Source: Alliance Entertainment, GVN Releasing Official Site: bravestorm.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Avery Guerra Distributor GVN Releasing has released the American trailer for the Japanese sci-fi action film BRAVESTORM (????????, Bureibusut?mu, 2017). The film -- a cinematic remake of the classic Japanese TV series SILVER MASK (??????, Shiruba Kamen, 1971-72) and SUPER ROBOT RED BARON (???????? ??????, S?p? Robotto Reddo Baron, 1973-74) -- debuts on DVD and VOD this Tuesday, April 7. Be sure to enter SciFi Japan`s contest to win a free copy of the BRAVESTORM DVD! About GVN Releasing GVN Releasing is a fast-growing distribution company. We provide movies at a high level in the film industry for domestic and international audiences across traditional, digital media, theatrical, television and emerging platforms. There is an environment of demand looking for high-quality content with an ever-changing production and distribution landscape. Our sustainable business
Key art for FUTURE FOLKTALES. ©MANGA PRODUCTIONS CO., LLC
Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Sentai announced today that it acquired exclusive rights to FUTURE FOLKTALES (?????? ???????, Asat?ru Mirai no Mukashibanashi, 2020), the groundbreaking collaboration between Japan’s legendary TOEI Animation and leading Saudi animation studio, Manga Productions, for audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. In 2050 Riyadh, elder Asma’s richly captivating storytelling transports her cherished grandchildren to fabled times where they learn that modern-day dilemmas are no match for the trials, tribulations and words of wisdom passed from generation to generation through their fascinating folktales. This family-friendly series is a joint production of TOEI Animation (CLANNAD: THEMOTION PICTURE, SAILOR MOON, DRAGON BALL) and Saudi Arabia’s Manga Productions that combines TOEI Animation’s industry expertise with Manga Productions’ rich cultural background, producing a series that showcases the culture and customs of Saudi Arabia in a never-before-seen way. The series
Slipcase and cover art for the Shinya Tsukamoto Blu-ray set. Photos courtesy of Third Window Films. ©Shinya Tsukamoto
Source: Third Window Films press release Special Thanks to Adam Torel and Claire Marty UK distributor Third Window Films presents a Blu-ray release of 3 films by Shinya Tsukamoto (TETSUO: THE IRON MANn) including his most recent film KILLING, 2005`s HAZE and his 8mm pre-TETSUO film ADVENTURES OF DENCHU KOZO. KILLING will also be available on various VOD platforms. HAZE and DENCHU KOZO are available only in the set. KILLING (??Zan, 2018 - 80 minutes) In exchange for board and lodging, lightning-fast samurai Mokunoshi is helping out in the everyday lives of a couple of local farmers. To keep in shape, he trains with bright farmer’s son Ichisuke, while sister Yu furtively watches them. When the ronin Sawamura (played by director Tsukamoto) suddenly appears, asking Mokunoshi to go on a mission in Edo, and at the same time a bunch of bandits are
Key art for MY TEEN ROMANTIC COMEDY SNAFU CLIMAX. ©WATARU WATARI, SHOGAKUKAN/MY TEEN ROMANTIC COMEDY SNAFU CLIMAX PRODUCTION COMMITTEE
Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Official Site: tbs.co.jp/oregairu (Japan) Sentai today announced that it acquired exclusive rights to MY TEEN ROMANTIC COMEDY SNAFU CLIMAX (?????????????????????, Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru. Kan, 2020), the highly anticipated third season and emotional coda to the MY TEEN ROMANTIC COMEDY SNAFU anime series. Sentai will release the series pursuant to a global licensing arrangement excluding Asia. Based upon the light novels of Wataru Watari, MY TEEN ROMANTIC COMEDY SNAFU returns with the series’ long-awaited conclusion and resolution to the nail-biting cliffhanger ending of season 2! But the messy emotions of Hachiman, Yukino and Yui won’t be easily expressed, and as the members of the Service Club band together to host a school prom, they will have to put their feelings into words and truly learn to understand each other at long last… if the Service Club can
Satoshi Kon’s TOKYO GODFATHERS has been restored and remastered for Blu-ray and digital. Image courtesy of GKIDS. © 2003 Satoshi Kon_Mad House/Tokyo Godfathers Committee. All Rights Reserved. ©Destination Films
Also Available Digitally May 19, 2020 Source: Shout! Factory press release Special Thanks to Sarah J. De Bruin Heartbreaking, hilarious and highly original, TOKYO GODFATHERS (???????????, T?ky? Goddof?z?zu, 2003) is a humanist masterpiece from the legendary director Satoshi Kon (PERFECT BLUE, PAPRIKA). Co-written by Keiko Nobumoto (COWBOY BEBOP) and featuring a whimsical score by Keiichi Suzuki, this beautiful tale of hope and redemption in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds makes its Blu-ray debut June 2, 2020 as a Blu-ray and DVD combo pack from GKIDS and Shout! Factory. Restored and remastered from a 4K transfer, the release also marks the first time the film is available with an English dub in addition to the original Japanese audio track. TOKYO GODFATHERS also includes a number of bonus features, including a new interview with English voice cast actress Shakina Nayfack (TRANSPARENT, DIFFICULT PEOPLE), featurettes
Red Baron battles Black Baron in promotional art for BRAVESTORM. ©albatross japan
Source: Alliance Entertainment press release Official Site: bravestorm.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Mario Parra Distribution Solutions / Alliance Entertainment is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win a DVD of the timeline-hopping mecha-action film, BRAVESTORM (????????, Bureibusut?mu, 2017). A cinematic remake of the classic Japanese TV series SILVER MASK (??????, Shiruba Kamen, 1971-72) and SUPER ROBOT RED BARON (???????? ??????, S?p? Robotto Reddo Baron, 1973-74) produced by Senkosha, BRAVESTORM is written and directed by Junya Okabe (TV’s BLADER, MEGA MONSTER BATTLE ULTRA GALAXY: THE MOVIE). In the year 2050, mankind is extinct on Earth. The last survivors, five Kasuga brothers, must use a time machine to travel back to the 2018, to collect a human capable of exterminating a group of giant robots sent to Earth by an alien race called the Killgis. Filled with massive action set pieces, robot battles, time
Packaging art for the BRAVESTORM DVD. Photos courtesy of Alliance Entertainment. ©albatross japan
Movie Remake of Two Japanese 1970s TV Series Source: Alliance Entertainment press release Official Site: bravestorm.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Mario Parra and Julianne Gorman Two families must join forces to save Earth in timeline-hopping mecha-action film, BRAVESTORM (????????, Bureibusut?mu, 2017), which makes its U.S. debut on DVD and VOD on April 7! Written and directed by Junya Okabe (TV’s BLADER, MEGA MONSTER BATTLE ULTRA GALAXY: THE MOVIE), the film stars Shunsuke Daitô (CROWS ZERO, KAMEN RIDER HEISEI GENERATIONS FOREVER) alongside Shu Watanabe (TV’s KAMEN RIDER 000, SECURITY OF JUSTICE). The producers are Shûichi Murata and Junya Okabe. In the year 2050, mankind is extinct on Earth. The last survivors, five Kasuga brothers, must use a time machine to travel back to the 2018, to collect a human capable of exterminating a group of giant robots sent to Earth by an alien race called the Killgis. Filled
Artwork not final – mock-up. Photo courtesy of Section23 Films.
AFTER THE RAIN Available June 30th Source: Section23 Films press release Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff Home video distributor Section23 Films has announced its June slate of releases which includes Sentai Filmworks heartwarming standout drama, AFTER THE RAIN, available on Blu-ray June 30th. Product details follow, in order of release... TAMAKO MARKET LOVE STORY COLLECTION Published by: Sentai Filmworks Distributed by: Section23 Films Run Time: 385 min. Street Date: 6/2/2020 Format: BD Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles SRP: $69.98 Growing up in a candy store is just a daydream for most kids, but for Tamako, it`s her real life. And, yes, most of the time it`s pretty sweet! Tamako gets to create new flavors, hang out with her friends and discover all kinds of ways to have fun. There are difficult parts, though, and one of them is figuring out her relationship with Mochizo,
PROMARE will now be available on digital on April 21, with the Blu-ray + DVD combo pack, DVD and Best Buy exclusive SteelBook Blu-ray following on May 19. Photo courtesy of Shout! Factory. ©TRIGGER, Kazuki Nakashima/XFLAG
Source: Shout! Factory press release Official Site: promare-movie.com (Japan), PromareMovie.com (US) Special Thanks to Shannon Meehan The top-grossing original anime feature of 2019, PROMARE (????, Puromea), will be available for digital download from GKIDS and Shout! Factory on April 21, earlier than previously announced. Fans can pre-order the hyperkinetic, candy-colored visual masterpiece on iTunes now. Additionally, Shout! Factory has revealed a new bonus feature on the release; an English Dub Cast Featurette. PROMARE will be available on Blu-ray + DVD combo pack and as a standalone DVD on May 19. About GKIDS GKIDS is a producer and distributor of award-winning feature animation for both adult and family audiences. Since 2010, the company has scored an astounding eleven Best Animated Feature Oscar nominations with THE SECRET OF KELLS in 2010, A CAT IN PARIS and CHICO & RITA in 2012, ERNEST & CELESTINE in
Black and white publicity still for THE H-MAN. TM & © TOHO CO., LTD.
Toho Classics in High-Definition on June 9, 2020 Source: Mill Creek Entertainment press release Travel back to the days before CGI, when special effects were real and the results were spectacular! Director Ishirô Honda and special effects wizard Eiji Tsuburaya bring thee wildly colorful tokusatsu eiga THE H-MAN (???????, Bijo to Ekitai-ningen, 1958) and BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE (?????, Uch? Daisens?, 1959) to life in this high-definition double feature presentation. Following their SteelBook edition of MOTHRA (???, Mosura), Mill Creek brings the Toho/Columbia movies THE H-MAN and BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE to Blur0ay. The films are presented in the 2.35:1 widescreen aspect ratio with DTS-HD Master Audio for both English and Japanese tracks and English subtitles. THE H-MAN 1958 – 79 min Director: Ishirô Honda Starring: Kenji Sahara, Akihiko Hirata, Eitarô Ozawa, Koreya Senda Writer: Takeshi Kimura As Powerful and Terrifying As the
? Atto.?KADOKAWA
Source: Sentai press release Official Site: nonnontv.com/movie (Japan) Sentai announced today that it acquired rights to NON NON BIYORI MOVIE: VACATION (??? ??????? ??????, Gekij?-ban Non Non Biyori Bakeshon, 2018), the theatrical follow-up to the charming, smile-inducing series NON NON BIYORI, for release in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. Summer vacation might be coming to a close, but the adorable cast of NON NON BIYORI is headed to Okinawa for some fun in the sun and a visit to the beach! The students of the super rural Asahigaoka branch school, all five of them, are eager to end their summer on a high note, making new friends and going on new adventures with the unbridled joy and adorable antics they’re known for. It’s a theatrical event that both newcomers and longtime NON NON BIYORI fans won’t want
SOUND! EUPHONIUM: THE MOVIE – OUR PROMISE: A BRAND NEW DAY comes to Blu-ray + DVD combo pack and digital download from ELEVEN ARTS and Shout! Factory. Image courtesy of Shochiku. ©Ayano Takeda,TAKARAJIMASHA/Hibike Partners
Source: Shout! Factory press release Special Thanks to Shannon Meehan SOUND! EUPHONIUM: THE MOVIE – OUR PROMISE: A BRAND NEW DAY (??? ????????????????????, Gekij?-ban Hibike! Y?foniamu: Chikai no Fin?re, 2019) will be released on digital download and On Demand on May 19, 2020 and on Blu-ray + DVD combo pack on June 6, 2020 from Eleven Arts and Shout! Factory. SOUND! EUPHONIUM: THE MOVIE comes from Kyoto Animation, the critically acclaimed studio behind A SILENT VOICE (?? ???, Eiga Koe no Katachi, 2016), LIZ AND THE BLUE BIRD (??????, Liz to Aoi Tori, 2018) and VIOLET EVERGARDEN (????????????????, Vuaioretto Evu?g?den). Bonus features include interviews with the English voice cast, featuring the talent of Christian La Monte (Shuichi Tsukamoto, director of English dub), Laura Post (Reina Kousaka) and Xanthe Huynh (Satsuki Suzuki). The next piece begins! Kumiko is now in her second year at
? Jun Mizuki?Shogakukan / After The Rain The Animation Committee
Source: Sentai press release Official Site: koiame-anime.com Sentai announced today that it acquired AFTER THE RAIN (??????????, Koi wa Ameagari no Y? ni, 2018), an anime series produced by WIT Studio (HOZUKI`S COOLHEADEDNESS, ATTACK ON TITAN) based on the complex, character-driven manga of the same name. AFTER THE RAIN is a story about life’s crossroads. There are moments great and small in which circumstance and choices, in equal measure, define a person. Akira Tachibana was once the ace of a track club, but an injury forced her to quell her passion for sports. Masami Kondo, a divorced father, had ambitions of being a writer and now manages a restaurant, where Akira works. It is the intersection of Akira and Masami’s seemingly disconnected lives that makes each of them reconsider and redefine everything about themselves. After the Rain is directed by Ayumu Watanabe (SPACE BROTHERS) with series
Photo courtesy of Section23 Films. ©SORASAKI.F
Source: Section23 Films Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff Section23 Films is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win their new Blu-ray Premium Box Set of RELEASE THE SPYCE! One never knows where the forces of evil may be preparing to strike, but fortunately for the citizens of the city of Sorasaki, there is a secret group of mysterious protectors who stand ever ready to fend off the pernicious plans of sinister scoundrels, malevolent malefactors and nefarious ne’er-do-wells. But who are these heroes and how are they recruited? Momo Minamoto is a normal high school student who dreams of one day becoming a police officer like her late father, but when she investigates the case of a missing friend, she quickly finds herself being recruited into the ranks of the Tsukikage, a group of high school girl spies with above average abilities and
The giant monsters Hangyolas and Death Kappa battle in DEATH KAPPA, returning to home video in new tenth anniversary editions. Photo courtesy of Fever Dreams. ©2010 Fever Dreams
Source: Media Blasters press release Special Thanks to John Sirabella and Carl Morano Media Blasters is pleased to announce the tenth anniversary edition of the monster epic, DEATH KAPPA (?????, Desu Kappa, 2010)! On April 14th, Tokyo Shock will unleash the DEATH KAPPA: TENTH ANNIVERSARY ATTACK! edition on Blu-ray and DVD with a bounty of bonus materials. 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
Win GAPPA: THE TRIPHIBIAN MONSTER on Blu-ray from Media Blasters and SciFi Japan. ©Nikkatsu Corporation
Source: Media Blasters Special Thanks to John Sirabella and Carl Morano Media Blasters is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win their new Blu-ray edition of the Nikkatsu kaiju cult classic, GAPPA: THE TRIPHIBIAN MONSTER (??????, Daikyoj? Gappa, 1967)! Originally released directly to U.S. television in 1968 as MONSTER FROM A PREHISTORIC PLANET (in a badly panned and scanned format), GAPPA unfolds on a serene tropical island paradise untouched by modern civilization and technology where a dark secret lies dormant for centuries. When a greedy business tycoon has grandiose plans to turn the island into the world’s largest resort and amusement park, a team of scientists stumble upon a mysterious dinosaur egg. When the egg hatches, Gappa is born -- a mythical giant reptilian bird that the indigenous island people worship as a god. Seeing dollar signs, the tycoon hurriedly ships the
PROMARE will be available in multiple editions, including a Blu-ray + DVD combo pack and a Best Buy exclusive SteelBook Blu-ray. Photo courtesy of Shout! Factory. ©TRIGGER, Kazuki Nakashima/XFLAG
Source: Shout! Factory press release Official Site: promare-movie.com (Japan), PromareMovie.com (US) Special Thanks to Shannon Meehan The top-grossing original anime feature of 2019, PROMARE (????, Puromea) makes its way to home entertainment this spring following a phenomenally successful North American theatrical run. The hyperkinetic, candy-colored visual masterpiece will be released on digital download and On Demand on May 5, 2020 and on Blu-ray + DVD combo pack and as a standalone DVD on May 19, 2020 from GKIDS and Shout! Factory. Bonus features include an interview with director Hiroyuki Imaishi, a round table with Studio TRIGGER, and SIDE: GALO and SIDE: LIO short films with new English dubs featuring the original dub cast. Fans who pre-order the Blu-ray + DVD combo pack from ShoutFactory.com will receive an exclusive, limited-edition 18”x 24” lithograph, while supplies last. There will also be a SteelBook edition of
Photo courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment. © 2019 Beijing Enlight Pictures Co., Ltd.
Source: Well Go USA, ddPR Official Site: wellgousa.com/films/ne-zha (US) Special Thanks to Leif Helland Well Go USA Entertainment is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack of the Chinese box office hit animated-feature NE ZHA (???????, Nézh? zh? Mótóng Jiàngshì, 2019). Produced by Beijing Enlight Pictures and written and directed by first time director Yang Yu (aka Jiao Zi), NE ZHA is currently the highest-grossing animated feature in China’s film history with box office gross presently at $535 million and over 100 million admissions. A young boy, Ne Zha, is born from a heavenly pearl by the Primeval Lord of Heaven, Yuanshi Tianzun. Born with unique powers, he finds himself as an outcast who is hated and feared. Destined by prophecy to bring destruction to the world, the young boy must choose between good and evil
Photo courtesy of Avery Guerra. © 2019 Attack of the Giant Teacher Film Partners
Source: SRS Cinema LLC press release Special Thanks to Avery Guerra SRS Cinema is excited to bring you the independent kaiju comedy ATTACK OF THE GIANT TEACHER (??????????????????????, Atakku Obu Za Jaianto T?ch?, 2019) from director Yoshikazu Ishii (ULTRAMAN GINGA). With the recent releases for RAIGA and REIGO under their belt, ATTACK OF THE GIANT TEACHER marks the third indie kaiju film to be released by SRS Cinema. In ATTACK OF THE GIANT TEACHER, Kenzo Miyazawa is an earnest teacher who works at a night high school. His class is filled with unique and slightly odd students. Suddenly, the night school witnesses a drop in student numbers and has no choice but to shut down by the end of the year. Mr. Miyazawa’s class decides to create a musical for the school’s last festival. Then, an alien beast invades Earth and begins destroying
©Takeshi Fujishiro/SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. •
Source: HIDIVE press release Official Site: tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/airantou (Japan) IDIVE announced today that it has acquired streaming rights to comedy anime NAGASARETE AIRANTOU (????????, 2007), produced by feel., the studio behind MY TEEN ROMANTIC COMEDY SNAFU, OUTBREAK COMPANY and THIS ART CLUB HAS A PROBLEM!! After a terrible argument with his father, Ikuto makes a hasty, fateful decision to run away from home. Going from runaway to stowaway, Ikuto’s luck lands him on a ship heading right into the path of a huge storm! When it rains, it pours -- or in Ikuto’s case, it pours so badly that he washes overboard and wakes up on a deserted island. Well, an almost deserted island. The island is populated by nothing but beautiful girls, all of whom want Ikuto to choose them as his bride. It’s a knock-down, drag-out fight for Ikuto’s heart in the tropical paradise, NAGASARETE AIRANTOU!