Manga Entertainment’s Karas DVD release

Filed under: Cast Lists,News,Press Releases — S. @ 11:22 pm

As we have previously mentioned, Manga Entertainment’s upcoming release of Karas includes movie actors Matthew Lillard (Nue), Jay Hernandez (Eko) and Piper Perabo (Yurine) in the dub cast. We now have the official press release and DVD artwork for Karas which hits stores April 25th.

 

MANGA ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES CAST FOR “KARAS”

Chicago, IL – Manga Entertainment announced today that Hollywood actors, Jay Hernandez, Matthew Lillard and Piper Perabo will be the cast of the new Japanese animated DVD production “Karas.”

Karas will be released in two volumes, with both English and Japanese tracks. Karas: The Prophecy arriving on April 25 th and Karas: The Revelation releasing later in 2006. Karas is the 40 th Anniversary animation production by the renowned Japanese animation studio Tatsunoko Productions, who produced the original Speed Racer television shows and anime favorite Gatchaman. Karas is an innovative hybrid production of 2D/3D animation and has the 6.1 Surround Sound and soundtrack from the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra .

Karas , (The Crow) is best described as Batman with a Samurai Sword or a Cyber-punk version of The Crow. Karas takes place in Tokyo , a city populated by both humans and ghostly beings. They exist in two dimensions; seen and unseen- spirits, apparitions and demons. Karas is the city’s guardian, and Tokyo is thrown into disarray as a former Karas named Eko attempts to seize power and bring order to the streets through force. An entity named Yurine, who represents the will of the people, stands in Eko’s way with her newly risen Karas. Now two Karas emerge to destroy either all of the demons or destroy all humanity. Which Karas will prevail?

Jay Hernandez will voice the role of Nue, a mystical creature in human form sent to Shinjuku , Japan to defeat Eko. A rising young talent, Hernandez appears in Quentin Tarantino’s newly presented horror film, Hostel portraying the role of Paxton . Jay will appear in the upcoming Oliver Stone feature “ World Trade Center ” this August co-starring with Nicolas Cage . Hernandez also appeared as Brian Chavez in Friday Night Lights , and also co-starred with Kirsten Dunst in the teen romance Crazy/Beautiful as Carlos Nunez.

Matthew Lillard is the voice of Eko, the man who was chosen as a KARAS in the past. Eko realized how to seize power in this world by upsetting the balance between the evil spirits and humans, and has resurfaced to destroy all of humanity. Lillard appeared as the creepy Stuart in Scream, co-starred with Angelina Jolie as the computer genius named “Cereal Killer” in Hackers, and most recently the role of Shaggy in Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed also starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr.

Piper Perabo is cast as the voice of Yurine, a young priestess who fired Eko as the Karas during the Edo period and is the one who chooses all the Karas.’ Perabo starred as Nora Baker in Cheaper by the Dozen (1 & 2), Violet Sanford in Coyote Ugly and has just signed on with director Christopher Nolan ( Memento and Batman Begins ) for an upcoming film Prestige , co-starring Scarlett Johansson, Michael Cain, Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman and David Bowie.

Manga Entertainment, known for being the first anime distributor in America to release Japanese anime into major movie theatres across the country has successfully influenced Hollywood filmmakers with their high-quality Japanese animated releases. Now, for the first time, the company is working with Hollywood actors to bring amazing anime to a new generation of fans and to new audiences.

Several of Manga’s acclaimed releases, such as “Ghost in the Shell,” “Perfect Blue” and “Blood: The Last Vampire” have become embedded in American pop-culture.

Manga Entertainment Inc. specializes in the production and distribution of Japanese animation for theatrical, DVD and home video release worldwide. Manga’s cutting-edge film collection also features Asian live-action, cult, pop-culture and international animation. The Manga film library is marketed and distributed in the U.S. through Anchor Bay Entertainment. Manga is headquartered in Chicago and has offices in London and Tokyo . www.manga.com

Manga Entertainment is an Anchor Bay Entertainment Company . Anchor Bay Entertainment is a recognized name in home entertainment.  The company offers an expansive selection of award-winning, notable theatrical films including “Time Bandits” and “Halloween,” classic television programming such as “Roseanne,” “3 rd Rock from the Sun,” “Three’s Company,” “Highlander” and much of the Stephen J. Cannell library, traditional children’s fare featuring the ever-popular Thomas & Friends collection and Mister Rogers Neighborhood, the impressive Manga anime line and chart-topping fitness titles including the “Crunch” and “For Dummies” series.   Anchor Bay Entertainment is aggressively developing a wide range of original programs and concepts in addition to licensing existing brands and films.

Anchor Bay Entertainment is a subsidiary of IDT Entertainment. IDT Entertainment is a vertically integrated entertainment company that develops, produces, and distributes proprietary and licensed entertainment content. IDT Entertainment is a subsidiary of IDT Corporation (NYSE:IDT, IDT.C), an international telecom, entertainment, and technology company.

JAY HERNANDEZ as “NUE”

Nue is a mystical creature in human form sent to Japan to defeat EKO, the former Karas (Raven) during the Edo Period.

Jay Hernandez emerged onto the Hollywood scene opposite Kirsten Dunst in the 2001 film Crazy/Beautiful . Since then, Hernandez has starred in a number of films, including Disney’s sleeper hit The Rookie opposite Dennis Quaid, Joseph Kahn’s Torque with Ice Cube, and Ladder 49 with Joaquin Phoenix and John Travolta.

Most recently, in the fall of 2004, Hernandez was seen in Friday Night Lights with Billy Bob Thornton. The film, based on true events, profiles the economically depressed town of Odessa , Texas and their heroic high school football team. Hernandez also recently completed production on the historical epic Nomad , an independent feature set in 18 th -century Kazakhstan , which debuted in Cannes and will be distributed next year by the Weinstein Company.

Hernandez can currently be seen in the disturbing psychological thriller Hostel , the latest project from writer/director Eli Roth ( Cabin Fever ) and executive producer Quentin Tarantino ( Kill Bill) . Premiering last September at the Toronto Film Festival to rave reviews, the film opened #1 at the box office in January 2006, displacing two blockbusters ( The Chronicles of Narnia and King Kong ) that had been competing at the top of the chart for a month. In it, Hernandez stars as the sole survivor of a post-collegiate “right-of-passage” backpacking trip to Europe gone horribly wrong as the men quickly become unsuspecting victims in an underground ring of human trafficking and sex tourism.

In August 2006, Hernandez will appear in the highly-anticipated Oliver Stone 9/11 project, World Trade Center , for Paramount Pictures. The story follows three New York City Port Authority officers (played by Hernandez, Nicolas Cage, and Michael Pena) who volunteered to enter the World Trade Center after the planes were flown into the tower. World Trade Center will be released in theaters August 2006.

MATTHEW LILLARD as “Eko”

Eko was selected by Yurine to be protective Karas during the Edo period. However, Eko realized how to take power in the world by upsetting the balance between spirits and humans. He turned his back on Yurine to realize his plans for dominance and in doing so changed the course of destiny.

Matthew Lillard. Constantly delivering memorable performances, Matthew Lillard is quickly becoming one of Hollywood ‘s most sought-after talents.Lillard will soon be seen in the comedy The Groomsmen opposite Edward Burns and John Leguizamo. The film, directed by Burns, follows the groom and his four attendants as they wrestle with issues related to friendship and maturity a week before the big day. In addition, he recently completed production on the romantic comedy What Love Is , opposite Cuba Gooding Jr. and Anne Heche.

Lillard was previously seen in Paramount ‘s hilarious comedy, Without A Paddle , opposite Seth Green and Dax Shepard. Lillard also starred opposite Josh Hartnett in Lakeshore Entertainment’s drama, Wicker Park . Additionally, Lillard starred in the sequel, Scooby Doo: Monsters Unleashed . In it, Lillard reprised his role as the revered animated character, “Shaggy.” The film followed the gang on their latest mystery adventure as they investigated the dastardly plans of a masked villain.

Matthew Lillard burst onto the screen in Miramax’s huge box-office grossing film, Scream and captured audiences with his hyper-kinetic portrayal of the teen serial killer “Stuart.” The performance earned him critical acclaim and worldwide recognition. Additional film credits include Warner Brothers box-office smash hit Scooby Doo, an appearance in “A Very Muppet Chris tmas Movie,” the horror film Thirteen Ghosts, She’s All That, Summer Catch, Love’s Labour’s Lost , S.L.C. Punk , Wing Commander , Senseless and The Curve with Keri Russell, as well as a cameo in the comic-caper The Perfect Score for Paramount.

Piper Perabo as “Yurine”

Yurine is the priestess for Tokyo and is the only one who can choose which Karas governs Japan . She represents and executes the “intentions of the street.” She uses KARAS to protect the streets and avenge evil deeds.

Piper Perabo has been working non-stop since her big-screen splash in Jerry Bruckheimer’s Coyote Ugly . She was recently seen in the sci-fi thriller The Cave , opposite Cole Hauser, Morris Chestnut and Lena Headey. Her latest release is Adam Shankman’s Cheaper by the Dozen 2 in which she reprises her role as the eldest daughter to Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt.

Perabo has other projects soon to be released such as: Imagine Me & You , with Lena Headey and Mathew Goode; as well as David J. Burke’s Edison , in which she stars with Kevin Spacey and Morgan Freeman, and as the romantic lead opposite Justin Timberlake; she wrapped First Snow, a film directed by Mark Fergus, costarring Guy Pearce and Adam Scott; the crime drama 10 th & Wolf, in which she stars in an ensemble cast that includes James Marsden and Dennis Hopper; and Perception for writer/director Irving Schwartz.

Her feature film debut was in the comedy White Boyz , written by Danny Hoch. She also starred in comedy caper The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle opposite Robert De Niro and Renee Russo, George and the Dragon with Michael Clark Duncan and James Purefoy, and cult favorite Lost and Delirious , directed by Lea Pool.

 

Piper Perabo has been working non-stop since her big-screen splash in Jerry Bruckheimer’s Coyote Ugly . She was recently seen in the sci-fi thriller The Cave , opposite Cole Hauser, Morris Chestnut and Lena Headey. Her latest release is Adam Shankman’s Cheaper by the Dozen 2 in which she reprises her role as the eldest daughter to Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt.

Perabo has other projects soon to be released such as: Imagine Me & You , with Lena Headey and Mathew Goode; as well as David J. Burke’s Edison , in which she stars with Kevin Spacey and Morgan Freeman, and as the romantic lead opposite Justin Timberlake; she wrapped First Snow, a film directed by Mark Fergus, costarring Guy Pearce and Adam Scott; the crime drama 10 th & Wolf, in which she stars in an ensemble cast that includes James Marsden and Dennis Hopper; and Perception for writer/director Irving Schwartz.

Her feature film debut was in the comedy White Boyz , written by Danny Hoch. She also starred in comedy caper The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle opposite Robert De Niro and Renee Russo, George and the Dragon with Michael Clark Duncan and James Purefoy, and cult favorite Lost and Delirious , directed by Lea Pool.

 


Lillard was previously seen in Paramount ‘s hilarious comedy, Without A Paddle , opposite Seth Green and Dax Shepard. Lillard also starred opposite Josh Hartnett in Lakeshore Entertainment’s drama, Wicker Park . Additionally, Lillard starred in the sequel, Scooby Doo: Monsters Unleashed . In it, Lillard reprised his role as the revered animated character, “Shaggy.” The film followed the gang on their latest mystery adventure as they investigated the dastardly plans of a masked villain.

Matthew Lillard burst onto the screen in Miramax’s huge box-office grossing film, Scream and captured audiences with his hyper-kinetic portrayal of the teen serial killer “Stuart.” The performance earned him critical acclaim and worldwide recognition. Additional film credits include Warner Brothers box-office smash hit Scooby Doo, an appearance in “A Very Muppet Chris tmas Movie,” the horror film Thirteen Ghosts, She’s All That, Summer Catch, Love’s Labour’s Lost , S.L.C. Punk , Wing Commander , Senseless and The Curve with Keri Russell, as well as a cameo in the comic-caper The Perfect Score for Paramount.

Piper Perabo as “Yurine”

Yurine is the priestess for Tokyo and is the only one who can choose which Karas governs Japan . She represents and executes the “intentions of the street.” She uses KARAS to protect the streets and avenge evil deeds.

Piper Perabo has been working non-stop since her big-screen splash in Jerry Bruckheimer’s Coyote Ugly . She was recently seen in the sci-fi thriller The Cave , opposite Cole Hauser, Morris Chestnut and Lena Headey. Her latest release is Adam Shankman’s Cheaper by the Dozen 2 in which she reprises her role as the eldest daughter to Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt.

Perabo has other projects soon to be released such as: Imagine Me & You , with Lena Headey and Mathew Goode; as well as David J. Burke’s Edison , in which she stars with Kevin Spacey and Morgan Freeman, and as the romantic lead opposite Justin Timberlake; she wrapped First Snow, a film directed by Mark Fergus, costarring Guy Pearce and Adam Scott; the crime drama 10 th & Wolf, in which she stars in an ensemble cast that includes James Marsden and Dennis Hopper; and Perception for writer/director Irving Schwartz.

Her feature film debut was in the comedy White Boyz , written by Danny Hoch. She also starred in comedy caper The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle opposite Robert De Niro and Renee Russo, George and the Dragon with Michael Clark Duncan and James Purefoy, and cult favorite Lost and Delirious , directed by Lea Pool.

 

Piper Perabo has been working non-stop since her big-screen splash in Jerry Bruckheimer’s Coyote Ugly . She was recently seen in the sci-fi thriller The Cave , opposite Cole Hauser, Morris Chestnut and Lena Headey. Her latest release is Adam Shankman’s Cheaper by the Dozen 2 in which she reprises her role as the eldest daughter to Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt.

Perabo has other projects soon to be released such as: Imagine Me & You , with Lena Headey and Mathew Goode; as well as David J. Burke’s Edison , in which she stars with Kevin Spacey and Morgan Freeman, and as the romantic lead opposite Justin Timberlake; she wrapped First Snow, a film directed by Mark Fergus, costarring Guy Pearce and Adam Scott; the crime drama 10 th & Wolf, in which she stars in an ensemble cast that includes James Marsden and Dennis Hopper; and Perception for writer/director Irving Schwartz.

Her feature film debut was in the comedy White Boyz , written by Danny Hoch. She also starred in comedy caper The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle opposite Robert De Niro and Renee Russo, George and the Dragon with Michael Clark Duncan and James Purefoy, and cult favorite Lost and Delirious , directed by Lea Pool.

 

1 Comment ---»---»

  1. This is Awesome!, I absolutely fell in love with Nue when I first saw him, and I think Jay is a great actor, so this AWESOME!!!, But I didn’t think Matthew would play an evil character!

    • Bagheera
    •  
    • August 14, 2008 | Link

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