English Dubbed First Episode Now Streaming
Source: FUNimation Entertainment
Official Site: tv-tokyo.co.jp/fairytail (Japan), funimation.com/fairy-tail (US)
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee

Combo Pack art for FAIRY TAIL: PART 1. Photo courtesy of
FUNimation Entertainment. © 2009 Fairy Tail Guild
Production Committee: Hiro Mashima/ Kodansha/ TV Tokyo

FUNimation Entertainment will release their first Blu-ray/DVD Combo set of the action/adventure anime FAIRY TAIL (フェアリーテイル, Fearii Teiru, 2009) on November 22nd. Based on the hit manga by Hiro Mashima (each new manga volume published since 2007 has debuted in the Top 5), the long running series is co-produced by A-1 Pictures and Satelight, and directed by Shinji Ishihira. The Blu-ray/DVD Combo set contains episodes 1-12.

In the Kingdom of Fiore, powerful wizards harness the forces of Dragon Fire, Ice, Weaponry, and the Zodiac to make their living by joining magical guilds and contracting out their services to become “wizards for hire”.

Lucy Heartfilla is a young mage who has always wanted to join the magical guild of Fairy Tail. Running away from home, she meets Natsu, a teenage boy who- along with his best friend, Happy the cat- is on a journey to find for the missing dragon Igneel who raised him. Natsu reveals that he is actually a member of Fairy Tail and offers Lucy membership into the guild, which she gladly accepts. Lucy is introduced to Erza and Gray, both members of Fairy Tail, and the four young wizards team up to seek their fortunes. Growing stronger with every mission, they travel the countryside helping people and battling rival guilds, but with personalities as different as their magic skills, this team may end up doing more damage than good.
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A pack of unemployed salarymen help housewife Mayumi Okada (Kyoko Koizumi) in “The House Full of ‘Abandoned’ Businessmen”, one of four segments in the
new Japanese comedy QUIRKY GUYS AND GALS. Photo courtesy of Third Window Films. © 2011 Sabi Otoko Sabi Onna Production Committee

Source: Third Window Films press release
Official Movie Site: sabisabi.jp (Japan), thirdwindowfilms.com/quirky-guys-and-gals (UK)
Special Thanks to Adam Torel

Lovers of Japanese film have seen quite a few omnibus efforts over the years, with 2008’s TOKYO! standing out as a particularly bizarre and interesting example. Yet this film, drawing together some of Japan’s best comedic directors, tops even that three-part work. Approaching the surrealism of its predecessor, QUIRKY GUYS AND GALS (サビ男サビ女, Sabi Otoko, Sabi Onna, 2011) ties together four stories of people searching for a spark in their lives.

The film (cert. 12) is now available on DVD (Region 2, PAL) in the UK from Third Window Films.
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The odd Inga and the ‘Defeated Detective’ Shinjurou Yuuki unravel a criminal conspiracy in the new anime series UN-GO. © 2011 Un-Go Committee

Episodes Begin Streaming November 13th
Source: Sentai Filmworks, Anime Network press releases
Official Site: un-go.com (Japan)
Special Thanks to David Williams and Christian Lopez

Sentai Filmworks has acquired UN-GO (アンゴ, pronounced ‘An Go’, 2011), the eagerly awaited new series from Fuji TV’s prestigious noitaminA animation block and mega animation studio BONES.

Loosely inspired by a collection of detective stories by Japanese literary giant Ango Sakaguchi, the all star production transposes the action to a gritty near future, post-war Tokyo, and is helmed by director Seiji Mizushima (FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST, MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM 00, DAIGUARD) with a storyline by his FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST collaborator Shou Aikawa (BLOOD REIGN: CURSE OF THE YOMA, MARTIAN SUCCESSOR NADESICO, GHOST SLAYERS AYASHI). In yet another unique twist, character design duties have been split between illustrator pako (RENTAL MAGIKA) and Loveless and Earthian manga creator Yun Kouga (MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM 00).
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SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO is just one of thirty movies making their Australian premiere at the 15th Japanese Film Festival.
Photo courtesy of Japan Foundation. © 2010 Space Battleship Yamato Production Committee.

Source: Japan Foundation, Sydney press releases
Official Site: japanesefilmfestival.net
Special Thanks to Evon Fung and Amanda Thompson

Not long now until the 15th Japanese Film Festival hits Sydney and Melbourne with their biggest line-up to date. Featuring 30 films – all Australian premieres – the festival lineup includes the live action feature SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, Koki Mitani’s new comedy A GHOST OF A CHANCE, Studio Ghibli’s box office smash ARRIETTY, Takahisa Zeze’s latest LIFE BACK THEN, OBA: THE LAST SAMURAI (with director Hideyuki Hirayama and actor Yutaka Takenouchi in attendance), ABACUS AND SWORD, Yoshihiro Nakamura’s A BOY AND HIS SAMURAI, VILLAIN, GANTZ and GANTZ: PERFECT ANSWER.
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Also Sees Debut of Natsume Ono’s Ristorante Paradiso And Gente, as Well as Updates to 17 Popular Series
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Official Site: VIZManga.com
Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

Naruto Volume 54 is available digitally two months
before the print edition. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media.
© 1999 Masashi Kishimoto/Shueisha Inc.

VIZ Media continues to lead the digital manga revolution with a variety of new titles just announced for November that are available to read online on VIZManga.com and also for digital download on the VIZ Manga Apps for the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

Among the notable new releases will be the two latest editions of Naruto – Volumes 54 and 55 – which will be made available on VIZ Media’s digital platforms several months in advance of their print counterparts. This is part of the “Shonen Jump Digital Warp”, a speed-up of selection titles to bring North American readers up-to-date with Japanese releases to prepare fans for the debut of the digital Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha in January 2012.

Additions to 17 popular VIZ Media series are scheduled. Updates include the rock-and-roll romantic drama of Ai Ore and the courtly royal intrigue of The Story of Saiunkoku, as well as the supernatural adventure of Bleach, the ongoing high seas pirate fun of One Piece, and the kinetic sci-fi action depicted in new weekly chapters of Neon Genesis Evangelion.

November also sees the debut of two titles from the critically acclaimed Natsume Ono. Ristorante Paradiso weaves a story around the lives of the staff of a restaurant in Rome, and in the follow-up manga, Gente, continues to follow the character’s romances, heartaches, hopes and dreams.
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The Zebra Queen (Riisa Naka) will rule the world unless Zebraman (Show Aikawa) can stop her. Photo courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment.
© 2010 Zebraman- Attack on Zebra City Partners.

Superhero Sequel Arrives November 29th
Source: FUNimation Entertainment
Official Movie Site: zeb2.jp (Japan)
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee

Combo Pack art for Takashi Miike’s ZEBRAMAN 2: ATTACK ON
ZEBRA CITY. Photo courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment.
© 2010 Zebraman- Attack on Zebra City Partners.

Fan favorite director Takashi Miike (AUDITION, ICHI THE KILLER) reunites with actor Show Aikawa (TOKYO ZOMBIE, GOZU) for ZEBRAMAN 2: ATTACK ON ZEBRA CITY (ゼブラーマン -ゼブラシティの逆襲-, Zeburaaman -Zeburaa Shiti no Gyakushuu, 2010), the sequel to their cult favorite superhero movie, ZEBRAMAN (ゼブラーマン, 2004). FUNimation Entertainment will release the film in a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack on November 29th.

The year is 2025. Tokyo has fallen and the world cries out for a hero. It cries for Zebraman. This striped crime fighter is the only hope for those who live in fear of the Zebra Queen, a hooved seductress out to conquer the world with the aide of her Miniskirt Zebra Police.

The Queen has stolen Zebraman’s powers and instituted Zebra Time: ten horrifying minutes each day when murder is legal! Without his super strength, Zebraman is just a guy with a mane – a broken-down hero unable to stop the onslaught of evil. Before he can take a bite out of the bad guys, Zebraman must find the young girl who holds the secret to regaining his ass-kicking powers and prove, once and for all, that a hero never changes his stripes!
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DVD and Blu-ray cover art for SEX & ZEN: EXTREME ECSTASY. Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2011 One Dollar Production, Ltd.

Source: Madman Entertainment
Official Movie Site: 3dsexzen.com

On November 30th, the Hong Kong production SEX & ZEN: EXTREME ECSTASY (3D肉蒲团之极乐宝鉴, 2011) will be released on DVD (Region 4, PAL) and Blu-ray (Region B) in Australia by distributor Madman Entertainment. A new chapter in the legendary 1990s SEX & ZEN series, EXTREME ECSTASY hit $1 million (USD) at the box office in Aussie cinemas and broke the box office record in Hong Kong, beating the previous record holder, AVATAR. Madman’s DVD and Blu-ray will feature the uncut version of the film, not seen in cinemas, with 15 minutes of extra footage.
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SKETCH OF MUJO, the first documentary to be made in the wake of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, is one of six new Japanese films
screening during the “Premiere Japan 2011″ festival at the Barbican Centre.

Six New Japanese Films Screening November 25-27
Source: Barbican Centre, Sarah Harvey Publicity press release
Special Thanks to Liz Parkinson

Now in its seventh year in London, Premiere Japan comes to the Barbican for the first time from 25 to 27 November, screening six of the best and most recent features and documentaries from Japan. Highlights include Locarno Film Festival winner, TOKYO PARK featuring rising star Haruma Miura; the latest delight from Yazaki Hitoshi, SWEET LITTLE LIES adapted from Ekuni Kaori’s best selling novel, and SKETCH OF MUJO the first documentary to be made in the wake of the devastating earthquake and tsunami earlier this year. Each screening is preceded by a short film chosen from submissions made by students, both Japanese and non-Japanese, at the University of the Arts London.
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VIZ Media Releases Anime Feature Film Based on the Popular Nintendo Video Game
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

Cover art for PROFESSOR LAYTON AND THE ETERNAL DIVA
DVD. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © LEVEL-5/ Team
Layton 2009

VIZ Media, LLC, the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, will release a new anime feature-length film, PROFESSOR LAYTON AND THE ETRENAL DIVA (レイトン教授と永遠の歌姫, Reiton-kyooju to Eien no Utahime, 2009), on DVD November 8th. The movie is based on the highly popular PROFESSOR LAYTON series of video games for the Nintendo DS and will be suitable for All Ages. The DVD features both subtitled and dubbed English dialogue options, and will carry an MSRP of $19.97 U.S. / $19.98 CAN.

Professor Layton, a true English gentleman, renowned archaeologist, and the world’s greatest amateur super sleuth, embarks on his most daring adventure yet when he receives a letter from his old student, the famous opera diva Janice Quatlane. She is set to perform at the legendary Crown Petone Opera House and invites him to attend as her special guest. Meanwhile, a spate of disappearances hits London. Two young school girls are the latest victims and the Professor suspects it’s related to the mysterious occurrences at the theatre. The Professor and his loyal assistant Luke travel to the Opera House to solve their toughest puzzle yet, the mystery of Eternal Life!
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Source: Golden Media Group
Official Site: GooHead Internet Channel
Special Thanks to Roy McAree

Ten SFJ readers have won a DVD set of four classic films
featuring international star Sonny Chiba. © 1979-1984
Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

It’s time to announce the winners of GooHead Internet Channel and SciFi Japan’s THE SONNY CHIBA COLLECTION giveaway. The following ten entrants were randomly chosen to receive a free DVD set containing the Shinichi “Sonny” Chiba films G.I. SAMURAI, RESURRECTION OF GOLDEN WOLF, NINJA WARS and LEGEND OF THE EIGHT SAMURAI…

James Babbo
Keith Marsh
Benjamin Haines
Tyler Collins
Lee Merritt
Andrew Stengele
Jordan Perry
Christopher Allen
Austin Buell
Mark Fitzpatrick
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Episodes Begin Streaming November 18
Source: Anime Network press release
Official Site: anime-majikoi.com (Japan)
Special Thanks to Christian Lopez

The female members of samurai team cause havoc in MAJIKOI ~ OH! SAMURAI
GIRLS. © 2011 MinatoSoft/ Majikoi Production Commitee

Broadcast and digital distributor Anime Network announced that they will begin streaming the slapstick comedy MAJIKOI ~ OH! SAMURAI GIRLS (真剣で私に恋しなさい, Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!, 2011), in Japanese with English subtitles on Anime Network Online.

Adapted from Minato Soft’s popular visual novel, directed by Keitaro Motonaga (AKANE IRO NI SOMARU SAKA, SCHOOL DAYS), with story supervision by Katsuhiko Takayama (AND YET THE TOWN MOVES, e.f. A TALE OF MEMORIES), the 12-episode series centers around a city where samurai ancestry runs deep, a tightly knit group of girls who suddenly find themselves with two new members, and a ton of new problems.

Starting on Friday, November 18, Anime Network will kick off the online release with the first two episodes going live at 12 PM Eastern. A new episode will be available every week there after. Each episode will also be available on the free, ad-supported Hulu service as well as the Hulu Plus subscription service, within 24 hours. Distribution on additional services and platforms will follow in 2012.
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Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release
Official Site: geneon-ent.co.jp/hellsing (Japan), funimation.com/hellsing-ultimate (US)
Special Thanks to Scott Lonski

Japanese cover art for HELLSING ULTIMATE OVA 8.
© Kouta Hirano • Shonen Gahosha Co, Ltd./ Wild Geese

FUNimation Entertainment has acquired the U.S. home video rights to the long awaited HELLSING ULTIMATE OVA 8 (ヘルシングＯＶＡ・VIII巻, Herushingu OVA VIII), in addition to the previously announced HELLSING ULTIMATE 1-7 OVAs. Production on the HELLSING ULTIMATE OVAs will begin immediately at the original studio, New Generation Pictures, and will include the original cast featuring Crispin Freeman in his return as Arucard. FUNimation Entertainment will release these new OVAs starting in 2012.

The new home video releases will feature exclusive extras including panel discussions and one-on-one interviews recorded at the 2011 Anime Vegas Convention taking place this month. Fans will be encouraged to submit questions for the cast via the FUNimation Facebook page to possibly be included as part of the extra features.
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Yes, it does exist! Cover art for the Blu-ray edition of DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, courtesy of Media Blasters. © 1968 Toho Co., Ltd.

Author: Keith Aiken
Source: Media Blasters, Inc.
Special Thanks to Carl Morano and Andres A. Perez

As a bonus, here’s an early look at the artwork Media Blasters will
be using for their upcoming GODZILLA VS MEGALON discs. Photo
courtesy of Media Blasters. © 1973 Toho Co., Ltd.

Over the past week there has been a good deal of confusion regarding Media Blasters’ DVD and Blu-ray release of the Godzilla film DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (怪獣総進撃, Kaiju Soshingeki, 1968). Based on our talks with reps from Media Blasters, we’ll try to separate the facts from the secondhand stories and oddball claims to hopefully give Godzilla fans a better idea of where things stand with this title.

In June, Media Blasters first mentioned a tentative release date of October 25th for DESTROY ALL MONSTERS. Two months later, the company’s first DAM press release confirmed the Blu-ray and DVD release date and also listed a November 8th release for the Soundtrack CD. Despite rumors that DESTROY ALL MONSTERS would be delayed or that the DVD would not be sold until weeks after the Blu-ray edition streeted, Media Blasters never changed their scheduled release date.

Following fan inquiries, Media Blasters checked with both their manufacturer and distributor and neither has reported any problems with the production or shipping of the discs. With smaller labels such as Media Blasters, new releases may not be available from all retailers on the exact same date, and it appears that some retailers chose to hedge their bets and set the release of the DESTROY ALL MONSTERS Blu-ray and DVD on November 8th, the same date as the Soundtrack CD.
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Anime Film Streets in Late November
Source: The Associates press release
Official Site: juiz.jp (Japan)

Cover art for EDEN OF THE EAST: PARADISE LOST. Photo
courtesy of The Associates. © 2010 EDEN OF THE EAST.

Writer/director Kenji Kamiyama’s EDEN OF THE EAST: PARADISE LOST (東のエデン 劇場版Ⅱ Paradise Lost, Higashi no Eden Gekijooban II: Paradise Lost, 2010) is the thrilling feature-length conclusion to the acclaimed anime series EDEN OF THE EAST (東のエデン, Higashi no Eden, 2009). The film (cert. 15) will be released on DVD (Region 2, PAL) and Blu-ray (Region B) in the UK by Manga Entertainment on 21st November 2011.

The story of political and subversive intrigue in the series finally reaches endgame. Even as the law enforcement net tightens around Saki and her fellow Eden of the East associates over alleged terrorist activities, the complex web surrounding the mysterious Mr. Outside is finally untangled as the remaining Selecao attempt to outmaneuver one another. Takizawa’s memories and identity are also finally revealed including his association with a former Prime Minister and his request to be the King of Eden.
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The anime feature TRIGUN: BADLANDS RUMBLE will be released on Aussie DVD and Blu-ray in November. Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment.
© 2010 Yasuhiro Naito/ Trigun the Movie Production Committee

Source: Madman Entertainment
Official Movie Site: funimation.com/trigun (US), trigun-movie.com (Japan)

Vash The Stampede is back in TRIGUN: BADLANDS RUMBLE (トライガン The Movie 公式サイト, 2010). The first full length TRIGUN movie is coming to DVD (Region 4, PAL) and Blu-ray (Region B) in Australia on November 16th from distributor Madman Entertainment.
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Flesh-eating zombies have overrun Northern Japan in HELLDRIVER. © 2010 Sushi Typhoon/ Nikkatsu

Japanese Splatter King Yoshihiro Nishimura Delivers a Blood-Soaked Gore Fest on November 22
Source: Well Go USA, MPRM Communications press release
Special Thanks to Chrissy Walker, Doris Pfardrescher and Leif Hellend

Cover art for the HELLDRIVER Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack. Photo
courtesy of Well Go USA. © 2010 Sushi Typhoon/ Nikkatsu

From director Yoshihiro Nishimura (TOKYO GORE POLICE, VAMPIRE GIRL VS. FRANKENSTEIN GIRL) comes the epic, apocalyptic Zombie-fighting road movie HELLDRIVER (日本分断 HELL DRIVER, Nihon Bundan: Heru Doraibaa, 2010), featuring non-stop, over-the-top splatter action debuting November 22 from Well Go USA. HELLDRIVER will be available in a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack for $29.98 SRP and on DVD for $24.98 SRP.

The latest cult film from the prolific Japanese production company Sushi Typhoon, HELLDRIVER takes place in a Japan where half the population has become not-so-sexy flesh eaters and the economy has gently withered away… until Kika (Yumiko Hara) arrives. A stunning high school girl armed with an artificial heart-powered chainsaw sword, she leads a motley crew of desperados on a secret mission into the zombie-infected wilds to exterminate zombie queen Rikka (Eihi Shiina, TOKYO GORE POLICE) and put an end to the plague of the living dead.

The extensive bonus features include three exclusive short films set within the HELLDRIVER universe: HELLDRIVER DAKOTA (directed by HELLDRIVER First Assistant Director Jun Shiozaki), CATCH ME IF YOU CAN! (directed by Lighting Director Hiroshi Ota), and BAILOUT! (directed by poster designer Yoshiki Takahashi).
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