The girls give Codex advice while tension between Zaboo and Vork escalates.
Category: Announcements
VIZ Pictures Announces the Release of Artistic Documentary “Traveling with Yoshitomo Nara”
from VIZ Pictures:
VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced the DVD release of Traveling with Yoshitomo Nara — NEW PEOPLE Artist Series, Volume 1 on September 15th. The DVD will carry an MSRP of $24.92 U.S. / $35.99 CAN and will be distributed in North America by VIZ Media.
Produced by VIZ Pictures, the NEW PEOPLE Artist Series is an intriguing collection of documentaries that each highlight a renowned modern Japanese pop artist who utilizes unique world views and inspirations to create captivating works of art. The series is an extension of the NEW PEOPLE entertainment destination, located in San Francisco, which brings the latest examples of Japanese popular culture to North America through film, art, fashion, and a variety of specialty boutiques.
Traveling with Yoshitomo Nara was directed by Koji Sakabe and captures the journey that the artist, Yoshitomo Nara, took during the creation of his exhibit, AtoZ, in his hometown of Hirosaki, Japan. The film is notably narrated by Aoi Miyazaki, an up-and-coming Japanese actress who appeared in the acclaimed manga-inspired film Nana (VIZ Pictures). Yoshitomo Nara’s work has captured the attention of the international art world and his cartoon-like girl images with characteristic big heads, chubby-faces and slanted eyes have become icons of the artist’s style. His paintings and sculptures have been auctioned at Sotheby’s and his sculpture, Light My Fire (2001), sold for over $1.1 million.
“We are very pleased to launch the NEW PEOPLE Artist Series with Traveling with Yoshitomo Nara,” says Seiji Horibuchi, President and CEO of VIZ Pictures and the founder of NEW PEOPLE. “This film documents Nara’s creative process and how he tapped the talents of many fellow artists to help bring this exhibition to life. The people, the experience, and the works of art all come together in this film and culminate in the grand opening of the AtoZ exhibit. Art aficionados as well as fans of Japanese culture will delight in this intimate portrait of one of the most talented modern pop artists working today.”
For more information, visit viz-pictures.com or newpeopleartistseries.com.
Smaug the Golden now available in Faux Bronze
from Weta:
Weta are thrilled to now make The Art of John Howe — Sculptures from Middle-earth available in faux bronze.
We first launched this range last month at the San Diego Comic-Con. At that time, we were only able to offer a Bronze option, as we had a few unresolved issues to sort out. Fortunately these issues have been resolved, so we are now able to offer these sculptures in both Bronze and Faux Bronze.
The edition size for the Faux Bronze is limited to only 300 worldwide. Customers will also receive a beautiful 22 page hard cover book written by John Howe, Richard Taylor and leading sculptor Daniel Cockersell. The book contains original sketches from John as well as a series of stunning photographs of the sculptures and the sculpting process. You can preview a few pages of the book here! Click on the corners to turn the pages.
For those customers who have already ordered the Bronze option, there is further good news; our pricing will reduce as we are now able to spread the initial sculpting costs over a much greater number of pieces. Check the pricing on the bronze version here.
We hope you’ll take this unique opportunity to enjoy and cherish the The Art of John Howe.
The first faux bronze available for pre-order is:
Smaug the Golden — faux bronze
Éowyn and the Nazgûl will follow shortly.
This is how you find us online!
http://fans.wetaNZ.com/Magnus/ | Twitter: @wetaworkshop | Facebook: Weta Workshop
Weird Al’s “Internet Leaks” Out Now
from “Weird Al” Yankovic:
Dear Close, Personal Friend of Al,
We wanted to remind you that “Weird Al” Yankovic’s digital-only EP Internet Leaks drops today!
It contains the T.I. parody “Whatever You Like,” the Doors pastiche “Craigslist” (featuring Ray Manzarek on keyboards), the Jungle Cruise homage “Skipper Dan,” the Charles Nelson Reilly tribute “CNR”… and the brand new song “Ringtone”!
You can download it RIGHT NOW at iTunes and everywhere else that digital music is sold!
And if you haven’t seen the “Ringtone” video yet… you can watch it right here!
And if you’d like the RINGTONE for “Ringtone”… you can get it here!
Thanks — hope you enjoy Internet Leaks!
NEW PEOPLE Hosts the Theatrical World Premiere of the Third and Final 20th Century Boys Film Based on the Smash Hit Manga Series
from VIZ Cinema:
NEW PEOPLE, a dynamic entertainment destination bringing the latest examples of Japanese popular culture to North American shores, presents a very special world premiere, the final chapter of the 20th Century Boys trilogy of live-action films — 20th Century Boys 3: Redemption — this Friday, August 28th at the newly opened VIZ Cinema located in the heart of San Francisco’s historic Japantown. The special world premiere will take place simultaneously with the theatrical release of the film in Japan and will continue to play at the venue through September 3rd. For schedule and ticket information, please visit vizcinema.com.
The 20th Century Boys film trilogy is based on a critically-acclaimed manga (graphic novel) series created by Naoki Urasawa that was a national phenomenon in Japan, selling over 24 million copies. Excitement and anticipation for the release of the final chapter has built steadily from fans because the ending of the film is markedly different from the original manga series that inspired it.
VIZ Cinema is the nation’s first movie theatre devoted exclusively to Japanese film and anime. The 143-seat subterranean theatre is located in the basement of the NEW PEOPLE building and features plush seating, digital as well as 35mm projection, and a THX-certified sound system. 20th Century Boys 1: Beginning of the End plays at VIZ Cinema until August 27th (matinee only), while 20th Century Boys 2: The Last Hope runs through August 28th.
Directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi and presented in partnership with Nippon Television, the 20th Century Boys saga begins in 1969 when a young boy named Kenji and his friends write The Book of Prophecy. In the book, they write about a future where they fight against an evil organization trying to take over the world and bring about Doomsday. Years later in 1997, a mysterious cult being led by a man only known as “Friend” has emerged and gained strong influence over society. A series of catastrophic events begin to occur, mirroring the prophecies made up by the young Kenji.
Now in 2019, could the catastrophe written in The New Book of Prophecy be happening for real? What’s the true purpose of Friend’s evil plan? Who’s the real savior that will stand up against him?
In the final film, the year is Friend Era Year 3 (2017 A.D.) and the World President, Friend, rules humanity. After a deadly virus ravages Tokyo, a wall is built around the city and inhabitants’ lives have been severely restricted. Friend tells everyone that on August 20th, aliens will destroy mankind and only those who believe in him will be saved. But a movement to stop Friend is in motion. Is protagonist Kenji really still alive? What is Friend’s plan for August 20th? Will the mystery behind the true identity of Friend be uncovered? All of the prophecies, schemes and plans will be finally revealed in the saga’s exciting concluding chapter.
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. A dedicated web site is also now available at: NewPeopleWorld.com.
The Guild Season 3 Premiere on Xbox
from The Guild:
We’re so excited to announce that Episode 1 of Season 3 of The Guild is now on Xbox Live for Gold Members!
This premiere will be exclusive to Gold members for 1 week, and then be wide for Silver members, MSN streaming viewers and Zune downloads on September 1rst. After that episodes will roll out simultaneously on all Microsoft portals.
And for everyone’s enjoyment, we have posted a Season 3 trailer, SPOILERS if you don’t want to watch!
Design the next MIMOBOT flash drive with Infectious
from Mimoco:
Infectious X MIMOBOT Design Challenge
Submission period is now open!
We’re super-excited to announce the Infectious X MIMOBOT Design Challenge! Mimoco has teamed up with the fine crew at Infectious, makers of adhesive art (i.e., skins) for laptops, iPhones, iPods, walls and cars to bring you the Infectious X MIMOBOT Design Challenge, the next contest in our community-designed series of MIMOBOT flash drives!
Each design submitted in the challenge will be voted on by the community at Infectious, and then judged by Mimoco, Infectious, and FriendsWithYou who will determine the winning designs. Deadline: October 6, 2009.
GRAND PRIZE
$1,000 and Winning design produced as a future run of MIMOBOT designer USB flash drives!
Runner-Up Prizes
MIMOBOT prize packs!
Cartoon Network to Premiere All New Season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Lucasfilm’s Breakthrough Animated Series
from Cartoon Network:
Coming off of the record-setting first season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Cartoon Network announced today it will premiere a full slate of 22 all-new episodes for season two of the critically acclaimed and top-rated CG-animated series from creator George Lucas and Lucasfilm Animation. The special one-hour season two premiere event of Star Wars: The Clone Wars airs Friday, October 2, at 8 p.m. (et/pt).
Star Wars: The Clone Wars has emerged as one of the preeminent animated series on television, combining the expansive scope of the Star Wars saga with exciting weekly adventures. During its first season, premiere episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Cartoon Network (Fridays at 9 p.m.) ranked #1 on all TV with boys 6-11. Star Wars: The Clone Wars is a thrilling, weekly 30-minute “mini-movie” created by the talented artists at Lucasfilm Animation.
Fierce battles, expanded storylines and ground-breaking animation raise the stakes in Star Wars: The Clone Wars — Rise of the Bounty Hunters. The lives of the Jedi become more complex as secret and forbidden relationships are revealed and a new breed of villain enters to take advantage of the wartime turmoil. Season two introduces these lawless rogues into the fray along with a host of new characters, locations and creatures. Set against the spectacular backdrop of the Star Wars universe, The Clone Wars is bigger, bolder and more intense than ever before.
Sing with The Legend of Neil! Episode 3 is Live
from The Legend of Neil:
Watch as Hyrule breaks out into song in this brand new and very special Legend of Neil musical episode. See if you can tell which character’s singing voice is voiced by Maurissa Tancharoen of Dr. Horrible fame. And buy some t-shirts so I can pay rent.
And for those of you asking. We’re working on mp3s for download from the musical. Hang in there, but keep posting comments about it on atom.com so that they see it and know you want it! I know you want it… awww yeah!
VIZ Media to Debut the Imaginative Steampunk Action Manga Series Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee
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 North American debut of the new steampunk/action manga series Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee on September 1st. The series, rated “T” for Teens, will be published under the company’s Shonen Jump imprint and will carry an MSRP of $7.99 U.S. / $9.50 CAN.
In a land of perpetual night, your heart is your light.
Amberground is locked in darkness. A man-made star casts only a dim light over the land. The pitch-black wilderness is infested with Gaichuu — colossal insects with metal exoskeletons. The Gaichuu make travel between the cities of Amberground extremely dangerous. But thankfully the Letter Bees, a brave corps of messengers, risk their lives in order to keep the hearts of Amberground connected.
Letter Bee first appeared in the pages of Monthly Shonen Jump magazine in Japan and is presently featured in Jump SQ. It’s also currently serialized in VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump magazine and its animated counterpart is set to debut in Japan later this year as part of the annual Jump Super Anime Tour.
“Hiroyuki Asada is a widely known and loved manga creator in Japan and we’re very excited to debut his newest series Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee,” says Gonzalo Ferreyra, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, VIZ Media. “This unique story blends visually captivating motifs of steampunk, an inventive mix of antique and futuristic technology, with the adventures of a boy who runs deliveries across a strange fantasy world. This manga has already captivated readers in the pages of Shonen Jump and we invite everyone to explore the manga’s debut volume in September!”
Steph Song cast as Roulette in Season 9 of Smallville
Steph Song has just been cast as the villain in Smallville‘s Season 9 episode “Roulette.” In various forms of DC‘s Justice League comics, Roulette is a high stakes gambler who ran an underground casino that catered to villains and organized cage matches where superheroes were pitted against each other in fights to the death. While Roulette had no superpower of her own, she was extremely intelligent and used gadgets and combat skills in much the same way that Batman does.
Considering that Smallville consistently focuses on character development in a “secret origins” kind of way, it will be interesting to see how they introduce the character of Roulette. Roulette will be in Episode 6 of this season of Smallville. Season 9 premieres on the CW on Friday, September 25.
Related Links:
Smallville Website
Steph Song Website
Steph Song’s Island Films Website
Split Reason Contest and Sale
from Split Reason:
Sword slicing action! Win a set of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow Action Battlers!
Back to school sale! 20% off! Enter promo code SCHOOLNOOBS at checkout.
The last few months have been a battle of epic proportions as we defended our indoor gaming fortress from the wrath of our arch nemesis. (Earth’s nearest star; commonly referred to as “The Sun”.) There is no doubt it will return next year so we have exactly 10 months to acquire more fans, air conditioners, and cooling stations for the Xbox 360, which is clearly vulnerable to the sun’s primary weapon: Permeating Heat.
Although withered and dehydrated we still managed to step outside (then back inside) to see District 9. Never again will we season, skewer, barbecue, and feast on the likes of shellfish kind. Prawns have rights too! District 9 was very well done and we hope the same is true for the coincidental Section 8, a 360/PC game release we expect to pick-up on Tuesday.
Now that days are starting to chill and contract it’s time to get back to what we do best: staying up all night in front of an LCD screen, playing video games in comfortable room temperature, and making new shirts…