Celebrate Your Geekdom
from RiffTrax:
You’ve been waiting a long time for this, but wait no more! RiffTrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer is in over 400 theatres across the country, and it’s playing tonight! Don’t miss your only chance to see Mike, Kevin and Bill riff this cheesy 1962 fantasy epic on the big screen!
There’s still time to buy advance tickets — visit Fathom Events for participating theaters and showtimes!
from RiffTrax:
RiffTrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer is happening next week!
Tickets for our upcoming RiffTrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer show are already selling out in several cities. Don’t miss your only chance to see Mike, Kevin and Bill riff this cheesy 1962 fantasy epic on the big screen!
The show is only one week away! Be sure to get your tickets early, before it’s too late! Visit Fathom Events for participating theaters and showtimes.
from Puppet This:
The Worst Movie of All Time RETURNS to Terrifying Puppet Life!
What: Manos – The Hands of Felt
Adapted by Rachel Jackson
Directed by Bob Koerner
When: September 4 & 5 – 6:45pm
Where: Center House Theatre (The TPS Stage at Bumbershoot)
Tickets: 206.701.1482 or bumbershoot.org/info/ticketing
More info: PuppetThis.net
“I saw this last night at a packed house and it was awesome.” — Dave, Satellite News comment
“A truly talented group putting on a truly awful story.” — Jay Irwin, BroadwayWorld.com
“It was totally worth pulling the battery out of my pager to go see.” — Derek, Satellite News comment
Puppet This’ recent smash hit, Manos – The Hands of Felt, returns, joining the TPS stage at Bumbershoot September 4 & 5 at 6:45pm
Manos – The Hands of Felt is a giddy puppet musical re-imagining of the cult classic Manos: The Hands of Fate (one of the worst films ever made).
The story of fertilizer salesman-turned-film director Harold P. Warren and his ill-fated run-in with an evil cult, Manos – The Hands of Felt features song and dance numbers, girl fights, and plenty of puppet mayhem. It’s a wicked fun time for Manos “fans” and newbies alike.
Manos – The Hands of Felt features puppeteers: Sann Hall, Rachel Jackson, Michael Robles, Jenny Schmidt, Paul Velasquez and Raymond Williams.
Not recommended for patrons under the age of 14. (Adult language, bizarre sexual situations.)
About Puppet This:
Puppet This is a Seattle based puppet production company working in puppet design, construction and performance. Puppet This designs and constructs puppets for their own scripted and improv productions and also provides puppets for other Seattle area artists.
About Bumbershoot: Seattle’s Music & Arts Festival:
Bumbershoot: Seattle’s Music & Arts Festival is produced by One Reel in collaboration with Seattle Center. Established in 1971, Bumbershoot takes place every year over Labor Day weekend and stretches across the 74-acre Seattle Center beneath the city’s iconic Space Needle. Bumbershoot programs 20 unique indoor and outdoor venues, allowing for a diverse array of arts including live music, comedy, theatre, dance, film, urban crafts, and literary and visual arts. Festival details are located at bumbershoot.org.
from RiffTrax:
Only two weeks until RiffTrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer!
Tickets are going fast!
Tickets for our RiffTrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer show are selling fast! Don’t miss your only chance to see Mike, Kevin and Bill riff this cheesy 1962 fantasy epic live on the big screen. The show is only two weeks away, so be sure to get your tickets now before it’s too late! Click here to visit Fathom Events and search for participating theaters and showtimes!
About the Show
The stars of Mystery Science Theater 3000 are coming to movie theaters nationwide to take on the cheesy 1962 fantasy epic RiffTrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer. Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett of RiffTrax invite you to join them on Wednesday, August 17th for hilarious riffing on a not-so-classic movie bursting with Vikings, giant rubber monsters and a leprechaun in a jar! This one night event will be your only chance to see the guys fire their wisecracking commentary at Jack the Giant Killer on the big screen.
The event will be broadcast live to movie theaters nationwide on Wednesday, August 17 at 8:00pm ET / 7:00pm CT / 6:00pm MT / and 8:00pm PT (tape delay). Audiences will be treated to a brand new short from the guys, as well as two original animated shorts from Rich “Lowtax” Kyanka of Something Awful.
from Mimoco:
Post Convention Wrap Up
MIMOBOT LOVES SDCC — Back From Comic-Con! We’re back home from SDCC, and boy did we have an absolute blast. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booths and made this our best SDCC ever! If you didn’t get a chance to make it out, never fear. See below to get your hands on all of our exclusives.
Browse our SDCC photos!
Emily the Strange MIMOBOT Designer USB Flash Drive — People Are Strange MIMOBOT
•Limited Edition of 500• — Free Limited Edition Poster
Star Wars MIMOBOT Designer USB Flash Drive — Bossk MIMOBOT
•Limited Edition of 500• — Free Limited Edition Poster
Batman x MIMOBOT Designer USB Flash Drive — Harley Quinn MIMOBOT
•Limited Edition of 800• — Free Limited Edition Poster
Star Wars MIMOBOT Series 7 — Featuring Boba Fett (ROTJ Edition), Leia as Boushh, Lando Calrissian, Bossk, and Han Solo with Carbonite Carrying Case
Hello Kitty Loves Animals BLOTz — Free Hello Kitty x MIMOBOT t-shirt with purchase of 9-pack case of HK Loves Animals BLOTz MIMOBOTs! 11 DIFFERENT DESIGNS!
INTRODUCING OUR NEW WEBSITE — Check out our brand new website over at Mimoco.com! VISIT US!
The Designer Toy Awards Best Functional Toy — MIMOBOT Designer USB Flash Drives
from RiffTrax:
NEW at RiffTrax, our RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill and Reefer Madness shows are available on Blu-ray! If you’re a High-definition fan, you can’t miss adding these classic RiffTrax live shows to your Blu-ray collection! Buy both at the same time and you’ll get a $3 credit good towards your next purchase at RiffTrax.com!
Both are $17.95 each!
Get them here.
Check out our full catalog of DVDs at rifftrax.com/dvd and don’t forget about RiffTrax Live, Wednesday August 17th!
from NEW PEOPLE:
NEW PEOPLE Entertainment, a film division of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. that focuses on the licensing and distribution of Japanese films and media, will delight sci-fi, action and anime/manga fans across North America with the release of Gantz on DVD (SRP $24.92) and Blu-ray/DVD combo-pack (SRP $29.99) on August 30th. The film, which is unrated, features both English and Japanese dialogue options and a bonus disc with an exclusive director’s interview and film trailers.
To celebrate the film’s release, a special screening of Gantz is scheduled for Friday, August 26th at 7:00pm in San Francisco at NEW PEOPLE’s Cinema as part of the 2011 J-Pop Summit Festival. The film will be shown in Japanese with English subtitles. Get a great deal by purchasing a ticket bundle that also includes the brand-new DVD or Blu-ray plus a poster. Tickets and more information are available at newpeopleworld.com/films.
In addition, the San Francisco theatrical premiere of Gantz II: Perfect Answer will also take place during the J-Pop Summit Festival on both Saturday, August 27th and Sunday August 28th. The film will also be shown in Japanese with English subtitles. Complete details on the J-Pop Summit are available at: J-Pop.com.
Gantz is based on a hit manga series created by Hiroya Oku and stars leading Japanese actors Kazunari Ninomiya (Letters from Iwo Jima) and Kenichi Matsuyama (Death Note, Detroit Metal City). The film tells the story of two childhood friends that are accidentally killed while trying to save another man’s life. Rather than find themselves in the hereafter, however, they awaken in a strange apartment in which they find a mysterious black orb they come to know as “GANTZ.” Along with similar abductees, they are provided with equipment and weaponry and manipulated into playing a kind of game in which they are sent back out to the greater world to do battle with alien beings, all while never quite knowing whether this game is an illusion or their new reality.
“Gantz first thrilled domestic audiences when we presented the film theatrically in a special one-night-only premiere at over 300 movie theatres nationally earlier this year that was attended by thousands of people across North America,” says Seiji Horibuchi, President and CEO of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. “Anticipation has risen steadily since then and fans now have the exclusive
opportunity to own the film on DVD and Blu-ray with our release on August 30th. Gantz features two of the biggest stars in Japanese cinema and remains true to the innovative storyline from the original manga series. Fans won’t want to miss this exciting release and stay tuned for news coming soon on the upcoming release of the film’s action-packed sequel, Gantz II: Perfect Answer!”
Kazunari Ninomiya, best known in America for his role in Clint Eastwood’s 2006 blockbuster, Letters from Iwo Jima, is both an actor and a singer. He is also world-renowned as a member of the Japanese boy band “Arashi,” which topped Japan’s music charts in 2009 with the three best-selling singles.
Kenichi Matsuyama is currently one of the most sought-after actors in Japanese film and he has won several awards including Japanese Academy Awards Best New Actor (2007) and Most Popular Actor (2009). Matsuyama is widely recognized for his part as L in Death Note (2006), Death Note II: the Last Name (2006) and Death Note: L, change the WorLd (2008) and also for his portrayal of Johannes Krauser II in the outlandish rock and roll comedy, Detroit Metal City (2009).
from VIZ Media:
VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, is proud to announce that Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys was recognized with an Eisner Award in the Best U.S. Edition of International Material — Asia category during award ceremonies held at the recent Comic-Con International event in San Diego, CA. Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys is published in North America by VIZ Media’s Signature imprint. Volume 17 of the series will be released in August.
20th Century Boys is the story of a group of boys who try to save the world. Humanity, having faced extinction at the end of the 20th century, would not have entered the new millennium if it weren’t for them. In 1969, during their youth, they created a symbol. In 1997, as the coming disaster slowly starts to unfold, that symbol returns.
For Kenji, a simple convenience store manager who once dreamed of becoming a rock ‘n’ roll musician, a host of memories from his past come rushing back when one of his childhood friends mysteriously commits suicide. Could this new death be related to the rise of a bizarre new cult that’s been implicated in several other murders and disappearances? Determined to dig deeper, Kenji reunites with some of his old buddies in the hope of learning the truth behind it all.
“We’re elated to have Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys recognized by the comic book industry such a prestigious award,” says Andy Nakatani, Editorial Director at VIZ Media and editor for the title. “Urasawa’s tense and dramatic storylines have firmly established him among the very top echelon of manga creators. With this, and other acclaimed series such as Naoki Urasawa’s Monster and Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, Naoki Urasawa continues to push the boundaries of the manga genre, and we look forward to this award bringing his work to the attention of many new fans across North America.”
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards are considered the “Oscars” of the comic book industry and are named for renowned cartoonist Will Eisner (creator of The Spirit and several award-winning graphic novels). The awards are handed out each year in a gala ceremony at Comic-Con International in San Diego, the largest and oldest comic book convention in the United
States.
Naoki Urasawa’s career as a manga artist spans more than twenty years and has firmly established him as one of the true manga masters of Japan. Born in Tokyo in 1960, Urasawa debuted with Beta!! in 1983 and hasn’t stopped his impressive output since. Well-versed in a variety of genres, Urasawa’s oeuvre encompasses a multitude of different subjects, such as a romantic comedy (Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl), a suspenseful human drama about a former mercenary (Pineapple ARMY; story by Kazuya Kudo), a captivating psychological suspense story (Naoki Urasawa’s Monster), a sci-fi adventure manga (Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys), and a modern reinterpretation of the work of the God of Manga, Osamu Tezuka (Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka; co-authored with Takashi Nagasaki, supervised by Macoto Tezka, and with the cooperation of Tezuka Productions). Many of his books have spawned popular animated and live-action TV programs and films, and 2008 saw the theatrical release of the first of three live-action Japanese films based on Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys.
No stranger to accolades and awards, Urasawa is a three-time recipient of the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award, a two-time recipient of the Osamu Tezuka Cultural Prize, and has received the Kodansha Manga Award. Urasawa has also become involved in the world of academia, and in 2008 accepted a guest teaching post at Nagoya Zokei University, where he teaches courses in, of course, manga.
For more information on Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys and other VIZ Media manga titles, please visit viz.com/manga.
from Nintendo of Canada:
Nintendo of America today announced plans to drop the suggested retail price of its portable Nintendo 3DS system to $169.99 in North America, as new games based on some of the world’s most beloved video game franchises head to the system. The new price, down from the suggested launch price of $249.99 and effective August 12, makes an outstanding value even better and sets up a strong holiday season for the system.
“For anyone who was on the fence about buying a Nintendo 3DS, this is a huge motivation to buy now,” said Nintendo of America President, Reggie Fils-Aime. “We are giving shoppers every incentive to pick up a Nintendo 3DS, from an amazing new price to a rapid-fire succession of great games.”
Nintendo 3DS has the strongest software lineup of any video game system this holiday season and the new price now opens up the glasses-free 3D experience to many more consumers. Building on the popularity of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, which launched June 19, the upcoming game calendar is a Who’s Who of iconic video game franchises. Star Fox 64 3D arrives on September 9, followed by Super Mario 3D Land in November, Mario Kart 7 in December and Kid Icarus: Uprising during the holiday season.
In addition to great games, Nintendo 3DS has a host of attractive features* that make it the must-have video game system this season:
* The new Nintendo Video service automatically delivers short 3D videos from the worlds of music, comedy, animation and Hollywood.
* A free application allows Netflix members with unlimited streaming plans to instantly watch TV episodes and movies streaming from Netflix.
* The Nintendo eShop is a digital store for Nintendo 3DS owners that provides access to a wide variety of downloadable content, such as original 3D software, classic games that have been re-mastered in 3D called 3D Classics, Game Boy and Game Boy Color “Virtual Console” games in their original 2D glory, and more than 350 Nintendo DSiWare games. Visitors can also view video game trailers, screen shots and product information for games, including those available at retail locations.
Since Nintendo 3DS launched in North America on March 27, nearly 900,000 people in North America have purchased one to enjoy 3D visuals without the need for special glasses. These Nintendo 3DS owners represent some of Nintendo’s most loyal customers, and Nintendo is rewarding them for getting in on the action early with 20 free downloadable games from the Nintendo eShop.
These free games are available to anyone who owns a Nintendo 3DS system and uses a wireless broadband Internet signal to connect to the Nintendo eShop at least once before 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on August 11. These users will automatically be registered in the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador program. The program contains two elements:
1. Starting September 1, Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors will be able to download 10 NES Virtual Console games at no charge and before they are available in the Nintendo eShop to the general public. These games, including Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong Jr., Balloon Fight, Ice Climber and The Legend of Zelda, are slated to become paid downloadable games, but Ambassadors get them early for free. Once the paid versions of the games are posted to the Nintendo eShop later in the year, the updated versions will be available to Ambassadors for download at no cost.
2. By the end of 2011, Nintendo will provide Ambassadors with 10 Game Boy Advance Virtual Console games. These include games like Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Metroid Fusion, WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! and Mario vs. Donkey Kong. These games will be available exclusively to Ambassadors, and Nintendo currently has no plans to make these 10 games available to the general public on the Nintendo 3DS in the future.
More details about this program will be announced in the future.
Remember that Nintendo 3DS features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit nintendo.com/3ds.
*Some features require a broadband Internet connection.
from Shout! Factory:
IN STORES AUGUST 2
Shout! Factory, in association with Best Brains, Inc., is proud to announce MST3K vs. Gamera: Mystery Science Theater 3000, Vol. XXI (Deluxe Edition), will be released on August 2, 2011. The 5-DVD set is housed in a limited-edition tin, with 5 mini-posters, and includes the titles Gamera, Gamera Vs. Barugon, Gamera Vs. Gaos, Gamera Vs. Guiron and Gamera Vs. Zigra. SRP $64.99. Through a special offer only from Shout! Factory, fans who order the set at the Shout! Factory Store will receive a free Gamera postcard pack and MST3K Stress Ball.
What could possibly be better suited to the always-quotable wisecracks of beloved SoL captive Joel Robinson and his faithful robot sidekicks, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot, than a monster movie about a giant flying turtle? The answer is — four other movies about same flying turtle! Behold the first-ever themed collection of Mystery Science Theater 3000 classics: all five Gamera episodes from the particularly fertile third season of the long-running cult comedy television series… in their own shell!
In Gamera, East-West tensions literally ignite an atomic explosion in the Arctic, and scientists must find a way to stop one very unexpected fallout: the rampage of a giant, flying turtle unearthed from its glacial tomb in the lost city of Atlantis. If ever there was an argument for world peace, this would be it. On the Satellite of Love, a much more familiar version of the reptile is celebrated in the now-legendary torch song tribute to Servo’s pet turtle, “Tibby, Oh Tibby!” Bonus features include the MST Hour host segments, original Japanese trailer, and So Happy Together: A Look Back At MST3K & Gamera.
In Gamera Vs. Barugon, Gamera is back, only this time he’s playing for our team. In color! When a private expedition to retrieve a mysterious opal unwittingly unleashes a monster lizard, Gamera returns to Earth for the ultimate reptilian rumble. Climate change meets Theatre of the Absurd as our favorite fire-spewing turtle takes on a larger-than-life lizard with freezing breath. On the SoL, the jokes fly faster than an airborne turtle, and Crow and Tom fan the flames of another battle of the ages: PC vs. Mac. Like it’s even a question. Bonus features include the original Japanese trailer and Gamera Vs. The Chiodo Brothers, in which the acclaimed special effects team (Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, Elf) waxes nostalgic about Gamera, Japanese monster movies and men in rubber suits.
Gamera solidifies his new status as protector of humanity in Gamera Vs. Gaos, when he’s called upon to defeat Gaos, an enormous bat with deadly spit-lasers. What Gaos is prepared to do with those lasers to survive, you’ll have to watch and see — but feel free to make your own “I Kept My Eyes Open For 92 Minutes” T-shirt. Much like Gaos, the riffs are relentless, strange and funny. And so is the SoL’s extremely short-lived production of Gameradamerung. Bonus features include Gamera Obscura: A Brief History by August Ragone (author of Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters), and the original Japanese trailer.
Gamera comes to the rescue of two young boys abducted by alien women with a taste for growing brains in Gamera Vs. Guiron. As if that doesn’t keep the heroic turtle busy enough, there’s Guiron (part monster, part cutlery) to contend with. Yes, it’s another heaping portion of giant monsters going at it and not “using their words” — fortified with essential messages about trust and kindness. Also, live from Deep 13 and the SoL: a very special evening of tributes to the Gamera theme song. The MST Hour host segments and the original Japanese trailer of the film are included as bonus features.
The final installment of the original Gamera series, Gamera Vs. Zigra, was completed shortly before Daiei Studios went bankrupt, and it’s not hard to see why. Gamera returns to save Earth from yet another alien with Earth envy. But lest you worry that it’s another portion of more of the same, this time the monster can talk, and this time it looks like a fish. Zigra (it’s a ship and a monster and a planet) blames our “Earth science” for rendering his home planet’s oceans uninhabitable. Needless to say, we are all punished for it. Invention exchanges, dioramas and two more wildly different takes on Gamera’s theme song… the wait is over. The original Japanese trailer is included as a bonus feature.
MST3K vs. Gamera Bonus Features:
So Happy Together: A Look Back At MST3K & Gamera
Gamera Obscura: A History by August Ragone (author of Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters)
Gamera Vs. The Chiodo Brothers
MST Hour host segments
Original Japanese Trailers
5 Exclusive Mini-Posters By Artist Steve Vance
from Mimoco:
NEW! 32GB & 64GB CAPACITIES! Now Announcing from San Diego Comic Con 2011 New Product Releases
Star Wars MIMOBOT Series 7 — Featuring Boba Fett (ROTJ Edition), Leia as Boushh, Lando Calrissian, Bossk, and Han Solo with Carbonite Carrying Case
Hello Kitty Loves Animals BLOTz — Free Hello Kitty x MIMOBOT t-shirt with purchase of 9-pack case of HK Loves Animals BLOTz MIMOBOTs! 11 DIFFERENT DESIGNS!
VIDEO SPOTLIGHT — Check out our latest video featuring Hello Kitty Loves Animals BLOTz & Supercute! WATCH NOW
Signings & Exclusives at SDCC’11 — LEARN MORE
REMINDER ABOUT SDCC — Can’t Make it to SDCC to grab our exclusives? We are compiling a waiting list for fans that can’t make it to the show. Any unsold inventory will be offered on a first come first served basis to those who register for the waiting list. Just email SDCC@mimoco.com and reference the design you’d like to reserve in the subject of your email. There is a limit of one exclusive per wait list request. There is also a limit of one unit per customer per exclusive design. After SDCC is over, and if any inventory remains, a member of the Teamoco will be in touch with instructions to secure your waitlisted item(s). You will have 48 hours from receipt of emailed instructions to confirm your waitlisted item(s) before they will be released.
Check out the press release!
from Shout! Factory:
We are all set to embark on our eighth SDCC adventure. Our booth has moved, so you can now find Shout! at #4248, near the back wall and the food concessions and right across the row from G4. Lots of goings-ons, but the highlights: “The Evolution of Transformers” panel on Friday at 5:30pm in Room 8; Trailers From Hell signing with director Joe Dante and Elizabeth Stanley (Thursday, 3:00); and Battle Beyond the Stars signing with film legends Sybil Danning and John Saxon (Saturday, 2:30).
More details can be found here. Be sure to bookmark the page, as we’ll be posting regular updates from the convention center floor, giving you the full Comic-Con experience!