SciFi Japan

    The video game HAMTARO: LITTLE HAMSTERS, BIG ADVENTURES is now available for iPhone and iPad. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © R. Kawai/ 2000, 2007 Shogakukan, SMDE, TV Tokyo. © 2011 VIZ Media, LLC

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    Kids’ Favorite Hamsters Leap Into A Fun Interactive Mobile Universe Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: VIZ.com/apps Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Irena Boostani VIZ Media, LLC has licensed the rights for a HAMTARO: LITTLE HAMSTERS, BIG ADVENTURES video game for the Apple iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad to Egg Ball Games. VIZ Media is the official North American distributor of the iApp game, which is available now; the game is available also in Latin America and Europe. To learn more about HAMTARO: LITTLE HAMSTERS, BIG ADVENTURES, please visit VIZ.com/apps. HAMTARO: LITTLE HAMSTERS, BIG ADVENTURES features 3 colorful and original game environments and dozens of levels. The game is Facebook enabled and offers an interactive Game Center for posting personal and worldwide high scores. Players can also unlock 9 exclusive HAMTARO wallpapers to further customize their iPhone. “We’re very excited to bring HAMTARO:

    The POKÉMON TRAVEL ACTIVITY KIT comes in a handy travel `suitcase`, perfect for on-the-go recreation for kids aged 5 and up. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2011 Pokémon. © 1995-2011 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc. TM, ®, and character names are trademarks of Nintendo.

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    Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: VIZ.com/Pokemon Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Irena Boostani Just in time for summer, VIZ Media delivers hours of Pokémon fun with the POKÉMON TRAVEL ACTIVITY KIT! Featuring Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott and other new Pokémon from the Unova region, the POKÉMON TRAVEL ACTIVITY KIT includes an activity pad, poster, stickers and six chunky crayons, all packaged in a suitcase-style case! Recommended for ages 5 and up, the POKÉMON TRAVEL ACTIVITY KIT also makes a wonderful gift. The POKÉMON TRAVEL ACTIVITY KIT will be available on May 31st from the VIZKIDS imprint for the suggested retail price of $11.99 U.S. / $13.99 CAN, and includes: • One 64-page POKÉMON activity pad (featuring word finds, mazes and other puzzle activities) • Two full-color POKÉMON sticker sheets • One double-sided poster for POKÉMON sticker play • Six POKÉMON crayons • Don’t forget

    Noriko Ogiwara continues in her award-winning Magatama Trilogy with Mirror Sword and Shadow Prince. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 1991, 1996, 2005 Noriko Ogiwara. Illustrations © 2010 Miho Satake

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    VIZ Media Imprint Releases Second Magatama Trilogy Novel on May 17th Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: haikasoru.com Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC has announced the release of author Noriko Ogiwara’s fantasy adventure novel, Mirror Sword and Shadow Prince, on May 17th. The hardcover book will be published by the company’s Haikasoru literary imprint and will carry an MSRP of $21.99 U.S. / $25.99 CAN. Haikasoru publishes some of the most compelling contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy stories for English-speaking audiences and is first imprint based in the U.S. dedicated to Japanese science fiction and fantasy in translation. When the heir to the empire comes to Mino, the lives of young Oguna and Toko are changed forever. Oguna is drafted to become a shadow prince, a double trained to take the place of the hunted royal. But

    The VIZ MANGA APP is now available for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2011 VIZ Media, LLC

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    Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: VIZ.com/apps Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen Media, LLC, one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, continues the digital integration of its vast library of manga properties with the latest announcement of the availability of the VIZ MANGA APP for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch mobile devices. The expansion will be compatible with the VIZ MANGA APP on the iPad, and adds cross-platform features. To support the launch, the publisher has also kicked off a special digital promotion that offers select Volume 1 titles for only $2.99 – 40% off the regular price! This is for a limited time only and runs until midnight PST May 9th. Manga titles for the iPhone and iPod Touch are available via the VIZ MANGA APP, which is free through the iTunes

    Photo courtesy of BAM! Marketing, Publicity & Promotions. © 2011 AM².

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    3-Day Event in Anaheim this 4th of July Weekend Source: BAM! Marketing, Publicity & Promotions press releases Official Site: am2con.org Special Thanks to Chase Wang Located in Anaheim, California, ­ AM² is a 3-day, 24 hour event with no general attendance/badge purchase requirement and is aspiring to be a key meeting place for fans that share a common interest in Asian music, Animation/Anime, and Comics/Manga. Established in 2010, AM² will be held on July 1-3, 2011 at the Anaheim Convention Center in sunny Anaheim, California. AM² current activities include Exhibit Hall, AMV`s, Arcade, Summer Festival, World Cosplay Summit, Rum Party Pirates, Cosplay Chess, Dances, Fashion Shows, Table Top, Console Gaming, AniMaid Café, Workshops, Panels, Concerts and more! Entrance to the event is free, but attendees can avoid the huge lines by obtaining a Passport fast pass for the event. The Passport fast pass will also provide holders

    27 different manga series and more than 125 manga volumes will be available this month from the VIZ Manga App for iPad. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2011 VIZ Media, LLC

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    Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden and Arata: The Legend Join the Newest Additions to 15 Other Popular VIZ Manga Series Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: VIZ.com/apps Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media will round out April with a second block of monthly manga updates available exclusively for the VIZ Manga App for the Apple iPad mobile device. These latest updates will include the digital premiere of 5 new manga titles and updates to 15 other series that are also currently available. Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden is set to debut on April 18th, and Arata: The Legend will launch for the iPad on April 25th. The VIZ Manga App is available for free through the iTunes Store and all manga volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada within the application for $4.99 (U.S. / CAN)

    Alex Ross artwork for Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters Cover A. Photo courtesy of IDW Publishing. © 2011 IDW Publishing/ Toho Co., Ltd.

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    Who has Won Sets of Three Different Cover Editions for the Sold-Out Comic Book? Source: IDW Publishing Special Thanks to Chris Ryall, Carlos Guzman, Dirk Wood and Alonzo Simon A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Thank you to everyone who entered IDW Publishing and SciFi Japan`s Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters comic book contest. The response from readers was fantastic with hundreds of entries submitted. The three randomly drawn winners are: Marc Southerland Veronica Weissman Dillon Fisher Congratulations to the winners! Each of you will receive a set of three Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters issue #1 cover variant editions featuring the artwork of Alex Ross and Eric Powell. The prizes will be shipped soon so keep an eye on your mailboxes. In related news, IDW Publishing has announced that Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters #1 sold out on the first day of release at comic book retail stores throughout

    Key art for the new paranormal anime BLUE EXORCIST. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © Kazue Kato/ Shueisha, Blue Exorcist Committee, MBS

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    New Paranormal Anime Adventure in the U.S. Only Days After Japanese Debut Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: VIZAnime Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media has announced that it will serve as an official distribution partner for Aniplex of America’s domestic debut of the BLUE EXORCIST anime series. VIZ Media will carry the new action series (subtitled) on its VIZAnime website beginning Wednesday, April 20th, just days after its eagerly anticipated debut on Japanese TV on April 17th. New episodes will stream on the site every Wednesday. In the animated series, Rin, along with his twin brother Yukio Okumura are raised by an eminent priest, Shiro Fujimoto, but one day Rin discovers that their biological father is actually Satan! As the border between “Assiah” (the human world) and “Gehenna” (demon’s world) is intruded upon by evils, Rin vows to become

    24 different manga series and more than 100 manga volumes will be available this month from the VIZ Manga App for iPad. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2011 VIZ Media, LLC

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    VIZ Media Expands iPad Digital Library with Absolute Boyfriend, Black Bird, Blue Exorcist, Kekkashi and More Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: VIZ.com/apps Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media continues the expansion of its digital manga manga library available exclusively for the VIZ Manga App for the Apple iPad mobile device with several new series that will premiere during the first half of April. The latest update features the launch of the shojo series Absolute Boyfriend and the fantasy-action of Kekkashi on April 4th. Another popular shojo manga series, Black Bird, and the supernatural adventure BLUE EXORCIST will premiere on April 11th. The VIZ Manga App is available for free through the iTunes Store and all manga volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada within the application for $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) per volume.

    SciFi Japan readers can win a set of three different variant editions of IDW Publishing`s Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters comic book. Photo courtesy of IDW Publishing. © 2011 IDW Publishing/ Toho Co., Ltd.

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    Win a Set of Three Different Cover Editions, Courtesy of IDW Publishing and SciFi Japan Source: IDW Publishing Special Thanks to Chris Ryall, Carlos Guzman, Dirk Wood and Alonzo Simon A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Today, IDW Publishing premieres the first issue of their new comic books series Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters. Based on the long-running Toho film series and characters, the ongoing comic stars the King of the Monsters and other fan favorites such as Mothra, Rodan, Anguirus, and King Ghidorah in stories by writers Eric Powell (The Goon) and Tracy Marsh and artists Phil Hester (Green Arrow, Firebreather) and Bruce McCorkindale (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The Falling Man). To celebrate Godzilla`s return to American comics, IDW is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win prize packs containing three different cover variant editions of Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters issue #1.

    Issue #1 of IDW Publishing`s Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters comic book comes with multiple variant covers, including this tri-fold illustration by Eric Powell for Cover B. Photo courtesy of IDW Publishing. © 2011 IDW Publishing/ Toho Co., Ltd.

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    Source: IDW Publishing Special Thanks to Chris Ryall and Carlos Guzman The first issue of IDW Publishing`s Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters, comic book series will arrive on stores shelves Wednesday, March 30th. The ongoing series is being written by Eisner Award-winner Eric Powell (The Goon) and Tracy Marsh. Artwork is provided by penciller Phil Hester (Green Arrow, Firebreather), inker Bruce McCorkindale (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The Falling Man) and Eisner-nominated colorist Ronda Pattison. The cover price is $3.99. Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters begins as Godzilla emerges from the ocean off the coast of Japan and makes his way towards Tokyo. Military countermeasures seem powerless against the gargantuan beast, and the Japanese government may have to resort to some desperate measures to prevent further calamity. The destructive saga also features a host of beloved Toho monsters such as Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah,

    Cover art for Mameshiba: On the Loose!. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2011 VIZ Media, LLC./Dentsu Inc.

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    Titles Include Kids Favorites, Sci-Fi Action, Shojo Fantasy Drama, and Works by Natsume Ono and CLAMP Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media) has detailed a variety of notable new manga acquisitions for the second half of 2011. Scheduled for release in coming months, perfect for kids’ summertime fun, are a pair of new Pokemon titles including a Travel Activity Kit and the debut of the Pokemon Black & White manga series. The highly anticipated cute and quirky bean dogs of Mameshiba will also debut in their own manga and in a character guide. Other titles aimed at Teen and Older Teen readers will feature the high-speed action of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s in an innovative new original story, the tense mystery drama Psyren, a remastered 3-in-1 collection of the classic apocalyptic saga X by the celebrated manga creative team

    Cover for the 100th issue of Shonen Jump, now on sale. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2011 VIZ Media, LLC

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    North America’s Most Popular Manga Monthly Delivers Commemorative Special Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC celebrates the 100th issue of Shonen Jump magazine, which hit newsstands nationwide on March 1st. The cover price is $4.99. The commemorative April 2011 issue features special content including a pictorial retrospective of all the manga heroes that have graced the magazine’s pages since the very first issue. This includes original Shonen Jump heroes such as Goku from Dragon Ball, Yugi from Yu-Gi-Oh! and popular mainstays like Naruto, Ichigo from Bleach, as well as more recent additions to the Shonen Jump Super Team including Ageha from the new manga series Psyren, and Yusei from Yu-Gi-Oh 5D’s. The issue also contains the Dragon Ball X One Piece Cross Epoch, a collaborative one-shot story by the creators of each series where characters

    Cover art for Volume 1 of Oresama Teacher. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © Izumi Tsubaki 2008/ Hakusensha, Inc.

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    A Reformed Teenage Delinquent Tries to Lead a Peaceful High School Life in New Shojo Beat Series Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC brings the hilarious high-school hijinks of Izumi Tsubaki’s manga series, Oresama Teacher (I`m The Teacher), to North American audiences on March 1st. The new title will be published under the Shojo Beat imprint, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. Mafuyu is the no-nonsense, take-charge and hard-hitting leader of her high school gang. But when she gets expelled for being a delinquent, her mother, fed up with her daughter’s wayward ways, sends Mafuyu to an isolated school far off in the country. Determined to make the best of the situation and make her mother proud, Mafuyu decides to turn over a new, feminine,

    Matt Frank in a Godzilla sandwich. Photo courtesy of Matt Frank.

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    Interview with IDW Cover Artist Matt Frank Author: Bob Johnson Special thanks to IDW Comics As fans eagerly await the debut of IDW`s Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters comic, SciFi Japan caught up with cover artist Matt Frank and discussed the comic and what to expect in the months (years?) ahead. We also have an exclusive look at the Rodan cover for issue #2! So scroll down, read on and enjoy! SciFi Japan: Tell us about your beginnings. Where did you grow up? What was life like, pre-comic biz? Matt Frank: I grew up in good ol` San Antonio, Texas, and promptly moved to Austin for college, and have yet to find a reason to leave. Growing up I loved drawing dinosaurs, and my parents saw fit to take me around Central America and encourage my love of other cultures, not to mention the occasional surfing lesson

    Two popular VIZ Media anime series are now available as rental or own downloads. Photos courtesy of VIZ Media. HIKARU NO GO © Yumi Hotta, HMC, Takeshi Obata, Noel/ Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, Pierrot. MÄR © 2005 Noboyuki Anzai/ Shogakukan, ShoPro, TV Tokyo

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    iTunes, PlayStation Network, And Amazon Video On Demand Begin Offering Both Hit Adventure Series To Rent Or Own Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: VIZAnime.com Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media has announced the availability of hit anime series HIKARU NO GO and MÄR for Download-To-Rent / Download-To-Own (DTR/DTO) from leading online content providers iTunes, PlayStation Network, and Amazon Video on Demand. The complete series for HIKARU NO GO (Episodes 1-75) and MÄR (Episodes 1-52) will be presented dubbed and uncut, and will be available immediately from the iTunes Store in the U.S. and Canada. As a special promotion, Episode 1 from each series will be available for FREE download through August 23, 2011! Amazon Video on Demand and the PlayStation Network video delivery service, available exclusively for the Sony PSP (PlayStation Portable) and PlayStation 3 (PS3)

    The award-winning Japanese cyberpunk novel Mardock Scramble is now available in English. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2003 Tow Ubukata

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    A Murdered Girl Gets a Second Chance at Life and Revenge in Futuristic Mardock City Source: VIZ Media press release Official Site: haikasoru.com Special Thanks to Jane Lui This week, VIZ Media, LLC presents the North American debut of the Japanese sci-fi novel, Mardock Scramble. The novel, written by Tow Ubukata, has been published under the company’s Haikasoru imprint and will carry an MSRP of $17.99 U.S. / $21.00 CAN. Haikasoru is VIZ Media’s unique literary imprint with a dedicated focus on publishing some of the most compelling contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy for English-speaking audiences. Why me? It was to be the last thought a young prostitute, Rune-Balot, would ever have...as a human anyway. Taken in by a devious gambler named Shell, she became a slave to his cruel desires and would have been killed by his hand if not for the self-aware All-Purpose

    Cover art for Volume 2 of Cross Game. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2005 Mitsuru Adachi/ Shogakukan

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    Sample the Latest Manga and Anime Releases, New from VIZ Media Source: VIZ Media press release Special Thanks to Jane Lui VIZ Media has just announced new additions to its critically acclaimed CROSS GAME property. On the manga side, Cross Game Volume 2 (bundling Vols. 4 and 5 of the original series as released in Japan) will be published under the Shonen Sunday imprint. The latest volume releases on January 11th, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN. On the anime side, to celebrate the Cross Game Vol. 2 manga release, two new episodes (episodes 39 and 40) will be available to stream – for free – beginning the week of January 10th on VIZAnime.com, the company’s premiere website for anime content. CROSS GAME is a moving drama that is heartfelt and true, yet in the brilliant

    Logo for GODZILLA: THE SERIES. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Family Entertainment. © 1998 Toho Co., Ltd./Adelaide Productions, Inc.

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    Author: Jonathan Shyman and Keith Aiken Special Thanks to Andrew Wong, Bill Bronson and Brian Weinstock Article updated with additional photos, May 2012. Editor`s Note: Back in 1998, I was a storyboard artist working for Sony Pictures Family Entertainment on GODZILLA: THE SERIES, the Saturday morning animated show spun-off from the studio`s big budget GODZILLA movie released worldwide that May. During my time on the show I saw photos and illustrations for a variety of proposed G:TS merchandise ranging from T-shirts to lunchboxes to video games. As both a lifelong Godzilla fan and a part of the creative team for the show I was intrigued by all the different products being considered for release, but what most caught my eye were images of GODZILLA: THE SERIES action figures developed by Trendmasters, the St Louis, MO-based company that had already produced extensive toy lines

    Cover for the Death Note Black Edition Volume 1. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2003 by Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata/ Shueisha Inc.

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    Larger Size Edition of the Riveting Supernatural Crime Mystery Features Added Full Color Pages Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: Deathnote.viz.com Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC has announced the release of Death Note Black Edition, an oversized version of the acclaimed supernatural crime thriller. Volume 1 hits stores on December 28th and includes the first two editions of the popular manga series as well as added full-color pages. The Death Note Black Edition will be offered under the Shonen Jump Advanced imprint, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens, and will retail for $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN. Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects— and he’s bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in

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