SciFi Japan
    Photo courtesy of NTT QONOQ.Inc. ©NTT QONOQ.INC. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS Source: NTT QONOQ, Inc. press releaseOfficial Site: https://xrcity.docomo.ne.jp/contents/ultraseven-ar196837/ (Japan) NTT QONOQ, a division of the mobile network services company NTT DOCOMO, has launched "Case File AR196837: A Star and a Girl" (CaseFile AR196837 星と少女,  CaseFile AR 196837 Hoshi to Shōjo) as an official tie-in to ULTRASEVEN IF STORY 'THE FUTURE 55 YEARS AGO' (ウルトラセブン IF Story 『55年前の未来』, Urutorasebun IF Story '55-nen Mae no Mirai'), a short concept movie developed by Tsuburaya Productions as part of their year-long Ultraseven 55th Anniversary Project (ウルトラセブン55周年, Urutorasebun 55-Shūnen). The mysterious girl (Mion Okai). Photo courtesy of NTT QONOQ.Inc. ©NTT QONOQ.INC. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS Running 7 minutes,  ULTRASEVEN IF STORY 'THE FUTURE 55 YEARS AGO' connects the present and 55 years into the future through an "If Story," an episode which "may have existed" as part of the original ULTRASEVEN television

    Source: Netflix press release Official Site: https://gnw-anime.com/ (Japan), https://www.netflix.com/title/81340213 (US)   Photo courtesy of Netflix. ©Uru Okabe/Shogakukan/GLMA shut-in older brother. A high-achieving younger brother. A father who is not respected by his own children.A mother who neglects her own household. This is a broken family, and none of its members know that they are all players in an online game. Starting October 12, an anime adaptation of hit manga Good Night World (グッド・ナイト・ワールド, Guddo Naito Wārudo) will begin streaming only on Netflix, and it features this family seeking salvation as a pseudo-family in that online game. The original manga is written by Uru Okabe and has been published in Ura Sunday and MangaONE by Shogakukan since 2016. The theme songs for GOOD NIGHT WORLD will be performed by Kuzuha and Nornis, members of the popular VTuber group NIJISANJI!   Staff Based

    Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN BLAZAR PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO Source: Tsuburaya ProductionsOfficial Sites: https://ani.tv/ultraman_blazar/, https://m-78.jp/blazar/ (Japan)Official Twitter: twitter.com/ultraman_series  Tsuburaya Productions has announced the Japanese home video release for their latest Ultraman show, ULTRAMAN BLAZAR (ウルトラマンブレーザー, Urutoraman Burēzā). ULTRAMAN BLAZAR Blu-ray BOX VOL.I (『​ウルトラマンブレーザー』Blu-ray BOX VOL.I、Urutoraman Burēzā Blu-ray BOX VOL.1), will be available from BANDAI NAMCO ARTS on December 22, 2023 with VOL.II following on February 28, 2024. ULTRAMAN BLAZAR began airing on Saturday, July 8, 2023 on the TV Tokyo network, and has been trending #1 worldwide on Twitter. Episodes are simulcast worldwide on the Official Ultraman YouTube channel with multiple dub options, including English, Chinese, Indonesian and Malaysian. The ULTRAMAN BLAZAR Blu-ray BOXes use a special walnut box design. Each volume includes a 24-page, full color booklet with secrets about the production of ULTRAMAN BLAZAR, plus a SPECIAL DISC containing exclusive bonus footage.  

    Photo courtesy of FOX Corporation. TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. Source: FOX Corporation press release Official Site: https://caseplay.shop/pages/godzilla CASEPLAY, a service operated by FOX Corporation (headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Rio Isabata, President) that provides smartphone-related accessories (on-demand printing,) has started selling Godzilla slim protection cases. The cases come in 23 designs, including American comic book styles and a collection of Godzilla posters from the Showa to Reiwa eras, and will be available for 96 models, including iPhone and Android phones. Photo courtesy of FOX Corporation. © FOX Corporation CASEPLAY offers the pleasure of enjoying fashion with cases not only to users of the latest iPhone models, but also to Android smartphone users who have been unable to find the case they want, or to users who want to buy a new case but are having trouble finding the case they want due to

    Photo courtesy of AMCN Entertainment Group. ©︎ Daiki Kobayashi/SQUARE ENIX, Ragna Crimson Project Source: King Records press releaseOfficial Site: https://ragna-crimson.com/ (Japan)Special Thanks to Scott Barretto (AMCN Entertainment Group)   Photo courtesy of AMCN Entertainment Group. ©︎ Daiki Kobayashi/SQUARE ENIX, Ragna Crimson ProjectIt was announced that the first episode of RAGNA CRIMSON (ラグナクリムゾン, Raguna Kurimuzon) will be a one-hour special on 9/30/2023. The popular manga turned anime tells the story of an ultimate battle of humans against dragons, the “absolute strongest beings” that conquer the world with its mighty powers. Along with a new key visual and the latest promotion video, the names of actors Junichi Suwabe, Fairouz Ai, Mamiko Noto, and Hiroki Touchi were announced as additional cast members. Ragna Crimson, created by Daiki Kobayashi (serialized on Square Enix’s Monthly Gangan Joker magazine), follows the journey of a boy named Ragna, a young “dragon hunter.” He uses a

    Photo courtesy of Toei Animation. © Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation Source: Toei Animation Co., Ltd. press release, NetflixOfficial Site: https://www.toei-anim.co.jp/akumakun/ (Japan), https://www.netflix.com/title/81400498 (US)   Photo courtesy of Toei Animation. © Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation A new anime version of AKUMA KUN (悪魔くん) will be distributed worldwide on Netflix starting Thursday, November 9. The series is the latest adaptation of the popular manga of the same name by Shigeru Mizuki (GeGeGe no Kitarō), which tells the story of a genius boy called “Akuma Kun” who aims to create, with the help of the actual demon Mephisto and his minions, an ideal world where all humanity can live in happiness. Since its debut in 1963, the manga has been revived many times with different protagonists and settings, and been adapted for film and television. A TV anime series that was broadcast in 1989-90 became a huge hit.

    ©Hollywood Theatre   Four giant Godzilla films crash into the Hollywood in one weekend! Source: Hollywood Theatre Official Site: https://hollywoodtheatre.org/# Special Thanks to Michael Calhoun   "Godzillathon" returns to the Hollywood Theatre (located at 4122 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, Oregon 97212) with screenings of four classic movies the weekend of September 16-17. These giants deserve to be seen on the big screen so be sure to attend if you're in the area! Tickets can be purchased online or at the Hollywood Theatre Box Office, which opens 30 minutes prior to the first showing of the day/evening. Tickets for most films are $12 for adults, $10 for students/seniors (65+)/children. Special events may have different pricing; please check online event descriptions for the most accurate info. For additional details please visit the theater's official website. TM&©TOHO

    The student filmmakers of the kaiju short film MIDNIGHT THE ERA have started a crowdfunding campaign. Photo courtesy of Studio Mujaku. ©Studio Mujaku Professional voice-over recording for independent animation! Film production combining animation and special effects! Source: Studio MujakuSpecial Thanks to Avery Guerra Last December, SciFi Japan ran an exclusive preview of MIDNIGHT THE ERA, an independent kaiju short film that was being created through a combination of  animation and traditional Japanese tokusatsu FX techniques. One notable aspect of MIDNIGHT THE ERA is that it is being produced by Studio Mujaku, a group of 30 university students who have split their time between their school duties and making this movie.  Led by director Hanasuke Okada and producer Kakeru Taiga, the team is striving for "the highest level of perfection" and have decided they need to hire professional voice actors and sound engineers to do the dubbing

    Photo courtesy of Netflix. © Eiichiro Oda © 2023 Netflix, Inc. Source: Netflix Official Site: https://www.netflix.com/title/80217863 Netflix has released additional photos from their live action adapatation of ONE PIECE. The 8-episode series premieres worldwide August 31, 2023 at 12:00 am PDT. For more on netflix's ONE PIECE please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan.   Taz Skylar as Sanji, Mackenyu Arata as Roronoa Zoro, Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy, Emily Rudd as Nami, Jacob Romero Gibson as Usopp. Photo courtesy of Netflix. © Eiichiro Oda © 2023 Netflix, Inc. Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy. Photo courtesy of Netflix. © Eiichiro Oda © 2023 Netflix, Inc. (L to R) Vincent Regan as Vice-Admiral Garp, Morgan Davies as Koby, Aidan Scott as Helmeppo. Photo courtesy of Netflix. © Eiichiro Oda © 2023 Netflix, Inc.

    The Kagoshima Passenger Ship Association is now running a tourism campaign with the Ultraman series. Photo courtesy of Kagoshima Passenger Ship Association. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS   Source: Kagoshima Passenger Ship Association press release Official Site: https://ultra-daikokai.com/ Beginning this Tuesday, August 8th, the Kagoshima Passenger Ship Association will run "Go! Go! Ultra Great Voyage"(ゴー!ゴー!ウルトラ大航海, Gō ! Gō ! Urutora Dai Kōkai), an Ultraman-themed event for parents and children taking the sight-seeing ferry around the Amami Islands southwest of Kyushu. The campaign runs through November 7th and includes Ultra Hero special cabins and a stamp rally to win limited edition Ultraman collectibles. The Kagoshima Passenger Boat Association released a statement: "We hope that many people will take a boat trip to the Amami Islands, including the World Natural Heritage sites of Amami Oshima and Tokunoshima. We hope that the tie-in campaign with the Ultraman series will provide an

    Photo courtesy of Toei. ⓒ2023 Revolver Lily Movie Production Committee Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site: https://revolver-lily.com/ (Japan) Photo courtesy of Toei. ⓒ2023 Revolver Lily Movie Production Committee Toei has provided information and photos for their upcoming action film, REVOLVER LILY (リボルバー・リリー,  Riborubā Rirī). Based on the novel of the same name by Kyo Nagaura, the film is directed by award-winning filmmaker Isao Yukisada (PARADE, RIVER'S EDGE) and stars Haruka Ayase (CYBORG SHE, ICHI, CAUTION HAZARDOUS WIFE: THE MOVIE). REVOLVER LILY opens in Japanese cinemas on August 11, 2023.  STORY 1924, Yuri, a former competent spy who murdered 57 people in the past is working as a madam of a small brothel. There she encounters a boy who holds a key to find missing cash of the Imperial Japanese Army. Now, 1000 soldiers are after them; can they possibly survive six days of

    Photos courtesy of Cospa Co., Ltd. TM & © TOHO CO., LTD.  T-Shirts and Tote Bags Featuring "Fictional Weapons," "Godzillas of the Past" and More! Source: Cospa Co., Ltd. press release Cospa Corporation, a Japanese company that designs and manufactures official character costumes and apparel goods, has announced a new wave of T-shirts and tote bags from the Godzilla series. The designs include familiar "fictional weapons" from the franchise, "Godzillas of the past," and "Infant Island," the legendary home of Mothra. These items will first be available from Toho's official Godzilla Store in mid-September 2023. Other hobby stores across Japan will begin stocking them in mid-October 2023, though some retailers-- including Cospa mail order -- are already accepting pre-orders.  View Cospa's full line of Godzilla goods and collectibles at https://cospa.co.jp/itemlist/id/01542/mode/series.   Photo courtesy of Cospa Co., Ltd. TM & © TOHO CO.,

    Photo courtesy of Diamond Select Toys. © LEGENDARY PICTURES Source: Diamond Select Toys press release Special Thanks to Zach Oat Comic-Con is over, and the reveals from Diamond Select Toys and Gentle Giant LTD set the world reeling! With new action figures, statues, busts and Minimates from such lines as Marvel, Star Wars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, AEW, Avatar The Last Airbender, G.I. Joe, Pacific Rim and Lord of the Rings, it was the best of all worlds! Now you can pre-order these great reveals through your local comic shop or online. Read Diamond Select's report for details on the complete line-up of pre-orders, then find a store at comicshoplocator.com or order at diamondselecttoys.com and gentlegiantltd.com! PACIFIC RIM: UPRISING Special Ops DLX Action Figures Series 2 Asst. A Diamond Select Toys release! Time to get back to work! While still on the lookout

    Photo courtesy of Film Movement. Source: Film Movement, Foundry Communications press release Special Thanks to Michael Krause Photo courtesy of Film Movement. Film Movement is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win a DVD of Park Kang's Terrifying SEIRE (세이레, 2021). Heralding the arrival of a fresh new voice in Korean genre cinema, SEIRE was an Official Selection in the Fantasia New Flesh Competition, was nominated for Best Film and captured the New Currents FIPRESCI Prize at the Busan International Film Festival, and also received a nomination for a Golden Eye Best International Feature at the 2022 Zurich Film Festival. In Korean folk traditions, "seire" is the twenty-one days after a baby is born in which they're uniquely vulnerable to bad luck, curses - even evil spirits. Many superstitions surround these first three weeks in a baby's life, and new mother Hae-mi carefully follows

    The Meitetsu Department Store hosts a festival featuring the Zanenai Ikimono books and Chibi Godzilla. Photo courtesy of Meitetsu Department Store. Zanenai Ikimono TM Takahashi Shoten Co. Chibi Godzilla TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. Source; Meitetsu Department Store Co., Ltd. press release Official Site: https://www.e-meitetsu.com/mds/event/2023summerfes/ Through August 29th, the Meitetsu Department Store in Nagoya is hosting the "Meitetsu Summer Fest" (めいてつ夏フェス, Meitetsu Natsu Fesu), a summer vacation that has sold more than 5 million copies.event for children and parents alike. The main theme of the festival is based on Zannen na Ikimono Jiten (ざんねんないきもの事典, "Encyclopedia of All Things Zanena"), a popular children's book series published by Takahashi Shoten that has sold more than 5 million copies. The books offer humorous descriptions of animals and dispell common misconcenceptions about them, so the 7th floor of the Meitetsu Department Store has an exhibit featuring live animals from the

    Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. © 2023 WARNER BROS. ENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Source: Warner Bros. PicturesOfficial Site: https://www.themeg.movie/ SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details and photos from a new movie.   Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. © 2023 WARNER BROS. ENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Get ready for the ultimate adrenaline rush this summer in “Meg 2: The Trench,” a literally larger-than-life thrill ride that supersizes the 2018 blockbuster and takes the action to higher heights and even greater depths with multiple massive Megs and so much more! Dive into uncharted waters with Jason Statham and global action icon Wu Jing as they lead a daring research team on an exploratory dive into the deepest depths of the ocean. Their voyage spirals into chaos when a malevolent mining operation threatens their mission and forces them into a high-stakes battle for survival. Pitted

    Graniph has partnered with the Ultraman Series for new clothing and collectibles. Photo courtesy of Graniph Co., Ltd. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS   Source: Graniph Co., Ltd. press release Graniph Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, President: Akihiko Murata) will launch a collaboration with Tsuburaya Productions' Ultraman Series starting Tuesday, August 15, 2023. A total of 29 items including T-shirts, blousons, socks, hats, and kids' items featuring a wide range of Ultra Heroes and monsters will be available from Graniph's official online store and their retail locations across Japan. Pre-orders have begun on the official site and will run until 11:59 pm on August 14. Some Graniph stores in Japan will hold events to celebrate the release of the Ultraman Series product line. From Tuesday, August 15 - Monday, August 28, a 2.5-meter (8 foot) tall statue of Ultraman will be installed inside the flagship store located in the

    Source: Graphic-sha Publishing Co., Ltd. press release Photo courtesy of Graphic-sha Publishing Co. TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. Graphic-sha Publishing Co., Ltd. will release Godzilla Great Anatomical Picture Book: The Abyss of Monsters Unraveled by Shinji Nishikawa (ゴジラ大解剖図鑑 西川伸司が紐解く怪獣の深淵, Gojira Dai Kaibō Zukan Nishikawa Shinji ga Himotoku Kaijū no Shinen) on August 8th. Godzilla Great Anatomical Picture Book is written and illustrated by Shinji Nishikawa, a popular artist who created the monster designs for many of the Godzilla movies produced by Toho from 1989 to 2004, drew storyboards for Tsuburaya Productions' Ultraman series and designed monsters for the anime series SSSS.GRIDMAN (SSSS.グリッドマン, SSSS.Guriddoman, 2018).Described by the publisher as "an unparalleled, in-depth Godzilla compendium," the Japanese book looks at the different live-action Godzilla designs from the first film (released in 1954) to SHIN GODZILLA (シン・ゴジラ, Shin Gojira, 2016) plus other monsters that appeared in those movies. In

    Collector’s Edition 4K UHD and Standard Edition Blu-ray Disc Available October 17, 2023; Digital Download to Own Available October 3, 2023 Source: Shout! Factory press release, GKIDS Official Site: https://www.evangelion.co.jp/final.html (Japan) Special Thanks to Sarah J. De Bruin GKIDS, celebrating its 15th anniversary as producer and distributor of award-winning and artist-driven animation from around the world, with home entertainment distribution from Shout! Studios, announced it will issue the critically acclaimed fourth and final installment of the new theatrical “Rebuild” editions of the EVANGELION franchise in an expansive 4K UHD Collector’s Edition Set, Standard Edition Blu-ray; and as a digital download-to-own. To celebrate the acclaimed feature’s home entertainment release, GKIDS will be bringing the feature back to cinemas in select markets this fall.  EVANGELION:3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME (シン・エヴァンゲリオン劇場版𝄇, Shin Evangerion Gekijōban) was released in Japanese theatres in 2021, where it was a critical and box office

    Photo courtesy of Bandai Namco Filmworks. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©Eiichi Shimizu, Tomohiro Shimoguchi ©ULTRAMAN PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM 2 Source: Bandai Namco Filmworks press release Official Sites: https://anime.heros-ultraman.com/ (Japan), https://www.netflix.com/title/80231373 (US) Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/heros_ultraman   Bandai Namco Filmworks has released the the 2nd Season of the Netflix ULTRAMAN  (ウルトラマン) anime series in a Japanese Blu-ray BOX Special Limited Edition. Based on the manga series by Eiichi Shimizu and Tomohiro Shimoguchi, the series was directed by Kenji Kamiyama, director of the GHOST IN THE SHELL: S.A.C. series, and Shinji Aramaki, director of the APPLESEED series,. Production I.G and SOLA DIGITAL ARTS handled production of the animation, which presented a fusion  between the detailed texture of the Ultraman suit in 3DCG and the dynamic action unique to animation. Season 1 premiered on Netflix in 2019, and quickly became a hit in Japan and abroad. Season 2 followed in 2022, and the

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