Category: Arts & Culture

Milky Way and the Galaxy Girls: Your Chance to Win a Limited Edition Doll!!

from Milky Way and the Galaxy Girls:

Incoming transmission relay from MWGG Central Control…

Don’t forget that the Tshirt Sale/ Chibi Contest is still in full affect. 25% off on all Adult and Kid MWGG Tshirts will remain in Earth’s orbit for only two more weeks.

And remember, $15 worth of merchandise purchased at the MWGG Webstore (or purchase of MWGG Plush Doll at FAO.com*) enters you into the Polar Fleece Chibi Contest. These chibis are hand-sewn by creator Lauren Faust and, with its own certificate of authenticity, will be sure to become a girlactically rare collector’s item.

So don’t wait much longer. These summer savings won’t last much longer and these 3 Chibis need an intergirlactic planetary home.

* Those who purchase a doll at FAO.com must send proof of purchase to Mother Earth to be entered into the contest.

For more info on the contest click here.

End Communication–
Orion

New Exclusive MIMOBOTs for SDCC and more!

from Mimoco:

Mimoco hits the road this summer for stops at the Taipei Toy Festival, San Diego Comic-Con, and Star Wars Celebration V in Orlando! We’re happy to unveil the first of our exclusive MIMOBOT designs…

Star Wars MIMOBOT: Mimoco celebrates the 30th anniversary of Empire Strikes Back. We’re celebrating the 30th anniversary of Empire Strikes Back with a limited run Lobot MIMOBOT (edition of 1,000). The exclusive will only be available at San Diego Comic-Con (July 21-25) and Star Wars Celebration V in Orlando (Aug 12-15). Now you can connect Lobot’s brain to your computer via USB in 2GB to 16GB capacity. Learn More!

2010 Taipei Toy Festival EXCLUSIVE! We’re happy to be back in Taiwan for this week’s 7th annual Taipei Toy Festival where Monster Molly MIMOBOT makes her grand entrance. Created by Hong Kong illustrator and designer toy pioneer, Kenny Wong, and produced in collaboration with Monster Taipei, this exclusive Artist Series MIMOBOT is a limited edition of 500 units. Learn More!

Infectious X MIMOBOT Design Challenge: Unmasked! The Design Challenge submission period ends on July 15. Have you Unmasked your MIMOBOT yet?! DEADLINE: July 15, 2010.

More 30th anniversary of Empire Strikes Back! The Vader Project Book & Auction. By now you must have heard of The Vader Project, curated and produced by DKE Toys, having premiered in May ‘07 at Star Wars Celebration IV. Now on July 10, Freeman’s Auction House will be offering 100 Darth Vader Helmets re-imagined by today’s most notable underground artists like MIMOBOT Artist Series collaborators tokidoki, Gary Baseman, David Horvath, Suckadelic, and more. Check out the auction, and maybe you’ll fall in love with one of the $1,500 and up pieces. Or pick up one of these coffee table books showcasing the entire collection for a paltry $40. Happy bidding!

Video Premiere: MIMOBOT Goes to Rothbury! Here’s some fresh memory from last year’s fest, including exclusive concert footage and interviews with the likes of Matisyahu, King Sunny Adé, & Jamie Janover. Enjoy! WATCH NOW!

“Star Wars” Celebration V: Last Chance to Get Your Tickets by Mail

from StarWars.com:

IMPORTANT ALERT FROM STAR WARS CELEBRATION V
Celebration V Ticket Mailing Deadline — THIS Sunday, July 11!*

Don’t miss the convenience of having your Star Wars Celebration V tickets mailed to your door. Be ready at the opening bell, and enjoy all the excitement this huge event has to offer, by ordering your tickets online by this Sunday!

Sunday, July 11 at 11:59 PM EST is the absolute last moment you can order your tickets and have them mailed to your door. There’s no additional cost for standard postage when you order online. Once you have your ticket you’ll be able to walk right into Celebration without stopping at the registration desks. If you wait until July 12, you’ll still be able to buy your ticket onsite, but you will need to stop and purchase to get your physical badge.

We will move the onsite purchase lines at Celebration V just as quickly as we possibly can, but demand will be high. Would you rather spend that first part of your first morning purchasing your ticket, or would you rather spend it on the show floor; in a laser tag battle with Stormtroopers; checking out acclaimed Star Wars artists in the Celebration Art Show; or meeting Ben Burtt, Ray Park, and Carrie Fisher? You don’t need a Jedi Mind Trick to help you figure out the right answer!

Step it up! Order your Star Wars Celebration tickets before 11:59 PM EST on July 11 to get them mailed to your door!

*Please note: International tickets will not mail and must be picked up onsite.

New Fiction and Other Fun Offerings from Tor.Com

from Tor.com:

It’s No Small Offering
But it is “Small Offerings,” a short story by Nebula and LOCUS Award-winning writer Paolo Bacigalupi. Originally published in Pump Six and Other Stories, and like many of the stories in that collection, “Small Offerings” takes us to a near future where… well… I really don’t want to spoil Paolo’s beautifully-timed reveals. Suffice it to say I’m glad it’s not the future yet.

Baby, Don’t Hurt Me
Whether you’re a terminally clumsy teenager with a thing for a terminally moody vampire or just an average couple living on Mockingbird Lane, Scott Brundage says that love is love.

WANTED!
Ross McDonald, for the crime of being totally awesome. An artist and letterpress enthusiast, Ross makes paper props for movies, most recently the wanted poster for Jonah Hex, featuring Josh Brolin’s scarred-up mug. He takes us through his process and his discussions with the studio as well as some history on wanted posters.

As Long As Mark Wahlberg Doesn’t Cover It…
Jason Heller has been finding us a lot of lesser-known science fictional musical gems, and this week, it’s Jermaine Jackson’s “Escape from the Planet of the Ant Men.” Overshadowed by “Thriller” and sadly lacking a cool music video — perhaps one could be mixed from Star Trek and Them! — the song is an unabashed tribute to classic science fiction, and only one example of this Jackson’s attempts to fuse SF and pop music.

AHH!
The frogs have taken over Dan Goldman’s Red Light Properties!

Rewatch Central
This week on Torie Atkinson and Eugne Myers’ Star Trek rewatch, the Enterprise crew faces  “The Ultimate Computer.” (And then Majel Barrett-Roddenberry was like, “Nuh uh.”)

Reread Corner
Leigh Butler has reached the heights! She wraps up The Path of Daggers with chapter 28 and chapters 29-31; the reread index is here.

In The Lord of the Rings reread, Kate Nepveu takes us to “The Houses of Healing.”

Fun factoid:
The epic Isner-Mahut tennis match at Wimbledon lasted longer than all three Lord of the Rings theatrical releases; by the time Isner won, after eleven hours and five minutes of play, they were just twenty minutes short of lasting as long as the special editions. That’s some serious warrior spirit.

VIZ Media Simulcasts Exclusive New Anime Series “Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan” on VIZAnime.com

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 the launch of a brand new anime series — Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan — on VIZAnime.com, the company’s premier website for anime. The first subtitled episode of the new fantasy action-adventure series about a junior high school student that is part human and part yokai (supernatural demon), premiered for free after the series debut in Japan; free new episodes will be simulcast mere hours after it airs in Japan each Monday.

Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, based on the best selling Nurarihyon no Mago manga series in Japan, is being offered under the Shonen Jump imprint, home to other exciting properties including Bleach and Naruto. While the day belongs to humans, the night belongs to yokai, supernatural creatures that thrive on human fear. Caught between these worlds is Rikuo Nura. He’s three-quarters human, but his grandfather is none other than Nurarihyon, the supreme commander of the Nura clan, a powerful yokai consortium. So, Rikuo is an ordinary teenager three quarters of the time, until his yokai blood awakens. Then he transforms into the future leader of the Nura clan, leading a hundred demons.

“We are pleased to expand the line-up on VIZAnime.com with the exclusive simulcast of Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, reaffirming our commitment to bringing the latest series from Japan,” says Ken Sasaki, Senior Vice President & General Manager of VIZ Media. “We are excited for fans to explore the fantastic world of Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, and share their thoughts and start discussions through the social network features of VIZAnime.com!”

VIZAnime.com is a free-to-use web destination that is now the permanent home to some of the company’s best-loved animated series. Over 1,100 episodes are currently available, and new content is added on a weekly basis. Series currently featured on VIZAnime.com include Bleach, Buso Renkin, Death Note, Honey and Clover, Hikaru no Go, InuYasha, InuYasha: The Final Act, Kekkaishi, Nana, Naruto, Naruto: Shippuden, One Piece and The Prince of Tennis.

To view subtitled Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan animated episodes (rated “T” for Teens) and other VIZ Media animated titles, please visit VIZAnime.com.

J!NX: Divide by BRAAAAAAAIIIIIINNNSS!

from J!NX:

New J!NX Classic T-shirt: We Really Like Brains
It is a scientific fact that a zombie’s hunger for brains is directly proportional to their intelligence prior to their metamorphosis. First, multiply the number of kills by the Gore Factor (constant), then take the cube root of the product and divide by subject’s high school GPA. Solve for X.

Independence Day Promo!
There are many ways you can celebrate your independence. You could party with TJ and the Revo, you could watch fireworks, or you could stimulate the economy and pick up a few J!NX Tees! Enter the code 07041776 (those are zeros, not O’s) during checkout to receive 25% off all products. Offer valid until 11:59pm on 7/8/10. Not valid in combination with any other sale or discount.

Want More Ways to Save?
The J!NX Newsletter is a great way to keep up with our new products, events, and upcoming sales, but did you know that there are even more opportunities for discounts and contests via Facebook and Twitter? Simply “like” us on Facebook (BTW: We still don’t like the term “like”), and follow us on Twitter, and from time to time you’ll receive news on special promotions!

25% off all products

Use Promotion Code: 07041776
This offer expires Thursday, July 08, 2010 at Midnight EST, so don’t wait!

Celebration V and Cartoon Network Present the “Star Wars” Ultimate Fan Getaway!

from StarWars.com:

Orlando is already one of the great vacation capitals of the world — but from August 12-15, it will be one of the hottest vacation destinations in the whole galaxy! Celebration V is coming to Florida, and one lucky fan is going to win a family vacation to the biggest Star Wars party EVER. Cartoon Network is proud to present the Star Wars Ultimate Getaway — a chance to travel to “a galaxy far, far away” in style, and a pad that would make Lando Calrissian jealous. Winners will receive:

  • Round trip travel for four from anywhere in the continental US
  • Transportation between the Airport and Peabody Orlando Hotel
  • Four Jedi Knight VIP tickets to Star Wars Celebration V
  • A Star Wars Dream Suite in the Peabody Orlando Hotel

The centerpiece of the Star Wars Ultimate Getaway is the Dream Suite — a two-level hotel room at the Peabody Orlando Hotel, directly across the street from Star Wars Celebration V and the Orange County Convention Center. The Suite will be fully decked out with Star Wars décor and accessories from Lucasfilm’s licensees and licensing archives — including DVDs, video games, action figures, collectibles, toys, apparel and household items, along with a treasure trove of rare, vintage collectibles from the Lucasfilm vault! And don’t worry: all the items will be packed and shipped to the winner’s home address at the conclusion of Celebration V!

Want to enter? It’s simple! Just visit cartoonnetwork.com/getaway by July 9th! Good luck and May the Force be with you!

Check Out What’s New for Celebration V This Week

from StarWars.com:

>>INTERCEPTED MESSAGE FROM THE JEDI TEMPLE
>>Begin Encrypted Communication

With summer in full swing, the Celebration V plans are heating up! Check out all of the latest updates, and take advantage of these incredible opportunities!

Star Wars Spike 4th of July Trivia Contest: Celebrate Your Freedom from the Galactic Empire!
Get ready as Spike presents the complete Star Wars Saga — all six movies — on July 3rd and 4th! Throughout the marathon, Star Wars Celebration V is presenting a series of trivia questions. If you can answer all six, you’ll have proven yourself a Jedi Master and be entered to win fabulous prizes, including tickets to the show this August! From four-day passes to the show and Last Tour to Endor event tickets, to limited-edition collectibles and DVD sets, we’re hooking you up with some serious Star Wars swag. Simply tune in this weekend, starting Saturday, July 3rd, catch the trivia questions on-screen, and click here to enter. May the lucky Force be with you!

Celebration V and Cartoon Network Present the Star Wars Ultimate Fan Getaway!
Orlando is already the vacation capital of the world, but from August 12-15th, it’ll be one of the hottest destinations in the galaxy! One lucky Star Wars fan will win a family vacation to Celebration V, the biggest Star Wars party EVER! Cartoon Network is proud to present the Star Wars Ultimate Getaway — a chance to travel to “a galaxy far, far away”, and stay in a pad that would make Lando Calrissian jealous. Winners will receive: Four Jedi Knight VIP tickets to Star Wars Celebration V, A Star Wars Dream Suite in the Peabody Orlando Hotel, Round trip travel for four from anywhere in the continental US, Transportation between the Airport and Peabody Orlando Hotel. The centerpiece of the Star Wars Ultimate Getaway is the Dream Suite — a two-level hotel room, decked out with Star Wars décor and accessories from Lucasfilm’s licensees and licensing archives! You’ll have your fill of DVDs, video games, action figures, collectibles, toys, apparel and household items, along with a treasure trove of rare, vintage collectibles from the Lucasfilm vault! And don’t worry — everything gets packed and shipped to your home address at the end of CV! Enter here by July 9th: cartoonnetwork.com/getaway. Good luck, and May the Force be with you!

Purchase your CV tickets today, with delivery straight to your door!
When you purchase your Celebration V tickets before July 11th at 11:59 PM (EST), you’ll receive them in the mail in advance of the show. Doesn’t get much easier than that! Tickets purchased after July 11th require an on-site pick up, and who wants to spend valuable show time waiting in line? Go to starwarscelebration.com now and purchase today!

Don’t Miss Out on Discounted Hotels!
You know you’re coming, so now it’s time to secure a great hotel room for as low as $65 a night! Book now by simply going to starwarscelebration.com and follow the link to take advantage of our exclusive hotel rates. You have until July 21st to benefit from these amazing discounts, so don’t delay! Reminder: OnPeak is the only official housing partner associated with Star Wars Celebration V. While other companies may contact you offering housing, they are not endorsed by or affiliated with Star Wars Celebration V.

Sport your Celebration pride by wearing exclusive CV gear now!
Got your tickets and hotel secured? Now it’s time to pre-order exclusive Celebration V t-shirts — available online now, with direct shipment to you! The deadline is July 25th, so head to the Celebration Store today and select your gear! Note: You must already be a Celebration V ticket holder to purchase these exclusive T-shirts online. International orders will not mail, and must be picked up on-site at the Official Celebration Show Store.

Weta: Mad Max, Prawns and Saturn Awards

from Weta:

Weta to work on Mad Max: Fury Road
We’re thrilled to announce our involvement with Mad Max: Fury Road, a long-awaited continuation of the Mad Max suite, the last installment of which, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, premiered 25 years ago. Read More Here!

Christopher Johnson and son — Prawns in District 9
Exiled by fate to an alien and hostile planet where he is placed in a ghetto and forced to survive on black market pet food, Christopher Johnson is on a relentless quest to escape. With the help of his son and a few close confidants, he has managed to scrape together enough alien fuel to attempt a get-away. Beneath his ramshackle shelter hides a secret waiting to be unearthed. It’s now or never. From Neill Blomkamp’s District 9, Weta brings you a sculpture of the two hero “prawns” as they are condescendingly referred to by the humans of Johannesburg. They stand amid the rubble that is both their immediate source of nourishment and also offers a faint glimmer of hope to a people marooned. Preorder the Prawns Here!

Avatar scoops it big at Saturn Awards and District 9 Best International
The 36th Annual Saturn Awards (The Academy of Science Fiction Fantasy & Horror Films) were awarded recently and not surprisingly, Avatar and James Cameron featured heavily. Weta Digital’s Senior Visual Effects Supervisor Joe Letteri, Visual Effects Supervisor Stephen Rosenbaum and Animation Director Andrew R. Jones along with Animation Supervisor Richard Baneham of Lightstorm, were recognised with a Best Special Effects award. Huge congratulations!

Xenofi… Fenoxy… Xenodefugio Subtiltus
Trust Greg Broadmore, evil genius and creator of Dr. Grordbort’s to come up with a name like that. All we know is that this is a fantastical insect specimen, even if it is from Venus, and it would look awesome in any home. That only 50 are hand made here at Weta Workshop also makes it into a highly sought-after collectible piece of art. It joins the two previously released specimens, the Blue Sacked Pillock and the Nandy Duke which were released earlier in the year. Order yours here!

Dr. Grordbort’s Exceptional Exhibition moves to Shanghai
After Sichuan and Hong Kong, it’s time for Dr. Grordbort’s Exceptional Exhibition to travel to Shanghai. This was announced at a press conference with actor Jackie Chan, director Stanley Tong and Richard Taylor. The exhibition will open in Shanghai on 8 August, during the World Expo that’s currently taking place in Shanghai.

You are keeping up to date with the Comic-Con Updates we hope?

Minas Morgul? Doors of Durin? Rivendell? Lothlorien?
Since we announced our return to Middle-earth a year ago, we have released The Argonath (sold out), Bag End and The Prancing Pony environments from The Lord of the Rings. What should be next? Minas Tirith? Grond? Orthanc? The Green Dragon? Black Gate? Join in the discussion and vote!

Gandalf — where art thou?
There is a persistant rumour that Gandalf may have visited Weta recently to re-acquaint himself with Glamdring? You will HEAR more next week…

Last Chance for Collectors! Running Out…
Warning flags have started pinging in our stock reports — some products are getting very close to selling out. The time for hesitation is past. Now is the time for ACTION:

Follow Weta Online! Twitter | Facebook

Shout! Factory at San Diego Comic-Con

from Shout! Factory:

Hark! The San Diego Comic-Con Is Nigh
We’re working at full tilt to finalize the details for this year’s extravaganza, happening July 22–25. Here’s a sneak peek at what to expect from Shout! this year. A panel! Signings! Gifts with purchases! Max Headroomize yourself. Let us explain… Join us for the Roger Corman: King of the Independents panel in Room 25ABC on Friday at 5:30. The “we promise it will be riveting” panel stars Roger and Julie Corman, directors Joe Dante and Allan Holzman, actors Sid Haig and Mary Woronov, and moderator Alex Stapleton, who recently completed a film about this maverick filmmaker.

At our booth — the same as last year, #3749 — we’ll have the following signings (dates and times to follow): Larry Blamire and cast (Dark and Stormy Night and The Lost Skeleton Returns Again), Roger Corman and Joe Dante (the Roger Corman’s Cult Classics series, including Piranha [1978]), Stephen Collins (Tales of the Gold Monkey) and Gregg Berger (the animated G.I. Joe: The Movie and The Transformers).

We’ll also be selling a number of our DVDs and offering special gifts with purchase for Max Headroom: The Complete Series, Dark and Stormy Night and The Lost Skeleton Returns Again, Gamera, G.I. Joe: The Movie and Piranha.

Lastly, we’ll have a Max Headroom photo booth set up where you can “become” Max Headroom. Stand behind the cut-out, sport the nifty Max glasses and have your picture taken. It’s going to be fun! We’ll have more details soon.

We’re offering an ode to Comic-Con sale, with an exciting list of titles on sale at greatly reduced rates! Check out the goods.

Keep up with the latest Shout! news throughout your day by following us on Twitter and Facebook. Plus, visit our YouTube page for trailers, clips and music videos.

“ghostgirl: Lovesick” Book Trailer

ghostgirl: Lovesick
Before she can rest in peace, Charlotte Usher must return to the tragic site of her death: high school. Once there, her assignment is to help a designated teen solve a personal problem in time for the all-important prom. But no one explained what happens if you fall in love with your class project. Charlotte would die (again) for love but facing the all-too-familiar feeling of invisibility may be too much for her to swallow.

MIMOBOT Core Series 2.5 is Here to Celebrate Our 5 Year Anniversary!

from Mimoco:

MIMOBOT Core Series
Hailing from Planet Blõôh…
the original MIMOBOTs that started it all have returned to Earth to celebrate Mimoco’s 5th Anniversary! Say hello to the new green Isadore and MIMOpals and learn more about our summer-long MIMOBOT extravaganza!

Infectious X MIMOBOT Design Challenge: Unmasked
Deadline: July 15, 2010
Call for Entries!

Video: Welcome to Planet Blõôh!
Meet the new Core Series MIMOBOTs with the help of Dr. Knowledgeus from his floating space lab in Galaxy 4210. Watch Now!

FREE Shipping on orders over $75*! Click here for more info.