Arts & Culture – Page 64

VIZ Media Publishes “RIN-NE” the Newest Manga Series from Celebrated Manga Creator Rumiko Takahashi

RIN-NE

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will launch RIN-NE, the brand new manga (graphic novel) series from famed creator Rumiko Takahashi with the publication of the debut volume under VIZ Media’s Shonen Sunday imprint on October 20th. RIN-NE is rated “T+” for older teens and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

RIN-NE is the first manga series that will be available in stores at the same time as the Japanese release of the same volume. Through an unprecedented collaboration, RIN-NE is also the first manga series to appear simultaneously in Shogakukan’s popular Weekly Shonen Sunday manga magazine in Japan and online on TheRumicWorld.com for North American fans. A new chapter is released each week for domestic fans to enjoy at the same time as their Japanese peers.

As a child Sakura Mamiya mysteriously disappeared in the woods behind her grandma’s home. She returned whole and healthy, but since then she has had the power to see ghosts. Now a teenager, she just wishes the ghosts would leave her alone! At school, the desk next to Sakura’s has been empty since the start of the school year. One day her always-absent classmate shows up, and he’s far more than what he seems!

RIN-NE is the first new manga from Takahashi since her epic Inuyasha (published domestically by VIZ Media) ended in 2008 in Japan. Shogakukan’s popular Weekly Shonen Sunday manga magazine has featured Takahashi’s work since the early 1980’s. With over 170 million copies sold in Japan alone, Takahashi’s substantial catalog of work continues to be loved by legions of devoted readers.

The spotlight on Rumiko Takahashi’s career began in 1978 when she won an honorable mention in Shogakukan’s annual New Comic Artist Contest for Those Selfish Aliens. Later that same year, her boy-meets-alien comedy series, Urusei Yatsura, was serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday. This phenomenally successful manga series was adapted into anime format and spawned a TV series and half a dozen theatrical-release movies, all incredibly popular in their own right. Takahashi followed up the success of her debut series with one blockbuster hit after another — Maison Ikkoku ran from 1980 to 1987, Ranma 1/2 from 1987 to 1996, and Inuyasha from 1996 to 2008. Other notable works include Mermaid Saga, Rumic Theater, and One-Pound Gospel. Takahashi won the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award twice in her career, once for Urusei Yatsura in 1981 and the second time for Inuyasha in 2002. A majority of the Takahashi canon has been adapted into other media such as anime, live-action TV series, and film. Takahashi’s manga, as well as the other formats her work has been adapted into, have continued to delight generations of fans around the world. Distinguished by her wonderfully endearing characters, Takahashi’s work adeptly incorporates a wide variety of elements such as comedy, romance, fantasy, and martial arts. While her series are difficult to pin down into one simple genre, the signature style she has created has come to be known as the “Rumic World.” Rumiko Takahashi is an artist who truly represents the very best from the world of manga.

“Rumiko Takahashi is one of the most successful and celebrated manga creators of all time having produced multiple series that are massively popular and widely considered to be classics,” says Elizabeth Kawasaki, Sr. Editorial Director for VIZ Media. “RIN-NE again shows Takahashi’s talent for blending endearing characters with an imaginative plot that can be equally funny, dramatic and exciting. Takahashi’s skill as both an artist and storyteller has won over millions of fans around the world. With the promise of new plot twists and characters still yet to emerge, we look forward to RIN-NE becoming a new fan favorite.”

RIN-NE is also featured online on TheRumicWorld.com, the official North American web site for all Rumiko Takahashi-related news and information. Through an unprecedented collaboration with Shogakukan’s popular Weekly Shonen Sunday manga magazine, which publishes RIN-NE in Japan, a new chapter is released each week for domestic fans to enjoy at the same time as their Japanese peers.

For more information on RIN-NE and other titles by Rumiko Takahashi please visit TheRumicWorld.com.

“Hellboy” and “The Umbrella Academy” Now Available on the iPhone

from Dark Horse Comics:

Dark Horse is proud to announce that Mike Mignola’s Hellboy and Gerard Way’s The Umbrella Academy are now available on the iPhone.

At the time of their publication, both Seed of Destruction and Apocalypse Suite were immediately renowned by critics as unique and talented debuts by independent creators.

Soon, industry heavyweights joined the chorus. Hellboy: Seed of Destruction is the beginning of the now legendary series Alan Moore calls, “a passport to a corner of funnybook heaven you may never want to leave.”

Similarly, Grant Morrison calls The Umbrella Academy “one of the great new comic books of this decade,” while Newsarama says the first volume of the series, Apocalypse Suite, is “flawless.”

With two blockbuster Hellboy films by Guillermo del Toro and an Umbrella Academy movie in preproduction at Universal Studios, there’s never been a better time to have the start of these monumental comics at your fingertips. A perfect way to introduce friends and pop-culture fans to two of the most important comics series today, or a great way to revisit the magic of amazing sequential art, the mobile editions of Seed of Destruction and Apocalypse Suite are a necessary addition for new and serious readers alike.

The first impressive issues of Hellboy and The Umbrella Academy are now available through the iTunes Store, with subsequent issues available soon. Seed of Destruction is available as four issues at $0.99 each, or as a bundle of all four issues for $3.99. The first issue of Apocalypse Suite is available for free, with issues #2–#6 only $0.99 each, or a bundle of all six issues for $4.99.

Weta Marks 10 Years in Middle-earth

from Weta:

Hey Weta fans,
10 years since filming began on The Lord Of The Rings! How do we celebrate that?

Listen to the Anniversary Podcast!
Daniel Falconer has recorded a very special podcast episode, walking around the workshop, asking the crew who were here back then to share some of their stories and memories. It’s a truly fantastic walk through the workshop, where you meet Richard Taylor, Gino Acevedo, Gareth McGhie, Matt Appleton, Emily-Jane Sturrock and MANY others!

As Daniel mentions in the interviews, we’re releasing a new product to commemorate the 10th anniversary — the Red Eye of Sauron — a pin that has a history very much tied in with Weta’s role in the Lord Of The Rings. Designed by John Howe and adorning Weta’s crew gear, it became the symbol of Weta staff on-set and whenever anyone needed a Weta technician, they would just look for the Red Eye. Now you too can feel like part of the Weta crew!

And don’t forget all the other products we have released recently as we return to Middle-earth, like the Argonath, the Master Swordsmith’s Collection, the Gandalf cloak, the Miniature shields, the life size Gollum bronze statue.

“The Guild” Season 3, Episode 7: “Coping and Stuff”

from The Guild:

“There is so much fail in that sentence I can hardly begin.”

The Guild Season 3 Episode 7 “Coping and Stuff” is up. The Axis of Anarchy thwarts Codex’s attempt to counter their attacks with logic and reasonableness.

Streaming on MSN | Downloadable in HD on Xbox | Downloadable on Zune

Also, this link to MSN’s Parallel Universe hub is a good one to bookmark, as it defaults to the newest episode.

LA-area screenings: The screening on 10/16 at The Egyptian is sold out, but you can still get tickets to Whedonopolis Charity Screening on 10/30. The Guild is on Twitter and would love to have you as a follower. Tweet now that you’re a follower or tweet this post.

SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes

This year marks the 10th Anniversary of SpongeBob SquarePants, and Nickelodeon continues its ongoing celebrations with the release of a huge treat for fans of the iconic cartoon character who “lives in a pineapple under the sea”, the SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes DVD megaset. This treasure chest contains the entire first five seasons’ worth of episodes plus exclusive bonus features, and, as an added gift, there’s a pull-tab on the box that reveals a code to enter the Happy Squared Sweepstakes. The publicists at Nickelodeon splashily announced:

It’s the Best SpongeBob DVD Collection EVER!
38 Hours. 14 Discs. 1 Yellow Sponge.
You’ll be the envy of Bikini Bottom with the first 100 episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants.

“Are you ready?!” for the spongetacular adventure, comedy and drama? Go ahead, backstroke through ten years of hilarity with “Help Wanted,” “SpongeBob’s House Party,” “Christmas Who?” and “Dunces and Dragons.” You’ll laugh and guffaw as you cruise through this massive DVD collection with SpongeBob, Patrick, Mr. Krabs, Sandy, Squidward, and, yes, even Plankton.

Whether you’re a super-absorbent fan or just beginning to soak up the wonderful world of SpongeBob, these first 100 episodes are all you need to become an expert on Bikini Bottom and our most beloved sponge. It’s all here: “Ripped Pants,” “The Camping Episode,” “Goo Goo Gas,” “Atlantis SquarePantis” and much, much more!

Are you getting a nice squishy feeling inside? You know you are. That’s because a rising tide of Happy is lapping at the shores of your brain!

Wow. 100 episodes and a tidal wave of special features. Talk about going to your Happy Place!

SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes is a solid brick of a box set, its sturdy slipcase enclosed by a wrap-around sleeve that opens at the top and bottom. The sleeve’s wide edges have the title and logo printed on almost identical seascape art, so you can display either spine on your shelf depending on your character preference. Patrick joyfully chases a jellyfish with a butterfly net on one side, while Squidward cowardly runs from another pink, squishy blob on the opposite side. SpongeBob, of course, gets star placement on the front of the box, where the limited-edition lenticular panel pops him and his bubble-filled surroundings out of the cover in a trippy, 3D effect. The only thing that could have made the brightly coloured packaging more spectacular is if the set came with a little Gary the Snail toy to perch on top of the box.

Inside the box are seven slimline cases, the cheerful jacket art featuring close-up portraits of the series’ main characters: SpongeBob, Patrick, Gary, Squidward, Mr. Krabs, Sandy, and Plankton. The clear plastic cases house two discs each, with 7-8 episodes per disc and audio commentaries from the cast and crew on discs 11-13. Episodes are presented in their original fullscreen format and retain the crisp picture quality and Dolby Digital stereo sound of their initial television broadcast. The disc menus are unanimated, yet still attractively designed, and are accompanied by an instrumental version of the theme song. This simple, stripped-down approach makes the playlist extremely user-friendly, especially for small fry who want to put in a disc and just hit the “play all” button. The show’s credits are compiled as a separate selection, so when multiple episodes are played they flow seamlessly from one to the next without the interruption of scrolling text. Of course, the best thing about SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes is that there are 100 Episodes. It’ll be a long sea voyage before you run out of material to watch and need to start over at the beginning, by which time the episodes will seem fresh again. Next time you throw a Hawaiian-themed party, consider playing SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes in the background instead of a traditional Don Ho or ukele CD. Not only will the DVDs add some fun, luau-appropriate visuals to your gathering, your guests will never have to listen to the same track twice. A person can only hear the song “Tiny Bubbles” so many times without having a Squidward-style meltdown, after all.

The final disc in The First 100 Episodes set is dedicated to special features. Square Roots: The Story of SpongeBob SquarePants is an insightful and trivia-filled look into the evolution of SpongeBob SquarePants that cuts together behind-the-scenes footage, media clips chronicling SpongeBob’s rise to fame, and infectiously enthusiastic interviews with series creator Stephen Hillenburg, the show’s creative team, and a host of devoted fans, many of them celebrities. The 43-minute documentary is also the only material in the box set to earn an advisory warning, though exactly why is unclear, unless a candid but fairly brief discussion of the SpongeBob/Patrick “gay controversary” could be viewed as offensive by some. Life Lessons from Bikini Bottom, a featurette done in the style of a 1950s educational film, explores the distinctive personalities and worldviews of the characters who inhabit Bikini Bottom, and “Help Wanted”: The Seven Seas Edition is an audio remix of the pilot episode that samples SpongeBob SquarePants‘s many international translations. The energetic Kick-Wham-Pow-Bob Music Video is basically a clip-reel set to the heavy metal beat of Pantera.

A must-have DVD set for cartoon afficionados of all ages, SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes is a bargain for longtime fans who have yet to buy the individual seasons, and serves as an immersive introduction for those new to the classic series. (For the complete SpongeBob experience, be sure to add a copy of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, which isn’t included in the box set.) So, grab a Krabby Patty, pull on your squarest pair of pants, and prepare to dive deep into the world of SpongeBob SquarePants!

Order now at Amazon.com:
SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie

SpongeBob SquarePants is distributed by Nickelodeon, a subsidiary of Paramount Home Entertainment. For more information, please visit the official SpongeBob SquarePants website.

Fresh Ink Online Presents: Brian Michael Bendis Interview

from G4:

Dig this 2-part Fresh Ink Online special where host Blair Butler chats with comic book legend Brian Michael Bendis at Golden Apple Comics in Hollywood.

In Part 1, they chat about the evolution of Spiderwoman, from The Avengers to his upcoming print and motion comic editions, which leads to a spirited discussion of comics going digital via Kindle, iTunes, and Apple or Microsoft tablets. What does the future hold for comic books and does going digital represent the death of print media?

In Part 2, Blair and Brian chat about the evolution of intellectual property and creator owned books. They get into the history of bringing his acclaimed comic Torso to the big screen and he gives insight into consulting on the Iron Man movie and being part of the Marvel creative committee. You’ll also get juicy details on the Powers TV pilot for FX, plus updates on Kenneth Branagh’s upcoming Thor movie and the upcoming Avengers movie. In addition, Brian talks about the re-launch of Powers on November 27 and the December launch of Marvel’s 4-issue mini-series Siege, which kicks off with the Siege of the Cabal debut issue, unites Thor, Iron Man and Captain America, and marks a seismic shift in the Avengers books via the end of the Dark Reign plot. Whew!

Check it out here!

Book: Guild Leadership

from The Guild:

You may have noticed that in Season 3, episode 5 — Application’d, Codex reads a book in her webcam called Guild Leadership: Lessons from the Virtual World. We wanted to let you know that this is not a prop, it’s an actual book by Jeon Rezvani that can help us all improve our game. This book is chock full of great insights into how online leadership translates into real world applications and vice versa and proves that MMORPGs are not a waste of time. Finally, a book that respects gamers!

So check out this book and know that all proceeds from its sale go to Oprah’s Angel Network. Jeon chose this organization because Oprah matches all administrative costs so none of your money goes to overhead. The Network also fosters leadership in young people, builds and reforms schools, helps orphans and other unfortunate people. So get this book, and feel good about being a gamer and helping the world!

NEW PEOPLE’s SUPERFROG Gallery Extends a Vibrant Exhibit by Yoshitaka Amano Until November and Adds Four Never Before Seen New Paintings

from VIZ Media:

NEW PEOPLE, a dynamic entertainment destination bringing the latest examples of Japanese popular culture to North American shores, has extended legendary artist Yoshitaka Amano’s electrifying new art exhibit — Deva Loka USA — in the venue’s SUPERFROG Gallery until November 8th. The Gallery will also unveil four never-before-seen works that continue to show the pioneering artist’s love of American culture, comics and automobiles. The gallery will host a special closing party on November 1st to showcase the added four pieces and commemorate the final week of the exhibit.

Visual art is the soul of Japanese pop culture and the crisp lines, vibrant colors, and imaginative designs and characters make the genre instantly recognizable. Amano’s newest works complement more than 20 other large and colorful paintings he created especially for this “Ode to American Pop Culture.”

On display now, the “DEVA LOKA/SAN FRANCISCO” painting is a fitting representation of the overall theme of the exhibition and displays the artist’s playfulness and excitement for his first new show in the United States in more than a decade. A new addition, “SWAN IV,” is another striking creation that pays homage to the lead female character from the popular Gatchaman (G-Force) anime series, which Amano worked on as a character designer. All of the Amano pieces in this exhibit were created in 2009 and are originals painted on large aluminum panels using vibrant automotive and metal flake paints covered with clear coat. The paintings are further complemented by three resin tigers in red, black and white, designed by Amano, that glisten at the center of the gallery space.

Yoshitaka Amano is an internationally acclaimed painter, designer, and illustrator and he has also worked on numerous anime series and video games. He began working in animation in 1967 and is perhaps best known for designing the characters for the smash hit video game property, Final Fantasy, as well as for anime films including Vampire Hunter D, Guin Saga, Final Fantasy, Gatchaman and Front Mission. Amano burst onto the world art scene with an exhibit at Biennale d’Orléans in France, which was followed by an exhibition in New York at the Angel Orensanz Foundation.

The bright and spacious 2,000 square foot SUPERFROG Gallery space is located on the 3rd floor of NEW PEOPLE’s striking contemporary building in the heart of the city’s historic Japantown. The space offers a permanent outlet for established as well as emerging artists drawing inspiration from Japanese pop and modern culture.

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 facade that frames a fun and exotic new environment to engage the imagination into the 21st Century. More information is available at NewPeopleWorld.com.

Charles Vess Brings You the Moon

Drawing Down the Moon: The Art of Charles Vess

from Dark Horse Comics:

Charles Vess is one of the most revered artists in the field of fantasy and comic art. The three-time Eisner Award winner has worked on some of the most recognizable comic properties of all time, including Jeff Smith’s Rose and Neil Gaiman’s Sandman, a retelling of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, for which he and Gaiman shared the prestigious World Fantasy Award.

For over thirty years Vess has positioned himself, through his art, as the best fantasy illustrator in recent history.

Drawing Down the Moon: The Art of Charles Vess collects decades of the artist’s unparalleled work and is scheduled to be released by Dark Horse on December 23, 2009. The hardcover, full-color, 200-page book costs $39.99.

But as a special treat, Dark Horse is happy to announce that the entire book is now available on darkhorse.com for collectors, art connoisseurs, and newly introduced fans to browse for free.

“This book has taken a bit over two years from the completion of my initial layouts to actually seeing print,” said Vess. “So, in an effort to make certain that you know that the book will indeed be available this December, we are giving you a sneak peak of the entire 200 pages.”

“Above all,” Vess continued, “there’s the unique opportunity to view all the projects that you’d never have a chance to see except in a book like this: a 16’ bronze sculpture, event posters for local organizations, private commissions and previously unpublished paintings done just for the pure pleasure of doing them.”

Vess’s art immerses readers into a place of such fantasy and grandeur, one hopes to stay forever lost in the beauty. His masterful use of paint and brush stand out in an age of digital design, harking back to the golden age of illustration.

Dark Horse invites you to step into a realm of imagination and wonder. Anyone interested is welcome to join the magical journey.

To enter the world of Charles Vess, direct your browser to: www.darkhorse.com/features/ecomics and click on the Drawing Down the Moon icon.

We’ll be waiting.

Tonight’s the night! RiffTrax Live: Plan 9 Encore!

from RiffTrax:

The Encore screening of RiffTrax: Plan 9 from Outer Space is finally here! Tonight at 7:30pm, the original evening of live riffing captured on August 20th will be rebroadcast to movie theatres nationwide. This exciting event is ONE NIGHT ONLY, and time is running out!

Whether you are experiencing The Comedy Event of the Year for the first time or are coming back to enjoy it again, now is your last chance to buy tickets! Don’t miss out on the fun. Click the link here to buy your tickets now!

Also new to the RiffTrax store: Bob Executive T-shirts! You, too, can now proclaim to be a Bob Executive, with this handsome t-shirt designed exclusively for us by Len Peralta of Jawbone Radio. Stand tall and be proud as the image of Bob Executive himself stepping off his plane in Phoenix is emblazoned across your chest!

This is the image immortalized by the RiffTrax Live short Flying Stewardess. Wow your friends, terrify your enemies, and get yours today!

VIZ Media to Publish the Poignant New Manga Series “What a Wonderful World!”

What a Wonderful World!

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, expands its notable VIZ Signature manga imprint with the publication of Inio Asano’s What a Wonderful World! on October 20th. The 2-volume series (each sold separately but launch simultaneously) is rated “T+” for Older Teens and will carry an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN.

A poignant collection of intersecting vignettes depicting twenty-something angst, What a Wonderful World! explores the various ways that modern life can be at once ridiculous and sublime, terrible and precious, wasted and celebrated. In Volume 1, what begins with a college dropout bored of her mediocre routine soon becomes a fantastic series of stories about the unexpected ways that different lives intersect. Filled with magical realism in the face of the cold reality of daily modern life, at their core these stories are about young people discovering something precious amidst the chaos of existence. Volume 2 explores similar themes including the cruelty of childhood, the delusion of adulthood, the permanence of death, and how people find a way to remain resolute and laugh in the face of reality.

“Inio Asano masterfully captures the essence of youth, and What a Wonderful World! depicts both the exhilaration and frustration felt by a diverse group of twenty-somethings trying to find their place amidst the impersonal urban sprawl of Tokyo,” says Candice Uyloan, Director, Brand Management for VIZ Media. “Fans of everything from Catcher in the Rye to Reality Bites will find this series an impressive and heartfelt read. Asano’s realistic story is ultimately a commentary on how modern life and the choices one makes impact the struggle to grow up and fit in and we look forward to readers discovering this thought-provoking new title.”

Creator Inio Asano drew initial attention for his short story Hello from Outer Space, which won the 1st Sunday GX rookie prize in 2001. What a Wonderful World! also appeared in the pages of Sunday GX. Asano’s other works include City of Light, Oyasumi Pun Pun and the acclaimed Solanin (which is published in North America by VIZ Media and was nominated for a Will Eisner Comic Industry Award).

For more information on these titles, and others from VIZ Media, please visit viz.com.

“The Guild” Season 3, Episode 6: “Newbtastic”

from The Guild:

“Well, hello.”

The Guild Season 3 Episode 6 “Newbtastic” is now live.

Streaming on MSN
Downloadable in HD on Xbox
Downloadable on Zune

Also, this link to MSN’s Parallel Universe hub is a good one to bookmark, as it defaults to the newest episode.

Don’t forget, if you’re in the LA area, there are 2 chances this month to see The Guild on the big screen with Dr. Horrible — 10/16 at The Egyptian, and 10/30 as part of the Whedonopolis Charity Screening.

One last thing — become a fan of The Guild on Facebook, and share this post with your friends. Thanks.