SciFi Japan

    A class of 42 high school students is chosen for a deadly game in the cult classic BATTLE ROYALE. Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2000 The “Battle Royale” Production Committee

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    42 Students, Three Days, One Survivor, No Rules Source: Madman Entertainment Kinji Fukasaku`s acclaimed and controversial cult hit BATTLE ROYALE (?????????, Batoru Rouaiaru, 2000) will be released on Region 4 DVD in February by Madman Entertainment. The new release will be a "director`s cut" version never before available in Australia. In the near future, Japan is in a state of collapse. With high unemployment and a generation of youth out of control, the government enacts the Battle Royale programme. Each year, a randomly chosen school class is pitted against itself on an abandoned island in a cruel game of survival. With a former teacher (Takeshi Kitano) overseeing the game, this is a fight to the death with only one winner. The rules are simple: It lasts 3 days - Each player starts with food, water and a random weapon - If more than

    Packaging for the DVD and Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack of WAR OF THE ARROWS. Photos courtesy of Well Go USA. © 2011 Lotte Entertainment

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    The $40 Million International Box Office Smash Comes to North America Source: Well Go USA, MPRM Communications Special Thanks to Leif Helland Award-winning writer/director Kim Han-Min (HANDPHONE, PARADISE MURDERED) unsheathes the lavish historical action epic WAR OF THE ARROWS (???? ?, Choejongbyungki Hwal, 2011) on Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack and DVD February 21st from Well Go USA Entertainment. The international box office success stars Hae-il Park (THE HOST) as the best archer in Korea who is forced to go up against the Qing Dynasty in order to save his younger sister (Moon Chae-Won) from Mongolian invaders. Set in 1636, the second Manchurian invasion of Korea rages chaos, as villages are attacked by overpowering Manchurian soldiers. The Manchurians kidnap childhood sweethearts, Ja-in and Seo-Goon on their wedding day. In an effort to save his sister, Ja-in’s brother Nam-Yi sets out to defeat the

    The complete supernatural anime series X will be reissued in DVD set with 24 episodes plus an OVA. Image courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. © Clamp · Kadokawa Shoten/ TV

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release Official Site: funimation.com/x (US) Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee On January 3rd, FUNimation Entertainment will reissue the supernatural anime X: THE COMPLETE SERIES on DVD as part of their Anime Classics line. Based on the series from the international manga powerhouse CLAMP, the X (????, Ekkusu, 2001) anime was directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri (NINJA SCROLL, VAMPIRE HUNTER D: BLOODLUST) with animation by Madhouse (BLACK LAGOON, DEATH NOTE). Kamui stands alone at the crossroads between salvation and armageddon. Destiny demands that this tormented young man decide the fate of a world he no longer belongs in. Torn between rival orders of superhuman warriors, the time has come for Kamui to choose his side. Either he fights with the Dragons of Heaven to save civilization and the two friends he swore to always protect, or he must

    Cover art for the upcoming North American DVD and Blu-ray/DVD Combo Set of the Japanese live action sci-fi adventure GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER. Photos courtesy of NEW PEOPLE Entertainment. © Hiroya Oku/Shueisha © 2011 Gantz Film Partners

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Concluding Chapter of Japanese Action Epic Debuts in January; Theatrical Release Event in San Francisco Announced Source: NEW PEOPLE Entertainment, Warner Home Video, MediaLab press release Official Movie Site: gantz-movie.com (Japan), gantzmovies.com (US) Special Thanks to Erik Jansen NEW PEOPLE Entertainment, a film division of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. that focuses on the licensing and distribution of Japanese films and media, has announced the highly anticipated release of the live-action film sequel to GANTZ. GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER (?? PERFECT ANSWER, Gantsu Pafekuto Ansaa, 2011) will debut on Region 1 DVD (SRP $24.92) and Blu-ray/DVD combo-pack (SRP $29.99) on January 17th, 2012. The film, which is unrated, features both English and Japanese dialogue options and includes a bonus disc with an exclusive director’s interview, cast profiles, and theatrical film trailers. NEW PEOPLE DVD/Blu-ray titles are distributed in the U.S and Mexico by Warner Home Video.

    Photo courtesy of Section23 Films.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    THE WORLD GOD ONLY KNOWS Available on January 24th Source: Section23 Films press release Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff Home video distributor Section23 Films has provided details on its January slate of releases including THE WORLD GOD ONLY KNOWS. The devilishly fun anime will be released on both DVD and Blu-Ray by Section23 client, Sentai Filmworks. Product details follow, in order of release... AND YET THE TOWN MOVES COMPLETE COLLECTION Published by: Sentai Filmworks Distributed by: Section23 Films Run Time: 300 min. Street Date: 1/3/2012 Format: DVD Language: Japanese with English Subtitles SRP: $49.98 Hotori Arashiyama loves mysteries, but there`s one she just can`t solve: Why does the solution to one problem inevitably seem to lead to another? Like how when Hotori has to start working at the Seaside Maid Café after school to pay off a debt and her friend Toshiko fortunately knows exactly how

    Packaging for the DVD and Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack of OCEAN HEAVEN. Photo courtesy of Well Go USA. © 2010 Edko Films Limited

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Jet Li in His First Starring Dramatic Role Source: Well Go USA, MPRM Communications Special Thanks to Leif Helland Martial arts superstar Jet Li (THE EXPENDABLES, HERO, LETHAL WEAPON 4) reveals his talent for heartfelt drama in OCEAN HEAVEN (????, H?iyáng Tiántáng, 2010), debuting on Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack and DVD February 7th from Well Go USA Entertainment. Bonus features include deleted scenes, an extensive photo gallery and a poignant interview with Jet Li on Autism. The film, which screened at five major North American festivals including the Toronto International Film Festival, features Li as a terminally ill father attempting to teach his autistic son the necessary life skills to survive on his own before he himself passes away. First time writer/director Xue Xiaolu based the film on her experiences over the last 14 years as a volunteer with Beijing Stars and

    The twelve episode anime series SAMURAI GIRLS will be released on DVD next month in the United Kingdom. Image courtesy of The Associates. © 2010 Akira Suzuki, Ni?, Hobby Japan/ Hyakka-Ryoran Partners

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Disc Streets January 30th Official Site: hyakka-ryoran.tv (Japan) Source: The Associates press release The complete twelve episode anime series SAMURAI GIRLS (???? ????????, Hyakka Ryoran Samurai Girls, 2010) will be released on DVD (Region 2, PAL) in the United Kingdom by Manga Entertainment on January 30, 2012. Based on the popular Hobby Japan light novel series of the same name— written by Akira Suzuki and illustrated by Ni?— SAMURAI GIRLS was produced by the animation studio Arms Corporation (QUEEN`S BLADE, ELFEN LIED, HIMAWARI!) and directed by Kobun. The series aired in Japan on TV Kanagawa and Chiba TV from October 3rd to December 19th, 2010. The story of SAMURAI GIRLS takes place in Japan in the early 21st century, in an alternate reality where the Tokugawa Shogunate has remained in power. In this reality, student councils are tasked with oppressing schools. Yagyuu Muneakira

    A disturbed 14 year old boy named Yuichi Sumida (Shota Sometani) is loved by his equally damaged classmate Keiko Chazawa (Fumi Nikaido) in director Sion Sono`s HIMIZU. © 2012 Himizu Film Partners

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    UK Theatrical Release Coming in April 2012 Source: Third Window Films Official Movie Site: himizu.gaga.ne.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Adam Torel Third Window Films are pleased to announce the acquisition of Sion Sono`s latest work HIMIZU (???, 2012). Sion Sono`s LOVE EXPOSURE and COLD FISH have both been previously released by Third Window Films, and they are proud to continue promoting the works of one of the most talented directors in contemporary Japanese cinema. HIMIZU had its world premiere at the 2011 Venice Film Festival where it played in competition and won the Marcello Mastrioanni award for Best Young Actor and Best Young Actress. Based on the famous manga of the same name by Minoru Furuya (Ping-Pong Club), the film tells the story of a teenager who aspires to be “ordinary” and “normal” in this world of chaos. But after an incident that

    The Decepticon Starscream schemes in the CGI animated series TRANSFORMERS PRIME, coming to DVD and Blu-ray in March 2012. Photo courtesy of Shout! Factory. © 2011 Hasbro, Inc.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    4-Disc Blu-ray Collection Packed With 96-Page IDW Graphic Novel Streets March 6, 2012 Source: Shout! Factory press release Special Thanks to Tom Chen Prepare to experience the world of TRANSFORMERS PRIME like never before with perfect picture visuals and the purest digital sound available when the entire first season of the award-winning CGI animated series TRANSFORMERS PRIME arrives in stores everywhere in North America on March 6, 2012 in a deluxe 4-DVD set and a Limited Edition 4-Disc Blu-ray collection from Shout! Factory, in collaboration with Hasbro Studios. Both the DVD and Blu-ray collections of TRANSFORMERS PRIME: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON boast all 26 action-packed episodes (including the 5-part miniseries DARKNESS RISING) and special bonus content. For a limited time only, TRANSFORMERS PRIME: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON Limited Edition 4-Disc Blu-ray contains a 96-page IDW graphic novel based on this hit series. Fans

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release Special Thanks to Scott Lonski FUNimation Entertainment has acquired the U.S. home video rights to the Hong Kong live action feature GIRL$ (??, Nam Nam, 2010). Directed by Kenneth Bi (RICE RHAPSODY), GIRL$ follows four young women— Icy (Michelle Wai), Ronnie (Seli Xian), Gucci (Minyi Wang) and Lin (Una Lin)— and their experiences in the world of “compensated dating”, where the girls are paid to date and not necessarily have sex. Of course, sex is an inevitable byproduct of the business, and the girls are subject to the same dangers: diseases, perverted clients, and even a killer who’s out there murdering and dismembering the working girls. Nonetheless, the girls forge on because they need to pay the bills and make a living. FUNimation Entertainment will release the DVD in fall 2012. About FUNimation Entertainment FUNimation Entertainment is

    Packaging for the DVD and Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack of Sushi Typhoon`s YAKUZA WEAPON. Photo courtesy of Well Go USA. © 2010 Ken Ishikawa/ Dynamic Planning, Yakuza Weapon Film Partners

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    The Team Behind VERSUS Return with Another Blood-Soaked Gore Fest from Sushi Typhoon Source: Well Go USA, MPRM Communications Official Site: sushi-typhoon.com/films/yakuza-weapon Special Thanks to Leif Helland and Marc Walkow From the director of MUTANT GIRLS SQUAD (Tak Sakaguchi), and MEATBALL MACHINE (Yûdai Yamaguchi) comes the “bloody awesome” YAKUZA WEAPON (????, Gokudo Heiki, 2011), debuting on Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack and DVD February 7th from Well Go USA Entertainment. Another warped film from the prolific Japanese production company Sushi Typhoon, YAKUZA WEAPON is based on the cult manga by Ken Ishikawa and stars stuntman-turned-director Tak Sakaguchi as a one-man, butt-kicking army out to avenge the death of his father with built-in firepower. The extensive bonus features include the behind-the-scenes featurette “The Making of YAKUZA WEAPON,” a discussion with Director Tak Sakaguchi and the spinoff short film TAKUZO WEAPON. YAKUZA WEAPON will be

    Ring in the new year with some Hong Kong mutant mayhem! Photo courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. © 2010

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Hong Kong Sci-Fi Action Flick Arrives December 27th Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release Official Movie Site: funimation.com/city-under-siege (US) Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee On December 27th, the Hong Kong science fiction action movie CITY UNDER SIEGE (????, Chun Sing Gai Bei, 2010) will be released in a 2-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack by FUNimation Entertainment. The film follows a group of circus performers who go on a rampage after accidental exposure to chemical gas left by the Japanese army in WWII grants them superhuman abilities. Innocent citizens flee mutant marauders in this electrifying tale from famed director – and frequent Jackie Chan collaborator – Benny Chan (NEW POLICE STORY, FIST OF FURY, HEROIC DUO) Featuring a star-studded cast including Aaron Kwok (seven-time Hong Kong Film Awards nominee), Shu Qi (Hong Kong Film Award winner), Collin Chou (THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM, THE MATRIX

    TRANSFORMERS: THE JAPANESE COLLECTION is now available for pre-order from ShoutFactoryStore.com. Photo courtesy of Shout! Factory. © 2011 Hasbro, Inc.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    HEADMASTERS, SUPER-GOD MASTERFORCE and VICTORY in 13-DVD Box Set, only from ShoutFactoryStore.com Source: Shout! Factory press release Special Thanks to Tom Chen and Scott Neumyer Early happy New Year 2012! Fans and collectors can finally bring home TRANSFORMERS: THE JAPANESE COLLECTION DVD box set from Shout! Factory, in collaboration with Hasbro. This is the rare Japanese trilogy that followed the popular “Generation 1” animated series. Available for the first time in North America, this 13-DVD box set is fully loaded with over 42 hours of entertainment, including all episodes that originally aired from the three Japanese series — HEADMASTERS, SUPER-GOD MASTERFORCE and VICTORY — each with their original Japanese audio tracks, English subtitles, and an art gallery. TRANSFORMERS: THE JAPANESE COLLECTION DVD box set is finally available exclusively at Shout! Factory’s official online store and shipping to customers beginning January 2, 2012. The set can be

    An armored van heist turns deadly in the Kong Kong action film TRIPLE TAP. Photo courtesy of Well Go USA. © 2010 Emperor Classic Films, Ltd.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Well Go USA, MPRM Communications Official Site: wellgousa.com/detail-tripletap (US) Special Thanks to Liza Nedelman and Leif Helland A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Our thanks to everyone who entered Well Go USA and SciFi Japan`s contest for a free DVD of TRIPLE TAP. The randomly chosen winners are: David Bullard Jason Fanesi Patrick Beagan Congratulations to the winners! The prizes will be shipped soon by Well Go USA so keep an eye on your mailboxes. Two-time Best Director Hong Kong Film Award winner Derek Yee’s (ONE NIGHT IN MONGKOK, SHINJUKU INCIDENT) latest action-packed thriller, TRIPLE TAP (????, Qiang Wang Zhi Wang, 2010) is now available in a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack for $29.98 SRP and on DVD for $24.98 SRP. Starring Louis Koo (TRIAD ELECTION, FLASH POINT), Daniel Wu (SHINJUKU INCIDENT) and Chapman To (INFERNAL AFFAIRS), TRIPLE TAP comes packed with explosive

    DVD and Blu-ray cover art for the UK release of TROLL HUNTER. Photos courtesy of The Associates. © 2010 Filmkameratene AS

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: The Associates press release Official Site: trollhunterfilm.com One of the biggest hits with audiences at this year’s Film4 Frightfest and a major critical success during its subsequent UK theatrical release in September 2011, which saw it earning Four Star reviews in Empire (“spectacular fun”), Total Film (“a true one off... it will quite simply blow you away”) and Time Out (“shot through with an unexpected, often unsettling, humour”), the horror-comedy TROLL HUNTER (Trolljegeren, 2010) bursts its way on to DVD and Blu-ray on 9th January 2012. The debut feature from Norwegian director Andre Ovredal, this “original and highly assured fusion of B-movie lore and fairytale terror” (The Hollywood Reporter) combines the vision of WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE with the faux-documentary, found-footage stylings of CLOVERFIELD, REC and THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT to produce an “enormously entertaining” (Variety) and suspense-filled creature feature that

    Natsu and his (strangely under-dressed) allies are back in the FAIRY TAIL: PART 2 Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack, streeting December 27th. Photo courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. © 2009 Fairy Tail Guild Production Committee: Hiro Mashima/ Kodansha/ TV Tokyo

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release Official Site: tv-tokyo.co.jp/fairytail (Japan), funimation.com/fairy-tail (US) Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee FUNimation Entertainment will release the Blu-ray/DVD Combo set of the action/adventure anime FAIRY TAIL: PART 2 (????????, Fearii Teiru, 2009) on December 27th. Based on the hit manga by Hiro Mashima (each new manga volume published since 2007 has debuted in the Top 5), the long running series is co-produced by A-1 Pictures and Satelight, and directed by Shinji Ishihira. The second Blu-ray/DVD Combo set contains episodes 13-24. Across the Fiore kingdom, wizards join guilds and make their pay by filling magical needs - but one guild has a reputation as the roughest, rowdiest, most dangerous of all: Fairy Tail! In the midst of a mission to break the curse over Galuna Island, Natsu and the gang face a band of deranged mages trying

    The Criterion Collection`s DVD and Blu-ray cover art for THREE OUTLAW SAMURAI. Photos courtesy of The Criterion Collection. © 1964 Shochiku Co., Ltd.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Hideo Gosha`s Classic Chambara Film Streets in February Source: The Criterion Collection, Image Entertainment Official Site: criterion.com/three-outlaw-samurai Special Thanks to Jonathan Saba On February 14th, 2012, THREE OUTLAW SAMURAI (????, Sanbiki no Samurai, 1964) will be released in digitally restored DVD and Blu-ray editions by The Criterion Collection. This first film by the legendary Hideo Gosha (SWORD OF THE BEAST) is among the most canonized chambara (sword-fighting) films. An origin-story offshoot of a Japanese television series phenomenon of the same name, THREE OUTLAW SAMURAI is a classic in its own right. In it, a wandering, seen-it-all ronin (Tetsuro Tamba) becomes entangled in the dangerous business of two other samurai (Isamu Nagato and Mikijiro Hira), hired to execute a band of peasants who have kidnapped the daughter of a corrupt magistrate. With remarkable storytelling economy and thrilling action scenes, this is an expertly mounted

    Yoshino Ishibashi (Hikari Mitsushima, right) tries to win the affections of the rich but self-centered Keigo Masuo (Masaki Okada). Photo courtesy of Third Window Films. © 2010 Toho Co., Ltd., Amuse Inc.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Third Window Films Official Movie Site: thirdwindowfilms.com/villain (UK) Special Thanks to Adam Torel Lee sang-il`s highly acclaimed adaptation of the award-winning novel by Shuichi Yoshida, VILLAIN (??, Akunin) comes out on DVD in the United Kingdom this Monday, December 5th from distributor Third Window Films. A North American release has not been announced. Nominated for 15 Japanese Academy Awards (winner of 5), winner of the Best Actress Prize at the Montreal Film Festival and picked as the `Best Japanese Film of 2010` by the Kinema Junpo organization, VILLAIN is one of the most highly rated and gripping Japanese films of the year. Yuichi Shimizu (Satoshi Tsumabuki) is a construction worker who has lived his entire life in a dreary fishing village. With no girlfriend or friends, he spends his days working and looking after his grandparents, with no enjoyment in life other

    Combo Pack art for HEAVEN`S LOST PROPERTY. Photo courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. © 2009

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Complete Series One Streets December 20th Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release Official Site: kadokawa-anime.jp/soraoto (Japan), funimation.com/heavens-lost-property (US) Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee On December 20th, the complete anime series HEAVEN`S LOST PROPERTY (????????, Sora no Otoshimono, 2009) will be released in a 5-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack by FUNimation Entertainment. Based on the manga series of the same name by Suu Minazuki, the anime was produced by Anime International Company (AIC), directed by Hisashi Saito (INUYASHA, MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM SEED) and features the talents of art director Hiromasa Ogura (FLCL, APPLESEED and GHOST IN THE SHELL). Tomoki`s life was normal until a wish-granting angelic android named Ikaros fell from the sky and started calling him master! Of course, thanks to his raging teenage hormones, most of Tomoki`s wishes have something to do with panties. And that makes things pretty complicated, because one simple wish

    Promotional art for the anime masterpiece GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES. © 1988 Nosaka Akiyuki/Shinchosha Co.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Special Thanks to David Williams Sentai Filmworks proudly announces the company’s acquisition of distribution rights for the critically acclaimed animation masterpiece GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES (?????, Hotaru no Haka, 1988). Based on the semi-autobiographical retellings of survivor Nosaka Akiyuki and directed by Iaso Takahata (co-founder, with Hayao Miyazaki, of Japan’s legendary Studio Ghibli, the studio that performed the animation duties for the film,) GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES has been universally hailed as both an artistic and emotional tour de force, with famed critic Roger Ebert calling the feature “An emotional experience so powerful that it forces a rethinking of animation” and stating that “it belongs on any list of the greatest war films ever made.” Sentai Filmworks is extraordinarily honored to have been given the privilege of handling the digitally restored version of one of the art of animation’s true crowning

    Page 95 of 118

    SciFi Japan
    Copyright © 2025 | SCIFI JAPAN
    © 2025 Your Company. All Rights Reserved. Designed By JoomShaper