Source: MVM Entertainment
Official Website: MVM Entertainment
SciFi Japan takes a look at some of the latest anime titles coming to DVD in the UK from MVM Entertainment in February and March, including ELEMENTAL GELADE, THE SLAYERS, DAPHNE IN THE BRILLIANT BLUE, SHAKUGAN NO SHANA and TRINITY BLOOD.
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Zany Comedy About a High School Boy and Two Sexy Classmates Inspired By a Popular Manga Series
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen
IT’S BOY MEETS GIRL – AND ANOTHER GIRL – IN VIZ MEDIA DEBUT OF I”s DVD BOX SET
VIZ Media, LLC will expand its library of animated properties with the eagerly awaited debut of I”s as a special two-disc DVD box set with an estimated street date of March 24th.
I”s is based on a popular manga series by Masakazu Katsura, published domestically by VIZ Media under its Shonen Jump Advanced imprint. The original I”s animated series, as well as a six-episode follow-up called I”s PURE, will be included this new DVD box set (rated “M” for Mature audiences) and carries an SRP of $29.98 US/$39.99 CAN.
Iori Hazuki is a beautiful high school girl with ambitions of becoming a model and actress. Ichitaka Seto is an indecisive sixteen year-old boy with a mad crush on Iori. Things become more complicated for Ichitaka when a childhood friend named Itsuki returns from living in the United States and ends up living at his house – and Itsuki is far from the shy and homely young girl Ichitaka remembers. Ichitaka must now reconcile his feelings for each girl and work hard to make sure that his angst-riddled personal life doesn’t become any more dramatic. Put all three “I”s together and you have a tale of love, comedy, and dreams!
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Source: VIZ Media and MediaLab press releases, Warner Home Video
Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen
VIZ Media, LLC has announced their DVD lineup for April 2009, which include animated favorites such as HUNTER X HUNTER, DEATH NOTE, NARUTO, INUYASHA and POKÉMON. VIZ Media’s April releases include many hefty box set editions as well as some featuring special premium collectibles. April also marks the first month that VIZ Media DVD titles will be distributed (in English) in the U.S and Mexico by Warner Home Video. VIZ titles are distributed in Canada by Allegro.
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The Legendary Monkey King is Back in a Feature Length Movie
Source: The Associates press release, Cine-Asia, Pony Canyon Inc.
Official Movie Site (Japanese): saiyuki.jp
The 2007 Japanese box office hit MONKEY MAGIC (Saiyuki) comes to British DVD and Blu-ray this month with an English subtitled release from Cine-Asia, a division of Showbox Media Group. Produced by Fuji Television and Toho, and adapted from Wu Chengen’s classic 16th Century Chinese novel, Journey To The West (Xi You Ji), the movie is a big budget fantasy adventure featuring the further comic exploits of the irrepressible Monkey King— known as Sun Wu Kung/Kong in China or Son Goku in Japan— a popular character in film, television, and animation.
Journey To The West is a fictionalized account of Chinese monk Xuan Zang’s (known in Japan as Sanzo Hoshi, and in English as Tripitaka) real life pilgrimage to India to recover Buddhist scriptures. To aid Xuan Zang on his quest, Buddha gives him three disciples… Monkey, the pig demon Zhu Ba Jie (Cho Hakkai, a.k.a. Pigsy), and the water demon Sha Wu Jing (Sagojo, or Sandy). The travelers encounter 81 trials, including battles with hordes of demons, natural disasters, and trips to both the heavens and hell before reaching the end of their journey.
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Source: VIZ Media press release
Official Movie Site: Death Note Films
Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq
VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced the highly anticipated DVD release of DEATH NOTE II: THE LAST NAME, based on the hit supernatural action mystery manga and animated series. The DVD will feature both the original Japanese dialogue with English subtitles and the English dubbed version by the outstanding voice cast of the animated series. The Red Hot Chili Peppers again contribute the theme song. Bonus features include a special segment, “Making of DEATH NOTE II” and the original Japanese theatrical trailer.
The DVD will carry a suggested retail price of $24.92 and will be distributed in North America by VIZ Media. The estimated street date for DEATH NOTE II: THE LAST NAME is February 10, 2009.
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Japanese Horror Hit Comes to Britain
Source: 4Digital Media press release
Official Movie Site: xx-movie
Special Thanks to Steve Beecham
The J-Horror/Comedy film X-CROSS (XX Ekusu-Kurosu: Makyo Densetsu) has been released on DVD in the United Kingdom by 4Digital Asia, and imprint of British distributor 4Digital Media.
X-CROSS (pronounced ‘criss-cross’) was directed by Kenta Fukasaku (YO-YO GIRL COP; BATTLE ROYALE II), scripted by Tetsuya Oishi (DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME; DEATH NOTE; ONE MISSED CALL) and stars up-and-coming Japanese singer/actress Nao Matsushita (SAND CLOCK, MY SASSY GIRL television series) and J-Pop star Ami Suzuki (RAINBOW SONG). The movie was made by “X-Cross Film Partners” (Avex Entertainment, Studio Swan, Toei Company Ltd.) and released theatrically in Japan by Toei on December 1, 2007.
4Digital Media has provided a plot description, specs, cover art, and photos for the X-CROSS DVD, which went on sale this past January 19.
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Author: Keith Aiken
Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd., Media Blasters, Inc.
Official Movie Site: MONSTER X STRIKES BACK
Special thanks to Shion Komatsu, Richard York, and Aki Harimoto
Japanese studio Shochiku Co., Ltd. and New York-based distributor Media Blasters, Inc. have confirmed that Media Blasters has acquired North American rights to MONSTER X STRIKES BACK/ ATTACK THE G8 SUMMIT! (Girara no Gyakushu / Samitto Kiki Ippatsu!, 2008). The movie brought the space monster Guilala— introduced in Shochiku’s THE X FROM OUTER SPACE (Uchu Daikaiju Girara, 1967)— back to Japanese movie screens for the first time in 41 years. Guilala was also recently featured in a popular American television commercial for the job service The Ladders.
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Source: Neu Bauhaus LLC press release
Official Website: Abunai Sisters
Special Thanks to Ai Aota
ABUNAI SISTERS Story #1 video courtesy of Neu Bauhaus LLC. © Abunai Sisters Production Committee
Japanese super celebrities the Kano Sisters launch a global brand with a new anime project from Pony Canyon. The sensational new anime mini-series ABUNAI (Dangerous) SISTERS – KOKO & MIKA will be released on DVD using a new direct-to-consumer retail program called “The Gathering System” which dictates the retail price based on the amount of overall orders. This advance-order-only marketing tool was implemented to accept pre-orders until the end of January in both Japan and the US.
Film and music conglomerate Pony Canyon, top ranked Japanese broadcaster Fuji Television, and #1 animation studio Production I.G. (tapped by Quentin Tarantino for the animated sequences in KILL BILL VOL. 1) have joined forces to make the Kano Sisters into animated characters –building a new franchise for DVD release.
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New Release Date for Tokyo Shock DVD
Source: Media Blasters, Inc.
Special Thanks to Richard York
THE BRAVE ARCHER (She diao ying xiong chuan, 1977) was the first in a four film series produced by the popular Shaw Brothers studio in Hong Kong. It was adapted from Legend of The Eagle-Shooting Hero, one of the most beloved stories written by Jin Yong and considered one of the most important in modern Chinese literature.
The film was first released in the United States by distributor World Northal as KUNG FU WARLORDS. The remaining movies in the series were THE BRAVE ARCHER PART II (She diao ying xiong chuan xu ji, US title KUNG FU WARLORDS 2; 1978), THE BRAVE ARCHER PART III (She diao ying xiong chuan san ji, US title BLAST OF THE IRON PALM, 1981), and THE BRAVE ARCHER AND HIS MATE (Shen diao xia lu, aka MYSTERIOUS ISLAND, 1982).
Today we received word from Richard York of Media Blasters concerning the company’s upcoming Region 1 DVD of THE BRAVE ARCHER.
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New Info, Cover Art, and Release Dates for Asian DVDs and Blu-ray on the ‘Tokyo Shock’ Label
Source: Media Blasters, Inc.
Special Thanks to Richard York
The New York-based distributor Media Blasters has provided new information, cover art, specifications, and release dates for their ‘Tokyo Shock’ Blu-ray and Region 1 DVDs in the first quarter of 2009.
Check out SciFi Japan’s report for the latest news on GAMERA THE BRAVE, TOKYO GORE POLICE, MARTIAL CLUB, KISARAZU CAT’S EYE 2, DEATH TRANCE, ART OF THE DEVIL 3, ICHI THE KILLER, LONE WOLF AND CUB TV Series Volume 6, ONE MISSED CALL 3: FINAL and CROWS ZERO.
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A Look Back at Asian Sci-Fi Throughout the Year
Author: Aaron Cooper
Special Thanks: The entire staff of SciFi Japan
2008 was intriguing in the landscape of Japanese science fiction and fantasy films. To some, it may have appeared very dry; to others it seemed a great boon of varied material. Big names like Godzilla and Gamera were mostly no-shows, but the slack appears to be taken up in a variety of outlets by a wide range of talent depending on your tastes.
The staff of SciFi Japan took another moment to ponder over the events of the past year, and attempted to come up with the most defining moments of 2008. You may agree or disagree but regardless, the year held moments for everyone whether you knew it or not!
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Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Special Thanks to Jane Lui, Kara Brovsky, and Erik Jansen
Publishing, animation and licensing company VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media) has announced an array of new manga and animated titles scheduled for release throughout the Fourth Quarter. The new anime releases include the long-awaited launch of a new series – HUNTER X HUNTER – as well as a variety of DVD Box Sets Featuring Special Collectible Figurines, Special Editions and single disc editions of popular series including BLEACH, NARUTO, DEATH NOTE, BUSO RENKIN, BLUE DRAGON and much-loved classics like INUYASHA.
On the manga front, seven new series are set to debut: Blank Slate, Nora: the Last Chronicle of Devildom, Solanin, Captive Hearts, Gaba Kawa, We Were There and St. ♥ Dragon Girl. The first titles will premiere this month and are designed to appeal to Teen and Older Teen readers with a variety of different story lines that will capture the interest of many new and old fans alike. “We are looking forward to bringing a diverse range of titles in Q4 which will range from slice-of-life stories to romance and more!” says Evelyn Dubocq, Sr. Director of Public Relations, VIZ Media. “As the 2008 holiday season approaches, manga fans will have multiple strong VIZ Media releases to choose from in every genre.”
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Source: JN Productions, Inc.
Official Website: Generation Kikaida
Riding on the success and popularity of the Toei tokusatsu (live-action) series of the 70’s KIKAIDA, JN Productions and Generation Kikaida will release another action-packed Japanese superhero DVD box set INAZUMAN on November 21, 2008. Inazuman, the Fighter for Freedom, battles mutant monsters of the evil Bamba Empire who are threatening the world.
Watari Goro, a college student, saves two youngsters from the Neo-Human Empire’s Fantom Army. The youngsters bring him to the base of the Youth League, a group of pure-hearted young mutants with psionic powers. Their leader, Capt. Sarra, awakens Goro to his own super powers that allow him to turn first into Sanagiman, then into Inazuman. After he defeats a Neo-Human monster, Goro is accepted into the Youth League, and presented with the amazing vehicle, Raijingo.
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Source: Warner Bros. Home Video
Official Movie Website: FRIDAY THE 13TH
On February 13, 2009 New Line Pictures and Paramount Pictures will release the new FRIDAY THE 13TH, a reboot of the popular horror series focusing on hockey-masked killer Jason Vorhees. Ten days before the film opens in theaters nationwide, Warner Bros. Home Video will release the NEW LINE JASON SLASHER COLLECTION, a slimcase DVD set of Jason’s last three movies.
JASON GOES TO HELL: (1993) Think he’s dead? That’s dead wrong. Jason is reborn with the ability to take on the identity of whomever he touches. He could be anywhere. Or anyone. (Don’t stand so close to the person next to you.)
JASON X: (2002) Out-of-this-world horror: 25th-century space voyagers thaw the mysterious cryo-specimen they brought aboard – Jason. Buckle up. It’s going to be a bloody flight!
FREDDY VS. JASON: (2003) This town’s not big enough for both of them, not when the world’s most fiendish killers each want to spill all the blood. So the awesome showdown begins: Freddy Krueger vs. Jason Voorhees. Winner kills all!
The JASON SLASHER COLLECTION includes all three R-rated films in widescreen, all with a pass for $5.00 off the ticket price to see the new FRIDAY THE 13TH. The DVD set has a suggested retail price of $23.97.
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Two DVD editions and Blu-ray release for the latest Ultraman movie
Author: James Ballard
Source: Bandai Visual Press Release
On January 23rd 2009, the latest Ultraman feature GREAT DECISIVE BATTLE! THE SUPER 8 ULTRA BROTHERS (Daikessen! Chou Urutora Hachi Kyoudai, 2008) will be released on DVD and Blu-ray disc in Japan.
The single disc DVD and Blu-ray editions will carry the same content and features. As the first Ultraman movie to be shot entirely in HD, it will take full advantage of the Blu-ray format. It will be the first Blu-ray release for both the Ultraman series and the Japanese kaiju genre.
There will also be a 2-disc “Memorial Box” DVD set similar the previous movie, which aside from the extra disc of bonus features will once again include replica screenplay and storyboards, as well as 3D glasses for a short 3D Ultra featurette. The box set design also features Tsuburaya Productions’ unwieldly English title for the film; SUPERIOR ULTRAMAN 8 BROTHERS.
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