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40th anniversary anthology HELLO KITTY, HELLO 40 is available now

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© 1976, 2014 SANRIO CO. LTD. Used under license.
CELEBRATE THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF POP ICON HELLO KITTY® WITH
HELLO KITTY, HELLO 40
NEW FROM VIZ MEDIA’S PERFECT SQUARE

A Vanguard Of Comic Artists, Muralists, Toy Creators And Authors
Pay Homage To The Global Icon In A Special Release; Also Catch
Perfect Square At The First-Ever Hello Kitty Con In Los Angeles

VIZ Media joins the global celebration to mark the 40th Anniversary of global pop icon Hello Kitty® with the release of HELLO KITTY, HELLO 40, available now.

The hardcover full-color anthology features a notable line-up of some of Hello Kitty’s biggest fans paying tribute in the best way they know how: through their stories and art. HELLO KITTY, HELLO 40 is published under VIZ Media’s Perfect Square imprint, and carries an MSRP of $29.99 U.S. / $34.99 CAN.

A digital version of HELLO KITTY, HELLO 40 is also available for $14.99 U.S. / CAN from the Perfect Square App, which has titles available for the Apple iPad® and iPad® Mini. The Perfect Square App is available from the iTunes store. Fans also will be able to find digital versions for the NOOK, Kindle Fire, and Kobo eReaders, as well as in the iBooks and GooglePlay Stores.

VIZ Media will also take part in the very first Hello Kitty convention. Hello Kitty Con 2014 will take place in Los Angeles October 30th – November 2nd at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) in Downtown LA's Little Tokyo district. VIZ Media's Perfect Square booth will offer a convention exclusive edition of HELLO KITTY, HELLO 40 along with a variety of other HELLO KITTY original graphic novel titles for purchase. Additional information on Hello Kitty Con is available at: www.sanrio.com/hellokittycon.

In 1974, Hello Kitty stepped on the scene, and she's had the world wrapped around her red bow ever since. In Perfect Square's Hello Kitty, Hello 40, an array of acclaimed comic artists, muralists and toy creators pay tribute to Hello Kitty in story and art. Contributors include the award-winning creators of the Tiny Titans series, Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani; Brian Smith, co-creator of the New York Times bestselling series Stuff of Legend; Gene Luen Yang, award-winning author of American Born Chinese and Boxers and Saints, and Uglydoll co-creator David Horvath. Everyone has a tale to tell about the cute little girl who speaks from her heart. The hardcover edition will also include a special introduction by Matt and Jennifer L. Holm, award-winning creators of the Babymouse series.

“Hello Kitty has inspired and influenced artists the world over, and we've invited some of them to pay tribute and share their Hello Kitty memories," says Traci Todd, Perfect Square’s Senior Editor. “This anthology of wordless comics is truly for Hello Kitty fans of all ages. You'll recognize many of the artists from our main Hello Kitty series, and others from the worlds of comics, pop culture and children's literature. It's our small gift to Hello Kitty for 40 years of big smiles!"

Perfect Square publishes an acclaimed collection of HELLO KITTY original graphic novels including, HELLO KITTY: WORK OF ART, HELLO KITTY: JUST IMAGINE, HELLO KITTY: HERE WE GO!, HELLO KITTY: DELICIOUS!, and HELLO KITTY: SURPRISE! These books will be featured as part of the first ever Hello Kitty Reading Day on October 25th. Hello Kitty Reading Day is a multi-publisher event with programming at bookstores and libraries across the country. See http://www.sanrio.com/hellokittyreading for more information. Sanrio® is the global company behind classic iconic characters Hello Kitty®, Little Twin Stars®, My Melody®, and many more.

Sanrio® was founded in the 1960's in Japan by Shintaro Tsuji, whose simple dream of bringing smiles to people's faces grew into the brand's "small gift, big smile" philosophy. This philosophy has served as the inspiration for the broad spectrum of products bearing the likeness of endearing characters that have helped to skyrocket the brand into a $8 billion-a-year business.

VIZ Media’s Perfect Square imprint focuses on delivering original pop culture books with an emphasis on strong storytelling, eye-popping graphics, empowering themes, and a dash of irreverence, that captures the imagination of a whole new generation.

Additional information on HELLO KITTY and other titles published by Perfect Square is available at www.PerfectSquare.com.

For more information on manga titles from VIZ Media, visit www.VIZ.com.

PRINCESS MONONOKE: THE FIRST STORY is available now from VIZ

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"MONONOKE HIME" (1980 nen Shoki Settei Ban)
By Hayao Miyazaki
© 1993 Nibariki
All rights reserved. 
VIZ MEDIA’S STUDIO GHIBLI LIBRARY IMPRINT RELEASES
HAYAO MIYAZAKI’S PRINCESS MONONOKE: THE FIRST STORY

Oversized Hardcover Storybook Contains Miyazaki’s
Watercolor Illustrations And The Original Fable That
Inspired The Groundbreaking Animated Feature Film

VIZ Media delivers a treat to readers and fans of famed director and pioneering creative visionary, Hayao Miyazaki, with the release of PRINCESS MONOKOKE: THE FIRST STORY, available now.

The oversized (11¾ x 11¾ inch) hardcover release is published under the Studio Ghibli Library imprint and carries an MSRP of $34.99 U.S. / $39.99 CAN. The beautifully illustrated storybook features Hayao Miyazaki’s original watercolor artwork, which complements his thoughtfully written fable about man’s need to maintain ecological balance with nature that became the origin for the 1997 feature film. An afterward written by Miyazaki lends further context and insights to the Mononoke story and its deep and lasting impact upon the director.

This is the original Princess Mononoke story, created by Hayao Miyazaki in 1980 while he was first conceptualizing the landmark animated film that would be released to universal acclaim seventeen years later. As an initial version of the tale, it offers a new and significantly different perspective from the final version presented in the film. After a long, exhausting war, a samurai lost in a forest encounters a giant wildcat – a mononoke. The beast saves his life, but at the price of his daughter's hand in marriage...

“Princess Mononoke was a historic release for Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli and propelled the animation auteur to an entirely new level of international fame,” says Masumi Washington, Senior Editorial Director. “But few know of THE FIRST STORY, the imaginative fable that was the genesis for his groundbreaking film. This premium storybook fittingly presents it for the very first time in English and prominently displays his expressive watercolor characters and landscapes. We look forward to readers discovering Princess Mononoke in a whole new way in this unique release!”

VIZ Media also invites fans to also explore the imaginatively conceived world of Princess Mononoke in THE ART OF PRINCESS MONOKOKE (MSRP: $34.99 U.S. / $39.99 CAN). The substantial hardcover edition from the Studio Ghibli Library imprint features an all new translation and contains a trove of insightful interviews, original concept sketches, character art and finished animation cels, and a look at the computer graphics technology used in the film’s production.

The Studio Ghibli Library imprint is exclusively devoted to the work of iconic Japanese film director Hayao Miyazaki and his famed animation studio. The imprint has collected a substantial catalog of full-color art books, film comics, children’s picture books and other releases celebrating Studio Ghibli films such as Princess Mononoke, The Wind Rises, Howl’s Moving Castle, The Secret World of Arriety, Ponyo, Spirited Away, Kiki’s Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind, and Pocco Rosso.

Hayao Miyazaki is one of Japan's most beloved animation directors. In 2005 he was awarded the Venice International Film Festival's Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement, and his Studio Ghibli received the festival's Osella Award for overall achievement in 2004. Miyazaki's films include Spirited Away, winner of the 2002 Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature Film, as well as The Wind Rises (nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film in 2014), Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle, and Ponyo, all of which have received tremendous acclaim in the U.S.

Miyazaki's achievements also include the highly regarded manga series, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and a pair of memoirs, Starting Point: 1979-1996, a collection of essays, interviews, and remembrances chronicling his early career and the development of his theories of animation, along with Turning Point: 1997-2008, which details his rise to unprecedented international notoriety. All of these titles are published in English by VIZ Media.

For more information on VIZ Media’s Studio Ghibli imprint, or other published manga titles, visit www.VIZ.com.

POKÉMON SEASON 1: INDIGO LEAGUE – THE COMPLETE COLLECTION DVD SET coming October 28th from VIZ Media

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Add cap©2014 Pokémon. ©1997 Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK, TV Tokyo, ShoPro, JR Kikaku. TM, ® Nintendo.tion
VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF
POKÉMON SEASON 1: INDIGO LEAGUE –
THE COMPLETE COLLECTION DVD SET

Classic Animated Series Debuts In A Substantial New DVD Box
Set Containing More Than 27 Hours Of POKÉMON Fun

VIZ Media announces the release, for the first time ever, of the entire POKÉMON INDIGO LEAGUE animation in one comprehensive DVD set.

POKÉMON Season 1: INDIGO LEAGUE - THE COMPLETE COLLECTION contains all 78 episodes (more than 27 hours) of this legendary POKÉMON season on 9 DVDs and will be released on October 28th. POKÉMON Season 1: INDIGO LEAGUE - THE COMPLETE COLLECTION will carry an MSRP of $54.98 U.S. / $63.99 CAN.

Take a trip back to the very beginning, when the adventures were just getting started! In POKÉMON INDIGO LEAGUE, Ash Ketchum celebrates his tenth birthday and he's ready to do what many 10-year-olds in the Kanto region set out to do - become a Pokémon Trainer! Things don't go exactly the way he planned when he ends up with a Pikachu instead of a different partner Pokémon, and winning Gym Badges turns out to be much tougher than he thought. Luckily, he's got Gym Leaders Brock and Misty at his side, along with a bevy of new Pokémon friends, including Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander.

Pokémon is one of the largest entertainment franchises in the world, selling more than 260 million video games, shipping more than 21.5 billion Pokémon TCG cards, and featuring a library of more than 700 animation episodes and 16 full-length animated films.

VIZ Media offers a wide range of DVD Box Sets for several acclaimed POKÉMON animated series including various story arcs, POKÉMON BLACK & WHITE and POKÉMON feature films such as POKÉMON THE MOVIE: BLACK – VICTINI AND RESHIRAM, POKÉMON THE MOVIE: WHITE –VICTINI AND ZEKROM, POKÉMON THE MOVIE: GENESECT AND THE LEGEND AWAKENED and POKÉMON THE MOVIE: KYUREM VS. THE SWORD OF JUSTICE.

VIZ Media also publishes a wide array of POKÉMON manga (graphic novel) series titles under its Perfect Square imprint. Additional information on POKÉMON or other graphic novel titles published by Perfect Square is available at www.PerfectSquare.com.

For more information on anime and manga titles from VIZ Media, visit www.VIZ.com.

Taiwan's TOUCH OF THE LIGHT is coming to DVD & Digital on Nov 25th

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Well Go USA Entertainment
presents
Touch of the Light / Ni guang fei xiang
Directed by CHANG Jung-chi
Taiwan, 2012, 110 minutes
DVD SLP: $24.98

Based on an inspiring true story, the award-winning and crowd-pleasing musical drama Touch of the Light willdebut on DVD & Digital November 25th. The film is about blind pianist (HUANG Yu-siang, playing himself) who leaves his rural home to attend college in Taipei. There he befriends Jie (Sandrine Pinna), a young aspiring dancer, and encourages her to follow her dream.

A heart-warming tale based on HUANG Yu-siang's actual life, the first feature film by director CHANG Jung-chi (Partners in Crime) is a remake of his 37-minute short The End of the Tunnel (2008), which starred the same two leads. The critically-acclaimed film won Best New Director for Chang at the Golden Horse Awards, as well as being selected as Taiwan’s official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 85th Academy Awards®.

Synopsis:
A blind piano prodigy. A waitress who dreams of being a dancer. A story of passion, determination, and believing in yourself. Touch of the Light fictionalizes the amazing true story of HUANG Yu-Siang and the journey of discovery from his rural village to a prestigious university where he must find his own way among the other, sighted students. Jie (Sandrine Pinna) chases love and a career in the face of poverty and adversity. Their unlikely friendship provides inspiration and courage, resulting in a joyous final performance that will inspire the heart.

Korean action film KUNDO: AGE OF THE RAMPANT is now available

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 Well Go USA
presents
Kundo: Age of the Rampant / Kundo: min-ran-eui si-dae
Directed by Yun Jong-bin
Starring Ha Jung-woo, Kang Dong-won,
Lee Sung-min and Ma Dong-seok
South Korea, 2014, 138 minutes

Kundo: Age of the Rampant (also known simply as Kundo)debuts on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital today, Tuesday, October 21st from Well Go USA Entertainment. This review is based on a screening I went to this past September and on watching a Blu-ray screener.

Kundo: Age of the Rampant is another great action film from South Korea. It delivers not just exciting action, but also has a great story, fine acting, and a delightful sense of humor. It's a terrific period film set in the 1860s, near the end of the Joseon Dynasty. Commoners are beset by famine and plague as well as unrelenting exploitation by corrupt official and noblemen. The Chusal Clan, a large group of righteous bandits, have set up a base on Mt. Jiri,  From there they steal from the rich and powerful and give to the poor and weak. The story line clearly bears a strong resemblance to Robin Hood.

Dae-ho (Lee Sung-min)

The bandits are led by Dae-ho (Lee Sung-min). The other significant members are:
- a fearsome monk (somewhat analogous to Friar Tuck in the Robin Hood saga)
- Tae-gi - who is good at impersonating a nobleman
- Chan-bo -  a heavy-set and fierce fighter
- Ma-hyang - she is skilled fighting both unarmed and with a bow and arrows

Dolmuchi (Ha Jung-woo)

The protagonist of this tale, however, is Dolmuchi (Ha Jung-woo), a lowly butcher. After tragedy befall his mother and sister, he joins the clan, where he is renamed Dochi, meaning "inversion." After a lengthy period of training, he becomes the most feared fighter in the clan. He's particularly adept at wielding two short and broad swords, which he spins in his hands much like a cowboy twirling a pair of six-shooters.

Jo Yoon (Kang Dong-won)

The villain of the film is Jo Yoon (Kang Dong-won). His mother, a courtesan in a brothel, sold him as a child to his father Jo Won-suk, a corrupt former governor of Jeloa province. Won-suk's wife had produced only four girls, and he desperately wanted a male heir. Jo Yoon is a natural born martial artist and fanatically determined to be named family heir, despite the belated and unexpected birth of a son, Jo Su-in, his step-brother, to Won-suk and his wife.

Disc Stats:
 - Audio Options:
   - Korean 5.1 DTS HDMA
   - Korean 2.0 Stereo
Subtitle Options:
   - English
   - Off
Extras:
   - Kundo: Age of the Rampant trailer
   - Preview trailers for three other Well Go USA releases

Kundo: Age of the Rampant opened in theaters in the U.S. this past August 29th, and there was a free screening of it at the Korean Cultural Service's Korean Movie Night this past September 9th, which is where I first saw it. The film is set to open this year's London Korean Film Festival on November 6th. (Read about the LKFF here.)

Having seen it twice, I can attest to its repeat viewing value. If anything, I enjoyed it even more the second time I watched it, and I look forward to seeing it again. It's got great action and real heart. The combination of the Robin Hood-like theme regarding the Chusal Clan's acting on behalf of the poor and Dolmuchi's personal quest for revenge for what had befallen his mother and sister dovetail perfectly.

AsianCineFest Rating: 4 out of 4 stars; most highly recommended.

Free double header at this Tuesday's Korean Movie (Afternoon and) Night

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Korean Cultural Service New York
presents
Korean Movie Night 2014
Series Five: Blown Away by Korean Blockbusters!

















At the Tribeca Cinemas
54 Varick Street, on the corner of Canal, NYC
Near the A, C, E @ #1 Canal Street subway stops
Map
Admission: FREE!!!

Due to a technical hiccup at the October 14th screening of the Korean gambling action thriller  The Divine Move, it will be shown again this Tuesday, October 28th, at 4:00 PM. (The July 25, 2014 AsianCineFest review of The Divine Move can be found  here.)


Then, at 7:00 PM that same night, there will be the regularly planned screening of the hilarious comedy Miss Granny (The January 31, 2014 AsianCineFest review of Miss Granny is here).


So, depending on where you're coming from, get over, get down, or get up to the Tribeca Cinemas on Tuesday for a free double-dose of great Korean movie magic!

ALL YOU NEED IS KILL omnibus edition is coming on November 4th

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ALL YOU NEED IS KILL © 2014 by Hiroshi Sakurazaka, Ryosuke Takeuchi, yoshitoshi ABe, Takeshi Obata/SHUEISHA Inc. 
VIZ MEDIA PREMIERES OMNIBUS PRINT
EDITION OF ALL YOU NEED IS KILL MANGA

Sci-Fi Action Manga By Takeshi Obata, Creator Of DEATH NOTE,
Adapts The Award-Winning Japanese Novel That Inspired
The Summer Blockbuster Film Edge Of Tomorrow

VIZ Media announces the print launch of famed manga artist Takeshi Obata’s latest manga (graphic novel) masterpiece with the release of ALL YOU NEED IS KILL as an oversized omnibus edition on November 4th.

ALL YOU NEED IS KILL collects both volumes into this complete edition and features color inserts, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and will be available under the Shonen Jump Advanced imprint with a print MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN.

Digital editions for the pair of individual volumes are also available for $6.99 each across all platforms serviced by VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App, and are similarly available on the storefronts for the Kindle, iBooks, GooglePlay, Kobo, ComiXology, and Nook. The free VIZ Manga App continues to be the top application for reading digital manga and features a massive library of the most popular series in the world. With the dynamic platform, fans can explore and enjoy a massive catalog of classic manga series that spans more than 2,200 volumes across more than 200 different series.

Takeshi Obata’s ALL YOU NEED IS KILL originally premiered in VIZ Media’s WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP digital manga anthology earlier this year and is the stunning manga realization of the popular Japanese sci-fi novel, written by Hiroshi Sakurazaka. In this rousing action story, when the alien Mimics invade, Keiji Kiriya is just one of many recruits shoved into a suit of battle armor called a Jacket and sent out to kill. Keiji dies on the battlefield, only to be reborn each morning to fight and die again and again. On his 158th iteration, he gets a message from a mysterious ally – the female soldier known as the Full Metal Bitch. Is she the key to Keiji's escape or his final death?

The bestselling ALL YOU NEED IS KILL novel also inspired the live-action summer blockbuster – Edge of Tomorrow – which starred Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt and Bill Paxton.

The original novel also was the launch title in 2009 for Haikasoru, VIZ Media’s unique literary imprint dedicated to publishing the most compelling contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy for English-speaking audiences. VIZ Media also published a special movie tie-in version of the ALL YOU NEED IS KILL/EDGE OF TOMORROW novel over the summer to support the release of the live-action film.

“Coming just after Takeshi Obata’s first-ever U.S. appearance at the recent New York Comic Con, we are very excited to announce the print debut of his action-packed manga treatment of ALL YOU NEED IS KILL,” says Mike Montesa, Editor. “Hiroshi Sakurazaka’s award winning novel comes to life with tense and engrossing characters and plenty of visceral battle scenes, all wonderfully depicted with Obata’s signature highly detailed style. The alien Mimics are bent on destroying humanity but they are about to meet their match in this exceptional new release from VIZ Media!”

Manga artist Takeshi Obata was born in 1969 in Niigata, Japan, and is the artist of the wildly popular SHONEN JUMP title HIKARU NO GO (available from VIZ Media), which won the 2003 Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize: Shinsei "New Hope" award and the 2000 Shogakukan Manga award. Obata is also the artist of the smash hit series, DEATH NOTE (also published by VIZ Media), as well as Arabian Majin Bokentan Lamp Lamp, Ayatsuri Sakon, Cyborg Jichan G. ALL YOU NEED IS KILL is his latest work following the hugely successful series BAKUMAN。 (also published by VIZ Media).

For more information on ALL YOU NEED IS KILL or other manga and/or anime titles published by VIZ Media, visit www.VIZ.com.

WHY DON'T YOU PLAY IN HELL? coming to U.S. theaters November 7th

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Drafthouse Films
presents
Why Don't You Play in Hell? / Jigoku de Naze Warui
Written and directed by Sion Sono
Japan, 2013, 126 minutes

Why Don't You Play in Hell?, a genre-defying film from Japan's legendary Sion Sono, will be coming to U.S. theaters on November 7th. The film was shown at Japan Society this past July as a co-presentation of the Society's JAPAN CUTS festival of contemporary Japanese cinema and the 13th annual New York Asian Film Festival. Programmed as JAPAN CUTS' opening night feature film and  followed by a party, Why Don't You Play in Hell? was a big hit, and soon U.S. audiences will have the opportunity of experiencing for themselves the zany joy that it produces.

Master filmmaker Sono, whose previous films include Suicide Club (2001), Noriko's Dinner Table (2005) Love Exposure (2008), and Cold Fish (2010), describes his frenzied, gleeful new masterpiece as “an action film about the love of 35mm.” Based on a screenplay he wrote nearly fifteen years ago, Why Don't You Play In Hell? is among Sono’s very best works, as his trademark excess and outrageousness is infused with an affection for the previous century of Japanese cinema. This is Sion Sono with his talent and unique vision completely unleashed.

Synopsis: There's a war going on, but that won't stop the inexperienced but eager wannabe film crew The Fuck Bombers from following their dreams of making the ultimate action epic. Ten years ago, yakuza mid-boss Ikegami led an assault against rival don Muto. Now, on the eve of his revenge, all Muto wants to do is complete his masterpiece, a feature film with his daughter in the starring role, before his wife is released from prison. And The Fuck Bombers are standing by with the chance of a lifetime: to film a real, live yakuza battle to the death...on 35mm!

Endlessly irreverent and wildly, hilariously visceral, Why Don't You Play In Hell? is an  ode to the yakuza films of yore and features an over-the-top, blood-soaked finale.

Why Don't You Play In Hell? will be reviewed here at AsianCineFest sometime during the week preceding it's theatrical opening on November 7th.

KISS OF THE ROSE PRINCESS to debut on November 4th from VIZ

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KISS OF ROSE PRINCESS Volume 1 ©Aya SHOUOTO 2009
VIZ MEDIA LAUNCHES NEW PARANORMAL SHOJO MANGA SERIES
KISS OF THE ROSE PRINCESS

A Mystical Girl Brings Forth Four Magical Knights To Help Her
On A Quest To Save The World From The Forces Of Evil

VIZ Media announces a thrilling new paranormal shojo manga (graphic novel) adventure with the launch of Aya Shouoto’s KISS OF THE ROSE PRINCESS on November 4th.

The new series will be available for the first time digitally as well as in print under the Shojo Beat imprint. KISS OF THE ROSE PRINCESS is rated ‘T’ for Teens and will carry a print MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

A digital version of KISS OF THE ROSE PRINCESS, Vol. 1 also will debut on November 4th for $6.99 (USD/CAN) from VIZManga.com and through the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® touch, Android-powered smart phones, as well as through the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks and GooglePlay stores. Future editions of the 9-volume series will be released in-print and digitally on a bi-monthly basis.

Anise Yamamoto has been told that if she ever removes the rose choker given to her by her father, a terrible punishment will befall her. Unfortunately she loses that choker when a bat-like being falls from the sky and hits her. Anise is granted four cards representing four knights whom she can summon with a kiss. But now that she has these gorgeous men at her beck and call, what exactly is her quest?!

“Aya Shouoto uses her stunning artwork in KISS OF THE ROSE PRINCESS to bring us a tale of a modern princess and her four handsome knights in this reverse-harem series,” says Nancy Thistlethwaite, Editor. “Our reluctant but fearless heroine must pledge herself to save the world from the Demon Lord, but what will happen if she falls in love with one of her knights? Don’t miss the start of this exciting new series in November!”

For more information on KISS OF THE ROSE PRINCESS, or other Shojo Beat manga titles from VIZ Media, visit www.VIZ.com.

ICEMAN will debut on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital on November 11, 2014

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Well Go USA
presents
Iceman / Bing Fung: Chung Sang Chi Mun
Directed by Law Wing Cheong
Starring Donnie Yen, Eva Huang and Wang Baoqiang
China/Hong Kong, 2014, 105 minutes

The Action-Packed Hong Kong Epic Comedy/Fantasy
Thaws Out on Blu-ray™, DVD & Digital Nov. 11

International martial arts icon Donnie Yen (the Ip Man franchise, Hero, Special ID) brings his trademark action to Iceman, debuting on Blu-ray™ (SLP $29.98), DVD (SLP $24.98) and Digital on Nov. 11 from Well Go USA Entertainment. A remake of the 1989 film Iceman Cometh, Yen plays a Ming era warrior who, along with his three traitorous childhood friends, are accidentally buried and kept frozen in time. 400 years later, they are defrosted and continue their battle in modern times where they left off.

Directed by Law Wing Cheong (Punished, The Wrath of Vajra), Iceman also stars Eva Huang (Kung Fu Hustle, Race to Witch Mountain), Wang Baoqiang (Lost in Thailand), Simon Yam (The Thieves, Ip Man franchise), Mark Wu (Due West: Our Sex Journey), Gregory Wong (Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen) and Yu Kang (Special ID).

Bonus materials include the seven-part featurette “The Making of Iceman,” which takes an in-depth look at the filming of the rooftop sequence and the disco scene, as well as interviews with Donnie Yen, Wang Baoqiang and Eva Huand.

Synopsis:
Donnie Yen is a Ming Dynasty palace guard, wrongly accused of murder and hunted by three vengeful brothers. All four are accidentally buried, frozen at the height of battle. 400 years later, they are defrosted and resume their mortal struggle – while also adjusting to modern-day life.

Iceman is rated R for some violence, language and a sexual reference.

My Blu-ray screener has already arrived, so look for a review here on or shortly before the November 11th release date.

ONE PIECE MANGA BOX SET 2 coming November 4th from VIZ

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ONE PIECE © 1997 by Eiichiro Oda/SHUEISHA Inc.
 VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF
ONE PIECE MANGA BOX SET 2

New Box Set Edition Features The Continuing Adventures
Of The Straw Hat Pirates With Vols. 24-46 Of
The World’s Bestselling Manga Series

VIZ Media delivers a special treat to fans with the latest Box Set installment for the world’s most popular manga series – ONE PIECE.

The ONE PIECE Manga Box Set 2 will be released on November 4th and is rated ‘T’ for Teens. The set contains Volumes 24-46, which comprise the series’ third and fourth story arcs – Skypiea and Water Seven – and will carry an MSRP of $185.99 U.S. / CAN. The Box Set also features a full-color poster and special ONE PIECE mini-comic.

As a child, ONE PIECE main character Monkey D. Luffy dreamed of becoming King of the Pirates. But his life changed when he accidentally ate the Gum-Gum Fruit, an enchanted Devil Fruit that gave him the ability to stretch like rubber. The only drawback? He'll never be able to swim again – a serious handicap for an aspiring sea dog! Years later, Luffy sets off on his quest to find the "One Piece," said to be the greatest treasure in the world...

“This new release from VIZ Media continues the venerable ONE PIECE saga in lavish box set form and is a pirate’s treasure for any manga fan,” says Alexis Kirsch, Editor. “Catch all the action as the Straw Hats search the exotic sky island of Skypiea for hidden gold and then journey to Water 7, a wondrous water metropolis constructed upon the ruins of a sunken city. Jump aboard for fantastic adventures with manga’s favorite band of pirates!”

ONE PIECE creator Eiichiro Oda began his manga career at the age of 17, when his one-shot cowboy manga, Wanted!, won second place in the coveted Tezuka manga awards. Oda went on to work as an assistant to some of the biggest manga artists in the industry, including Nobuhiro Watsuki (RUROUNI KENSHIN), before winning the Hop Step Award for new manga artists. His pirate adventure ONE PIECE, which debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 1997, has become one of the most popular manga in Japan and the rest of the world.

For more information on ONE PIECE, or other manga titles from VIZ Media, visit www.VIZ.com.

Section23 Films announces its February 2015 slate of releases

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Home video distributor Section23 Films has announced its February 2015 slate of releases, including the hit space adventure series Space Brothers which will be released on both DVD & Blu-ray.

Product details follow, in order of release.

Title: GOLDEN TIME COLLECTION 2
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 2/3/2015
Format: DVD, BD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $49.98, $59.98

SYNOPSIS: Adjusting to college life is hard enough for most students, but ever since Banri Tada lost all his memories he's literally being haunted by the spirit of the person he was before the accident. And now that the Banri-that-is has fallen in love with Koko instead of Linda, the girl his old self was in love with, the ghost of the Banri-that-was is stepping up its efforts to sabotage his new relationship with every power at its disposal. Which means since past-Banri can sometimes take over present-Banri's body, the entire life new-Banri has built is now in imminent danger of being blown away like a house of cards in a whirlwind. And that doesn't even take into account Linda and Koko's feelings, let alone those of Banri's friend, Mitsuo, who Koko was formerly in love with, but who now has a thing for Linda- at least, when he isn't crushing on Chinami. And if that sounds confusing, it's nothing compared to how Banri feels as his old memories begin to resurface and the ultimate battle of Man Vs. Himself escalates in GOLDEN TIME - COLLECTION 2!


Title: LEVIATHAN ~ THE LAST DEFENSE
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 2/3/2015
Format: DVD, BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98, $69.98
SYNOPSIS: The land of Aquafall is a paradise, where life in all forms flourishes in peace and abundance. But when meteors rain down, each impact spawns hideous monsters sent by an enemy that wants to claim the green world for its own! Fortunately, the fairy Syrup is on guard and knows exactly what to do, and recruits an extraordinary team of young women to form the Aquafall Defenders. There's the incredibly strong Jormungand, the fire-conjuring Bahamut, and the water-bending Leviathan. Unfortunately none of them are ideal warrior material, and Syrup will have her work cut out for her when it comes to teaching them to work together. Even if they manage to survive and unite as a team, can three lone girls really turn the tide of an alien invasion? Well, it might help that they've all got a little bit of Dragon in them! The scales of fate will turn as the future of Aquafall hangs in the balance in LEVIATHAN ~ THE LAST DEFENSE!


Title: ENGAGED TO THE UNIDENTIFIED
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 2/10/2015
Format: DVD, BD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $49.98, $59.98

SYNOPSIS: Not every girl gets what she wants on her 16th birthday, but Kobeni's gift is something she never saw coming: an arranged marriage! Thanks to her late grandfather, Kobeni's been engaged to a total stranger since childhood, and even though she's supposedly met him she doesn't remember a single thing about him. Even weirder is that both her Mom and creepily over-doting sister, Benio, seem completely unsurprised when the groom-to-be, Hakuya, and his younger sister, Mashiro, show up on the family's doorstep to move in with them! But it's not until they start attending Kobeni's school that things take an even stranger turn after she starts to pick up some very… unusual vibes from her potential future family. From Mashiro's obsession with aliens and UMAs (Unidentified Mysterious Animals), to Hakuya's disconcerting lack of emotion, there's something very off about them that Kobeni can't quite put her finger on. What has her grandfather gotten her into? And how does this relate to the strange gap in Kobeni's memory? From weird science to the supernatural, almost anything can happen when you're ENGAGED TO THE UNIDENTIFIED!


Title: REIDEEN COLLECTION 2
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 2/10/2015
Format: DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $49.98

SYNOPSIS: As the attacks by the Mechanical Beasts continue to escalate, and Earth's defenders struggle to develop new technology capable of stopping them, the mystery surrounding our planet's greatest protector only deepens. After all, if a weapon is only as dangerous as the being who wields it, why has the robot-like goliath known as Reideen chosen a high school student like Junki Saiga to be its pilot? What is Reideen's real purpose here on Earth? Is it our last line of defense in this war, or could it actually be the cause of it? And how many weapons and capabilities does it possess that have yet to be seen? Solving these riddles could be the key to saving everything, but the clock is running down for the Vigilant Corps. The enemy is no longer content to simply attack from space-they're here, infiltrating our cities, and they already know who the pilot of Reideen is. As Junki and Hoshikawa find themselves the targets of both human and alien covert action, the battle for the fate of our world expands to an even wider front in REIDEEN - COLLECTION TWO!

Title: HOZUKI'S COOLHEADEDNESS
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 2/17/2015
Format: DVD, BD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $49.98, $59.98

SYNOPSIS: There are hard jobs, there are jobs that seem outright impossible, but in the end, the most difficult job in all creation probably belongs to Hozuki, Hell’s hardest working bureaucrat. That’s because Hozuki is Deputy Chief to Enma, the King of Hell. Enma spends all his time sitting in judgment of the recently deceased, so it’s up to Hozuki to keep the dark half of the afterlife running smoothly. And that would be hellishly complicated even if Hell wasn’t constantly short on good help. Fortunately, Hozuki’s not the typical bureaucratic hothead you’d expect to find heading a department of infernal affairs. Fiendishly clever and determined enough to dedicate multiple lifetimes to a task (though not necessarily his OWN lifetimes), he’ll get the job done even if it means breaking a few unbreakable rules and running circles around Hell’s normal operating procedures. As for patience… well, Hell hasn’t frozen over quite yet, so the verdict’s still out on that, but he doesn’t suffer fools lightly, let alone damned fools. After all, that Highway to Hell isn’t going to get paved with just good intentions, so if someone has to suffer for all eternity, Hozuki’s damned sure that it’s not going to be himself in HOZUKI’S COOLHEADEDNESS!


Title: PATLABOR: THE NEW FILES
Published by: Maiden Japan
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 400 min.
Street Date: 2/17/2015
Format: DVD, BD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $49.98, $59.98

SYNOPSIS: Every cop has a story to tell, but not all of them are safe to show on television. That's especially true in the crazed world of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police's Special Vehicle Section, because when you toss giant robots into the mix almost anything can happen. A teddy bear holding people hostage and a search for albino alligators may just be typical days on the job, but what about an undercover mission into a public bathhouse looking for suspicious moles? Or what happens when the only place where you and your coworker can wait out a typhoon is a room in one of Japan's notorious "Love Hotels"? And then there's that drunken weekend at the hot springs and the infamous "underwear incident." But not every story has a humorous edge, and what begins as a battle for corporate survival turns into a mêlée in the streets as the makers of the deadly Griffin return for the ultimate exercise in urban combat! It's the wildest set of adventures yet as Noa Izumi and the men and women of the SV2 reveal the stories that couldn't be told before in MOBILE POLICE PATLABOR - THE NEW FILES!


Title: DIABOLIK LOVERS BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 180 min.
Street Date: 2/24/2015
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $39.98

SYNOPSIS: Yui Komori has spent her life sheltered by the Church and the man she thinks of as her father, but now she's going to a new home and there's a very different kind of family waiting for her. To her dismay, she discovers that she'll be living with six very attractive young men, and not a single one is human! But if trying to keep an entire brood of vampires at fangs' length wasn't stressful enough, there are even more sinister forces at work, threatening not only Yui's life, but her very soul. Drawn into her wildest fantasies, or perhaps her most salacious nightmares, one thing is certain: Yui's life will never be the same once she meets the DIABOLIK LOVERS!


Title: SPACE BROTHERS COLLECTION 1 
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 2/24/2015
Format: DVD, BD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $49.98, $59.98

SYNOPSIS: Mutta's life has hit rock bottom. He's been fired, blackballed from his profession and even had to move back in with his parents. Meanwhile, the career of Mutta's brother, Hibito, has taken off like a rocket as he trains for the job Mutta once dreamed of: becoming an astronaut. But is it ever too late to go after your dreams? Through a little coercing and a bit of covert activity, Mutta's family and friends can get his resume on the right desk, but from that point on it'll be up to Mutta himself. Does he have what it takes to turn his life around and put his footprint on the moon? The first step on the highway to the stars is always the hardest, and in a job where crash and burn isn't just a euphemism, it'll be the biggest risk Mutta's ever taken. But with the right support team, maybe he'll find what he needs to rekindle the spark inside him and light the biggest candle of them all! Get ready to blast off into the most magnificent tomorrow ever in SPACE BROTHERS - COLLECTION 1!


Title: LOVE, CHUNIBYO & OTHER DELUSIONS COLLECTOR'S 
 Published by: Sentai Filmworks Distributed by: Section23 Films
 Run Time: 325 min.
 Street Date: 2/24/2015
 Format: Combo - DVD/BD
 Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
 SRP: $129.98

SYNOPSIS: Yuta has a problem. As one of the thousands of Japanese students afflicted with “chunibyo,” a state where they’re so desperate to stand out that they've literally convinced themselves that they have secret knowledge and hidden powers, Yuta spent most of his middle school years living in a complete fantasy world. But that’s not his major problem now, as with a lot of work and effort, he’s finally managing to overcome his delusions to the point where he thinks he’s ready to start high school with all his cards in order. No, his BIG problem is the girl he first encounters climbing on his balcony. Because it seems that his own efforts to rid himself of his chunibyo have attracted the attentions of another sufferer, and SHE’s decided that this makes him her soul mate. And since Rikka’s just moved in upstairs, now he’s being sucked into HER fantasy world! Can a formerly wild and crazy guy handle being the focus of a completely delusional girl? Or will his own chunibyo return with a vengeance? Either way, the phrase “madly in love” is bound to get redefined in LOVE, CHUNIBYO & OTHER DELUSIONS!

WOMEN WHO FLIRT to open on November 26th in U.S. & Canada

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China Lion Film Distribution has acquired the ensemble romantic comedy Women Who Flirt and set a Thanksgiving release date, with most U.S. and Canadian locations to debut the movie on Wednesday, November 26th, 2014. China Lion Australia/New Zealand will release the film the following day, Thursday, November 27th. Both North American audiences and audiences in Australia/New Zealand will be able to see the film ahead of the Mainland Chinese release on Friday, November 28th.

The Mandarin language film stars Zhou Xun (Painted Skin, The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate), Huang Xiao Ming (Eastern Bandits, The Guillotines), Sui Tang and Xie Yi Lin. Talented Hong Kong filmmaker Pang Ho-Cheung (Aberdeen, Vulgaria, Love in the Buff)  directed the film, which has also been known as Women Who Know How to Flirt Are the Luckiest. Personally, I think the shorter English title is a great improvement

Huang Xiao Ming (left)  and Zhou Xun

The film revolves around co-workers and longtime friends Angie (Zhou Xun) and Marco (Huang Xiao Ming). When Marco announces he’s seeing someone, it sends Angie on a mission to save him from his new and manipulative girlfriend Hailey (Tang Sui). With the help of a circle of friends led by May (Xie Yi Lin), Angie tries to convince him she’s the one for him.

China Lion Film will release Women Who Flirt in major metro areas throughout North America in addition to Australia and New Zealand, continuing its trend of releasing films day-and-date with Greater China; specific release locations will be announced on the company’s website, as well as its Facebook and Weibo.

The official website for the film is http://www.WomenWhoFlirt.com/.

China Lion Film Distribution recently released the film Breakup Buddies and But Always, films that respectively became the company’s #1 and #2 highest grossing pictures.

Sentai Filmworks acquires BRYNHILDR IN THE DARKNESS

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The night’s sky hides a dark secret that will threaten the lives of not only one, but many in Sentai Filmworks' latest acquisition, Brynhildr in the Darkness. From Lynn Okamoto, original creator of legendary series Elfen Lied, Brynhildr in the Darkness is directed by Kenichi Imaizumi (Katekyo Hitman Reborn!, Student Council’s Discretion Level 2) with character designs by Hiroaki Karasu (MAOYU, Gatchaman Crowds), scripting by Yukinori Kitajima (Hamatora, Senran Kagura), and animation production by ARMS (Elfen Lied, Samurai Girls).

Synopsis:
A high school senior Murakami Ryota had a childhood friend called Kuroneko who died in an accident. Ryota had made a promise with Kuroneko that he will prove there are aliens in the universe. In order to fulfill his promise, he joined the astronomy club at the school as its only member and kept observing the stars almost every night. One day, a girl who looks like Kuroneko transferred into his class. To his surprise, the girl’s name is Kuroha Neko which is really similar to his childhood friend’s name. However it seems that there is something unusual about her. It turns out that she is a witch who actually escaped from a research laboratory.

Brynhildr in the Darkness will be available soon through select digital outlets with a home video release to follow.

Free screening of TAZZA: THE HIDDEN CARD tomorrow night

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Korean Cultural Service New York
presents
Korean Movie Night 2014
Series Six
Idols on Film: K-pop Superstars Take on Cinema!
Tazza: The Hidden Card
Directed by KANG Hyeong-Cheol
South Korea, 2014, 147 minutes
When: Tuesday November 4, 2014 @ 7:00 pm
Doors open: 6:30 PM
Where: Tribeca Cinemas 54 Varick Street, on the corner of Canal, NYC
Near the A, C, E @ #1 Canal Street subway stops
Admission: FREE!!!


Dae-gil’s natural skills as a gambler have earned him the reputation of having a “God’s hand”, but it’s not as skilled dealing with swindlers and, in one bad move, loses his entire fortune. Having to unite with his legendary uncle’s old partner only leads to more dangerous situations, and soon, he realizes that this is a game of life or death! Soon, a deep conspiracy turns Dae-gil into a scapegoat, and he’s forced to go on the run! Planning his revenge, Dae-gil prepares for the biggest game of his life… an event that will clear his name and reunite him with the woman he loves! Don’t miss this sensational thriller, starring T.O.P. (aka Choi Seung-hyun), the award-winning lead rapper of the K-pop group Big Band!

I rated Tazza: The Hidden Card at 3.5 out of 4 stars in my September 26, 2014 review of the film upon its theatrical release in the U.S. and Canada.

First two volumes of science-fiction robot manga LBX (LITTLE BATTLERS EXPERIENCE) are available today

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DANBALL SENKI © 2011 Hideaki FUJII /SHOGAKUKAN © LEVEL-5 Inc.
VIZ MEDIA’S PERFECT SQUARE IMPRINT LAUNCHES
LBX (LITTLE BATTLERS EXPERIENCE) MANGA SERIES

Extremely Popular New Series From Japan About
A Boy And His Powerful Robot That Battle
Evil Kicks Off In English This Fall

VIZ Media delivers sci-fi battle robot action in a BIG way with the launch of the new manga (graphic novel) series – LBX (LITTLE BATTLERS EXPERIENCE). The action kicks off in the first two volumes of the series from the company’s Perfect Square imprint which are available starting today, November 4th. Future volumes will each be released on a bi-monthly basis.

LBX (LITTLE BATTLERS EXPERIENCE) is a hot new action/sci-fi/mecha property based on the LBX video game, a series of role-playing action games created by Level-5, with manga, an anime, and planned forthcoming toys and games debuting this fall.

Created by Hideaki Fuji, the LBX (LITTLE BATTLERS EXPERIENCE) manga series is rated ‘A’ for All Ages. Volumes 1 and 2 will be released on November 4th and will be available will a print MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN each.

Welcome to the world of Little Battlers eXperience! In the near future, a boy named Van Yamano owns Achilles, a miniaturized robot with super strong power. But Achilles is no ordinary LBX. Hidden inside him is secret data that Van must keep out of the hands of evil at all costs.

In Volume 1, "The New Dawn Raisers,” Van loves Little Battlers eXperience, also known as LBXs, the hottest toy in present-day 2050. And it’s kind of cool that his dad invented them! But now a secret organization is coming after Van to procure the secrets that might be hidden inside his own LBX robot, Achilles!

“In Japan, the LBX (LITTLE BATTLERS EXPERIENCE) world is super popular and has video games, broadcast anime, an animated film and toys and collectibles. We’re looking forward to being part of the team that brings LBX to North American fans of all ages with the manga series,” says Joel Enos, Editor. “It’s fast-paced, exciting, and has robots that battle on command. You really can’t go wrong with that!”

LBX (LITTLE BATTLERS EXPERIENCE) writer/artist Hideaki Fujii made his manga debut in 2000 with Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children in Monthly Comic BomBom magazine. In Japan, LBX is serialized in Shogakukan's CoroCoro Comic. Fuji’s other signature work includes the series, Battle Spirits: Breakthrough Boy Bashin.

VIZ Media’s Perfect Square imprint focuses on delivering original comics, manga (graphic novels) and other children’s books with an emphasis on strong storytelling, eye-popping graphics, empowering themes, and a dash of irreverence, that captures the imagination of a whole new generation.

Additional information on titles published by Perfect Square is available at www.PerfectSquare.com.

For more information on other manga titles from VIZ Media, visit www.VIZ.com.

Sentai Filmworks has acquired WOLF GIRL AND BLACK PRINCE

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A girl with a penchant for flagrant fabrications is about to learn a hard lesson as one of her lies becomes a reality in Sentai Filmworks' latest acquisition, Wolf girl and Black prince. This romantic comedy series is directed by Kenichi Kasai (Honey and Clover, Love Stage!!) with series composition by Sawako Hirabayashi (Shiki, Watamote), music by Go Sakabe (Date a Live!, SoniAni: Super Sonico the Animation) and animation production by TYO Animations (Amagami SS, Flowers of Evil).

Synopsis: Prideful Erika talks to her friends all the time about her exploits with her boyfriends, but the sad truth is she's never had one in all her 16 years. Sensing her lies were reaching the breaking point, she secretly takes a picture of a cute guy she sees in town, and tries to boast he's her boyfriend, but it turns out he's Kyoya Sata who goes to the same school. She comes clean and gets him to play along, but despite him seeming like a nice guy, Sata-kun is actually a totally black-hearted sadist! With no choice but to comply, Erika is ordered around like a dog.

Wolf girl and Black prince will be available soon through select digital outlets with a home video release to follow.

SAILOR MOON SEASON ONE PART ONE is coming November 11th

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Sailor Moon Season 1 Set 1 Blu-ray/DVD combo pack (©N.T./PNP, T.A.)
VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES
THE HOME MEDIA RELEASE OF
SAILOR MOON SEASON ONE PART ONE

Celebrated Anime Released For The First Time Uncut, Re-mastered
And In High Definition; Limited Edition Blu-Ray/DVD
Combo Pack Packed With Extras Fit For A Moon Princess!

VIZ Media delivers one of the most legendary anime series of all time with the home media release of SAILOR MOON Season 1, Set 1 as a Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack and on DVD on November 11th.

SAILOR MOON has been completely re-mastered and is presented uncut and with a brand new English voice cast. The Standard Edition DVD and first-ever Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack each contain 23 episodes along with a wealth of bonus features and premium packaging. English dubbed as well as Japanese subtitled dialogue options are available on both formats. The limited edition SAILOR MOON Season 1, Set 1 Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack will carry a MSRP of $79.98 U.S. / $93.99 CAN; the DVD edition will have a MSRP of $44.82 U.S. / $51.99 CAN.

The stunning SAILOR MOON Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack offers a deluxe, 6-disc collection (3 DVDs & 3 Blu-rays), housed in a beautiful shimmery holofoil chipboard box with specialty printing, and contains an array of exclusive extra features along with an 88-page full-color booklet filled with artwork, character profiles, an episode guide, lyrics, and more! Blu-ray episodes are presented in full 1080p High Definition video.

Fans also can enjoy a bevy of bonus material available exclusively on the Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack such as an interactive, full-color SAILOR MOON video art gallery, the original series trailers, a ‘signs and songs’ subtitle track, analogue closed captions for the deaf and hard of hearing, and exclusive all-new behind the scenes footage of the English dub sessions as well as special SAILOR MOON convention announcement panel footage, and more!

Sailor Moon Season 1 Set 1 DVD (©N.T./PNP, T.A.)

The SAILOR MOON Season 1, Set 1 Standard Edition DVD features 3 discs with beautifully illustrated variant O-card packaging featuring embossed holofoil printing. Episodes are presented in 480p standard video format. Bonus features include the ‘signs and songs’ subtitle track, VIZ Media SAILOR MOON convention highlights and panel announcements as well as the original series trailers and analogue closed captions for the deaf and hard of hearing. Uncut English dubbed as well as Japanese subtitled dialogue options are available.

SAILOR MOON depicts the adventures of Usagi Tsukino, a cheerful 14-year-old schoolgirl who often finds herself in unwanted trouble. One day, she saves a talking cat named Luna from some mean kids, and her life is changed forever. Luna gives Usagi a magic brooch that transforms her into Sailor Moon, guardian of love and justice! Now Usagi must work with Luna to find the other Sailor Guardians and the Moon Princess, whose Legendary Silver Crystal is Earth’s only hope against the dark forces of the evil Queen Beryl!

“After being out of print and unavailable in North America for over ten years, the return of SAILOR MOON makes this set a truly historic anime release and one that should be a part of every collection,” says Charlene Ingram, Senior Manager, Animation Marketing. “The Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack is an especially noteworthy collection and offers the debut season of this treasured series for the very first time in crisp High Definition, uncut and re-mastered, and with a brand new English dub cast. Join the Pretty Guardians of Love and Justice, and catch all their early adventures in these forthcoming home media releases that are fit for a Moon Princess!”

The smash hit SAILOR MOON anime series is inspired by the bestselling manga (graphic novel) series created by Naoko Takeuchi (published in North America by Kodansha). In the series, Usagi Tsukino is a clumsy but kindhearted teenage girl who transforms into the powerful guardian of love and justice, Sailor Moon. Meeting allies along the way who share similar fates, Usagi and her team of planetary Sailor Guardians fight to protect the universe from forces of evil and total annihilation!

For more information on SAILOR MOON, or other award-winning anime titles from VIZ Media, visit www.VIZ.com.

Second printing of UNOFFICIAL HATSUNE MIX due November 19th

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Who’s that girl with the long green ponytails you’ve been seeing everywhere? It’s Hatsune Miku, the Vocaloid—the synthesizer superstar! Dark Horse Comics’ first edition of Unofficial Hatsune Mix landed in the New York Times Manga Top 10 list and sold out of bookstores across the nation within the first month of release.

Hatsune Miku’s a global cybercelebrity and a cosplay favorite at conventions. Now Miku’s original illustrator, KEI, brings you Unofficial Hatsune Mix—an omnibus manga of the musical adventures (and misadventures!) of Miku and her fellow Vocaloids Rin, Len, Luka, and more—in both beautiful black-and-white and charming color.


Over 170,000 music videos have been uploaded to YouTube using Miku as the singer. Miku has appeared in ads from Toyota USA, Domino’s, and most recently the Late Show with David Letterman.

The second printing of Unofficial Hatsune Mix will be in comic shops November 19 and in bookstores December 2. Preorder your copy of this bestseller today or risk having to wait for a third printing.

Japanese silent film CROSSROADS with live shamisen accompaniment

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The Shamisen Sessions, Vol. 2
Yumiko Tanaka live shamisen accompaniment
for
Crossroads / Jujiro
Directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa
With Junosuke Bando, Akiko Chihaya, Yukiko Ogawa,
Ippei Sohma, and Kazuo Hasegawa
Japan, 1928, 87 minutes, 35 mm, b&w
Silent, with English and German intertitles
When: Saturday, November 15, 7:30 PM
Where: Japan Society NY
333 East 47th Street, NYC
(Between 1st and 2nd Avenues)

Internationally active experimental shamisen musician Yumiko Tanaka provides a thrilling improvisational soundscape to the silent film Crossroads (Jujiro, 1928). This audacious film by Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winner Teinosuke Kinugasa (1896-1982) depicts the love between a poor brother and sister, and features hallucinatory imagery and boundary-pushing German Expressionist-inspired set design.


This program is part of Japan Society’s 2014 Monthly Film Series, The Dark Side of the Sun: John Zorn on Japanese Cinema, curated by musical maverick and film and Japanese culture aficionado John Zorn. For this event, Tanaka will be joined by guest percussionist Satoshi Takeishi. Followed by a reception.


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