Neon Alley Channel To Debut Aniplex’s FATE/ZERO Anime This Spring!

from VIZ Media

VIZ Media is excited to announce the addition of supernatural action
series FATE/ZERO to the Neon Alley channel this spring! FATE/ZERO, from
distributor Aniplex, joins a lineup that includes exclusive episode debuts
of BLUE EXORICIST (also from Aniplex), INUYASHA: THE FINAL ACT, LAGRANGE:
THE FLOWER OF RIN-NE, NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN and TIGER & BUNNY,
alongside blockbusters NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, ONE PIECE, and more! *

FATE/ZERO is the story of an ultimate battle royale, in which seven Masters
vying for control of the miracle-granting Holy Grail summon
seven Servants to fight until only one remains! The dub trailer may be
viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lnna2-Kc7E

Neon Alley is *THE* 24-hour channel destination for the world’s best anime,
uncut & dubbed and in HD when available. The channel is available currently
through the Neon Alley app on the PlayStation Network and PlayStation 3,
and is coming soon to Xbox! More information, along with a free 1 week
trial to the channel, may be found at NeonAlley.com.

Resident Evil: Welcome to Racoon City

The official trailer for the new fan-made web series dropping February 28th, 2013. Experience the horror again as you did when “Resident Evil” first launched for the original Playstation platform! Live action and full of zombie carnage! Watch as three different story lines unfold before you! Better yet…you get to choose who to follow! Iconic characters Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, and Leon S. Kennedy fight to withstand the evil operations being conducted by Umbrella! Evil is coming!

Facebook Like A Boss TV

YouTube Like A Boss TV Now

Twitter @likeabosstv #eviliscoming

 

Paperman – Full Animated Short Film from Disney Animation

Introducing a groundbreaking technique that seamlessly merges computer-generated and hand-drawn animation techniques, first-time director John Kahrs takes the art of animation in a bold new direction with the Oscar®-nominated short, “Paperman.” Using a minimalist black-and-white style, the short follows the story of a lonely young man in mid-century New York City, whose destiny takes an unexpected turn after a chance meeting with a beautiful woman on his morning commute. Convinced the girl of his dreams is gone forever, he gets a second chance when he spots her in a skyscraper window across the avenue from his office. With only his heart, imagination and a stack of papers to get her attention, his efforts are no match for what the fates have in store for him. Created by a small, innovative team working at Walt Disney Animation Studios, “Paperman” pushes the animation medium in an exciting new direction.

SuBLime Celebrates 1-Year Anniversary With New Acquisitions & Promos!

SuBLime, the global yaoi manga (graphic novel) publishing initiative between VIZ Media and Japan’s Animate, Ltd., is proud to mark its 1-year anniversary and emergence as North America’s premier yaoi/boys’ love imprint.

SuBLime is celebrating this important milestone with the announcement of six new title acquisitions. TABLEAU NUM…RO 20, by celebrated creator est em, and MAN OF TANGO, by Tetuzoh Okadaya, will both be available Fall 2013 in print and digital editions. Digital-only titles available Summer 2013 include PERFECT TRAINING by Yuiji Aniya, SWEET MONSTER by Tsubaki Mikage, PRETTY MEN FIGHTING DIRTY by Sakira, and LOST LETTERS by Sakae Kusama.

A couple of special discounts and promotional offers will also be available to fans for a limited time. Leading manga and anime retailer Right Stuf is offering 40% off on all SuBLime print manga orders of 2 volumes or more starting today through February 13th. A special Valentine’s Day freebie will also be available directly from the SuBLime website starting February 14th at: www.SuBLimeManga.com.

“VIZ Media’s SuBLime imprint achieved an important milestone with our first year anniversary, and over the past 12 months we’ve developed a substantial collection of celebrated yaoi titles from a cadre of the genre’s top creators,” says Jennifer LeBlanc, Editor, SuBLime. “From AWKWARD SILENCE to YEBISU CELEBRITIES, SuBLime offers an expanding catalog of manga titles to impress even the most discriminating reader. 2013 will be an even more exciting year for SuBLime as we continue to nurture the expansion of the yaoi/boys’ love genre globally and prepare a potent roster of new title debuts.”

Since launching in January 2012, SuBLime has released 20 different titles available as print and/or digital releases. SuBLime digital editions are available with an MSRP of $5.99 (U.S.), and print editions are offered with an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $14.99 CAN. Digital versions are available worldwide from SuBLimeManga.com and are viewable as a download-to-own PDF on any enabled eReader device or computer, or may be directly accessed via the online manga viewer found on the web site.

New 2013 SuBLime Print+Digital Titles

Man of Tango, by Tetuzoh Okadaya
Rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers · Available September 2013

Tableau NUM…RO 20, by est em
Rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers · Available October 2013

New 2013 SuBLime Digital Titles

PERFECT TRAINING, by Yuiji Aniya
Rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers · Available June 2013

SWEET MONSTER, by Tsubaki Mikage
Rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers · Available June 2013

PRETTY MEN FIGHTING DIRTY, by Sakira
Rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers · Available July 2013

LOST LETTERS, by Sakae Kusama
Rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers · Available August 2013

In addition to the new acquisitions, fans can look forward to the debut of 11 additional new titles this year, including:

BLUE MORNING Vol. 1, by Shoko Hidaka
BOYS, BE AMBITIOUS!, by Saburo Nagai
EGOISTIC BLUE, by Mio Tennohji
EMBRACING LOVE Vol. 1: 2-in-1 Edition, by Youka Nitta
FALSE MEMORIES Vol. 1, by Isaku Natsume · Creator of DEVIL’S HONEY, also published by SuBLime
Hide And seek, by Yaya Sakuragi · Sequel to BOND OF DREAMS, BOND OF LOVE, also available from SuBLime
THE MATCH SELLER, by Sakae Kusama
THE RAVISHING OF THE CROWN PRINCE, by Wang Yi & Feng Nong
SLEEPING MOON Vol. 1, by Miyamoto Kano
SPIRITUAL POLICE Vol. 1, by Youka Nitta
SWORD AND MIST, by Hayate Kuku

For up-to-date news and release information, please visit the SuBLime website at SuBLimeManga.com, or follow SuBLime on Twitter at @SuBLimeManga, Facebook at facebook.com/SuBLimeManga, or Tumblr at sublimemanga.tumblr.com.

About SuBLime

SuBLime is a global yaoi/boys’ love manga publisher, and is a partnership between VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, and Japan’s Animate, Ltd. (Animate). This bold, global publishing initiative will present English-speaking fans everywhere with a broad selection of high quality titles. SuBLime will offer titles digitally worldwide available at www.SuBLimeManga.com, with many available in download-to-own format, and selections in print also available in English-language editions worldwide.

Injustice: Gods Among Us Trailer

Today, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment released the newest trailer from Injustice: Gods Among Us. Featuring Lex Luthor and other major players from the game’s story, the video provides the first glimpse into the battle lines being drawn among heroes and villains.

Injustice: Gods Among Us is an all-new game in development by award-winning NetherRealm Studios, creators of the definitive fighting game franchise Mortal Kombat. The title debuts a bold new fighting game franchise that introduces a deep, original story featuring a large cast of favourite DC Comics icons such as Batman, Green Arrow, Cyborg, Harley Quinn, Nightwing, Solomon Grundy, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and many others. Set in a world where the lines between good and evil are blurred, players will experience heroes and villains engaging in epic battles on a massive scale.

For more information on the game, visit www.injustice.com.

VIZ Media Announces 2013 Launch of Max Steele Original Graphic Based on New Kids Animated Superhero Series

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has announced its newest forthcoming original graphic novel series with the launch of MAX STEEL. Scheduled to debut in the Fall of 2013, MAX STEEL will be published under the VIZ Kids imprint, is rated ‘A’ for All Ages, and will carry an MSRP of $7.99 U.S. / $9.99 CAN.

Developed by Mattel, MAX STEEL is a global boy’s entertainment franchise spanning toys, publishing and consumer products. In addition, a new MAX STEEL CGI animated series co-produced with FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME)will premiere in the U.S. on the Disney XD channel on March 25, 2013.

Max Steel is the ultimate aspirational teen hero with a secret! The story revolves around the trials and tribulations of a teenaged boy named Maxwell McGrathT and his out-of-this world alien companion, Steel. Both have super strengths and powers, Max with Turbo energy and Steel with alien intellect. Steel gives Maxwell the ability to harness his power while merging his own to create one unified super force, Max Steel. When they combine forces to create Max Steel, the ultimate superhero is unleashed- unlocking their inner heroes.

“MAX STEEL is a fun and action-packed adventure that we look forward to launching this year,” says Beth Kawasaki, Senior Editorial Director, VIZ Kids. “Max and his sidekick, Steel, embark on all sorts of adventures as they battle evil forces and monstrous villains while balancing school, first dates and homework. Our latest original graphic novel property will add an exciting new dimension to the MAX STEEL franchise. Max and Steel will soon discover that facing challenges together is always better than facing them alone and the power of two is always greater than the power of one!”

The new original graphic novel series from VIZ Media and the forthcoming animated series launches the MAX STEEL storyline with exciting characters, villains and a superhero for today’s tech forward kid. For more information on MAX STEEL or other VIZ Kids titles, please visit http://www.vizkids.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan. Owned by three of Japan’s largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa.

With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages. VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products. Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

J.J. Abrams to Direct Star Wars: Episode VII

From Lucasfilm:

After a bevy of emails and phone calls, the formalities have been wrapped up, and at long last everyone can exhale and properly share the word with an excited Internet. Yes, J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars: Episode VII, the first of a new series of Star Wars films to come from Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy. Abrams will be directing and Academy Award-winning writer Michael Arndt will write the screenplay.

“It’s very exciting to have J.J. aboard leading the charge as we set off to make a new Star Wars movie,” said Kennedy. “J.J. is the perfect director to helm this. Beyond having such great instincts as a filmmaker, he has an intuitive understanding of this franchise. He understands the essence of the Star Wars experience, and will bring that talent to create an unforgettable motion picture.”

George Lucas went on to say “I’ve consistently been impressed with J.J. as a filmmaker and storyteller. He’s an ideal choice to direct the new Star Wars film and the legacy couldn’t be in better hands.”

“To be a part of the next chapter of the Star Wars saga, to collaborate with Kathy Kennedy and this remarkable group of people, is an absolute honor,” J.J. Abrams said. “I may be even more grateful to George Lucas now than I was as a kid.”

J.J., his longtime producing partner Bryan Burk, and Bad Robot are on board to produce along with Kathleen Kennedy under the Disney | Lucasfilm banner.

Also consulting on the project are Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg. Kasdan has a long history with Lucasfilm, as screenwriter on The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Return of the Jedi. Kinberg was writer on Sherlock Holmes and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Abrams and his production company Bad Robot have a proven track record of blockbuster movies that feature complex action, heartfelt drama, iconic heroes and fantastic production values with such credits as Star Trek, Super 8, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, and this year’s Star Trek Into Darkness. Abrams has worked with Lucasfilm’s preeminent postproduction facilities, Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, on all of the feature films he has directed, beginning with Mission: Impossible III. He also created or co-created such acclaimed television series as Felicity, Alias, Lost and Fringe.

Past Star Wars veterans, dating back to the classic trilogy, offered words of praise from their direct experience with Abrams:

Visual Effects Supervisor Dennis Muren, ASC, whose credits include the original Star Wars trilogy as well as landmark films such as E.T. and Jurassic Park, also worked with Abrams on Super 8. “He puts everything he has into his work,” said Muren. “He totally immerses himself. He’s got such a visual eye, which is so important to the Star Wars films. It seems that a lot of the same things that were in George when he made the first Star Wars films are also in J.J. I think he’s going to fit into the other movies perfectly, with the energy that J.J. has. We’re kick-starting Star Wars again with dynamite. It will knock people out, including the people who get to work on it. I think it’s a great choice.”

Ben Burtt, responsible for such iconic Star Wars sounds as Darth Vader’s breathing, R2-D2’s beeps and the classic lightsaber, has worked with Abrams as sound designer and sound editor on Star Trek and Super 8. “J.J represents the next generation of filmmakers from those that were making Star Wars when I started,” said Ben Burtt. “When he was a teen, he was a fan of Star Wars, and a great deal of his love for movies came out of his reaction of that first Star Wars film. You feel that he’s already invested so many years in it, and he’s going to propel it forward in a new way. In other words, you’re having a fan who has grown up and developed tremendous directorial skills finding himself at the steering wheel to take the franchise into the next stage. I feel like I’m there watching history turn over from one era to another.”

Matthew Wood, who served as supervising sound editor on Super 8, similarly grew up as a Star Wars fan before working on the films through the prequels. “Working with him, it was so obvious to me that J.J. and I have the same nostalgic love of that era. Now we have someone from that generation who is going to be at the helm of the Star Wars franchise that I’ve known and worked on, so it’s a great circle. Just seeing what he did with Super 8 and capturing those moments, and knowing what was so special about that era, it’s going to speak to a new generation of audience as well.”

For information about Star Wars: Episode VII as it develops, keep checking StarWars.com.

Nintendo Outlines Its Vision for Wii U

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata unleashed Wii U news in an installment of Nintendo Direct today as he outlined Nintendo’s future plans for the console. Iwata revealed how the Wii U launch lineup will be bolstered by a long list of top game franchises headed for the new console. These are games that longtime players and newcomers alike will love to play, and everyone will be experiencing them in new ways, thanks to the integrated second-screen experiences enabled by the Wii U GamePad controller. Iwata also detailed a number of enhancements designed to make the Wii U game experience more social, even if people are not playing in the same room.

“The fun of video games is not only just playing games, but also sharing experiences together with people – even though they live far away, their skill levels are different or their experience does not happen at the same time,” Iwata said. “We want Wii U to be the system that brings everyone together.”
To view the Nintendo Direct in its entirety, visit

http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct. The many announcements included:

Game News

  • Two Zelda Games: Eiji Aonuma, the producer of The Legend of Zelda series, revealed two entries in the series for Wii U.
  • Super Mario is on His Way: The Nintendo EAD Tokyo Software Development team that created the Super Mario Galaxy games for Wii and Super Mario 3D Land for Nintendo 3DS is working on a new 3D Mario action game for Wii U. The game is scheduled to be playable at this year’s E3.
  • Buckle Up!: Nintendo is also working on a new installment of the hit Mario Kart franchise. This game is also planned to be playable at E3.
  • Yarn Yoshi: The team that created Kirby’s Epic Yarn is hard at work on the first console game to feature Yoshi as the main character since 1998’s Yoshi’s Story for Nintendo 64. Takashi Tezuka, director of Yoshi’s Island and Yoshi’s Story, is supervising the development of the new game, which is set in a fanciful world of yarn and textiles.
  • Wii Fit U Communities: New features coming to Wii Fit U include letting players create user communities on Miiverse from within the game. Community members can discuss exercises, BMI or weight changes and other health topics with other players as a way to encourage one another to reach their fitness goals. Similar functionality for other games is also planned.
  • Pikmin 3 Photos: The upcoming Pikmin 3 game includes a feature that lets players use the Wii U GamePad as a camera to share the same perspective as Pikmin and take close-up pictures of landscapes and creatures in the game and share them in Miiverse.
  • The Party Continues: A new installment in the Wii Party franchise is planned to launch this summer. The game features various play styles, including one that lets both players compete head-to-head using just the GamePad.
  • RPG Mashup: Nintendo has begun many collaborations with outside development partners to bring the best franchises and experiences to Wii U. In one such partnership, Nintendo and Atlus are working on a collaboration that features the Fire Emblem and Shin Megami Tensei franchises. A video trailer for the game was shown in the Nintendo Direct.
  • A New Game from Monolith Soft: Tetsuya Takahashi and the team at Monolith Soft that worked on Xenoblade for Wii are working on a new game. A video trailer for the game was shown in the Nintendo Direct.
  • More on the Way: Iwata shared a new trailer for The Wonderful 101. That game andGAME & WARIO are scheduled to launch in the first half of 2013. Iwata also showed a new video for Bayonetta 2. That game and the new Super Smash Bros. installment are still on the way, but will need more development time before details can be revealed.

Virtual Console

  • Virtual Console for Wii U: A spring system update will add Virtual Console software to the Nintendo eShop for Wii U. The service will launch right after the spring update and will include a selection of NES and Super NES games, with Game Boy Advance games to be added in the future. The prices for NES and Super NES Virtual Console games for Wii U will be the same as they were for the Virtual Console on Wii. People who have already purchased the Wii version of a certain NES or Super NES Virtual Console game and transferred it to their Wii U console can buy the enhanced Wii U version of the same game for the reduced price of $1 for NES games and $1.50 for Super NES games.
  • Classic Games for 30 Cents!: To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of the Famicom in Japan (which was known as the NES in the United States), Nintendo is making one NES or Super NES game available each month now through July at the anniversary price of just 30 cents. Each game will be available at that price for 30 days, and the first is the NES game Balloon Fight, which is now available in the Nintendo eShop for Wii U.

Social and System Enhancements

  • Miiverse Expands to Smartphones: Starting this spring, people will be able to browse Miiverse from their smartphones. Initially the experience will be browser-based, but Nintendo plans to create a dedicated Miiverse app in the future.
  • System Updates: Two major updates are on the way, one in the spring and one in the summer. The updates will introduce a wide range of functionality, such as Virtual Console capabilities and shortening the time it takes users to launch software or return to the menu screen.

Remember that Wii U features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visithttp://www.nintendo.com/wiiu. Standalone versions of the trailers for The Wonderful 101, Bayonetta 2, the new game from Monolith Soft and the collaboration featuring the Fire Emblemand Shin Megami Tensei franchises can be found at http://www.youtube.com/nintendo.

About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii U™ and Wii™ home consoles, and Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ families of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 4 billion video games and more than 637 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™, Nintendo GameCube™ and Wii systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.ca.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate Screen Caps


Developed by Mercury Steam, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate takes place 25 years after the events of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, and is a precursor to the highly anticipated and recently announced Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Windows PC.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate will be available on Nintendo 3DS™ on March 5th, 2013.

Check out more screen caps and the trailer at http://www.konami-castlevania.com/mof#/gallery

STAR WARS: The Clone Wars “Shades of Reason” Preview

With the backing of the Hutts and an army of the galaxy’s most vicious criminals –
including the Death Watch, Black Sun and the Pykes – Pre Vizsla and Maul lead an
attack on the planet of Mandalore. Conquest of Mandalore strains the tenuous
alliance between the Sith and Death Watch in “Shades of Reason,” airing this
Saturday, January 26th at 9:30am ET/PT on Cartoon Network.

Todd, the Ugliest Kid on Earth Proves so Popular Debut Issue Sells Out, Gets Second Printing

The first issue of the new Image Comics series Todd, the Ugliest Kid on Earth, has sold out at the distributor level the same week as its release and will be reprinted. The second printing of Todd, the Ugliest Kid on Earth #1 (DEC128159) will be in stores on February 20.

The first issue of the new Image Comics series Todd, the Ugliest Kid on Earth, has sold out at the distributor level the same week as its release and will be reprinted. The second printing of Todd, the Ugliest Kid on Earth #1 (DEC128159) will be in stores on February 20.

The four-issue miniseries by Ken Kristensen and MK Perker tells the story of a hapless, happy-go-lucky kid loathed by his deadbeat family and bullying classmates who finds himself in extraordinary circumstances. The second issue hits store shelves on February 13, and final orders from comic book retailers are due in on Monday, January 21.

Todd, the Ugliest Kid on Earth #1 was released on January 16 and received much positive critical attention:

“Todd, the Ugliest Kid on Earth is a fantastic book like no other. This oddball story features slightly risqué humor with fantastic art. Perker and Kristensen have a lot to live up to with the remaining three issues. If it’s anything like the first issue, we’re in for a great ride.”

Comic Book Therapy

“Kristensen and Perker are two endlessly talented individuals and Todd, The Ugliest Kid On Earth is the culmination of their shared vision. Give it a shot. You might be surprised.”

Geeks of Doom

“Todd, the Ugliest Kid on Earth is a fantastic mini-series to sink your teeth in. Ken Kristensen definitely shows that his screenwriting chops translate well to the ink and color form, as in one issue we already have a good idea of what drives each and every character.”

Watch Play Read

The Digital Version of TODD is available at ComiXology, and at Image Comics,and is coming soon to iTunes and ComicPlus.

Free Demo to Offer Fans a Sneak Peek at New Action-Packed Game via PlayStation®Network and Xbox LIVE®

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today announced a playable demo for METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE will be available via download on PlayStation®Network and Xbox LIVE® on January 22.

The free demo will showcase Chapter 1 of the game and introduce Raiden as the central character – a child soldier transformed into a cyborg ninja killing machine, equipped with a high-frequency katana blade and a soul fueled by revenge.

Developed by Kojima Productions and PlatinumGames, METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE takes the renowned METAL GEAR franchise into exciting new territory by delivering an action experience unlike anything seen before. The title brings two of the world’s most respected development teams together with a common goal of providing players with a fresh synergetic experience that combines the best elements of pure action together with epic storytelling, all within the expansive METAL GEAR universe.

METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE will be available on February 19, 2013 for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft at major retail stores nationwide.

The free demo will be available on January 22 via PlayStation®Network and Xbox LIVE®. For more information on METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE, please go to www.konami.com/download.