SciFi Japan

    Key art for THE WORLD GOD ONLY KNOWS. © Tamiki Wakaki, Shogakukan/ TV Tokyo

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Official Site: kaminomi.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to David Williams Sentai Filmworks has acquired the eagerly anticipated anime series THE WORLD GOD ONLY KNOWS (?????????, Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai, 2010). The news was first revealed to massive applause at the 2011 Anime Weekend Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia on September 30, 2011. Based on the super-hit manga by Tamiki Wakaki, the 24 episode series is helmed by TRIGUN and FLAME OF RECCA vet Shigehito Takayanagi, who is directing from scripts supervised by Read Or Die creator Hideyuki Kurata (EXCEL SAGA, KAMICHU) and character designs adapted from Wakaki’s originals by Akio Watanabe (SOULTAKER, NURSE WITCH KOMUGI-CHAN). Original music is provided by TRANSFORMERS ARMADA composer Hayato Matsuo (HELLSING ULTIMATE, STREETFIGHTER ALPHA). Keima Katsuragi can score with any girl he wants... provided that she’s not real. A legendary master of Japanese “dating sims,” often referred

    The Criterion Collection`s DVD and Blu-ray cover art for KURONEKO. Photos courtesy of The Criterion Collection. © 1968 Toho Co., Ltd.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: The Criterion Collection, Image Entertainment Official Site: criterion.com/kuroneko Special Thanks to Jonathan Saba The Criterion Collection has issued the rarely-seen Japanese horror classic KURONEKO (?????? Yabu no Naka no Kuroneko, 1968) on DVD and Blu-ray. From director Kaneto Shindo (NAKED ISLAND, ONIBABA), KURONEKO (aka "Black Cat") is a spectacularly eerie twilight tale with a shocking feminist angle, evoked through ghostly special effects and exquisite cinematography. In this poetic and atmospheric horror fable, set in a village in war-torn medieval Japan, a malevolent spirit has been ripping out the throats of itinerant samurai. When a military hero is sent to dispatch the unseen force, he finds that he must struggle with his own personal demons as well. KURONEKO was co-produced by Kindai Eiga Kyokai and Nippon Eiga Shinsa, and released theatrically in Japan by Toho. The film was given a limited release in

    Photo courtesy of Section23 Films.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    LOUPS=GAROUS Available on November 29th Source: Section23 Films press release Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff Home video distributor Section23 Films has provided details on its November slate of releases; including LOUPS=GAROUS. The animated thriller will be released on both DVD and Blu-Ray by Section23 client, Sentai Filmworks. Product details follow, in order of release... AMAGAMI SS COLLECTION 2 Published by: Sentai Filmworks Distributed by: Section23 Films Run Time: 300 min. Street Date: 11/1/2011 Format: DVD Language: Japanese with English Subtitles SRP: $49.98 Junichi Tachibana hasn`t exactly been lucky in love, but was that because there`s something fundamentally wrong with him, or simply because he wasn`t trying hard enough? How many girls could he have struck up a meaningful relationship with if he`d done the right things, said the right words? The answer has yet to be unveiled as new versions of Junichi`s prospective romantic future continue

    Final cover artwork for the DESTROY ALL MONSTERS DVD. Photo courtesy of Media Blasters. © 1968 Toho Co., Ltd.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Cover Art and Specs for New Releases from Media Blasters Source: Media Blasters, Inc. Special Thanks to Carl Morano Note: Final Blu-ray and CD cover art will be added as soon as they arrive from Media Blasters. Media Blasters Inc. has revealed the specifications and final cover art for their upcoming Tokyo Shock release of the Godzilla classic DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (?????, Kaiju Soshingeki, 1968). The movie will be sold separately on both DVD (SRP $19.98) and Blu-ray (SRP $29.98). The discs have shipped to retailers and have a street date of October 25th, 2011. Media Blasters will also release a DESTROY ALL MONSTERS soundtrack CD on November 8th. The DESTROY ALL MONSTERS Blu-ray and DVD cover features artwork from the film`s original Japanese theatrical poster. Toho had very firm guidelines regarding the cover art, and the final design was not confirmed

    It`s business as usual for the Busan underworld in A BETTER TOMORROW, the south Korean remake of the classic John Woo film. © 2010 CJ E&M Pictures

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    2010 Remake from Executive Producer John Woo Source: Well Go USA, MPRM Communications press release Special Thanks to Chrissy Walker, Doris Pfardrescher and Leif Helland The accent is on action when Jin-mo Ju (A FROZEN FLOWER, THE WARRIOR) and Seung-heon Song (SO CLOSE, GHOST) star in the remake of John Woo’s 1986 cult classic A BETTER TOMORROW (???, Mujeokja, 2010), debuting on Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack and DVD November 8 from Well Go USA. Double-dealing among rival Thai and Korean mob syndicates provide the fuel for this fast-paced crime thriller that also stars Kang-woo Kim (MARINE BOY) and Han Sun Jo. Bonus materials include deleted scenes, a photo gallery, behind-the-scenes interviews with director Hae-sung Song and the film’s actors, and a 30-minute interview with executive producer John Woo. A BETTER TOMORROW will be available in a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack for

    The post-apocalyptic world of ICE is coming next month to DVD in the United Kingdom. Photo courtesy of Cine du Monde. © 2008 E.Net Frontier/Eleven Arts.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Cine du Monde Official Site: project-ice.com (Japan), cinedumonde.co.uk/ice-anime (UK) Special Thanks to Andrew Kirkham It is the Apocalypse. A drastic change in the environment causes every male on the face of earth to die out by 2012. Most of the remaining women perish after fighting in a world war over their territories. 20,000 survivors huddle together in the Shinjuku area, which has become an ocean of trees. Within this small, all-female world, humankind divides into two groups: One which accepts its fate to perish and chooses to give their lives to pleasure. Whilst the other group strives to save the future through the power of science. It’s the beginning of an intense battle between these two forces over ‘ICE’, which is said to be the last hope for mankind. The UK home video label Cine du Monde will release the anime feature

    Win a DVD set of four classic films featuring international star Sonny Chiba. © 1979-1984 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    DVD Set of Four Classic Films Featuring the International Action Star Source: Golden Media Group Official Site: GooHead Internet Channel Special Thanks to Roy McAree Earlier this month, the GooHead Internet Channel— a free streaming service for classic Asian feature films and television series— announced they would be adding eight new titles to their lineup of films featuring martial arts legend, Shinichi "Sonny" Chiba (THE STREET FIGHTER, KILL BILL VOL. 1). Now, GooHead is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win a free DVD set of four Sonny Chiba films! THE SONNY CHIBA COLLECTION brings together, for the first time ever, four Chiba classics, uncut and unedited... G.I. SAMURAI (????? Sengoku Jieitai, aka TIME SLIP, 1979): A squadron of Japanese soldiers find themselves transported through time to Japan`s feudal period, 400 years in the past, where rival Samurai clans are battling to make their leader

    The sci-fi anime FREEDOM is now avilable on Australian Blu-ray and DVD. Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2006 Freedom Committee

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    A New Vision of the Future from the Creator of AKIRA Source: Madman Entertainment The sci-fi anime series FREEDOM (??, 2006) is now available on DVD (Region 4, PAL) and Blu-ray (Region B) from Australian distributor Madman Entertainment. Animated by Sunrise (COWBOY BEBOP, MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM), FREEDOM features character designs by Katsuhiro Otomo, the creator of AKIRA. The seven-part series uses a hyper anime-realistic cell-shaded 3D look similar to APPLESEED and VEXILLE. In the year 2041, mankind created their first space colony on the moon. But after a freak cataclysm devastated human civilization on Earth, the republic of the moon built a domed megalopolis known as Eden. Now in the year 2267, a boy called Takeru spends his time engaging in hover-craft races against rival street gangs, unaware that he is about to embark in the journey of unearthing Eden`s origin. Format: DVD (Region 4, PAL) SRP:

    Blu-ray and DVD cover art for NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE: BONDS. Photos courtesy of VIZ Media. © Masashi Kishimoto /2007 Shippuden © NMP 2008

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    The World’s Most Popular Ninja Returns in the Second NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Anime Feature Film Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: naruto.com Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC, the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, is proud to announce the DVD and Blu-ray release of the latest NARUTO feature film on October 25th. NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE: BONDS (??? NARUTO????? ??? ?, Gekijooban Naruto Shippuuden: Kizuna, 2008) will be the first Blu-ray release from the international anime franchise to hit North American shores, and is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and priced at $24.98 (Blu-ray) and $19.98 (DVD) in both the U.S. and Canada. NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE: BONDS is packed with dynamic action and visually stunning fight scenes, giving devoted fans and newcomers alike a chance to experience NARUTO SHIPPUDEN like

    The erotic arthouse favorite TOKYO DECADENCE will be reissued on DVD this month in the United Kingdom. Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 1992 Melsat Co., Ltd.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Disc Streets October 24th Source: The Associates press release Written and directed by acclaimed Japanese novelist and film director, Ryu Murakami— the genius mind behind Takashi Miike`s AUDITION— TOKYO DECADENCE (???? Topaazu, 1992) takes the viewer on a journey to the seedy, secretive side of modern Japanese society as seen through the eyes of a young call girl who specializes in sadomasochistic acts of bondage, domination and submission. Miho Nikaido (the real-life wife of US indie director Hal Hartley and the star of several of his films, including HENRY FOOL, FLIRT and FAY GRIM) stars as Ai, a young Japanese prostitute whose unrequited love for a former celebrity client draws her ever deeper into the dark underworld of gangsters, drugs and subversive sex as she tries desperately to win his affection. Catering to Yakuza captains, salarymen and ostensibly "respectable" heads of industry, Ai

    Jackie Chan and Andy Lau in SHAOLIN, the martial arts epic coming this month to US DVD and Blu-ray. Photo courtesy of New York Asian Film Festival. © 2011 Emperor Motion Pictures

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Epic Martial Arts Masterpiece Debuting on Blu-ray and DVD October 25 Source: Well Go USA, MPRM Communications press release Special Thanks to Chrissy Walker, Doris Pfardrescher and Leif Helland Andy Lau (HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS, FUTURE X-COPS), Nicolas Tse (THE STOOL PIGEON, STORM WARRIORS), and international superstar Jackie Chan (THE KARATE KID, RUSH HOUR trilogy) star in the martial arts drama SHAOLIN (????, X?n Shàolín Sì, 2011), debuting on Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack, DVD and Collector’s Editions DVD and Blu-ray October 25 from Well Go USA. In this remake of Jet Li’s SHAOLIN TEMPLE (1982), acclaimed director Benny Chan (CITY UNDER SIEGE) tells an epic tale of sadistic warlords squaring off against noble monks in “a tale of monstrous evil, spiritual transformation and ultimate self-sacrifice” (Mark Jenkins, NPR). SHAOLIN will be available for $24.98 SRP (DVD), $29.98 SRP (Blu-ray + DVD Combo

    DVD and Blu-ray cober designs for the Australian release of EDEN OF THE EAST: PARADISE LOST. Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2010 EDEN OF THE EAST.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Madman Entertainment Official Site: juiz.jp (Japan) The anime feature EDEN OF THE EAST: PARADISE LOST (????? ???? Paradise Lost, Higashi no Eden Gekijooban II: Paradise Lost, 2010) will be released on DVD (Region 4, PAL) and Blu-ray in Australia by Madman Entertainment on October 19th. The film wraps up the storyline begun in the acclaimed anime series EDEN OF THE EAST (?????, Higashi no Eden, 2009). Accused of terrorism and feeling the heat, Saki Morimi`s high-tech crew is in the crosshairs. Meanwhile, the shroud of mystery covering Akira Takizawa is lifted as he and his fellow Selecao make their final moves. Every game must come to an end. For those playing Mr. Outside`s twisted game of conspiracy thrills, the end comes now. Format: DVD (Region 4, PAL) SRP: $29.95 Catalogue: MMA4362 Format: Blu-ray (Region 4, PAL) SRP: $34.95 Catalogue: MMA4362BR Release Date: October 19, 2011 Year

    DVD and Blu-ray cover art for TREASURE HUNTER. Photo courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. © 2009 Chang Hong Channel Film & Video Co..

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Taiwanese Action/Comedy Starring THE GREEN HORNET`s Jay Chou Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release Official Site: funimation.com/the-treasure-hunter Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee Fans of The MUMMY need hunt no further for edge-of-your-seat thrills! Hong Kong Film Award winners, Jay Chou (THE GREEN HORNET) and Eric Tsang (INFERNAL AFFAIRS), star in THE TREASURE HUNTER (??, Ci Ling 2009), a blazing adventure packed with action and stunning special effects. In November, the movie will be released on both DVD and Blu-ray in North America by FUNimation Entertainment. Qiao Fei (Jay Chou) is a relic expert with a gritty past. When his mentor`s daughter is held hostage over a map with a deadly history, the rugged warrior whips into action! Chaos erupts as he swoops in to the rescue and scours the sands for legendary riches buried deep in China`s northwest desert. Chased down

    Naruto voice actress Junko Takeuchi will visit NYCC and attend the US premiere of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE: BONDS. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © Masashi Kishimoto /2007 Shippuden © NMP 2008

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    NARUTO Voice Actress, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE: BONDS Premiere, Panel Discussions, Booth Activities And Giveaways 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, has announced a packed schedule of events, panel discussions, promotional giveaways, theatrical film premieres, and rare guest appearances for the 2011 New York Comic Con, taking place at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City, October 13th – 16th. VIZ Media will be located in Booth 932. The annual New York Comic Con is the largest gathering on the East Coast dedicated to comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies, and television. Complete details on New York Comic Con is available at newyorkcomiccon.com. Digital technology and distribution has forever changed the way fans read and purchase manga, and

    Major Motoko Kusanagi hunts cyber criminals in GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX. Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2002-2004 Shirow Masamune- Production I.G/Kodansha

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    The Complete Section 9 Cases Collected Source: Madman Entertainment Official Site: Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, ghostintheshell.com.au (Aus) On October 19th, the complete GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX (????? STAND ALONE COMPLEX, Kookaku Kidootai Sutando Aroon Konpurekkusu) will be released in Australia as a limited edition DVD box set (Region 4, PAL) from Madman Entertainment. The STAND ALONE COMPLEX television series is based on Masamune Shirow`s manga and Mamoru Oshii`s highly influential film GHOST IN THE SHELL (?????, Goosuto In Za Sheru/Kookaku Kidootai, 1995), one of the most popular anime movies of all time and widely cited as inspiration for the MATRIX. Produced by Japan`s acclaimed Production I.G (KILL BILL, BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE), GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX takes viewers to futuristic society where technology has saturated citizens` daily lives. Along with the new technology comes

    The seven part OVA series FREEDOM— featuring character and mecha designs by AKIRA creator Katsuhiro Otomo— will be released on Blu-ray and DVD in the United Kingdom on October 10th. Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 2006 Freedom Committee

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Character and Mecha Designs by AKIRA Creator Katsuhiro Otomo Source: The Associates press release Official Site: freedom-project.jp (Japan) AKIRA creator and STEAMBOY co-writer and director Katsuhiro Otomo’s unmistakeable visual style shines throughout FREEDOM (??, 2006), a beautifully envisioned sci-fi anime series of cinematic scope and quality that puts most TV animation in the shade. Written by Katsuhiko Chiba (BLUE DRAGON; SLAYERS), Yuuichi Nomura (XAM’D: LOST MEMORIES) and Dai Sato (CASSHERN; GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX), directed by Shuhei Morita (COICENT; KAKURENBO) and with Otomo on board as the series’ character and mecha designer, this seven-episode (plus Prologue) series will more than satisfy those hungry anime fans who are eagerly waiting to see what Otomo will produce next. The year is 2267 and, following a global catastrophe that rendered the Earth uninhabitable, mankind has settled in a vast, domed moon colony originally

    The Yamato races against time to save the Earth in the hit film SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, coming to DVD and Blu-ray from the Australian label Madman. Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2010 Space Battleship Yamato Production Committee.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Region 4 Home Video Release in December Source: Madman Entertainment On December 14th, the live action feature film SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO (???????, Supeesu Batorushippu Yamato, 2010) will be released on DVD (Region 4, PAL) and Blu-ray (Region B) in Australia by Madman Entertainment. The movie is not currently scheduled for release in North America or the United Kingdom. Directed by Takashi Yamazaki (RETURNER, the ALWAYS- SUNSET ON THIRD STREET films), the film is based on the hugely popular SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO anime franchise (originally shown in America as STAR BLAZERS). It topped the box office upon its release in Japan, earning $12 million (US) in just five days. In the year 2194, alien marauders called the Gamilons bombard the Earth with planetary bombs sent from space. Humanity fights back but is defeated and escapes underground. Five years later, those who remain on the devastated planet gather together

    Cover art for the LEGEND OF THE MILLENNIUM DRAGON Blu-Ray/ DVD Combo Pack. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. © 2011 The Legend of The Millennium Dragon Film Partners.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Anime Feature Film from the Producers of NARUTO Now on Sale Source: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Official Movie Site: onigamiden.jp (Japan) Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released the anime film LEGEND OF THE MILLENNIUM DRAGON (???, Onigamiden, 2011) as a 2-Disc Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack. Based on the 2004 novel by author Takafumi Takada, the movie was produced by Studio Pierrot (BLEACH, NARUTO) and TV Tokyo. The creative team includes director/writer Hirotsugu Kawasaki (SPRIGGAN, NARUTO THE MOVIE: LEGEND OF THE STONE OF GELEL), screenwriter Naruhisa Arakawa (SPICE AND WOLF, DRAGON BALL Z), and voice actors Kensho Ono (the Japanese voice of Harry Potter), Satomi Ishihara (CINNAMON THE MOVIE), and Shidou Nakamura (DEATH NOTE). Sony`s publicity materials describe LEGEND OF THE MILLENNIUM DRAGON as "A spectacular journey of an unwilling young hero thrust into a mysterious past full of monsters, dragons, and strange hidden powers. Through a series

    Announcement for the GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER Blu-ray and DVD. Photo courtesy of Warner Home Video. © Hiroya Oku/Shueisha © 2011 Gantz Film Partners

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: NEW PEOPLE Entertainment, Warner Home Video Official Movie Site: gantz-movie.com (Japan), gantzmovies.com (US) Warner Home Video has announced that the sci-fi thriller GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER (?? PERFECT ANSWER, Gantsu Pafekuto Ansaa, 2011) will be released by NEW PEOPLE Entertainment in January, 2012. The film concludes the story begun in director Shinsuke Sato`s GANTZ (??, Gantsu, 2011), and stars leading Japanese actors Kazunari Ninomiya (LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA) and Kenichi Matsuyama (DEATH NOTE, DETROIT METAL CITY). Determined to resurrect friends who have died in battle, Kei Kurono (Ninomiya), Masaru Kato (Matsuyama) and other members trapped in the "in-between" world of GANTZ are aiming to score the 100 points needed to break through. An emergence of a mysterious investigator, however, complicates the situation further. The battle continues on as the two dimensions start to merge together. Some fight for love, and others fight for justice. At the end, who will

    Fifty-four high school girls commit a terrifying act in director Shion Sano`s SUICIDE CLUB, now available for the first time on DVD in the UK. Photo courtesy of Cine du Monde. © 2001 Omega Project /Biggubito /For Peace Co., Ltd. /Fyuzu /Kadokawa Pictures

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    New Label Presents Controversial Horror Favorite from Director Shion Sano Source: Cine du Monde Official Site: cinedumonde.co.uk/suicideclub (UK) Special Thanks to Andrew Kirkham Cine du Monde is a great new DVD/Blu-ray label launched in the United Kingdom. The company will focus on "Left-of-Centre Cinema", giving well-deserved attention to films that do not generally receive mainstream recognition. One of Cine du Monde`s first DVD releases is the uncut version of the controversial Japanese shocker SUICIDE CLUB (??????, Jisatsu Saakuru, 2002). Written and directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Shion Sano (LOVE EXPOSURE, COLD FISH), SUICIDE CLUB quickly became a favorite on the international film festivals, winning the Jury Prize for "Most Ground Breaking Film" at the 2003 Fantasia Film Festival. The cast features Ryo Ishibashi (AUDITION, THE GRUDGE), Masatoshi Nagase (PISTOL OPERA), Mai Hosho (MECHANICAL VIOLATOR HAKAIDER, ONMYOJI), Tamao Sato (OHRANGER), Takashi Nomura (BRANDED TO

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