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    © BanG Dream! Project

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    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Official Site: anime.bang-dream.com/2nd (Japan) Sentai Filmworks announced today that it acquired distribution rights to BanG DREAM! 2nd Season (????, Bandori, 2019) for audiences in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Latin America and Central America. BUSHIROAD’s smash-hit multimedia franchise returns for a second anime season! Kasumi and the rest of Poppin`Party may have achieved their goal, but it turns out they were just at the starting line. Performing is a lot of work, and, of course, they`re not the only band in town! Do they have what it takes to reach true musical stardom? Aimi (ARGEVOLLEN, ENGAGED TO THE UNIDENTIFIED) returns as Kasumi Toyama, while Ayaka Ohashi (AKAME GA Kill!, FLIP FLAPPERS), Ayasa Ito (FUTARI WA MILKY HOLMES, REVUE STARLIGHT), Rimi Nishimoto (FUTURE CARD BUDDYFIGHT ACE, HINA LOGI: FROM LUCK & LOGIC)

    © Akanesasu Anime Project

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    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Official Site: akanesasushojo.com (Japan) Sentai Filmworks announced today that it acquired exclusive rights to the supernatural-themed original series, THE GIRL IN TWILIGHT (???????, Akanesasu Shojo, 2018), for the USA, Canada, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Latin America and other select territories. Constantly on the lookout for her next big adventure, the cheerful and kind Asuka Tsuchimiya is always ready to try new things with her high school friends from the Crystal Radio Club. One day, the group performs a ritual from an urban myth just for fun. However, several conditions had fallen into place to put the ritual in motion, opening the door to a new world of gold and jet black. In this world, Asuka finds a different version of herself and soon finds out that some doors were never meant to be opened. Jin Tamamura (CHIVALRY OF A FAILED

    Image courtesy of Funimation. © 2014 TOHO CO., LTD. / DENTSU INC. / KODANSHA LTD. / East Japan Marketing & Communications, Inc. / OLM, Inc. / NIPPON SHUPPAN HANBAI INC. / GyaO! Corporation AS THE GODS WILL © Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Akeji Fujimura / KODANSHA LTD. All Rights Reserved.

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    There`s No Winner Against the Gods Source: Funimation Entertainment press release Be careful what you wish for. ON June 5th, Funimation will release the horror film AS THE GODS WILL (?????????, Kamisama no Iutori, 2014) by cult director Takashi Miike (13 ASSASSINS, SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO) in a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Combo Pack. Miike was the first Japanese director to win the Maverick Director Award in competition at the 2014 Rome Film Festival. High school student Shun Takahata is bored. Bored with the day-to-day monotony of school and life, he prays for change, for something exciting. The last thing he expects is for the gods to answer. Up against terrifying creatures, from a talking Daruma doll to a sharp-clawed lucky cat, Shun and his classmates are forced to play deadly versions of children’s games. Many play, few survive. And as their numbers dwindle, they’re taken

    Photos courtesy of Funimation Films. RUROUNI KENSHIN © Watsuki Nobuhiro/ Shueisha. ©

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    Source: Funimation Entertainment Official Site: funimationfilms.com Special Thanks to Scott Barretto Funimation Films has provided promotional images for the live-action films announced during their Industry Panel at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con International. Funimation has the exclusive North American rights to theatrical, home entertainment, video on demand and broadcast distribution for the RUROUNI KENSHIN (??????) live action, samurai film trilogy. All three films will be shown in Japanese language with subtitles in U.S. theaters -- RUROUNI KENSHIN: ORIGINS was released on August 8 – 10, RUROUNI KENSHIN: KYOTO INFERNO (????????????, Rurouni Kenshin Kyoto Taika Hen, 2014) is scheduled for September 12 – 14 and RUROUNI KENSHIN: THE LEGEND ENDS (?????? ??????, Rurouni Kenshin Densetsu no Saigo Hen, 2014) for October 3 – 5. Home video details TBA. Following the U.S. theatrical run of the live-action ATTACK ON TITAN (?????,

    Artwork not final – mock-up. Photo courtesy of Section23 Films.

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    BEYOND THE BOUNDARY Available October 13th Source: Section23 Films press release Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff Home video distributor Section23 Films has announced its October slate of releases including BEYOND THE BOUNDARY, Sentai Filmworks’ 12 episode series from acclaimed Kyoto Animation studio. Available on DVD, Blu-ray and a special Collector’s Edition. Product details follow, in order of release... BRYNHILDR IN THE DARKNESS COMPLETE COLLECTION Published by: Sentai Filmworks Distributed by: Section23 Films Run Time: 350 min. Street Date: 10/6/2015 Format: DVD, BD Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles SRP: $59.98, $69.98 Haunted by memories of his childhood friend Kuroneko, Ryota Murakami has dedicated himself to discovering the truth behind the claim she`d made before she died: That aliens from other worlds walk among us. Believing that becoming a scientist is the path to the truth, Murakami pursues his studies by day and peers through a

    © 2007 Thohokushinsha Film Corporation · Production I.G

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    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Official Site: reideen.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Christian Lopez An ancient artifact holds the key to victory for the human race as an alien terror rains down from beyond the skies in Sentai Filmworks` latest acquisition, REIDEEN (??????, Raidiin, 2007). This mecha sci-fi action series is directed by Mitsuru Hongo (OUTLAW STAR, PILOT CANDIDATE) with animation direction by Takuya Saito (SAKURA WARS: THE MOVIE, BUNNY DROP), prop design by Shinji Suetomi (NEON GENESIS EVANGELION: THE END OF EVANGELION, ROBOTICS;NOTES) and animation production by Production I.G. (HAIKYU!!, ANOTHER). Junki Saiga is a mathematically gifted but otherwise typical high school student, until his family hears that the remains of his archaeologist fathee -- who had disappeared during an exploration years ago -- were discovered, along with artifacts and notes near Japan’s pyramid. Soon afterwards, a meteor comes crashing from the sky carrying a

    Cover art for the AH MY BUDDHA Collection. Image courtesy of Right Stuf. © 2005, 2006 Bohemian K and Toshinori Sogabe / Wani Books, AT-X and VAP

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    Source: Right Stuf, Inc. press release Official Site: buddha.rightstuf.com Special Thanks to Jessica Heemsbergen Anime producer Lucky Penny Entertainment is pleased to announce that the AH MY BUDDHA Collection will be available on June 3, 2014. The DVD set will feature the complete 26-episode anime series, in a single DVD keepcase, with English audio, Japanese audio and English subtitles. On-disc extras will include clean openings and closings, promotional videos and the U.S. trailer. AH MY BUDDHA, also known in Japan as AMAENAIDE YO!! (????????!!), is based upon the manga by Toshinori Sogabe, which was originally serialized in Comic Gum anthology magazine and later collected into 7 volumes. This 26-episode television adaptation of AH MY BUDDHA contains both the Season 1, AMAENAIDE YO!!, and Season 2, AMAENAIDE YO!! KATSU!! (????????!! ?!!). AH MY BUDDHA originally aired in Japan on TV Tokyo`s anime satellite channel, AT-X. The first

    Miike`s HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI will be released this month on Blu-ray and DVD in North America. Images courtesy of Cinedigm Entertainment. © 2011 Ichimei Film Partners

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    Takashi Miike Hit Streets January 22nd Source: Cinedigm Entertainment Group press release Official Site: tribecafilm/hara-kiri-death-of-a-samurai HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI (??, Ichimei, 2011), a remake of Masaki Kobayashi’s 1962 classic samurai film, HARAKIRI (??, Seppuku), tells the story of Hanshiro (Ebizo Ichikawa), a samurai who arrives at the doorstep of his feudal lord and requests an honorable death by ritual suicide in his courtyard. The lord threatens him with the brutal tale of Motome (Eita), a desperate young ronin (a samurai with no lord or master) who made a similar request with ulterior motives, only to meet a grisly end. Undaunted, Hanshiro begins to tell his own story with an ending no one could foresee. Directed by visionary auteur Takashi Miike (AUDITION, 13 ASSASSINS), HARA-KIRI releases January 22 on DVD from Cinedigm Entertainment Group, a division of Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp., and Tribeca

    PENGUIN DRUM. © King Record.Co.,Ltd.

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    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Official Site: penguindrum.jp Special Thanks to David Williams Join Sentai Filmworks’ in marching to a different beat as they announce their latest acquisition, the quirky, unusual, and always off-beat PENGUIN DRUM (????????, Mawaru Pingudoramu, 2011). Featuring direction and series composition by Kunihiko Ikuhara (SAILOR MOON, REVOLUTIONARY GIRL UTENA) and with character designs by Terumi Nishii and music by Yukari Hashimoto (MM!, MAYO CHIKI!). Once you make a decision, does the universe conspire to make it happen? Is destiny a matter of chance, a matter of choice or the complex outcome of thousands of warring strands of fate? All twins Kanba and Shoma know is that when their terminally ill sister Himari collapses at the aquarium, her death is somehow temporarily reversed by the penguin hat that she had asked for. It’s a provisional resurrection, however, and it comes at a price:

    The female ninja Kisaragi (Rina Takeda) battles the Iga warriors in THE KUNOICHI. © 2011 The Kunoichi Partners

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    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Official Movie Site: kunoichi-movie.com (Japan) Special Thanks to David Williams Sentai Filmworks stealthily announces their acquisition of the new martial arts thriller THE KUNOICHI (??, Kunoichi, 2011). Directed by Seiji Chiba (ALIEN VS NINJA) and with fight choreography by GANTZ- The Live Action’s Kensuke Sonomura, the feature is the third starring vehicle for beautiful Japanese Karate champion Rina Takeda, who at only 19 years old has already landed continuing roles in two Japanese TV series and looks posed to become a major action superstar. Opposite Takeda as the opposing forces are male leads Mituski Koga, who starred in Chiba’s previous features, ALIEN VS NINJA and EVIL NINJA, pop singer Yuichi Sato of the Purboys, and Kentaro Shimazu (OUTRAGE); while Takeda’s fellow female cast members include popular actress/singer Shiho Fujisawa (SAYANARA COLOR). As the long, brutal and bloody war

    Miki (Nonami Takizawa) comes fact-to-face with the title character in PSYCHO SHARK. © 2009 Ace Deuce Inc.

    Reviews

    Spoiler Free Review of the 2009 Japanese Horror Movie Author: A. David Conway When I think of the distribution company Jolly Roger, I usually think of the Japanese equivalent of a SyFy Channel original movie, the likes of MEGA SHARK VS GIANT OCTOPUS, or any direct to DVD release from Asylum, but director John Hijiri surprised me by focusing at least as much on the idea of suspense as spectacle in the form of horror. I am known for my preference for low-budget movies over blockbusters, but PSYCHO SHARK did not take the path I expected. For a change, this was a good thing. The premise of the secluded island being covered in hidden cameras creates an act of voyeurism on part of the audience, and a question persists through the course of the film: through whose eyes are the cameras truly looking?

    The original Japanese version of GAMERA is now finally available on the Region 1 DVD GAMERA THE GIANT MONSTER from Shout! Factory. © 1965 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.

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    The First Release From Shout! Factory’s Gamera DVD Series Will Please Fans Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis Official Site: Shout! Factory Special Thanks to August Ragone and Cliff Macmillan While Gamera’s popularity has never been quite on the level of Godzilla, the giant flying turtle has no doubt enjoyed his share of accolades in Japan and in the 1960’s was very much a competitor of Toho’s monster king. Gamera’s popularity was revived in the 1990’s with Shusuke Kaneko’s acclaimed Heisei trilogy of films. While most fans prefer that particular incarnation of the titan terrapin, many still look fondly upon the friendlier movies of yesteryear. While most of the films in the classic Gamera series are geared towards children, GAMERA THE GIANT MONSTER (Daikaiju Gamera, 1965) is quite serious and depicts the title character as a menacing, deadly beast. In this first entry into the

    Kyoko Koizumi, Kai Inowaki, Teruyuki Kagawa, and Yu Koyanagi portray a dysfunctional, middle-class Japanese family in director Kiypshi Kurosawa`s TOKYO SONATA. The film is now available on Region 1 DVD from E1 Entertainment. © 2008 Entertainment Farm and Fortissimo Amsterdam BV

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    Author: Kyle Byrd Official Movie Site: tokyosonatamovie.com (US), tokyosonata.com (Japan) SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details for a new movie. Kiyoshi Kurosawa is one of the most interesting filmmakers working today. Unfortunately he has yet to get the attention he deserves in the States. His films are admittedly an acquired taste. I must admit, I didn’t know what to make of them at first. I checked them out after reading an article that fellow fan Martin Scorsese wrote about his films for his blog on DirectTV’s site. And with each film I watched and the more I watched them, the more I liked them. Usually they are very abstract, bizarre and rely on very subtle story telling (at times even too subtle). They usually give the viewer just enough information to piece together what the films are truly about, which really isn’t

    The giant monster Geharha faces off with mankind`s new superweapon in GEHARHA: THE DARK AND LONG HAIR MONSTER. The film is now available on Japanese DVD and Blu-ray. © 2009 NHK `Geharha` Project.

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    2009 TV Kaiju Movie on Japanese DVD and Blu-ray with English Subtitles Author: James Bonney Official Site: Geharha (Japan) Special Thanks to James Ballard SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details and images from a new movie. GEHARHA: THE DARK AND LONG HAIR MONSTER (Chouhatsu Daikaiju Gehara, 2009), the short, shot for television film that tells the bizarre story of a mysterious monster that rises up from the depths to wreak havoc on Japan has been released onto DVD in it`s native country. It is a treat for kaiju fans worldwide... that is if you can get past region code blockage and the rather expensive conversion rates and shipping, which is a typical situation amongst foreign buyers of Japanese DVDs. The beauty of this film is it is crammed with numerous homages to the "Kaiju Boom" of the 1960`s, which I will point

    X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE is now available on DVD in both a single-disc edition (left) and a 2-Disc Special Edition. Photos courtesy of Fox Home Entertainment. © 2009 20th Century Fox Film Corporation and Dune Entertainment III LLC.

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    Author: Keith Aiken Source: Fox Home Entertainment, Click Communications, Bender/Helper Impact Special Thanks to Scott Neumyer Experience the very first chapter of the exciting X-Men saga through the eyes of a true Marvel legend with X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, an epic adventure that pits Wolverine and all mutants against powerful forces determined to eliminate them. Spanning over 150 years, X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE chronicles Logan`s tortured past… from conflicts with his half brother Victor Creed – aka Sabretooth, his membership in Team X, his infamous adamantium rebirth and the total memory loss that ultimately fuels his angry quest. On September 15th, Fox Home Entertainment released the box office hit X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE on DVD and Blu-ray. The film is the fourth in the X-MEN movie series based on Marvel Comics` hugely popular comic book franchise, and the first is a planned series of films detailing

    Front and back packaging art for the two-disc Special Edition DVD. Photo courtesy of Paramount Home Entertainment. © 2008 Lucasfilm Ltd.

    Reviews

    Author: Keith Aiken Source: Paramount Home Entertainment and Click Communications Official Website: Indiana Jones Special Thanks to Scott Neumyer Nineteen years after riding off into the sunset, Indiana Jones returned to theaters with INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL. The film earned $770 million at the box office as audiences worldwide rushed to see the newest adventure of the famous archaeologist. The movie itself was somewhat of a mixed bag. The passage of time— with an older, world weary Dr. Jones dealing with Soviet villains, an alien mystery, and Communist paranoia at home— created a new and welcome feel from the previous films. But much of the action sequences seem repetitive and by the book, only differing from the past in their over-reliance of CGI. Some of the changes that were made apparently did not please critics or fans of the series. The

    Maleficent, one of the all-time great Disney villains, is back in restored 2.55:1 widescreen. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Home Ent. © 1959 Disney

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    Author: Keith Aiken Source: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Each year, Walt Disney Home Entertainment presents one or two of the studio`s classic animated films in a deluxe 2-Disc Platinum Edition DVD. The latest entry is SLEEPING BEAUTY, which celebrates its 50th Anniversary with a beautiful digital restoration, enhanced sound, and a wealth of bonus features. SLEEPING BEAUTY was a groundbreaking film that also marked the end of an era for Walt Disney Pictures. Realizing that his adaptations of fairy tales like SNOW WHITE and CINDERELLA had been more successful both commercially and critically, in 1951 Walt decided to go with the tale of SLEEPING BEAUTY. To keep the film from being nothing more than a repetition of those earlier fairy tales, Disney thought the film should have a drastically different animation style. He turned to Eyvind Earle, one of the studio`s top

    Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment. © 2008 Warner Bros. Ent.

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    Author: Keith Aiken Source: Warner Bros. Home Video Official Site: Speed Racer The Movie View the Theatrical Trailer Warner Bros` live action big screen version of SPEED RACER was the first major flop of the 2008 summer season. Produced at a budget of approximately $120 million, the film earned less than $43 million at the US box office. It was savaged by critics and ignored by moviegoers, which is a shame since it was actually a pretty good film. While no one would confuse SPEED RACER as a masterpiece of cinema, what it is is a fun and faithful adaptation of the classic 1967 animated series. The film is true to its source material (particularly the Americanized version syndicated to stations all across the US) which is a treat considering the long history of butchered comic, cartoon, and TV properties. And if one

    Front and back outer packaging art for the IRON MAN: 2-DISC ULTIMATE EDITION DVD; front cover for the Blu-ray edition. Photo courtesy of Paramount Home Entertainment. IRON MAN, the Movie © 2008 MVL Film Finance LLC. Iron Man, the Character: TM & © 2008 Marvel Entertainment

    Reviews

    Author: Keith Aiken Source: Paramount Home Entertainment and Click Communications Official Website: Iron Man Movie Special Thanks to Scott Neumyer Marvel Studios got off to a tremendous start this year with IRON MAN, the critically acclaimed box office blockbuster. Smartly directed by Jon Favreau and featuring a cast made up of Oscar nominated and winning actors Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, and Jeff Bridges, IRON MAN thrilled audiences to the tune of $575 million worldwide. Tomorrow, Paramount Home Entertainment will release the film in a 2-DISC ULTIMATE EDITION on both DVD and Blu-ray. Both are stellar presentations for one of the best movies of 2008. The 2-DISC ULTIMATE EDITION DVD presents the 125 minute-long feature film in the original 2.35:1 widescreen aspect ratio, enhanced for 16:9 televisions. Picture quality is clean and sharp with strong colors and detail and no artifacting.

    Cover art for the CHILD`S PLAY- CHUCKY`S 20TH BIRTHDAY EDITION DVD. Photo courtesy of Fox Home Entertainment. © 1988 MGM

    Reviews

    Twenty years later, he still wants to play! Author: Aaron Cooper Source: MGM Home Entertainment, Fox Home Entertainment Special thanks to Scott Neumyer Yes, demonic doll Chucky is still alive and kicking 20 years after the first CHILD’S PLAY was released to theaters. Finally MGM has graced the horror loving public with a definitive edition DVD after too long of bare bones editions. CHILD’S PLAY taps into the primal feelings that every youngster faces in their dreams (and nightmares) at some point of their life, the idea that their toys are alive! In CHILD’S PLAY, serial killer Charles Lee Ray uses his voodoo interests to transfer his dying soul into a “Good Guy” doll. Unwitting single mom Karen buys the doll (named ‘Chucky’) to give to her son, six-year-old Andy. Pretty soon, Andy’s babysitter is falling out of a window, and Andy himself with Chucky is

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