Theatrical Comic-Con Screening of GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER

: 13 July 2011

Japanese Sci-Fi Live-Action Film and New Sequel Set to Screen During 2011 San Diego Comic-Con Source: MediaLab press release Official Movie Site: gantz-movie.com (Japan), gantzmovies.com (US) Special Thanks to Erik Jansen

NEW PEOPLE Entertainment, a film division of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. that focuses on the licensing and distribution of Japanese films and media, has announced a series of special theatrical screenings of the live action sci-fi thriller GANTZ (??, Gantsu, 2011) and its sequel, GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER (?? PERFECT ANSWER, Gantsu Pafekuto Ansaa, 2011), at the Pacific Gaslamp 15 Theatres in San Diego, CA. GANTZ screens on Friday, July 22nd at 6:00pm and 9:00pm, while GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER screens on Saturday, July 23rd at 6:00pm and also at 9:00pm. Both films will be shown in Japanese with English subtitles. The film screenings will take place during the 2011 Comic-Con International, the country’s largest comic book, science fiction and pop culture event, which takes place at the nearby San Diego Convention Center. Tickets to the GANTZ screenings are now available for online purchase at fandango.com/gaslampstadium. Seating is extremely limited to advance ticket purchase is highly recommended. Tickets are $15.00 each. GANTZ is based on a popular manga series created by Hiroya Oku. The ongoing 31-volume sci-fi action epic is a bestseller in Japan with sales exceeding 16 million copies and is also published in North America by Dark Horse Comics. Both films star leading Japanese actors Kazunari Ninomiya (LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA) and Kenichi Matsuyama (DEATH NOTE, DETROIT METAL CITY). NEW PEOPLE Entertainment plans to release the first GANTZ film on DVD and Blu-ray on August 30th. The release will include both English and Japanese dialogue options and a bonus disc with an exclusive director’s interview.

“Audiences will be in for a thrill with the kinetic big screen action of these films with elements that remain true to the original manga comic and anime series as well as an exciting original storyline for the second film,” says Seiji Horibuchi, President and CEO of NEW PEOPLE Inc. “Ever since the U.S. premiere of the first GANTZ film in January, legions of fans asked us when the sequel would be released. Comic-Con provides the ideal backdrop for these screenings and we’ll be teaming up with Dark Horse Comics to do some special promotions during the convention. Stay tuned for more details coming later this month on this exciting film event!” In the first GANTZ film, Kei Kurono and his childhood friend, Masaru Kato, attempt to save a man who has fallen onto the train tracks but are run down by an oncoming train. However, rather than finding themselves dead, they are transported to a strange apartment in which they find a mysterious black orb known as ‘Gantz’. Along with others there, they are provided weaponry and sent on missions to battle alien beings and gain “points”. Is this world, which tests your will to survive, a game or reality? How will we face the end? The GANTZ saga meets its ultimate conclusion in GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER, which offers an intensely gripping story-line yet to be known to even readers of the original manga series. Determined to resurrect his friends who have died on previous missions, Kei and other members trapped in the world of GANTZ aim to score the 100 points needed to break through and regain their freedom. But with the emergence of a mysterious man investigating the Gantz members, Gantz begins to act up and the next target shocks the members. Some fight for love, some for justice but what will each member sacrifice?

About NEW PEOPLE Entertainment

Based in San Francisco, California, NEW PEOPLE, Inc. offers the latest films, art, fashion and retail brands from Japan through its unique entertainment destination as well as through licensing and distribution of selective Japanese films. NEW PEOPLE Entertainment, a film division of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. strives to offer the most entertaining motion pictures straight from the "Kingdom of Pop" for audiences of all ages, especially the manga and anime generation, in North America. Some titles include DEATH NOTE, GANTZ, KAMIKAZE GIRLS, and THE TASTE OF TEA.

For more information on GANTZ please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: