Anime News

Anime and Japanese entertainment fans rejoice. Jmarket.com, a Japanese entertainment online store, was launched on October 6th. The website offers tons of anime, manga, traditional products and tons more are offered.  Really taking a look there is some good stuff and I am sure the selection will grow.

Check out the press release below.

Animation and Gaming Ohio is proud to announce that Scott McNeil will be making his return to Ohio for the first time in years! Scott McNeil initially pursued a career in theatre with Studio 58. After leaving, he worked as an Elvis Impersonator while trying to find acting jobs. He finally made his big break doing a variety of voices on The New Adventures of He-Man. The first Anime role that Scott provided his voice for was Project A-ko. Scott went back to acting for a while, appearing in several films, including two episodes of Highlander: The Series, before lending his voice to Beastwars. Scott has described that this is the work he is most proud of. He was also cast in the role of the original “Piccolo” in Dragon Ball Z, “Duo Maxwell” in Mobile Suit: Gundam Wing, and “Principal Kuno” in Ranma ½. Scott has done a variety of voices from various animes, including InuYasha, Full Metal Alchemist, Monster Rancher, and Death Note.

Accompanying Scott McNeil will be internet star & musician Brentalfloss. Brent made his mark on the scene with a music video about "The Legend of Zelda" which ended up being showcased on YouTube.com for 2 days and acquiring over a million hits. The video was also picked up by G4 TV as part of "Attack of the Show." Since then he has been a regular on Screw Attack.com and continues to make videos and music for the masses.

Animation and Gaming Ohio (A&G Ohio) is a convention ran by the fans, for the fans. It not only includes Japanese animation, but American animation as well. Gaming is also incorporated with the signature gaming events and the massive game room A&G has to offer. A&G Ohio is a fourth year convention based out of Cincinnati, OH.

Press Release for September 23, 2010

Sunrise announced today that the North America premiere of the movie, Mobile Suit Gundam 00: A wakening of the Trailblazer, will take place at New York Anime Festival/New York Comic Con on Sunday, October 10, 2:00-4:00pm. The movie will be subtitled in English with Japanese audio.

This movie is a two hour all original sequel to the television series Mobile Suit Gundam 00, which had two seasons and ran for 50 episodes. The movie will premiere in Japan on September 18th and will be released in some other Asian Countries this fall.

The series story was set at the dawn of the 24th century and the world was still torn by conflict, driven by the rivalry between three great superpower blocs. Then the private armed organization called Celestial Being appeared, announcing its intention to rid the world of war and conflict.

In the movie, the year is 2314 AD, two years after Celestial Being’s last great battle, and the world faces a new crisis. A derelict Jupiter exploration ship, abandoned 130 years ago, has left its orbit and is approaching Earth. As Celestial Being and its Gundam Meisters begin their final mission to save humanity from an unimaginable threat, Gundam Meister Setsuna F. Seiei is about to discover the true purpose of his evolution as an Innovator, and the nature of the “dialogues” for which legendary scientist Aeolia Schenberg’s plan has been preparing the human race.

The all original feature is directed by Seiji Mizushima, director of the television series.

ABOUT SUNRISE

Sunrise, Inc, a Namco Bandai Group Company, is an animation production studio who produces smash hit anime series like the original Mobile Suit Gundam, and all of the subsequent series in the Gundam franchaise, as well as Cowboy Bebop, Escaflowne and many more . The company is located in Suginami, Tokyo, Japan and was established in 1972. The President is Mr. Kenji Uchida. http://sunrise-inc.co.jp/international/index.html

ABOUT THE NEW YORK ANIME FESTIVAL

The New York Anime Festival takes place at the Jacob K. Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan and is organized by Reed Exhibitions, the creators of New York Comic Con. The New York Anime Festival showcases the best of anime pop culture, including the latest anime, manga, Japanese cinema, music, and games, and anime-influenced comics, animation, and films from around the world. The festival features exclusive and extensive screenings, a gala cosplay masquerade, sessions with the some of the biggest names in anime from Japan, Asia, and America, and explores the Japanese cultural experience with displays of both traditional and cutting-edge Japanese life. (www.newyorkanimefestival.com)

VIZ CINEMA CELEBRATES SPRING WITH A COLORFUL SCHEDULE OF DELICIOUS EVENTS AND UNIQUE FILM SCREENINGS FOR APRIL

Theatre Welcomes Director Yuri Nomura For The Premiere Of Eatrip, Screens New Films Sakuran And Gravity’s Clowns, Announces A Special Gundam Movie Marathon
And Much More!

San Francisco, CA, March 29, 2010 – April welcomes Spring, and VIZ Cinema, the nation’s only movie theatre dedicated to Japanese film, celebrates the season of the sakura (cherry blossom) with a colorful – and tasty – schedule of films and fun events.

Don’t miss a very rare personal appearance by Director Yuri Nomura for the U.S. premiere of her acclaimed documentary film about gastronomy, Eatrip. Known widely in Japan as a chef, author and teacher, and also for her Food Creative Team, “Eatrip,” that takes ‘eating’ to the next level. Eatrip created a buzz in film festivals worldwide and now comes to San Francisco!

SAKURAN Nomura will attend the U.S. premiere of Eatrip at VIZ Cinema on April 10th as part of the 43rd annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco’s Japantown. Tickets are available to attend a unique dinner and discussion with the Nomura, hosted in association with Sylvan Mishima Brackett, owner of PEKO-PEKO and the former creative director at the world-renowned restaurant, Chez Panisse, in Berkeley, CA. VIP tickets are $50.00 and include dinner and reception (April 10th, 7:00pm) and are now available for purchase online.

Other new films opening in April include Sakuran, Gravity’s Clowns and a special Gundam Forever Movie Marathon! Science fiction fans can also look forward to the next installment of TokyoScope: The Wild and Crazy World of Japanese Cult Films Vol. 2, which this month focuses on MECHA MANIA: Four Decades of Slam-Bang Sci-Fi Robot Anime, and a special screening of K-20: The Fiend with Twenty Faces to celebrate the release of the film on DVD by VIZ Pictures on April 20th. Preview trailers and screening times for all films are available at: http://www.vizcinema.com.

Sakuran, March 26th – April 8th
Cinema starlet Anna Tsuchiya, who first thrilled audiences as the brash and spunky biker in Kamikaze Girls, returns with similar on-screen swagger but melts this time with sensuality in Sakuran. The film is based on a popular manga comic about the life of a girl with an unfortunate childhood and brought up to become a Yoshiwara courtesan during Tokyo’s Edo era. The film is alight with bright and colorful sizzle and a unique soundtrack by pop diva Sheena Ringo. This film contains nudity. Parental guidance is recommended.

Tokyo Scope: The Wild and Crazy World of Japanese Cult Films
Vol.2 MECHA MANIA: Four Decades of Slam-Bang Sci-Fi Robot Anime – Friday, April 9th 7:00pm
Join Patrick Macias, Editor-in-Chief of OTAKU USA, as he hosts the second lecture in his ongoing series about Japanese cinema. This time it’s all about ‘mecha’ (robots and machines). Macias gives insights into the long and storied world of mecha anime from its inception in the 60’s with Tetsujin 28, and on through the 80s with Gundam and the dawn of a new generation of films such as Gurren Lagann. Tickets are $8:00. No further discounts will apply.

Gundam Movie Marathon, Saturday, April 10th – One Day Only!
Mobile Suit Gundam Movie I, 11:00am
Mobile Suit Gundam Movie II: Soldiers of Sorrow, 1:35pm
Mobile Suit Gundam Movie III: Encounters in Space, 4:05pm
VIZ Cinema’s Weeknight Anime People makes a special weekend stop with an afternoon of Gundam! In the year 0079 of the Universal Century, the Earth Federation and its space colonies are engaged in an apocalyptic war. The rebellious Duchy of Zeon, using humanoid fighting machines called Mobile Suits, has all but vanquished the Federation. Now the Federation’s last hope is the prototype Mobile Suit, Gundam. When a twist of fate makes young civilian Amuro Ray the sole-pilot of Gundam, Amuro’s own battle begins – a struggle not only for the Federation’s survival, but for his own. General ticket price: $10:00; Combo tickets are $25:00. No further discounts will apply.

Eatrip, April 10th – April 15th
Eatrip explores the interpersonal relationships that food nurtures. This documentary includes interviews with actor Tadanobu Asano, singer UA, tea master Sen Souoku, and many others. It takes you on a journey throughout Japan to look at how life can be led optimally through the daily ritual of eating. To eat is indeed to live. Life is just an “eating trip” (Eatrip). Director Yuri Nomura will attend the U.S. premiere of Eatrip at VIZ Cinema on April 10th.

Gravity’s Clowns, April 16th – April 29th
Based on the emotionally haunting suspense thriller, A Pierrot, by Kotaro Isaka, Gravity’s Clowns follows brothers Izumi and Haru, who both hold bitter memories from the past. When a serial arsonist begins leaving mysterious graffiti by burn sites, they become obsessively drawn to solving the dangerous case on their own. As they uncover the facts, their own dark family secrets are unraveled.

K-20: The Fiend with Twenty Faces, Thursday, April 20th, 7:00pm
Celebrate the release of K-20 on DVD by VIZ Pictures with this special one-night-only screening. It is 1949 in Japan, in a world where World War II never happened and the nobility system is still in place. Heikichi, a circus acrobat, is deceived by “The Fiend (Kaijin) with Twenty Faces”, a.k.a. K-20, and is set up to take the fall for the phantom thief. Now, Heikichi must wage war against K-20. The character K-20 is originally from the bestseller mystery novel series by Rampo Edogawa. Stars Takeshi Kaneshiro, Takako Matsu, and Toru Nakamura. Tickets to attend movie-only are: $10; or to attend the film and take home the brand new DVD, a K-20 poster, and more for only $25.00.

VIZ Cinema is the nation’s only movie theatre devoted exclusively to Japanese film and anime. The 143-seat subterranean theatre is located in the basement of the NEW PEOPLE building and features plush seating, digital as well as 35mm projection, and a THX®-certified sound system.

NEW PEOPLE offers the latest films, art, fashion and retail brands from Japan and is the creative vision of the J-Pop Center Project and VIZ Pictures, a distributor and producer of Japanese live action film. Located at 1746 Post Street, the 20,000 square foot structure features a striking 3-floor transparent glass façade that frames a fun and exotic new environment to engage the imagination into the 21st Century. A dedicated web site is also now available at: www.NewPeopleWorld.com.