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    Key art for the anime series INTRIGUE IN THE BAKUMATSU ~ IROHANIHOHETO. © Sunrise

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Official Site: irohanihoheto.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to David Williams Sentai Filmworks is pleased to announce their acquisition of INTRIGUE IN THE BAKUMATSU ~ IROHANIHOHETO (????? ???????, Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto, 2006). This 26 episode thriller soaked in blood is created and directed by Ryosuke Takahashi (GASARAKI, THE COCKPIT, ARMORED TROOPER VOTOMS) and features character designs by Yusuke Kozaki and music by Hideyuki Fukasawa (NANAKA 6/17, YOU’RE UNDER ARREST: FULL THROTTLE). Animation is produced by Sunrise. In the final years of the Bakumatsu, wandering mercenary Yojiro Akizuki travels the length and breadth of Japan. And while he employs his sword in the usual fashion, he also uses it to help him locate supernatural items which he pursues with single-minded determination, often with bloody results. In the course of his quest, he crosses paths with a traveling theater group whose members have their own

    SFJ readers can win PLANZET, the computer animated alien invasion film from NEGADON director Jun Awazu, on Blu-ray! © 2010 Jun Awazu/Media Factory/CoMix Wave Films

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Section23 Films Official Movie Site: planzet.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE On May 22nd, the computer animated sci-fi film PLANZET (??????, Puranzetto, 2010) will be released on DVD and Blu-ray in North America by Section23 Films and Sentai Filmworks. To celebrate the new release, Section23 is giving SciFi Japan readers a chance to win a free copy of the Blu-ray. The creation of writer, director and character designer Jun Awazu (NEGADON: THE MONSTER FROM MARS), PLANZET is presented by industry innovator CoMix Wave (5 CENTIMETERS PER SECOND, Hoshizora Kiseki). In 2047, an unknown, alien life-form descends upon the Earth, destroying all the major cities in one fell swoop. The survivors unite and build a Diffusor to stop the Februus -- the invaders the military would later codename the FOS -- and a temporary peace is achieved.

    Win THE BOOK OF BANTORRA Collection 1 and 2 from Anime Network. © Ishio Yamagata • Shigeki Maeshima • Shueisha/ Bantorra Library

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Anime Network press release Special Thanks to Toni Brown In celebration of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month, Anime Network invites fans to enter this summer’s hit series THE BOOK OF BANTORRA (???? The Book of Bantorra, Tatakau Shisho - The Book of Bantorra, 2009) promotional giveaway. The first 13 episodes of this hit series are now airing on Video on Demand and Xfinity’s Top Picks. Successful entrants will watch the first six episodes of THE BOOK OF BANTORRA now through June 30 and visit the BOOK OF BANTORRA Contest Page to answer a few simple questions. THE BOOK OF BANTORRA is among four anime titles featured in May’s Xfinity Top Picks section celebrating Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month, Anime Network. Along with ANGEL BEATS, ELFEN LIED and INFINITE STRATOS, THE BOOK OF BANTORRA was selected because they represent the unique use of colorful illustration,

    Photo courtesy of Section23 Films.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    THIS BOY CAN FIGHT ALIENS Available on August 14th Source: Section23 Films press release Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff Home video distributor Section23 Films today announced its August slate of releases; including THIS BOY CAN FIGHT ALIENS. Written and created by director Soubi Yamamoto, the newest and most innovating creator in the anime field, and produced by CoMix Wave Inc., THIS BOY CAN FIGHT ALIENS will be released on DVD & BLU-RAY by Section23 client, Sentai Filmworks. Product details follow, in order of release... THE WORLD GOD ONLY KNOWS SEASON 2 Published by: Sentai Filmworks Distributed by: Section23 Films Run Time: 300 min. Street Date: 8/7/2012 Format: DVD Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles SRP: $59.98 THE WORLD GOD ONLY KNOWS SEASON 2 BLU-RAY Published by: Sentai Filmworks Distributed by: Section23 Films Run Time: 300 min. Street Date: 8/7/2012 Format: Blu-ray Language: English & Japanese

    Studio Ghibli`s THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY, CASTLE IN THE SKY and WHISPER OF THE HEART will be released on May 22nd. Photos courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Clips from THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY, WHISPER OF THE HEART and CASTLE IN THE SKY Source: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Inc., Click Communications Special Thanks to Dre Birskovich In anticipation of the May 22nd Blu-ray & DVD Combo Pack releases of the legendary Studio Ghibli`s THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY, WHISPER OF THE HEART, and CASTLE IN THE SKY, Walt Disney Studios has released clips from the films and bonus material. Enjoy! THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY WHISPER OF THE HEART CASTLE IN THE SKY About Walt Disney Studios

    The high speed action movie QUICK is coming to Blu-ray and Region 1 DVD from Shout! Factory. Photos courtesy of Shout! Factory. © 2011 JK Film / CJ Entertainment.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Shout! Factory to Release International Box Office Hit from the Makers of HAEUNDAE and SECTOR 7 Source: Shout! Factory, MPRM Communications press release Special Thanks to Leif Helland Spectacular street chases and pulse-pounding action are taken to new heights on August 21, 2012 when Shout! Factory, in collaboration with CJ E&M, fulfills viewers need for speed with Korea’s highly popular, action-packed motion picture QUICK (?, Qwik, 2011) on Blu-ray and DVD, as well as being made available on digital entertainment platforms. Both Blu-ray and DVD editions boast English and Korean audio tracks, English subtitles and extensive bonus content. The Blu-ray contains exclusive bonus features. A must have home entertainment addition for action fans, collectors and world cinema enthusiasts, QUICK Blu-ray is priced to own at $ 26.97 SRP; the DVD has a suggested retail price of $19.93. Pre-order now on Amazon.com. Starring international

    NEON GENESIS EVANGELION topped the fan poll of the Top 20 Anime of All Time. © Gainax / Project Eva. • TV Tokyo

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Madman Entertainment press release Official Site: madman.com.au/top20 Special Thanks to Ben Pollock In March, the Australian film and television distributor Madman Entertainment invited anime fans across the world to determine the ‘Top 20 Anime’ titles of all time. For the last two months, fans have rallied together to cast their vote in Madman’s poll. Along the way, there have been laughs, tears and triumphs -- but in the end, there can be only one to claim the top spot. As voted by the fan community, NEON GENESIS EVANGELION is the number one anime of all time. For many modern day Australian fans, their passion for anime can be traced back to the moment NEON GENESIS EVANGELION first arrived on SBS in the ‘90s. It was their first step into a bold new world -- one of epic science-fiction, deep philosophy, complex human relationships and, of

    DVD cover art for SULTRY ASSASSIN 2 – NINJA BRAINWASH. Photo courtesy of Section23 Films. © 2011 Junichi Yagami / Take Shobo/ Shintoho Pictures

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Section23 Films Official Movie Site: takeshobo.co.jp/shohin (Japan) Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff Switchblade Pictures has announced the newest addition to the company’s growing line of live action features: SULTRY ASSASSIN 2 – NINJA BRAINWASH (??? ???????????, Tsuyakenkaku 2: ~ Kunoichi Shoku Sennou ~, 2011). The second in a new series of ero-ninja epics based on the novels by Junichi Yagami, SULTRY ASSASSIN 2 picks up where the previous installment, APHRODISIAC KILL, left off and is once again written and directed by Kenichi Fujiwara (ZOMBIE HUNTER RIKA, ZEROMAN R) and produced by the Take Shobo Company and Shintoho Pictures Co., Ltd. Akiho Yoshizawa (MAIDROID 1 & 2, INVADER 33D) reprises the titular lead role, joined once again by WKA and WPKC world kickboxing champion Yoshihiro Sato, also the two-time winner of the Japanese national K-1 tournament (2006, 2007). Adding new faces to the spectacular selection of

    Sion Sono`s internationally acclaimed four-hour pervert epic LOVE EXPOSURE will be released on Blu-ray in the UK this August. Photo courtesy of Third Window Films. © 2008

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Third Window Films press release Special Thanks to Adam Torel Third Window Films is very pleased to announce the Blu-ray releases of three of the biggest cult Japanese films of all time! First off, to coincide with the DVD/Blu-ray release of Sion Sono`s latest film HIMIZU (???, 2012), Third Window Films is preparing a Blu-ray release of the film which he is most known for, the 4 hour-long epic LOVE EXPOSURE (??????, Ai no Mukidashi, 2009) which was voted as Best Japanese Film of the Decade by Midnight Eye`s readers. The Blu-ray release, planned for August 6th, will featuring a new high definition transfer from the original master, a one-hour long `making of`, nearly one-hour of deleted and extended scenes plus an exclusive new interview with the director. As if that wasn`t big enough news, Third Window is topping that with the Blu-ray releases of TETSUO:

    Cover art for the MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: SEASON ONE, VOLUME ONE 3-Disc Set. Photo courtesy of Shout! Factory. © 1993 Power Rangers LLC.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Plus Multi-Disc Box Set Collections to be Made Available Through Time Life Source: Shout! Factory, Click Communications press release Special Thanks to Scott Neumyer Following its debut in 1993, Saban’s iconic live-action pop culture series, POWER RANGERS quickly became the most watched children’s television program in North America. Emphasizing the importance of teamwork, responsibility and helping others by following the adventures of a group of ordinary young people who “morphed” into superheroes, this long-running series has been seen in more than 60 countries, translated into numerous languages, and remains a mainstay in children’s programming blocks. For 19 years, the highly entertaining saga and fan favorite characters from POWER RANGERS have captivated children and adults alike and are beloved by legions of fans worldwide. Now you can return to where the phenomenon began (in America) and re-live these thrill-packed adventures when Shout! Factory, in collaboration with Saban

    Frank Welker once again voices the Decepticon leader Megatron in the CGI animated series TRANSFORMERS PRIME, coming to DVD in Australia June 20th. © 2011 Hasbro, Inc.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Region 4 Release Streets June 20 Source: Madman Entertainment Special Thanks to Ben Pollock Autobots in Australia, get ready to roll out with TRANSFORMERS: PRIME– DARKNESS RISING, available on Region 4 DVD from Madman Entertainment on 20 June, 2012 ($19.95srp). TRANSFORMERS: PRIME is a bold new CG-animated series, and the latest exciting installment in the Transformers universe. The first DVD volume, DARKNESS RISING, contains the first five action-packed episodes of the series, linked together as one 110 minute feature length movie. Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Megatron and Starscream return in TRANSFORMERS: PRIME, the brainchild of the creators of the TRANSFORMERS movie trilogy and the recent STAR TREK movie, as well as popular TV shows, LOST, ALIAS and FRINGE. The series also features voice actors Peter Cullen and Frank Welker, the original Optimus Prime and Megatron respectively. It has been three years since the Decepticons

    The girls are the guns in the new anime series, UPOTTE!! © 2012 Kitsune Tennoji, Kadokawa Shoten/ Upotte Partners

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Official Site: upotte.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to David Williams Forget about girls with guns, Sentai Filmworks is pleased to announce their acquisition of UPOTTE!! (????!!, 2012), the show that’s all about girls who are guns! UPOTTE!! features scripts by Naruhisa Arakawa (LISTEN TO ME, GIRLS! I AM YOUR FATHER, BLUE SEED), direction by Takao Kato (TO LOVE RU, PANDORA HEARTS) and character designs by Akio Takami (BUSO RENKIN, STEAM DETECTIVES). Kiss kiss, bang bang! The arms race takes on a startling new development when the arms come with heads, legs and very feminine bodies attached! Yes, at Seishou Academy every girl is literally a lethal weapon, and they’re all gunning for the top shot at getting their own personal serviceman! Needless to say, it’s going to be difficult for newly recruited human instructor Genkoku to adjust to working with a living

    PANTY & STOCKING are roaring onto DVD with both Japanese and English audio tracks. © 2010 Gainax/Geeks

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release Official Site: gainax.co, newtype.kadocomic (Japan), funimation.com/panty-stocking-with-garterbelt (US) Special Thanks to Scott Lonski This weekend at Anime Central, FUNimation Entertainment announced the main English voice cast for PANTY & STOCKING WITH GARTERBELT (???????????with???????, Panti ando Sutokkingu wizu Gaataaberuto, 2010). The hit series from the renowned studio Gainax and the director of FLCL brings fans a twistedly-hip new anime where double penetration means both nostrils. Panty and Stocking -- the Anarchy Sisters -- are two nasty-ass angels who got booted from the pearly gates for being foul-mouthed bitches! Now they spend their nights blowing up ghosts in the seedy abyss between Heaven and Earth. Panty likes sex, Stocking likes sweets, their afro-sporting main man Garterbelt has a fetish we can’t mention. Together, they’re turning the mean streets of Daten City into a buffet of bodily fluids. Ghosts don’t stand a

    Australian DVD and Blu-ray cover art for the anime film DRAGON AGE: DAWN OF THE SEEKER. Images courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © EA International (Studio and Publishing) Ltd. © Dragon Age Project. All Rights Reserved by FUNimation/T.O. Entertainment.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    A Female Warrior Fights to Take Her Place in Legend Source: Madman Entertainment Official Site: dragonagemovie.com (US), dragonagemovie.jp (Japan) The animated feature DRAGON AGE: DAWN OF THE SEEKER (??????? ??????????, Doragon Eiji: Buraddomeiji no Seisen, 2012) will debut on home video launch in Australia and New Zealand this June 6th. Distributor Madman Entertainment will release the film on both Blu-ray and DVD. The movie is based on the acclaimed video game franchise from Bioware, creators of MASS EFFECT. DRAGON AGE: DAWN OF THE SEEKER is an official chapter of the DRAGON AGE story, a sales juggernaut encompassing games, anime, live action TV and comics with over 177,000 units sold in Australia. The animation was produced by TO Entertainment and Sori, creators and director of VEXILLE/producer of APPLESEED. In the land of Orlais, a brash young Seeker—Cassandra—fights to stop a blood-soaked conspiracy. Hidden hands seek to tear apart

    Winnie Leung as Plum in THE FORBIDDEN LEGEND: SEX & CHOPSTICKS 2. Image courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2009 My Way Film Co Ltd, Universal Media & Entertainment Group Ltd, Twin Co Ltd.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Erotic Double Feature Streets May 16th Source: Madman Entertainment From the director of SEX & ZEN 2 comes a tale of lust, love and chopsticks across two films. THE FORBIDDEN LEGEND: SEX & CHOPSTICKS 1 & 2 capture the erotic and sometimes zany roots of Chinese cinema as did the recent SEX & ZEN: EXTREME ECSTASY. The Double Feature DVD will be released in Australia by Madman Entertainment on May 16th. Both THE FORBIDDEN LEGEND: SEX & CHOPSTICKS (???, Jin Ping Mei, 2008) and THE FORBIDDEN LEGEND: SEX & CHOPSTICKS 2 (???II????, Jin Ping Mei er ai de nu li, 2009) are based on a classic erotic novel The Plum in the Golden Vase, the first full length Chinese fictional work to depict sexuality in an explicit manner. In 12th century China, Simon Qing has been raised by his father, a wealthy merchant

    DVD and preliminary Blu-ray cover art for the UK release of HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI. © 2011 Ichimei Film Partners

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Revolver Entertainment press release, Shochiku Co., Ltd. Official Site: ichimei.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Helen Mullane The UK distributor Revolver Entertainment and acclaimed director Takashi Miike (AUDITION, 13 ASSASSINS) present a gripping tale of vengeance set in 17th Century Japan in HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI (??, Ichimei, 2011), a remake of Masaki Kobayashi’s 1962 cult classic HARAKIRI (??, Seppuku). The film will be released by Revolver theatrically on May 4th and on DVD and Blu-ray May 7th. Poverty stricken samurai Hanshiro Tsukumo (Ebizo Ichikawa) requests to commit ritual suicide at the House of Ii, run by obstinate Lord -- Kageyu Saito (Koji Yakusho), in a desperate attempt for a honourable end. In an effort to persuade Hanshiro to rethink his request, Kageyu tells the tragic story of a similar plea from young ronin Motome (Eita). Hanshiro is stunned by the horrifying

    Commander Niren Fedrok takes charge of Flynn Scifo and Yuri Lowell in TALES OF VESPERIA ~THE FIRST STRIKE~ . © Namco Bandai Games Inc. / TOV Project. Original Character Design © Kousuke Fujishima

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: FUNimation Entertainment, Production I.G. Official Site: tov-movie.net (Japan), funimation.com/tales-of-vesperia (US) Special Thanks to Tim Baxter FUNimation Entertainment will release the anime feature film TALES OF VESPERIA ~THE FIRST STRIKE~ (???? ?? ?????? ?The First Strike?, Teiruzu obu Vesuperia ~The First Strike~, 2009) on June 26th. The movie was produced by the animation studio Production I.G. (GHOST IN THE SHELL, KILL BILL VOL. 1, EDEN OF THE EAST) and directed by veteran animator Kanta Kamei (TALES OF LEGENDIA, KILL BILL VOL. 1, INNOCENCE). It was theatrically distributed in Japan by Kadokawa Pictures on October 3, 2009. TALES OF VESPERIA ~THE FIRST STRIKE~ is the first anime film based on the hit TALES role playing video game series by Namco Bandai Games, which debuted in 1995 and now features more than a dozen titles. The movie acts as a prequel to the the events

    DVD cover art for LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE. Photo courtesy of Indomina Releasing. © 2011 Media Asia Films

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Director`s Critically-Lauded Thriller Debuts on DVD, Digital and Video on Demand May 29th Source: Indomina Releasing, MPRM Communications Official Site: mediaasia.com/lifewithoutprinciple Special Thanks to Leif Helland Three ordinary people -- a gangster, a broker and a police inspector -- find their destinies inextricably intertwined as lies, deceit and greed take them on a violent, wild heist when LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE (???, Dyut Meng Gam, 2011), legendary Hong Kong film director Johnny To’s (RUNNING OUT OF TIME, TRIAD ELECTION) critically-acclaimed film debuts on DVD, Digital and Video on Demand May 29th from Indomina Releasing. The riveting thriller boasts a stellar cast, including Ching Wan Lau (POKER KING, THE GREAT MAGICIAN), Richie Ren (ACCIDENT, PUNISHED), Denise Ho (MERRY-GO-ROUND), Hoi-pang Lo (DREAM HOUSE, SPARROW), Terrance Yin (LARA CROFT TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE) and Hang-shuen So (BULLET IN THE HEAD). Distributed by Vivendi Entertainment, LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE is

    A murdered girl runs a school paranormal investigation club in the anime series DUSK MAIDEN OF AMNESIA. © Maybe/ Square Enix, Dusk maiden of Amnesia Project

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Official Site: amnesia-tv.com (Japan) Special Thanks to David Williams Join Sentai Filmworks for a mystery that must be solved from beyond the grave as they announce the North American licensing of DUSK MAIDEN OF AMNESIA (????×?????, Tasogare Otome × Amnesia, 2012). Director Shin Oonuma (ef ~ a tale of memories, ef ~ a tale of melodies) and character designer Yukiko Ban (.hack//SIGN) bring original creator Maybe’s tale of death and haunting to life. 60 years ago, a young woman was left to die in the abandoned school building behind the exclusive Seikyou Academy. No one knows why. No one knows how. But the horrifying tale and the legends of the ghostly haunting that followed live on to this day. Perhaps it’s not so surprising then, that among Seikyou’s many school clubs is one for students interested in “paranormal investigations.” What might

    DVD and Blu-ray cover artwork for DRAGON BALL Z KAI: SEASON 1, Part 8. © Bird Studio/Shueisha, Toei Animation. Film ©2009 Toei Animation Co., Ltd.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: FUNimation Entertainment Official Site: toei-anim.co.jp/tv/dragon_kai (Japan), dragonballzkai.com (US) Special Thanks to Tim Baxter The first season of DRAGON BALL Z KAI (?????????????, Doragon Boru Kai) concludes with the eighth volume, scheduled for both DVD and Blu-ray on June 5th from FUNimation Entertainment. For the first time in history, experience the legendary Z as the master intended: bigger, faster, stronger, and packed with the pulverizing power to blow your puny minds! Beef up your collection with this manga-centric, fresh take on Akira Toriyama’s original vision, featuring more action than you can handle, revitalized animation, and an amped-up audio experience that will make your ears beg for mercy! The last descendants of an evil race of warriors known as the Saiyans are on a collision course with Earth, and Goku, the strongest fighter on the planet, is all that stands between humanity and extinction. To save his friends

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