Series to Debut on The Anime Network on October 4th
Source: Sentai Filmworks press release
Official Site: genesis-horizon.net (Japan)
Special Thanks to David Williams

Key art for HORIZON IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. © 2011
Minoru Kawakami /ASCII Media Works /Horizon in the
Middle of Nowhere Production Committee

Sentai Filmworks has acquired the upcoming anime mega-series HORIZON IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE (境界線上のホライゾン, Kyookaisenjoo no Horaizon, 2011), based upon best-selling author Minoru Kawakami’s ongoing, eight-book franchise that has already sold over 750,000 copies in Japan. Directed by Manabu Ono (MY HIME, SAKI) the huge and epic story that combines everything from giant robots and aerial ships to witches and werewolves will employ a staff of four Character Designers – Tomoyuki Fujii, Shinya Nishizawa, Yukiko Aikei and Kanta Suzuki- to adapt the original concepts by Satoyasu (TENKY), while script supervision and adaptation falls into the capable hands of Tatsuhiko Urahata (NANA, MASTER KEATON, MONSTER, STRIKE WITCHES 2).

Weekly episodes of HORIZON IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE will begin airing digitally on The Anime Network on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 in Japanese with English subtitles. Additional digital outlets and home video releases will follow in 2012.
Continued…

Former Ultraman director/producer Takeshi Yagi at an Ultraman event in Tokyo in 2009. Photo by Jim M. Ballard.

Author: Jim M. Ballard
Special Thanks to Takeshi Yagi
IN ASSOCIATION WITH GAIJINCHANNEL.COM

Cover for "Ultraman Begins 2011: The Start of a
New Battle". © 2011 Hero's Ltd.

Conceived by Tsuburaya Productions – the production company founded by Eiji Tsuburaya, the master of special effects on Toho’s Godzilla film series – the original ULTRAMAN (Urutoraman) first broadcast from July 17th 1966 until April 9th 1967 on TBS. Throughout 39 exciting episodes, audiences nationwide watched the superhero Ultraman defend the Earth from a plethora of giant monsters.

ULTRAMAN proved so successful that after 45 years and over 30 spin-offs and feature films, Ultraman is continuing to thrive, ingraining itself in Japanese popular culture shoulder-to-shoulder with Godzilla and other famous icons.

In March 2011, immediately following the earthquake disaster, Tsuburaya Productions established the Ultraman Foundation. Through the support of Tsuburaya’s creative staff and their extensive back-catalog of famous heroes, the charity is helping to raise money for children directly affected by the events of March 11th, and spreading a message of hope to children throughout Japan in the midst of the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
Continued…

Korean student Cha Se-hui (Park Ji-Yeon) is trapped in school with a murderer in DEATH BELL: BLOODY CAMP. © 2010 Core Contents Media

Korean Horror Film Arrives in October
Source: Media Blasters, Inc.
Special Thanks to Carl Morano

DVD cover art for DEATH BELL: BLOODY CAMP. Photo
courtesy of Media Blasters. © 2010 Core Contents Media

On October 11th, Media Blasters will release the Korean horror film DEATH BELL: BLOODY CAMP (고사 두 번째 이야기: 교생실습, Gosa Du Beonjjae Yiyagi: Gyosaengsilseop, 2010) on DVD through their Tokyo Shock label.

DEATH BELL: BLOODY CAMP had its world premiere on July 23, 2010 as the closing film of the 14th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival. The Korean theatrical run began July 28, 2010, with more than 50,000 people seeing the film on its first day of release.

After the school swim star, Jeong Tae-yeon (Yoon Seung Ah), is found murdered, new teacher Park Eun-su (Hwang Jung Eum), student Cha Se-hui (Park Ji-Yeon) and their elite summer session class find themselves locked in the school with an ultimatum: find the murderer among you, or everyone dies. Their only clue is a message scrawled on the blackboard: “When an innocent mother is killed, what son would not avenge her death?”
Continued…

Sentai Filmworks has licensed North American rights to the new anime MAJIKOI ~ OH! SAMURAI GIRLS before the series has aired in Japan.
© 2011 MinatoSoft/ Majikoi Production Commitee

Brand New Japanese Anime Gets US Release
Source: Sentai Filmworks press release
Official Site: anime-majikoi.com (Japan)
Special Thanks to David Williams

Sentai Filmworks fulfills the fantasies of fans of feudal fighting females with the company’s newest announcement, MAJIKOI ~ OH! SAMURAI GIRLS (真剣で私に恋しなさい, Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!, 2011). Based on the mega-hit PC game from MinatoSoft, the 12 episode series focuses on a city where almost everyone has a Samurai obsession. Direction is by Keitaro Motonaga (GETBACKERS, YUMERIA) using character designs by Mayumi Watanabe (FANDORA, FAIRY TAIL, FREEZING) and story supervision by Katsuhiko Takayama (AND YET THE TOWN MOVES, e.f. A TALE OF MEMORIES).

Digital distribution of MAJIKOI ~ OH! SAMURAI GIRLS will begin next month through many outlets. The series will see a home video release next year.
Continued…

Five SciFi Japan readers have won copies of the GAMERA TRILOGY Collector’s Edition, courtesy of Mill Creek, Cheap DVD Packs, and SFJ!
Photo courtesy of Mill Creek Entertainment. © 2011 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.

Source: Mill Creek Entertainment, Cheap DVD Packs
Special Thanks to Barrett Evans

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Our thanks to everyone who entered Mill Creek Entertainment, Cheap DVD Packs, and SciFi Japan’s contest for the GAMERA TRILOGY Collector’s Edition Blu-ray set. We’ve received hundreds of entries, and the randomly chosen winners are:

Marcus Scoggins
Pete Quint
Zen Faulkes
Tyler Beasley
Jeffrey Jennings

Congratulations to the winners! Each of you has won a 2-disc Blu-ray collection of GAMERA: GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE (ガメラ 大怪獣空中決戦, Gamera Daikaiju Kuchu Kessen, 1995), GAMERA 2: ATTACK OF THE LEGION (ガメラ2 レギオン襲来, Gamera 2: Region Shurai, 1996) and GAMERA 3: REVENGE OF IRIS (ガメラ3 邪神〈イリス〉覚醒, Gamera 3: Jyashin Iris Kakusei, 1999).
Continued…

A Teenager And His Friends Embark On A Dangerous Adventure To Alter The Future And Save The World
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

Cover art for Psyren Volume 1. Photo courtesy of VIZ
Media. © 2007 by Toshiaki Iwashiro/Shueisha Inc.

VIZ Media, LLC, the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has announced the debut of the riveting action manga series – Psyren – on October 4th. The new series, by Toshiaki Iwashiro, will be published under the company’s SHONEN JUMP imprint, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. Psyren is also currently featured in VIZ Media’s monthly Weekly Shonen Jump magazine.

“Save me!” Those were Sakurako Amamiya’s last words to her friend Ageha Yoshina before she mysteriously went missing. Now Ageha’s on a quest to find her. He’s convinced that the mythical Psyren Secret Society has something to do with the recent rash of disappearances. And now he seems to be caught up as a player in their very deadly game…

“Ageha Yoshina embarks on a dangerous adventure in this action-packed new series where he attempts to alter the future and save the world,” says Joel Enos, Editor. “Readers will be transported to Psyren, a stark wasteland inhabited by insect-like monsters, where Yoshina and his friends must complete missions assigned by the mysterious Nemesis Q if they ever hope to return home. Psyren is a bestseller in Japan, where it also spawned a pair of popular novels. Don’t miss the new manga release coming in October!”
Continued…

An oil rig becomes the hunting ground for a sea monster in SECTOR 7, the new 3D Korean film now in limited theatrical release in North America.
Photo courtesy of CJ E&M Pictures and JK Film. © 2010 JK Film / CJ E&M Pictures

English Press Materials for New Korean 3D Monster Movie
Source: CJ E&M Pictures
Official Movie Site: sector7movie.blogspot.com (US), 2011sector7.co.kr (Korea)

Concept art for the final stage of the monster.
Photo courtesy of CJ E&M Pictures and JK Film.
© 2010 JK Film / CJ E&M Pictures

A special preview screening of SECTOR 7 in Los Angeles brought in a full house of viewers, anxious to see what happens to the crew on board the Eclipse. With a ton of action sequences and a monster that can withstand almost any assault, the audience was on the edge of their seats throughout the entire film. It’s “Jaws meets The Host” said one, as the indomitable creature of the deep comes to terrorize the family-like crew stationed on Sector 7.

Having a similar premise to Bong Joon-ho’s THE HOST, this film takes the monster movie a step forward with its realistic 3-D effects and campy monster feel, which proved to be pure entertainment for all. For those who enjoy sci-fi and monster flicks, it is a “definite must-see” said fans of the genre.

With a “Really cool monster, some comedic moments, great action and special effects,” it’s a Korean film that strays from the norm and will keep you interested in finding out what is in store for the ill-fated crew on board.
Continued…

The hot new Japanese indie group, Galileo Galilei. © 2011 SME Records Inc.

CONTROL TOWER Inspired by and Named After Song by Indie Teenage Sensation Galileo Galilei
Source: Twisted PR press release
Official Movie Site: galileogalilei.jp/eiga (Japan)
Special Thanks to Tom Smith

Japanese poster art for CONTROL TOWER. © 2011 SME
Records Inc.

Hokkaido’s hottest new talent, Galileo Galilei, prepares for success in Britain as a film inspired by their music gets its European premier at London’s Raindance Film Festival 2011 on 9 October.

The four-piece indie-rock group blasted into the mainstream after dominating Japan’s ‘Senkou Riot’ teenage talent festival. Since then, their debut single has surpassed one million download sales and their first major label album gained top five success in the country’s Weekly Oricon Album chart.

Now, a film named after the first song they ever wrote, CONTROL TOWER (管制塔, Kanseitou, 2011), sets to capture the emotion behind the chords and translate the lyrics’ message in a medium that transcends the language barrier. Upon first hearing the song live in concert, director Takahiro Miki knew that he wanted to make a film from it.

“We were surprised and thrilled when we first heard about the project,” says vocalist Yuuki Ozaki. “Kanseitou was about those feelings we had as teenagers, battling against an overwhelming sense of hopelessness as time inevitably ticks on.”
Continued…

GLASS MAIDEN COMPLETE COLLECTION Available on October 4th
Source: Section23 Films press release
Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff

Photo courtesy of Section23 Films.

Home video distributor Section23 Films has provided details on its October slate of releases; including the exciting sci-fi meets private eye series, GLASS MAIDEN. The complete collection will be released on DVD by the exciting new anime label and Section23 client, Maiden Japan.

Also scheduled for October are DVD editions of HIMAWARI! SEASON 1 COLLECTION, KOBATO COLLECTION 2, HELL GIRL: TWO MIRRORS COMPLETE COLLECTION, PRINCESS TUTU COMPLETE COLLECTION, LA CORDA D’ORO ~ PRIMO PASSO COMPLETE COLLECTION, and RAY COMPLETE COLLECTION.

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

Source: FUNimation Entertainment
Official Site: bgata-hkei.com (Japan), funimation.com/b-gata-h-kei-yamada-s-first-time (US)
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith

Key art for B GATA H KEI – YAMADA’S FIRST TIME. © 2010 Yoko
Sanri / Shueisha Inc. B-Gata H-Kei Project

FUNimation Entertainment has begun streaming the first two episodes of the risque romantic comedy B GATA H KEI – YAMADA’S FIRST TIME (B型H系, Bii Gata Etchi Kei, 2010) at funimation.com.

This series, from director Yusuke Yamamoto (SGT FROG, WELCOME TO THE NHK), is based on the manga series of the same name published by Shueisha. Both follow Yamada, a boy-crazy school girl with distracting daydreams about future bedmates – but before she can get this saucy sex life underway, she realizes she first needs to lose her virginity! She knows to whom she will bestow this prize: her classmate Kosuda. However, a successful seduction of Kosuda is more difficult than this lusty teen had counted on.

These streaming episodes are the Japanese broadcast version. However, FUNimation’s product release in 2012 will contain the content as seen in the Japanese DVD release.
Continued…

Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Official Site: VIZ.com/Pokemon
Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

Cover art for POKÉMON – ZOROARK: MASTER OF ILLUSIONS.
Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2011 Pokémon. © 1997-2010
Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK, TV Tokyo, ShoPro, JR
Kikaku. © PIKACHU PROJECT 2010.

VIZ Media, LLC, the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, will excite POKÉMON fans everywhere with the DVD release of the thirteenth full-length feature film from the venerable kids franchise, POKÉMON—ZOROARK: MASTER OF ILLUSIONS. The DVD, rated ‘A’ for All Ages, was released on September 20th under the company’s VIZ KIDS imprint and carries an MSRP of $19.97 U.S. / $19.98 CAN.

The Pokémon Baccer World Cup. It is the most anticipated event of the year, and as hundreds flock to Crown City to watch the exciting competition unfold, Ash, Pikachu, and his friends encounter a mysterious new Pokémon they have never seen before.

But when the three Legendary Pokémon Raikou, Entei, and Suicune suddenly arrive and begin rampaging through the streets, it’s up to Ash and his companions, along with their new Pokémon friend Zorua, to uncover the secret behind the immense and powerful forces at work.

What strange and dangerous powers are afoot in Crown City? Why did Celebi suddenly return after vanishing for twenty years? And why is the mighty Zoroark unleashing its fury upon the town? The quest for these answers leads down an uncertain path filled with peril—can Ash and his companions find enough courage, strength, and friendship to unearth the mystery in time to save Crown City? All these questions and more will be answered in POKÉMON—ZOROARK: MASTER OF ILLUSIONS!
Continued…

Award-Winning Author Sayuri Ueda Delivers A Kinetic Action Story With A Distinctly Japanese View Of Gender Politics
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Official Site: haikasoru.com
Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

Gender politics combine with hard science fiction in
The Cage of Zeus. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media.
© 2004 Sayuri Ueda. Originally published in Japan by
Kadokawa Haruki Corporation.

VIZ Media, LLC, the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has released the newest novel published under its popular Haikasoru imprint. The Cage of Zeus, by author Sayuri Ueda, debuted September 20th and carries an MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN. The eBook edition is also now available on the Amazon Kindle, the Apple’s iBooks Store and the Sony Reader Store for $8.99.

Haikasoru publishes some of the most compelling contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy stories for English-speaking audiences, and is the first imprint based in the U.S. dedicated to Japanese science fiction and fantasy in translation.

The Cage of Zeus introduces readers to the Rounds, humans with the sex organs of both genders. Artificially created to test the limits of the human body in space, the Rounds are a minority, despised and hunted by the terrorist group, Vessel of Life. Aboard Jupiter-I, a space station orbiting the gas giant that shares its name, the Rounds have created their own society with a radically different view of gender and of life itself. Security chief Shirosaki keeps the peace between the Rounds and the typically gendered “Monaurals,” but when a terrorist strike hits the station, the balance of power and tolerance is at risk… and an entire people is targeted for genocide.
Continued…

Source: Sentai Filmworks press release
Official Site: gendaimahou.com (Japan)
Special Thanks to David Williams

MODERN MAGIC MADE SIMPLE will be released on DVD in December.

Sentai Filmworks hasn’t added a starter course in sorcery to their catalog, but they have added the thoroughly enchanting new series MODERN MAGIC MADE SIMPLE (よくわかる現代魔法, Yoku Wakaru Gendai Mahoo, 2009) to their ever expanding line up of animated hits! Based on the hit manga written by Hiroshi Sakurazaka and illustrated by Miki Miyashita (Maburaho), the 12 episode series about a world where the task of casting a magic spell is the equivalent of writing computer code has been mystically crafted under the supervision of director Yasuhiro Kuroda (KAMPFER, AMAZING NURSE NANAKO) with Makoto Koga (ARIA, SOLA, BLUDGEONING ANGEL DOKURA-CHAN) adapting the character designs from Miyashita’s bewitching originals.
Continued…

5-Part Original Miniseries Hitting Home Entertainment Shelves Nationwide
Source: Shout! Factory press release
Special Thanks to Tom Chen

Cover art for TRANSFORMERS PRIME – DARKNESS RISING.
Photo courtesy of Shout! Factory. ©2011 Hasbro, Inc.

“Megatron has not been seen nor heard from in some time, and if his return is imminent, it could be catastrophic.” -Optimus Prime

The lure of the TRANSFORMERS saga starts a new chapter as all foes return, legendary heroes rise, and new ones are found in unlikely places. The new CGI animated series TRANSFORMERS PRIME which currently airs on The Hub television network and is a Hasbro Studios production, deepens the epic mythology of both the Autobots and Decepticons, while starting fresh for a new generation of fans.

On December 6, 2011, Shout! Factory, in collaboration with Hasbro, Inc, will release TRANSFORMERS PRIME – DARKNESS RISING DVD, featuring all five action-packed episodes. Delivering a new level of heavy metal action and family entertainment for all ages, this highly collectible DVD is priced to own with a suggested retail price of $14.97. Passionate fans and collectors can pre-order this DVD now on Amazon.com or ShoutFactoryStore.com.
Continued…

Dinosaurs rule the prehistoric Korean peninsula in TARBOSAURUS. The 3D Korean film has been picked up for a North American release.
© 2011 CJ E&M Pictures

Well Go USA Acquires North American Rights
Source: Well Go USA Entertainment, CJ E&M Pictures

The Korean movie production and distribution company CJ E&M has licensed the North American rights for the WWII tale MY WAY (마이 웨이, Mai Wei) and the 3D dinosaur film TARBOSAURUS (타르보사우루스) to distributor Well Go USA Entertainment.

Promotional art for MY WAY. © 2011 CJ E&M Pictures

Based on a true story, MY WAY is directed by Kang Je-kyu (TAEGUKGI: THE BROTHERHOOD OF WAR) and stars Jang Dong-Kun (TAEGUKGI, THE WARRIOR’S WAY), Joe Odagiri (SHINOBI, MUSHI-SHI), and Bingbing Fan (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS, SHAOLIN). The film begins in Japan-colonized Korea during the 1930s, where Jun-shik (Jang) and Tatsuo (Odagiri) are rivals hoping to compete as marathon runners in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. But when war breaks out with the U.S.S.R. Jun-shik is forced to enlist in the army.

MY WAY will open in theaters in Korea in December. Well Go USA has picked up DVD/Blu-ray, digital, Video on Demand, and television rights and is planning the North American release for early 2012.

The family adventure TARBOSAURUS was directed by Han Sang-ho. The film combines computer animation and live action photography to tell the story of dinosaurs who inhabited the Korean Peninsula 70 million years ago. At that time, the area now known as Jeonnam Yeosu was the forest habitat of a species of theropod dinosaur called Tarbosaurus.

Well Go USA has acquired North American theatrical, DVD/Blu-ray, digital, VoD, and television rights for TARBOSAURUS. No release date has been set.
Continued…

From the Director of OF ALIEN VS. NINJA and the Star of KARATE GIRL
Source: The Associates press release
Official Movie Site: kunoichi-movie.com (Japan)

UK DVD cover art. Photo courtesy of The Associates.
© 2011 The Kunoichi Partners

From pioneering ninja movie writer-director Seiji Chiba (ALIEN VS. NINJA; ROGUE NINJA), 19-year-old karate sensation-turned-actress Rina Takeda (KARATE GIRL; HIGH-KICK GIRL) and stunt choreographer Kensuke Sonomura (THE WARRIOR’S WAY; ALIEN VS. NINJA; THE MACHINE GIRL) comes THE KUNOICHI: NINJA GIRL (女忍, Kunoichi, 2011), an ass-kicking blast of martial arts action.

As the fierce rivalry between the Iga and Kouga ninja clans rages on, a pair of psychotic eunuch ninjas, Shimotsuki and Hyotsuki, are tasked with abducting young women from nearby Kouga villages and forcing them to serve as “tools of pleasure” to the lower-ranking members of their clan. While transporting their latest quartet of victims – including a feisty girl called Kisaragi (Rina Takeda) – through the woodlands back to their own village, they are suddenly intercepted by an unknown man who helps the four women to escape by providing Kisaragi with a sword, which she uses to sever their bonds.

THE KUNOICHI: NINJA GIRL (cert. tbc) will be released on DVD (Region 2, PAL) by MVM on 10th October 2011.
Continued…

Korean 3D Monster Movie Opens in Select Cities in US and Canada
Source: CJ E&M Pictures
Official Movie Site: sector7movie.blogspot.com (US), 2011sector7.co.kr (Korea)

English language promotional art for SECTOR 7. Photo
courtesy of CJ E&M Pictures and JK Film. © 2010 JK Film
/CJ E&M Pictures

In a surprise move, the new Korean 3D monster movie, SECTOR 7 (7광구, Chil gwanggu) is now playing in limited theatrical release in North America. The US branch of the film’s Korean co-producer and distributor, CJ E&M Pictures, held a special preview screening of last week in Los Angeles before launching the film in eleven theaters across the United States and Canada.

North American Release Date: September 16th, 2011
Directed by: Kim Ji-hoon
Running Time: 112 minutes
Rating: NR not rated by the MPAA (US Rating) / 15+ (KOR Rating)
Language: Korean with English subtitles

Director: Kim Ji-hoon
Screenplay: Kim Hwee, Yoon Je-kyun
Production: CJ E&M, JK Film
Distribution: CJ E&M
Continued…

Iris and Gamera face off in a publicity shot for GAMERA 3: REVENGE OF IRIS. © 1999 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.

Get the Blu-ray Box Set for Free, Courtesy of Mill Creek, Cheap DVD Packs, and SciFi Japan!
Source: Mill Creek Entertainment, Cheap DVD Packs
Special Thanks to Barrett Evans

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Contents of the GAMERA TRILOGY Collector’s Edition Blu-ray
box set. Photo courtesy of Mill Creek Entertainment. © 2011
Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.

On September 27th, GAMERA 3: REVENGE OF IRIS and the GAMERA TRILOGY Collector’s Edition will be released on Blu-ray in North America by Mill Creek Entertainment. Now, Mill Creek and their friends over at Cheap DVD Packs are offering SciFi Japan readers an early chance to win the GAMERA TRILOGY Blu-ray set, free of charge!

The GAMERA TRILOGY Collector’s Edition includes all three movies from the acclaimed 1990s Gamera series on two Blu-ray discs…

GAMERA: GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE (ガメラ 大怪獣空中決戦, Gamera Daikaiju Kuchu Kessen, 1995)
GAMERA 2: ATTACK OF THE LEGION (ガメラ2 レギオン襲来, Gamera 2: Region Shurai, 1996)
GAMERA 3: REVENGE OF IRIS (ガメラ3 邪神〈イリス〉覚醒, Gamera 3: Jyashin Iris Kakusei, 1999)

Each movie is presented in a brand-new high-def transfer from original film elements provided by Kadokawa Pictures, owner of the Gamera franchise. Language options are Japanese 5.1 DTS HD audio, English dubbed 5.1 Dolby Digital audio, and English subtitles. The set also features a wealth of extras from all three films, including trailers, deleted scenes, cast and crew interviews, behind the scenes footage, FX tests, and much more! The complete running time is 6 hours and 26 minutes.
Continued…

Apes rule a futuristic Japan in TIME OF THE APES, one of four fun movies from the upcoming DVD collection MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: XXII.
© 1974 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

Featuring TIME OF THE APES, MIGHTY JACK, THE VIOLENT YEARS, and THE BRUTE MAN
Source: Shout! Factory press release
Special Thanks to Tom Chen

Box art for MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: XXII. Photo
courtesy of Shout! Factory. © 2011 Best Brains, Inc.

Our long cultural nightmare is over. On December 6, Shout! Factory, in association with Best Brains, Inc., will release MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: XXII, a 4-DVD set that includes TIME OF THE APES, MIGHTY JACK, THE VIOLENT YEARS, THE BRUTE MAN and a cornucopia of extras worthy of the holiday season. All four episodes are previously unreleased on DVD, and TIME OF THE APES and MIGHTY JACK are two of the most beloved and most requested episodes of the comedy phenomenon!

The MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 series was created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Jim Mallon. The premise of the series features a hapless man who is trapped by mad scientists on a satellite in space and forced to watch old B-movies of questionable worth. To keep sane, he’s built two robot sidekicks, and together they do a running commentary on the films, affectionately mocking their flaws with inspired wisecracks and acting as a demented movie theater peanut gallery. During its 11-year run and 198 episodes (including one feature film), MST3K attained a loyal fan base and critical acclaim. The series won a Peabody Award in 1993, and was nominated for writing Emmys in 1994 and 1995.

Passionate fans and collectors can pre-order this 4-DVD set now on ShoutFactoryStore.com, Amazon.com and other online retailers.
Continued…

A colony of vampires causes havoc on an uncharted Japanese island in HIGANJIMA: ESCAPE FROM VAMPIRE ISLAND.
Photo courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. © 2010 Suzuki Koji/ Kodansha, “Higanjima” Film Partners.

Japanese/Korean Horror Adventure Coming October 4th
Source: FUNimation Entertainment
Official Movie Site: Higanjima (Japan)
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee

Cover art for the HIGANJIMA Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack.
Photo courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. © 2010
Suzuki Koji/ Kodansha, “Higanjima” Film Partners.

FUNimation Entertainment will release the Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack of HIGANJIMA: ESCAPE FROM VAMPIRE ISLAND (彼岸島, Higanjima, 2010) on October 4th. Based on Koji Matsumoto’s manga, HIGANJIMA is a Japanese/Korean horror adventure from VOLCANO HIGH director Kim Tae-gyun and DEATH NOTE movie screenwriter Tetsuya Oishi.

Akira Miyamoto (Hideo Ishiguro, GOKUSEN THE MOVIE) and his ragtag group of teenage friends enter a world of danger and action when they land on the shores of Higanjima, an uncharted island that’s overrun by vampires. They’ll face entire villages of sword-wielding vampires while racing to stay a step ahead of winged she-beasts and giant gargoyles.
Continued…

A sampling of the many great Godzilla T-shirt designs you can win from Impact Merchandising and KAIJUCAST’s new “Feel The Impact” contest.
© 2010 Impact Merchandising/Toho Co., Ltd.

Source: Kyle Yount
Official Site: Kaijucast.com

Kyle Yount— an old friend of the SciFi Japan crew— recently contacted us about a great new Godzilla-themed contest we think SFJ readers will be interested in. Kyle runs the the informative and entertaining Japanese monster movie podcast called KAIJUCAST, and he’s teamed up with Impact Merchandising to give fans a chance to win $100 worth of product from Impact’s line of Godzilla shirts.

“I am a regular visitor to my local comic book shop and noticed a fair amount of new Godzilla shirts,” Kyle told SciFi Japan. “For a long time, I had no idea who was producing them, but they were well-designed and looked fantastic. Eventually I discovered that this company, who was giving Godzilla a LOT of attention, was named Impact Merchandising. I found their website and they were quite enthusiastic about getting the opportunity to spread the word about their selection. In turn, I was also excited to host a much larger scale contest with the KAIJUCAST. The result is the Feel The Impact contest.”
Continued…

New Digital Volumes To Be Released Weekly And Complement Latest Additions To 19 Other Popular Manga Series
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Official Site: VIZManga.com
Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

Cover art for Bleach Volume 23. Photo courtesy of
VIZ Media. © 2001 Tite Kubo/Shueisha Inc.

VIZ Media continues to offer manga fans a vast library of newly added digital titles for September through VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App for the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. The latest update includes a just-announced manga “speed up” for Bleach and One Piece that will bring both series up to date with their North American print counterparts by December.

Beginning this week and continuing each Monday thereafter, new digital volumes of manga creator Tite Kubo’s supernatural action saga, Bleach, as well as the high seas pirate adventures of Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece, will for be available online on VIZManga.com and also for download on the VIZ Manga App.

The latest manga speed up complements a similar accelerated release schedule announced earlier this month for Naruto, which just saw the release of 7 manga volumes in 7 days on VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App, and established digital parity with the bestselling series’ print counterpart.

Other notable September digital manga releases for both platforms will include the concluding volume to Inio Asano’s What a Wonderful World!, which will launch on September 12th, as well as final volume to Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball Z, available the same day. The newest edition of Natsume Ono’s acclaimed samurai drama, House of Five Leaves Volume 4, is scheduled for September 19th, a day before the print counterpart’s national release.
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The anime feature TRIGUN: BADLANDS RUMBLE will be released on DVD and Blu-ray this September 27th. Photo courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment.
© 2010 Yasuhiro Naito/ Trigun the Movie Production Committee

Source: FUNimation Entertainment
Official Movie Site: funimation.com/trigun (US), trigun-movie.com (Japan)
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee

TRIGUN: BADLANDS RUMBLE (トライガン The Movie 公式サイト, 2010), the first full length Trigun movie, will be released on both DVD and Blu-ray in North America by FUNimation Entertainment. The movie is the first new Trigun animation in over a decade, and features a new story by series creator Yasuhiro Naito.
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The 3D version of the Korean box office smash THE HOST will make its world premiere next month at the Busan International Film Festival.
© 2006 Chungeorahm Film

Primary Korean Film Festival Puts Two Monster Movies on This Year’s List
Author: Kim Song-ho
Source: Busan International Film Festival

The 3D version of Bong Joon-ho’s THE HOST (괴물 / Gwoemul, 2006) and Kim Ki-duk’s classic YONGARY, MONSTER FROM THE DEEP (대괴수 용가리 / Daegoesu Yonggary, 1967) will be shown at this year’s Busan* International Film Festival (BIFF, October 6~14). The event is known to be one of the most prosperous Asian film festivals in the world, first launched in 1996.

THE HOST 3D will makes its world premiere as an entry in the Gala Presentation category of BIFF. YONGARY, MONSTER FROM THE DEEP was chosen as one of nine movies for the festival’s Korean Cinema Retrospective category.
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Cover art for the upcoming UK DVD and Blu-ray editions of the Japanese live action sci-fi adventure GANTZ. Photos courtesy of The Associates.
© Hiroya Oku/Shueisha © 2011 Gantz Film Partners

Source: The Associates press release
Official Movie Site: gantz-movie.com (Japan), gantzmovies.com (US)

Already adapted as a hugely successful anime series, Hiroya Oku’s manga Gantz gets a stunning special effects-laden, live action makeover courtesy of director Shinsuke Sato (SAND CLOCK; ALL ABOUT MY DOG) and DEATH NOTE trilogy producer Takahiro Sato.

GANTZ (cert. 15) will be released on DVD (Region 2, PAL) and Blu-ray (Region B) in the UK by Manga Entertainment on 3rd October 2011. Special Features include: The Making Of GANTZ; interviews; teasers and trailers; TV spots; Japanese 5.1 Dolby Digital and 2.0 PCM audio options; optional English subtitles.
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Source: Japan Society
Official Site: filmsforhope.org
Special Thanks to Shannon Jowett

FIVE NUMBERS! (Norageki!). Photo courtesy of Japan Society.
© Bandai Visual Co., Ltd.

New York, NY – Conceived and developed in response to the disasters following the March 11 earthquake in Japan, Films for Hope is a showcase of thrilling, diverse short animated films from around the world celebrating the creativity of artists inspired by Japanese animation techniques and storytelling.

Taking place Sunday, September 11, at Japan Society, Films for Hope commemorates the half year point after the earthquake, as well as the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the U.S.

“This is a time of mourning and remembrance in the U.S. and Japan, with rebuilding efforts in both countries still underway,” notes curator Justin Leach. “This series of films captures the spirit of possibility and the incredible invention that ushers us through seemingly insurmountable challenges and makes us more resilient on the other side of tragedy.”

With over 30 shorts from countries such as France, Spain, the U.K. Germany, Poland, Taiwan, China, Canada, the U.S. and Japan, the festival features the East Coast premiere of Pixar’s latest animated short film, LA LUNA. Director Enrico Casarosa appears in person to discuss the creation and production of LA LUNA, as well as his efforts to help Japan through grassroots fundraising.

In addition, Dai Sato presents his new animated feature FIVE NUMBERS! (Norageki!), a U.S. premiere, and discusses his efforts to help those impacted by the earthquake and share his thoughts on how the disasters will impact Japan’s animation industry in the years to come.
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This September and October, the Korean Cultural Service New York is hosting free screenings of (left to right) BLEAK NIGHT, END OF ANIMAL and MOSS,
three new highly-regarded Korean films. Photos courtesy of the Korean Cultural Service

Free NYC Screenings of Acclaimed New Korean Films
Source: Subway Cinema press release
Official Site: koreanculture.org

For some reason, a lot of really amazing movies never make it out of Korea. Critics go nuts for them, but for one reason or another they never get any love from overseas distributors. The Korean Cultural Service aims to correct that with this series of three amazing movies from 2010 and 2011 that deserve bigger audiences. The free screenings start tonight at Tribeca Cinemas.
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Brand New EP SEKIRANUN GRAFFITI Now Available from Sony Music Direct on iTunes and Amazon
Source: MediaLab press release
Official Site: facebook.com/supercell.JPN
Special Thanks to Erik Jansen

Cover art for SEKIRANUN GRAFFITI. Image courtesy of MediaLab. © 2011 Supercell/
Sony Music Entertainment Japan, Inc.

Following up the release of its first full-length record in the U.S., Sony Music Direct (Japan), Inc., a division of Sony Music Entertainment Japan, Inc., has announced the U.S. release of a brand new EP by the Japanese pop artist/group, Ryo (Supercell). The new release, SEKIRANUN GRAFFITI, is available now exclusively on iTunes and Amazon and features vocals from Hatsune Miku, the world’s first virtual pop diva.

The EP’s title track, “SEKIRANUN GRAFFITI” (SEKIRANUN means Thundercloud), is also the theme music to the latest Hatsune Miku PROJECT DIVA arcade console game and video game for the PSP, which will be released in Japan this fall. The release also contains the new single, “Fallin’ Fallin’ Fallin’,” which was composed by Ryo and the celebrated Japanese Vocaloid producer known as Dixie Flatline. The SEKIRANUN GRAFFITI EP also contains instrumental and remixes of the two tracks. Cover art for the new release was created by Atsuya Uki.
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Naomitsu Hatakeyama (Shun Oguri) is betrayed by his brother in TAJOMARU: AVENGING BLADE. Photo courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment.
©2009 Tajomaru Film Partners

Source: FUNimation Entertainment
Official Movie Site: warnerbros.co.jp/tajomaru (Japan)
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee

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 directed by Hiroyuki Nakano (STEREO FUTURE) and stars Shun Oguri (SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO, CROWS ZERO), Kyosuke Yabe (SAMURAI ZOMBIE) and Hiroyuki Ikeuchi (IP MAN, SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO). On September 20th, the film comes to North America in a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack from distributor FUNimation Entertainment.
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Source: NEW PEOPLE Entertainment, MediaLab
Official Movie Site: gantz-movie.com (Japan), gantzmovies.com (US)
Special Thanks to Shio Toyoda and Erik Jansen

Three SciFi Japan readers have won a GANTZ DVD and
poster from NEW PEOPLE Entertainment. Photo
courtesy of NEW PEOPLE Entertainment. © Hiroya Oku
/Shueisha © 2011 Gantz Film Partners

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Thank you to everyone who entered NEW PEOPLE Entertainment and SciFi Japan’s GANTZ DVD + Poster Prize Pack contest. The three randomly drawn winners are:

Kevin deAntonio
Shannon Dagesse
Philip Kramer

Congratulations to the winners! Each of you will receive the GANTZ 2-Disc DVD Edition and poster. The prizes will be shipped soon so keep an eye on your mailboxes.

SciFi Japan has another contest lined up for September (Here’s a hint: it involves Blu-rays and a giant flying turtle). Check back soon for the official announcement!
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