Masaaki Yuasa`s MIND GAME will be released in a Blu-ray/DVD Combo by GKIDS and Shout! Factory. Image courtesy of Shout! Factory. © 2004 MIND GAME Project
Source: Shout! Factory press release Special Thanks to Shannon Meehan Provocative cult hit MIND GAME (????????, Maindo Geemu, 2004) from anime auteur Masaaki Yuasa (DEVILMAN Crybaby) will be released in a Blu-ray + DVD combo on August 28, 2018 by GKIDS and Shout! Factory, with bonus features including director’s commentary and a feature-length film animatic. Yuasa’s first feature film MIND GAME is a boundary-pushing tale that embodies the 1960s and 70s acid animation. The rarely seen film comes to the US for the first time with this release. Buckle in and prepare to surrender yourself to an exhilarating and wildly entertaining ride in this gloriously colorful and unconstrained cult classic. Audiences will begin to grasp what they are in for early on as loser Nishi, too wimpy to try to save his childhood sweetheart from gangsters, is shot in the butt by a
Packaging for the ULTRAMAN R/B (RUEBE) Blu-ray Box I. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. © TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS. © ULTRAMAN R/B PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM?TV TOKYO
Author: Keith Aiken Source: Tsuburaya Productions Official Site: m-78.jp/rb, ani.tv/rb (Japan) Tsuburaya Productions latest Ultraman show, ULTRAMAN R/B (RUEBE) [?????????(???), Urutoraman R/B (Ruubu), 2018], comes to home video in Japan on November 22. ULTRAMAN R/B (RUEBE) Blu-ray Box I [?????????(???) Blu-ray BOX I] will contain Episodes 1-13 of the series, plus a Special Disc of exclusive bonus features. Among the extras are a `Making Of` featurette and the `1st Minato Family Talk Show` starring the main cast of ULTRAMAN R/B -- Yuya Hirata as Katsumi Minato/Ultraman Rosso, Ryosuke Koike as Isami Minato/Ultraman Blu, Arisa Sonohara as their sister Asahi Minato, and Ginnojo Yamazaki as patriarch Ushio Minato. Also included is a full color reference booklet with a comment by lead director Masayoshi Takesue (ULTRAMAN ORB, ULTRAMAN GEED) plus cast interviews. Four rental DVD volumes of ULTRAMAN R/B will also be released on November
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. © 2018 WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Source: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Special Thanks to Tyler Robinson Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win a Blu-ray + Blu-ray + Digital Combo Pack of RAMPAGE. Global icon Dwayne Johnson headlines the action adventure as a primatologist trying to stop gigantic mutated creatures. Directed by Brad Peyton, RAMPAGE also stars Oscar nominee Naomie Harris (MOONLIGHT), Malin Akerman (TV’s BILLIONS), Jake Lacy (TV’s GIRLS), Joe Manganiello (TV’s TRUE BLOOD), and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (TV’s THE WALKING DEAD); as well as P.J. Byrne (THE WOLF OF WALL STREET), Marley Shelton (TV’s RISE), Breanne Hill (TV’s FRONTIER), Jack Quaid (THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE), Matt Gerald (TV’s DAREDEVIL), Jason Liles (DEATH NOTE), Demetrius Grosse (TV’s THE BRAVE), and Will Yun Lee (TV’s HAWAII FIVE-O). RAMPAGE will be available in a 4K
Image courtesy of MVD Entertainment. © Nikkatsu Corporation
Source: Arrow Video US, MVD Entertainment Group press release Special Thanks to Clint Weiler Starring original Diamond Guy, Jo Shishido, Seijun Suzuki`s DETECTIVE BUREAU 2-3: GO TO HELL BASTARDS! (??????? ????????, Tantei Jimusho 23: Kutabare Akutoodomo, 1963) is a hard hitting, rapid-fire yakuza film that redefined the Japanese crime drama. Detective Tajima (Shishido) is tasked with tracking down a consignment of stolen firearms, as the investigation progresses things take an anarchic, blood-drenched grudge match. Rapidly paced, darkly funny, and extremely stylish, DETECTIVE BUREAU 2-3: GO TO HELL BASTARDS! is unlike anything seen before and rightly deserves its cult status. Suzuki`s send up of post-war greed would go on to cement his domestic and international status as one of the leading directors to come out of Japan. Product Details Format: BLU-RAY SKU: AV156 UPC: 760137141686 Street Date: 07/10/18 Label: Arrow Video Genre: Cult Run
© F.H.M.H.K./N.V.M.M. 2018
Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Official Site: tonegawa-anime.com (Japan) Sentai Filmworks announced that it acquired the distribution rights to the Summer 2018 comedy, MR. TONEGAWA MIDDLE MANAGEMENT BLUES (????? ????, Chuukan Kanriroku Tonegawa). This spinoff series from the award-winning world of KAIJI, will be available for USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Ireland and other select territories. President Hyodo is tired of dealing with debtors, so he orders mid-level manager, Yukio Tonegawa, to form a group of men and devise a series of sadistic games, called the Game of Death, to collect what is owed to him. Initially, Tonegawa and his black-suited men, known as Team Tonegawa, are hesitant to participate but quickly discover that their new line of work is more enjoyable than they originally thought. Madhouse (KAIJI, ONE PUNCH MAN) will be in charge of the animation production. Toshiyuki Morikawa (NARUTO, BLEACH, MOBILE
© Project Revue Starlight
Series Makes Its Summer 2018 Simulcast Debut on HIDIVE Source: Sentai Filmworks, HIDIVE press releases Official Site: revuestarlight.com (Japan) Sentai Filmworks announced that has acquired the exclusive distribution rights to REVUE STARLIGHT (????? ??????????, Shojo ? Kageki Revuyuu Sutaaraito), produced by Kinema Citrus (MADE IN ABYSS), for USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands as well as Latin American countries and other select territories. After receiving a mysterious invitation to audition for a coveted spot with, Starlight, a popular musical revue troupe, star-struck contestants begin honing their talents and competing against each other for a chance of a lifetime. Among the hopefuls are childhood friends, Karen and Hikari, who once promised each other that they would take the stage together. With each contender working tirelessly hard to win, it’s the girls’ passionate dedication to their lifelong dream that’ll truly
© Mao Nanami · Kodansha / REAL GIRL Anime Production Committee
Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Official Site: 3dkanojo-anime.com (Japan) Sentai Filmworks announced that it acquired all distribution rights for the second season of REAL GIRL (3D??, 3D Kanojo, 2018), the popular coming-of-age series lauded for its refreshing take on young love, acceptance and self-discovery. The second season is expected to debut during the 2019 Winter Simulcast season. Sentai will make the series available to USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Ireland and other select territories. Follow the popular Iroha Igarashi and reclusive Hikari Tsutsui, as they continue to navigate the tumultuous waters of young love and what it means to be true to yourself. As their relationship grows and deepens, new and difficult challenges threaten to break them apart. While they are committed to overcoming everything that comes their way as a couple, will some things be too much for them to conquer? The series’
© GCREST/?100?????
TV Anime to Stream on HIDIVE Source: Sentai Filmworks, HIDIVE press releases Official Site: yume-100-anime.com (Japan) Sentai Filmworks has announced that it acquired exclusive distribution rights to 100 SLEEPING PRINCES & THE KINGDOM OF DREAMS (???????100?????, Yume Okoku to Nemureru 100-Nin no Oji-sama, 2018), a Summer 2018 Simulcast season title, based off the popular mobile game of the same name. Enter the mysterious Dream World, where a newly-crowned royal soon learns of an insatiable evil, the yumekui, feeding upon the energy and dreams of sleeping princes who are then unable to awaken. The brave monarch must save them and their world from the dream eater! 100 SLEEPING PRINCES & THE KINGDOM OF DREAMS features the voice talents of Kenichi Suzumura (AJIN, MAID SAMA!, MR. OSOMATSU) as Avi, Daiki Yamashita (ANONYMOUS NOISE, FOOD WARS! THE SECOND PLATE, MY HERO ACADEMIA) as Navi and Haruka Kimura (KURENAI, THE
Screenshots from the upcoming ULTRAMAN LEO Blu-ray Box from Japan. Photos courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. © Tsuburaya Productions
Author: Keith Aiken Source: Tsuburaya Productions Tsuburaya Productions continues their ULTRAMAN Blu-ray SERIES with ULTRAMAN LEO (????????, Urutoraman Reo, 1974-75). The box set will be released in Japan on December 21, 2018. The Blu-ray is part of the "HD Remaster 2.0" line, in which the episodes of the series have been digitally restored to fix film scratches and damage, adjust color tones, and improve image quality while retaining the graininess of the original 16mm film. This allows for the maximum presentation of ULTRAMAN LEO available with the latest technology. Bonus features include footage from an ULTRAMAN LEO BlU-ray panel to be held at ULTRAMAN FESTIVAL 2018 this July, cast interviews, and more. SYNOPSIS After destroying the planet L77 of the Leo constellation, the Magma Aliens set their sights on Earth. Ultra Seven comes to Earth’s defense but has his leg broken by the
Source: Sentai Filmworks, HIDIVE press releases Official Site: noble.marv.jp/anime (Japan) Sentai Filmworks announced today that it acquired all distribution rights for the action-filled title, THE THOUSAND MUSKETEERS, (??? Senjuushi, 2018), for the Summer 2018 Simulcast season for the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Ireland, South America and other select territories. THE THOUSAND MUSKETEERS TV series follows the struggle of a ragtag resistance effort battling against the World Empire, a tyrannical regime intent on oppressing lives and suppressing liberty. Although modern weapons are forbidden, the resistance fighters repurpose antique weapons that had been regarded as works of art, not deadly arms. But the balance of power changes as these relics of ancient wars respond to the plight of the resistance and come to life as noble musketeers who take up the weapons they were born from and fight to bring a sliver of hope back
Contents of the JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE SET 2: STARDUST CRUSADERS Limited Edition Blu-ray Set. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © Hirohiko Araki & LUCKY LAND COMMUNICATIONS/SHUEISHA, JOJO’s Animation SC Project
Anime Series Arrives This Summer As A Limited Edition Blu-ray Set Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Special Thanks to Elizabeth Ellis and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC, a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, delivers Season 2 of the action-driven, multigenerational anime series with the home media release of JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE SET 2: STARDUST CRUSADERS on July 3rd. The new set will be available on DVD and as a Limited Edition Blu-ray Set. Each multi-disc set contains 24 episodes (Episodes 27-50) and notable bonus features exclusive to the Blu-ray release. Based on Hirohiko Araki’s bestselling manga, JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE brings to life the outlandish characters, wild humor, and frenetic battles that the series is known for The JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE SET 2: STARDUST CRUSADERS Limited Edition Blu-ray Set will carry an MSRP of $69.99
Artwork not final – mock-up. Photo courtesy of Section23 Films.
MADE IN ABYSS Available October 23rd Source: Section23 Films press release Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff Home video distributor Section23 Films today announced its October slate of releases which includes Sentai Filmworks fantasy-adventure, MADE IN ABYSS, available on Blu-ray and in a special Limited Edition Premium Box Set! Product details follow, in order of release... CORPSE PRISON PT. 1 BLU-RAY Published by: Switchblade Pictures Distributed by: Section23 Films Run Time: 95 min. Street Date: 10/2/2018 Format: BD Language: Japanese with English Subtitles SRP: $19.98 From the moment she and her fellow students arrive in the mountain village of Yasaka, Mikoto knows that there is something very wrong with this tiny town. Can it really be true that, for 50 years, not a single girl has been born in this isolated community? Despite the fact that Mayor Amano and the other all male residents have enthusiastically welcomed
Win the horror-thriller THE MIMIC from Well Go USA Entertainment and SciFi Japan! Photo courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment. © Next Entertainment World
Source: Well Go USA, MPRM Communications Special Thanks to Leif Helland and Rachel Villegas Well Go USA Entertainment is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win a Blu-ray of the South Korean horror-thriller THE MIMIC (???, Jangsanbeom, 2017), based on the mythological tale “Tiger of Mt. Jang,” where a legendary ghost that mimics humans. A woman takes in a lost girl she finds near the mysterious Mt. Jang and mystifying things begin to happen to her frightened family. Following the acclaim for his first feature film HIDE AND SEEK, writer/director Huh Jung returns to the genre that made him famous. THE MIMIC stars Yum Jung-Ah (TELL ME SOMETHING), Park Hyuk-Kwon (A TAXI DRIVER), Shin Rin-Ah (ODE TO MY FATHER), Heo Jin (THE WAILING), Kil Hae-Yeon (MISSING) and Lee Yool (HELLO MURDERER). THE MIMIC is available now on digital and Blu-ray (SLP: $22.27)
Image courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. © 2018 Universal Studios. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Source: Universal Studios Home Entertainment Official Site: pacificrimmovie.com #JoinTheUprising #PacificRimUprising Special Thanks to Jennifer Zurita and Evan Fong Universal Studios Home Entertainment is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win a Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + Digital Combo Pack of PACIFIC RIM UPRISING. Set ten years after the events of PACIFIC RIM, the Kaiju return with a new deadly threat that reignites the conflict between these otherworldly monsters of mass destruction and Jaegers, the human-piloted super-machines that were built to vanquish them. In PACIFIC RIM UPRISING directed by Steven S. DeKnight, John Boyega (STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS) stars as the rebellious Jake Pentecost, a once-promising Jaeger pilot whose legendary father gave his life to secure humanity’s victory against the monstrous Kaiju. Jake has since abandoned his training only to become caught up in a criminal underworld. But when an even more unstoppable threat is unleashed
Image courtesy of Mill Creek Entertainment. © 2001 Tezuka Productions /Metropolis Committee
The explosive, ground-breaking anime feature film will be available in highly collectible packaging on October 30 Source: Mill Creek Entertainment press release Mill Creek Entertainment, the leader in value home entertainment, is excited to announce the upcoming release of the 2001 anime film OSAMU TEZUKA’S METROPOLIS (??????, Metoroporisu) as a SteelBook Blu-ray + DVD combo on October 30, 2018. This spectacular film in its all-new collectible packaging will be available for $34.98 SRP. Screenplay by anime legend Katsuhiro Otomo (AKIRA) and directed by Rintaro (GALAXY EXPRESS 999), OSAMU TEZUKA’S METROPOLIS is a spectacular visual film with stunning imagery, unforgettable characters, and leaves you questioning what it takes to be human. Special features include interviews with the filmmakers, The Making of OSAMU TEZUKA’S METROPOLIS, original Japanese audio, and multi-angle animation. Osamu Tezuka’s other success include ASTRO BOY, KIMBA THE WHITE LION, BLACK JACK and
Photo courtesy of Shout! Factory. © Toei Company, Ltd.
POWER RANGERS Inspiration Available September 25, 2018 Source: Shout! Factory press release Special Thanks to Shannon Meehan On September 25, 2018, Shout! Factory will release SUPER SENTAI: CHOJIN SENTAI JETMAN: The Complete Series, a fan-favorite installment of the original Japanese series that inspired the iconic Power Rangers franchise! Available for the first time on DVD, the 8-DVD set is presented in Japanese with English subtitles. The hugely popular season CHOJIN SENTAI JETMAN (??????????, Choojin Sentai Jettoman, 1991-1992) is the last Sentai season released that was not adapted for Power Rangers and the first pre-ZYURANGER release for Shout! Factory. The long-awaited series is now available for the first time in North America and full of adventure with 51 episodes. Sky Force, a defense organization tasked with guarding peace on Earth, has developed a new technology which gives the subjects superhuman powers. These people, now known as Jetmen,
ULTRAMAN R/B`s Ultraman Blu and Rosso host a collection of theme songs from the recent Ultra Series. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. © Tsuburaya Productions
Source: Tsuburaya Productions Tsuburaya Productions has announced the Japanese DVD release of ULTRAMAN HIT SONG HISTORY: NEW GENERATION EDITION (?????? ??????????? ????????????, Urutoraman Hitto Songu Hisutorii Nyuu Jenereeshon-hen) on August 28. The disc presents videos for 12 theme and insert songs from the "New Generation" TV series ULTRAMAN GINGA (?????????, Urutoraman Ginga, 2013) to the upcoming ULTRAMAN R/B (RUEBE) (?????????(???), Urutoraman R/B (Ruubu), 2018). Also included is an exclusive framing sequence adventure starring Ultraman Rosso and Ultraman Blu -- the brother heroes of ULTRAMAN R/B -- and Ultraman Zero (Character Voice: Mamoru Miyano), one of the most popular Ultramen in the series. The story begins when Ultraman Rosso and Ultraman Blu pursue a monster to the moon. There they encounter Ultraman Zero, who tells them that other Ultra Heroes have been trapped by Etelgar, the spatio-temporal demon who wants revenge for his earlier
Photo courtesy of Shout! Factory. © 2014
Source: Shout! Factory press release Special Thanks to Shannon Meehan and Lauren Blum GKIDS and Shout! Factory present the charming fantasy/science fiction romance SATELLITE GIRL AND MILK COW (??? ??? ???, Uribyeol Ilho-wa Eollugso, 2014) on Blu-ray/DVD on June 5, 2018. Bonus features include the short film COFFEE VENDING MACHINE AND ITS SWORD and trailers. The debut feature-length film from Korean director Chang Hyung-yun, acclaimed creator of animated short films that have premiered and won prizes at festivals worldwide, the highly original SATELLITE GIRL AND MILK COW was produced by Cho Young-kag (THE FAKE, THE KING OF PIGS), and received an Asia Pacific Screen Award nomination for Best Animated Feature. An out-of-commission satellite picks up a lovelorn ballad on her radio antenna and descends to Earth to find the source of such sincere emotions. But on the way, she is caught in a raging magical battle
Photo courtesy of Third Window Films. © Tricycle Films
Source: Third Window Films press release Special Thanks to Adam Torel and Claire Marty UK distributor Third Window Films brings the erotic fantasy SUFFERING OF NINKO (?????, Ninko no Junan, 2016) to Blu-ray on July 23. Young monk Ninko leads an ascetic existence in the Enmeiji temple, but his dedication to a life of simplicity and sexual abstinence is made impossible by the curse that seems to afflict him: he is irresistible to every woman (and some of the men) he meets. Pursued by a posse of half-naked, crazed women and a mysterious, faceless nymph, he flees high into the mountains, where he can finally discover his true nature. With SUFFERING OF NINKO, debut director Norihiro Iwatsukino adds a modern, headstrong chapter to the rich tradition of Japanese ghost stories. His background as a designer is revealed in the wonderful animated variations on