On July 31st, the Plaza Theatre in Atlanta will screen a rare 35mm print of GODZILLA ON MONSTER ISLAND, the original US version of GODZILLA VS GIGAN.
Photo courtesy of VIZ Pictures. © 1972 Toho Co., Ltd.

Rare 35mm Showing of the Original US Version of GODZILLA VS GIGAN
Source: Timothy Price, Plaza Theatre

The Silver Scream Spookshow poster art for GODZILLA
ON MONSTER ISLAND. © 1972 Toho Co., Ltd. Ad art
© 2010 Silver Scream Spook Show

Godzilla returns to the Plaza Theatre in Atlanta, GA as part of the next Silver Scream Spookshow on July 31st. The Spookshows are a monthly event at the Plaza that combines a 30 minute live stage show (with magic tricks, dancing girls, jokes, spectacle and frights) and a 35mm screening of a classic monster or horror movie. Previous Spookshows have screened such favorites as KING KONG, MOTHRA, BRIDE OF THE MONSTER, IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA, GODZILLA VS THE SEA MONSTER, INFRA-MAN, RODAN, and GMK.

July’s screening will give Godzilla fans are rare opportunity to see the 1972 film GODZILLA VS. GIGAN as GODZILLA ON MONSTER ISLAND, the title with which it was originally released in the United States.

The 1:00pm Kids Matinee of GODZILLA ON MONSTER ISLAND has free admission for everyone 12 and under, with Adult tickets for $7.00. Tickets to the 10:00pm evening show are $10.00 each.

Plaza Theatre is located at 1049 Ponce De Leon Ave, Atlanta, GA 30306. Check the theater’s official site or call 404-873-1939 for more information.
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DVD and Blu-ray cover art for The Criterion Collection’s upcoming release of director Nobuhiko Obayashi’s cult classic horror film HOUSE.
Photo courtesy of Image Entertainment. © 1977 Toho Co., Ltd.

Source: Image Entertainment
Official Movie Site: janusfilms.com/house, criterion.com/house
Special Thanks to Marsha Altmark

The Criterion Collection is proud to present Toho’s stunningly bizarre horror movie HOUSE (Hausu, 1977) on Region 1 DVD and Blu-ray. Directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi, this is a must have for any Japanese cult horror film fan.

HOUSE will be released on October 26th, 2010. Both the Criterion DVD and Blu-ray are now available for pre-order on Amazon.com.
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Gamera (literally) looks down on the disturbed young boy, Toshio (Yoshiro Uchida). © 1965 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.

The First Release From Shout! Factory’s Gamera DVD Series Will Please Fans
Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis
Official Site: Shout! Factory
Special Thanks to August Ragone and Cliff Macmillan

DVD cover art for GAMERA, THE GIANT MONSTER. Photo
courtesy of Shout! Factory. © 1965 Kadokawa Pictures,
Inc.

While Gamera’s popularity has never been quite on the level of Godzilla, the giant flying turtle has no doubt enjoyed his share of accolades in Japan and in the 1960’s was very much a competitor of Toho’s monster king. Gamera’s popularity was revived in the 1990’s with Shusuke Kaneko’s acclaimed Heisei trilogy of films. While most fans prefer that particular incarnation of the titan terrapin, many still look fondly upon the friendlier movies of yesteryear.

While most of the films in the classic Gamera series are geared towards children, GAMERA THE GIANT MONSTER (Daikaiju Gamera, 1965) is quite serious and depicts the title character as a menacing, deadly beast. In this first entry into the series, Gamera attacks Tokyo and kills countless citizens by trampling, crushing buildings, and incinerating them. Oddly, Gamera also rescues the main child character in the film from a fall to certain death (caused by the monster no less!). This leads to the child’s affection for the kaiju turtle; so much so that the social misfit completely ignores all the death and destruction caused by the fire-breathing beast!

Shout! Factory has acquired the rights to release all eight Showa-era Gamera films produced by Daiei from 1965-1980 and has begun to issue those classics on DVD with a deluxe treatment. If this first title is any indication, these discs will be incredibly done and should (hopefully) satisfy the giant turtle’s fans here in America.
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The alien hunters return with a few new tricks in PREDATORS, the latest sequel to the hit Arnold Schwarzenegger film.
© 2010 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Author: Kyle Byrd
Source: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Official Site: predators-movie.com

US theatrical poster for PREDATORS. Photo courtesy of
Twentieth Century Fox. © 2010 Twentieth Century Fox
Film Corporation

John McTiernan’s 1987 film PREDATOR was an original, fun film that blended the action, horror and sci-fi genres seamlessly and has gone on to be one of the most beloved (and quotable) genre films of the 1980s. Since then, Fox has been trying to figure out where to take the series next. What we’ve gotten since has been a below par sequel (PREDATOR 2) and two abominable ALIEN VS PREDATOR movies. With the backlash triggered by the AVP films, Fox has decided to take the ALIEN and PREDATOR franchises in other directions. With Ridley Scott working on two ALIEN prequels, Robert Rodriguez decided it was a good time to get a PREDATOR sequel off the ground.

Produced by Rodriguez and directed by Nimrod Antal (VACANCY, ARMORED), PREDATORS picks up after the first film, ignoring all the films that came afterwards. It follows a group of killers from different backgrounds (including Black Ops, Yakuza, snipers, etc.) that are captured and put on an alien game preserve planet to be hunted by the titular creatures.

Like PREDATOR, the story is about as simple as can be. Its basically PREDATOR meets THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME and there’s not much else to it. Apparently the film is based on an idea that Rodriguez had back in the 90s. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like he took all that time to develop it beyond its basic premise.
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Innocent wannabe pop musician Soichi Negishi (Kenichi Matsuyama) becomes the death metal star Johannes Krauser II in DETROIT METAL CITY, Toho’s live action
movie based on the international best-selling manga series. © 2008 Toho Co., Ltd. /Horipro Inc. / Hakusensha, Inc. /Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. / Dentsu Inc. /d-rings Inc. /Parco Co., Ltd. /SDP, Inc. /Tokyo FM Broadcasting Co., Ltd. /Yahoo Japan Corporation /Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Inc. /Tsutaya Group.

Source: VIZ Pictures, MediaLab press releases
Official Site: go-to-dmc (Japan), DMCtheMovie.com (US)
Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced that it has licensed from Toho Company, Ltd the North American theatrical and DVD distribution rights to the heavy metal live-action comedy, DETROIT METAL CITY. The DVD is scheduled for release later in the fall of this year.

DETROIT METAL CITY takes the zany rock antics inspired by films like THIS IS SPINAL TAP to hilarious new extremes in this film directed by Toshio Lee and based on the popular manga comic created by Kiminori Wakasugi. It features notable appearances by Gene Simmons from the legendary band, KISS, and Marty Friedman of Megadeth, and stars Kenichi Matsuyama, one of the most adored actors in Japan today and known widely for his role as ‘L’ in the DEATH NOTE films.
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The Ju-On curse celebrates its 10th anniversary with the new film THE GRUDGE: WHITE GHOST/BLACK GHOST, coming to Australian DVD from Madman.
Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2009 Toei Video Co., Ltd. /Cell

Source: Madman Entertainment
Special Thanks to Philippa Lamb

KAMUI. Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment.
© 2009 KAMUI Film Partners

The Australian distributor Madman Entertainment is releasing several anime and Asian live action titles on Region 4 DVD in August, 2010, including movies not yet available in North America.

The selection includes the latest JU-ON film THE GRUDGE: WHITE GHOST/BLACK GHOST; the third volume of IKKI TOUSEN DRAGON DESTINY SEASON 2; new collections of GURREN LAGANN, NANA, KURAU PHANTOM MEMORY, SOUL EATER and LINEBARRELS OF IRON; the ninja adventure KAMUI starring Kenichi Matsuyama; and the revamped DRAGON BALL Z KAI COLLECTION 1.

Read on for plot descriptions, DVD specs, cover art, and more.
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Disney/Pixar and Toho characters are the focus of the next two waves of figures in Kayodo’s Sci-Fi Revoltech line.
Mogera and Mothra © Toho Co., Ltd. Buzz Lightyear and Woody © Disney/Pixar. © 2010 Kaiyodo Co., Ltd.

The Latest Series Brings Two more Characters from Toho’s Tokusatsu Universe Plus an Exclusive
Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis
Official Site: kaiyodo.co.jp/revoltech

The Kaiyodo Company’s Sci-Fi Revoltech series continues to bring great, super-articulated figures of popular science fiction characters to the hands of collectors. Thus far, the only Toho character represented has been the monster Baragon from Wave 2. Thankfully, that will change on September 1st, as a figure based on Mothra (1961 style) will join Mogera (1957 style). The previous month sees Buzz Lightyear and Woody from the Disney/Pixar TOY STORY movies. Reportedly the Tyrannosaurus Rex from JURASSIC PARK, Jason Vorhees from the FRIDAY THE 13TH series, and a Type-1966 Maser Tank from WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS will follow in the next few months.
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Ban Daisuke, star of KIKAIDA, KIKAIDA-01, and INAZUMAN, will make a special appearance at Anime Jungle in Los Angeles next month.
Photo courtesy of Generation Kikaida. © 1972 Ishinomori Production Inc. and Toei Co., Ltd.

Autograph Sessions, Parade, Dinner, and More During Nisei Week Festival, August 14-15
Source: Anime Jungle, JN Productions and Generation Kikaida
Special Thanks to Tetsu Shiota, Yoichi K, and Joanne Ninomiya

Advertisement for the event. Photo courtesy of Anime Jungle.
© 1971 Ishinomori Production Inc. and Toei Co., Ltd.

Anime Jungle, purveyors of everything anime in Japantown is proud to present an autograph session with Mr. Ban Daisuke, star of KIKAIDA (Jinzo Ningen Kikaida, 1972), KIKAIDA 01 (1973), and INAZUMAN (1973) at the upcoming Nisei Week Festival in Los Angeles. KIKAIDA took the Hawaiian Islands by storm over 35 years ago, and still going strong in Hawaii and the mainland due to the successful English-subtitled version of the DVD Box Sets.

KIKAIDA, based on an original story by manga artist and writer Shotaro Ishinomori (Kamen Rider), was produced as a tokusatsu (live action) by Toei Movie Company for television in the mid-seventies. A classic good-versus evil tale, the show pitted a guitar-playing, denim-clad young biker named Jiro, played by actor Ban Daisuke, against the evil DARK, a shadowy criminal organization bent on wreaking havoc upon Japan and the world.
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Advertisement for the Blu-ray and Region 1 DVD of IP MAN, the international martial arts hit about the mentor of Bruce Lee.
Photo courtesy of Well Go USA. © 2008 Mandarin Films

The Critically-Acclaimed, International Martial Arts Phenomena Debuts on Blu-ray and DVD July 27
Source: Well Go USA, Inc. press release
Special Thanks to Chrissy Walker

The trio behind the cult hit KILL ZONE — director Wilson Yip, star Donnie Yen, and action choreographer Sammo Hung — reteam for the Hong Kong action smash IP MAN, debuting on Blu-ray and DVD July 27 from Well Go USA. Yen (HERO, SEVEN SWORDS), currently Hong Kong’s biggest action star and gaining international recognition as the most diverse martial artist in the world, stars with Simon Yam (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS, TOMB RAIDER) and Hiroyuki Ikeuchi (TAJOMARU, SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO) in the biopic based on the life of Ip Man, a grandmaster of the martial art Wing Chun and mentor to the widely influential and acclaimed martial artist and filmmaker Bruce Lee.
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DEATH NOTE’s Kenichi Matsuyama and Tatsuya Fujiwara reunite for the thriller KAIJI: THE ULTIMATE GAMBLER. Photo courtesy of 4Digital Media
and Organic Marketing. © 2009 “Kaiji” Film Partners

Hit Japanese Thriller Comes to DVD in the UK
Source: Organic Marketing
Official Movie Site: kaiji-movie.jp (Japan)
Special Thanks to Megan Han and Alexandra Beedell

Cover art for the UK DVD of KAIJI: THE ULTIMATE GAMBLER,
which goes on sale next week. Photo courtesy of 4Digital
Media and Organic Marketing. © 2009 “Kaiji” Film Partners

KAIJI: THE ULTIMATE GAMBLER (Kaiji: Jinsei Gyakuten Gemu, 2009) is based on Nobuyuki Fukumoto’s manga Ultimate Survivor Kaiji (Tobaku Mokushiroku Kaiji) and the 26 episode anime series by Madhouse Studios. The film stars Tatsuya Fujiwara (best known as “Light Yagami” in the DEATH NOTE films) as the titular character and features Kenichi Matuyama (“L”) in a key supporting role, marking the first time the two have appeared onscreen together since that hugely successful series.

A box office success in Japan (with a sequel planned for next year), KAIJI: THE ULTIMATE GAMBLER will be released on UK DVD (Region 2, PAL) by 4Digital Media on July 26th.

Kaiji Ito (Tatsuya Fujiwara) moves to Japan after graduating from high school. Unable to find a job and frustrated with society at large, Kaiji spends his days gambling, vandalising cars, and drinking. Two years later and his life is no better. A debt collector named Endo arrives to collect payment. She then offers two choices to Kaiji: spend 10 years paying off his loan or board a gambling boat for one night to repay his debt and possibly make a whole lot more. Meanwhile, the unscrupulous Endo is actually conning Kaiji, believing he won’t come back from his voyage. Kaiji is then up for the night of his life.
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Source: Section23 Films press release
Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff

PRINCESS RESURRECTION COMPLETE COLLECTION.
Photo courtesy of Section23 Films.

Home video distributor Section23 Films has provided product details for their August 2010 slate of releases, including PRINCESS RESURRECTION COMPLETE COLLECTION, LA CORDA D’ORO ~ PRIMO PASSO COLLECTION 2, SHIGOFUMI COMPLETE COLLECTION, and TYTANIA COLLECTION 1, the new epic space opera from the team behind the legendary anime MACROSS. Read on for plot descriptions, DVD specs, and cover art for all these titles.
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Kyoko Koizumi, Kai Inowaki, Teruyuki Kagawa, and Yu Koyanagi portray a dysfunctional, middle-class Japanese family in director Kiypshi Kurosawa’s TOKYO SONATA.
The film is now available on Region 1 DVD from E1 Entertainment. © 2008 Entertainment Farm and Fortissimo Amsterdam BV

Author: Kyle Byrd
Official Movie Site: tokyosonatamovie.com (US), tokyosonata.com (Japan)

US poster art for TOKYO SONATA. © 2008 Entertainment
Farm and Fortissimo Amsterdam BV

Kiyoshi Kurosawa is one of the most interesting filmmakers working today. Unfortunately he has yet to get the attention he deserves in the States. His films are admittedly an acquired taste. I must admit, I didn’t know what to make of them at first. I checked them out after reading an article that fellow fan Martin Scorsese wrote about his films for his blog on DirectTV’s site. And with each film I watched and the more I watched them, the more I liked them.

Usually they are very abstract, bizarre and rely on very subtle story telling (at times even too subtle). They usually give the viewer just enough information to piece together what the films are truly about, which really isn’t straightforward enough for a lot of people. The man is mostly known in the States for his horror films such as the critically acclaimed CURE (Kyua, 1997), PULSE (Kairo, 2001), and RETRIBUTION (Sakebi, 2006).

Kurosawa’s latest film, 2008’s family drama TOKYO SONATA is his first non-genre film since 2003’s BRIGHT FUTURE (Akarui Mirai), and it’s by far the man’s most accessible and straightforward film thus far. And with E1 Entertainment’s Stateside DVD release of TOKYO SONATA, maybe Kurosawa can get some of that credit that the West owes him.
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J-Pop Idol Erina Mano Wows Fans at Premiere Screening of Her Feature Film Debut
Source: Japan Film Society
Additional Material: Kai Saari
Official Site: Facebook.com/TalesofTerror (US), shinmimi.net (Japan)
Official Twitter Profile: Twitter.com/ShinMimi

After the screening, Erina Mano serenaded fans
with the film’s theme song. Photo courtesy of
Japan Film Society. © 2010 BS-i, King Records

On July 1st, J-Pop’s #1 idol and Hello! Project singing sensation Erina Mano attended the world premiere of her feature film debut, KAI-KI: TALES OF TERROR FROM TOKYO (怪談新耳袋-怪奇), at the world famous Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California. KAI-KI is the latest in series of films based on the hit Japanese TV franchise TALES OF TERROR FROM TOKYO AND ALL OVER JAPAN (怪談新耳袋*, Shin Mimi-Bukuro), which adapts actual urban legends collected from across the country by writer Kihara Hirokatsu.

Club Nokia hosted two screenings of KAI-KI: TALES OF TERROR FROM TOKYO. A mini-concert followed each showing in which Erina Mano sang the film’s them song “Returning Home” as well as “Sekai wa Summer Party”, a happy pop song that from her first tour album. Both Miss Mano and Tales of Terror creator Kihara Hirokatsu took part in an autograph signing.

In addition, there was also a Q&A featuring Erina Mano, J-Idol producer Tamon Andrew Niwa and representatives from the Toyota Creative Lounge who financed the project. Toyota Creative Lounge reps included the prominent designers Agga B., Anna Fong, Melissa Serpico Kamhout (Serpico), and Lidia Wachowska (evil kitty); all of whom designed exclusive outfits for Mano-san to wear during her stay in Los Angeles.
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Author: Bob Johnson

Peter Fernandez at the 2008 premiere of SPEED RACER
during the Tribeca Film Festival.

On Thursday July 15, 2010, the television and movie industry lost one of its truly unsung heroes. Peter Fernandez passed away after a battle with cancer at the age of 83. Although fans of international films and TV know his name and his contributions, Hollywood as a whole has passed over a little-known industry that made it possible to import many foreign efforts that we would have never otherwise seen.

The dubbing of international product was a thankless chore and an underpaid one in the 1960s and 1970s. However, Peter Fernandez was a tireless pioneer and turned out some of the most memorable and highest quality dub tracks of a generation.
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The Best In Critically Acclaimed Japanese Science Fiction And Fantasy
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Official Site: haikasoru.com
Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

Cover for the award-winning novel Harmony by the
late Project Itoh. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media.
© 2008 Project Itoh. Originally published in Japan by
Hayakawa Publishing, Inc.

VIZ Media, LLC will deliver out-of-this-world summer science fiction and fantasy reading with the release of three new novels under its Haikasoru imprint this summer – Harmony by Project Itoh, Rocket Girls by Housuke Nojiri and Summer, Fireworks, and My Corpse by Otsuichi.

Haikasoru is a unique imprint with a dedicated focus on publishing some of the most compelling contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy for English-speaking audiences.
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Chiaki Kuriyama and Takayuki Yamada star in Shochiku’s action comedy BATTLE LEAGUE HORUMO, now available on Region 1 DVD from VIZ Pictures.
© 2009 Kamogawa Horumo Film Partners

Japanese and American Press Materials for Combat Action Comedy Film
Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd., VIZ Pictures
Official Movie Site: horumo.com (US)
Special Thanks to Aki Harimoto and Rieko Fuji

The best-selling fantasy novel by Manabu Makime that became a phenomenon among the young and picky readers of Japan has been adapted into a combat action comedy film, made possible with the high quality and innovative VFX and animation by animation studio GONZO (creators of AFRO SAMURAI and BRAVE STORY).

BATTLE LEAGUE HORUMO (Kamogawa Horumo) introduces esoteric and ancient Taoist magic in an unusually modern setting with tight storytelling and a cast of uniquely hilarious characters. It’s a highly comic yet charming depiction of a hapless bunch of students who get pulled into an enigmatic secret social club called “The Azure Dragons” soon after entering the prestige Kyoto University.

Shochiku’s 2009 action comedy was released on Region 1 DVD this month by VIZ Pictures.
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Legendary Voice Actor and Director Has Died
Source: Bill Winckler

Writer, director, and voice actor Peter Fernandez died today.

SciFi Japan was just informed that Peter Fernandez passed away this morning from lung cancer. Long acknowledged as one of the best in the business, Fernandez was a voice actor and dubbing director for the American versions of dozens of films and television series… his long list of credits include such favorites as ULTRAMAN, ASTRO BOY, GODZILLA VS THE SEA MONSTER, THE SPACE GIANTS, SON OF GODZILLA, GIGANTOR, STAR BLAZERS, the Sergio Leone/Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns… and even a “clean version” of George Romero’s DAY OF THE DEAD. He may be best known for his work on SPEED RACER, in which he voiced both Speed and Racer X and also wrote the English lyrics for the show’s theme song.

Our condolences to Peter’s family and friends. SciFi Japan will be following with a full tribute soon, but in the meantime please see our 2009 interview with Peter in which he discusses his life and career, and our overview of Peter’s work on SPEED RACER.

Personal Appearances, Activities, and Show Exclusives
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

An early look at the design for VIZ Media’s 2010 Comic-Con International tote
bag. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media.

VIZ Media, LLC has announced an exciting roster of personal appearances, panel discussions, events, giveaways and convention exclusives for 2010 Comic-Con International. Comic-Con is the nation’s largest comic book and science fiction event, and takes place July 21-25 at the San Diego Convention Center, CA. VIZ Media will be located in Booth 2813.

The VIZ Media booth will be an exciting destination on the show floor for fans, with a variety of fun activities and exclusive products available for purchase during special times throughout the show.
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Anime Expo 2010 logo, courtesy of Anime Expo. © 1992-2010 Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation.

Source: Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation press release
Official Site: anime-expo.org
Special Thanks to Kimberly Groomes

Anime Expo (AX), North America’s largest anime and manga event, has concluded its most successful event ever – a four-day event at the Los Angeles Convention Center that drew over 100,000 fans of Japanese animation, manga (comic books) and pop culture. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa visited Anime Expo 2010 and joined Lattanzio in making the announcement that Anime Expo will be in Los Angeles through 2013. Collectively, the event is expected to generate more than $100 million citywide in the next three years.
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Zombies run amuck in SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD, the sixth chapter in George Romero’s long-running DEAD series. The film is now in limited theatrical release
in the US. Photo courtesy of Magnet Releasing. © 2009 Blank of the Dead Productions, Inc.

Author: Kyle Byrd
Official Site: magnetreleasing.com/survivalofthedead

Theatrical Poster art for SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD. Photo
courtesy of Magnet Releasing. © 2009 Blank of the
Dead Productions, Inc.

SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD is the sixth entry in George A. Romero’s iconic LIVING DEAD series of films. The film centers around two feuding families on Plum Island, a tiny island off the coast of Delaware. The O’Flynn and Muldoon families have been feuding in the aftermath of the zombie plague that started in DIARY OF THE DEAD (2007). The O’Flynns led by Patrick O’Flynn (Kenneth Walsh) believe that all zombies should be seen as a threat and exterminated.

The Muldoons, led by Seamus Muldoon (Richard Fitzpatrick) are clinging to their dead loved ones, letting them live as undead flesh eaters in hopes that a cure can be found to turn them back into their former selves. In the middle of all this lies a group of soldiers led by Sergeant Crockett (Alan Van Sprang), who was last seen in the previous film (DIARY OF THE DEAD) robbing the lead characters.

SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD is a bit of a return to form for b-movie genius George Romero. It ditches the soapbox message-heavy documentary feel of his DIARY OF THE DEAD and the large scope of LAND OF THE DEAD (2005). And, like those films, SURVIVAL is a bit of a mixed bag.
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Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Official Site: ShonenSunday.com
Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

Check out 7 seasons and three films from the hit anime
INUYASHI on iTunes, Hulu and VIZAnime.com. Photo
courtesy of VIZ Media. © Rumiko Takahashi /Shogakukan
Inc. • Yomiuri TV • Sunrise 2009

VIZ Media announces a new promotion for INUYAHSA episodes and feature films (all rated ‘T’ for Teens) available now from the iTunes Store in the U.S. and Canada, as well as the streaming content provider HULU and VIZAnime.com, the company’s premier website for anime.

iTunes will offer the first three INUYASHA feature films (dubbed) – INUYASHA THE MOVIE: AFFECTIONS TOUCHING ACROSS TIME, INUYASHA THE MOVIE 2: THE CASTLE BEYOND THE LOOKING GLASS, and INUYASHA THE MOVIE 3: SWORDS OF AN HONORABLE RULER, for a special Download-To-Own (DTO) sale price of $4.99 (U.S.) each until August 3rd. Additionally, INUYASHA TV episode 1 is available to download for FREE, and episodes 2-167, covering Seasons 1-7, will be 50% off and available for iTunes users to download for only $0.99 each.

HULU will stream INUYASHA: AFFECTIONS TOUCHING ACROSS TIME (subtitled) for free until August 11th; it will also be available during the same period on VIZAnime.com, the free-to-use interactive web destination that is the permanent home to some of the company’s best-loved animated series.

INUYASHA is a hit TV anime series is based on a massively popular manga (also published by VIZ Media, rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) by famed creator Rumiko Takahashi, who won the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award for the series in 2002. Many of Takahashi’s titles have been adapted into other media such as anime, live-action TV series, and film. The INUYASHA anime series ran for 167 episodes in total and has also spawned an exciting finale series, INUYASHA THE FINAL ACT (also available on VIZAnime.com), as well as several successful feature films.
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Source: The Associates press release
Official Movie Site: kamuigaiden.jp (Japan)
Special Thanks to Farhana Shaikh

Cover art for the UK DVD of KAMUI: THE LONE NINJA.
Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 2009 Kamui Film
Partners

Based on the legendary multi-volume manga series created by Japanese artist and essayist Sanpei Shirato in 1964, directed by Yoichi Sai (BLOOD AND BONES; DOING TIME; ALL UNDER THE MOON) and scripted by Sai and Kankuro Kudo (ZEBRAMAN; PING PONG; GO), the live-action, special effects-laden extravaganza KAMUI (Kamui Gaiden, 2009) perfectly captures the spirit and flavor of Shirato’s original vision. The film will be released on DVD and Blu-ray in the UK next month as KAMUI: THE LONE NINJA.

A high-spirited adventure involving deadly ninjas, fierce warrior clans, treacherous pirates and fearless shark hunters, KAMUI: THE LONE NINJA boasts a star-studded cast that features some of Asian cinema’s hottest talent, including Kenichi Matsuyama (the DEATH NOTE trilogy), Koyuki (BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE; KITARO), Koichi Sato (SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO; STARFISH HOTEL), Ekin Cheng (STORM WARRIORS; DIVERGENCE), Yuta Kanai (DEATH NOTE: L change the worLd) and Suzuka Ohgo (MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA).

KAMUI: THE LONE NINJA (cert. 15) will be released on DVD (£15.99) and Blu-ray (£19.99) by Manga Entertainment on 9th August 2010.
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Minya, the Son of Godzilla, confronts the giant mantis Kamakiras in SON OF GODZILLA, playing this month at The Colonial Theatre in New Hampshire.
© 1967 Toho Co., Ltd.

The Colonial Theatre Presents Its Fourth SPOOKTACULAR
Source: The Colonial Theatre press release
Official Site: Spooktacular IV
Special Thanks to Mark Nelson

Advertisement for SPOOKTACULAR IV, courtesy of Mark
Nelson. SON OF GODZILLA © 1967 Toho Co., Ltd.

Giant monsters once again return to Keene, New Hampshire at The Colonial Theatre’s SPOOKTACULAR, Saturday, July 31st 2010 at 2PM. Curated by SATURDAY FRIGHT SPECIAL, New Hampshire’s first home-grown horror host TV show, the event features a rare 35mm screening of the 1967 Japanese monster melee SON OF GODZILLA (English dubbed version). In addition to the main feature, vintage monster movie previews, a cartoon, and snack bar ads will precede the film, along with prize giveaways and on-stage appearances by Scarewolf and other SATURDAY FRIGHT SPECIAL characters. The event will be the finale of the Colonial’s annual Family Film Series, and will be an all-ages event, bringing back the feel of an old-time kiddie matinee.

“We’re thrilled to be able to present a Godzilla film to the Colonial audience on a Saturday afternoon, the same way that so many kids in the 70s first saw these films, both in the theater and on TV,” said Mark Nelson, SATURDAY FRIGHT SPECIAL curator for the event. “In fact, we’re giving fans an opportunity they never had back then to see SON OF GODZILLA on the big screen, as the film was released directly to television in the US.”
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Former Godzilla FX director Koichi Kawakita has been promoting a slew of new Toho-themed collectibles. © 2010 Toho Co., Ltd.

Author: Ed Godziszewski
Official Site: KK DeAgostini Japan

Enjoy some Godzilla Wine. © 1954/2010 Toho Co., Ltd.

Although retired from filmmaking, Koichi Kawakita (FX director of the Godzilla series from 1989-1995) has managed to find a new way to stay in the public eye these days, promoting a series of products related to Toho special effects films. In January he appeared at Super Festival, introducing two new books concerning the Godzilla films, the DVD of ZERO FIGHTER (Ozora no Samurai, 1976), and some miscellaneous goods. Then in February he was at Wonder Festival promoting a garage kit replica of the Oxygen Destroyer from GODZILLA (Gojira, 1954).

And since late last year, he has been doing interviews in the booklets for each of DeAgostini’s DVD book releases of Toho special effects films. In Volume 18 of this Toho SFX DVD Collection series (DESTROY ALL MONSTERS), issued during May, Kawakita appears promoting even more goods related to Toho films.
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EVANGELION 2.0: YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE is just one of fifty Asian films playing this month at Fantasia. Photo courtesy of EIN’s M&M. © 2009 Khara

Montreal Genre Movie Festival Runs July 8-28
Source: Fantasia press release
Official Site: Fantasia 2010

The organizers of Fantasia International Film Festival— North America’s largest genre film festival— have once again pulled together an amazing lineup of movies to screen in Montreal. From July 8 to 28, Fantasia 2010 will showcase 120 feature films and several hundred shorts from all over the world, including a number of North American and international premieres.

Please visit Fantasia’s official website for their complete film list and schedule, venues and directions, ticket information, and other details. SciFi Japan readers may be particularly interested in the fest’s Asian movie schedule, detailed in the following press release.
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J-Horror Film to Screen at JAPAN CUTS in New York City
Source: Japan Society
Official Site: Japan Cuts
Special Thanks to Shannon Jowett and Tahmid Mannan

A murderous ghost seeks revenge in NIGHTMARE DETECTIVE II,
premiering next week at the Japan Cuts film festival in NYC.
Photo courtesy of Japan Society. © 2009 Shinya Tsukamoto/
Kaijyu Theater

SciFi Japan and Japan Society are pleased to present another contest for free passes to a new fantasy film premiering this month at Japan Cuts: Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema in New York City. Our third and final ticket giveaway for this year’s Japan Cuts and the New York Asian Film Festival will be the US premiere of the J-Horror movie NIGHTMARE DETECTIVE II.

In the NIGHTMARE DETECTIVE movies, actor Ryuhei Matsuda (TABOO, CUTIE HONEY, BIG BANG LOVE: JUVENILE A) stars as Kyoichi Kagenuma, a dream analyst who has the very unwanted “gift” of being able to hear the thoughts of those around him, as well as the ability to enter peoples’ subconscious while they dream. Kyoichi’s rare talents make him highly sought-after in his field, but they also render his life unbearable. He can heal broken minds, but he would just as soon kill himself as ever help another person again.

While a sequel, NIGHTMARE DETECTIVE II is a stand alone story concerning Kyoichi Kagenuma’s latest case, in which three high school girls are being haunted by the ghost of a classmate they once bullied. The viewer does not need to have seen the original NIGHTMARE DETECTIVE to follow and enjoy the newer film.
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A master thief uncovers a prize that may decide who rules feudal Japan in the action epic GOEMON, coming to select UK cinemas this month.
Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 2009 “Goemon” Film Partners.

Epic Adventure from the Producers of THE GRUDGE and the Director of CASSHERN Opens July 23rd
Source: The Associates press release
Official Movie Site: Goemon (Japan)

Japanese poster art for GOEMON. © 2009 “Goemon”
Film Partners.

Five years ago, acclaimed Japanese fashion photographer and music video director Kazuaki Kiriya made an explosive and groundbreaking assault on the movie world with his directorial debut feature, the visually stunning and hugely ambitious sci-fi epic, CASSHERN. Now, Kiriya returns in his own inimitable style with the equally spectacular period, fantasy action-adventure, GOEMON.

Produced by Kiriya and legendary producer Takashige Ichise (THE RING; DARK WATER; THE GRUDGE; SHUTTER) and boasting a star-studded cast that includes Yosuke Eguchi (SHAOLIN GIRL), Takao Osawa (ICHI; SKY HIGH), Jun Kaname (BLOOD; K-20; CASSHERN), Tetsuji Tamayama (NORWEGIAN WOOD; CASSHERN) and Susumu Terajima (CASSHERN; ICHI THE KILLER), GOEMON is based on the exploits of the film’s eponymous, ninja bandit hero – the Japanese folklore equivalent of Robin Hood.

A mind-blowing, eye-popping action epic that easily matches the visionary ambitions of Kiriya’s debut movie, GOEMON is a fast-paced historical adventure packed with the same kind of dazzling costumes, set designs, inspired visuals and awesome special effects that made CASSHERN such an original and singularly spectacular cinematic experience.

GOEMON (cert. 15) is released by Momentum Pictures and will open at selected UK cinemas on 23rd July 2010.
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New Action Horror Anime Series Comes to North America
Source: Sentai Filmworks, Anime Network press releases
Official Site: geneonuniversal.jp/rondorobe/anime/hotd (Japan)
Special Thanks to David Williams and Christian Lopez

Key promotional art for the new anime series HIGH SCHOOL
OF THE DEAD. © 2010 Daisuke Sato/ Shouji Sato. © 2010
Fujimishobo

During last weekend’s Anime Expo in Los Angeles, Sentai Filmworks announced its acquisition of the new hit anime series HIGH SCHOOL OF THE DEAD (Gakuen Mokushiroku, 2010). Based on the ultra-violent manga by Daisuke Sato, directed by Tetsuro Araki (DEATH NOTE, BLACK LAGOON) and produced by the internationally famed studio Madhouse (DEATH NOTE, NINJA SCROLL, VAMPIRE HUNTER D- BLOODLUST, WICKED CITY) HIGH SCHOOL OF THE DEAD combines hordes of flesh-eating zombies with state of the art animation for one of the most action packed anime series ever!

A deadly new disease is ravaging the world, turning the populace into mindless zombies, and the number of infected is skyrocketing by the second. As their fellow classmates and teachers succumb to the infection around them, a small group of students at Fujimi High School are fighting for their lives after surviving the initial outbreak. Now it’s up to Takashi Komuro to unite a small group of blood-soaked survivors in a desperate bid to escape! School’s not just out for the summer, it may be out forever as a handful of students face the ultimate test, survival, in HIGH SCHOOL OF THE DEAD!

Sentai Filmworks will be releasing HIGH SCHOOL OF THE DEAD in both English dubbed and subtitled versions throughout North America. The series is now being simulcast in North America exclusively on Anime Network.
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The Final Box Set in the Series is Released
Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis
Source: Toho Music Store
Official Website: Toho Music

Advertisement for the GODZILLA SOUNDTRACK PERFECT
COLLECTION, including the newly released sixth and
final volume. © 2010 Toho Co., Ltd.

Back in 2004, during Godzilla’s 50th Anniversary, Toho Music Announced they would be reissuing all the Godzilla soundtracks remastered in a series of box sets, each limited to 1,954 pressings of each (to commemorate the year of the original Godzilla). What fans didn’t know was just how long it would take for them to be released. The first set went on sale September 20th, 2004 and was highly regarded for its improved sonics, especially on the 1954 disc. Box 2 came a short few months later in December, during the release of GODZILLA FINAL WARS. Box 3 followed in April of 2005, around the same time as the release of the GODZILLA FINAL BOX which contained all 28 movies on DVD.

What followed then was a wait of nearly a year and a half as the fourth box didn’t hit the streets until October, 2006 and it took only slightly less time for the fifth box to come out in January, 2008. Fan speculation ran high as to whether or not the final set would ever be released at all. But after a wait of over two years (the longest stretch between two sets), Box 6 was finally released in Japan on March 25th, and the collection is now complete.
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Major Motoko Kusanagi is born in the updated GHOST IN THE SHELL 2.0, one of six films playing VIZ Cinema in early July.
Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 1995 /2008 Shirow Masamune/Kodansha · Bandai Visual · Manga Entertainment

Six Feature Films Based on the Hit Manga to Play in a Week-Long Festival Beginning July 3
Source: VIZ Pictures, MediaLab press releases
Official Site: NewPeopleWorld.com
Special Thanks to Erik Jansen

VIZ Cinema and NEW PEOPLE are proud to present, in association with Bandai Entertainment and Manga Entertainment, “Sci-fi Anime Madness Volume 2: GHOST IN THE SHELL Marathon” with a very special series of feature film screenings taking place July 3rd – 8th at the theatre located in San Francisco’s Japantown. The creation of veteran anime writer/director/producer Mamoru Oshii, GHOST IN THE SHELL and its subsequent sequels thrilled audiences and inspired a generation of filmmakers to became one of the most revered anime franchises of all times.
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