SciFi Japan

    DVD cover art for MONKEY MAGIC. Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 2007 Fuji Television Network, Toho, J-Dream, and FNS

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    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

    DVD cover art for DEATH NOTE II: THE LAST NAME. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2006

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Highly Anticipated Sequel To Supernatural Action Mystery Based On Popular Manga And Animated Series 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

    Japanese promotional art for the horror movie X-CROSS. © 2007 X-Cross Film Partners

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    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. 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. In 2008, X-CROSS played the North American festival circuit with screenings at the Los Angeles Film Festival, the New York Asian Film Festival, and the FanTasia Film Festival in Montreal. The following text and images are courtesy of 4Digital Media... From the Director of YO-YO GIRL COP and the Writer of the DEATH NOTE Movies Anyone believing that the Japanese horror film industry had run out of creative

    Guilala— the X from Outer Space— faces off with the legendary savior Take-Majin in MONSTER X STRIKES BACK/ ATTACK THE G8 SUMMIT! Photo courtesy of Shochiku Co., Ltd. © 2008 Guilala Production Committee

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    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. Written and directed by cult filmmaker Minoru Kawasaki (THE CALAMARI WRESTLER, THE WORLD SINKS EXCEPT JAPAN), MONSTER X STRIKES BACK/ ATTACK THE G8 SUMMIT! is a comedy about Guilala`s appearance in Hokkaido during

    Japanese celebrities the Kano Sisters get animated in the new mini-series ABUNAI SISTERS - KOKO & MIKA. © Abunai Sisters Production Committee

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    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 "The Kano Sisters are arguably Japan`s top female celebrities... They exude a self-confidence that is rare." -New York Times "On Japan`s celebrity circuit, there are no bigger cats than the Kano Sisters." -Time Magazine 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

    Cover art for Media Blasters` upcoming DVD of THE BRAVE ARCHER. Photo courtesy of Media Blasters. © 1977 Shaw Bros.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    New Release Date for Tokyo Shock DVD Source: Media Blasters, Inc. Special Thanks to Richard York We received the following message from Richard York of Media Blasters concerning the company`s upcoming Tokyo Shock Region 1 DVD of the Shaw Brothers` martial arts classic THE BRAVE ARCHER (She diao ying xiong chuan, 1977)... As you may have noticed, THE BRAVE ARCHER did not come out in December 2008 as originally announced. We encountered some technical snafus that delayed the release. We`ve since remedied those problems and we`re rescheduling the release for April. Right now, the date is set for 4/7/2009 and so far there are no apparent reasons for it to be delayed any further. We apologize for the delay but we`re confident that you`ll be pleased with the results. With that said, here`s what you can expect: Running Time: Approximately 121 minutes 2.35:1 Anamorphic (and progressive)

    On sale now: Media Blasters` 2-disc set of GAMERA THE BRAVE. Photo courtesy of Media Blasters. © 2006 Chiisaki Yusha-tachi Gamera/Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    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 Media Blasters has provided new information, cover art, specifications, and release dates for their upcoming Tokyo Shock Blu-ray and Region 1 DVDs. Look for the following titles in the first quarter of 2009. Available Now: GAMERA THE BRAVE (Chiisaki Yusha-tachi Gamera, 2006) Thirty years ago, as the giant fire-breathing turtle Gamera disappears during a battle against the flying monsters called Gyaos. In 2006, a young boy named Toru Aizawa discovers a turtle egg on a beach. The egg hatches in his hand, and Toru decides to keep the tiny newborn as a pet. The little turtle grows quickly and soon displays some very unusual behavior such as flying and breathing fire. Toru realizes that he has found a baby Gamera!

    From top to bottom... SPEED RACER © 2008 Warner Bros. Ent. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. SUPER ROBOT: RED BARON © 1973 Senkokikaku. Photo courtesy of BCI. 20th CENTURY BOYS © 2008

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    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! In dead last and deserving it - 10. 2008 was the 10th Anniversary of Godzilla’s big

    VIZ is offering a wide selection of anime and manga releases for the 2008 holiday season. Photos courtesy of VIZ Media.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    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

    JN Productions and Generation Kikaida`s forthcoming INAZUMAN box set. Coming out November 21. Photo courtesy of Generation Kikaida. © 2008 Ishimori Production Inc. and Toei Co., Ltd./JN Productions, Inc.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    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. All 25 episodes of INAZUMAN are packaged in a

    Announcement for the NEW LINE JASON SLASHER COLLECTION. Photo courtesy of Warner Home Video. ©2008 New Line Productions

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    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

    Ultraman Tiga takes on Alien Hipporito in the new Ultraman movie ©2008 SUPERIOR ULTRAMAN 8 BROTHERS Production Consortium

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    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

    Packaging art for the STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS 2 Disc Special Edition DVD, the Single Disc DVD, and the Blu-ray Edition. Photos courtesy of Warner Bros. Home Video. © 2008 Lucasfilm Ltd.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Animated Feature Film to be Released in Both Single and 2-Disc Editions Source: Warner Bros. Home Video STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS Studio: Warner Bros. Genre(s): Fantasy Adventure, Action/Adventure MPAA: PG Running Time: 98 minutes Director: Dave Filoni Actors: James Arnold Taylor, Dee Bradley Baker, Matt Lanter, Ashley Eckstein, Nika Futterman THE CLONE WARS takes place between STAR WARS EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES and STAR WARS EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH. Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi continue their journey across the galaxy amongst the Clone Wars, meeting up with familiar villains, such as Count Dooku, General Grievous and Asajj Ventress. The Grand Army of the Republic, led by Yoda, Mace Windu, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and other Jedi Knights, must fight the New Droid Army of the Separatists. STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS 2 Disc Special Edition DVD

    DVD cover art for the upcoming US release of KITARO. Photo courtesy of BCI Eclipse. © 2007 KITARO Film Partners.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    The Popular Yokai Manga is Adapted as a Live Action Film Author: Keith Aiken Source: BCI Eclipse LLC, Shochiku Co., Ltd. Official Movie Site (Japan): GeGeGe Special Thanks to Amy Killian, Brooke Carney, Cliff MacMillan, and Dan Ross In modern-day Japan, the worlds of the humans and the yokai often collide, and usually not in the most pleasant of manners. Half-human and half-yokai, one-eyed Kitaro (Eiji Wentz) lost his parents at birth. His father’s soul lives in one of his eyeballs. Raised within the yokai clan, he lives with his bickering friends, Nezumi Otoko (Yo Oizumi) and Neko Musume (Lena Tanaka), in Gegege Forest where he dedicates his time to maintaining peace between humans and yokai. Kitaro always keeps an eye on the human society, and fights the evil monsters in order to save the human beings from the threats from another world.

    Region 1 DVD cover art for Shusuke Kaneko`s DEATH NOTE. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2006 [Death Note] Film Partners

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    September 14 is Day of Celebration for U.S. Release of DEATH NOTE Movie DVD Source: Roger Bilheimer Associates, VIZ Media Official Movie Site (Japan): Death-Note-Movie Official Movie Site (US): Death Note Films The New York Anime Festival (NYAF) announced it has partnered with VIZ Pictures to hold DEATH NOTE Day at the largest Japanese bookstore in North America -- New York City`s Kinokuniya Bookstore -- on Sunday, September 14. Kinokuniya Bookstore, located at 1073 Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan, will present a day-long series of events celebrating the US DVD release of the DEATH NOTE motion picture by VIZ Pictures. The DEATH NOTE movie goes on sale at retailers across America on Tuesday, September 16, but Kinokuniya will have the movie in stock on Sunday, September 14. In addition, the first 50 fans to purchase the DEATH NOTE movie on DVD on September 14 will

    Front and back cover art for Classic Media`s upcoming DVD collection of RODAN and WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS. Photo courtesy of Classic Media. © 2008 Classic Media, Inc./© 1956, 1966 Toho Co., Ltd.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Classic Media, Inc. Official site: Godzilla on DVD Special Thanks to Lisa Bull Classic Media completes their "Toho Master Collection" with a 2-disc set of RODAN (Sora no daikaiju Radon, 1956) and WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS (Furankenshutain no Kaiju: Sanda tai Gaira, 1966), featuring the American and Japanese versions of both films. As an added bonus, the RODAN DVD also includes the brand-new feature length documentary BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE. The RODAN and WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS DVD collection is available now from Classic Media`s Godzilla on DVD website. The set will be available from online retailers and in stores on September 9, 2008. The suggested retail price is $19.95. DISC ONE MENUS RODAN: Japanese Version RODAN: US Version BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE: The Art of Japanese Special Effects

    Mach 5 packaging tin and contents for Lionsgate`s upcoming SPEED RACER COMPLETE CLASSIC SERIES COLLECTION DVD set. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate and Bender/Helper Impact. © 1966 Speed Racer Enterprises, Inc.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Entire 1966 Anime Series on DVD; Packaged in Mach 5 Tin Source: Lionsgate press release Offical Site: The Official Store of Speed Racer Special Thanks to Katie Walsh and Marissa Weinstein Go back to the roots of the animation-craze and relive the classic SPEED RACER series from the beginning as Lionsgate releases the SPEED RACER COMPLETE CLASSIC SERIES COLLECTION. The collection, sure to be on any fan’s holiday wish list, is packaged in a stylish tin shaped like the classic Mach 5 and features all 52 episodes of the hugely successful animated series on 5 discs. The set also features a sixth disc packed with bonus material, including “The History of Speed Racer” featurette, a look at the all-new franchise, SPEED RACER: THE NEXT GENERATION, plus an actual episode from the new series. SPEED RACER COMPLETE CLASSIC SERIES COLLECTION will be available on October 7th for the

    Upcoming anime DVDs from VIZ include DEATH NOTE Volume 6 (with Limited Edition Collector’s Figure of Rem) and BLEACH Volume 12. Photos courtesy of VIZ Media. DEATH NOTE © 2003 by Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata. © Tite Kubo/Shueisha, TV TOKYO, dentsu, Pierrot

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Standard and Deluxe Box Set Editions for Popular Series DEATH NOTE, BLEACH, NARUTO, INUYASHA And RANMA ½ Source: VIZ Media VIZ Media, LLC has announced an exciting array of new DVD releases for the 3rd Quarter of 2008 that expand some of the most popular animated series in North America. The new releases include DVD Box Sets and Special Editions containing limited edition collectible figurines, as well as the latest single disc editions for popular series including BLEACH, NARUTO, and DEATH NOTE, as well as much-loved classics like INUYASHA and RANMA ½. DEATH NOTE Volume 6 With Limited Edition Rem Collector’s Figure Rated “T+” for Older Teens • 4 Episodes • MSRP: $39.98 US / $49.99 CAN • Available August 26, 2008 The Yotsuba Group enlists an investigator to uncover L’s identity, while Misa, who’s been hired as their spokesperson, does some

    US poster and DVD art for TEN NIGHTS OF DREAMS. Photo courtesy of Cinema Epoch. © 2006 Ten Nights of Dreams Film Partners/2008 Cinema Epoch

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    11 Japanese Directors Explore the Writings of Revered Author Natsume Soseki Source: Cinema Epoch Japanese Movie Website: yume-juya.jp Special Thanks to Gregory Hatanaka "I am an ambitious man who wants the people of 100 years hence to solve my riddle." – author Natsume Soseki (1906) Japanese author and poet Natsume Soseki (1867-1916) first came to public attention with his short story I Am a Cat (Wagahai wa Neko de Aru) in Hototogisu magazine in 1905. The next few years saw the publication of his popular stories and novels as London Tower (London To, 1905) Botchan (Master Darling, 1906), The Three-Cornered World (Kusamakura), The 210th Day (Nihyaku-jyu Nichi), and Poppy (Gubijinso, 1907). In 1907, Soseki became a writer for the newspaper Asahi Shimbun. Many of his works were first serialized in the paper then later collected in novel form; this included such acclaimed tales as Ten

    Screen shots from Warner Bros. Home Video`s new DVD of WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH. © 1969 Hammer Film Productions, Ltd./ Warner Bros.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Hammer Films` Stop-Motion Animation Classic Finally Released Uncut and in Widescreen on DVD Author: Loren Portillo Special Thanks to Jim Danforth Warner Bros. Home Video`s latest wave of Best Buy exclusive "Sci-Fi Double Feature" DVDs includes the stop-motion animation favorite WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH paired along with the space thriller MOON ZERO TWO. This "moon-themed" set (featuring the creation of the moon and the first "moon western") has caught the attention of monster movie enthusiasts because it finally presents WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH uncut and in widescreen— unlike the earlier VHS and laserdisc versions from several years ago. The suggested retail price for the DVD is $19.98. Released in 1970 by Hammer Films and Warner Bros., WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH is supposedly a direct sequel to Ray Harryhausen`s 1966 version of ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. starring Raquel Welch, but I

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