SciFi Japan » Events http://www.scifijapan.com/articles Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:27:16 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Aniplex to Host PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA Meet and Greet in Los Angeles http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/30/aniplex-to-host-puella-magi-madoka-magica-meet-and-greet-in-los-angeles/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/30/aniplex-to-host-puella-magi-madoka-magica-meet-and-greet-in-los-angeles/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:40:28 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=28781 Anime Jungle, AniplexUSA Official Site: madoka-magica.com (Japan), MadokaMagicaUSA.com (US) Special Thanks to Tetsu Shiota
Key art for PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA, courtesy of Aniplex USA. © Magica Quartet／Aniplex, Madoka Partners, MBS
Celebrating the release of PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA (魔法少女まどか☆マギカ, Maho Shojo Madoka Magika) Vol. 1 in North America, Aniplex of America is having a special Meet and Greet Event with the English voice cast of the series. Fans will get to share the excitement of MADOKA MAGICA with the English cast just days after the release of the First Volume (February 14th). This Meet and Greet Event will be held on Friday February 17th at 8:30 PM at Anime Jungle #1 in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo. The MADOKA MAGICA Meet and Greet event is open to the public and is a great opportunity for fans to meet the English cast in person and show their love for the series. Fans will have the opportunity to have their questions answered from the English cast. In addition, there will also be an autograph session for fans that have purchased the first volume of the series and bring their proof of purchase to the event. PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA follows the story of a 14 year old girl named Madoka Kaname, who is offered the opportunity of gaining magical powers if she agrees to make a contract with a strange little being named Kyubey. Kyubey will also grant Madoka one wish, but in exchange she shall risk her life by accepting the responsibilities of fighting witches. Little does Madoka know what the real risks of making a contract will be for her. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/30/aniplex-to-host-puella-magi-madoka-magica-meet-and-greet-in-los-angeles/feed/ 0 FanimeCon Announces Brand New Steampunk Addition http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/24/fanimecon-announces-brand-new-steampunk-addition/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/24/fanimecon-announces-brand-new-steampunk-addition/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:07:24 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=28570 Photo courtesy of FanimeCon. © 2012 FanimeCon. New Addition to Anime Convention in San Jose, CA Source: FanimeCon press release Official Site: fanime.com Special Thanks to Milton Le FanimeCon, in partnership with the Steam Federation, is proud to announce Clockwork Alchemy! This new additional convention for steampunk fans will be held during Memorial Day weekend, May 25th–28th, 2012, the same weekend as FanimeCon. A single membership will grant access to both FanimeCon in the San Jose Convention Center area and Clockwork Alchemy in the DoubleTree Hotel. Clockwork Alchemy is a creative exploration of the world of steampunk, a fantastical past that never was but should have been. Steampunk is a world of incredible machines, daring heroes, bold inventors, mad scientists, and adventure at every turn, all set in a time when steam powered the world and the possibilities were endless! Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/24/fanimecon-announces-brand-new-steampunk-addition/feed/ 0 Japan Celebrates ALIEN DAY http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/20/japan-celebrates-alien-day/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/20/japan-celebrates-alien-day/#comments Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:16:59 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=28420 Author Daisuke Ishizuke with Dada. Photo courtesy of Daisuke Ishizuka. © 2012 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd. January 9, 2012 was a national holiday in Japan known as "Coming of Age Day" (成人の日, Seijin no Hi). The holiday is held each year on the second Monday of January, and celebrates those Japanese who -- over the past year -- turned 20 years old, the age one is considered an adult can legally vote, drink and smoke (and be tried as an adult in court). Throughout the day, special ceremonies honoring the new adults (新成人, Shin Seijin) were held at cities across Japan. Young women dress up in fancy, fur-lined silk kimonos called furisodes while men wear suits or traditional hakama. The Yomiuriland amusement park in Inagi City, Tokyo decided to celebrate Coming of Age Day in a unique and fun way. Just as the English language has words that have the same spelling or pronunciation but separate meanings, so does Japanese. So a 20 year-old Japanese person is called a "Seijin", but Seijin has another meaning in spoken Japanese... it also means "alien". Therefore, "Alien Day" was held instead of Coming of Age Day at Yomiuriland on January 9th. Popular alien characters from Tsuburaya Productions' Ultraman series spent the day at the amusement park; posing for photos, clowning around with attendees and having a good time. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/20/japan-celebrates-alien-day/feed/ 0 Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha Launch Event in Los Angeles, Jan 28th http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/20/weekly-shonen-jump-alpha-launch-event-in-los-angeles-jan-28th/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/20/weekly-shonen-jump-alpha-launch-event-in-los-angeles-jan-28th/#comments Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:00:15 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=28279 VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: VIZManga.com Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen
Cover for the first issue of the new digital manga magazine Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2011 VIZ Media LLC
VIZ Media, LLC, the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, invites Southern California manga/anime fans and pop culture enthusiasts to a very special launch event for the new Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha (Weekly SJ Alpha) on Saturday, January 28th at the West Hollywood Library in Los Angeles, CA. The event is FREE to attend and takes place between 2:00pm-5:00pm in the library’s Community Room. The West Hollywood Library is located at 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069. Additional library details are available at colapublib.org/libs/whollywood. During the event, attendees will be able to preview the first issue of Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha content on several iPads that will be available, meet VIZ Media staff, and take advantage of fun photo opportunities with the world’s most popular ninja, Naruto, and Bleach’s Kon. Gift bags will be given away (while supplies last) and attendees can enter to win other fun prizes in a special raffle contest. Japanese snacks such as Pocky provided by Ezaki Glico USA and other refreshments will also be served while supplies last. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/20/weekly-shonen-jump-alpha-launch-event-in-los-angeles-jan-28th/feed/ 0 ARRIETTY Press Notes http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/09/arrietty-press-notes/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/09/arrietty-press-notes/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:36:46 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=27858 Arrietty fends off a threatening insect. © 2010 GNDHDDTW Production Details for the Studio Ghibli Animated Feature Source: Madman Entertainment Official Movie Site: karigurashi.jp (Japan), arrietty.com.au (Australia), disney.go.com/arrietty (US) The animated feature ARRIETTY (借りぐらしのアリエッティ, Karigurashi no Arrietty, 2010) was another smash hit for Studio Ghibli, topping the Japanese box office for 2010. Based on Mary Norton’s novel The Borrowers, ARRIETTY is now being released theatrically in two major English language markets; Madman Entertainment will open the film in Australian cinemas on January 12, 2012, and Walt Disney Studios will release it in North America as THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY on February 17. The following English language press notes for ARRIETTY are courtesy of Madman Entertainment. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/09/arrietty-press-notes/feed/ 0 NEW PEOPLE Celebrates GANTZ II Release With Special S.F. Screenings http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/07/new-people-celebrates-gantz-ii-release-with-special-s-f-screenings/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/07/new-people-celebrates-gantz-ii-release-with-special-s-f-screenings/#comments Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:25:40 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=28000 The mysterious men in black are looking for a fight in GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER, playing January 14th at NEW PEOPLE Cinema. © Hiroya Oku/Shueisha © 2011 Gantz Film Partners NEW PEOPLE in San Francisco to Screen GANTZ and GANTZ II on January 14th Source: NEW PEOPLE Entertainment, MediaLab press release Official Movie Site: gantz-movie.com (Japan), gantzmovies.com (US) Special Thanks to Erik Jansen NEW PEOPLE Entertainment celebrates the recently announced release of GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER on DVD/Blu-ray with a special series of screenings of the entire GANTZ film saga on Saturday, January 14th at the S.F. Film Society | NEW PEOPLE Cinema located in San Francisco’s Japantown. Tickets are $10. Additional ticket and film info is available at newpeopleworld.com/#gantz2. GANTZ (Dubbed) 1:00pm GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER (Dubbed) 4:00pm GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER (Subtitled) 7:00pm All those attending the screenings of GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER will receive a free full-color GANTZ poster. A special ticket bundle is also available for $25 (DVD) or $30 (Blu-ray) that includes a movie pass, poster, and either the DVD or Blu-ray release. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/07/new-people-celebrates-gantz-ii-release-with-special-s-f-screenings/feed/ 0 AM² Announces Screening of FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: THE SACRED STAR OF MILOS http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/05/am%c2%b2-announces-screening-of-fullmetal-alchemist-the-sacred-star-of-milos/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/05/am%c2%b2-announces-screening-of-fullmetal-alchemist-the-sacred-star-of-milos/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 07:45:43 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=27974 am2con.org Special Thanks to Chase Wang
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: THE SACRED STAR OF MILOS will screen at this year's AM² convention. Pre-register now for a chance to win two tickets to the film's red carpet premiere. © 2011 Hiromu Arakawa/ Hagaren the Movie
2012's highly-anticipated animation, music and manga convention in Southern California, AM² (June 15-17, 2012 at the Anaheim Convention Center and Hotels) continues to bring more fun to fans with the screening of the long-awaited 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) to this year's event! Passport purchasers will also have a chance to attend the official premiere event in Los Angeles on January 20, 2012. Passport purchasers will be automatically entered into the AM² Pre-Registration contest to potentially win two (2) tickets to the FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: THE SACRED STAR OF MILOS Red Carpet Premiere Event. It will be a night of entertainment for fans of the popular FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST franchise featuring an opportunity to walk the carpet, movie presentation, and a Q & A with both the Japanese director Kazuya Murata and the US Director Mike McFarland as well as members of the US voice cast including Vic Mignogna and BONES president, Masahiko Minami. "We are working hard to bring you (the fans) the best in anime, manga and music entertainment from Asia", states Chase Wang AM² representative, "Whether you are a casual or hard-core fan, we hope you will joins us for this truly amazing and fun fan event filled with anime, manga, j-rock, j-pop, cosplay and more!" Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/05/am%c2%b2-announces-screening-of-fullmetal-alchemist-the-sacred-star-of-milos/feed/ 0 NYICFF Special Preview Screening: THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/05/nyicff-special-preview-screening-the-secret-world-of-arrietty/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/05/nyicff-special-preview-screening-the-secret-world-of-arrietty/#comments Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:17:05 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=27960 A tiny girl befriends a young boy in the Studio Ghibli animated feature THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY. NYICFF will have a preview screening in NYC before the film opens nationwide in the United States. © 2010 GNDHDDTW Source: GKIDS Inc. press release Official Event Site: gkids.tv/intheaters Official Movie Site: karigurashi.jp (Japan), disney.go.com/arrietty (US) NYICFF (New York Int’l Children’s Film Festival) is thrilled to present a special preview screening of Studio Ghibli's THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY (借りぐらしのアリエッティ, Karigurashi no Arrietty, 2010), based on Mary Norton's classic children's book The Borrowers. Co-written by Hayao Miyazaki and directed by Miyazaki protégé Hiromasa Yonebayashi, the film is a gorgeous and entertaining treat - a beautiful story, sumptuously animated with all the loving detail, warmth, and humanity we have come to expect from Studio Ghibli's finest works. THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY is currently certified 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. The screening will take place at 1:00pm on Saturday, January 21st at Symphony Space in New York City. This event is expected to sell out, so advance purchase is highly recommended. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/05/nyicff-special-preview-screening-the-secret-world-of-arrietty/feed/ 0 Studio Ghibli’s ARRIETTY Opens in Australia on January 12th http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2011/12/30/studio-ghiblis-arrietty-opens-in-australia-on-january-12th/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2011/12/30/studio-ghiblis-arrietty-opens-in-australia-on-january-12th/#comments Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:02:54 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=27759 The tiny borrower Arrietty lives beneath the floorboards of mansion in the Studio Ghibli animated feature ARRIETTY. Image courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2010 GNDHDDTW Discover a Secret World Within Our Own Source: Madman Entertainment Official Movie Site: karigurashi.jp (Japan), arrietty.com.au (Australia)
Australian theatrical poster for ARRIETTY, courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2010 GNDHDDTW
The Studio Ghibli animated feature ARRIETTY (借りぐらしのアリエッティ, Karigurashi no Arrietty, 2010) will open in Australian cinemas on January 12, 2012, courtesy of distributor Madman Entertainment. Madman will screen ARRIETTY in both English language and Original Japanese language versions with English subtitles. The English language track was recorded in the UK and features a different voice cast than will be heard in the upcoming US release (entitled THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY) from Walt Disney Studios. The UK cast includes Saoirse Ronan (THE LOVELY BONES, HANNA) as Arrietty, Tom Holland as Sho, Olivia Colman (HOT FUZZ) as Homily, Phyllida Law (UNLEASHED, THE WINTER GUEST) as Sadako, Luke Allen-Gale (CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER) as Spiller, Mark Strong (SHERLOCK HOLMES, GREEN LANTERN) as Pod and Geraldine McEwan (MISS MARPLE, WALLACE & GROMIT) as Haru. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2011/12/30/studio-ghiblis-arrietty-opens-in-australia-on-january-12th/feed/ 0 FUNimation Announces Red Carpet Premiere for FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: THE SACRED STAR OF MILOS http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2011/12/27/funimation-announces-red-carpet-premiere-for-fullmetal-alchemist-the-sacred-star-of-milos/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2011/12/27/funimation-announces-red-carpet-premiere-for-fullmetal-alchemist-the-sacred-star-of-milos/#comments Wed, 28 Dec 2011 06:59:15 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=27825 FUNimation Entertainment press release Official Movie Site: hagaren-movie.net (Japan), funimation.com/fullmetal-alchemist-the-sacred-star-of-milos (US) Special Thanks to Scott Lonski
Promotional art for FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: THE SACRED STAR OF MILOS. Image courtesy of Eleven Arts Entertainment. © 2011 Hiromu Arakawa/ Hagaren the Movie 2011
FUNimation Entertainment, in conjunction with Aniplex Inc. and Eleven Arts Inc., announced that its animated feature film 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), produced by BONES, will be presented at a red carpet premiere at the Downtown Independent Theater in Los Angeles, CA on Friday January 20, 2012. It will be a night of entertainment for fans of the popular FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST franchise featuring an opportunity to walk the carpet starting at 8:00pm and see the movie presentation at 9:00pm. A Q&A will follow with both the Japanese director Kazuya Murata and the US Director Mike McFarland as well as members of the US voice cast including Vic Mignogna and BONES president, Masahiko Minami. Tickets for the premiere screening are currently on sale at downtownindependent.com. The first 100 tickets purchased will include an autographed limited edition event poster. Continued...
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