Category: Arts & Culture

VIZ Media Delivers a Second Round of April Digital Manga Updates for iPad

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media will round out April with a second block of monthly manga (graphic novel) updates available exclusively for the VIZ Manga App for the Apple iPad mobile device. These latest updates will include the digital premiere of 5 new manga titles and updates to 15 other series that are also currently available. Fushigi Yûgi Genbu Kaiden is set to debut on April 18th, and Arata: The Legend will launch for the iPad on April 25th.

The VIZ Manga App is available for free through the iTunes Store and all manga volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada within the application for $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) per volume. More than 125 manga volumes are now available for download.

Fushigi Yûgi Genbu Kaiden (Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) is the acclaimed sequel to Fushigi Yûgi created by Yuu Watase and debuts digitally on April 18th. When schoolgirl Takiko Okuda attempts to destroy her father’s translation of The Universe of the Four Gods, she is instead sucked into the story, becoming the Priestess of Genbu in an epic journey to find the seven Celestial Warriors!

Arata: The Legend (Rated ‘T’ for Teens) is a shojo manga series created by Yuu Watase and will debut for the iPad on April 25th. In a mythical world where humans and gods coexist, a ceremony marking the new governing princess is about to occur for the first time in 60 years. Only a girl from the Hime Clan may take this position, but the lack of females born to this family means that a boy called Arata must pose for the role. Meanwhile in modern-day Japan, a boy named Arata Hinohara is starting his new life in high school. He wants to put memories of his difficult past behind him, but things aren’t going to be simple when he discovers a mysterious connection to the first Arata…

The second round of April updates also includes new additions to 17 other popular VIZ Media series currently available. Readers should check the app regularly, as new additions and free Chapter 1 previews of forthcoming manga series for the iPad are also featured.

Twenty-seven series are now available on the VIZ Manga App; additional new manga volumes available the weeks of April 18th and April 25th include:

April 18th:
Absolute Boyfriend Vol. 2
Death Note Vol. 11
Dragon Ball Z Vol. 5
Kekkaishi Vol. 2
MeruPuri Vol. 4
Natsume’s Book of Friends Vol. 3
Naruto Vol. 22
One Piece Vol. 22
Rosario + Vampire Vol. 4
Rurouni Kenshin Vol. 11
Toriko Vol. 4

April 25th:
Black Bird Vol. 2
Bleach Vol. 13
Claymore Vol. 8
D.Gray-man Vol. 9
Dragon Ball Z Vol. 6
Fairy Cube Vol. 2
Naruto Vol. 23
One Piece Vol. 23
Vampire Knight Vol. 6

For more information on the VIZ Manga App, please visit VIZ.com/apps/.

Factory Entertainment: Green Hornet Giveaway

from Factory Entertainment:

The Green Hornet Movie Blu-Ray & DVD Contest
Want to win a copy of the Green Hornet Movie on Blu-Ray or DVD?! Our good friends at Sony Pictures were kind enough to provide us with some copies of the Green Hornet Movie on Blu-Ray and DVD (available to purchase May 3rd in the US) and now they can be yours! All you need to do is send an e-mail to salesus@factoryent.com with an answer to the following question:

Question: “In the Green Hornet Movie, what color does the Black Beauty turn into to disguise itself?”

All correct answers will be entered into a poll and winners will be selected at random. One entry per e-mail address, deadline to submit an entry is May 9th, 2011. Winners will receive one (1x) copy of the Green Hornet movie on either DVD or Blu-Ray. Prizes will be shipped the week of May 10th, 2011. We will contact you for your shipping address and preferred disc format. This competition is open to residents of the mainland USA only. Prize discs are Region: 1 for DVD and Region: A for Blu-Ray only.

P.S. If you know the answer, keep an eye out for a special and very limited product coming soon!

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Spring Steals Sale: Thousands of Products Now 40% Off

from Things from Another World:

Our Spring Steals Sale is all about saving you money this April. We started out this week by marking down thousands of toys, comics, graphic novels, statues, and other collectibles by 40%. The savings get better from there!

Savings will increase to 50% off the remaining product on April 18th, and again to 60% off the remaining product on April 25th.

We’ve already sold out of a bunch of Steals products, so if you see something you like, don’t delay! Stock is limited and someone may steal the last copy out from under you if you wait too long!

Start Shopping Our Steals Sale

ThinkGeek’s Zombie Bunny

from ThinkGeek:

Spring is sproinging!

Everywhere we turn, things are bright and cheery… except for in the meadow. It was there we discovered the bloody carnage wrought by a zombie bunny.

No ordinary rabbit, this death machine was tearing through woodland creatures until we double-bopped it on the head. Long story short, we brought it back to GeekLabs and have reproduced it — for real this time! — for your nomming pleasure. There’s plenty in stock (you know how bunnies are) so be sure to grab a few for the zombie fans in your life.

Chocolate Zombie Bunny — From April Fools to your Easter basket
Spring has sprung and all the little woodland creatures are… screaming and hippity-hopping for their lives? It’s a zombie bunny, and double-bopping him on the head isn’t going to stop his murderous rampage. Oh no, you KNEW, didn’t you? Oh, it’s just a harmless little chocolate BUNNY, isn’t it? It’s a good thing the virus turned his flesh to delicious white chocolate. Save the world; bite his head off. Yes, the chocolate zombie apocalypse is beginning and we’re ravenous for delicious candy treats.

Take $10 Off — Sproing into spring with us!
There’s nothing more serene than cherry blossoms drifting through the air over a meadow where a herd of zombie rabbits hippity-hops after their prey. Especially when you’re watching from your safehouse. Use code PREPARED for $10 off orders of $40 or more through 11:59 pm ET on 4/15/11.

Find more What’s New items at ThinkGeek!

Win $1000 from the J!NX Design Arcade

from J!NX:

New J!NX Classic Design: Computers
Marvel at the wonders of technology! Behold the spectacle of circuitry! Witness the birth of a machine that will forever eliminate the need for you to have a rickety old typewriter or abacus. With the “computer”, you can say goodbye to all your word processing and spreadsheet worries. With a soon-to-be-released upgrade, you’ll even be able to give up thinking for yourself, and just let the machines do it for you!

Special launch promotion for $5.00 off through April 15, 2011.

Submit to the J!NX Design Arcade for a chance at $1000
The J!NX Community has proven to have some very talented artists. More than a few have won $750 cash and a $250 J!NX Gift Certificate and had their designs selected to be printed as J!NX tees. Submit your design and you could be next! No artistic ability to speak of? You can still get in on the action by voting on submissions and receive 10 EXP per vote.

VIZ Media Expands VIZ Kids Imprint with a Full Slate of New Acquisitions

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, the largest distributor of anime and manga in the United States, announced a full slate of acquisitions for its kids imprint, VIZ Kids. The acquisitions include DVD, Download-To-Own, and graphic novel licenses for a wide range of well-established global franchises.

“VIZ Media is excited to expand our kids imprint to include a variety of fun new properties,” said Elizabeth Kawasaki, Senior Editorial Director of VIZ Media. “These new titles use strong storytelling, eye-popping graphics and empowering themes to engage a younger generation of fans.”

  • Hero: 108 — VIZ Kids will be distributing DVDs of this popular series which airs on Cartoon Network. Hero: 108 chronicles the battle for peace in the Hidden Kingdom. In addition, VIZ Kids will make the episodes available for download through iTunes. DVDs will be available in May 2011 while downloadable episodes will launch in June 2011.
  • Mameshiba — The irresistibly cute and irrepressibly curious Mameshiba are not quite beans, not quite dogs — they’re a hybrid of both! VIZ Kids will release a graphic novel, Mameshiba: On the Loose!, and a character guide, Meet Mameshiba, in July 2011.
  • Pokémon Black and White — VIZ Kids will release manga, a travel activity kit, and other select merchandise based on the most recent incarnation of the juggernaut Pokémon video game franchise, Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version. Meet all-new Pokémon from the fastest-selling Pokémon video games in history. The travel activity kit will be available in May 2011; Volumes 1 and 2 of the manga will be available in July 2011.
  • Mr. Men and Little Miss — Mr. Happy, Little Miss Sunshine and all their Dillydale friends are about to take the graphic novel world by storm! Under the VIZ Kids imprint, VIZ Media will create and distribute original graphic novels starring the lovable Mr. Men and Little Misses. Little Miss Sunshine, Mr. Bump, Mr. Strong and Little Miss Daredevil books will be available in Spring 2012.
  • Voltron Force — Voltron, the ultimate space adventure from the 1980s, is ready to take the world by storm again! VIZ Kids will produce and distribute original graphic novels based on the all-new animated series Voltron Force, set to debut on Nicktoons this summer. Voltron Force reignites the story of five brave space explorers who pilot mighty robot lions that combine to form Voltron, Defender of the Universe. Joining the team are three new cadets, who have the opportunity of a lifetime to fight alongside their heroes and unlock incredible new powers. Let’s Voltron! The books will be available in Spring 2012.

Hero: 108, Mameshiba, Mr. Men, and Voltron Force are unique acquisitions because they are properties not owned by any of VIZ Media’s parent companies, Shueisha, Shogakukan and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions. These acquisitions join an already robust manga and anime VIZ Kids library, which includes The Legend of Zelda, Panda Man, Taro, Beyblade and Dinosaur King.

For more information on VIZ Kids, visit VIZKids.com.

J!NX: $5 Off Select WoW Tees & Tour the Fortress

from J!NX:

Tour the J!NX Fortress – A Stop-Motion Experiment
Step inside the J!NX Fortress for a stop-motion experiment in exploration. This video represents 3623 still photos woven together with a delicate mixture of technology and sorcery. Music by STRFKR. Enjoy!

Select World of Warcraft Designs $5 Off Through April 15:

Azeroth Exterminators
Men’s Tee | Women’s Tee

Cataclysm Logo
Men’s Tee | Women’s Tee

Gadgetzan Choppers
Men’s Tee | Women’s Tee

Goblin
Men’s Tee | Women’s Tee

Green Linen Shirt
Men’s Tee | Women’s Tee

Level ?? Humanoid
Men’s Tee | Women’s Tee

Locked Chest Women’s Tee
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Rune
Men’s Tee | Women’s Tee

Worgen
Men’s Tee | Women’s Tee

Paranormal Anime Adventure “Blue Exorcist” Premieres on VIZAnime.com This Month

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media has announced that it will serve as an official distribution partner for Aniplex of America’s domestic debut of the Blue Exorcist anime series. VIZ Media will carry the new action series (subtitled) on its VIZAnime website beginning Wednesday, April 20th, just days after its eagerly anticipated debut on Japanese TV on April 17th. New episodes will stream on the site every Wednesday.

In the animated series, Rin, along with his twin brother Yukio Okumura are raised by an eminent priest, Shiro Fujimoto, but one day Rin discovers that their biological father is actually Satan! As the border between “Assiah” (the human world) and “Gehenna” (demon’s world) is intruded upon by evils, Rin vows to become the ultimate exorcist to defeat his own father, Satan. To hone his raw skills, Rin enters True Cross Academy to train with other exorcist candidates. Can Rin fight the demons and keep his infernal bloodline a secret? It won’t be easy, especially when drawing his father’s sword releases the demonic power within him!

VIZ Media is the official North American publisher of the Blue Exorcist manga (graphic novel) series, created Kazue Kato. Volume 1 is on sale now and is published under the company’s Shonen Jump Advanced imprint. Blue Exorcist is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and carries an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

Blue Exorcist Volume 1 will also available on April 11th as part of VIZ Media’s expansive digital manga library available exclusively for the VIZ Manga App for the Apple iPad mobile device. For more information on the VIZ Manga App, please visit VIZ.com/apps/.

Manga creator, writer and illustrator Kazue Kato won the prestigious Tezuka Award when she was only 19 for her work, Rabbit and I, published in Japan in Akamaru Jump magazine. Her latest manga series, Blue Exorcist, debuted in Jump Square magazine in April of 2009.

Welcome Spring with MIMOBOT and Take 60% Off on Select Stuff We Like!

from Mimoco:

Hello Spring! Spruce up your memory storage device with MIMOBOT Designer USB Flash Drives! Shop Now!

Brand New STUFF WE LIKE!
In the Brief Zipper Pulls $2.95
Android Mini Series 02 $7.95
Yummy Donut Zipper Pulls $2.95

MORE STUFF WE LIKE! SAVE 60% on Kaniza Cluster Blind Box! Shop Now!

SHOP SPOTLIGHT! MassArt Made: Find MIMOBOT at the new shop at the Massachusetts College of Art & Design! Learn More!

Visit the J!NX Community

from J!NX:

Welcome to the Community
If you haven’t been to the J!NX Community section, or haven’t been by in a while, come check it out. We’ve got tons to do, and you can even get your hands on some prizes while you’re at it.

  • Design Arcade — Win up to $750 cash and a $250 J!NX Gift Certificate for your t-shirt design.
  • Tweakfest — Tweak photos of the J!NX crew and win up to 10,000 J!NX Gold plus other cool prizes.
  • J!NX Pix — What does errbody look like?

Beyond JINX.com
Sometimes, we escape our little corner of the interwebs and leave little pellets of wisdom about. Usually, you can find them on the Twitters, the Bookface, and the Youtube for watching videograms.

Buy 3+ Minecraft Tees, get $5 off each
Use Promotion Code: CREEPER
This offer expires Friday, April 08, 2011 at 11:59PM PST, so don’t wait!
*can’t be combined with any other offers, sale prices, or discounts

“Absolute Boyfriend”, “Black Bird”, “Blue Exorcist” and “Kekkaishi” Join the Latest Additions to 12 Other Popular VIZ Media Manga Titles

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media continues the expansion of its digital manga manga (graphic novel) library available exclusively for the VIZ Manga App for the Apple iPad mobile device with several new series that will premiere during the first half of April.

The latest update features the launch of the shojo series Absolute Boyfriend and the fantasy-action of Kekkaishi on April 4th. Another popular shojo manga series, Black Bird, and the supernatural adventure Blue Exorcist will premiere on April 11th. The VIZ Manga App is available for free through the iTunes Store and all manga volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada within the application for $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) per volume. More than 100 manga volumes are now available for download.

Absolute Boyfriend (rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) is the romantic shojo drama created by Yuu Watase (Arata: The Legend, Fushigi Yûgi, Ceres: Celestial Legend). Rejected way too many times by good-looking (and unattainable) guys, shy Riiko Izawa goes online to sign up for a free trial of a mysterious Nightly Lover “figure.” The very next day a cute naked guy is delivered to her door, and he wants to be her boyfriend! Has Riiko died and gone to heaven? The cute guy turns out to be sweet, smart, a great cook, and lots more. And he looks like a million bucks, which is what he’s going to cost Riiko if she doesn’t return him in time…

Kekkaishi (rated ‘T’ for Teens) is an action series created by Yellow Tanabe. By night, junior high student Yoshimori Sumimura is a “kekkaishi” — a demon-hunter who specializes in creating magical barriers around his prey. By day, Yoshimori’s got some other demons to battle: an addiction to sweets and a seriously crotchety grandfather! Yoshimori’s pretty 16-year-old neighbor and childhood friend, Tokine Yukimura, is also a kekkaishi, but their families are feuding over who is the “true practitioner” of the art. In the opening volume, Yoshimori couldn’t care less about catching demons… until he realizes that his apathetic attitude is taking a toll on his friendship with Tokine. Just as he decides to take matters into his own hands, a couple of amphibious demons and the pesky ghost of a pastry-chef show up to complicate matters!

Black Bird (rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) is the award-winning shojo manga series by Kanoko Sakurakoji. There is a world of myth and magic that intersects ours, and only a special few can see it. Misao Harada is one such person, and she wants nothing to do with magical realms. She just wants to have a normal high school life and maybe get a boyfriend. But she is the bride of demon prophecy, and her blood grants incredible powers, her flesh immortality. Now the demon realm is fighting over the right to her hand… or her life!

Blue Exorcist (Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) was created by Kazue Kato and introduces Rin Okumura, a boy who is the son of a famous exorcist but never knew his real father. One day a fateful argument with Father Fujimoto, the priest who raised Rin, forces the boy to face a terrible truth — the blood of the demon lord Satan runs in Rin’s veins! Rin swears to defeat Satan, but doing that means entering the mysterious True Cross Academy and becoming an exorcist himself. Can Rin fight the demons and keep his infernal bloodline a secret? It won’t be easy, especially when drawing his father’s sword releases the demonic power within him!

April updates also include new additions to 12 other popular VIZ Media series currently available. Readers should check the app regularly, as new additions and free Chapter 1 previews of forthcoming manga series for the iPad are also featured.

Twenty-four series will be available on the VIZ Manga App; additional new manga volumes available the weeks of April 4th and April 11th include:

April 4th:
Death Note Vol. 10
Dragon Ball Z Vol. 3
Naruto Vol. 20
One Piece Vol. 20
Otomen Vol. 5
Ouran High School Host Club Vol. 5
Rosario + Vampire Vol. 3
Rurouni Kenshin Vol. 10

April 11th:
Bleach Vol. 12
Captive Hearts Vol. 4
Claymore Vol. 7
D.Gray-man Vol. 8
Dragon Ball Z Vol. 4
Naruto Vol. 21
One Piece Vol. 21

For more information on the VIZ Manga App, please visit VIZ.com/apps/.

VIZ Media Expands Relationship with Netflix to Offer Popular Anime Titles Available to Watch Instantly from Netflix

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced that several of its most popular anime series will be offered to U.S. audiences by Netflix, Inc., the world’s leading Internet subscription service for enjoying movies and TV shows. Starting in April, Bleach, Naruto, and InuYasha are among the popular titles which can be instantly streamed from Netflix. More titles will be announced shortly.

VIZ Media series (Uncut and Subtitled) to be offered by Netflix include:

Bleach: Episodes 1-109 (Seasons 1-2; Rated TV-14)
Naruto: Episodes 1-104 (Seasons 1-2; Rated TV-14)
Hikaru no Go: Episodes 1-75 (Complete Series; Rated TV-G)
Honey and Clover: Episodes 1-36 (Complete Series; Rated TV-14)
Nana: Episodes 1-47 (Complete Series; Rated TV-MA)
InuYasha: Episodes 1–167 (Seasons 1–7; Rated TV-14)

“VIZ Media is excited to bring some of our bestselling animated properties to its Netflix subscribers in the U.S.,” says Brian Ige, Senior Director, Animation. “Netflix is the market leader and the availability of these new VIZ Media titles through the service will give fans the flexibility to choose how and when they want to consume their favorite anime. We look forward to expanding our relationship with Netflix to include additional titles in the near future.”

“We are pleased to partner with VIZ Media as a means to offer popular anime series to our members,” said Lisa Nishimura, VP of Content Acquisition. “It is our goal to add a wide variety of content to our growing library of movies and TV shows, and building relationships like this, helps us move forward in our efforts.”