Shout! Factory completes their DVD releases of the original Gamera films with the GAMERA VS. ZIGRA/GAMERA: THE SUPER MONSTER DOUBLE-FEATURE,
on sale March 15th. Photo courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures and Golden Media Group, Inc. © 1980 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.

Final Two Classic Gamera Movies to be Released March 15th
Source: Shout! Factory press release, Golden Media Group, Inc.
Special Thanks to Tom Chen, Roy McAree and Richard Noboru Kekahuna

Cover art for the GAMERA VS. ZIGRA/GAMERA: THE SUPER
MONSTER collection. Photo courtesy of Shout! Factory.
© 1971, 1980 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.

The wait is over! On March 15, 2011, Shout! Factory will unleash the final two films in Daiei Motion Picture Company’s illustrious Gamera franchise: GAMERA VS. ZIGRA and GAMERA: THE SUPER MONSTER! Witness twice the excitement as Gamera takes on the malevolent underwater alien creature Zigra and then revisits each of his deadliest foes on by one while trying to save the word! Both films feature newly remastered transfers in their original Japanese language as well as English dubs.

Until the partnership of Shout! Factory and Kadokawa Pictures in May 2010, the original Gamera films were woefully underrepresented on DVD in the United States, especially in featuring the authentic original Japanese versions of the films. But that has changed with the recent releases of GAMERA THE GIANT MONSTER, GAMERA VS. BARUGON, the two double feature collections GAMERA VS. GYAOS/GAMERA VS. VIRAS and GAMERA VS. GUIRON/GAMERA VS. JIGER and now GAMERA VS. ZIGRA/GAMERA: THE SUPER MONSTER.

The GAMERA VS. ZIGRA/GAMERA: THE SUPER MONSTER DOUBLE-FEATURE COLLECTOR’S EDITION DVD has a suggested retail price of $19.93.
Continued…

Karate-Robo Zaborgar fights Diarrhea Robot Arizailer in Sushi Typhoon’s new feature film update of the classic TV series DENJIN ZABOGA.
Photo courtesy of Sushi Typhoon. © 2011 P-Production/ Zaborgar Film Partners

Sushi Typhoon Presents a New Movie Update of the 70s Superhero Show
Source: Sushi Typhoon
Official Movie Site: zaborgar.com (Japan)
Special Thanks to Marc Walkow

Poster for KARATE-ROBO ZABORGAR. Photo courtesy of
Sushi Typhoon. © 2011 P-Production/ Zaborgar Film
Partners

On April 6, 1974, the Fuji Television Network debuted the first episode of DENJIN ZABOGA (電人ザボーガー), a live action superhero series from P-Productions (THE SPACE GIANTS, SPECTREMAN). Created by manga writer Kazuo Koike (Lone Wolf and Cub, Crying Freeman), the show starred Akira Yamaguchi (KAMEN RIDER V3) as Yutaka Daimon, a secret police agent who battles sinister organizations with the help of his transforming robot Zaboga (played by Yoichiro Tajiri). The series ran for 52 episodes through June 29, 1975. The first 39 episodes were also broadcast in Hawaii with English subtitles as DENJIN ZABORGER.

Now, as DENJIN ZABOGA approaches its fortieth anniversary, the story has been reworked and updated for the new movie KARATE-ROBO ZABORGAR (電人ザボーガー劇場版, Denjin Zabogaa: Gekijoo-ban, 2011) from director Noboru Iguchi.

Produced by Nikkatsu Corporation’s genre label Sushi Typhoon, KARATE-ROBO ZABORGAR will make its world premiere this Friday, January 28th at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Iguchi will be present for the premiere, and for the first encore screening on January 29th. A promotional event for the film is also planned for late February at the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival in Hokkaido. Later in 2011, KARATE-ROBO ZABORGAR will play at various film festivals around the world, though exact locations and dates have not yet been announced.
Continued…

Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Box Set 5. Photo courtesy of VIZ
Media. © 2002 Masashi Kishimoto/ 2007 Shippuden

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media) has announced a trio of new anime DVD releases set for release this week that expand some of the company’s most potent properties.

Read on for cover art and descriptions of:
NARUTO SHIPPUDEN BOX SET, Volume 5
VAMPIRE KNIGHT THE COMPLETE SERIES
POKEMON ELEMENTS BOX SET, Volume 2

VIZ Media DVD titles are distributed (in English) in the U.S and Mexico by Warner Home Video and in Canada by Allegro.
Continued…

The idiotic Young-gu (Shim Hyung-rae) is chosen to take over the family of New York mob boss Don Carini (Harvey Keitel) in the comedy THE LAST GODFATHER.
© 2010 Younggu Art

DRAGON WARS Director’s Newest Comedy Comes to the US
Author: Kim Song-ho
Source: Younggu Art and CJ Entertainment official press materials
Official Movie Site: THE LAST GODFATHER

Korean poster for THE LAST GODFATHER. © 2010 Younggu
Art

The Korean studio CJ Entertainment announced on January 26 (Korean date) that the company and the American distributor Roadside Attractions LLC have reached a deal via MOU (memorandum of understanding) for the North American release of THE LAST GODFATHER (라스트 갓파더, 2010). The movie is the latest comedy by writer/director Shim Hyung-rae, the filmmaker behind such monster movies as YONGGARY (용가리 aka REPTILIAN, 1999/2001) and DRAGON WARS (D-WAR, 2007).

THE LAST GODFATHER is about Young-gu (played by director Shim himself, who is also a popular comedian and actor in Korea), who in fact is a long-lost son of the 1950s fictional New York mob boss Don Carini (Harvey Keitel). Before retirement, Don Carini calls the dim-witted Young-gu to New York and announces he will be the next godfather. Following the Don’s orders, his henchmen try to educate Young-gu on how to “fight like a man” and become a true gangster. A series of unexpected comedic incidents ensue.
Continued…

Source: Madman Entertainment
Special Thanks to Ben Pollock and Philippa Lamb

Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. ©2010 Rei
Mikamoto (Bunkasha Publishing Co.,Ltd.)

The Australian distributor Madman Entertainment is releasing the following anime and Asian live action titles on Blu-ray and Region 4 DVD in February, 2011. The selection includes:

BIG TITS ZOMBIE
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD Collection 3
MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM 00 Season 1 Collection
MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM 00 Second Season Vol. 6
XAM’D: LOST MEMORIES Collection 1
BLEACH Collection 07
TRIGUN REMASTERED
KENICHI: THE MIGHTIEST DISCIPLE Collection 1
BAKUGAN: NEW VESTROIA Collection 3
ONE PIECE (Uncut) Collection 6
DRAGON BALL Z KAI Collection 3
NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Collection 05
GURREN LAGANN MOVIE COLLECTION

Read on for plot descriptions, DVD specs, cover art, and more.
Continued…

Natsuki Shinohara enters the virtual reality of OZ in Mamoru Hosoda’s Japanese Academy Award-winning SUMMER WARS, coming to DVD and Blu-ray.
Photo courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. © 2009 Summer Wars Film Partners

Japanese Academy Award-Winner Coming February 15th
Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release
Official Site: s-wars.jp (Japan), funimation.com/summer-wars, gkids.tv/summer (US)
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Manny Alcala

Key art for the US release of SUMMER WARS. Photo
courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. © 2009
Summer Wars Film Partners

From the visionary director of THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME (2007 Japanese Academy Prize winner, Best Animated Feature) comes the story of an ordinary family going to extraordinary lengths to avert the impending cyber apocalypse! The internationally acclaimed animated sci-fi film SUMMER WARS (Samaa Woozu, 2009) makes its North American home video debut on February 15th. The first pressings of the 2 disc DVD set ($29.98) and Blu-ray edition ($34.98) from FUNimation Entertainment will come with bonus limited edition art cards.

Kenji is your typical teenage misfit. He’s good at math, bad with girls, and spends most of his time hanging out in the all-powerful, online community known as OZ. His second life is the only life he has – until the girl of his dreams, Natsuki, hijacks him for a starring role as a fake fiancé at her family reunion. Things only get stranger from there. A late-night email containing a cryptic mathematic riddle leads to the unleashing of a rogue AI intent on using the virtual word of OZ to destroy the real world, literarily. As Armageddon looms on the horizon, Kenji and his new “family” set aside their differences and band together to save the worlds they inhabit in this “near-perfect blend of social satire and science fiction”. (AnimeNewsNetwork.com)
Continued…

NEEDLESS COLLECTION 1 BLU-RAY EDITION Available on February 15th
Source: Section23 Films press release
Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff

NEEDLESS COLLECTION 1. Photo courtesy of
Section23 Films.

Home video distributor Section23 Films has provided details on its February 2011 slate of releases, including the popular series NEEDLESS. The first collection will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray by Section23 client Sentai Filmworks.

Also scheduled for February are DVD editions of GINTAMA COLLECTION 4, EYESHIELD 21 COLLECTION 4, and YOU’RE UNDER ARREST: FAST & FURIOUS COMPLETE COLLECTION.

Read on for plot descriptions, DVD specs, and cover art for all these titles.
Continued…

The cast of SECTOR 7, from left to right: Park Jeong-hak, Ahn Seong-gi (as Jeong-man, captain of the oli rig Eclipse), Ha Ji-won (as equipment manger Cha Hae-joon),
Oh Ji-ho (as Kim Dong-soo, analyst of oil quality), Song Sae-byeok (as a welder) and Park Cheol-min (as an equipment manager).
Photo courtesy of CJ Entertainment. © 2010 JK Film / CJ Entertainment

First Batch of Stills and More Information on Upcoming Korean Monster Movie
Author: Kim Song-ho
Source: CJ Entertainment

This week, the Korean film company and distributor CJ Entertainment and production company JK Film released a batch of new stills for the upcoming 3D creature feature SECTOR 7 (7광구, Chil gwangu). These are the first images issued from the movie itself other than the conceptual/advertising artwork. Most of the photos depict the struggle against the hostile undersea creature (its appearance is yet to be revealed) by the crew members of ‘Eclipse’, an oil prospecting platform. SECTOR 7 has been described by producer Youn Je-kyun as the Korean equivalent of the ALIEN movie series.
Continued…

Akira Takizawa and Saki Morimi take a photo together on a fateful day in a scene from KING OF EDEN, the first of two EDEN OF THE EAST theatrical films.
Photo courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. © 2009 EDEN OF THE EAST.

A Look at the Anime Films KING OF EDEN and PARADISE LOST
Author: Elliot Gay
Official Site: juiz.jp (Japan), funimation.com/edenoftheeast (US)
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Manny Alcala

Your mileage when watching EDEN OF THE EAST THE MOVIE 1: KING OF EDEN (東のエデン 劇場版ⅠThe King of Eden, Higashi no Eden Gekijooban I: The King of Eden, 2009) and EDEN OF THE EAST THE MOVIE 2: PARADISE LOST (東のエデン 劇場版Ⅱ Paradise Lost, Higashi no Eden Gekijooban II: Paradise Lost, 2010) will vary based on how much you enjoyed the series that came before. The elements that you enjoyed in the show’s run on television, such as the high animation quality, well composed music and likable characters are still the same as ever. However, if you found yourself disagreeing with the writing or any of the above elements, these movies will do little to change your mind. In a few words, it is simply more of the same. Is that necessarily a bad thing however?
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Japan takes a weird turn following a zombie holocaust in HELLDRIVER, the new movie from splatter filmmaker Yoshihiro Nishimura direct.
Photo courtesy of Sushi Typhoon. © 2010 Sushi Typhoon/ Nikkatsu

Press Notes for New Zombie Film from the Director of TOKYO GORE POLICE
Source: Sushi Typhoon
Special Thanks to Marc Walkow

English language poster for HELLDRIVER. Photo courtesy
of Sushi Typhoon. © 2010 Sushi Typhoon/ Nikkatsu

Sushi Typhoon’s HELLDRIVER (日本分断　HELL DRIVER, Nihon Bundan: Heru Doraibaa, 2010) is the latest movie from cult-favorite splatter film director Yoshihiro Nishimura. The all-out zombie epic has been playing the international film festival circuit.

The following press notes and images are courtesy of Sushi Typhoon…

WELCOME TO ZOMBIE WORLD!

An alien-spawned, mysterious mist blankets the northern half of Japan, transforming those who inhale it into ravenous, flesh-eating zombies hell-bent on devouring the surviving human population. Plunged into chaos, Japan is torn in two— the southern half of the country, where the populace remains untouched by the deadly gas, lives behind a heavily-fortified wall, while the northern half is a lawless, zombie-infected wasteland. Political forces are locked in a stalemate over whether the living dead should remain protected as family members or exterminated like a plague. The economy withers away, and all hope seems lost for the people and the nation of Japan.
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A Murdered Girl Gets a Second Chance at Life and Revenge in Futuristic Mardock City
Source: VIZ Media press release
Official Site: haikasoru.com
Special Thanks to Jane Lui

The award-winning Japanese cyberpunk novel Mardock
Scramble is now available in English. Photo courtesy
of VIZ Media. © 2003 Tow Ubukata

This week, VIZ Media, LLC presents the North American debut of the Japanese sci-fi novel, Mardock Scramble. The novel, written by Tow Ubukata, has been published under the company’s Haikasoru imprint and will carry an MSRP of $17.99 U.S. / $21.00 CAN.

Haikasoru is VIZ Media’s unique literary imprint with a dedicated focus on publishing some of the most compelling contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy for English-speaking audiences.

“Author Tow Ubukata won the prestigious Japan SF Award for Mardock Scramble in 2003, and the book also inspired an acclaimed feature-length animated film by director Susumu Kudo,” says Nick Mamatas, Haikasoru’s editor. “We’re very excited to kick off 2011 with this cyberpunk epic that has has sold over half a million copies to-date in Japan.”
Continued…

Brand New Anime Series to Begin Simulcasting This Month in North America
Source: Sentai Filmworks, Anime Network press releases
Official Site: tbs.co.jp/anime/is (Japan)
Special Thanks to David Williams and Christian Lopez

Promotional art for the brand new anime series INFINITE
STRATOS. Photo courtesy of Sentai Filmworks. © 2011
Izuru Yumizuru, Media Factory/Project IS

Sentai Filmworks has announced its acquisition of INFINITE STRATOS (IS<インフィニット・ストラトス>, IS< Infinitto Sutoratosu >, 2011), the latest hit anime series from 8-Bit (DURARARA!!, MACROSS FRONTIER). Based on the series of hit novels by Izuru Yumizuru that have already spawned a hit manga and internet radio series, INFINITE STRATOS takes the battle of the sexes to a new level, flipping conventional gender relationships through a maverick series of high speed inverted power rolls over the course of 12 extraordinary episodes. The series debuted on Japanese television this past January 6th, and will begin simulcasting in North America this month on Anime Network Online.

10 years ago, the development of the revolutionary Infinite Stratos powered exoskeleton changed the world’s balance of power overnight… but unfortunately, while the distribution of IS systems to every nation on Earth HAS ushered in a new era of peace, the fact that only women have thus far been able to pilot the Stratos systems has sent the relationship between the XX and XY-chromosomed halves of the human race into a spiraling tailspin!

So when 15 year old Ichika Orimura is suddenly discovered to be the first male with the ability to control an IS, whatever plans he might have had for his own future are tossed out the window even as he’s thrown to the wolves and enrolled at the otherwise entirely female Infinite Stratos Academy by order of the Japanese government!

It’s one Boy Vs. all the Girls, and the question isn’t who’ll come out on top… it’s who will survive the educational experience in INFINITE STRATOS!
Continued…

Source: Section23 Films press release
Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff

Click on this image to download a pdf file of the CLANNAD:
AFTER STORY COMPLETE COLLECTION upgrade order form.
Photo courtesy of Section23 Films. © 2008 Tokyo
Broadcasting System Television, Inc.

The hit anime series CLANNAD: AFTER STORY is being reissued on DVD by Sentai Filmworks with a brand-new English dub. Originally released in a subtitled only format, CLANNAD: AFTER STORY is receiving the dub as part of an agreement in which several affiliated groups have come together to create English language versions for five of Sentai’s most popular titles.

In appreciation of those who supported the subtitled only release of these shows, Sentai Filmworks and Section23 Films have set up an “Upgrade” program which will allow owners of the subtitled versions to upgrade their DVD’s for the new CLANNAD: AFTER STORY COMPLETE COLLECTION release containing the English dub. Using the order form included with this article, owners of the previous DVDs can save more than $48.00 off the COMPLETE COLLECTION’s suggested retail price of $69.98.

This is a limited time offer which expires July 22, 2011.
Continued…

A Lavish Retelling of a Classic Tale
Source: The Associates press release
Official Movie Site: warnerbros.co.jp/tajomaru (Japan)

UK DVD cover art for TAJOMARU: AVENGING BLADE. Photo
courtesy of The Associates. ©2009 Tajomaru Film
Partners

Loosely based on Ryunosuke Akutagawa’s short stories Rashomon and In A Grove (most famously adapted for the screen by Akira Kurosawa in his 1950 masterpiece RASHOMON), TAJOMARU: AVENGING BLADE (タジョウマル, Tajomaru, 2009) is an epic tale of greed, betrayal, deceit, tragedy and revenge directed by Hiroyuki Nakano (STEREO FUTURE) and starring Shun Oguri (SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO, CROWS ZERO), Kyosuke Yabe (SAMURAI ZOMBIE) and Hiroyuki Ikeuchi (IP MAN, SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO).

TAJOMARU: AVENGING BLADE (cert. 12) will be released on DVD (Region 2, PAL) by Manga Entertainment on 31st January 2011. Special Features include: Stereo and 5.1 Dolby audio options; optional English subtitles; The Making Of TAJOMARU; domestic trailer; original Japanese trailer. The suggested retail price is £15.99.
Continued…

The Japanese live action sci-fi adventure GANTZ will be screened nationwide in the United States on January 20th, with the Japanese theatrical run launching
January 29th. Photo courtesy of VIZ Pictures. © Hiroya Oku/Shueisha © 2011 Gantz Film Partners

English Language Press Notes for Highly Anticipated Manga Adaptation
Source: VIZ Pictures, NTV
Official Movie Site: gantz-movie.com (Japan), gantzmovies.com (US)
Special Thanks to Rieko Fuji

The long-awaited adaptation of the suspense action manga GANTZ is finally here!

Based on the popular Japanese manga and anime series, GANTZ is the ultimate survival game. Summoned by the mysterious black orb known as “GANTZ”, childhood friends Kei Kurono and Masaru Kato are forced into participating in the extermination of ‘aliens’ in order to survive. While Kurono chooses to fight for survival, Kato refuses to engage in battle and rejects a world controlled by violence. Kurono and Kato, along with the others sharing their fate, are pushed to their limits in the relentless battles against the aliens.

Due to its intense action and strikingly original story, a movie adaptation was once considered impossible. However, after NTV led the adaptations of DEATH NOTE and 20TH CENTURY BOYS to success, a movie adaptation of GANTZ became possible with director Shinsuke Sato. The highly-awaited movie project has two parts; the first installment coming in January 2011, and the second in spring 2011.
Continued…

The swordsman Shichika Yasuri, the conflicted Togame and the former ninja Emonzaemon discuss their next move in the anime series KATANAGATARI.
© Nisio Isin, Kodansha/ “Katanagatari” Production Committee

Author: Elliot Gay
Official Site: katanagatari.com, www.fujitv.co.jp/katanagatari

SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details for a new animated series.

Key art for KATANAGATARI. © Nisio Isin, Kodansha/
“Katanagatari” Production Committee

In 2007, young author Nisioisin decided to challenge himself. He was to write twelve novels over the course of twelve months. Each novel would represent a month of real-time travel for the protagonist. As such, the reader went through the different seasons just as the characters did. The name of this twelve novel journey was Katanagatari (刀語), loosely translatable as “Sword Story”. As the title aptly describes, the narrative is focused on a set of twelve swords, and those who wield them. The story initially plays out like an elongated video game fetch quest, with our heroes seeking out each of the twelve katana.

In the same way that Nisioisin released a novel once every month for a year, animation studio White Fox opted to produce KATANAGATARI as a twelve episode series, with one episode airing at the beginning of each month for a year. Starting in January and ending in December of 2010, the anime series keeps the real time pacing of its predecessor. With the total runtime of each episode approximately one hour, each episode is more or less the equivalent of two average anime episodes. As to why the series wasn’t simply split into twenty-four episodes, keeping to the original narrative pacing makes more sense considering the self contained nature of each novel.
Continued…

Anime Series Available January 25, 2011
Source: FUNimation Entertainment
Official Site: gantz.net (Japan), funimation.com/gantz (US)
Special Thanks to Manny Alcala

Packaging art for GANTZ: THE COMPLETE SERIES. Photo
courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. © 2004 Hiroya Oku/
Shueisha • GANTZ Partners.

Life and Death. It’s nothing but a game.

Is it a game? A nightmare? All Kei knows is that this reprieve from death may only be temporary. If they fail, they will die again…

Excitement is building for the live-action feature film GANTZ (前編, 2011), which will make its world premiere at 334 movie theaters across the United States in an exclusive one-night-only event this Thursday, January 20th. And following hot on the heels of that premiere comes GANTZ: THE COMPLETE SERIES (2004), a Region 1 DVD anime set from FUNimation Entertainment which streets on January 25th.
Continued…

Teacher Yuko Moriguchi suspects that one (or more) of her students murdered her child… and sets out to prove it by any means necessary in CONFESSIONS.
Japan’s entry for the 2011 Academy Awards will get a limited theatrical run in the United Kingdom from Third Window Films.
Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 2010 Confessions Production Committee

Psychological Thriller from the Director of KAMIKAZE GIRLS and MEMORIES OF MATSUKO Opens February 18th
Source: The Associates press release
Official Movie Site: kokuhaku-shimasu.jp (Japan), thirdwindowfilms.com/confessions (UK)

UK poster art for CONFESSIONS. Photo courtesy of Third
Window Films © 2010 Confessions Production Committee

Following the critical acclaim of his previous features, KAMIKAZE GIRLS (Shimotsuma Monogatari, 2004) and MEMORIES OF MATSUKO (Kiraware Matsuko no Issho, 2006), genre-busting auteur Tetsuya Nakashima returns with CONFESSIONS (Kokuhaku, 2010), a notably darker but equally absorbing and typically idiosyncratic work, this time adapted from the award winning debut novel by Kanae Minato.

Written and directed by Nakashima, CONFESSIONS has been selected as Japan’s official entry in the Best Foreign Film category of the 83rd Annual Academy Awards (the final list of nominees will announced on 25th January 2011) and received great acclaim following its UK premier screening at the Film4 Frightfest All-Nighter in October, 2010 at London’s Empire Cinema.

CONFESSIONS (cert. tbc) is released by Third Window Films and will open at selected UK cinemas on 18th February 2011.
Continued…

The new movie POKÉMON: ARCEUS AND THE JEWEL OF LIFE will be released by VIZ Media on DVD and in manga adaptation. Photos courtesy of VIZ Media.
© 2010 Pokémon. © 1997-2011 Nintendo, Creatures, Game Freak, TV Tokyo, ShoPro, JR Kikaku. © Pikachu Project 2009.
ARUSEUS CHOUKOKU NO JIKUU E © 2009 Makoto Mizobuchi/Shogakukan

Twelfth POKÉMON Feature Film Delivers Another Action-Packed Adventure With Ash And His Friends
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Official Site: www.PokemonArceus.com
Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

VIZ Media, LLC has announced the release of POKÉMON: ARCEUS AND THE JEWEL OF LIFE (Gekijoban Poketto Monsuta Daiyamondo & Paru: Arseusu Chuokoku no Jikuu e, 2009) on DVD and in a manga adaption on February 1st (both under the VIZ Kids imprint). The feature film DVD is rated ‘A’ for All Ages with a MSRP of $19.97 U.S. / $28.99 CAN; the manga adaptation is rated ‘A’ for All Ages, with a MSRP of $7.99 U.S. / $9.99 CAN.
Continued…

Source: FUNimation Entertainment
Official Movie Site: kamuigaiden.jp (Japan), funimation.com/kamui (US)
Special Thanks to Manny Alcala

A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Three SciFi Japan readers have won copies of the new
KAMUI GAIDEN Region 1 DVD. Photo courtesy of FUNimation
Entertainment. © 2009 Kamui Film Partners

Thank you to everyone who entered FUNimation Entertainment and SciFi Japan’s contest for free KAMUI GAIDEN DVDs. The winning entries are:

Maurine Starkey
Linda Conrad
Scott Jones

Congratulations to the winners! The DVDs will be shipped in the next week so keep an eye on your mailboxes.

Based on the 1964 manga series by Sanpei Shirato, KAMUI GAIDEN is the 17th Century story of the young ninja Kamui. Disillusioned with the laws and principles of his ninja clan, which dictate that he must use his skills to kill others, Kamui chooses to leave his past behind him and go in search of true freedom. But, for a ninja, liberation comes at a price and the only way to escape the bonds of the ninja brotherhood is to die.

KAMUI GAIDEN is now available for purchase on Region 1 DVD ($24.98) and Blu-ray ($29.98) by FUNimation Entertainment. The discs contain the original Japanese audio, an English dubbed track, English subtitles, and 45 minutes of extra features.
Continued…

Kenichi Matsuyama stars in GANTZ. Photo courtesy of VIZ Pictures. © Hiroya Oku/Shueisha © 2011 Gantz Film Partners

Two of Japan’s Top Actors Introduce New Sci-Fi Action Feature Debuting on 333 Screens Across North America
Source: MediaLab press release
Official Movie Site: gantz-movie.com (Japan), gantzmovies.com (US)
Special Thanks to Erik Jansen

NEW PEOPLE, a dynamic entertainment company bringing the latest examples of Japanese popular culture to North American shores, welcomes Japanese actors Kazunari Ninomiya (LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA) and Kenichi Matsuyama (DEATH NOTE, DETROIT METAL CITY), for the opening of the stars’ latest feature film – GANTZ. The pair will appear in-person for the premiere of the film in Hollywood, CA on Thursday, January 20th at 5:00pm at the Mann’s Chinese 6, located in the Hollywood & Highland Mall in Hollywood, CA. Immediately following the GANTZ screening, Otaku USA Editor-in-Chief Patrick Macias will conduct a live interview session with Kazunari Ninomiya and Kenichi Matsuyama that will be telecast to the 333 theatres across the U.S. also screening GANTZ for the January 20th premiere.
Continued…

Sample the Latest Manga and Anime Releases, New from VIZ Media
Source: VIZ Media press release
Special Thanks to Jane Lui

Cover art for Volume 2 of Cross Game. Photo
courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2005 Mitsuru Adachi/
Shogakukan

VIZ Media has just announced new additions to its critically acclaimed CROSS GAME property. On the manga side, Cross Game Volume 2 (bundling Vols. 4 and 5 of the original series as released in Japan) will be published under the Shonen Sunday imprint. The latest volume releases on January 11th, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN. On the anime side, to celebrate the Cross Game Vol. 2 manga release, two new episodes (episodes 39 and 40) will be available to stream – for free – beginning the week of January 10th on VIZAnime.com, the company’s premiere website for anime content.

CROSS GAME is a moving drama that is heartfelt and true, yet in the brilliant hands of creator Mitsuru Adachi, the story delightfully flows with a light and amusing touch. The series centers around a boy named Ko, the family of four sisters who live down the street, and the game of baseball. This poignant coming-of-age story will change readers’ perception of what shonen manga, can be.

One of the biggest names in the manga industry today, Mitsuru Adachi made his debut in 1970 with Kieta Bakuon in the pages of Deluxe Shonen Sunday. The creator of numerous mega-hits such as Touch, Miyuki, and Cross Game, Adachi-sensei received the Shogakukan Manga Award for all three of the aforementioned series.
Continued…

The Japanese live-action film GANTZ will have its world premiere in the United States on January 20th. Photo courtesy of VIZ Pictures.
© Hiroya Oku/Shueisha © 2011 Gantz Film Partners

Winners to See the New Movie Before It Opens in Japan, Courtesy of VIZ Pictures and SciFi Japan!
Source: VIZ Pictures
Official Movie Site: gantz-movie.com (Japan), gantzmovies.com (US)
Special Thanks to Rieko Fuji and Erik Jansen

A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Thank you to everyone who entered VIZ Pictures and SciFi Japan’s contest for a free ticket to the GANTZ One-Night World Premiere screening. The winning entries are:

Anthony DeGelorm
Jonathan Ragon
Christopher Rowe

Congratulations to the winners! Congratulations to the winners! Each of you has won a ticket to see the live-action feature film GANTZ at your local cinema on Thursday, January 20th; nine days before the movie opens in Japan.
Continued…

The ninja Nezumi (Donpei Tsuchihira), Rin (Mika Hijii), and Yamata (Masanori Mimoto) wonder what the heck they’ve gotten themselves into in ALIEN VS NINJA, coming
next month on DVD and Blu-ray in the United Kingdom. Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 2010 Sushi Typhoon & “Alien vs. Ninja” Production Committee

If It Bleeds… Ninjas Can Kill It!
Source: The Associates
Official Site: Sushi Typhoon

Cover art for Revolver Entertainment’s DVD of ALIEN VS
NINJA. Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 2010 Sushi
Typhoon & “Alien vs. Ninja” Production Committee

Returning from a deadly mission, a band of legendary Iga Ninja warriors see a giant fireball blaze across the sky and crash into the distant forest. Rushing to investigate, they soon find themselves under attack from a pack of brutal and hungry aliens, and that none of their weapons, neither swords nor throwing stars, seem to have any effect on the savage predators.

ALIEN VS NINJA (2010), one of the first titles from Nikkatsu’s new genre label Sushi Typhoon, will be released on DVD (Region 2, PAL) and Blu-ray (B/2) in the UK by Revolver Entertainment this February.

ALIEN VS NINJA is non-stop martial arts mayhem meets monster mash-up in this fantastic flick packed with fast and furious fights, great gore, hilarious action and incredible stunt work. A new hybrid of science fiction and period action film brought to fans by legendary action directors and fight choregraphers Yuji (VERSUS, SHINOBI, DEATH TRANCE) Shimomura and Kensuke (MACHINE GIRL, HARD REVENGE MILLY: BLOODY BATTLE) Sonomura, and directed by Seiji Chiba!
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Eva Unit 01 wields a big gun in EVANGELION 1.0: YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE, playing this month at VIZ Cinema in San Francisco. © 2007 Khara

Source: MediaLab press release
Official Movie Site: funimation.com/evangelion (US/Canada), evangelion.co.jp (Japan)
Special Thanks to Erik Jansen

VIZ Cinema, the nation’s only movie theatre dedicated to Japanese film, opens 2011 with screenings of director Hideki Anno’s EVANGELION 1.0 YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE, playing Tuesday, January 18th thru Wednesday, January 19th, and EVANGELION 2.0 YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE, playing Friday, January 21st thru Thursday January 27th.
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The Godzilla “Mega Monster with Sound” prototype figure from Trendmasters’ unreleased GODZILLA: THE SERIES toy collection.
Photo courtesy of Jonathan Shyman. © 1998 Toho Co., Ltd.

Author: Jonathan Shyman and Keith Aiken
Special Thanks to Andrew Wong, Bill Bronson and Brian Weinstock

For our first feature article of 2011, SciFi Japan looks back to 1998-99 and the unproduced Trendmasters toy line based on the animated television show GODZILLA: THE SERIES. Despite the cartoon’s ratings success— it was the Number 1 program among boys 6-11 on any broadcast network— retailers were still dealing with shelves of unsold GODZILLA (1998) movie merchandise and were not interested in purchasing more Godzilla products at that time. Advance orders for the first wave of GODZILLA: THE SERIES toys were so low that Trendmasters canceled the line before it went into production.

But some of the promotional materials and prototype action figures that were developed for the G:TS toy range were eventually bought by private collectors. We’re pleased to present a thorough overview of the GODZILLA: THE SERIES toy line with a look at advertising art, catalog listings, concept sketches, and dozens of photos of unreleased plastic and resin prototype figures now in the collection of Jonathan Shyman. Jonathan’s detailed presentation is further supplemented by information provided by former Trendmasters staffers Brian Weinstock and Bill Bronson.
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Kei Kishimoto (Natsuna Watanabe) is ready to kick some ass in GANTZ, premiering January 20th. Photo courtesy of VIZ Pictures.
© Hiroya Oku/Shueisha © 2011 Gantz Film Partners

Kinetic Sci-Fi Live-Action Film Screens at Mann’s Chinese 6 and Will Include In-Person Cast Interviews
Source: MediaLab press release
Official Movie Site: gantz-movie.com (Japan), gantzmovies.com (US)
Special Thanks to Erik Jansen

NEW PEOPLE, a dynamic entertainment company bringing the latest examples of Japanese popular culture to North American shores, presents a very special theatrical event to celebrate the premiere of GANTZ across North America on Thursday, January 20th. Mann’s Chinese 6, located in the Hollywood & Highland Mall in the heart of Hollywood, CA, will host the film’s theatrical premiere in a gala screening beginning at 5:00pm.

Audiences are invited to join Otaku USA Editor-in-Chief Patrick Macias immediately following the screening as he leads an insightful discussion session on GANTZ and conducts in-person interviews with several cast members. More details about this session and the chance for audience members to submit interview questions will be announced next week.
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Eva Unit 02 leaps to the attack in EVANGELION: 2.0 YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE, playing theaters across Canada (and the US) this month. © 2009 Khara

Exclusive Nationwide One Night Only Engagement on January 20, 2011
Source: Eleven Arts Entertainment press release
Official Movie Site: funimation.com/evangelion (US/Canada), evangelion.co.jp (Japan)
Special Thanks to Shun Ohara

Cineplex Entertainment and Cinema Asia Releasing, Eleven Arts and FUNimation Entertainment are pleased to announce they are bringing the second film of the new EVANGELION series to the big screen in Canada. EVANGELION: 2.0 YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE (Evangelion Shin Gekijoban: Ha, 2009) will be shown nationwide in Canada, for one night only, on Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 7 p.m. (local time) at select Cineplex Entertainment and Empire Theatres locations.
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