SciFi Japan

    Logo for the Japan Film Festival of San Francisco. Image courtesy of NEW PEOPLE.

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Week-Long Live-Action and Anime Festival at NEW PEOPLE Cinema in Conjunction with 2014 J-POP SUMMIT Source: MediaLab press release Official Site: jffsf.org Special Thanks to Erik Jansen The 2014 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco, the only fully-dedicated annual Japanese film celebration for the S.F. Bay Area, returns for its second consecutive year and kicks off during the 2014 J-POP SUMMIT Festival. Set to open on Saturday, July 19th and running thru Sunday, July 27th, the Japan Film Festival of San Francisco (JFFSF) will showcase a variety of unique programs, many as first-run U.S. premieres. The 2014 JFFSF takes place at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema, located inside the NEW PEOPLE J-POP entertainment complex at 1746 Post St., San Francisco, CA 94115. Tickets are $15.00 for most films, unless otherwise noted. Film summaries, trailers, screening times and advance tickets are available at jffsf.org. The

    Photo courtesy of Bluefin. © Toei

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Source: Bluefin Corp. press release Special Thanks to Xavier Lim From the MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS, Tamashii Nations is proud to announce the release of the great Green Ranger (aka Dragon Ranger from ZYURANGER)! He is the first Ranger to make his debut in the FiguartsZERO statue series, portrayed in splendid detail from his armor down to the vivid green coloring in the dynamically cracked earth display base. Green Ranger is impressively posed, holding his trusty Dragon Dagger as a flute just as he summons the mighty Dragonzord! This Tamashii Web Exclusive has been created with the U.S. market in mind and will be available through U.S. affiliated Bluefin retailers. FiguartsZERO Green Ranger/ ???????ZERO ????????? Product Size: Height Approximately 160mm (Including Display Stand) Material: ABS, PVC Shipping: November 2014 (Japan), December 2014 (United States) Distributed by: Tamashii Web Shop (Japan), Bluefin (United States) Price:

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Huge Festivals Return to New York City with Screenings of More than 70 Asian Films Source: Subway Cinema, Japan Society Special Thanks to Ted Geoghegan, Goran Topalovic and Shannon Jowett Beginning Friday, June 27th, New York City once again will host a month-long festival of popular Asian cinema. Subway Cinema`s New York Asian Film Festival (June 27-July 14) and Japan Society`s Japan Cuts: Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema (July 10-20) combined will feature more than 70 different movies, world and US premieres, exclusive Q&A’s with filmmakers, and other special events. This year also marks the eighth annual collaboration between Japan Cuts and NYAFF, who will co-present several films at the Japan Society. Festival Venues Film Society of Lincoln Center`s Walter Reade Theater: June 27-July 10 165 West 65th Street, Upper Level (between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue) Box office: (212) 875-5601 America`s pre-eminent film presentation organization,

    DORAEMON © Fujiko Pro. GIOVANNI’S ISLAND image courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. © JAME

    Tokusatsu - FX

    FREE Screenings in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 5th Source: Anime Jungle, Japan Plus Inc. press release Special Thanks to Tetsu Shiota and Stephen Tang Entertainment consortium Japan Plus Inc. (NPO) has announced that the first two episodes of the beloved and iconic children’s anime TV series DORAEMON and the critically acclaimed 2014 animated theatrical GIOVANNI’S ISLAND will both make their U.S. premiere screenings at the Aratani Theater in the Little Tokyo area of downtown Los Angeles. The free screenings are a featured part of the events and activities slated during the all-day Anime De Summer Festival taking place on the plaza grounds of the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) on Saturday, July 5th. “DORAEMON has long been such a pop cultural phenomenon in Asia and we’re grateful to be able to debut the first few episodes during the Anime De Summer Festival, before its

    A giant balloon of the Red Ranger (center) from MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS will join this year`s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Photo courtesy of Shout! Factory. © 1993 Power Rangers LLC.

    Tokusatsu - FX

    New Giant Balloon of Iconic MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS Hero Source: Saban Brands, Burson-Marsteller press release Official Site: powerrangers.com Special Thanks to Gretchen Toy This Thanksgiving, the legendary Red Mighty Morphin Power Ranger will make his epic debut as he morphs into a giant helium balloon for the 88th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, Nov. 27. Marking the first-ever Power Ranger balloon, the Red Ranger will captivate millions of spectators and television viewers nationwide as he flies across the skies of New York during the holiday event. “We look forward to creating a larger than life Mighty Morphin Power Ranger balloon that will entertain generations of fans while sharing the Power Rangers core values of teamwork, responsibility and helping others,” said Elie Dekel, President of Saban Brands. “Seeing the Red Mighty Morphin Power Ranger soar in the Macy’s Parade will truly be legendary.” “The super-sized

    International sales flier for KIKAIDER -THE ULTIMATE HUMAN ROBOT-. © Ishimori ? Toei © 2014 KIKAIDER Film Partners

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Source: Kadokawa Corporation Official Site: kikaider.jp (Japan) Kadokawa Corporation is now offering the feature film KIKAIDER REBOOT (????? ??????, Kikaidaa Ribuuto, 2014) for international distribution as KIKAIDER -THE ULTIMATE HUMAN ROBOT-. Opening in Japanese cinemas on May 24th, KIKAIDER -THE ULTIMATE HUMAN ROBOT- is an update of Toei`s classic hero television series ROBOTMAN KIKAIDER (?????????, Jinzo Ningen Kikaidaa, 1972 – 1973) created by Shotaro Ishinomori. After ushering in an era of transforming heroes with the "altered human" Kamen Rider, Ishinomori took on the challenge of a new type of hero... the "artificial human", Kikaider. Jiro, a creation of robotics genius Dr. Komyoji, was built with an incomplete "conscience circuit" implanted within his body. The existence of this circuit causes inner conflict as he struggles with both good and evil impulses. This was the premise of KIKAIDER, which gained a loyal following thanks to story elements such as

    THE NEXT GENERATION -PATLABOR- /Part 2 features two episodes of the new live-action series. Photo courtesy of Shochiku. © 2014 'THE NEXT GENERATION -PATLABOR-' Production Committee

    Tokusatsu - FX

    High-Res Images from Latest Chapter of the Live-Action Theatrical Series Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd. Official Site: patlabor-nextgeneration.com THE NEXT GENERATION -PATLABOR- /Part 2 (THE NEXT GENERATION ????????2?, Za Nekusuto Jenereeshon - Patoreibaa - /Dai 2-Shoo, 2014) begins a two week limited theatrical run in Japan on Saturday, May 31, 2014. Supervised by director Mamoru Oshii (GHOST IN THE SHELL, THE SKY CRAWLERS), the live-action adaptation of the MOBILE POLICE PATLABOR (??????????, Kidoo Keisatsu Patoreibaa) manga and anime runs for thirteen episodes, which are being released in seven theatrical chapters. The series will conclude with a feature-length film in 2015. THE NEXT GENERATION -PATLABOR- /Part 2 contains Episodes 2 and 3 from directors Tsujimoto Takanori (HARD REVENGE, MILLY films, BUSHIDO MAN) and Hiroaki Yuasa (THE WOMEN OF FAST FOOD, cinematographer on Oshii`s ASSAULT GIRLS). Naoto Takenaka, who voiced the character Shigeki Arakawa in the

    Image courtesy of Mill Creek. © 2014 Iron Fist TV

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Source: Mill Creek Entertainment Official Site: ironfisttv.com Special Thanks to Chris Smith and Barrett Evans Mill Creek Entertainment has launched Iron Fist TV, a new streaming channel that features martial arts and monster films and TV shows. Iron Fist TV is now available online and on Roku, and offers both free (ad supported) and subscription ($4.99/month, no ads and wider selection) options. The channel includes over 35 martial arts and monster movies from the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s as well as 150 TV episodes from ULTRAMAN, SUPER ROBOT RED BARON, IRON KING and FIGHT! DRAGON. More than 70 new films will be added over the next few months. About Mill Creek Entertainment Mill Creek Entertainment is a source of value home video entertainment. Helmed by a management team with over eighty years of experience in the consumer home entertainment

    Image courtesy of Mecha Gorilla. © 2014 MECHA GORILLA

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Texas Tries a Taste of Tokusatsu Source: Mecha Gorilla press release Special Thanks Dyvontrae Johnson The first Texas Toku Taisen, organized by Mecha Gorilla and presented by Alamo Drafthouse and Alamo City Comic Con, will take place at the Westlakes Alamo Drafthouse location (1255 SW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78227) on May 15, 2014. The Texas Toku Taisen is a film festival dedicated to showcasing the history and presence of the Japanese film genre tokusatsu (traditional FX techniques) here in the US. The festival will show 4 different movies before the premiere of Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures` GODZILLA. The festival will have a vendor’s table established for Heroes and Fantasies, a partner in organizing the event, a presentation from Monster Attack Team, as well as a live panel from Matt Frank of IDW’s Godzilla: Rulers of Earth. Texas Toku Taisen will show HENTAI KAMEN:

    Runners are targeted by killers in LIVE, Noboru Iguchi`s adaptation of the best-selling novel. Photo courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures. © 2014

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Source: Kadokawa Pictures Official Site: live-movie.jp (Japan) Kadokawa Pictures has provided additional high-res photos from LIVE (???, Raivu), a new extreme suspense movie directed by Noboru Iguchi (MUTANT GIRLS SQUAD, KARATE-ROBO ZABORGAR, DEAD SUSHI) based on Yusuke Yamada`s novel of the same name. The movie opens in Japan on Saturday, May 10th. About Kadokawa Shoten Kadokawa Shoten, which forms the axis of the expansive KADOKAWA CORPORATION, is a well-established brand producing a wide variety of publications and visual contents including live-action pictures and animated films. For more information on LIVE please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: LIVE: Extreme Suspense from Kadokawa

    The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers will be re-imagined for a new feature film from Lionsgate and Saban Brands. Photo courtesy of Shout! Factory. © 1993 Power Rangers LLC.

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Source: Saban Brands, Lionsgate, Mammoth Press 1 press release, additional Official Site: powerrangers.com Special Thanks to Megan Alvino Lionsgate, a leading global entertainment company, and Saban Brands, a strategic brand management company that acquires and builds global consumer brands, are partnering to develop and produce an original live action feature film based on the iconic POWER RANGERS property, it was announced today by franchise creator Haim Saban and Lionsgate Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer. The announcement marks another step in Lionsgate’s continued commitment to build a broad portfolio of branded properties and franchises with global appeal. Saban launched MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS as a live action television series more than 20 years ago, and the series has been in continuous production ever since. It has subsequently grown into one of the world’s most popular and recognizable brands, with toys, apparel, costumes, video games, DVDs, comic books

    Imge courtesy of Showgate. © 2014

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Source: Showgate Official Site: juon-movie.jp (Japan) Showgate has released additional high-res photos featuring the main cast from JU-ON: THE BEGINNING OF THE END (?? -???????-, Juon: Owari no Hajimari), the 10th film in the long-running THE GRUDGE J-Horror franchise. The movie opens at the Shinjuku Wald 9 and other Japanese cinemas on June 28th. For more information on JU-ON: THE BEGINNING OF THE END please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: JU-ON: THE BEGINNING OF THE END

    New versions of Hakaider and Kikaider fight in Toei`s upcoming theatrical feature, KIKAIDER REBOOT. Photo courtesy of Toei Co., Ltd. © Ishimori ? Toei © 2014 KIKAIDER Film Partners

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site: kikaider.jp (Japan) Toei Co., Ltd. has provided information and new high-res photos from their upcoming theatrical feature KIKAIDER REBOOT (????? ??????, Kikaidaa Ribuuto). The movie will open in Japanese cinemas on Saturday, May 24th. In 1971, Toei kicked off the "Henshin Hero" era with the start of Shotaro Ishinomori`s MASKED RIDER (??????, Kamen Raidaa) television series. The following year, Toei and Ishinomori took the concept to another level with the android hero show ROBOTMAN KIKAIDER (?????????, Jinzo Ningen Kikaidaa, 1972 – 1973). Created by robotics expert Dr. Nobuhiko Komyoji (Hajime Izu), the android Jiro (Ban Daisuke) was installed with an incomplete "conscience circuit" with a sense of both evil and justice. As the hero Kikaider, Jiro struggled with these competing feelings as he learned what it meant to be human... all while dealing with the villainous organization

    Front and back cover designs for The Art of Japanese Monsters. Image courtesy of Sean Linkenback. © 2014

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Sample Pages from the Full Color Reference Guide to Japanese Science Fiction Film Posters and Lobby Cards Source: Sean Linkenback A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Author Sean Linkenback has given SciFi Japan an advance look at pages from his upcoming hardcover book, The Art of Japanese Monsters. A complete reference guide to Japanese science fiction film posters from 1954 to present, the book will contain artwork from over 60 different films, including the Godzilla, Gamera, and Mothra series; RODAN, GAPPA, the Majin films, WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS, THE H-MAN, and many more. Over 1,000 posters and lobby cards from 20 different countries will be featured in full color. Two editions of The Art of Japanese Monsters will be released. The standard edition will be available through Diamond Comic Distributors and select bookstores on May 14th, and pre-orders will start shipping May 1st. Signed copies will also

    Photos courtesy of Bluefin.

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Bandai Figures to be Sold in Japan and America Source: Bluefin Corp. Bandai Tamashii Nations Official Site: tamashii.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Xavier Lim Distributor Bluefin Corp. has provided product specs and high-res photos for figures and collectibles coming from Bandai`s Tamashii Nations in July and August 2014. Fans and collectors can purchase Bandai Tamashii Nations products from authorized Bluefin dealers, including SciFi Japan`s sponsor Anime Jungle. S.H.Figuarts: Naruto/ S.H.Figuarts ??????? At last, one of the most requested characters in Tamashii Nations` surveys finally takes his rightful place in the S.H.Figuarts series. Naruto, as he appears in the NARUTO SHIPPUDEN (??? ???) animated series, will finally be portrayed as an action figure with intricate articulation to recreate the most extreme ninja action sequences. This advanced action figure also features a full-array of optional accessories, including a total of

    It was Morphin’ Time for the POWER RANGERS SUPER MEGAFORCE, who walked the orange carpet with the new Silver Ranger at Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards on Saturday. From left to right: Azim Rizk (Green Ranger), Ciara Hanna (Yellow Ranger), Christina Masterson (Pink Ranger), Cameron Jebo (Silver Ranger), Andrew Gray (Red Ranger), John Mark Loudermilk (Blue Ranger). Photo courtesy of Saban Brands. © 2014 SCG Power Rangers LLC.

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Silver Ranger Appears on Orange Carpet Alongside the Main Cast Source: Saban Brands Official Site: powerrangers.com Special Thanks to Shannon Kelly On Saturday, March 29th, the stars of Saban’s POWER RANGERS SUPER MEGAFORCE were joined by the never-before-seen Silver Ranger at NICKELODEON’S 27TH ANNUAL KIDS’ CHOICE AWARDS. The latest edition of the ceremony featuring the biggest television, movie and music acts was held at USC’s Galen Center, 3400 S. Figueroa Street Los Angeles, CA. Played by actor Cameron Jebo, the Silver Ranger debuted on the Orange Carpet before appearing for the first time in the POWER RANGERS series on Saturday, April 5, 2014. The Megaforce Ranger team includes Andrew Gray as Troy the Red Ranger, John Mark Loudermilk as Noah the Blue Ranger, Ciara Hanna as Gia the Yellow Ranger, Christina Masterson as Emma the Pink Ranger and Azim Rizk as Jake the

    The main image for GATCHAMAN, the live-action feature film adaptation of the classic Tatsunoko Pro anime. Photo courtesy of Nippon TV. © Tatsunoko?Production/2013?Gatchaman Film Partners

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Source: Nippon TV Official Movie Site: gatchaman-movie.jp (Japan) Nippon TV has provided SciFi Japan with production notes and high-res images from GATCHAMAN (??????, 2013), the live-action feature film based on the classic Tatsunoko Production anime series. With the exception of international film festival screenings, the GATCHAMAN movie is currently unavailable outside of Asia. Introduction They were chosen...to become the ultimate weapons. The chosen five...Man`s last defense against evil. At the beginning of the 21st Century mankind was under attack by invaders. Within 17 days half of the civilization was annihilated. On the verge of extinction humankind`s only hope against the invaders was the mysterious crystals called the Stones. These Stones empowered certain humans who were born Receptors. Statistically there`s only one Receptor in 8 million. After combing the land for Receptors, the chosen few gathered to train as special agents. They would be

    Yui (Nozomi Sasaki) crosses the threshold of the cursed house in JU-ON: THE BEGINNING OF THE END, the latest chapter in THE GRUDGE franchise. Photo courtesy of Showgate. © 2014

    Tokusatsu - FX

    The Curse that Froze the World with Fear Returns Source: Showgate Official Site: juon-movie.jp (Japan) Five years after the release of the JU-ON: WHITE GHOST/JU-ON: BLACK GHOST double-feature in Japan and THE GRUDGE 3 in America, the long-running J-Horror franchise returns with JU-ON: THE BEGINNING OF THE END (?? -???????-, Juon: Owari no Hajimari), opening at the Shinjuku Wald 9 and other Japanese cinemas on June 28th. The 10th film in the JU-ON/THE GRUDGE series* is written and directed by Masayuki Ochiai. No stranger to the J-Horror genre, Ochiai had previously directed PARASITE EVE (????????, Parasaito Ivu, 1997), HYPNOSIS (??, Saimin, 1999), INFECTION (??, Kansen, 2004) and SHUTTER (?????, Shattaa, 2008). JU-ON: THE BEGINNING OF THE END brings the story back to the cursed house where the Saeki family came to their gruesome end and unleashed a terrifying curse that kills all who

    A signed, Leatherbound Deluxe Edition of The Art of Japanese Monsters will have a print run of only 100 copies. Cover image courtesy of Sean Linkenback. © 2014

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Limited Signed and Numbered Edition of Japanese Science Fiction Film Poster and Lobby Card Reference Guide Source: Sean Linkenback Anticipation for Sean Linkenback’s new poster-art book, The Art of Japanese Monsters had already been building in advance of its scheduled May 14th arrival date and now Linkenback has announced a deluxe version that is sure to whet the appetite of collectors: The Art of Japanese Monsters Leatherbound Deluxe Edition • Limited to 100 numbered copies • Each copy will be hand-bound in heirloom-quality leather • 20 Additional pages of posters (a whopping 250 pages total!) • Exclusive print from Hugo-Award winning artist Bob Eggleton • Each print will be autographed by Akira Takarada and Haruo Nakajima "This is something I had wanted to put together for a long-time," Linkenback told SciFi Japan. "I had been working for a while trying to get the logistics figured out,

    Labor pilot Akira Izumino (Erina Mano) at the controls of the AV-98 Ingram No. 1 in THE NEXT GENERATION -PATLABOR-. Photo courtesy of Shochiku. © 2014 'THE NEXT GENERATION -PATLABOR-' Production Committee

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Images from Upcoming Live-Action Theatrical Series Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd. Official Site: patlabor-nextgeneration.com Shochiku has released new high-res photos from THE NEXT GENERATION -PATLABOR- (? ???? ???????? -??????-, Za Nekusuto Jenereeshon - Patoreibaa -, 2014). Supervised by director Mamoru Oshii (GHOST IN THE SHELL, THE SKY CRAWLERS), the live-action adaptation of the MOBILE POLICE PATLABOR (??????????, Kidoo Keisatsu Patlabor) manga and anime will run in 7 theatrical chapters starting April 5th. A feature film will follow in 2015. For more information on THE NEXT GENERATION -PATLABOR-, please see the previous coverage here on SciFi Japan: THE NEXT GENERATION -PATLABOR-

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