On May 26th, fifty-four school girls stand on a train platform at Shinjuku Station awaiting their train and smiling. As the train rounds its final corner and enters the station, the fifty-four girls, holding hands, jump simultaneously in front of the train, committing mass suicide. As the police begin to investigate, the possibility that this might be a suicide cult is suggested, but the Chief of Police shoots down the idea in fear of copycats. The death toll begins to rise as a website tracks the number of deaths… before they’ve happened. Writer/director Sion Sono (Noriko’s Dinner Table) opens a disturbing dialogue about Japan’s high suicide rate with the film Suicide Club (Suicide Circle): Unrated Version from TLA Releasing. (more…)
Reuters caught up famed animation director Hayao Miyazaki in Venice where his new feature film, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, is about to premier during the annual film festival. The new film, inspired by the original The Little Mermaid fairytale, has already becoming another blockbuster hit in Japan. Among the quotes from the interview, Miyazaki talks about his preference of pencil over the more and more common use of computers these days.
“I think animation is something that needs the pencil, needs man’s drawing hand, and that is why I decided to do this work in this way,” the silver haired, notoriously shy director told reporters after a press screening.
“Currently computer graphics are of course used a great deal and, as I’ve said before, this use can at times be excessive,” he added, speaking through an interpreter. “I will continue to use my pencil as long as I can.”
One of ADV’s oldest out-of-print DVDs is back in-stock at RightStuf right now: Battle Angel. ADV lost the rights to the Battle Angel OVA a few years ago when James Cameron was looking to make a US live action movie based on the title. Somehow RightStuf found some copies and now you can fill another gap in your collection if you missed this classic title the first time for only $11.99. Act now, the supply won’t last forever.
As a further update to the news that FUNimation will now be handling distribution for Geneon‘s DVD releases, RightStuf has updated their listings and prices. Series stopped midway through a release are getting the earlier volumes released again. Other series which managed to finish completely or at least the first season are seeing affordable box sets. Either way, you will have a chance to pick up what you missed starting in August.
While you’re there, don’t forget to pre-order Gakuen Alice: Complete Collection and the film Toward the Terra available from RightStuf.
RightStuf announced that they will be re-releasing Tylor in thinkpak form (a great option for those that missed the Ultra editions). They will also be releasing their Toward the Terra movie on DVD and licensed Gakuen Alice to be released in a single set.
Those who have been missing Geneon will be pleased to know that the distribution deal originally to be signed with ADV has now been signed with FUNimation. That’s right, several of Geneon’s current series will be coming back including Black Lagoon, Rozen Maiden, Fate/stay night, and When They Cry. Celebrate the chance to finish collecting these series. Geneon will still be overseeing the dubbing and other aspects of their titles while FUNimation markets and distributes the titles on DVD. Many of these series were finished by their current dubbing studios last year so don’t expect a big disruption in the English cast between the previous releases and new volumes.
Finally, ADV has officially given word that Sojitz has pulled out of financially backing the company. While ADV is staying mum on what is going on behind-the-scenes until Otakon, Sojitz has transfered the rights to 32 series Sojitz financed with ADV to FUNimation to release on DVD. Many of these have already recieved complete releases while a few have been struggling to reach the last volumes (Kanon, Welcome to the NHK) or were never released (Sgt. Frog).
Originally announced in 2006, Eric Sherman and Bang Zoom! Entertainment have expanded from their planned single detailed interview documentary to a three-volume series covering anime, games, and animation. Voice actors, directors, casting producers, and even publishers weigh in on a wide range of subjects, answering both the novice and advanced questions. Adventures in Voice Acting: Volume One takes an in-depth look at the anime industry, from acting to dubbing to whether this is the right career choice for you. Oh, and it has Steve Blum acting silly and Vic Mignogna being directed on how to read the FBI warning. How can you not love that? (more…)
The third generation gentleman’s thief has returned in his first big screen, live action adventure as Monkey Punch’s Lupin III finds himself dealing with a sexy burglar, an ace gunman willing to serve him, and an inspector wanting to toss him in jail. Arsène Lupin III (Yuki Meguro; Shogun) happens to notice a beautiful woman in a paddywagon on her way to prison. Fujiko Mine (Hideko Ezaki) has her eyes set on robbing a jewelry show and this gentleman thief may be the perfect rube to help her. Add the entire Maccherone crime family wanting to stop this third-generation thief from reviving the Lupin Empire and you have just a hint of the zany plot in Discotek Media’s Lupin the Third: Strange Psychokinetic Strategy. (more…)
What was slowly becoming the US anime industry version of Chinese Democracy is about to change as Bang Zoom! Entertainment releases Adventures in Voice Acting: Volume One on DVD at Anime Expo 2008. Originally announced in 2006, Eric Sherman‘s baby has expanded from a single detailed interview documentary into a three volume series with a wide variety of voice actors including Tom Kenny, Wendee Lee, Laura Bailey, Crispin Freeman and the late Bob Papenbrook. If Eric can pull it off, why can’t Axl? Check out the official press release for more details.
The Batman single DVD and two-disc collector DVD covers are online for the upcoming July 8th release of Batman: Gotham Knight.
Acclaimed screenwriters including David Goyer (Batman Begins), Josh Olson (A History of Violence) and Alan Burnett (Batman The Animated Series) join forces with revered animation filmmakers on six spellbinding chapters chronicling Batman’s transition from novice crimefighter to Dark Knight. These globe-spanning adventures pit Batman against the fearsome Scarecrow, the freakish Killer Croc and the unerring marksman Deadshot. Using an arsenal of high-tech gadgetry from Wayne Industries, Batman’s ethical boundaries exist only where he chooses to place them, leaving some fearful of his power.
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July will be a busy month for superhero fans because beyond The Dark Knight material we have two more comic series coming out. The short-run network series Birds of Prey and the live action cable series Witchblade will also be hitting DVD. Birds of Prey will be in stores July 15th while Witchblade comes out July 29th.
Friends become rivals over what to do about the Dragon Torque and the young Haruka Kaminogi who carries it within her. Karasu is willing to lay down his life to protect Haruka, but would Yu do the same if he was there? La’cryma’s Dragon Knights are dwindling with each dimensional jump, Haruka is starting to understand just what power she has over reality, and Noein reappears and wants to take Haruka to Shangri-la. Director Kazuki Akane’s (The Vision of Escaflowne, Escaflowne the Movie, Heat Guy J) twisted vision of the past and future returns with Noein – to your other self: Volume 3 from Manga Entertainment. (more…)
