Source: The Associates press release
Special Thanks to Farhana Shaikh

Cover art for the UK Blu-ray of BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE. Photo
courtesy of The Associates. © 2000 Production I.G/ANX · SCEI · IPA

The first fully digitally animated anime feature to come out of Japan, BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE (2000) is considered a landmark in the history of digital animation. Now this seminal anime feature comes to Blu-ray in the UK, presented in a brand new high definition version that brings fresh life to this must-see work.

Produced by Production I.G. (GHOST IN THE SHELL, KILL BILL VOl. 1, THE SKY CRAWLERS), written by Kenji Kamiyama (GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX) and directed by Hiroyuki Kitakubo (who oversaw the movie sequences in the GHOST IN THE SHELL video game) BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE is a mature, supernatural action-thriller, and one that has recently served as the inspiration for a live-action adaptation directed by Chris Nahon (KISS OF THE DRAGON).

BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE (cert. 15) will be released on Blu-ray (£24.99) by Manga Entertainment UK on 2nd November 2009. Special Features include: the original standard definition version of the feature; The Making of Blood: The Last Vampire featurette; trailer; DTS HD and 2.0 stereo audio options. Running time is 48 minutes.
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Source: Warner Home Video
Official Movie Site: 20thboysfilms.com (US), 20th Boys (Japanese)

DVD cover art for the North American release of 20TH
CENTURY BOYS 1: BEGINNING OF THE END. Photo courtesy
of Warner Home Video. © 1999, 2006 Naoki Urasawa,
Studio Nuts /Shogakukan © 2008 “20th Century Boys”
Film Partners

The popular 20TH CENTURY BOYS (20-Seki Shonen) live-action movies trilogy will be coming to Region 1 DVD from VIZ Pictures and VIZ Media starting this December. 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 three pictures were filmed together by a partnership of the Nippon Television Network, Shogakukan, Toho Co., VAP, Yomiuri Television, Dentsu, Yomiuri Shimbun, Cine Bazaar, Office Crescendo, and d-rights. Produced at a combined budget of 6 billion yen (approximately $60 million US), 20th CENTURY BOYS is the most expensive film project in Japanese history. The first 20th CENTURY BOYS was released in Japan by Toho on August 30, 2008 and quickly shot to the top of the box office. NTV handles world sales for the trilogy and have sold distribution rights in more than two dozen countries.

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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L has 23 Days to Live, and 22 Days to Save the World in New Novel
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Official Site: Deathnote.viz.com
Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen

The novel Death Note: L, change the WorLd features cover
art by original manga artist Takeshi Obata. Photo courtesy
of VIZ Media. © 2007 M/ L Plot Produce

VIZ Media, LLC expands the thrilling psychological suspense of DEATH NOTE with the release of Death Note: L, change the WorLd, a new novel featuring the master detective from the hit animated, film and manga series. Death Note: L, change the WorLd is available now from Shonen Jump Fiction and carries an MSRP of $17.99 U.S. / $24.00 CAN.

In an alternative continuity in the DEATH NOTE setting, ace detective L’s name has been placed in a Death Note. He has twenty-three days to bring a terrorist group to justice, or they will use a deadly new virus to change the world…by killing off most of humanity.

Death Note: L, change the WorLd features the same format as the original Japanese printing with a hardcover and clear acetate jacket with metallic ink. The cover art is by Takeshi Obata, the artist of the Death Note manga series. Death Note is one of VIZ Media’s top 5 bestselling properties, with over 1 million copies of the manga sold in the U.S. The character of L is extremely popular with fans and has inspired various products such as apparel and stationery as well as spinoff novels and three live action DEATH NOTE films (available from VIZ Pictures).
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The Killer Mutant Boar Continues the Hunt Next Month on Home Video
Author: Kim Song-ho
Source: OZ DVD, Madmad
Official Movie Site: CHAW

Cover art for the Korean Region 3 DVD of CHAW. © 2009
Polygon Entertainment LLC/Soo Jack Films

On November 4, the Korean killer wild boar movie CHAW will be released on DVD in its native country. Along with the movie itself, the 2-disc edition will feature a variety of added materials such as a director and cast audio commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes, Korean theatrical premiere footage, poster gallery, and trailers.

The DVD will also include English subtitles.

Previously, the German company Ascot Elite Home Entertainment announced the Blu-ray release of of CHAW, due in that country on December 10. No news of a Korean Blu-ray (or an American) release has been announced.
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New Movie Plays Fast and Loose with History, But Still Packs a Punch!
Author: Bob Johnson
Official Movie Site: Astro Boy

Preview Poster for ASTRO BOY, in theaters now. ©2009
Imagi Crystal Ltd and Summit Entertainment, LLC.

Astro Boy (known as Tetsuwan Atom, or Mighty Atom, in Japan) made his big screen debut this weekend in the US with Imagi’s new CGI adventure. The robot boy with rockets in his loafers is treated with respect, however the story and subplots come across as a bit rushed and things happen a little too fast.

In this version Metro City is a flying island in the clouds above the Earth, where the wealthy live and are served by a robotic populace. Below on Earth, civilians live in a robotic junkyard where used up scraps of obsolete robots are discarded from the floating upper class.

Dr. Tenma helps a power-mad politician President Stone to create a “Peace Keeper” robot using powerful rocks from space that provide the ultimate energy source. The blue stone is “Positive energy” and the red stone is “Negative energy”. Positive is good, peaceful and acquiescent. Red is bad, evil and uncontrollable. Wanting an ultimately powerful robot to wage war on the “surface dwellers” and earning himself re-election in a time of war (draw your own parallels), President Stone orders that the red energy be used in the robot, against the protests of both Dr. Tenma and Dr. Elephun (who originally discovered the two stones when they fell to Earth).
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Twenty-one Films, Six Cities
Source: Japan Foundation, Sydney
Official Site: japanesefilmfestival.net
Special Thanks to Evon Fung

The 13th annual Japanese Film Festival begins November 24
in Sydney, Australia. © 2009 The Japan Foundation, Sydney

This year, the 13th annual Japanese Film Festival will be delivering another fantastic line-up of Japanese cinema to fans in Australia. The event begins November 24th at Event Cinemas George Street, Sydney, and December 3rd at ACMI Cinemas, Melbourne, and will also include screenings in Brisbane, Hobart, and Canberra.

Among the many movies being shown are THE CHEF OF THE SOUTH POLE, OPPAI VOLLEYBALL, K-20: LEGEND OF THE MASK, PANDEMIC, SUMMER DAYS WITH COO, THE CHERRY TREE IN THE HILLS, GRAVITY’S CLOWNS, KAMOGAWA HORUMO- BATTLE LEAGUE IN TOKYO, PENGUINS IN THE SKY: ASAHIYAMA ZOO, THE HANDSOME SUIT, ALL AROUND US, DETROIT METAL CITY, and GOEMON.
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Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen

Slipcase art for NAOKI URASAWA’S MONSTER Box Set 1.
Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2004 Naoki Urasawa,
Studio Nuts/ Shogakukan, VAP, NTV

VIZ Media, LLC has announced their list of DVD titles scheduled for release in the final two months of 2009. This includes the first NARUTO SHIPPUDEN MOVIE, the first box set of NAOKI URASAWA’S MONSTER, the next box set installments of HUNTER X HUNTER, NANA, and HONEY AND CLOVER, as well as the latest volumes of the popular BLEACH, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN and POKÉMON series.

Also releasing is the live action feature film 20TH CENTURY BOYS: BEGINNING OF THE END 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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Civilians flee as the tsunami hits Busan’s Gwangan Grand Bridge. Photo courtesy of CJ Entertainment. © 2009 JK Film / CJ Entertainment

Korean Government and Movie Industry Deal with Film Piracy
Author: Kim Song-ho
Source: Various Korean news sites and official press releases
Official Movie Site: HAEUNDAE

HAEUNDAE, the first full-scale disaster movie of Korea, opened on July 22 at 546 screens across the country and became an instant blockbuster. Currently, the largest-grossing Korean movie of all time is Bong Joon-ho’s 2006 monster movie THE HOST (Gwoemul) which attracted 13.01 million admissions. HAEUNDAE swept away 5 million admissions after just 13 days of release and crossed the 10 million mark after one month. As of October 22, HAEUNDAE is still in release and has accumulated admissions of 11.39 million. That puts the movie at first place in the 2009 Korean box office and fourth place on the domestic all-time list.

On August 29, as the movie was swallowing up the Korean cinemas like a tsunami itself, Korean news sites reported that a high-quality, full-length HAEUNDAE movie file had been leaked online. It was a big shock to everyone involved with the movie. The production company JK Film and distributor/co-investor CJ Entertainment stated that both companies would seek out the persons or organization that initially circulated the file and demand the authorities pursue all necessary legal action.
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New York-Tokyo presents the North American premiere of Kazuaki Kiriya’s new movie GOEMON next month in NYC. © 2009 “Goemon” Film Partners.

Screening at the ImaginAsian Theater on November 4th
Source: New York-Tokyo press release
Official Movie Site: Goemon (Japan)

The media company New York-Tokyo continues their “Nippon Eiga Series” with the North American premiere of GOEMON at the ImaginAsian Theater in New York City on November 4th. GOEMON is about the “Japanese Robin Hood” who tangles himself in a brutal warfare amongst the warlords, honor and love. This highly stylized film is directed by visionary director, Kazuaki Kiriya (CASSHERN).
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Advertisement for the VIZ Cinema screenings of BATTLE LEAGUE HORUMO. Photo courtesy of VIZ Pictures. © 2009 Kamogawa Horumo Film Partners

NEW PEOPLE Yokai Event Celebrates the Halloween spirit Japanese style!
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Official Site: NewPeopleWorld.com
Special Thanks to Erik Jansen

Kitaro and his yokai friends appear in promotional art
for the free “Yokai University San Francisco Campus”
exhibit starting this week at NEW PEOPLE. Photo
courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2009 VIZ Media, LLC

Did you know that the Japanese yokai (immortal spirits) are attending their fall semester in San Francisco?

NEW PEOPLE, the new pop culture center in San Francisco’s Japantown, delivers Halloween— Japanese style— as it opens “Yokai University: San Francisco Campus”, a fun and spooky free exhibition of demons, monsters and other creepy creatures running October 23rd through November 6th at the VIZ Cinema lobby. The event will feature yokai related books, art prints and other media, including Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock prints by master artist Hokusai Katsushika, and artwork by yokai manga pioneer Shigeru Mizuki, creator of the popular series GeGeGe No Kitaro.

To complement the exhibit, VIZ Cinema will host a special premiere of the new yokai combat action-comedy film BATTLE LEAGUE HORUMO (Kamogawa Horumo, 2009).

As part of the two week celebration, NEW PEOPLE invites the public to an informative free yokai lecture by Tokyo-based writer Matt Alt, who chronicled Japan’s long love affair with monsters and spirits in Yokai Attack!: The Japanese Monster Survival Guide, the first-ever English language yokai guidebook. Matt Alt gives history and insights on its culture on Saturday, October 31st from 1:00 – 2:30pm at VIZ Cinema. His book and a special collection of yokai themed products will also be available for purchase.
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Madman Entertainment in Australia will release three Region 4/PAL DVD collections of Toho’s Godzilla movies on October 21.
Photos courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2009 Toho Co., Ltd.

Region 4 Collections Coming this Week
Source: Madman Entertainment

On October 21st, Eastern Eye— the Asian theatrical and home video division of Australian distributor Madman Entertainment— will release three DVD collections of classic Godzilla films.

The sets collect seventeen Godzilla movies that had been released individually on DVD by Madman from 2004-2007. With the exception of the new packaging, the new DVDs are identical in terms of content to the previous releases, including special features such as original Japanese theatrical trailers, photo galleries, trivia, concept art, and poster galleries.

Each box set will be Region 4 and PAL format, and retail for $49.95 AUD.
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Source: Asian Film Festival of Dallas
Special Thanks to Mike Keller

Celebrate Halloween early with the Asian Film Festival of
Dallas’ Asian Horror Double Header. Photo courtesy of AFFD.

In conjunction with Texas Frightmare Weekend, the Asian Film Festival of Dallas is holding a membership drive on October 24 at the Studio Movie Grill-Addison (5405 Beltline Rd. Dallas, TX, 75248). Scary movie fans are invited to celebrate Halloween early with a double feature of two excellent, spectacular, gory, fun Asian horror flicks, and participate in AFFD’s Costume Contest. Come dressed as your favorite Asian horror character. There will be a Prize for Best Costume plus lots of other door prizes.

9:30PM- MACABRE (Rumah Dara, 2009): A high-spirited road trip is interrupted when a group of friends pick up Dara (Shareefa Daanish), a girl who has just been robbed and offer to take her home to a mysterious house in the deep woods. No good deed goes unpunished, to the tune of severed limbs, decapitations, and several flavors of graphic mayhem.

11:30PM- VAMPIRE GIRL VS. FRANKENSTEIN GIRL (Kyuketsu Shojo tai Shojo Furanken, 2008): Two girls (Eri Otoguro and Yukie Kawamura), one boy (Takumi Saito), a mad scientist lab, and blood-laced sweet treats – high school love triangles go berzerk in this body-modified, gore-spouting, self-mutilating, seriously un-PC romp from Yoshihiro Nishimura, the director of TOKYO GORE POLICE.
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Auntie (Yoko Minamida, right) needs the blood of virgins to give her eternal life in HOUSE, a very weird haunted house story by filmmaker Nobuhiko Obayashi.
Photo courtesy of NYAFF. © 1977 Toho Co., Ltd.

Source: Janus Films
Official Movie Site: janusfilms.com/house

On July 30, 1977, Toho Co. Ltd released HOUSE (Hausu), a bizarre horror film written and directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi. Mixing scares, comedy, and psychedelic imagery— and based on an idea by the director’s 11 year-old daughter— HOUSE told the tale of seven high school girls who are trapped inside a haunted house with a bloodthirsty aunt, a demonic black cat, and killer pianos, mattresses, and chandeliers.
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Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith

Cover art for BLASSREITER, THE COMPLETE SERIES:
PART 1. © 2008 Gonzo, Nitroplus/Blassreiter Project

During the last half of October, FUNimation Entertainment will release four Region 1 DVD collections of popular anime series for fans in North America. Read on for series descriptions, DVD specs, and a look at cover art for:

BLASSREITER, THE COMPLETE SERIES: PART 1 (12 episodes)
COMIC PARTY REVOLUTION: THE COMPLETE SERIES (13 episodes)
SHONEN ONMYOUJI: THE COMPLETE SERIES (26 episodes)
CLAYMORE: THE COMPLETE SERIES (26 episodes)
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Source: 4Digital Media, The Associates press releases
Official Movie Site: cyborg.gaga.ne.jp (Japan)
Special Thanks to Farhana Shaikh

UK DVD cover art for CYBORG SHE. Photo courtesy of
The Associates. © 2008 Cyborg She Film Partners.

Have you ever imagined what THE TERMINATOR would have been like had it been a romantic comedy in the vein of SERENDIPITY? Well, now you don’t have to because that’s pretty much what writer-director Kwak Jae-young (director of the smash hit Korean comedy, MY SASSY GIRL) delivers with CYBORG SHE (Boku no Kanojo wa Saibogu, 2008), a touching and lighthearted sci-fi love story about a lonely young man and his female cyborg from the future.

Jiro Kitamura (Keisuke Koide) is a teenage student living in Tokyo who each year celebrates his birthday alone, buying himself a gift and dining on the same meal at the same restaurant. Shopping in a department store on the evening of his 20th birthday, Jiro witnesses an attractive young girl (Haruka Ayase) trying on a new outfit and leaving the store without paying. Later, as he sits down for dinner, the mysterious girl shows up at the restaurant and announces that it’s her birthday too. They spend the rest of the evening together, but at the end of what proves to be Jiro’s best birthday ever the girl disappears.

Exactly one year later, the girl reappears and joins Jiro for his annual birthday meal. When a crazed customer unleashes a torrent of gunfire on the restaurant, it is only the actions of his pretty companion that save Jiro from the hail of bullets. His savior then reveals the shocking truth about her existence— she is, in fact, a cyborg built by Jiro’s elderly future self and sent back to the present to prevent him from being crippled by the gunman.
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Live Action Movie Based on Hit Anime Streets October 20
Source: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Official Movie Site: Blood The Last Vampire

DVD cover art for BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE.
Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Ent. © 2009
East Wing Holdings Corp. and SAJ.

From a producer of HERO and CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON comes BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE, based on the cult hit anime. Demons have infested Earth, and only one warrior stands between the dark and the light: Saya, a half-human, half-vampire samurai who preys on those who feast on human blood. Joining forces with the shadowy society known as the Council, Saya is dispatched to an American military base, where an intense series of swordfights leads her to the deadliest vampire of all.

Now after 400 years, Saya’s greatest hunt is about to begin. She’s here… and there will be blood.

Following a US theatrical run this past summer from Samuel Goldwyn Films, director Chris Nahon’s (KISS OF THE DRAGON) martial arts horror thriller BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE will be released on DVD and Blu-ray this month by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
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Boys Over Flowers: Jewelry Box Concludes Acclaimed Shojo Manga Series with Two Short Stories
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen

Cover art for Boys Over Flowers: Jewelry Box. Photo
courtesy of VIZ Media. © 1992 Yoko Kamio/Shueisha, Inc.

Fans of shojo (girls) manga can look forward to VIZ Media’s release of Boys Over Flowers: Jewelry Box on October 13th. The new volume is rated ‘T’ for Teens and will carry a MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

Boys Over Flowers: Jewelry Box is a collection of two new short stories by Yoko Kamio, the creator of the acclaimed Boys Over Flowers (Hana Yori Dango) series. The new epilogue takes place one year after the end of the original Boys Over Flowers story, which concluded with Volume 36. It also contains a section with some of the important events in the series that show the characters maturing, plus a special bonus strip.

“Yoko Kamio, one of the most beloved shojo manga creators of all time, just couldn’t stay away from some of her favorite characters and we’re proud to announce the publication of Boys Over Flowers: Jewelry Box,” says Candice Uyloan, Product Marketing Director, VIZ Media “This volume serves as a fitting conclusion to a series that helped to establish the shojo manga genre in the U.S. and fans won’t want to miss this chance to get reacquainted with main character Tsukushi.”
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Premieres October 14 from IFC Films
Source: IFC Entertainment, Mirovision Inc.
Official Movie Site: ifcfilms.com/deathbell (US)

The South Korean horror hit DEATH BELL (Gosa: Piui Junggangosa, 2008) will makes its US debut on October 14 via IFC Films’ On Demand service.

On a Saturday, 170 days before college entrance exams, a special class for 20 top students is held at school. But in the middle of class, “For Elise” rings from the speaker and the TV in classroom shows the top student Hye-young trapped in the water rising tank, screaming and struggling to breathe. And an unidentified voice asks the answer to a mid-term exam question that will cost Hye-young’s life. Nowhere to run, and only 20 students and 3 teachers are in school. The bloody exams start once again for them…
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The brand-new VIZ Cinema gives San Franciscans an opportunity to see first-run Japanese films. Photos by Loren Portillo

Old Meets New as San Francisco’s Japantown Gets a Fresh Look for the 21st Century
Author: Loren Portillo
Source: VIZ Media
Official Site: NewPeopleWorld.com

VIZ’s NEW PEOPLE complex recently opened in San
Francisco’s Japantown. Photo by Loren Portillo

With San Francisco’s Japantown passing it’s 100th year milestone in 2006, many have been complaining that the area is falling into disrepair and not up to date with modern times. I remember as a kid in the 1970′s pestering my Dad in taking me down to Japantown in a quest for anything Godzilla related. The small J-town mall and Kinokuniya bookstore still remain and are frozen in time, the same way they were back then. I guess that is nostalgic for some, but for the young mallrats and the iPod generation it is considered prehistoric and in desperate need of a makeover.

That makeover has arrived with the new VIZ Cinema located at the recently opened ”NEW PEOPLE” building on Post St. The 143 seat underground theater boasts a state-of-the- art THX sound system and is equipped with a HD digital projection system. The cinema’s main focus is to bring the latest and hottest films directly from Japan, along with documentaries, anime, old school classics and filmmakers from the land of the rising sun. This makes this venue unique, because it is the only one in the United States that gives you this experience every day!

But VIZ Cinema was just a small offering from the NEW PEOPLE building… they have 3 floors with all kinds of great Japanese goodies.
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The traveling salesman Tora-san (Kiyoshi Atsumi) back on the road and telling fortunes in TORA-SAN’S GRAND SCHEME, one of four early TORA-SAN
movies featured in AnimEigo’s new DVD box set. Photo courtesy of AnimEigo, Inc. © 1970 Shochiku Co., Ltd.

DVD Box Set of First Four Films Arrives November 10
Source: AnimEigo, Inc., Shochiku Co., Ltd.
Special Thanks to Stuart Galbraith IV, Aaron Cavazos, and Steve Ryfle

Cover art for AnimEigo’s new TORA-SAN COLLECTOR’S SET:
VOL. 1. Photo courtesy of AnimEigo, Inc. © 1969-1970
Shochiku Co., Ltd.

The hugely popular TORA-SAN (Otoko wa Tsuraiyo, lit. “It’s Tough Being a Man”) series is finally coming to North America in a special 4-film DVD box set from AnimEigo. Featuring Kiyoshi Atsumi as the beloved loser Torajiro Kuruma, the 48-movie TORA-SAN is Japan’s longest running motion picture series and holds the Guinness Book World Record as the longest film series starring the same actor.

Now AnimEigo is releasing the TORA-SAN COLLECTOR’S SET: VOL. 1, a Region 1 DVD collection of the first four TORA-SAN films: IT’S TOUGH BEING A MAN (Otoko wa Tsuraiyo), TORA-SAN’S CHERISHED MOTHER (Zoku Otoko wa Tsuraiyo), TORA-SAN, HIS TENDER LOVE (Otoko wa Tsuraiyo: Fuuten no Tora) and TORA-SAN’S GRAND SCHEME (Shin Otoko wa Tsuraiyo).

Exclusive extra features include an audio commentary by film historian and reviewer Stuart Galbraith IV (Monsters Are Attacking Tokyo, Taschen’s new Japanese Cinema) on IT’S TOUGH BEING A MAN; interactive maps, trailers, cast bios, and image galleries; a 28-page booklet with essays by Galbraith, acclaimed Japanese observer Donald Richie, film programmer and Japanese film distributor Michael Jeck, Los Angeles Times film critic Kevin Thomas, and Japanese cinema historian Alexander Jacoby. Also included are program notes and a remembrance by writer/director Yoji Yamada.
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