SciFi Japan

    A Japanese samurai masters Thai boxing in YAMADA- WAY OF THE SAMURAI. Photo courtesy of Showbox Media Group. © 2010 Epic Pictures Group

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Showbox Media Group press release Special Thanks to Louise Rivers The UK home video label Cine-Asia has announced their release schedule for January 2012. Highlighting the month will be DVD and Blu-ray editions for YAMADA- WAY OF THE SAMURAI. Also on tap are “Hong Kong Legends” Special Edition DVDs for the Bruce Lee classics THE BIG BOSS and GAME OF DEATH plus the sequel GAME OF DEATH 2. YAMADA- WAY OF THE SAMURAI (aka YAMADA: THE SAMURAI OF AYOTHAYA, 2010) Street Date: January 30, 2012 Format: Blu-ray (Region B) Number of discs: 1 Certificate: 18 Run Time: 96 minutes SRP: £17.99 Street Date: January 30, 2012 Format: DVD (Region 2 PAL) Number of discs: 1 Certificate: 18 Run Time: 96 minutes SRP: £13.49 Get ready for hard-hitting, hi-impact fight action from the cinematic tradition that brought you ONG BAK and THE WARRIOR

    Photo courtesy of Section23 Films.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    ROZEN MAIDEN Available on December 6th Source: Section23 Films press release Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff Home video distributor Section23 Films has provided details on its December slate of releases; including ROZEN MAIDEN, a package that includes the original 12 episode series and the 12 episode sequel series TRÄUMEND. Releasing separately will be the two made for video episodes known as ROZEN MAIDEN: OUVERTÜRE, which have never been released in North America. The popular series will be released on DVD by Section23 client, Sentai Filmworks. Product details follow, in order of release... ROZEN MAIDEN COMPLETE COLLECTION Published by: Sentai Filmworks Distributed by: Section23 Films Run Time: 650 min. Street Date: 12/6/2011 Format: DVD Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles SRP: $49.98 Remember those nightmares you had as a child, where your toys came to life? That`s the reality that Jun Sakurada suddenly finds himself living

    The Criterion Collection`s DVD and Blu-ray cover art for GODZILLA. Photos courtesy of The Criterion Collection. © 1954 Toho Co., Ltd.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Japanese and US Versions of the Original Classic Coming to DVD and Blu-ray in January Author: Keith Aiken Source: The Criterion Collection, Image Entertainment, Classic Media, Westchester Films Official Site: criterion.com/godzilla Special Thanks to Brian Carmody, Jonathan Saba, Mark Balsam, Allen Perkins and David Kalat On January 24, 2012, the Toho classic GODZILLA (???, Gojira, 1954)— along with the Americanized edit GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS (1956)— will be released in both deluxe DVD and Blu-ray editions by The Criterion Collection. Criterion`s upcoming release is something of a minor miracle considering how many companies currently have a stake in the film. For decades, Toho has allowed specific rights to their movies (theatrical, television, home video, streaming, etc.) to be sold separately; while a potential licensee can purchase whatever options are available they are not required to pay for rights they can`t use. This policy has proven effective

    Kung Fu champion Dennis To is the young Ip Man in THE LEGEND IS BORN – IP MAN, coming to Blu-ray and DVD in December. © 2010 Mei Ah Entertainment.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release Official Movie Site: IpManLegendMovie-us.com (US) Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee On December 13th, THE LEGEND IS BORN – IP MAN (????, Yip Man Chinchyun, 2010) will be released on DVD and in a 2-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack by FUNimation Entertainment. The semi-biographical film is based on the early life events of Wing Chun master Yip Man, famous for mentoring Bruce Lee, and acts as a prequel to the hit films IP MAN and IP MAN 2. THE LEGEND IS BORN – IP MAN is helmed by director Herman Yau and stars Dennis To (the youngest World Kung Fu Champion of Hong Kong) in the title role. It features fight choreography by martial arts legends Sammo Hung, highlighted by a battle between Hung and Yuen Biao. The film includes an appearance by 86-year-old Ip Chun, Ip

    DVD and Blu-ray packaging for BLEACH THE MOVIE: FADE TO BLACK. Photos courtesy of VIZ Media. © Tite Kubo/Shueisha, TV Tokyo, dentsu, Pierrot © BMP 2008

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Ichigo Faces Down a Deadly New Enemy Alone in the Third BLEACH Anime Action Feature Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: tv-tokyo.co.jp/bleach/2008 (Japan), BLEACH.viz.com (US) Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC, the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has announced the release of the latest BLEACH feature film – BLEACH THE MOVIE: FADE TO BLACK (Bleach Fade to Black ??????, Buriichi Fade to Black- Kimi no Na o Yobu, 2008). The movie is now available on DVD and Blu-ray, is rated ’T’ for Teens, and carries an MSRP of $19.98 for DVD (U.S. / CAN) and $24.98 for Blu-ray (U.S / CAN). BLEACH THE MOVIE: FADE TO BLACK offers both English and Japanese dialogue options as well as bonus features including production art and the original theatrical trailers. The film is

    Promotional art for A-CHANNEL. © bb Kuroda ? A-Channel Committee ? MBS

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Official Site: a-ch.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to David Williams Sentai Filmworks has acquired A-CHANNEL (A?????, Ee Channeru, 2011), a cutting edge, slice of life comedy series based on the popular four panel comic by bb Kuroda. Helming the task of adapting the four panel strip into a linear story are director Manabu Ono (TRANSFORMERS: CYBERTRON, DRAGONAUT, HORIZON IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE) and lead writer Tatsuhiko Urahata (STRAWBERRY PANIC, MURDER PRINCESS, MONSTER). Animation director and character designer Masakatsu Sasaki (SAKI, EROTIC TORTURE CHAMBER) adapts Kuroda’s designs for the animation medium while music is in the hands of Satoru Kousaki (LUCKY STAR, THE MELANCHOLY OF HARUHI SUZUMIYA). Toru and Run have been best friends forever, so when Toru learns that she’s managed to get into the same high school as Run, she runs to tell her... only to find Run in a

    Jet Jaguar, Godzilla, Gigan and Megalon take a break from battle to pose for a GODZILLA VS MEGALON publicity shot. © 1973 Toho Co., Ltd.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Steve Ryfle and Stuart Galbraith IV Detail their Efforts on the New Media Blasters DVD and Blu-ray Author: Keith Aiken A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE After decades of low quality, unauthorized videos, Toho`s GODZILLA VS MEGALON (???????, Gojira tai Megaro, 1973) will finally receive an official, licensed release on home video in North America this November 29th from Media Blasters. While Media Blasters has yet to reveal all of the details for their upcoming DVD and Blu-ray, MEGALON will feature the original Japanese version with 2.0 and 5.1 audio, the uncut English dub (never commercially available before in the US), plus extras such as a feature length audio commentary by film historians Steve Ryfle and Stuart Galbraith IV. Both are familiar names to Japanese movie fans. Steve Ryfle authored the book Japan’s Favorite Mon-Star (1998) and contributed to the press kit for Rialto

    The DVD of DOCUMENTARY OF AKB48 – TO BE CONTINUED will be available on December 1st. Photo courtesy of NEW PEOPLE Entertainment. © 2011

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    New Music Biopic Traces the Rise to International Fame of Japan’s Most Popular Pop Idol Group Source: NEW PEOPLE Entertainment, MediaLab press release Official Site: 2010-akb48.jp (Japan) 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 the release of DOCUMENTARY OF AKB48 – TO BE CONTINUED (AKB48??????????????, 10 Nengo, Shojo Tachi wa Ima no Jibun ni Nani wo Omounodaro, 2011) on DVD on Thursday, December 1st. The new music biopic follows the unstoppable all-female Japanese pop idol group, AKB48, on their incredible rise to fame, and will be sold exclusively online for $19.99 through the NEW PEOPLE store at store.newpeopleworld.com. DVD pre-orders will begin today. For a limited time, NEW PEOPLE is offering a FREE bonus DVD title from its catalog to all pre-order purchasers. Select

    Australian DVD and Blu-ray cover art for the Japanese live action sci-fi adventure GANTZ. Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © Hiroya Oku/Shueisha © 2011 Gantz Film Partners

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    To Continue Life, Play the Game of Death on December 14th Source: Madman Entertainment Official Movie Site: gantz-movie.com (Japan), gantzmovies.com (US) Following home video releases in North America and the United Kingdom, the sci-fi action film GANTZ (??, Gantsu, 2011) will come to DVD (Region 4, PAL) and Blu-ray (Region B) in Australia on December 14, courtesy of distributor Madman Entertainment. Madman will release the sequel, GANTZ 2: PERFECT ANSWER (?? PERFECT ANSWER, Gantsu Pafekuto Ansaa, 2011) in February 2012. Based on the manga Gantz written by Hiroya Oku, the multi-million dollar live-action adaptation topped Japan`s box office on its opening weekend, raking in over $7.5 million USD. GANTZ was directed by Shinsuke Sato (THE PRINCESS BLADE) and produced by Takahiro Sato. Sato had previously produced the DEATH NOTE trilogy, which have sold over 10,000 units in Australia. In GANTZ, two students, Kei

    The love between a woman and a yokai makes people get up and dance in UNDERWATER LOVE- A PINK MUSICAL, coming to DVD in the UK. Photo courtesy of Third Window Films. © 2011 Rapid Eye Movies

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Third Window Films press release Official Movie Site: facebook.com/pinkmusical, thirdwindowfilms.com/underwater-love (UK) Special Thanks to Claire Marty On November 21st, the British label Third Window Films will release UNDERWATER LOVE- A PINK MUSICAL (??????, Onna no Kappa, 2011) on DVD in the United Kingdom. Produced by Germany’s Rapid Eye Movies and Japan’s Kokuei Company, UNDERWATER LOVE is a whimsical pink film musical about a woman and a sea creature. Asuka (Sawa Masaki) works in a lakeside fish factory. She is just about to be married to her boss. One day, she encounters a Kappa, a water creature living in the lake and learns that it is the reincarnation of Aoki (Yoshiro Umezawa), her first love. What ensues is a zany spectacle of love, music and sex. Directed by pink-film veteran Shinji Imaoka (LUNCH BOX, FROG SONG), shot by Christopher Doyle – the famed

    Cover art for The Criterion Collection releases of BRANDED TO KILL and TOKYO DRIFTER. Photos courtesy of The Criterion Collection. © 1966-67 Nikkatsu Corporation

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    New Editions of BRANDED TO KILL and TOKYO DRIFTER Coming in December Source: The Criterion Collection, Image Entertainment Special Thanks to Jonathan Saba On December 13th, The Criterion Collection will reissue BRANDED TO KILL (?????, Koroshi no Rakuin, 1967) and TOKYO DRIFTER (?????, Tokyo Nagaremono, 1966) in new high-definition, digital restored DVD and Blu-ray editions. Both films were directed by Seijun Suzuki at the end of his tenure at Nikkatsu. The studio found Suzuki`s work “incomprehensible” but TOKYO DRIFTER and BRANDED TO KILL are now seen as high-water marks from the Japanese New Wave movement of the 1960s. BRANDED TO KILL When Seijun Suzuki delivered this brutal, hilarious, and visually inspired masterpiece to the executives at his studio, he was promptly fired. BRANDED TO KILL tells the ecstatically bent story of a yakuza assassin (Joe Shishido, the chipmunk-cheeked superstar from

    Combo Pack art for FAIRY TAIL: PART 1. Photo courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. © 2009 Fairy Tail Guild Production Committee: Hiro Mashima/ Kodansha/ TV Tokyo

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    English Dubbed First Episode Now Streaming Source: FUNimation Entertainment Official Site: tv-tokyo.co.jp/fairytail (Japan), funimation.com/fairy-tail (US) Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee FUNimation Entertainment will release their first Blu-ray/DVD Combo set of the action/adventure anime FAIRY TAIL (????????, Fearii Teiru, 2009) on November 22nd. Based on the hit manga by Hiro Mashima (each new manga volume published since 2007 has debuted in the Top 5), the long running series is co-produced by A-1 Pictures and Satelight, and directed by Shinji Ishihira. The Blu-ray/DVD Combo set contains episodes 1-12. In the Kingdom of Fiore, powerful wizards harness the forces of Dragon Fire, Ice, Weaponry, and the Zodiac to make their living by joining magical guilds and contracting out their services to become "wizards for hire". Lucy Heartfilla is a young mage who has always wanted to join the magical guild of Fairy Tail. Running away from

    A pack of unemployed salarymen help housewife Mayumi Okada (Kyoko Koizumi) in “The House Full of ‘Abandoned’ Businessmen”, one of four segments in the new Japanese comedy QUIRKY GUYS AND GALS. Photo courtesy of Third Window Films. © 2011 Sabi Otoko Sabi Onna Production Committee

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Third Window Films press release Official Movie Site: sabisabi.jp (Japan), thirdwindowfilms.com/quirky-guys-and-gals (UK) Special Thanks to Adam Torel Lovers of Japanese film have seen quite a few omnibus efforts over the years, with 2008’s TOKYO! standing out as a particularly bizarre and interesting example. Yet this film, drawing together some of Japan’s best comedic directors, tops even that three-part work. Approaching the surrealism of its predecessor, QUIRKY GUYS AND GALS (??????, Sabi Otoko, Sabi Onna, 2011) ties together four stories of people searching for a spark in their lives. Director Yosuke Fujita (FINE, TOTALLY FINE) leads off with “Cheer Girls,” an entertaining tale of a woman named Chiharu (Nanami Sakuraba) whose passion is to lead cheers—though not for sports teams. Rather, she finds common people and creates anthems to encourage them in everyday life. Tomoko Matsunashi’s “Boy? Meets Girl” is a TOOTSIE remake

    The Zebra Queen (Riisa Naka) will rule the world unless Zebraman (Show Aikawa) can stop her. Photo courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. © 2010 Zebraman- Attack on Zebra City Partners.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Superhero Sequel Arrives November 29th Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release Official Movie Site: zeb2.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee Fan favorite director Takashi Miike (AUDITION, ICHI THE KILLER) reunites with actor Show Aikawa (TOKYO ZOMBIE, GOZU) for ZEBRAMAN 2: ATTACK ON ZEBRA CITY (?????? -?????????-, Zeburaaman -Zeburaa Shiti no Gyakushuu, 2010), the sequel to their cult favorite superhero movie, ZEBRAMAN (??????, 2004). FUNimation Entertainment will release the film in a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack on November 29th. The year is 2025. Tokyo has fallen and the world cries out for a hero. It cries for Zebraman. This striped crime fighter is the only hope for those who live in fear of the Zebra Queen, a hooved seductress out to conquer the world with the aide of her Miniskirt Zebra Police. The Queen has stolen Zebraman`s powers and instituted Zebra Time:

    DVD and Blu-ray cover art for SEX & ZEN: EXTREME ECSTASY. Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2011 One Dollar Production, Ltd.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Madman Entertainment Official Movie Site: 3dsexzen.com On November 30th, the Hong Kong production SEX & ZEN: EXTREME ECSTASY (3D????????, 2011) will be released on DVD (Region 4, PAL) and Blu-ray (Region B) in Australia by distributor Madman Entertainment. A new chapter in the legendary 1990s SEX & ZEN series, EXTREME ECSTASY hit $1 million (USD) at the box office in Aussie cinemas and broke the box office record in Hong Kong, beating the previous record holder, AVATAR. Madman`s DVD and Blu-ray will feature the uncut version of the film, not seen in cinemas, with 15 minutes of extra footage. As a conceited scholar of the Ming Dynasty, Wei Yangsheng (Hiro Hayama) believes in pursuing the ultimate sexual pleasure as life is short. One day, Yangsheng encounters Tie Yuxiang (Leni Lan), the daughter of a Tao priest, and it`s love at first sight. However, it doesn`t take

    Cover art for PROFESSOR LAYTON AND THE ETERNAL DIVA DVD. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © LEVEL-5/ Team Layton 2009

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    VIZ Media Releases Anime Feature Film Based on the Popular Nintendo Video Game Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC, the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, will release a new anime feature-length film, PROFESSOR LAYTON AND THE ETRENAL DIVA (????????????, Reiton-kyooju to Eien no Utahime, 2009), on DVD November 8th. The movie is based on the highly popular PROFESSOR LAYTON series of video games for the Nintendo DS and will be suitable for All Ages. The DVD features both subtitled and dubbed English dialogue options, and will carry an MSRP of $19.97 U.S. / $19.98 CAN. Professor Layton, a true English gentleman, renowned archaeologist, and the world’s greatest amateur super sleuth, embarks on his most daring adventure yet when he receives a letter from his old student, the famous opera

    Ten SFJ readers have won a DVD set of four classic films featuring international star Sonny Chiba. © 1979-1984 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Golden Media Group Official Site: GooHead Internet Channel Special Thanks to Roy McAree A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE It`s time to announce the winners of GooHead Internet Channel and SciFi Japan`s THE SONNY CHIBA COLLECTION giveaway. The following ten entrants were randomly chosen to receive a free DVD set containing the Shinichi "Sonny" Chiba films G.I. SAMURAI, RESURRECTION OF GOLDEN WOLF, NINJA WARS and LEGEND OF THE EIGHT SAMURAI... James Babbo Keith Marsh Benjamin Haines Tyler Collins Lee Merritt Andrew Stengele Jordan Perry Christopher Allen Austin Buell Mark Fitzpatrick Congratulations to the winners! Your prizes have already shipped, so keep an eye on your mailbox. And don`t forget to visit the GooHead Internet Channel to watch free streaming Asian feature films and television series. The selection includes the Gamera movies, IRON KING, SHADOW WARRIORS, RED BARON, SISTER STREET FIGHTER, FIGHT! DRAGON and several Sonny Chiba

    Japanese cover art for HELLSING ULTIMATE OVA 8. © Kouta Hirano • Shonen Gahosha Co, Ltd./ Wild Geese

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release Official Site: geneon-ent.co.jp/hellsing (Japan), funimation.com/hellsing-ultimate (US) Special Thanks to Scott Lonski FUNimation Entertainment has acquired the U.S. home video rights to the long awaited HELLSING ULTIMATE OVA 8 (?????????VIII?, Herushingu OVA VIII), in addition to the previously announced HELLSING ULTIMATE 1-7 OVAs. Production on the HELLSING ULTIMATE OVAs will begin immediately at the original studio, New Generation Pictures, and will include the original cast featuring Crispin Freeman in his return as Arucard. FUNimation Entertainment will release these new OVAs starting in 2012. The new home video releases will feature exclusive extras including panel discussions and one-on-one interviews recorded at the 2011 Anime Vegas Convention taking place this month. Fans will be encouraged to submit questions for the cast via the FUNimation Facebook page to possibly be included as part of the extra features. A bloody battle is about to begin, and

    Yes, it does exist! Cover art for the Blu-ray edition of DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, courtesy of Media Blasters. © 1968 Toho Co., Ltd.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Author: Keith Aiken Source: Media Blasters, Inc. Special Thanks to Carl Morano and Andres A. Perez Over the past week there has been a good deal of confusion regarding Media Blasters` DVD and Blu-ray release of the Godzilla film DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (?????, Kaiju Soshingeki, 1968). Based on our talks with reps from Media Blasters, we`ll try to separate the facts from the secondhand stories and oddball claims to hopefully give Godzilla fans a better idea of where things stand with this title. In June, Media Blasters first mentioned a tentative release date of October 25th for DESTROY ALL MONSTERS. Two months later, the company`s first DAM press release confirmed the Blu-ray and DVD release date and also listed a November 8th release for the Soundtrack CD. Despite rumors that DESTROY ALL MONSTERS would be delayed or that the DVD would not be sold until weeks after

    Saki Morimi in PARADISE LOST, the conclusion to EDEN OF THE EAST. Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 2010 EDEN OF THE EAST.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Anime Film Streets in Late November Source: The Associates press release Official Site: juiz.jp (Japan) Writer/director Kenji Kamiyama`s EDEN OF THE EAST: PARADISE LOST (????? ???? Paradise Lost, Higashi no Eden Gekijooban II: Paradise Lost, 2010) is the thrilling feature-length conclusion to the acclaimed anime series EDEN OF THE EAST (?????, Higashi no Eden, 2009). The film (cert. 15) will be released on DVD (Region 2, PAL) and Blu-ray (Region B) in the UK by Manga Entertainment on 21st November 2011. The story of political and subversive intrigue in the series finally reaches endgame. Even as the law enforcement net tightens around Saki and her fellow Eden of the East associates over alleged terrorist activities, the complex web surrounding the mysterious Mr. Outside is finally untangled as the remaining Selecao attempt to outmaneuver one another. Takizawa`s memories and identity are also finally revealed

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