SciFi Japan

    TV Tokyo has bought a stake in Crunchyroll for $750,000. © 2010 Crunchyroll, Inc., and TV Tokyo Corporation

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    Japan`s Leading Anime Broadcaster and World`s Leading Asian Media Lifestyle Brand Expand Partnership Source: BAM! Marketing, Publicity & Promotions press release Official Site: Crunchyroll Special Thanks to Chase Wang Crunchyroll, Inc., and TV Tokyo Corporation have announced the expansion of their industry-defining content alliance and partnership with the February 2010 conclusion of a $750,000 strategic investment by TV Tokyo into Crunchyroll. TV Tokyo will continue to provide Crunchyroll with content licenses for world-class Japanese entertainment, including hits like NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, TEGAMI BACHI: LETTER BEE, and many others, and Crunchyroll will continue to offer premium access to TV Tokyo content under its subscription plan one hour after its broadcast on TV Tokyo, and free access to TV TOKYO content one week after its broadcast on TV Tokyo. In addition, both TV Tokyo and Crunchyroll will continue to explore new business areas and work on mutually beneficial ways

    Food and romance come together in Ristorante Paradiso. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2006 Natsume Ono

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    New VIZ Signature Release Comes from the Talented Creator of House of Five Leaves and not simple Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press release Official Site: VizSignature.com Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen On March 16th, VIZ Media, LLC released the manga - Natsume Ono’s Ristorante Paradiso. The story, a romance among the staff at a bistro in Rome, is offered in a single volume and will be published under the VIZ Signature imprint. Ristorante Paradiso is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and will carry an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN. At the age of 21, Nicoletta travels to Rome to find her mother, Olga, who abandoned her long ago. Nicoletta finds her at Casetta dell`Orso, a charming little restaurant owned by Olga`s husband. The staff of bespectacled gentlemen welcomes Nicoletta warmly, but Olga`s reception is not so pleasant. Olga has never told

    The NARUTO SHIPPUDEN CCG SHONEN JUMP Championship Tournaments begin next month. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2002 Masashi Kishimoto /2007 Shippuden

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    SJ Championship Tournaments Offer Exciting Experiences For New And Existing Players Beginning April 2010 Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Special Thanks to Erik Jansen Bandai America Inc. and VIZ Media, LLC are pleased to announce the new NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Collectible Card Game (CCG) SHONEN JUMP Championship Tournaments in North America. There will be multiple tournaments held throughout the United States at select hobby retailers culminating in the National Championships to be held at the Gen Con Indy taking place in Indiana on August 7th and 8th. NARUTO SHIPPUDEN CCG, Bandai America’s top selling collectible card game, is a game of strategy where players construct card decks of Ninja that use their powerful Jutsu to complete Missions and protect their villages. The NARUTO SHIPPUDEN CCG, currently has hundreds of tournaments held each week at local hobby retailers throughout the United States. SHONEN JUMP Championship Tournaments will

    Next month Kaiyodo launches a line of highly detailed and articulated figures based on popular science fiction and fantasy characters. Photos courtesy of Anime Jungle. Alien © Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. Daimajin © 1966 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc. © 2010 Kaiyodo Co., Ltd.

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    The Popular Toy Line is Expanded to Include Kaiju and Special Effects Movie Characters Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis Translations: Jim Ballard Source: Anime Jungle Official Site: kaiyodo.co.jp/revoltech Special Thanks to Tetsu Shiota Fans and collectors are probably familiar with the brand Revoltech, which is owned by the Kaiyodo Company of Japan. It is a series of super-articulated figures in the 4-6 inch scale and based on various popular characters from manga, video games, television, film, and anime. The name itself reportedly means “Revolver Technology” as the revolver joint is what gives the figures their super-articulation. Of interest to kaiju fans is the upcoming line, SCI-FI REVOLTECH, which will showcase popular characters from both east and west. The first figures up for release on April 1st are the Xenomorph from Ridley Scott’s ALIEN and the vengeful god DAIMAJIN from the Daiei movie series of the 1960s, followed on

    For nearly 30 years, Bandai has been producing and amazing variety of vinyl figures based on characters from the Godzilla, Toho, and Gamera films. Photos courtesy of Mike Russo, Bob Johnson, and John DeSentis. © Toho Co., Ltd. © Bandai Co., Ltd.

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    An Overview and Price Guide for the Bandai Godzilla Toy Market Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis Special Thanks Mike Russo, Jean Carbajal, Brandon Shields, Bob Johnson, Greg Cordaro, Andy Shields, and James Bond A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Welcome to the market overview and price guide to Bandai Godzilla collectibles. The Bandai Company for decades now has been the standard for producing toys based on popular Japanese characters; they are essentially the Mattel of Japan. As it pertains to this article, they began producing toys based on characters in the GODZILLA Series in 1983. Over the years since, both the output and quality of the company has steadily increased. The figures themselves are made of vinyl and have been primarily produced in two sizes, 6 inch and 8 inch scale, with the 8 inch scale being the most popular with collectors. There are also

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    Voltron Lands this Summer Source: Privateer Press press release Official Sites: monsterpocalypse.com, voltron.com Privateer Press has announced that the highly anticipated VOLTRON: DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE battle miniatures game (PIP 50030) for MONSTERPOCALYPSE will be released July 2010 with an MSRP of $49.99. The VOLTRON game will include everything two players need to stage epic battles between the forces of Voltron and the Galaxy Alliance and Lo-Tron of the fiendish Drule Empire. Part of the popular MONSTERPOCALYPSE line, VOLTRON: DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE will be completely compatible with all current MONSTERPOCALYPSE series. In celebration of the release, Privateer Press is offering the VOLTRON: DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE Launch Kit (PIP 50033, MSRP $399.92) to brick-and-mortar retailers. The kit includes eight copies of the VOLTRON: DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE battle miniatures game and two limited edition Mega Voltron figures for use in promoting the game’s release in

    Cover art for Biomega Vol. 1. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2004 Tsutomu Nihei/Shueisha Inc.

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    Source: MediaLab press release Official Site: VIZ Media Special Thanks to Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC has announced some of their exciting new manga set for release throughout the first half of 2010. The new releases will be published by VIZ Media under its best-known imprints including VIZ Kids, VIZ Signature, Shojo Beat, Shonen Sunday, Shonen Jump and Shonen Jump Advanced. February Biomega Vol. 1 by Tsutomu Nihei Available February 2nd Rated ‘M’ for Mature Audiences VIZ Signature Imprint Zoichi Kanoe plunges into the depths of 9JO, a sprawling island city in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, in search of Eon Green, a girl with the power to transmute the N5S virus. The deadly contagion is spreading across the world and turns humans into disfigured zombie-like "drones.” But he`s not the only one looking for her. Agents of the Public Health Service`s Compulsory Execution

    An early look at the Unit Booster and Monster Booster game packs for April`s MONSTERPOCALYPSE SERIES 5: BIG IN JAPAN. Photos courtesy of Privateer Press. © 2010 Privateer Press, Inc.

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    Source: Privateer Press press release Official Site: monsterpocalypse.com Privateer Press of Bellevue, WA has announced that the next expansion for its collectible miniatures game MONSTERPOCALYPSE will be released in April 2010. The expansion, SERIES 5: BIG IN JAPAN, takes the monsters and minions of MONSTERPOCALYPSE to the heart of Japan with new iconic buildings from the Tokyo skyline. BIG IN JAPAN will be available in Monster Boosters and Unit Boosters. To celebrate the release of BIG IN JAPAN, Privateer Press is offering two special promotions to retailers and players. Players can get a limited edition Mega Mechathugrosh figure free from participating retailers by ordering the BIG IN JAPAN Mega Kit (PIP 50915). The kit includes one case of BIG IN JAPAN Boosters, one case of BIG IN JAPAN Unit Boosters, and one Mega Mechathugrosh figure. The second promotion is available to retailers who order the BIG

    The novel Death Note: L, change the WorLd features cover art by original manga artist Takeshi Obata. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2007 M/ L Plot Produce

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    L has 23 Days to Live, and 22 Days to Save the World in New Novel Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: Deathnote.viz.com Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC expands the thrilling psychological suspense of DEATH NOTE with the release of Death Note: L, change the WorLd, a new novel featuring the master detective from the hit animated, film and manga series. Death Note: L, change the WorLd is available now from Shonen Jump Fiction and carries an MSRP of $17.99 U.S. / $24.00 CAN. In an alternative continuity in the DEATH NOTE setting, ace detective L`s name has been placed in a Death Note. He has twenty-three days to bring a terrorist group to justice, or they will use a deadly new virus to change the world...by killing off most of humanity. “Death Note: L, change the WorLd

    Cover art for Boys Over Flowers: Jewelry Box. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 1992 Yoko Kamio/Shueisha, Inc.

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    Boys Over Flowers: Jewelry Box Concludes Acclaimed Shojo Manga Series with Two Short Stories Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen Fans of shojo (girls) manga can look forward to VIZ Media`s release of Boys Over Flowers: Jewelry Box on October 13th. The new volume is rated ‘T’ for Teens and will carry a MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. Boys Over Flowers: Jewelry Box is a collection of two new short stories by Yoko Kamio, the creator of the acclaimed Boys Over Flowers (Hana Yori Dango) series. The new epilogue takes place one year after the end of the original Boys Over Flowers story, which concluded with Volume 36. It also contains a section with some of the important events in the series that show the characters maturing, plus a special bonus strip. “Yoko Kamio, one of

    Cover art for the first POKÉMON Poster Collection. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. ©2009 Pokémon. ©1997-2009 Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK, TV Tokyo, Shopro, JR Kikaku

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    Source: VIZ Media press release Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC will delight young as well as adult fans with the release of the company’s first POKÉMON Poster Collection today! The POKÉMON “posterzine” is rated ‘A’ for All Ages and carries an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $9.99 CAN. Packed with 11 full color fold-out posters, this large (16” x 22”) edition is a must-have for any fan of Pikachu and his friends. A variety of favorite characters from the POKÉMON DIAMOND AND PEARL animation seasons, from Pikachu and Piplup to Chimchar and Turtwig, are all featured. “POKÉMON is a timeless favorite that continues to delight multiple generations of fans with its mix of adventure, unique and loveable characters, and a positive storyline,” says Gonzalo Ferreyra, Vice President Sales & Marketing, VIZ Media “Our POKÉMON Poster Collection will be available exclusively

    The Rotofugi Gallery in Chicago is hosting TOY KARMA 2, an exhibit of art inspired by Japanese toys. Alex Wald`s 'Tura Satana in Violent Planet' is © Alex Wald. 'Untitled (Zone Fighter with Bear and Bird)' is © Steve Seeley. Zone Fighter © Toho Co., Ltd.

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    Exhibit of Art Inspired by Japanese Toys at the Rotofugi Gallery Official Site: Toy Karma Special Thanks to Alex Wald TOY KARMA is an art exhibit featuring artists expressing their love for classic Japanese toys. But it’s so much more than that. As Mark Nagata, founder of Max Toy Company and curator of this exhibit explains on his blog, it’s the idea that if you’re honest in your dealings that one toy that you’ve always dreamed of getting will eventually come to you. For many serious toy collectors it’s a guideline, a mantra and yes, even a lifestyle. This exhibit pays homage to the mysterious force and power that toys have over us. TOY KARMA, the exhibit, is held every other year at Rotofugi Gallery, Chicago. The first TOY KARMA exhibit was held in September 2007. TOY KARMA 2 (aka TKII) will be

    Cover for VIZ`s Ponyo Picture Book, one of several new releases based on Hayao Miyazaki`s film PONYO. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2008 Nibariki - GNDHDDT

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    New VIZ Media Titles Include 4-Volume Official Film Comic, Picture Book And Art Book Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Movie Site: disneypictures/ponyo Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC will publish a series of new releases based on PONYO, the new animated film from Studio Ghibli and Academy Award-winning director and world-renowned Japanese animation legend Hayao Miyazaki. To support the release, VIZ Media will offer the official 4-volume full-color Ponyo Film Comic, a Ponyo Picture Book, and The Art of Ponyo, which presents a comprehensive collection of original art, sketches, character designs and storyboards from the film. Walt Disney Studios will release PONYO throughout North America on August 14, 2009. PONYO is a wondrously imaginative retelling of the timeless Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Little Mermaid,” and offers the adventures of little fish-girl whose father happens to be a

    Cover for VIZ`s English release of the Hayao Miyazaki collection Starting Point: 1979-1996. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 1996 Nibariki

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    Comprehensive Edition Debuts as Famed Director`s Latest Animated Film PONYO Hits North American Theatres this Summer Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC has announced the publication of the first of a new collection of essays, interviews, memoirs and manga from legendary animation director, Hayao Miyazaki, titled Starting Point: 1979-1996. The book has an estimated street date of August 4th and will carry an MSRP of $29.99 US and $34.99 Canada. At over 450 pages, Starting Point: 1979-1996 is a comprehensive and insightful look at the first-half of Miyazaki’s legendary career, during which he rose from humble beginnings to create some of the most seminal animated features ever made, including NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND, CASTLE IN THE SKY, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, KIKI`S DELIVERY SERVICE, and PORCO ROSSO, as well as his launch of

    Godzilla is ready for battle with the new Charactics x Jungle Japan Godzilla Tank Soft Vinyl Figure. Photo courtesy of Jungle Special Collectors Shop. © 1969, 2009 Toho Co., Ltd.

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    Source: Jungle Special Collectors Shop Special Thanks to Tetsu Shiota Our goods friends (and sponsor) Jungle Special Collectors Shop have asked SciFi Japan to spread the word about a new exclusive Godzilla vinyl figure. The Japanese toy company Charactics has been releasing licensed figures of Toho movie monsters, including a series featuring characters like Mechagodzilla driving tanks. Charactics has now partnered with Jungle Japan on an extremely limited edition Godzilla Tank figure. The toy stands about 6 inches tall and is molded in soft vinyl. Only 30 of the Godzilla Tank Charactics x Jungle Japan Exclusive Soft Vinyl Figures are being produced, and they are available exclusively through Jungle. 10 of the pieces will be sold at the Jungle store in Los Angeles and the Jungle booth at this year`s Comic Con International (July 23-26 in San Diego). The LA store is taking preorders now until July

    Cover art for the first manga volume of Detroit Metal City. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © Kiminori Wakasugi © 2006 / HAKUSENSHA, Inc.

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    Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen Johannes Krauser II Is The Outrageous Demonic Front Man Of The Heaviest Death Metal Band In Japan But Off Stage He’s A Pop Music-Listening Wimp – Can He Ever Reconcile His Two Personas? VIZ Media, LLC will delight rock and roll and manga fans nationwide with the debut of Detroit Metal City on June 9th. The new manga series is rated ‘M’ for Mature Audiences and carries an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $15.00 CAN. The first print run of volume one also contains limited edition tattoos. Prepare to have your mortal soul devoured by the demonic Johannes Krauser II, front man for Detroit Metal City, the most outrageous death metal band on the Japanese indie rock scene! Soichi Negishi dreamed of moving to Tokyo and starting a bubblegum pop band, but

    A look at homepage artwork for the new IKKI website. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media.

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    Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: sigikki.com Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen VIZ Media invites SciFi Japan readers to visit sigikki.com and test out the beta launch of a brand new collaboration to bring comics the likes of which American audiences have never seen to these shores. IKKI is a monthly magazine published in Japan that has established itself as the home of some of the most innovative, bold, and compelling series in the world of contemporary manga. Since its launch in 2003 IKKI has built a catalog of titles notable for its diversity. From action to comedy to drama, from slice-of-life stories to surrealist fantasies, the one common thing these works share is an uncommon emphasis on creative quality and on pushing the boundaries of the norm. In partnership with VIZ Media and its “VIZ Signature” line of graphic novels,

    Cover art for the first manga volume of Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © Motoro MASE/Shogakukan Inc.

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    New Release Addresses Questions of Justice, Society, and the Appreciation of Life Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen “Depending on how a person lives their last day, the ikigami can be a death sentence, or an invitation to really live.” VIZ Media, LLC sends a chill down the spines of readers this month with the North American debut of Motoro Mase’s harrowing and suspenseful manga series – Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit – available now! Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit is rated ‘M’ for Mature Audiences and carries an MSRP of $12.99 US / $15.00 CAN. In a futuristic dystopian Japan there is new slant on crime deterrence with a sinister policy with an ironic twist. Each day a randomly-selected person is put to death to remind the population of the very value of life. Those who are condemned to

    Guilala, the X from Outer Space, stars on the cover of Pranke issue #34. © 2009 Pranke

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    Source: Kongula`s Pranke Editorial Team Official Site: Pranke The German monster magazine Pranke: Das Filmmagazin für Monsterfreaks is back with another fun-filled issue featuring the space kaiju Guilala. The Japanese beast is the focus of two articles; the first a retrospective (written by GUALAGON co-creator Ralf Lorenz) of the films THE X FROM OUTER SPACE and MONSTER X STRIKES BACK/ ATTACK THE G8 SUMMIT!, and the second an interview with recent Guilala suit actor Hariken Ryu conducted by indie filmmaker Jörg Buttgereit. Also on tap are a look at the 1931 Spanish version of DRACULA, sword and sorcery adventures with an emphasis on CONAN creator Robert E Howard, a review of GODZILLA KING OF THE MONSTERS, fantastic cinema from Bollywood, the making of the no budget fan film TROMAGGOT, Univeral Studios` “Classic Sci Fi Ultimate Collection” DVD set, a review of the GODZILLA UNLEASHED video game,

    Cover for VIZ`s English release of the Japanese anthology novel The Stationmaster. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2000 Jiro Asada

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    Author Jiro Asada’s Collection Of 8 Short Stories Explores Themes Of Loss, Love And Redemption Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen The publishing, animation and licensing company VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media) continues to introduce English-language readers to some of the best authors of contemporary Japanese fiction with the North American release of The Stationmaster, a collection of eight short stories by award-winning author Jiro Asada. The Stationmaster is available now with a SRP of $22.99 U.S. / $26.99 CAN. In the book’s eponymous opening story, railway man Otomatsu waits each day, as he has for most of his life, at the end of the line to greet the incoming trains. But where the cars once brimmed with passengers, they now carry only one or two or sometimes none at all. Facing the imminent closure of his station,

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