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    NEON GENESIS EVANGELION topped the fan poll of the Top 20 Anime of All Time. © Gainax / Project Eva. • TV Tokyo

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    Source: Madman Entertainment press release Official Site: madman.com.au/top20 Special Thanks to Ben Pollock In March, the Australian film and television distributor Madman Entertainment invited anime fans across the world to determine the ‘Top 20 Anime’ titles of all time. For the last two months, fans have rallied together to cast their vote in Madman’s poll. Along the way, there have been laughs, tears and triumphs -- but in the end, there can be only one to claim the top spot. As voted by the fan community, NEON GENESIS EVANGELION is the number one anime of all time. For many modern day Australian fans, their passion for anime can be traced back to the moment NEON GENESIS EVANGELION first arrived on SBS in the ‘90s. It was their first step into a bold new world -- one of epic science-fiction, deep philosophy, complex human relationships and, of

    DVD cover art for SULTRY ASSASSIN 2 – NINJA BRAINWASH. Photo courtesy of Section23 Films. © 2011 Junichi Yagami / Take Shobo/ Shintoho Pictures

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    Source: Section23 Films Official Movie Site: takeshobo.co.jp/shohin (Japan) Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff Switchblade Pictures has announced the newest addition to the company’s growing line of live action features: SULTRY ASSASSIN 2 – NINJA BRAINWASH (??? ???????????, Tsuyakenkaku 2: ~ Kunoichi Shoku Sennou ~, 2011). The second in a new series of ero-ninja epics based on the novels by Junichi Yagami, SULTRY ASSASSIN 2 picks up where the previous installment, APHRODISIAC KILL, left off and is once again written and directed by Kenichi Fujiwara (ZOMBIE HUNTER RIKA, ZEROMAN R) and produced by the Take Shobo Company and Shintoho Pictures Co., Ltd. Akiho Yoshizawa (MAIDROID 1 & 2, INVADER 33D) reprises the titular lead role, joined once again by WKA and WPKC world kickboxing champion Yoshihiro Sato, also the two-time winner of the Japanese national K-1 tournament (2006, 2007). Adding new faces to the spectacular selection of

    Sion Sono`s internationally acclaimed four-hour pervert epic LOVE EXPOSURE will be released on Blu-ray in the UK this August. Photo courtesy of Third Window Films. © 2008

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    Source: Third Window Films press release Special Thanks to Adam Torel Third Window Films is very pleased to announce the Blu-ray releases of three of the biggest cult Japanese films of all time! First off, to coincide with the DVD/Blu-ray release of Sion Sono`s latest film HIMIZU (???, 2012), Third Window Films is preparing a Blu-ray release of the film which he is most known for, the 4 hour-long epic LOVE EXPOSURE (??????, Ai no Mukidashi, 2009) which was voted as Best Japanese Film of the Decade by Midnight Eye`s readers. The Blu-ray release, planned for August 6th, will featuring a new high definition transfer from the original master, a one-hour long `making of`, nearly one-hour of deleted and extended scenes plus an exclusive new interview with the director. As if that wasn`t big enough news, Third Window is topping that with the Blu-ray releases of TETSUO:

    Cover art for the MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: SEASON ONE, VOLUME ONE 3-Disc Set. Photo courtesy of Shout! Factory. © 1993 Power Rangers LLC.

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    Plus Multi-Disc Box Set Collections to be Made Available Through Time Life Source: Shout! Factory, Click Communications press release Special Thanks to Scott Neumyer Following its debut in 1993, Saban’s iconic live-action pop culture series, POWER RANGERS quickly became the most watched children’s television program in North America. Emphasizing the importance of teamwork, responsibility and helping others by following the adventures of a group of ordinary young people who “morphed” into superheroes, this long-running series has been seen in more than 60 countries, translated into numerous languages, and remains a mainstay in children’s programming blocks. For 19 years, the highly entertaining saga and fan favorite characters from POWER RANGERS have captivated children and adults alike and are beloved by legions of fans worldwide. Now you can return to where the phenomenon began (in America) and re-live these thrill-packed adventures when Shout! Factory, in collaboration with Saban

    Frank Welker once again voices the Decepticon leader Megatron in the CGI animated series TRANSFORMERS PRIME, coming to DVD in Australia June 20th. © 2011 Hasbro, Inc.

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    Region 4 Release Streets June 20 Source: Madman Entertainment Special Thanks to Ben Pollock Autobots in Australia, get ready to roll out with TRANSFORMERS: PRIME– DARKNESS RISING, available on Region 4 DVD from Madman Entertainment on 20 June, 2012 ($19.95srp). TRANSFORMERS: PRIME is a bold new CG-animated series, and the latest exciting installment in the Transformers universe. The first DVD volume, DARKNESS RISING, contains the first five action-packed episodes of the series, linked together as one 110 minute feature length movie. Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Megatron and Starscream return in TRANSFORMERS: PRIME, the brainchild of the creators of the TRANSFORMERS movie trilogy and the recent STAR TREK movie, as well as popular TV shows, LOST, ALIAS and FRINGE. The series also features voice actors Peter Cullen and Frank Welker, the original Optimus Prime and Megatron respectively. It has been three years since the Decepticons

    The girls are the guns in the new anime series, UPOTTE!! © 2012 Kitsune Tennoji, Kadokawa Shoten/ Upotte Partners

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    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Official Site: upotte.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to David Williams Forget about girls with guns, Sentai Filmworks is pleased to announce their acquisition of UPOTTE!! (????!!, 2012), the show that’s all about girls who are guns! UPOTTE!! features scripts by Naruhisa Arakawa (LISTEN TO ME, GIRLS! I AM YOUR FATHER, BLUE SEED), direction by Takao Kato (TO LOVE RU, PANDORA HEARTS) and character designs by Akio Takami (BUSO RENKIN, STEAM DETECTIVES). Kiss kiss, bang bang! The arms race takes on a startling new development when the arms come with heads, legs and very feminine bodies attached! Yes, at Seishou Academy every girl is literally a lethal weapon, and they’re all gunning for the top shot at getting their own personal serviceman! Needless to say, it’s going to be difficult for newly recruited human instructor Genkoku to adjust to working with a living

    PANTY & STOCKING are roaring onto DVD with both Japanese and English audio tracks. © 2010 Gainax/Geeks

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    Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release Official Site: gainax.co, newtype.kadocomic (Japan), funimation.com/panty-stocking-with-garterbelt (US) Special Thanks to Scott Lonski This weekend at Anime Central, FUNimation Entertainment announced the main English voice cast for PANTY & STOCKING WITH GARTERBELT (???????????with???????, Panti ando Sutokkingu wizu Gaataaberuto, 2010). The hit series from the renowned studio Gainax and the director of FLCL brings fans a twistedly-hip new anime where double penetration means both nostrils. Panty and Stocking -- the Anarchy Sisters -- are two nasty-ass angels who got booted from the pearly gates for being foul-mouthed bitches! Now they spend their nights blowing up ghosts in the seedy abyss between Heaven and Earth. Panty likes sex, Stocking likes sweets, their afro-sporting main man Garterbelt has a fetish we can’t mention. Together, they’re turning the mean streets of Daten City into a buffet of bodily fluids. Ghosts don’t stand a

    Australian DVD and Blu-ray cover art for the anime film DRAGON AGE: DAWN OF THE SEEKER. Images courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © EA International (Studio and Publishing) Ltd. © Dragon Age Project. All Rights Reserved by FUNimation/T.O. Entertainment.

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    A Female Warrior Fights to Take Her Place in Legend Source: Madman Entertainment Official Site: dragonagemovie.com (US), dragonagemovie.jp (Japan) The animated feature DRAGON AGE: DAWN OF THE SEEKER (??????? ??????????, Doragon Eiji: Buraddomeiji no Seisen, 2012) will debut on home video launch in Australia and New Zealand this June 6th. Distributor Madman Entertainment will release the film on both Blu-ray and DVD. The movie is based on the acclaimed video game franchise from Bioware, creators of MASS EFFECT. DRAGON AGE: DAWN OF THE SEEKER is an official chapter of the DRAGON AGE story, a sales juggernaut encompassing games, anime, live action TV and comics with over 177,000 units sold in Australia. The animation was produced by TO Entertainment and Sori, creators and director of VEXILLE/producer of APPLESEED. In the land of Orlais, a brash young Seeker—Cassandra—fights to stop a blood-soaked conspiracy. Hidden hands seek to tear apart

    Winnie Leung as Plum in THE FORBIDDEN LEGEND: SEX & CHOPSTICKS 2. Image courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2009 My Way Film Co Ltd, Universal Media & Entertainment Group Ltd, Twin Co Ltd.

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    Erotic Double Feature Streets May 16th Source: Madman Entertainment From the director of SEX & ZEN 2 comes a tale of lust, love and chopsticks across two films. THE FORBIDDEN LEGEND: SEX & CHOPSTICKS 1 & 2 capture the erotic and sometimes zany roots of Chinese cinema as did the recent SEX & ZEN: EXTREME ECSTASY. The Double Feature DVD will be released in Australia by Madman Entertainment on May 16th. Both THE FORBIDDEN LEGEND: SEX & CHOPSTICKS (???, Jin Ping Mei, 2008) and THE FORBIDDEN LEGEND: SEX & CHOPSTICKS 2 (???II????, Jin Ping Mei er ai de nu li, 2009) are based on a classic erotic novel The Plum in the Golden Vase, the first full length Chinese fictional work to depict sexuality in an explicit manner. In 12th century China, Simon Qing has been raised by his father, a wealthy merchant

    DVD and preliminary Blu-ray cover art for the UK release of HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI. © 2011 Ichimei Film Partners

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    Source: Revolver Entertainment press release, Shochiku Co., Ltd. Official Site: ichimei.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Helen Mullane The UK distributor Revolver Entertainment and acclaimed director Takashi Miike (AUDITION, 13 ASSASSINS) present a gripping tale of vengeance set in 17th Century Japan in HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI (??, Ichimei, 2011), a remake of Masaki Kobayashi’s 1962 cult classic HARAKIRI (??, Seppuku). The film will be released by Revolver theatrically on May 4th and on DVD and Blu-ray May 7th. Poverty stricken samurai Hanshiro Tsukumo (Ebizo Ichikawa) requests to commit ritual suicide at the House of Ii, run by obstinate Lord -- Kageyu Saito (Koji Yakusho), in a desperate attempt for a honourable end. In an effort to persuade Hanshiro to rethink his request, Kageyu tells the tragic story of a similar plea from young ronin Motome (Eita). Hanshiro is stunned by the horrifying

    Commander Niren Fedrok takes charge of Flynn Scifo and Yuri Lowell in TALES OF VESPERIA ~THE FIRST STRIKE~ . © Namco Bandai Games Inc. / TOV Project. Original Character Design © Kousuke Fujishima

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    Source: FUNimation Entertainment, Production I.G. Official Site: tov-movie.net (Japan), funimation.com/tales-of-vesperia (US) Special Thanks to Tim Baxter FUNimation Entertainment will release the anime feature film TALES OF VESPERIA ~THE FIRST STRIKE~ (???? ?? ?????? ?The First Strike?, Teiruzu obu Vesuperia ~The First Strike~, 2009) on June 26th. The movie was produced by the animation studio Production I.G. (GHOST IN THE SHELL, KILL BILL VOL. 1, EDEN OF THE EAST) and directed by veteran animator Kanta Kamei (TALES OF LEGENDIA, KILL BILL VOL. 1, INNOCENCE). It was theatrically distributed in Japan by Kadokawa Pictures on October 3, 2009. TALES OF VESPERIA ~THE FIRST STRIKE~ is the first anime film based on the hit TALES role playing video game series by Namco Bandai Games, which debuted in 1995 and now features more than a dozen titles. The movie acts as a prequel to the the events

    DVD cover art for LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE. Photo courtesy of Indomina Releasing. © 2011 Media Asia Films

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    Director`s Critically-Lauded Thriller Debuts on DVD, Digital and Video on Demand May 29th Source: Indomina Releasing, MPRM Communications Official Site: mediaasia.com/lifewithoutprinciple Special Thanks to Leif Helland Three ordinary people -- a gangster, a broker and a police inspector -- find their destinies inextricably intertwined as lies, deceit and greed take them on a violent, wild heist when LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE (???, Dyut Meng Gam, 2011), legendary Hong Kong film director Johnny To’s (RUNNING OUT OF TIME, TRIAD ELECTION) critically-acclaimed film debuts on DVD, Digital and Video on Demand May 29th from Indomina Releasing. The riveting thriller boasts a stellar cast, including Ching Wan Lau (POKER KING, THE GREAT MAGICIAN), Richie Ren (ACCIDENT, PUNISHED), Denise Ho (MERRY-GO-ROUND), Hoi-pang Lo (DREAM HOUSE, SPARROW), Terrance Yin (LARA CROFT TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE) and Hang-shuen So (BULLET IN THE HEAD). Distributed by Vivendi Entertainment, LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE is

    A murdered girl runs a school paranormal investigation club in the anime series DUSK MAIDEN OF AMNESIA. © Maybe/ Square Enix, Dusk maiden of Amnesia Project

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    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Official Site: amnesia-tv.com (Japan) Special Thanks to David Williams Join Sentai Filmworks for a mystery that must be solved from beyond the grave as they announce the North American licensing of DUSK MAIDEN OF AMNESIA (????×?????, Tasogare Otome × Amnesia, 2012). Director Shin Oonuma (ef ~ a tale of memories, ef ~ a tale of melodies) and character designer Yukiko Ban (.hack//SIGN) bring original creator Maybe’s tale of death and haunting to life. 60 years ago, a young woman was left to die in the abandoned school building behind the exclusive Seikyou Academy. No one knows why. No one knows how. But the horrifying tale and the legends of the ghostly haunting that followed live on to this day. Perhaps it’s not so surprising then, that among Seikyou’s many school clubs is one for students interested in “paranormal investigations.” What might

    DVD and Blu-ray cover artwork for DRAGON BALL Z KAI: SEASON 1, Part 8. © Bird Studio/Shueisha, Toei Animation. Film ©2009 Toei Animation Co., Ltd.

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    Source: FUNimation Entertainment Official Site: toei-anim.co.jp/tv/dragon_kai (Japan), dragonballzkai.com (US) Special Thanks to Tim Baxter The first season of DRAGON BALL Z KAI (?????????????, Doragon Boru Kai) concludes with the eighth volume, scheduled for both DVD and Blu-ray on June 5th from FUNimation Entertainment. For the first time in history, experience the legendary Z as the master intended: bigger, faster, stronger, and packed with the pulverizing power to blow your puny minds! Beef up your collection with this manga-centric, fresh take on Akira Toriyama’s original vision, featuring more action than you can handle, revitalized animation, and an amped-up audio experience that will make your ears beg for mercy! The last descendants of an evil race of warriors known as the Saiyans are on a collision course with Earth, and Goku, the strongest fighter on the planet, is all that stands between humanity and extinction. To save his friends

    The new sci-fi anime series TSURITAMA has been licensed for release in North America. © tsuritama partners

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    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Official Site: tsuritama.com (Japan) Special Thanks to David Williams Sentai Filmworks is proud to announce their latest catch: Kenji Nakamura’s (AYAKASHI – SAMURAI HORROR TALES) TSURITAMA (???, 2012). Originally airing in Fuji Television’s prestigious noitaminA block, TSURITAMA is sure to be the catch of the day. You can’t catch fish if you don’t go fishing, and you can’t make friends if you don’t at least try. Which is how relationship-challenged student Yuki finds himself on a fishing trip to a tiny island with three other boys he barely knows. Well, two other boys and Haru, who claims that he’s an alien. Not that constantly stewing Natsuki or mysterious Akira are any more likely as prospects for good companionship. But there’s something about fishing that makes it unlike any other pastime, and maybe that quiet sense of companionship and hopeful expectation is

    Promotional art for QUEEN’S BLADE: REBELLION. © 2012 HobbyJapan/ Queen`s Blase Rebellion Partners

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    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Official Site: queensblade.tv (Japan) Special Thanks to David Williams Sentai Filmworks is pleased to announce their acquisition of the season’s hottest swordswomen in QUEEN’S BLADE: REBELLION (????????? ?????, Kuiinzu Bureido Riberion, 2012). With series composition by Hideki Shirane (DREAM EATER MERRY, KILL ME BABY!) and music by Masaru Yokoyama (KIMIKISS: PURE ROUGE, FREEZING), five out five rebels agree that this series will kick some royal booty! Power corrupts, and it when it appears that the once noble Queen Claudette’s ways have turned to oppression and heretical persecution, it’s up to a new generation of warriors to step up to the plate armor to bear arms and bare their naked fury in open rebellion! The odds may seem unfairly stacked in favor of the Amazonian ranks of the queen, doubly supported by her power of writ and assassins. But the incredible wits

    Han Ki-Su (Lee Min-Ki) and Choon-Sim (Kang Ye-won) in QUICK, coming to Region 4 DVD next month. Image courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2011 JK Film/ CJ Entertainment

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    Source: Madman Entertainment The Korean action movie QUICK (?, Qwik, 2011) will be released on Region 4 DVD in May by the Australian distributor, Madman Entertainment. Described as "SPEED on a motorcycle", QUICK was one of the biggest budget Korean blockbusters of 2011. The film was written and produced by JK Youn (aka the Korean Michael Bay), who had previously directed the hit disaster flick HAEUNDAE (TIDAL WAVE, 2009) and wrote the screenplay for the 3D monster movie SECTOR 7 (2011). A former motorcycle gang member named Ki-su (Lee Min-Ki) now makes a living as a bike messenger. His routine day is turned upside-down after witnessing an explosion downtown, but when his ex-girlfriend, Choon-Sim (Kang Hye-Won), puts on his motorcycle helmet they become stuck in the middle of a master terror plot. The helmet begins a countdown and will explode unless they complete

    Promotional art for MEDAKA BOX. © 2012 Nisio Isin ? Akira Akatsuki/ Shueisha ? School Student Council

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    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Official Site: medakabox.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to David Williams Sentai Filmworks is pleased to announce its acquisition of MEDAKA BOX (???????, Medaka Bokkusu, 2012), the newest production of the famed Gainax studio (NEON GENESIS EVANGELION, GURREN LAGGAN). Featuring series composition and direction by Shouji Saeki (HE IS MY MASTER, THIS UGLY YET BEAUTIFUL WORLD) and music by Tatsuya Katou (SAMURAI GIRLS, HORIZON IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE), MEDAKA BOX is sure to prove that good intentions don’t always matter. When newly elected Student Council President Medaka Kurokami institutes her idea for a suggestion box where people can submit problems that need to be solved, she’s expecting things like rescuing lost puppies and giving advice. What she and her best friend Zenkichi find instead, however, are the first hints of an unbelievable secret, and their school, Hakoniwa Academy, and Medaka herself are

    Madman Entertainment has partnered with FUNimation to bring the anime films DRAGON AGE: DAWN OF THE SEEKER and MASS EFFECT: PARAGON LOST to Australia. © EA International (Studio and Publishing) Ltd. © Dragon Age Project/© Mass Effect Project. All Rights Reserved by FUNimation/T.O. Entertainment.

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    Madman Partners with FUNimation on Upcoming DVD and Blu-ray Releases Source: Madman Entertainment press release Official DRAGON AGE: DAWN OF THE SEEKER Site: dragonagemovie.com (US), dragonagemovie.jp (Japan) Official MASS EFFECT: PARAGON LOST Site: masseffectparagonlost.com (US), masseffect-anime.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Ben Pollock Madman Entertainment announced today a partnership with FUNimation to distribute the upcoming animated feature films DRAGON AGE: DAWN OF THE SEEKER (??????? ??????????, Doragon Eiji: Buraddomeiji no Seisen, 2012) and MASS EFFECT: PARAGON LOST (????????????????, Masuefekuto ~ Ushinawa Reta Paragon, 2012) in Australia, for release on DVD and Blu-ray in 2012. Both films are based on the critically acclaimed DRAGON AGE and MASS EFFECT franchises, developed by award-winning developer BioWare, a label of Electronic Arts. “There are plenty of avid gamers at Madman, myself included, who are big fans of both the MASS EFFECT and DRAGON AGE games,” said Tim Anderson,

    The Criterion Collection`s Blu-ray and DVD Box Set cover art for THE SAMURAI TRILOGY. Photos courtesy of The Criterion Collection. © 1954-56 Toho Co., Ltd.

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    New High-Definition Digital Restorations on Sale in June Source: The Criterion Collection, Image Entertainment Official Site: criterion.com/the-samurai-trilogy On June 26th, 2012, THE SAMURAI TRILOGY will be released in digitally restored DVD and Blu-ray box sets by The Criterion Collection. THE SAMURAI TRILOGY, directed by Hiroshi Inagaki (THE RICKSHAW MAN) and starring the inimitable Toshiro Mifune (SEVEN SAMURAI), was one of Japan`s most successful exports of the 1950s, a rousing, emotionally gripping tale of combat and self-discovery. Based on a novel that`s often called Japan`s Gone with the Wind, this sweeping saga fictionalizes the life of the legendary seventeenth-century swordsman (and writer and artist) Musashi Miyamoto, following him on his path from unruly youth to enlightened warrior. With these three films -- 1954`s Oscar-winning MUSASHI MIYAMOTO, 1955`s DUEL AT ICHIJOJI TEMPLE, and 1956`s DUEL AT GANRYU ISLAND -- Inagaki created a passionate epic that`s

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