SciFi Japan
    Source: FUNimation Entertainment Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Manny Alcala FUNimation Entertainment has provided details on their new and upcoming Region 1 anime DVD and Blu-ray releases... DRAGON BALL Season 5 Available at major retailers July 27th SRP $49.98 Rated TV14 Episodes 123-153 on 5 discs Official Site: dragonball.com In the aftermath of his epic battle with Piccolo, Goku embarks on an electrifying quest to rescue his fallen friends from the realm of the dead. His perilous journey will take him to the heights of Korin Tower - and beyond - as he searches for Kami, a mystical being with the power to resurrect Shenron and restore the magic of the seven Dragon Balls! But even if Goku succeeds in raising the dead, there`s no guarantee he`ll live long enough to enjoy a reunion with his slain comrades. The World Martial Arts tournament is just

    Four Classic Gamera Movies Coming September 21st Source: Shout! Factory Special Thanks to Tom Chen and Brian Ward Our friends at Shout! Factory sent over advance copies of their GAMERA VS. GUIRON / GAMERA VS. JIGER and GAMERA VS. GYAOS / GAMERA VS. VIRAS Double-Feature Collector’s Edition DVD sets, so we`re pleased to give SciFi Japan readers an early look at what`s coming their way on September 21st. Each DVD set is sold separately and has a suggested retail price of $19.93. GAMERA VS. GYAOS / GAMERA VS. VIRAS DOUBLE-FEATURE COLLECTOR’S EDITION DVD MAIN MENU GAMERA VS. GYAOS MENUS AND EXTRA FEATURES GAMERA VS. GYAOS (Daikaiju Kuchusen: Gamera Tai Gyaosu, 1967) Running Time: 86 minutes Japanese Audio 2 English Dubs (AIP-TV RETURN OF THE GIANT MONSTERS and Sandy Frank GAMERA VS. GAOS versions) English Subtitles GAMERA

    Classic Kaiju Movies to be Released September 21st Source: Shout! Factory press release Special Thanks to Tom Chen and Brian Ward The Gamera resurrection continues with two double-feature collector’s edition DVD sets of the titanic terrapin! Featuring North American DVD debuts of the original Japanese versions of the third through sixth Gamera movies, presented for the first time in anamorphic widescreen from recently restored masters. GAMERA VS. GUIRON / GAMERA VS. JIGER DOUBLE-FEATURE COLLECTOR’S EDITION DVD and GAMERA VS. GYAOS / GAMERA VS. VIRAS DOUBLE-FEATURE COLLECTOR’S EDITION DVD ROARING ONTO DVD ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2010 If you loved the first two Special Edition home entertainment releases of the original Gamera movies – GAMERA, THE GIANT MONSTER and GAMERA VS. BARUGON, prepare yourself for four times the fun! On September 21, 2010, Shout! Factory will further unleash four more Gamera movies (the original Japanese

    Source: Madman Entertainment Special Thanks to Ben Pollock and Philippa Lamb The Australian distributor Madman Entertainment is releasing the following anime and Asian live action titles on Region 4 DVD in September, 2010... THE SLAYERS EVOLUTION-R Collection (Series 5) The magical mayhem of THE SLAYERS REVOLUTION continues in THE SLAYERS EVOLUTION-R! With the original cast of THE SLAYERS back together for the first time in over a decade, Lina Inverse and her crew are reunited and doing what they do best - saving the world by almost destroying it! Lina`s gang and their new ally Pokota are hot on the trail of the Hellmaster`s Jar! It`s no ordinary piece of pottery: it holds the soul of Rezo the Red Priest. Opening the vessel and resurrecting Rezo is the only hope Pokota has of saving his kingdom`s people. With masked assassins, headless knights, and shifty Xellos in

    XAM’D Blu Ray Available on September 21st Source: Section23 Films press release Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff Home video distributor Section23 Films has provided details on its September slate of releases, including XAM’D. The Stone Cold Mecha Action series will be released on DVD and Blu Ray, from Section23 client Sentai Filmworks. Product details follow, in order of release... BLUE DROP COMPLETE COLLECTION Published by: Sentai Filmworks Distributed by: Section23 Films Run Time: 325 min. Street Date: 9/7/2010 Format: DVD SRP: $59.98 Five years ago, something horrifying happened on Kamioki Island. Something so nightmarish that it stripped all memory from Mari Wakatake`s mind even as it left every other human on the island dead in its wake! Now enrolled against her will at an isolated girl`s academy, Mari is unaware that hidden eyes are watching her, waiting for her memory to return. For buried in her

    A Double-Dose of Hilarious B-Movie Lampoons Source: Shout! Factory, Bantam Street Official Movie Websites: THE LOST SKELETON RETURNS AGAIN, DARK AND STORMY NIGHT Special Thanks to Brian Ward and Tom Chen In the grand tradition of Mel Brooks and Preston Sturges, Larry Blamire brings his zany ensemble of actors back in two hysterically funny and instant cult-classics, when the highly-anticipated sequel THE LOST SKELETON RETURNS AGAIN and Blamire’s latest send-up DARK AND STORMY NIGHT hit the home entertainment shelves August 17, 2010 from Shout! Factory. Poised to deliver the cinematic chuckle-fests that loyal fans have been waiting for, both collectible DVDs boast cast and crew commentary, a behind-the-scenes featurette and more. Each DVD is sold separately and has a suggested retail price of $14.97. Director, writer and actor Larry Blamire brings his unique brand of parody to life in the sequel to his

    Vampires, Soul Reapers, Ninja, Mangaka, and Romance Heat Up the Summer Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will delight anime fans with several exciting new DVD and manga releases scheduled for the summer. Anime titles are scheduled to include the North American debut of VAMPIRE KNIGHT, as well as the latest episodic releases of the popular BLEACH and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN series and a new POKÉMON collection. This summer also sees the launch of brand new manga series set to tantalize the most discriminating manga tastes and features romantic dramas, fantasy driven action, the trials of aspiring manga creators, and a tasty slice of life story set in a romantic bistro in Rome. For more information on other animated titles from VIZ Media please

    Highly Anticipated Double-Feature Includes DEATH NOTE, DEATH NOTE II: THE LAST NAME and Bonus Disc Source: VIZ Pictures, MediaLab press releases Official Movie Site: Death-Note-Movie (Japan), Death Note Films (US) Special Thanks to Erik Jansen The notebook of death that generated mind-blowing suspense is now in High-Def! VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, will debut the Blu-ray DEATH NOTE COLLECTION on August 24th, 2010. The 3-disc set includes 2 feature films – DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE II: THE LAST NAME – as well as a bonus disc containing more than two hours of all new behind-the-scenes footage. Both films feature Japanese audio with English subtitles as well as an English dubbed dialogue track. MSRP for the DEATH NOTE COLLECTION is $39.98 U.S. / $57.99 CAN. To celebrate the new release, VIZ Pictures will

    Epic Adventure from the Producers of THE GRUDGE and the Director of CASSHERN Streets August 16th Source: The Associates press release Official Movie Site: Goemon (Japan) Five years ago, acclaimed Japanese fashion photographer and music video director Kazuaki Kiriya made an explosive and groundbreaking assault on the movie world with his directorial debut feature, the visually stunning and hugely ambitious sci-fi epic, CASSHERN. Now, Kiriya returns in his own inimitable style with the equally spectacular period, fantasy action-adventure, GOEMON. Produced by Kiriya and legendary producer Takashige Ichise (THE RING; DARK WATER; THE GRUDGE; SHUTTER) and boasting a star-studded cast that includes Yosuke Eguchi (SHAOLIN GIRL), Takao Osawa (ICHI; SKY HIGH), Jun Kaname (BLOOD; K-20; CASSHERN), Tetsuji Tamayama (NORWEGIAN WOOD; CASSHERN) and Susumu Terajima (CASSHERN; ICHI THE KILLER), GOEMON is based on the exploits of the film’s eponymous, ninja bandit hero – the Japanese

    Source: Image Entertainment Official Movie Site: janusfilms.com/house, criterion.com/house Special Thanks to Marsha Altmark The Criterion Collection is proud to present Toho`s stunningly bizarre horror movie HOUSE (Hausu, 1977) on Region 1 DVD and Blu-ray. Directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi, this is a must have for any Japanese cult horror film fan. How to describe Nobuhiko Obayashi’s indescribable movie HOUSE? As a psychedelic ghost tale? A stream-of-consciousness bedtime story? An episode of SCOOBY-DOO as directed by Mario Bava? Any of the above will do for this hallucinatory head trip about a schoolgirl who travels with six classmates to her ailing aunt’s creaky country home and comes face-to-face with evil spirits, a demonic house cat, a bloodthirsty piano, and other ghoulish visions. Equal parts absurd and nightmarish, HOUSE might have been beamed to Earth from some other planet. Or perhaps the mind of a child: the

    Source: VIZ Pictures, MediaLab press releases Official Site: go-to-dmc (Japan), DMCtheMovie.com (US) Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced that it has licensed from Toho Company, Ltd the North American theatrical and DVD distribution rights to the heavy metal live-action comedy, DETROIT METAL CITY. The DVD is scheduled for release later in the fall of this year. DETROIT METAL CITY takes the zany rock antics inspired by films like THIS IS SPINAL TAP to hilarious new extremes in this film directed by Toshio Lee and based on the popular manga comic created by Kiminori Wakasugi. It features notable appearances by Gene Simmons from the legendary band, KISS, and Marty Friedman of Megadeth, and stars Kenichi Matsuyama, one of the most adored actors in Japan today

    Source: Madman Entertainment Special Thanks to Philippa Lamb The Australian distributor Madman Entertainment is releasing the following anime and Asian live action titles on Region 4 DVD in August, 2010... THE GRUDGE: WHITE GHOST/BLACK GHOST It is 10 years since the original Grudge movies appeared in Japan. We return once more to the dreaded house, to where the evil of the Grudge is spreading in two new feature films. White or Black, which is the scariest? WHITE GHOST In a certain house, a son who failed the bar examination kills five members of his family one by one. He then dies by hanging himself. At the moment of his death, he made a cassette tape recording in which he can be heard saying "I`ll go. I`ll go soon..." On the same tape can be heard the eerie sound of a young girl`s voice.

    Autograph Sessions, Parade, Dinner, and More During Nisei Week Festival, August 14-15 Source: Anime Jungle, JN Productions and Generation Kikaida Special Thanks to Tetsu Shiota, Yoichi K, and Joanne Ninomiya Anime Jungle, purveyors of everything anime in Japantown is proud to present an autograph session with Mr. Ban Daisuke, star of KIKAIDA (Jinzo Ningen Kikaida, 1972), KIKAIDA 01 (1973), and INAZUMAN (1973) at the upcoming Nisei Week Festival in Los Angeles. KIKAIDA took the Hawaiian Islands by storm over 35 years ago, and still going strong in Hawaii and the mainland due to the successful English-subtitled version of the DVD Box Sets. KIKAIDA, based on an original story by manga artist and writer Shotaro Ishinomori (Kamen Rider), was produced as a tokusatsu (live action) by Toei Movie Company for television in the mid-seventies. A classic good-versus evil tale, the show pitted a guitar-playing,

    The Critically-Acclaimed, International Martial Arts Phenomena Debuts on Blu-ray and DVD July 27 Source: Well Go USA, Inc. press release Special Thanks to Chrissy Walker The trio behind the cult hit KILL ZONE -- director Wilson Yip, star Donnie Yen, and action choreographer Sammo Hung -- reteam for the Hong Kong action smash IP MAN, debuting on Blu-ray and DVD July 27 from Well Go USA. Yen (HERO, SEVEN SWORDS), currently Hong Kong’s biggest action star and gaining international recognition as the most diverse martial artist in the world, stars with Simon Yam (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS, TOMB RAIDER) and Hiroyuki Ikeuchi (TAJOMARU, SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO) in the biopic based on the life of Ip Man, a grandmaster of the martial art Wing Chun and mentor to the widely influential and acclaimed martial artist and filmmaker Bruce Lee. Released theatrically in Asia in December

    Hit Japanese Thriller Comes to DVD in the UK Source: Organic Marketing Official Movie Site: kaiji-movie.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Megan Han and Alexandra Beedell KAIJI: THE ULTIMATE GAMBLER (Kaiji: Jinsei Gyakuten Gemu, 2009) is based on Nobuyuki Fukumoto`s manga Ultimate Survivor Kaiji (Tobaku Mokushiroku Kaiji) and the 26 episode anime series by Madhouse Studios. The film stars Tatsuya Fujiwara (best known as "Light Yagami" in the DEATH NOTE films) as the titular character and features Kenichi Matuyama ("L") in a key supporting role, marking the first time the two have appeared onscreen together since that hugely successful series. A box office success in Japan (with a sequel planned for next year), KAIJI: THE ULTIMATE GAMBLER will be released on UK DVD (Region 2, PAL) by 4Digital Media on July 26th. Kaiji Ito (Tatsuya Fujiwara) moves to Japan after graduating from high school.

    Source: Section23 Films press release Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff Home video distributor Section23 Films has provided product details for their August 2010 slate of releases... PRINCESS RESURRECTION COMPLETE COLLECTION Published by: Sentai Filmworks Distributed by: Section23 Films Run Time: 650 min. Street Date: 8/3/2010 Format: DVD SRP: $59.98 When Hiro Hiyorimi tries to save a beautiful young woman from certain death, he ends up a dead hero himself! However, since the drop dead girl is Hime, daughter of the King of the Monsters, his "reward" is to come back as a not quite living soldier in her honor guard of horror! That means helping fight off the army of supernatural monstrosities Hime`s siblings are unleashing against her in hopes of moving up the ladder of succession; and if facing off with vampires and zombies isn`t bad enough, how can anyone be prepared for the REALLY

    Japanese and American Press Materials for Combat Action Comedy Film Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd., VIZ Pictures Official Movie Site: horumo.com (US) Special Thanks to Aki Harimoto and Rieko Fuji Shochiku`s 2009 action comedy BATTLE LEAGUE HORUMO (Kamogawa Horumo) was released on Region 1 DVD this month by VIZ Pictures. The following article is compiled from both the Japanese and American press notes for the film... Introduction The best-selling fantasy novel by Manabu Makime that became a phenomenon among the young and picky readers of Japan has been adapted into a combat action comedy film, made possible with the high quality and innovative VFX and animation by animation studio GONZO (creators of AFRO SAMURAI and BRAVE STORY). The film is directed by Katsuhide Motoki (KITARO, KITARO AND THE MILLENNIUM CURSE, 10 PROMISES TO MY DOG) and stars Takayuki Yamada (CROWS ZERO, TRAIN MAN:

    Personal Appearances, Activities, and Show Exclusives Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC has announced an exciting roster of personal appearances, panel discussions, events, giveaways and convention exclusives for 2010 Comic-Con International. Comic-Con is the nation’s largest comic book and science fiction event, and takes place July 21-25 at the San Diego Convention Center, CA. VIZ Media will be located in Booth 2813. Fans won’t want to miss a very special opportunity to meet comics and pop culture icon Stan Lee, co-creator along with Hiroyuki Takei (Shaman King) of the groundbreaking Ultimo manga series (rated ‘T’ for Teens), on Saturday, July 24th. Mr. Lee will be a special guest at the Shonen Jump Panel, scheduled at 10:30AM in Room #9, where fans will get the latest manga and anime news and on-the-spot surprises, including a special

    Source: The Associates press release Official Movie Site: kamuigaiden.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Farhana Shaikh Based on the legendary multi-volume manga series created by Japanese artist and essayist Sanpei Shirato in 1964, directed by Yoichi Sai (BLOOD AND BONES; DOING TIME; ALL UNDER THE MOON) and scripted by Sai and Kankuro Kudo (ZEBRAMAN; PING PONG; GO), the live-action, special effects-laden extravaganza KAMUI (Kamui Gaiden, 2009) perfectly captures the spirit and flavor of Shirato’s original vision. The film will be released on DVD and Blu-ray in the UK next month as KAMUI: THE LONE NINJA. A high-spirited adventure involving deadly ninjas, fierce warrior clans, treacherous pirates and fearless shark hunters, KAMUI: THE LONE NINJA boasts a star-studded cast that features some of Asian cinema’s hottest talent, including Kenichi Matsuyama (the DEATH NOTE trilogy), Koyuki (BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE; KITARO), Koichi Sato (SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO;

    New Action Horror Anime Series Comes to North America Source: Sentai Filmworks, Anime Network press releases Official Site: geneonuniversal.jp/rondorobe/anime/hotd (Japan) Special Thanks to David Williams and Christian Lopez During last weekend`s Anime Expo in Los Angeles, Sentai Filmworks announced its acquisition of the new hit anime series HIGH SCHOOL OF THE DEAD (Gakuen Mokushiroku, 2010). Based on the ultra-violent manga by Daisuke Sato, directed by Tetsuro Araki (DEATH NOTE, BLACK LAGOON) and produced by the internationally famed studio Madhouse (DEATH NOTE, NINJA SCROLL, VAMPIRE HUNTER D- BLOODLUST, WICKED CITY) HIGH SCHOOL OF THE DEAD combines hordes of flesh-eating zombies with state of the art animation for one of the most action packed anime series ever! Sentai Filmworks will be releasing HIGH SCHOOL OF THE DEAD in both English dubbed and subtitled versions throughout North America. A deadly new disease is ravaging the world, turning the populace

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