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    Syd Mead concept painting of the new Yamato from YAMATO 2050. ©Tohokushinsha Film Corp.

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    SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, Part 10 Author: Tim Eldred, Starblazers.com and Greasemonkeybook.com SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, Part 1: The Anime Classic That Nearly Wasn`t SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, Part 2: From Valley to Peak SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, Part 3: ARRIVEDERCI YAMATO Goodbye Dark Ages, Hello Global Village SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, Part 4: We`re Off to Outer Space SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, Part 5: THE NEW VOYAGES Plural SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, Part 6: BE FOREVER YAMATO...and the Kitchen Sink. SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, Part 7: SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO III: The Ground Shifts SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, Part 8: FINAL YAMATO: The Legacy Begins SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, Part 9: Dessler`s War and More: SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO IN THE 80s As the nineties began, Yamato’s time in the wilderness appeared to be over. Producer Yoshinobu Nishizaki stopped dabbling in projects that didn’t repeat his past successes. Two non-Yamato movies (the anime space opera ODIN and a

    The antics of traveling salesman Tora-san (Kiyoshi Atsumi) often frustrated his family, including loving sister Sakura (Chieko Baisho). Scene from IT’S TOUGH BEING A MAN, the first Tora-san movie and one of four films in AnimEigo`s new DVD box set. Photo courtesy of AnimEigo, Inc. © 1969 Shochiku Co., Ltd.

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    An Interview with Stuart Galbraith IV Author: Keith Aiken Official Site: tora-san.jp (Japan) On November 10, AnimEigo will release the TORA-SAN COLLECTOR’S SET: VOL. 1, a Region 1 DVD collection of the first four films in Shochiku`s beloved Tora-san series. With 48 movies produced from 1969 to 1995, Tora-san (Otoko wa Tsuraiyo, lit. “It’s Tough Being a Man”) is Japan`s longest running motion picture series and holds the Guinness Book World Record as the longest film series starring the same actor. The films starred Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajiro Kuruma, a bumbling traveling salesman whose visits home would regularly bring chaos to the lives of his disapproving family. Award-winning director Yoji Yamada (THE INUGAMI FAMILY, THE TWILIGHT SAMURAI) co-wrote every Tora-san film and directed 46 of them. The pairing of Yamada and Atsumi was so consistently successful at the box office that Shochiku released

    Warner Bros. is releasing a selection of TERMINATOR SALVATION DVD and Blu-ray editions in November and December. Photo courtesy of Warner Home Video. © 2009 T Asset Acquisition Company, LLC.

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    Source: Warner Home Video press materials Special Thanks to My-lan Beauford The long-running Terminator franchise returns to home video with new DVD and Blu-ray titles in November and December. First up is TERMINATOR SALVATION: THE MACHINIMA SERIES, a collection of the computer animated series focusing on the resistance fighter Blair Williams, on November 3rd. And on December 1st, the feature film TERMINATOR SALVATION will be released on DVD in both widescreen and full screen versions plus a Blu-ray Special Edition featuring both the theatrical and director`s cuts as well as numerous bonus features. TERMINATOR SALVATION: THE MACHINIMA SERIES Available November 3 SRP $12.97 “My name is Blair Williams. I fight for the Resistance.” The resourceful A-10 pilot from TERMINATOR SALVATION has her own story in this kick-’bot prequel filmed via the innovative Machinima process that turns real-time 3-D video-game elements into a

    Cover art for the UK Blu-ray of BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE. Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 2000 Production I.G/ANX · SCEI · IPA

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    Source: The Associates press release Special Thanks to Farhana Shaikh "The world will come to consider this work as the standard of top quality in digital animation." – James Cameron, Director of ALIENS and AVATAR The first fully digitally animated anime feature to come out of Japan, BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE (2000) is considered a landmark in the history of digital animation. Now this seminal anime feature comes to Blu-ray, presented in a brand new high definition version that brings fresh life to this must-see work. Produced by Production I.G. (GHOST IN THE SHELL, KILL BILL VOl. 1, THE SKY CRAWLERS), written by Kenji Kamiyama (GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX) and directed by Hiroyuki Kitakubo (who oversaw the movie sequences in the GHOST IN THE SHELL video game) BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE is a mature, supernatural action-thriller, and one that has recently served as

    A group of schoolchildren set in motion a change of events with worldwide consequences in the Toho sci-fi trilogy 20TH CENTURY BOYS. Photo courtesy of VIZ Pictures. © 1999, 2006 Naoki Urasawa, Studio Nuts /Shogakukan © 2008 “20th Century Boys” Film Partners

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    Source: Warner Home Video Official Movie Site: 20thboysfilms.com (US), 20th Boys (Japanese) The popular 20TH CENTURY BOYS (20-Seki Shonen) live-action movies trilogy will be coming to Region 1 DVD from VIZ Pictures and VIZ Media starting this December. The films are based on the critically acclaimed 20th Century Boys manga series created by Naoki Urasawa, which is a national phenomenon in Japan, selling over 20 million copies to date. The three pictures were filmed together by a partnership of the Nippon Television Network, Shogakukan, Toho Co., VAP, Yomiuri Television, Dentsu, Yomiuri Shimbun, Cine Bazaar, Office Crescendo, and d-rights. Produced at a combined budget of 6 billion yen (approximately $60 million US), 20th CENTURY BOYS is the most expensive film project in Japanese history. The first 20TH CENTURY BOYS was released in Japan by Toho on August 30, 2008 and quickly shot to the top of the box

    Cover art for the Korean Region 3 DVD of CHAW. © 2009 Polygon Entertainment LLC/Soo Jack Films

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    The Killer Mutant Boar Continues the Hunt Next Month on Home Video Author: Kim Song-ho Source: OZ DVD, Madmad Official Movie Site: CHAW On November 4, the Korean killer wild boar movie CHAW will be released on DVD in its native country. Along with the movie itself, the 2-disc edition will feature a variety of added materials. DVD specs are as follows... Company: PRE.GM Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen Sound: Korean Dolby Digital 5.1/2.0 Subtitles: Korean, English Running Time: 121 minutes Region Code: 3 Price: 25,300 Korean won (approximately $21.21 USD) Special Features DISC 1 - Audio commentary (Director Shin Jeong-won, Actors Jeong Yu-mi, Jang Hang-seon, Yoon Je-moon and Park Hyeok-kwon) DISC 2 - "Attack of the Killer Wild Boar"* featurette - "The 5-Member Chasers"*featurette - "Horror vs. Comedy"* featurette - Deleted scenes with director`s commentary - Premiere footage - Poster gallery - Trailers * Tentative

    DVD cover art for NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © Masashi Kishimoto /2007 Shippuden, NMP

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    Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC has announced their list of DVD titles scheduled for release in the final two months of 2009. This includes the first NARUTO SHIPPUDEN MOVIE, the first box set of NAOKI URASAWA’S MONSTER, the next box set installments of HUNTER X HUNTER, NANA, and HONEY AND CLOVER, as well as the latest volumes of the popular BLEACH, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN and POKÉMON series. Also releasing is the live action feature film 20TH CENTURY BOYS: BEGINNING OF THE END from VIZ Pictures. VIZ Media DVD titles are distributed (in English) in the U.S and Mexico by Warner Home Video and in Canada by Allegro. New NARUTO Releases Include: NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE MSRP: $24.92 US / $35.99 CAN Available November 10 A powerful spirit that once threatened to destroy the world is

    Godzilla, King Ghidorah, Angilas, and Gigan face off in GODZILLA VS GIGAN, one of the films included in the new Australian Godzilla DVD Collections from Madman Entertainment. Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 1972 Toho Co., Ltd.

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    Region 4 Collections Coming this Week to Australia and New Zealand Source: Madman Entertainment On October 21st, Eastern Eye— the Asian theatrical and home video division of Australian distributor Madman Entertainment— will release three DVD collections of classic Godzilla films. The sets collect seventeen Godzilla movies that had been released individually on DVD by Madman from 2004-2007. With the exception of the new packaging, the new DVDs are identical in terms of content to the previous releases, including special features such as original Japanese theatrical trailers, photo galleries, trivia, concept art, and poster galleries. Each box set will be Region 4 and PAL format, and retail for $49.95 AUD. GODZILLA - SHOWA CLASSICS VOLUME 1 GODZILLA: 50th Anniversary Edition Special 50th Anniversary edition with the original Japanese version of the 1954 classic GODZILLA (restored and completely uncut) and the US 1956 version

    © 2008 Gonzo, Nitroplus/Blassreiter Project

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    Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release Special Thanks to Jackie Smith FUNimation Entertainment will release the following Region 1 anime DVDs in the second half of October... BLASSREITER, THE COMPLETE SERIES: PART 1 October 20 SRP $59.98 Official Site: funimation.com/blassreiter A blood-born plague races across Germany, giving life to mechanized monsters who are hell-bent on making a bloody mess out of anyone in their path. Known as Demoniacs, these creatures have the perverse ability to meld with technology and wield it as an extension of their uncontrollable cyber rage. Standing in their way is civilization`s last hope for a savior. Joseph Jobson - the mysterious lone rider - fuses with the unreal technology of his battle-tested motorcycle to defend man against machine. But the same tainted blood that carries his strength threatens to devour his soul, leaving him nothing more than a murderous demon. The future of

    UK DVD cover art for CYBORG SHE. Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 2008 Cyborg She Film Partners.

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    Source: 4Digital Media, The Associates press releases Official Movie Site: cyborg.gaga.ne.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Farhana Shaikh "A largely entertaining gender-bender… genuinely touching." - Variety Have you ever imagined what THE TERMINATOR would have been like had it been a romantic comedy in the vein of SERENDIPITY? Well, now you don`t have to because that`s pretty much what writer-director Kwak Jae-young (director of the smash hit Korean comedy, MY SASSY GIRL) delivers with CYBORG SHE (Boku no Kanojo wa Saibogu, 2008), a touching and lighthearted sci-fi love story about a lonely young man and his female cyborg from the future. Jiro Kitamura (Keisuke Koide) is a teenage student living in Tokyo who each year celebrates his birthday alone, buying himself a gift and dining on the same meal at the same restaurant. Shopping in a department store on the evening of his

    Batlike vampires called Chiroptera are the prey of the half-human, half-vampire hunter Saya in BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. © 2009 East Wing Holdings Corp. and SAJ.

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    Live Action Movie Based on Hit Anime Streets October 20 Source: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Official Movie Site: Blood The Last Vampire From a producer of HERO and CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON comes BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE, based on the cult hit anime. Demons have infested Earth, and only one warrior stands between the dark and the light: Saya, a half-human, half-vampire samurai who preys on those who feast on human blood. Joining forces with the shadowy society known as the Council, Saya is dispatched to an American military base, where an intense series of swordfights leads her to the deadliest vampire of all. Now after 400 years, Saya`s greatest hunt is about to begin. She`s here... and there will be blood. Following a US theatrical run this past summer from Samuel Goldwyn Films, director Chris Nahon’s (KISS OF THE DRAGON) martial arts

    The traveling salesman Tora-san (Kiyoshi Atsumi) back on the road and telling fortunes in TORA-SAN`S GRAND SCHEME, one of four early TORA-SAN movies featured in AnimEigo`s new DVD box set. Photo courtesy of AnimEigo, Inc. © 1970 Shochiku Co., Ltd.

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    DVD Box Set of First Four Films Arrives November 10 Source: AnimEigo, Inc., Shochiku Co., Ltd. Special Thanks to Stuart Galbraith IV, Aaron Cavazos, and Steve Ryfle The hugely popular TORA-SAN (Otoko wa Tsuraiyo, lit. “It’s Tough Being a Man”) series is finally coming to North America in a special 4-film DVD box set from AnimEigo. Featuring Kiyoshi Atsumi as the beloved loser Torajiro Kuruma, the 48-movie TORA-SAN is Japan`s longest running motion picture series and holds the Guinness Book World Record as the longest film series starring the same acator. In a typical storyline of the series, Tora-san— a suitcase carrying, a checked jacket and tummy-warmer wearing, traveling salesman— who in almost every film falls in love with a beautiful woman (played by Japan’s most popular and respected actresses), while selling his wares across the Japanese countryside, or while at home visiting

    DVD cover art for GENESIS II. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. © 1973/Renewed 2001. Package Design © 2009 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

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    Source: Warner Archive Collection Special Thanks to Gabriel Vicuna Two 1970’s TV pilots from STAR TREK creator Gene Roddenberry — GENESIS II and the follow-up PLANET EARTH— arrive on DVD for the first time ever on October 6, exclusively from the Warner Archive Collection. GENESIS II (1973) Director: John Llewellyn Moxey Cast: Alex Cord, Harvey Jason, Mariette Hartley, Percy Rodrigues, Ted Cassidy Genre: Fantasy Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy Screen Aspect: 4 X 3 Full Frame Run Time: 74 minutes Price: $19.95 “My name is Dylan Hunt. My story begins the day on which I died.” Gene Roddenberry brings fans another enthralling tale of the future. Set in a time between now and the era of the starship Enterprise, GENESIS II follows Hunt (Alex Cord), who awakes after 154 years of suspended animation into a post-apocalyptic world that’s torn between the peace-loving citizens of Pax and

    Cover art for DEATH NOTE 1 AND 2: COMPLETE 4 DISC SET and DEATH NOTE – THE COMPLETE SERIES. Photos courtesy of The Associates. DEATH NOTE movies © 2006 [Death Note] Film Partners. DEATH NOTE anime © 2003 by Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata, Shueisha, DNP, VAP, Madhouse

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    Source: 4Digital Media, The Associates press releases Special Thanks to Farhana Shaikh DEATH NOTE fans in Britain having something new to live for as both the animated series and the live-action films have been packaged in two deluxe box sets. Manga Entertainment released the anime DEATH NOTE – THE COMPLETE SERIES on September 28, while this week sees the movie collection DEATH NOTE 1 AND 2: COMPLETE 4 DISC SET from 4Digital Asia. DEATH NOTE 1 AND 2: COMPLETE 4 DISC SET Having already established themselves as huge hits on their respective individual theatrical and DVD releases, DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE 2: THE LAST NAME, the two live-action movies based on the best-selling manga by writer Tsugumi Ohba and illustrator Takeshi Obata (Hikaru no Go), are now available together as one complete, four-disc package allowing viewers to experience this phenomenal supernatural

    Poster art created by George Chastain will also grace the cover of the DVD. Photo courtesy of Horse Archer Productions. © 2009 Horse Archer Productions, LLC.

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    DVD Now Available; Debut Screening at Monster Fest on October 10 Source: Horse Archer Productions press release Official Site: virginiacreepersmovie.com Special Thanks to Sean Kotz After 18 months of production, Horse Archer Productions will release its much anticipated documentary, VIRGINIA CREEPERS: THE HORROR HOST TRADITION OF THE OLD DOMINION, with a debut at Monster Fest 6 in Chesapeake, VA on October 10. The film, which looks at more than 50 years of hosting horror movies on the Virginia and DC airwaves features extensive interviews with all known living hosts, previously unheard audio and video footage from shows not seen by the public for nearly four decades. Horror hosting, as it is commonly known, was a very popular form of local entertainment in many markets for decades and survives to this day, largely on cable access television and the internet. “We have put a lot of research

    DVD cover art for NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © Masashi Kishimoto /2007 Shippuden, NMP

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    Theatrical Premiere at VIZ Cinema on October 6th Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: naruto.com Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC has announced the DVD release of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE on November 10th. The new film is the fourth in the NARUTO movie series, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens, and will have an MSRP of $24.92 U.S. / $35.99 CAN. San Francisco area residents can also attend the U.S. theatrical premiere of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE at the New People/VIZ Cinema in Japantown for two nights only October 6th and 7th. Two showings are scheduled each day, at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., and will be presented as part of the theater’s "Weeknight Anime People" programming. In the newest animated feature film adventure, a powerful spirit that once threatened to destroy the world is back! Naruto`s mission

    © 1999 Toei Animation Co., Ltd., Japan. © 2001 Eichiro Oda /Shueisha

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    Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release Special Thanks to Jackie Smith The following Region 1 DVD titles will be released over the next two weeks... ONE PIECE: SEASON TWO- THIRD VOYAGE September 29 SRP $49.98 Official Site: onepieceofficial.com With Nami on the verge of death, Luffy`s crew abandons its voyage to Alabasta and goes looking for help. Their search leads them to frosty Drum Island, where the locals don`t roll out the red carpet for pirates, and the only doctor in town lives atop a treacherous, snow-covered mountain. In order to save their friend, Luffy and Sanji must survive an avalanche, duke it out with a man-eating herd of abominable rabbits, and defeat a foe who devours anything he can get his mouth on. Danger lurks around every corner on this treacherous mission, but the Straw Hats have more at stake than ever before. Uncut Episodes 79-91

    Cover art for Manga Entertainment`s UK DVD of GHOST IN THE SHELL 2.0. Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 1995 /2008 Shirow Masamune/Kodansha · Bandai Visual · Manga Entertainment

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    Source: The Associates press release Official Site: ghostintheshellredux.co.uk Special Thanks to Farhana Shaikh Manga Entertainment UK will release the 2008 anime film GHOST IN THE SHELL 2.0 (Kokaku Kidotai 2.0) to selected cinemas in England beginning October 2nd. The theatrical run will be followed by a 2 disc DVD set and Blu-ray release on October 26th. HMV stores are offering a GHOST IN THE SHELL 2.0 Exclusive Redux Edition DVD that comes with a slipcase and four art cards. The film will also be released on DVD and Blu-ray in a "Double Pack" set with the sequel GHOST IN THE SHELL: INNOCENCE (2004). The following information comes from the press release provided by the British publicity firm, The Associates... "A stunning work of speculative fiction, the first truly adult animation to reach a level of literary and visual excellence." – James Cameron In

    Cover art for the upcoming German Blu-ray disc of CHAW. © 2009 Polygon Entertainment LLC/Soo Jack Films

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    Korean Killer Wild Boar Movie Takes a Bite out of European and Asian Territories Author: Kim Song-ho and Keith Aiken Source: Finecut Co., Ltd., Ascot Elite Home Entertainment Official Movie Site: CHAW Special Thanks to Lim Ji-yoon On September 11, the South Korean international film sales company Finecut Co., Ltd. announced that their new monster movie CHAW had been picked up for release in the UK. Finecut had signed the agreement with British distributor Optimum Releasing during the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. Finecut also held a private screening of CHAW at the event. Released in Korea on July 15, CHAW is the tale of various oddball characters who have gathered to hunt down a giant, man-eating wild boar. The film mixes both horror and comedy, and was written and directed by Shin Jeong-won, a former music video producer and art director who

    Ed Godziszewski and Steve Ryfle have provided DVD audio commentaries and other supplemental features for several Toho science fiction films. Top row: Credits for the 2006 DVDs of GODZILLA from the British Film Institute and MOTHRA VS GODZILLA from Classic Media. Bottom row: BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE from Sony`s new DVD set ICONS OF SCI-FI: TOHO COLLECTION (2009), and the writing/producing credit for Classic Media`s documentary BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE (2008). © 1954, 1959, 1964, 2008 Toho Co., Ltd.

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    Interview by: Richard Pusateri Sharp-eyed fans of Japanese monster and science fiction films may have noticed the decidedly non-Japanese names Ed Godziszewski and Steve Ryfle repeatedly popping up in the credits of Toho DVDs, materials for theatrical screenings and releases, and various Godzilla-themed events over the past few years. Ed Godziszewski has been writing about Japanese FX productions for more than 30 years. Since 1977, he has been the editor and publisher of Japanese Giants, considered— along with Greg Shoemaker`s Japanese Fantasy Film Journal— among the best English language fanzines devoted to Japanese fantasy cinema. Issues of Japanese Giants can be purchased directly from the official website. Ed wrote the cover story (an overview of the Godzilla series) for the very first issue of Fangoria in 1979, and has contributed articles to Japanese Fantasy Film Journal, Retrovision, and G-Fan. G-Fan publisher Daikaiju Enterprises

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