SciFi Japan
    3-Day Event in Anaheim this 4th of July Weekend Source: BAM! Marketing, Publicity & Promotions press releases Official Site: am2con.org Special Thanks to Chase Wang Located in Anaheim, California, ­ AM² is a 3-day, 24 hour event with no general attendance/badge purchase requirement and is aspiring to be a key meeting place for fans that share a common interest in Asian music, Animation/Anime, and Comics/Manga. Established in 2010, AM² will be held on July 1-3, 2011 at the Anaheim Convention Center in sunny Anaheim, California. AM² current activities include Exhibit Hall, AMV`s, Arcade, Summer Festival, World Cosplay Summit, Rum Party Pirates, Cosplay Chess, Dances, Fashion Shows, Table Top, Console Gaming, AniMaid Café, Workshops, Panels, Concerts and more! Entrance to the event is free, but attendees can avoid the huge lines by obtaining a Passport fast pass for the event. The Passport fast pass will also provide holders

    Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden and Arata: The Legend Join the Newest Additions to 15 Other Popular VIZ Manga Series Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: VIZ.com/apps Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media will round out April with a second block of monthly manga updates available exclusively for the VIZ Manga App for the Apple iPad mobile device. These latest updates will include the digital premiere of 5 new manga titles and updates to 15 other series that are also currently available. Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden is set to debut on April 18th, and Arata: The Legend will launch for the iPad on April 25th. The VIZ Manga App is available for free through the iTunes Store and all manga volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada within the application for $4.99 (U.S. / CAN)

    Who has Won Sets of Three Different Cover Editions for the Sold-Out Comic Book? Source: IDW Publishing Special Thanks to Chris Ryall, Carlos Guzman, Dirk Wood and Alonzo Simon A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Thank you to everyone who entered IDW Publishing and SciFi Japan`s Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters comic book contest. The response from readers was fantastic with hundreds of entries submitted. The three randomly drawn winners are: Marc Southerland Veronica Weissman Dillon Fisher Congratulations to the winners! Each of you will receive a set of three Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters issue #1 cover variant editions featuring the artwork of Alex Ross and Eric Powell. The prizes will be shipped soon so keep an eye on your mailboxes. In related news, IDW Publishing has announced that Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters #1 sold out on the first day of release at comic book retail stores throughout

    New Paranormal Anime Adventure in the U.S. Only Days After Japanese Debut Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: VIZAnime Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media has announced that it will serve as an official distribution partner for Aniplex of America’s domestic debut of the BLUE EXORCIST anime series. VIZ Media will carry the new action series (subtitled) on its VIZAnime website beginning Wednesday, April 20th, just days after its eagerly anticipated debut on Japanese TV on April 17th. New episodes will stream on the site every Wednesday. In the animated series, Rin, along with his twin brother Yukio Okumura are raised by an eminent priest, Shiro Fujimoto, but one day Rin discovers that their biological father is actually Satan! As the border between “Assiah” (the human world) and “Gehenna” (demon’s world) is intruded upon by evils, Rin vows to become

    VIZ Media Expands iPad Digital Library with Absolute Boyfriend, Black Bird, Blue Exorcist, Kekkashi and More Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: VIZ.com/apps Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media continues the expansion of its digital manga manga library available exclusively for the VIZ Manga App for the Apple iPad mobile device with several new series that will premiere during the first half of April. The latest update features the launch of the shojo series Absolute Boyfriend and the fantasy-action of Kekkashi on April 4th. Another popular shojo manga series, Black Bird, and the supernatural adventure BLUE EXORCIST will premiere on April 11th. The VIZ Manga App is available for free through the iTunes Store and all manga volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada within the application for $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) per volume.

    Win a Set of Three Different Cover Editions, Courtesy of IDW Publishing and SciFi Japan Source: IDW Publishing Special Thanks to Chris Ryall, Carlos Guzman, Dirk Wood and Alonzo Simon A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Today, IDW Publishing premieres the first issue of their new comic books series Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters. Based on the long-running Toho film series and characters, the ongoing comic stars the King of the Monsters and other fan favorites such as Mothra, Rodan, Anguirus, and King Ghidorah in stories by writers Eric Powell (The Goon) and Tracy Marsh and artists Phil Hester (Green Arrow, Firebreather) and Bruce McCorkindale (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The Falling Man). To celebrate Godzilla`s return to American comics, IDW is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win prize packs containing three different cover variant editions of Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters issue #1.

    Source: IDW Publishing Special Thanks to Chris Ryall and Carlos Guzman The first issue of IDW Publishing`s Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters, comic book series will arrive on stores shelves Wednesday, March 30th. The ongoing series is being written by Eisner Award-winner Eric Powell (The Goon) and Tracy Marsh. Artwork is provided by penciller Phil Hester (Green Arrow, Firebreather), inker Bruce McCorkindale (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The Falling Man) and Eisner-nominated colorist Ronda Pattison. The cover price is $3.99. Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters begins as Godzilla emerges from the ocean off the coast of Japan and makes his way towards Tokyo. Military countermeasures seem powerless against the gargantuan beast, and the Japanese government may have to resort to some desperate measures to prevent further calamity. The destructive saga also features a host of beloved Toho monsters such as Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah,

    Titles Include Kids Favorites, Sci-Fi Action, Shojo Fantasy Drama, and Works by Natsume Ono and CLAMP Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media) has detailed a variety of notable new manga acquisitions for the second half of 2011. Scheduled for release in coming months, perfect for kids’ summertime fun, are a pair of new Pokemon titles including a Travel Activity Kit and the debut of the Pokemon Black & White manga series. The highly anticipated cute and quirky bean dogs of Mameshiba will also debut in their own manga and in a character guide. Other titles aimed at Teen and Older Teen readers will feature the high-speed action of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s in an innovative new original story, the tense mystery drama Psyren, a remastered 3-in-1 collection of the classic apocalyptic saga X by the celebrated manga creative team

    North America’s Most Popular Manga Monthly Delivers Commemorative Special Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC celebrates the 100th issue of Shonen Jump magazine, which hit newsstands nationwide on March 1st. The cover price is $4.99. The commemorative April 2011 issue features special content including a pictorial retrospective of all the manga heroes that have graced the magazine’s pages since the very first issue. This includes original Shonen Jump heroes such as Goku from Dragon Ball, Yugi from Yu-Gi-Oh! and popular mainstays like Naruto, Ichigo from Bleach, as well as more recent additions to the Shonen Jump Super Team including Ageha from the new manga series Psyren, and Yusei from Yu-Gi-Oh 5D’s. The issue also contains the Dragon Ball X One Piece Cross Epoch, a collaborative one-shot story by the creators of each series where characters

    A Reformed Teenage Delinquent Tries to Lead a Peaceful High School Life in New Shojo Beat Series Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC brings the hilarious high-school hijinks of Izumi Tsubaki’s manga series, Oresama Teacher (I`m The Teacher), to North American audiences on March 1st. The new title will be published under the Shojo Beat imprint, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. Mafuyu is the no-nonsense, take-charge and hard-hitting leader of her high school gang. But when she gets expelled for being a delinquent, her mother, fed up with her daughter’s wayward ways, sends Mafuyu to an isolated school far off in the country. Determined to make the best of the situation and make her mother proud, Mafuyu decides to turn over a new, feminine,

    Interview with IDW Cover Artist Matt Frank Author: Bob Johnson Special thanks to IDW Comics As fans eagerly await the debut of IDW`s Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters comic, SciFi Japan caught up with cover artist Matt Frank and discussed the comic and what to expect in the months (years?) ahead. We also have an exclusive look at the Rodan cover for issue #2! So scroll down, read on and enjoy! SciFi Japan: Tell us about your beginnings. Where did you grow up? What was life like, pre-comic biz? Matt Frank: I grew up in good ol` San Antonio, Texas, and promptly moved to Austin for college, and have yet to find a reason to leave. Growing up I loved drawing dinosaurs, and my parents saw fit to take me around Central America and encourage my love of other cultures, not to mention the occasional surfing lesson

    iTunes, PlayStation Network, And Amazon Video On Demand Begin Offering Both Hit Adventure Series To Rent Or Own Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: VIZAnime.com Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media has announced the availability of hit anime series HIKARU NO GO and MÄR for Download-To-Rent / Download-To-Own (DTR/DTO) from leading online content providers iTunes, PlayStation Network, and Amazon Video on Demand. The complete series for HIKARU NO GO (Episodes 1-75) and MÄR (Episodes 1-52) will be presented dubbed and uncut, and will be available immediately from the iTunes Store in the U.S. and Canada. As a special promotion, Episode 1 from each series will be available for FREE download through August 23, 2011! Amazon Video on Demand and the PlayStation Network video delivery service, available exclusively for the Sony PSP (PlayStation Portable) and PlayStation 3 (PS3)

    A Murdered Girl Gets a Second Chance at Life and Revenge in Futuristic Mardock City Source: VIZ Media press release Official Site: haikasoru.com Special Thanks to Jane Lui This week, VIZ Media, LLC presents the North American debut of the Japanese sci-fi novel, Mardock Scramble. The novel, written by Tow Ubukata, has been published under the company’s Haikasoru imprint and will carry an MSRP of $17.99 U.S. / $21.00 CAN. Haikasoru is VIZ Media’s unique literary imprint with a dedicated focus on publishing some of the most compelling contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy for English-speaking audiences. Why me? It was to be the last thought a young prostitute, Rune-Balot, would ever have...as a human anyway. Taken in by a devious gambler named Shell, she became a slave to his cruel desires and would have been killed by his hand if not for the self-aware All-Purpose

    Sample the Latest Manga and Anime Releases, New from VIZ Media Source: VIZ Media press release Special Thanks to Jane Lui VIZ Media has just announced new additions to its critically acclaimed CROSS GAME property. On the manga side, Cross Game Volume 2 (bundling Vols. 4 and 5 of the original series as released in Japan) will be published under the Shonen Sunday imprint. The latest volume releases on January 11th, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN. On the anime side, to celebrate the Cross Game Vol. 2 manga release, two new episodes (episodes 39 and 40) will be available to stream – for free – beginning the week of January 10th on VIZAnime.com, the company’s premiere website for anime content. CROSS GAME is a moving drama that is heartfelt and true, yet in the brilliant

    Author: Jonathan Shyman and Keith Aiken Special Thanks to Andrew Wong, Bill Bronson and Brian Weinstock Article updated with additional photos, May 2012. Editor`s Note: Back in 1998, I was a storyboard artist working for Sony Pictures Family Entertainment on GODZILLA: THE SERIES, the Saturday morning animated show spun-off from the studio`s big budget GODZILLA movie released worldwide that May. During my time on the show I saw photos and illustrations for a variety of proposed G:TS merchandise ranging from T-shirts to lunchboxes to video games. As both a lifelong Godzilla fan and a part of the creative team for the show I was intrigued by all the different products being considered for release, but what most caught my eye were images of GODZILLA: THE SERIES action figures developed by Trendmasters, the St Louis, MO-based company that had already produced extensive toy lines

    Larger Size Edition of the Riveting Supernatural Crime Mystery Features Added Full Color Pages Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: Deathnote.viz.com Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC has announced the release of Death Note Black Edition, an oversized version of the acclaimed supernatural crime thriller. Volume 1 hits stores on December 28th and includes the first two editions of the popular manga series as well as added full-color pages. The Death Note Black Edition will be offered under the Shonen Jump Advanced imprint, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens, and will retail for $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN. Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects— and he’s bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in

    Honesty is Not Always the Best Policy in New Manga Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC will release creator Yuuki Iinuma’s manga series Itsuwarabito on December 14th. The new series will be published under the company’s Shonen Sunday imprint, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens, and will carry and MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. Utsuho’s truthfulness as a child resulted in an enormous catastrophe, and he decided to lie from that day forward. Raised in a village of orphans by a monk, Utsuho is an unrepentant troublemaker. The monk eventually inspires him to help people, but there’s no way Utsuho’s going to lead an honest life! Instead, he’s going to use his talents for mischief and deception for good! “Creator Yuuki Iinuma uses the dichotomy of integrity and lying as the basis for

    A Kiss On The Forehead Is A Girl’s Ticket To A New Home And An Unexpected Life As A Deity Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media) will release the shojo manga (graphic novels for female readers) romantic comedy, Kamisama Kiss, on December 7th. The new series, created by Julietta Suzuki, will be published under the company’s Shojo Beat imprint, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. Nanami Momozono is alone and homeless after her dad skips town to evade his gambling debts and the debt collectors kick her out of her apartment. So when a mysterious man she`s just saved from a dog attack offers her his home, she jumps at the opportunity. But it turns out that his place is a shrine, and

    First Anime Title Theme Available Today Source: FUNimation Entertainment press releases Special Thanks to Manny Alcala FMA fans take note: a FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD-based dynamic theme hits the North American PlayStation® Store, a service that is part of PlayStation Network, this week. Fans of the anime series can download the theme, available for PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, for $2.99. Both the theme itself and the icons will be themed with FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD imagery. Some of the dynamic elements include the sound, change of light in the background from day to night, eye and clothing movements, as well as a look at how Al and Ed age from children to adults. Watch video of the theme on FUNimation`s Youtube page. About FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD Edward and Alphonse Elric’s reckless disregard for alchemy’s fundamental laws ripped half of Ed’s limbs from his body and

    Be Careful Who You Bully Because They Might Be An Ogre! Source: VIZ Media press release Special Thanks to Jane Lui VIZ Media, LLC release award-winning artist Yoshinori Natsume’s manga series Kurozakuro on November 9th. The new series, offered under the Shonen Sunday imprint, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. Mikito Sakurai is tired of being a punching bag for all the delinquents on campus. But what can he do? By nature he`s a gentle and easygoing high school student. That all changes the night he swallows a mysterious orb and meets Zakuro, a strange kid who promises to grant his most heartfelt desire. "When you wake up," says the pint-sized apparition, "you`ll be stronger and better than a human." “The kids who bully Mikito are in for a rude awakening when he starts displaying

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