Based on the popular manga series created by Chica Umino, HONEY AND CLOVER is a romantic comedy about a group of art school students who try to find their way through college. But when an innocent and talented 19-year-old girl enters their lives, things get a lot more complicated as love triangles result.

What do you get when you cross creativity with self-discovery and unrequited love? Art school! Yuta Takemoto has no idea what’s in store for his life when he enrolls at a Tokyo art college, but he finds out right away it’ll never be dull! Love triangles form as fast as friendships when both Takemoto and senior classmate Shinobu Morita fall hard for shy artistic prodigy Hagumi Hanamoto. And while architecture student Takumi Mayama secretly pines for an older woman, dazzling ceramicist Ayu Yamada pines for him! Confused yet? Welcome to the bittersweet world of HONEY AND CLOVER.
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X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE is now available on DVD in both a single-disc edition (left) and a 2-Disc Special Edition. Photos courtesy of Fox Home Entertainment.
© 2009 20th Century Fox Film Corporation and Dune Entertainment III LLC.

Author: Keith Aiken
Source: Fox Home Entertainment, Click Communications, Bender/Helper Impact
Special Thanks to Scott Neumyer

Half-brothers Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and Sabretooth (Liev Schreiber) have
an intense sibling rivalry. Photo courtesy of Fox Home Entertainment. © 2009
20th Century Fox Film Corporation and Dune Entertainment III LLC.

Experience the very first chapter of the exciting X-Men saga through the eyes of a true Marvel legend with X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, an epic adventure that pits Wolverine and all mutants against powerful forces determined to eliminate them. Spanning over 150 years, X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE chronicles Logan’s tortured past… from conflicts with his half brother Victor Creed – aka Sabretooth, his membership in Team X, his infamous adamantium rebirth and the total memory loss that ultimately fuels his angry quest.

On September 15th, Fox Home Entertainment released the box office hit X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE on DVD and Blu-ray. The film is the fourth in the X-MEN movie series based on Marvel Comics’ hugely popular comic book franchise, and the first is a planned series of films detailing the backstories for various X-Men characters.
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Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith

Slipcase art for BLACK LAGOON COMPLETE BOX
SET. © 2006 Rei Hiroe, Shogakukan/ Black Lagoon
Project.

FUNimation has four new DVD collections of popular anime series scheduled for the last two weeks of September.

Read on for a preview of cover art and specs for NABARI: THE COMPLETE SERIES PART 1, BLACK LAGOON COMPLETE BOX SET, BIG WINDUP! OOFURI PART 2, and HEAT GUY J: COMPLETE SERIES BOX.
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Source: VIZ Media press release
Official Site: honeyandclover
Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen

Cover art for the first POKÉMON Poster Collection. Photo
courtesy of VIZ Media. ©2009 Pokémon. ©1997-2009
Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK, TV Tokyo, Shopro, JR
Kikaku

VIZ Media, LLC will delight young as well as adult fans with the release of the company’s first POKÉMON Poster Collection today! The POKÉMON “posterzine” is rated ‘A’ for All Ages and carries an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $9.99 CAN.

Packed with 11 full color fold-out posters, this large (16” x 22”) edition is a must-have for any fan of Pikachu and his friends. A variety of favorite characters from the POKÉMON DIAMOND AND PEARL animation seasons, from Pikachu and Piplup to Chimchar and Turtwig, are all featured.

“POKÉMON is a timeless favorite that continues to delight multiple generations of fans with its mix of adventure, unique and loveable characters, and a positive storyline,” says Gonzalo Ferreyra, Vice President Sales & Marketing, VIZ Media “Our POKÉMON Poster Collection will be available exclusively at participating newsstands, major bookstores, discount, and video stores and adds a fun and decorative component to customize any fan’s personal space.”

VIZ Media’s five 2007 POKÉMON releases have sold more than 635,000 units since March 2009.

1998 American Remake Coming to Blu-ray High Def in US and UK
Source: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Hollywood in Hi-Def
Special Thanks to Scott Hettrick

Cover art for the new GODZILLA Blu-ray. Photo courtesy of Sony
Pictures Home Ent. © 1998 Toho Co., Ltd./TriStar Pictures, Inc.

On November 10, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment brings their 1998 remake of GODZILLA from TriStar Pictures to Blu-ray Disc for the SRP of $24.95. A UK release is currently scheduled for November 3 with a retail price of £19.99.

Blu-ray special features included movieIQ, a multiplayer trivia game and cinechat. Godzilla fans have the opportunity to test their skills against other experts via the BD-Live enabled multiplayer trivia game. Godzilla first-timers can get up to speed quickly by accessing movieIQ which will provide them with information on the production and players involved with the film. And all can share their knowledge, new or time-tested, with viewers around the globe with cinechat.

Additional features include an audio commentary, a music video, cartoon episodes, and featurettes from Sony’s earlier DVD releases of GODZILLA. There is also a sneak peak at GODZILLA director Roland Emmerich’s highly anticipated disaster film 2012.
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Catch the rarely seen GOKE, BODYSNATCHER FROM HELL and HOUSE on the big screen this month in Hollywood!
GOKE, BODYSNATCHER FROM HELL © 1968 Shochiku Co., Ltd. HOUSE © 1977 Toho Co., Ltd.

Horror Double Feature in Hollywood on September 23
Source: American Cinematheque
Special Thanks to Chris D and Kevin Pyrtle

On September 23, the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, CA presents two rarely seen Japanese horror cult classics; Toho’s 1977 fantasy masterpiece HOUSE (Hausu) and Shochiku’s 1968 sci-fi terror GOKE, BODYSNATCHER FROM HELL (Kyuketski Gokemidoro). Neither film is available on R1 DVD, and both will be shown in their original Japanese language with English subtitles.

The screenings are preceded by a booksigning at 6:30 PM with author Chris Desjardins and his re-released book Outlaw Masters of Japanese Film, a detailed look at Japanese cult, action and exploitation cinema from the early 1950s to the present day.

The Egyptian Theatre is located at 6712 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood CA 90028. Ticket prices to the theater are $10.00 general, $8.00 students and seniors, and $7.00 for American Cinematheque members.
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