SciFi Japan
    Source: Third Window Films press release Special Thanks to Adam Torel UK distributor Third Window Films brings HANAGATAMI (??, 2017) to Blu-ray on July 6th. In 2016, Nobuhiko Obayashi, the director of the cult Japanese horror film HOUSE (???, Hausu, 1977), was diagnosed with lung cancer and given only a few months to live. Despite not much time left, for what was supposed to be his final film he adapted Kazuo Dan’s 1937 novella Hanagatami, his passion project 40 years in the making. In the spring of 1941, sixteen-year-old Toshihiko leaves Amsterdam to attend school in Karatsu, a small town on the western coast of Japan, where his aunt Keiko cares for his ailing cousin Mina. Immersed in the seaside’s nature and culture, Toshihiko soon befriends the town’s other extraordinary adolescents as they all contend with the war’s inescapable gravitational pull. With his

    Source: SRS Cinema LLC Special Thanks to Avery Guerra SRS Cinema is excited to keep bringing fans Tokusatsu/Kaiju movies they never thought would make it to North America. Their latest release is the independent sci-fi film THE iDol from Norman England. In THE iDol, a young toy collector named Ken happens upon a rare figure. Unknown to him, the figure is in fact an alien creature with designs on Ken’s fate. Presales have now begun, with THE iDol expected to ship approximately late July to early August 2020. Only 200 copies of the Limited Edition Blu-ray will be sold. However, if the title sells out by June 18, SRS Cinema will fully replicate the title. There will also be a limited run of 50 VHS. The first 200 copies sold in any format get a free, folded 11×17 mini-poster of the cover artwork. Order Links: •

    Source: Shout! Factory press release Special Thanks to Shannon Meehan Studio Ghibli and GKIDS, with distribution by Shout! Factory, will issue THE WIND RISES (????, Kaze Tachinu, 2013) on digital download and On Demand on September 1, 2020 and on Blu-ray + DVD combo pack and as a standalone DVD on September 22, 2020. The Blu-ray release includes an exclusive booklet, feature-length storyboards, and a 10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki documentary episode, which goes behind the scenes in the production of the film. THE WIND RISES is available for pre-order now at shoutfactory.com. Acclaimed filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki (SPIRITED AWAY) delivers a modern masterpiece with this Academy Award®-nominated exploration of creative passion in a hostile world. Jiro Horikoshi is fascinated by aviation but unable to become a pilot due to a medical condition. He moves to Tokyo in 1923, surviving the Great Kanto Earthquake to become a highly

    The North American debut for both series in stunning high-definition! Source: Mill Creek Entertainment Special Thanks to Barrett Evans, Jeff Hayne and J.W. Starrett Minneapolis, MN (June 9, 2020) Mill Creek Entertainment is pleased to announce the next release from the Ultraman superhero library! The ULTRAMAN GINGA and ULTRAMAN GINGA S Blu-ray set -- containing two complete television series, a movie, and a bonus special -- will be released on September 15, 2020 for $49.99 SRP. Originally released in 2013, the 12-episode ULTRAMAN GINGA (?????????, Urutoraman Ginga) was the 25th Ultra Series and the 1st of the "New Generation Heroes" shows. During a great war in space, a dark power turned the Ultramen and their foes into small figures called Spark Dolls, sending them across the universe. In present day Japan, a teenager named Hikaru Raidou finds the Ginga Spark, a mysterious device

    In 1966 the Japanese tokusatsu series ULTRAMAN premiered in Japan and soon afterward was broadcasted on television in the USA. It was so popular in the United States that it ran even into the 1980s. Yet, it may come as a surprise to the general American audience that ULTRAMAN has multiple sequels and spin-offs that continue even today. In the show, the Science Patrol tries to protect the earth from alien monsters. One of them, Hayata, can secretly transform into a huge alien Ultraman to help the Patrol in the most difficult situations. The first show in the Ultra series was ULTRA Q, which premiered in January 1966, and was dubbed in English but never reached the United States because it was black and white and the US stations chose the colored ULTRAMAN instead. Even though both were popular in Japan, ULTRAMAN was the one that inspired

    Source: FilmRise, MVD Entertainment Group Special Thanks to Clint Weiler FilmRise is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win their new Collector`s Edition Blu-ray of Takashi Miike`s SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO (?????????? ????, Sukiyaki Uesutan Jango, 2007)! An epic tale of blood, lust and greed starring Hideaki Ito, Yusuke Iseya, Kaori Momoi and Quentin Tarantino (PULP FICTION), SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO redefines the spaghetti Western. Two clans battle for a legendary treasure hidden in a desolate mountain town. One day, a lone gunman, burdened with deep emotional scars but blessed with incredible shooting skills, drifts into town. Two clans try to woo the lone gunman to their sides, but he has ulterior motives. Dirty tricks, betrayal, desire and love collide as the situation erupts into a final, explosive showdown. SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO will be available on DVD (SRP $14.95), Blu-ray (SRP $29.95) and digital formats on June

    Source: Mill Creek Entertainment Special Thanks to Barrett Evans On June 16th, the ULTRAMAN X and ULTRAMAN GINGA S feature films will be released in a Walmart exclusive "Movies-Only" Double Feature Blu-ray from Mill Creek Entertainment. Both movies are presented with DTS-HD Master Audio of the original Japanese soundtrack with English subtitles plus the English dubs heard during their 2016 U.S. theatrical run. The Blu-ray can now be preordered on Walmart.com. In ULTRAMAN X: THE MOVIE: HERE HE COMES! OUR ULTRAMAN (??? ??????? ??????????????, Gekij?-ban Urutoraman X Kita Zo! Ware-ra no Urutoraman, 2016), X is joined by his longtime ally Cyber Gomora and a team of Ultra Heroes (Ultraman, Ultraman Zero, Ultraman Max, Ultraman Victory, Ultraman Ginga, Ultraman Nexus and Ultraman Tiga) to stop the evil beast Zaigorg and a "powered up" army of classic monsters. ULTRAMAN GINGA S THE MOVIE: SHOWDOWN! THE 10 ULTRA WARRIORS!

    Source: Tsuburaya Productions Official Site: kaijustep.com Official Instagram?instagram.com/kaijustep Tsuburaya Productions has announced the Japanese DVD release of the anime series KAIJU STEP WANDABADA (????????? ?????, Kaij? Suteppu Wandabada). The stories feature monsters and aliens from the ULTRAMAN series such as Pigmon, Kanegon, and Dada, but reimagined as cute children. These “Kaiju Kids” (?????????, Ch?sana Kaij?) live on a little planet somewhere in space where they try new things, meet new friends and take their “first steps” in life. The second season is now in production. The 26 episode first season will be spread across 3 DVD volumes, available from retailers on September 2. Bonus features include a dance video performed by the popular children’s musical duo, Keropons, who sing the show`s opening theme song; stop-motion animation; anime shorts; and other new content. The DVDs also come with extras such as board games and magnets that the whole

    Source: Tsuburaya Productions Official Site: ultra-expo.com/2020/prism (Japan) Tsuburaya Productions has announced the Japanese home video release of ULTRA HEROES EXPO 2020 BATTLE STAGE: HEROES OF LIGHT (?????????EXPO 2020???????? ??????, `Urutora H?r?zu Ekisupo 2020` Batoru Sut?ji Hikari no Y?sha-tachi). The DVD will be available through retailers and rental outlets on September 11. Fans can also buy advance copies from select Ultraman Official Shop stores and Ultraman World M78 ONLINE starting July 17. The Battle Stage shows were a popular attraction during ULTRA HEROES EXPO 2020, which was held at Tokyo Dome City Prism Hall from December 28, 2019 to January 5, 2020. The 2020 show was based on the TV series ULTRAMAN TAIGA (?????????, Urutoraman Taiga, 2019-20), and featured live performances from Yuki Inoue as Taiga`s human host, Hiroyuki Kudo; Kou Nanase as Kirisaki, the human form of Taiga`s nemesis, Ultraman Tregear; Ryotaro as

    On Digital Now Source: Well Go USA, ddPR Special Thanks to Leif Helland From award-winning director Bernard Rose comes SAMURAI MARATHON (????????, 2019), the action-adventure flick with a samurai twist debuting on Digital May 12 from Well Go USA Entertainment. Rose -- whose wildly diverse career has spanned horror classics (CANDYMAN), historical romances (ANNA KARENINA) and indie dramas (IVANS xtc) -- co-wrote the screenplay with Japan’s Hiroshi Saito and Kikumi Yamagishi based on the novel The Marathon Samurai: Five Tales of Japan’s First Marathon. Inspired by a race still held yearly, the film follows an aging lord who challenges his samurai to a grueling marathon -- joined covertly by his daughter -- and the group must overcome deadly odds to survive. SAMURAI MARATHON stars Takeru Satoh (RUROUNI KENSHIN: FINAL CHAPTER), Nana Komatsu (THE WORLD OF KANAKO, SILENCE), Mirai Moriyama (RAGE, VISION), Shota Sometani (FIRST LOVE) and Danny

    Source: Mill Creek Entertainment Special Thanks to Barrett Evans and Noah Sawyer Mill Creek Entertainment is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win their new Blu-ray + Digital set of Tsuburaya Productions` ULTRAMAN ACE (??????A?????, Urutoraman A (?su), 1972-73). The set contains stunning high definition video for all 52 half-hour episodes with DTS-HD Master Audio of the original Japanese soundtrack with English subtitles. In this fifth entry in the Ultra Series, the inter-dimensional alien Yapool launches a war against the Ultra Heroes for galactic domination. As the conflict spreads to Earth a new hero, Ultraman Ace, is tasked with protecting the planet from Yapool and his Terrible-Monsters, experimental beasts more powerful than ordinary monsters. Divided between his two human hosts’ personalities, Ace must learn to balance them and his superior energy powers as he battles alongside Earth’s Terrible-Monster Attacking Crew (TAC) and his fellow Ultramen

    IS IT WRONG TO TRY TO PICK UP GIRLS IN A DUNGEON? 2 Coming August 4th Source: Section23 Films press release Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff Home video distributor Section23 Films today announced its August slate of releases which includes Sentai Filmworks` hit series IS IT WRONG TO TRY TO PICK UP GIRLS IN A DUNGEON? 2, available on Blu-ray August 4th with a Limited Edition Premium Box Set to be released soon. Product details follow, in order of release... IS IT WRONG TO TRY TO PICK UP GIRLS IN A DUNGEON? 2 Published by: Sentai Filmworks Distributed by: Section23 Films Run Time: 350 min. Street Date: 8/4/2020 Format: BD Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles SRP: $69.98 There`s rarely a dull moment when you`re the champion of a tiny Familia, and things only get rougher for Bell when the God Apollo declares war on

    Shows Reflecting the Creative Legacy of Osamu Tezuka ‘The Godfather’ of Manga and Anime set to have their RetroCrush Channel Premieres Beginning on June 5th Source: Digital Media Rights press release Official Site: retrocrush.tv Digital Media Rights (DMR), one of the world’s largest innovative content aggregators and distributors, has reached a new agreement with Tezuka Productions to obtain all North American rights (SVOD/TVOD/AVOD/Digital Linear for the U.S. and Canada) to several legendary anime titles including ASTROBOY and BLACK JACK, among others. The programs -- which will initially air on RetroCrush beginning June 5th -- reflect the creative legacy of Osamu Tezuka who is widely revered as The Godfather of manga and anime. RetroCrush is devoted to streaming classic anime TV and movies and is available with new video-on-demand (VOD) apps on iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV and smart TVs, and on desktop at

    Source: Shout! Factory press release Official Site: tenkinoko.com (Japan), WeatheringWithYouMovie.com (US) Special Thanks to Lauren Blum The extraordinary new animated film WEATHERING WITH YOU (????, Tenki no Ko, 2019) will be available to purchase digitally on August 4, 2020, and on September 15 will arrive on Blu-ray + DVD Combo, DVD, and SteelBook format from GKIDS and Shout! Factory. In addition, a limited edition Collector`s Set will also be released in November. GKIDS proudly presents the highly-anticipated new film from director Makoto Shinkai and the creative team, including producer Genki Kawamura, behind the critically-acclaimed, global smash hit YOUR NAME. Featuring music from the hit band RADWIMPS, and backed by an all-star voice cast including Lee Pace (GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, THE HOBBIT Trilogy), Alison Brie (GLOW, THE LEGO MOVIE franchise), and Riz Ahmed (ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY, VENOM), Shinkai has once

    Source: FilmRise, MVD Entertainment Group press release Special Thanks to Clint Weiler FilmRise is proud to present special collectors editions of SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO (?????????? ????, Sukiyaki Uesutan Jango, 2007) on DVD, Blu-ray, and digital formats on June 16th. The film is presented in 5.1 DTS-HD MA, 2.0 DTS-HD MA and 5.1 Surround, 2.0 Stereo. Famed Japanese auteur Takashi Miike, best known for cult classics AUDITION, ICHI THE KILLER and THE CITY OF LOST SOULS, redefines the spaghetti Western with SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO, an epic tale of blood, lust and greed starring Hideaki Ito, Yusuke Iseya, Kaori Momoi and Quentin Tarantino (PULP FICTION). Two clans battle for a legendary treasure hidden in a desolate mountain town. One day, a lone gunman, burdened with deep emotional scars but blessed with incredible shooting skills, drifts into town. Two clans try to woo the lone gunman

    Source: Arrow Video US, MVD Entertainment Group Special Thanks to Clint Weiler Arrow Video US is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win their new Blu-ray box set Solid Metal Nightmares: The Films Of Shinya Tsukamoto. This exclusive 4 Disc collection gathers together eight feature-length films and two shorts from Tsukamoto`s diverse filmography, including his most recent offering -- his samurai drama KILLING (?, Zan, 2018), making its home video premiere. Includes: TETSUO: THE IRON MAN (??, 1989), TETSUO II: BODY HAMMER (?? II BODY HAMMER, 1992), TOKYO FIST (??????, T?ky? Fisuto, 1995), BULLET BALLET (????????, Baretto Bar?, 1998), A SNAKE OF JUNE (????, Rokugatsu no Hebi, 2002), VITAL (?????, Vuit?ru, 2004), KOTOKO (???, 2011), KILLING, THE ADVENTURE OF DENCHU-KOZO (???????, Denchu Kozou no Boken, 1987) and HAZE (???, Heizu, 2005) plus a wealth of bonus features. The Solid Metal Nightmares: The

    Source: Shout! Factory press release Special Thanks to Shannon Meehan Studio Ghibli and GKIDS, with distribution by Shout! Factory, will release KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE and NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND, from the famed Studio Ghibli library of films, on August 25, 2020 in limited edition SteelBook packaging with striking new art. Each SteelBook will house a Blu-ray & DVD combo pack, presenting the film alongside hours of bonus features and a booklet with stunning art and statements from the filmmakers. With this release, two films from one of the world’s most coveted animation collections can come home to collectors in limited edition SteelBook packaging for the first time in North America. KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE and NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND now join HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE and PONYO in a series of SteelBook releases from the Studio Ghibli collection of films.

    Legendary Series Gets a Complete Blu-ray Box Set Release in July 2020! Source: AniplexUSA press release Official Site: fate-sn.com (Japan), FateStayNightUSA.com (US) Special Thanks to Aiko Makino Aniplex of America is excited to confirm the FATE/STAY NIGHT [UNLIMITED BLADE WORKS] (????/??????- ?UNLIMITED BLADE WORKS?, Feito/Sutei Naito: Unlimited Blade Works, 2014) Complete Blu-ray Box Set is scheduled for release on July 14, 2020. The box set will contain eight discs featuring all 26 uncut episodes from the first and second season of the series, plus the special OVA episode, "sunny day." The must-own set features stunning package illustrations by Takashi Takeuchi (Original Character Design) and comes with an exclusive mini-booklet, along with textless openings and endings as well as a slew of promotional videos, commercials, TV spots, and trailers. Pre-orders for the FATE/STAY NIGHT [UNLIMITED BLADE WORKS] Complete Blu-ray Box Set are open now at online retailer

    ULTRA Q Has Returned! Source: Mill Creek Entertainment Special Thanks to Barrett Evans and J.W. Starrett Minneapolis, MN (May 11, 2020) Mill Creek Entertainment is pleased to announce the next release from the Ultraman superhero library... NEO ULTRA Q (???????Q, Neo Urutora Ky?, 2013)! The 24th Entry in the Ultra series and a continuation of the 1966 sci-fi drama ULTRA Q (????Q, Urutora Ky?) which started the entire Ultra legacy, NEO ULTRA Q will be be available for the first time in any home video format in the United States on August 11. This 12-episode series tells the story of three people from completely different walks of life: Jin Haibara (Seiichi Tanabe), a psychologist doing research on the supernatural, Emiko Watarase (Rin Takanashi), a young beautiful journalist with an inquisitive mind and Shohei Shiroyama (Hiroyuki Onoe), a bartender sympathetic towards other forms of

    Source: Media Blasters Special Thanks to Carl Morano and John Sirabella Media Blasters is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win their new TENTH ANNIVERSARY ATTACK! Blu-ray edition of DEATH KAPPA (?????, Desu Kappa, 2010)! From Nikkatsu, the famed Japanese studio that brought you GAPPA: THE TRIPHIBIAN MONSTER (??????, Daikyoj? Gappa, 1967), and co-produced by Fever Dreams, the producers of THE MACHINE GIRL (????????, Kataude Mashin G?ru, 2008) and TOKYO GORE POLICE (??????, T?ky? Zankoku Keisatsu, 2008), comes a war of gigantic beasts! In Japanese folklore, kappa are water goblins closely associated with a certain rural village in Japan. Unfortunately, the area is also home to a militant group of scientific researchers dedicated to developing amphibious super troops based on the legendary kappa of old folktales. When their weird experiments generate deadly results things only get weirder with the appearance of an

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