NARUTO Voice Actress, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE: BONDS Premiere, Panel Discussions, Booth Activities And Giveaways
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

TIGER & BUNNY co-creator Masayuki Ozaki will attend.
Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2011 Sunrise/ T&B
Partners, MBS

VIZ Media, LLC, the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has announced a packed schedule of events, panel discussions, promotional giveaways, theatrical film premieres, and rare guest appearances for the 2011 New York Comic Con, taking place at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City, October 13th – 16th. VIZ Media will be located in Booth 932.

The annual New York Comic Con is the largest gathering on the East Coast dedicated to comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies, and television. Complete details on New York Comic Con is available at newyorkcomiccon.com.

This year, VIZ Media is proud to welcome Junko Takeuchi, the Japanese voice of Naruto, who will participate in a special NARUTO SHIPPUDEN panel discussion on Friday, October 14th from 1:15pm to 2:15pm in Room 1A22. Come welcome the actress for her first-ever U.S. appearance, and hear her experiences performing the voice for the world’s most popular ninja!

VIZ Media is pleased to welcome Masayuki Ozaki of Sunrise, the co-creator and Executive Producer of the hit anime TIGER & BUNNY, currently streaming on VIZAnime.com. He will participate in a can’t-miss TIGER & BUNNY panel discussion, taking place on Sunday, October 16th from 1:15pm to 2:15pm in Room 1A03.
Continued…

Series Debuts October 13th on Anime Network Online
Source: Sentai Filmworks, Anime Network press releases
Official Site: towanoquon.com (Japan)
Special Thanks to David Williams and Christian Lopez

Poster art for TOWANOQUON. © 2011 BONES/ Towa no
Quon Production Committee

Sentai Filmworks has rewarded fans of dark heroic action everywhere with the eagerly awaited announcement of the company’s acquisition of TOWANOQUON (トワノクオン, Towa no Quon, 2011), the spectacular new series of animated features from anime powerhouse BONES (EUREKA SEVEN, NO. 6). Produced by a literal all-star lineup of creators, the first film in the series is directed by Umanosuke Iida (HELLSING, MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM: THE 08TH MS TEAM, MIGHTY SPACE MINERS), with script supervision by Saizo Nemoto (KIKAIDER, TOKYO MAIDEN 2) and character designs by Toshihiro Kawamoto (COWBOY BEBOP, WOLF’S RAIN, GOLDEN BOY), while music is in the legendary hands of Kenji Kawai (THE RING, DARK WATER, SKYCRAWLERS, PATLABOR, RANMA ½, BLUE SEED, SORCERER HUNTERS).

Digital distribution of the 6-part mini-series will begin this month on Anime Network Online. Starting on Thursday, October 13, the first TOWANOQUON feature will begin streaming online at 1:00 PM Eastern, with a new part available every two weeks. TOWANOQUON will be shown in Japanese with English subtitles.
Continued…

Major Motoko Kusanagi hunts cyber criminals in GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX. Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment.
© 2002-2004 Shirow Masamune- Production I.G/Kodansha

The Complete Section 9 Cases Collected
Source: Madman Entertainment
Official Site: Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, ghostintheshell.com.au (Aus)

Packaging for GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX Complete
Collection. Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2002-2004
Shirow Masamune- Production I.G/Kodansha

On October 19th, the complete GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX (攻殻機動隊 STAND ALONE COMPLEX, Kookaku Kidootai Sutando Aroon Konpurekkusu) will be released in Australia as a limited edition DVD box set (Region 4, PAL) from Madman Entertainment. The STAND ALONE COMPLEX television series is based on Masamune Shirow’s manga and Mamoru Oshii’s highly influential film GHOST IN THE SHELL (攻殻機動隊, Goosuto In Za Sheru/Kookaku Kidootai, 1995), one of the most popular anime movies of all time and widely cited as inspiration for the MATRIX.

Madman’s GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX Complete Collection contains all 53 episodes from Season 1 and Season 2 as well as three feature length STAND ALONE COMPLEX films.
Continued…

The seven part OVA series FREEDOM— featuring character and mecha designs by AKIRA creator Katsuhiro Otomo— will be released on Blu-ray and DVD
in the United Kingdom on October 10th. Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 2006 Freedom Committee

Character and Mecha Designs by AKIRA Creator Katsuhiro Otomo
Source: The Associates press release
Official Site: freedom-project.jp (Japan)

UK DVD cover art. Photo courtesy of The Associates.
© 2006 Freedom Committee

AKIRA creator and STEAMBOY co-writer and director Katsuhiro Otomo’s unmistakeable visual style shines throughout FREEDOM (自由, 2006), a beautifully envisioned sci-fi anime series of cinematic scope and quality that puts most TV animation in the shade. Written by Katsuhiko Chiba (BLUE DRAGON; SLAYERS), Yuuichi Nomura (XAM’D: LOST MEMORIES) and Dai Sato (CASSHERN; GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX), directed by Shuhei Morita (COICENT; KAKURENBO) and with Otomo on board as the series’ character and mecha designer, this seven-episode (plus Prologue) series will more than satisfy those hungry anime fans who are eagerly waiting to see what Otomo will produce next.

FREEDOM (cert. 12) will be released on DVD (Region 2, PAL) and as a Collectors’ Edition Blu-ray (Region B) by Manga Entertainment on 10th October 2011. The Collector’s Edition includes all seven episodes of FREEDOM in HD on one Blu-ray disc plus the series on two standard definition DVD discs and a bonus set of four art cards packaged in a beautifully designed slip cover.
Continued…

Key art for the anime .hack//QUANTUM and GUILTY CROWN, coming from FUNimation Entertainment.
© 2011 .hack Conglomerate　© Quantum Project. © 2011 Guilty Crown Committee

Source: FUNimation Entertainment press releases
Official Sites: hack.channel.or.jp/quantum and guilty-crown.jp (Japanese)
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith

Distributor FUNimation Entertainment recently announced that it has acquired North American rights to the action fantasy .hack//QUANTUM and the sci-fi series GUILTY CROWN.

.hack//QUANTUM (ドットハック クワンタム, Dotto Hakku Kuwantamu, 2010) is the latest installment in the .hack franchise from Showgate. An anime adaptation of the .hack role-playing games created by Bandai Namco Games, this three episode OVA is animated by Kinema Citrus Studio and directed by Masaki Tachibana (TOKYO MAGNITUDE 8.0).

GUILTY CROWN (ギルティクラウン, Giruti Kuraun, 2011) is debuting on Fuji TV’s late night noitaminA block in October. The Production I.G. produced series is directed by Tetsuro Araki (DEATH NOTE, HIGH SCHOOL OF THE DEAD). The series script supervisor is Hiroyuki Yoshino (MACROSS FRONTIER), while original character designs are created by redjuice, the artist best known as the illustrator for the music group, Supercell. Supercell’s musician, Ryo, is composing the music.
Continued…

The Yamato races against time to save the Earth in the hit film SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, coming to DVD and Blu-ray from the Australian label Madman.
Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2010 Space Battleship Yamato Production Committee.

Region 4 Home Video Release in December
Source: Madman Entertainment

On December 14th, the live action feature film SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO (宇宙戦艦ヤマト, Supeesu Batorushippu Yamato, 2010) will be released on DVD (Region 4, PAL) and Blu-ray (Region B) in Australia by Madman Entertainment. The movie is not currently scheduled for release in North America or the United Kingdom.

Directed by Takashi Yamazaki (RETURNER, the ALWAYS- SUNSET ON THIRD STREET films), the film is based on the hugely popular SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO anime franchise (originally shown in America as STAR BLAZERS). It topped the box office upon its release in Japan, earning $12 million (US) in just five days.
Continued…

Anime Feature Film from the Producers of NARUTO Now on Sale
Source: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Official Movie Site: onigamiden.jp (Japan)

Cover art for the LEGEND OF THE MILLENNIUM DRAGON Blu-Ray/
DVD Combo Pack. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Home
Entertainment. © 2011 The Legend of The Millennium Dragon
Film Partners.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released the anime film LEGEND OF THE MILLENNIUM DRAGON (鬼神伝, Onigamiden, 2011) as a 2-Disc Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack.

Based on the 2004 novel by author Takafumi Takada, the movie was produced by Studio Pierrot (BLEACH, NARUTO) and TV Tokyo. The creative team includes director/writer Hirotsugu Kawasaki (SPRIGGAN, NARUTO THE MOVIE: LEGEND OF THE STONE OF GELEL), screenwriter Naruhisa Arakawa (SPICE AND WOLF, DRAGON BALL Z), and voice actors Kensho Ono (the Japanese voice of Harry Potter), Satomi Ishihara (CINNAMON THE MOVIE), and Shidou Nakamura (DEATH NOTE).

Sony’s publicity materials describe LEGEND OF THE MILLENNIUM DRAGON as “A spectacular journey of an unwilling young hero thrust into a mysterious past full of monsters, dragons, and strange hidden powers. Through a series of out of this world battles and adventures, Jun, a shy middle school boy, is transformed into a hero destined to battle evil and ensure harmony and tranquility in the world.”
Continued…

Japanese NARUTO Voice Actress Junko Takeuchi to Attend Special Premiere Event Held During 2011 New York Comic Con
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Official Site: naruto.com
Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

Key art for NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE: BONDS. Photo
courtesy of VIZ Media. © Masashi Kishimoto /2007
Shippuden © NMP 2008

VIZ Media, LLC, the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, complements its presence at the 2011 New York Comic Con with the exclusive U.S. theatrical premiere of the latest NARUTO SHIPPUDEN feature film, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE: BONDS (劇場版 NARUTO−ナルト− 疾風伝 絆, Gekijooban Naruto Shippuuden: Kizuna, 2008). The English subtitled anime will screen on Saturday, October 15th at 7:00pm at the New York School of Visual Arts Theatre. A special pre-show red carpet event featuring Japanese voice actress Junko Takeuchi, who provides the original voice for Naruto, will take place at the theatre beginning at 6:00pm.

Comic Con attendees can secure free tickets to the premiere at VIZ Media’s Booth #932. Check a schedule posted at the VIZ Media booth for the designated times for free ticket giveaways! The first 200 attendees in line for the premiere will receive a NARUTO plush toy. Premiere attendees will also receive a special VIZ Media Heroes Of Anime gift bag with an amazing assortment of goodies, including the NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: ULTIMATE NINJA IMPACT video game for the PSP (courtesy Namco Bandai), NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Collectable Card Game packs (courtesy Bandai America), NARUTO keychains (courtesy Great Eastern), and other assorted collectibles.
Continued…

Source: NEW PEOPLE Entertainment, Warner Home Video
Official Movie Site: gantz-movie.com (Japan), gantzmovies.com (US)

Announcement for the GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER Blu-ray and DVD.
Photo courtesy of Warner Home Video. © Hiroya Oku/Shueisha
© 2011 Gantz Film Partners

Warner Home Video has announced that the sci-fi thriller GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER (前編 PERFECT ANSWER, Gantsu Pafekuto Ansaa, 2011) will be released by NEW PEOPLE Entertainment in January, 2012. The film concludes the story begun in director Shinsuke Sato’s GANTZ (前編, Gantsu, 2011), and stars leading Japanese actors Kazunari Ninomiya (LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA) and Kenichi Matsuyama (DEATH NOTE, DETROIT METAL CITY).

Determined to resurrect friends who have died in battle, Kei Kurono (Ninomiya), Masaru Kato (Matsuyama) and other members trapped in the “in-between” world of GANTZ are aiming to score the 100 points needed to break through. An emergence of a mysterious investigator, however, complicates the situation further. The battle continues on as the two dimensions start to merge together. Some fight for love, and others fight for justice. At the end, who will sacrifice the most?

GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER will be available as both a 2-Disc DVD and a 3-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack.
Continued…

Fifty-four high school girls commit a terrifying act in director Shion Sano’s SUICIDE CLUB, now available for the first time on DVD in the UK.
Photo courtesy of Cine du Monde. © 2001 Omega Project /Biggubito /For Peace Co., Ltd. /Fyuzu /Kadokawa Pictures

New Label Presents Controversial Horror Favorite from Director Shion Sano
Source: Cine du Monde
Official Site: cinedumonde.co.uk/suicideclub (UK)
Special Thanks to Andrew Kirkham

Cover art for the UK DVD release of SUICIDE CLUB.
Photo courtesy of Cine du Monde. © 2001 Omega Project
/Biggubito /For Peace Co., Ltd. /Fyuzu /Kadokawa
Pictures

Cine du Monde is a great new DVD/Blu-ray label launched in the United Kingdom. The company will focus on “Left-of-Centre Cinema”, giving well-deserved attention to films that do not generally receive mainstream recognition.

One of Cine du Monde’s first DVD releases is the uncut version of the controversial Japanese shocker SUICIDE CLUB (自殺サークル, Jisatsu Saakuru, 2002). Written and directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Shion Sano (LOVE EXPOSURE, COLD FISH), SUICIDE CLUB quickly became a favorite on the international film festivals, winning the Jury Prize for “Most Ground Breaking Film” at the 2003 Fantasia Film Festival. Despite the film’s cult status and critical attention, SUICIDE CLUB was not officially available in the UK until now.

54 high school girls throw themselves in front of a subway train. This appears to be only the beginning of a string of suicides around the country. Does the new all-girl group Desert have anything to do with it? Detective Kuroda tries to find the answer, which isn’t as simple as one could hope.
Continued…

Latest Update Features Additions to 16 Popular Series, Digital “Speed Ups” and New Digital Debuts
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Official Site: VIZManga.com
Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

Cover art for Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan Volume 5.
Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2008 Hiroshi Shiibashi/
Shueisha Inc.

VIZ Media opens the Fall season with a bevy of new manga titles that will be available on VIZManga.com and for digital download on the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

October first half of the month updates are highlighted by new additions to 16 top VIZ Media manga series. The update includes the continuation of a manga “speed up” for Bleach and One Piece that will bring both series up to date with their North American print counterparts by December. Two other notable releases – Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan Vol. 5 and Hyde & Closer Vol. 6 – are also scheduled to launch digitally a day ahead of their print counterparts.

VIZ Media’s digital manga platforms allow for universal access to read manga from an iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and now, VIZManga.com for desktop/laptop computers and Android-powered devices with built-in web browsers. With one account, registered users may access their purchases across even more devices than ever.

The free VIZ MANGA App continues to be the top app for reading manga on iOS devices and features a rapidly growing library of the most popular manga series in the world, currently offering over 40 series and 400+ volumes, with new additions and free Chapter 1 previews added weekly.
Continued…

Eight classic movies starring Sonny Chiba will be available for online streaming this month on the GooHead Internet Channel. © 1974-75 Toei Co., Ltd.

Eight Classic Titles Added in October
Source: Golden Media Group
Official Site: GooHead Internet Channel
Special Thanks to Roy McAree

For the past several months, the GooHead Internet Channel has been streaming— free of charge— classic Asian feature films and television series for viewers in the United States and Canada. In October, GooHead will add eight more movies starring martial arts legend Sonny Chiba (THE STREETFIGHTER, KILL BILL VOL. 1) to their lineup. starring martial arts legend Sonny Chiba (THE STREETFIGHTER, KILL BILL VOL. 1). Visit the channel this month for THE EXECUTIONER, KARATE BULLFIGHTER, KARATE BEARFIGHTER, KARATE FOR LIFE, SHOGUN’S SAMURAI, THE BULLET TRAIN, GOLGO 13: KOWLOON ASSIGNMENT, and VIRUS.
Continued…

Suou Pavlichenko has the ability create a PTRD-41 rifle from the meteor fragment she wears around her neck. © Bones – Tensai Okamura/DTB Committee • MBS.

Set Features the Complete Season 2 Plus 4 OVAs
Source: FUNimation Entertainment
Official Site: d-black.net (Japan), funimation.com/darker-than-black (US)
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee

Cover art for the DARKER THAN BLACK: GEMINI OF THE METEOR
Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack. Photo courtesy of FUNimation
Entertainment. © Bones – Tensai Okamura/DTB Committee • MBS.

On October 18th, FUNimation Entertainment will release the DARKER THAN BLACK: GEMINI OF THE METEOR (DARKER THAN BLACK -流星の双子[ジェミニ]- Daakaa Zan Burakku -Ryuusei no Jemini-, 2009) Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack, containing all twelve episodes from season two of the sci-fi anime series DARKER THAN BLACK. The set also includes the four-part DARKER THAN BLACK GAIDEN (DARKER THAN BLACK 黒の契約者 外伝, Daakaa Zan Burakku Kuro no Keiyakusha: Gaiden, 2010) OVA that links seasons 1 and 2.

DARKER THAN BLACK: GEMINI OF THE METEOR is produced by Studio Bones (FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST, WOLF’S RAIN, COWBOY BEBOP, ESCAFLOWNE) and directed by Tensai Okamura (WOLF’S RAIN, COWBOY BEBOP: THE MOVIE, NARUTO: THE MOVIE). In the series, a new and deadly breed of covert agent known as Contractors wield bizarre supernatural powers to carry out the dirty work of others. They thrive in the underworld, between rumor and reality, their loyalties always in question. One among these operatives is more mysterious than the rest – Hei aka the masked killer BK-201, the Black Reaper. As his path weaves through the shadows and alleys of Tokyo, blood is spilled on both sides of the law.
Continued…

Korean Horror Film Arrives October 10th
Source: Third Windows Films
Official Site: terracottadistribution.com/death-bell (UK)

Cover art for the UK DVD release of the Korean horror
movie DEATH BELL. © 2008 Core Contents Media

Terror Cotta, the new sub-label from Terracotta Distribution presents their first release, the Korean slasher-horror DEATH BELL (고死: 피의 중간고사, Gosa: Piui Junggangosa, 2008).

Students at an elite high school, preparing for mid-term exams, are held captive and forced into a series of sadistic games. The students find themselves plunged into a deadly test where they are picked off one by one and held in impenetrable traps where they must rely on the amazing intellects of their classmates to be released, every time a question is answered incorrectly, a classmate meets their torturous, grizzly death.

When it emerges that the students are being picked off according to a pattern, pupil Kang Yi-na understands exactly how much time she has to stay alive and figure out the mysteries of who is imprisoning them and what is the ghostly presence that stalks the school and seems to bind them all together, before the Death Bell rings for her.
Continued…

First Episode Available October 6th
Source: Sentai Filmworks, Anime Network press releases
Official Site: ww.p4a.jp (Japan)
Special Thanks to David Williams and Christian Lopez

Key art for PERSONA 4 THE ANIMATION. © 2011 Index
Corporation/ Persona 4 the Animation Production
Commitee

Sentai Filmworks proudly brings the hit PERSONA game franchise to anime with the acquisition of the red-hot new series PERSONA 4 THE ANIMATION (ペルソナ４アニメーション, Perusona Foo the Animation). Based on the megahit game-within-a-game from Atlus, PERSONA 4 THE ANIMATION is the story of a group of students, their ability to harness the powers of supernatural Shadows, and the grisly murders that connect their two worlds together.

Broadcast and digital distributor Anime Network will begin simulcasting PERSONA 4 THE ANIMATION starting Thursday, October 6th. The series will stream every week for free on Anime Network Online at 3 PM Eastern, the same day that it airs on TV in Japan. In addition, the episodes will be available to watch on free, ad-supported Hulu and the Hulu Plus subscription service within 24 hours. Distribution on additional services and platforms will follow.

PERSONA 4 THE ANIMATION will also receive a home video release on DVD and Blu-ray in 2012.
Continued…

A woman discovers that an old love has been reincarnated as a Kappa in UNDERWATER LOVE- A PINK MUSICAL.
Photo courtesy of Third Window Films. © 2011 Rapid Eye Movies

Sex, Music, and Monsters in Zany New German/Japanese Movie
Source: Third Window Films press release
Official Movie Site: facebook.com/pinkmusical, thirdwindowfilms.com/underwater-love (UK)
Special Thanks to Claire Marty

On October 16th, British label Third Window Films will be hosting the UK premiere party for UNDERWATER LOVE- A PINK MUSICAL (おんなの河童, Onna no Kappa, 2011).

Produced by Germany’s Rapid Eye Movies and Japan’s Kokuei Company, the film is a zany and whimsical tale of the romance between a woman and a sea creature. UNDERWATER LOVE was directed by pink-film veteran Shinji Imaoka (LUNCH BOX, FROG SONG), shot by Christopher Doyle – the famed cinematographer behind HERO and countless films by Wong Kar Wai – and was shot in 5 ½ days, one take only. It features an original score (in Japanese!) by the new wave/synth pop/punk rock/lo-fi, multi-lingual French-German duo Stereo Total. The movie promises to be unlike anything you’ve ever seen.
Continued…

Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release
Official Movie Site: hagaren-movie.net (Japan), funimation.com/fullmetal-alchemist-the-sacred-star-of-milos (US)
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith

Key art for FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: THE SACRED STAR OF
MILOS. © 2011 Hiromu Arakawa/ Hagaren the Movie 2011

Following its July release in theaters in Japan, FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: THE SACRED STAR OF MILOS (鋼の錬金術師 嘆きの丘（ミロス）の聖なる星, Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: Mirosu no Sei-naru Hoshi, 2011) now comes to the U.S.! The feature-length animated film, the second of the FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST franchise, has begun its North American film festival run.

The movie, from the animation studio BONES, follows a fugitive alchemist with mysterious abilities who leads the Elric brothers to a distant valley of slums inhabited by the Milos, a proud people struggling against bureaucratic exploitation. Ed and Al quickly find themselves in the middle of a rising rebellion, as the exiled Milos lash out against their oppressors. At the heart of the conflict is Julia, a young alchemist befriended by Alphonse. She’ll stop at nothing to restore the Milos to their former glory – even if that means harnessing the awful power of the mythical Philosopher’s Stone.

All festival screenings will feature the English subtitled version of the film.
Continued…