SciFi Japan
    Newly Digitally Restored WWII-Era Film Premiered at 2016 Cannes Film Festival Source: Funimation Entertainment press release Special Thanks to Scott Lonski Funimation Entertainment is proud to announce its acquisition of the restored edition of Mitsuyo Seo’s MOMOTARO, SACRED SAILORS (??? ????, Momotaro Umi no Shinpei) -- the first feature-length animated film produced in Japan. Written and directed by Mitsuyo Seo (1911-2010), MOMOTARO, SACRED SAILORS was a propaganda film produced in 1944 by Shochiku Co. Ltd. and released in 1945 during the final months of World War II. Earlier this year, with the financial support of Funimation and others, Shochiku restored the 74-minute, black and white film, which premiered during opening weekend of the 2016 Cannes Film Festival in the Cannes Classics program. As part of its agreement with Shochiku, Funimation has secured exclusive rights to the theatrical, digital and home video distribution of the film in

    Complete 2003-2004 Series Available in Stores Nationwide from Shout! Factory Source: Shout! Factory press release Special Thanks to Tom Chen and Shannon Meehan On June 21, 2016, join the Power Rangers as they battle to save Earth from the evil ninja master Lothor when Shout! Factory releases POWER RANGERS: NINJA STORM: The Complete Series, a 5-DVD box set that contains all 38 episodes of the iconic show’s eleventh season. Tori, Shane, and Dustin lead typical teenage lives in Blue Bay Harbor but they have one thing in common – they are students at a secret ninja school under the teachings of a wise sensei. Their world changes when Lothor, a ninja master banished to space for his evil deeds, returns to Earth bent on revenge. Sensei gives "Wind Morphers" to the three kids that will transform them into Power Rangers to compete in

    Source: Madman Entertainment Official Site: kiseiju.com (Japan) Special Thanks to Ben Pollock The Australian label Madman Entertainment will release the live action movie PARASYTE PART 2 (??? ???, Kiseijuu Kanketsu-hen, 2015) and the PARASYTE MOVIE COLLECTION on Region 4 DVD June 8, 2016. No North American release has been announced. PARASYTE PART 2 The showdown begins. It has become all-out war between humanity and the ‘Parasites’ -- the tiny creatures who are rapidly taking over the brains of the human populace. But nothing is black and white in this struggle. Why have the Parasites come to Earth? Are they here to cull our numbers? The planet may be better off preserved from the destructive nature of humanity, but we also want to fight to protect our loved ones. Amidst this conflict of values, Shinichi and Migi must continue to work together in the escalating fight against the

    Starring Sammo Hung & Eddie Peng Source: Well Go USA, MPRM Communications Special Thanks to Leif Helland and Rachel Villegas Well Go USA Entertainment is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win director Chow Hin Yeung’s epic action drama RISE OF THE LEGEND (????????, 2014) on Blu-ray. Martial Arts legend Sammo Hung (IP MAN 2) takes on Eddie Peng (UNBEATABLE), pegged by The Hollywood Reporter as “a serious contender for Next Great Martial Arts Star.” The story follows a powerful martial arts master (Peng) returning to the town where his father was murdered to take on a ruthless crime boss (Hung) in this origins story of the revered folk hero Wong Fei Hung, a martial arts master whose life has passed into Chinese folklore. The film also stars Wang Luodan (THE CONTINENT), Jing Boran (THE GUILLOTINES), Jin Zhang (KILL ZONE 2), Wong

    Source: Right Stuf, Inc. press release Official Site: gundam.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Jessica Breon Anime distributor Right Stuf, Inc. and anime producer Sunrise Inc. are excited to announce the upcoming release of MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM ZZ COLLECTION 2 on Blu-ray and DVD and AFTER WAR GUNDAM X COLLECTION 2 on DVD July 5, 2016. GUNDAM BUILD FIGHTERS will be available on Blu-ray and DVD August 2, 2016. MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM ZZ BLU-RAY COLLECTION 2 Coming to North America on Blu-ray for the very first time, MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM ZZ COLLECTION 2 presents the thrilling sequel to MOBILE SUIT ZETA GUNDAM in HD glory! MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM ZZ (??????????, Kidoo Senshi Gandamu Daburu Zeeta, 1986-1987) is set in the aftermath of the Gryps Conflict... the year 0088 of the Universal Century. Haman Karn, leader of Neo Zeon, invades Earth to strike at the corrupt Federation government.

    2015 Season of Saban’s POWER RANGERS from Lionsgate Home Entertainment Source: Lionsgate press release Official Site: powerrangers.com, nick.com/power-rangers-dino-charge Saban’s Powers Rangers are back in action with POWER RANGERS DINO CHARGE: BREAKOUT, arriving on DVD (plus Digital), Digital HD, and On Demand July 12 from Lionsgate. The Red, Black, Blue, Green, and Pink Rangers must once again rely on each other and their new dino-charged powers as they battle to defend the Earth from the villainous Sledge. This all-new Power Rangers series ranked #1 in its time period across all TV with kids 2-11. With an ever-growing fan base, POWER RANGERS DINO CHARGE: BREAKOUT will be the biggest, and most shocking, Power Rangers adventure yet when it arrives on DVD for the suggested retail price of $14.98. The Power Rangers will have to outsmart a puzzling villain, save a prince, and try to defeat Sledge`s monsters. When

    THE RETURN OF GODZILLA Available September 13th Source: Section23 Films press release Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff Home video distributor Section23 Films has announced its September slate of releases, including the first U.S. release of the complete and uncut THE RETURN OF GODZILLA (aka GODZILLA (1984)) by Kraken Releasing. Available on DVD and Blu-ray. Product details follow, in order of release... HANAUKYO MAID TEAM: LA VERITE COMPLETE COLLECTION Published by: Sentai Filmworks Distributed by: Section23 Films Run Time: 300 min. Street Date: 9/6/2016 Format: DVD Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles SRP: $49.98 Moving is seldom easy, but when newly orphaned Taro Hanaukyo arrives in Tokyo to live with his wealthy grandfather, what he finds literally blows his mind. Because Gramps has skipped off to a remote island, leaving his estate and its huge staff at Taro’s beck and call. A staff

    Author: Keith Aiken Source: Section23 Films, Kraken Releasing Special Thanks to Matt Greenfield and Mike Bailiff A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Kraken Releasing today announced that they have licensed Toho`s THE RETURN OF GODZILLA (1984) for Blu-ray and DVD in North America. The discs will be available starting September 13, 2016 at the SRPS of $14.98 (Blu-ray) and $9.98 (DVD). THE RETURN OF GODZILLA relaunched the Godzilla franchise after a nine year break. Rather than pick up where the last movie -- TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA (????????, Mekagojira no Gyakushuu, 1975) -- had left off, Toho and producer Tomoyuki Tanaka chose to make the new film a direct sequel to the original GODZILLA (???, Gojira, 1954) that would ignore the events of the previous 14 sequels. Opening in Japan in December 1984 as GODZILLA (???, Gojira, 1984), the movie launched a second wave of

    Source: Third Window Films press release Official Movie Site: uzumasalimelight.com (UK) Special Thanks to Claire Marty On April 25th, Third Window Films will release Ken Ochiai`s UZUMASA LIMELIGHT (????????, Uzumasa Raimuraito, 2014) on Blu-ray, DVD and VOD in the United Kingdom. Starring Seizo Fukumoto -- the actor who is said to have died 50,000 times -- and introducing Chihiro Yamamoto, UZUMASA LIMELIGHT won awards from the Fantasia Film Festival (Best Film, Best Actor), New York Asian Film Festival (Audience Award) and Camera Japan (Audience Award). Both the Blu-ray and DVD include a behind the scenes featurette and theatrical trailer. Synopsis Uzumasa (Kyoto) is considered the Hollywood of Japan. It has produced many “jidaigeki” films (period dramas with sword fighting) that are loved by many Japanese, and are highly praised all over the world. These films wouldn’t be what they were if it weren’t for the

    Source: Well Go USA, MPRM Communications Special Thanks to Leif Helland and Rachel Villegas Well Go USA Entertainment is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win the action/adventure fantasy thriller MOJIN: THE LOST LEGEND (???????, Gu? Chu? D?ng Zh? Xún Lóng Jué, 2015) on Blu-ray. The film is based on the #1 Bestselling series of novels and stars Shu Qi (THE ASSASSIN), Chen Kun (YOUNG DETECTIVE DEE: RISE OF THE SEA DRAGON), Angelababy (TAI CHI HERO), and Huang Bo (LEGEND OF THE FIST: THE RETURN OF CGEN ZHEN). Directed by Wuershan (PAINTED SKIN: THE RESURRECTION), MOJIN: THE LOST LEGEND follows three retired tomb raiders able to travel between the realms of the Living and the Dead. Lured back to their original vocation by a mysterious, businesswoman/cult leader who wants them to find the ancient tomb of a Mongolian princess, they eventually learn

    Source: Section23 Films press release Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff Home video distributor Section23 Films have provided details on their slate of releases for July and August, including Sentai Filmworks’ latest acquisition TRINITY SEVEN. The Complete Collection will be available on DVD and Blu-ray. Product details follow, in order of release... ARCH ANGELS Published by: Sentai Filmworks Distributed by: Section23 Films Run Time: 92 min. Street Date: 7/5/2016 Format: COMBO Language: Japanese with English Subtitles SRP: $29.98 Rich? Need a place to keep your attractive but easily misled daughter? Then St. Michael`s Academy is the school for you! Nestled on a remote island, it`s the perfect place to keep your girl away from temptation as she learns about class, elegance, and refined tastes. Of course, that also makes S.M.A. "Hell on Earth" for a girl like Fumio, who`d rather go to Tokyo U. and eat junk

    Final Installment of the Acclaimed Trilogy Source: Well Go USA, MPRM Communications Special Thanks to Leif Helland and Rachel Villegas Well Go USA Entertainment is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win the martial arts blockbuster IP MAN 3 (??3, Yè wèn 3, 2015) on Blu-ray. Directed by Wilson Yip and featuring action choreography by Yuen Wo Ping, the final installment of the internationally-acclaimed trilogy stars Donnie Yen (SPECIAL ID, ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY) and legendary boxer Mike Tyson. Donnie Yen returns to the role that made him an icon -- as Ip Man, the real-life Wing Chun grandmaster who mentored Bruce Lee. This explosive third installment takes place in 1959 Hong Kong and finds Ip Man attempting to save his son’s school from brutal gangsters led by an intimidating property developer (Tyson). With the police unable to help, Ip

    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Special Thanks to Carolyn Medrano Sentai Filmworks is proud to announce its latest acquisition, the space opera COBRA THE ANIMATION (??? THE ANIMATION, Kobura The Animation, 2010), as well the series’ two OVAs COBRA THE ANIMATION: TIME DRIVE (??? THE ANIMATION ????????, Kobura The Animation Taimu Doraibu, 2009) and COBRA THE ANIMATION: THE PSYCHOGUN (??? THE ANIMATION ???????, Kobura The Animation Za Saikogan, 2008-2009). Based on the best-selling 1978 manga by Buichi Terasawa, COBRA THE ANIMATION follows the adventures of a young man who abandons a life of adventure and danger by surgically altering his face and erasing his own memories. Assuming his new identity as an office worker named Johnson, the young man’s “normal” life is shattered when he is once again threatened by old enemies who are out for his life. Keizo Shimizu (SHINSAKU SENGOKU EIYU DENSETSU - SANADA

    Well Go USA Entertainment is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win director Leste Chen`s (DOOMSDAY REVERSE, THE HEIRLOOM) mystery-thriller THE GREAT HYPNOTIST (????, Cu?mián Dàsh?, 2014) on DVD. Starring Chinese Superstar Zheng Xu (LOST IN THAILAND) and Hong Kong singer/actress Karen Mok (AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS), THE GREAT HYPNOTIST pits a confident hypnotherapist against a belligerent patient in a battle of wills. Xu Ruining (Xu Zheng) is a nationally renowned therapist incredibly skilled in hypnotherapy. But when his career takes off, he meets a patient named Ren Xiaoyan (Karen Mok) who brings him a complex problem. Xu Ruining discovers that with this particular case, the struggle between the doctor and the patient isn’t as easy as he’d expected. Despite her thin and weak appearance, Ren Xiaoyan always reacts violently to any problems with Xu Ruining. He wonders what exactly makes her closed-off to

    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Special Thanks to Carolyn Medrano Sentai Filmworks is proud to announce its acquisition of TANA-KUN IS ALWAYS LISTLESS (????????????, Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge, 2016). Adapted from the popular web manga series published by Square Enix, this unconventional, surrealist comedy follows an exhausted high school boy who, despite multiple attempts from his friends, still manages to spectacularly... sleep. Much to the chagrin of the energetic (at times bossy) Ohta, Tanaka is often found in a blissful state of lethargy, possessing the ability to doze off in any situation, especially in mid-sentence! The series was directed by Shinya Kawatsura (KOKORO CONNECT, NON NON BIYORI), with series composition by Akemi Omode (GET BACKERS, TALES OF THE ABYSS) and character design by Haruko Iizuka (INU x BOKU SECRET SERVICE, SCHOOL-LIVE!). Animation production was handled by SILVER LINK., the same studio responsible for WATAMOTE and CHIVALRY

    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Special Thanks to Carolyn Medrano Sentai Filmworks is proud to announce its acquisition of all three straight-to-video entries in the STRAWBERRY MARSHMALLOW (?????, Ichigo Mashimaro) series. First released in 2007, these original video animations (OVAs) continue the adventures of youthful protagonists Chika, Miu, Matsuri, and Ana under the watchful eyes of Chika`s big sister Nobue. With botched job applications, curious takes on play time, and (somewhat crude) trips to the public bath house, what adorable antics will the girls get up to this time? The OVA series was produced by anime studio Daume (DearS, PLEASE TEACHER!), with Takuya Sato (GIRLS BEYOND THE WASTELAND, STUDENT COUNCIL`S DISCRETION, STEINS;GATE) handling both directorial and series composition duties. STRAWBERRY MARSHMALLOW (OVA) will soon be available on select digital outlets with a home video release to follow. For Sentai Filmworks’ latest announcements regarding this title and

    Source: Right Stuf, Inc. press release Official Site: gundam.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Jessica Breon Anime distributor Right Stuf, Inc. and anime producer Sunrise Inc. are excited to announce the upcoming release of MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM ZZ COLLECTION 1 on Blu-ray and DVD and AFTER WAR GUNDAM X COLLECTION 1 on DVD. Both titles will be available June 7, 2016. MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM ZZ BLU-RAY COLLECTION 1 Coming to North America on Blu-ray for the very first time, MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM ZZ COLLECTION 1 presents the thrilling sequel to MOBILE SUIT ZETA GUNDAM in HD glory! MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM ZZ (??????????, Kidoo Senshi Gandamu Daburu Zeeta, 1986-1987) is set in the aftermath of the Gryps Conflict... the year 0088 of the Universal Century. The badly damaged assault cruiser Argama docks at the run-down space colony of ShangriLa for much-needed repairs. While the Argama is in drydock,

    Source: Kino Lorber Special Thanks to Frank Tarzi and Matt Barry Kino Lorber is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win the South Korean giant monster movie YONGARY, MONSTER OF THE DEEP on Blu-ray. Released in its native country as THE GREAT MONSTER YONGGARY (??? ???, Daegoesu Yonggary) in 1967, this cult-classic was Korea`s first entry into the kaiju movie genre, made famous by the Japanese with the classics GODZILLA and GAMERA. YONGARY was exported to several countries including the United States, Germany, France and Italy... but in the process, the original film elements were mistakenly shipped overseas and subsequently lost. With the Korean language negative unavailable, the only complete version is the 1969 English dub by American International Pictures. Kino Lorber has released YONGARY, MONSTER OF THE DEEP on Blu-ray ($29.95) and DVD ($19.95) with an HD transfer of the 35mm

    Source: Cinedigm Special Thanks to Jill Newhouse Calcaterra Cinedigm is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win their new DVD box set of YU-GI-OH! GX SEASON 3. Known in Japan as YU-GI-OH! DUEL MONSTERS GX (???????????????GX, Yuugioo Dyueru Monsutaazu Jii Ekkusu), YU-GI-OH! GX is the second spin-off of the fan-favorite global franchise based on the Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game which has grossed over $20 billion. This 6-disc set contains all 51 30-minute episodes from the 2006-2007 season... nearly 19 hours of anime! The YU-GI-OH! anime series originated from the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga series created by Kazuki Takahashi. The Japanese collectible trading card game, developed and distributed by Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd., has sold more than 25 billion cards. The game and television series features a strategic play pattern that incorporates a combination of monsters, spells and traps to defeat opponents, and is acknowledged by Guinness

    Fans of All Ages Can Discover Exciting New Adventures in the Newest POKÉMON Feature Film Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: VIZ.com/Pokemon Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC, the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, announces the home media release and debut of the official manga adaptation of POKÉMON THE MOVIE: HOOPA AND THE CLASH OF AGES in early March. Both of the editions offer fans all of the fun and adventure of the newest POKÉMON anime feature film. POKÉMON THE MOVIE: HOOPA AND THE CLASH OF AGES was directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and was originally released in Japanese theatres last summer as POKÉMON THE MOVIE XY: RINGS OF THE SUPER GENIE HOOPA (???????????XY ?????? ???, Pokemon Za Muubii Ekkusu Wai Ring no Choomajin Hoopa). Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages

    © 2024 Your Company. All Rights Reserved. Designed By JoomShaper