Kenshin Anime Festival was successful From july 1st to july 14th El Museo de los Niņos (Childrenīs Museum) was the home of the anime fandom in Costa Rica. These two weeks the fans had the oportunity to watch the whole Rurouni Kenshin Ovas Set, Oh my Goddess! the movie, Metropolis and Rurouni Kenshin the movie. They also enjoyed anime music, a small exhibition of japanese crafts provided by the Japanese Embassy and some of them won prizes as soundtracks and vcdīs of different anime titles and copies of Anime Club magazine. Pictures of the event can be seen here: http://groups.msn.com/AnimeClubCR/fotosciclodeanime.msnw Thanks to the support of the people from the museumīs departament of comunications we also had the chance of being in the media talking about the festival and the anime.
On july 3rd, Esteban Mata (anime club magazine graphic designer) and I had a wonderfull experience as fans when the radio station 979 conexion invited us to an special show about anime and manga.We could talked to fans around the country, and even we had the chance to play anime music during the show. When we finish the people from the radio station asked us to keep a weekly show about anime. Now we are preparing the third show sponsored by the anime club in this radio station.
On july 5th, we were invited by the universitary tv channel to be guests in a music video program called Musica x inclusion. Once again we had a great time and as a surprise to the fans who were watching the show we broadcasted the famous anime music video, Asuka-Engel, made by Erick Cadwell. People just love it and the channel ask us for a copy of the video. Today, Saturday 20th, the ACCR will have a private exhibition of Cowboy Bebop the movie: Knocking on Heavenīs Doors at Cafe Yahva in the universitary district of San Pedro.
For more information: http://www.animefest.org/AF2002/KitakiMayu.php4
AnimeFEST! 2002
Labor Day Weekend - Dallas, Texas
August 30th - September 2nd
Hotel Intercontinental - Dallas (in Addison, Texas)
http://www.animefest.org/
http://www.asianfilm.org/events/MAS_071802.html has updated with the following press release for their newest movie showing at the Laemle's Sunset 5 in L.A. on July 26-7:
Haven't had enough of the heat? Hang out with grunge cop Anthony Wong (career performance!) and new cop Michael F. Wong on the mean streets of Hong Kong and get a cockroach's eye view of what it really takes to survive the triad lifestyle post-1997. BEAST COPS boasts a superb cast, acclaimed script and manic visuals. It's the 5-time award-winning film that saved the languishing Hong Kong film industry with its indie grit, black comedy and brutal climax all set against an LSD-laced surf soundtrack. Don't let the genre-bending give you a whiplash.
BEAST COPS starts out like your typical buddy-cop movie with its good cop/bad cop stereotypes, but it quickly ice-picks you in the head with its authentic portrayal of gangster life with multi-layered characters and subplots. The amazing tonal shift works because of the performances. And Anthony Wong's award-winning portrayal of the morally-conflicted, anti-triad, cop-on-the-take is on par with anything from Hollywood's greats. From the sordid realism of its first frames to the manic scream-inducing rush of its ending, BEAST COPS is what gave the Hong Kong New Wave its ferocity and heart.
Since june of this year, channel 7 has been broadcasting the classic anime of the 70īs "Heidi".This soon become of one the must watched shows in television, and now the newspapers are comenting how this anime is touching the heart of the costarrican people once again. Many products related to Heidi are being succssfully sell. Now you can find in the streets of the main cities of the country dolls, cdīs, tshirts and any kind of stuff with the face of Heidi printed on it.
On thursday 11th, Antonio Calvo from the Anime Club was invited by the tv host Edgar Silva to a 1/2 an hour special tv program about Heidi in channel 7. During this program they had calls from all the country from people who wanna said how important was Heidi in their childhood memories. Even a blind woman who is a fan of Heidi was invited to tell her story. Today, Saturday 20th, Al Dia, one of the main newspapers in the country dedicated two pages of the entretaiment section to Heidi and all the good memories that she bring back.
2)The film is expected to come out in December of next year, and is considered one of WB's tentpole films for the year.
3)The Japanese locations for the film will include Kyoto and Himeji Castle.
Thanks to Daniel for this info. More details and comments about the project can be found at Yahoo
The August 2002 Cinescape included John Woo's A Better Tomorrow 2 and Godzilla vs Mothra among their Top 25 Sequels of All Time.
The August 2002 issue of Fangoria has an article covering BAAF, and a story about a horror movie called Slashers, which is inspired from a Japanese game show called Endurance.
And the July 26th issue of Entertainment Weekly reviewed the latest Armitage anime and gave it a C.
Though Sony never quite got into the handheld arena that Nintendo dominates, it did test the waters somewhat with its PocketStation add-on. Only available in Japan, the device worked as a fully functioning memory card for the PSone with an LCD screen that minigames could be downloaded onto. Very few of these games were ever that entertaining in their own right, but they made for nice extras on a number of titles from Ridge Racer 4 to Final Fantasy VIII. But no more. Sony announced that they've ceased production of the PocketStation, likely due to the waning support for the device now that it's incompatible with PlayStation 2 software. Whether Sony has a next-generation replacement in mind for it or if the PocketStation will be permanently put to rest is unknown, but we'll miss the little time-waster all the same.
Source: Gamers.com
So without further ado, here is the cast for four of the primary roles:
"Mireille": Shelly Calene-Black ("Cleao" in Orphen, "JC Armack" in Sin)
"Kirika": Monica Rial ("Miharu" in Gasaraki, "Izumi" in Princess Nine)
"Chloe": Hilary Haag ("Nene" in Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040, "Ryo" in Princess Nine)
"Altena": Tiffany Grant ("Asuka" in Neon Genesis Evangelion, "Chocolate" in Sorcerer Hunters)
Those looking to get a Noir fix before next year's DVD release need to stay tuned to this website. ADV's very own dynamic duo of web design, "Carrot" and "Ashura," are hard at work designing a Noir website. When it goes live, we'll be sure to announce it.
Source: ADV Films
HOLLYWOOD, CA. (July 19, 2002)-On Sunday, August 4, from 2:00-4:00PM, TOKYOPOP and Wherehouse Cerritos will host an autograph and Q&A session with famed manga artist and creator Tohru Fujisawa (GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka, Shonan Jun-Ai Gumi, Bad Company). The acclaimed legend will autograph copies of his popular anime and manga and provide fans with insight about his work, which he uses as a platform to address very relevant social problems.
Who: TOHRU FUJISAWA, MANGA ARTIST AND CREATOR Creator of numerous manga (graphic novel) properties from Japan, Tohru Fujisawa is perhaps best known for the mega-hit, GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka. GTO is the story of a 22 year-old superhero, rebel and teacher at Holy Forest Academy, who heads a class full of bullies, sadists and schemers out to destroy him. GTO has sold over 37 million copies worldwide and was developed into a popular live-action TV series that remains the most highly-rated entertainment show in Japan. In 1998, Fujisawa won the "22nd Annual Kodansha Manga Award" for GTO.
What: Autograph and Q&A Session for the release of GTO anime and manga
When: Sunday, August 4, 2002 - 2:00-4:00PM
Where: Wherehouse Cerritos 12731 Towne Center Drive, #E Cerritos, CA 90701 - Tel: (562) 653-9313
TOHRU FUJISAWA, FAMED MANGA ARTIST AND CREATOR MAKES RARE U.S. APPEARANCE AT BORDERS NORTHRIDGE
HOLLYWOOD, CA. (July 19, 2002)-On Monday, August 5, at 7:30-9:30PM, TOKYOPOP and Borders Northridge will host an autograph and Q&A session with famed manga artist and creator Tohru Fujisawa (GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka, Shonan Jun-Ai Gumi, Bad Company). The acclaimed legend will autograph copies of his popular anime and manga and provide fans with insight about his work, which he uses as a platform to address very relevant social problems.
Who: TOHRU FUJISAWA, MANGA ARTIST AND CREATOR Creator of numerous manga (graphic novel) properties from Japan, Tohru Fujisawa is perhaps best known for the mega-hit, GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka. GTO is the story of a 22-year-old superhero, rebel and teacher at Holy Forest Academy, who heads a class full of bullies, sadists and schemers out to destroy him. The GTO manga has sold over 37 million copies worldwide and was developed into a popular live-action TV series that remains the most highly-rated entertainment show in Japan. In 1998, Fujisawa won the "22nd Annual Kodansha Manga Award" for GTO.
What: Autograph and Q&A Session for the release of GTO anime and manga
When: Monday, August 5, 2002 - 7:30-9:30PM
Where: Borders Northridge 9301 Tampa Ave. Northridge, CA 91324 - (818) 886-5443
Jonah, Hey, long time reader. Just wanted to let you know that ADV's info about one of the festival showings of Princess Blade is incorrect. The San Diego Asian Film Festival is from October 3 to October 6. If you could let people know and let them know to look for schedule updates on www.sdaff.org, we'd sure appreciate it. Thanks!
Hey there! Thought everyone might like to know that
Samuari Jack got nominated for Best Animated Program
(One hour or more).
Also, the Justice League is up for Main Title Theme
Music and The Fairly OddParents for Music and Lyrics.
Despite a warm critical reception, the Cartoon Network's feature film, The Powerpuff Girls Movie, a movie version of the network's hit TV series, has tanked at the box office, earning just $9.6 million through its first two weeks. Almost simultaneously, another spin-off from a cable kids channel, Hey, Arnold! The Movie from Nickelodeon Films, also flopped. Both films faced stiff competition from the likes of Men in Black II, Lilo & Stitch, The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, Like Mike, and Scooby-Doo.The poor showing for the Powerpuff Girls feature was "a big disappointment," Cartoon Network General Manager Jim Samples told the Atlanta Journal Constitution Wednesday. He indicated that the the next time the channel decides to make a movie, it will be more careful about selecting a release date. He also observed that ever since the movie hit the theater screens, TV audiences for the Powerpuff Girls cartoon series have been rising dramatically.
Chicago, IL Mystery and suspense reign in this demonic anime thriller based on the popular Japanese novel by Kazuya Suzuki & Chiaki Mikishioma. From veteran action anime Director Osamu Yamakaki (Wrath of the Ninja) and featuring animation from Mimoru Yamazawa (Trigun, Sakura Wars) comes Tokyo Revelation - a macabre tale of dark forces and sinister magic in the tradition of Go Nagai (Devilman, Violence Jack).
A satanic program is activated aboard a crowded commercial flight headed for Tokyo. It releases a swarm of invisible demons that send the aircraft plunging to a fiery doom. Everyone aboard is killed instantly except Akito Kobayashi-owner of the devilish program and sworn ally of hell itself!
Kojiro Soma, an old elementary school friend of Akito's, is surprised to see him enroll back in school. Kojiro notice's how this once disenfranchised boy has grown into a suave and arrogant teenager. Later, when his classmates are attacked and legendary demons return to stalk the streets of Tokyo, Kojiro begins to truly understand what his old friend has become.
However, Akito's ultimate plans for the human race require magnetite- the mysterious element that forms the living essence of every human soul. Combined with his demonic software, a strong enough source of magnetite would release a plague of devils upon the earth. That source exists in Kojiro's class, but when the evil plan expands beyond even Akito's grasp, it is Kojiro who must find the ultimate power within himself, and go head-to-head with the greatest demon of all!!!
DVD features include: Japanese Language; English 5.1 Surround Sound; Motion menus; Japanese production team credits; Manga Previews; Web links; Manga Fan Club
Studio: Manga Entertainment Sales & Distribution: WEA Street Date: August 27, 2002 Pre-Book Date: July 30, 2002 Running Time: 60 Minutes SRP: $24.95 Genre: Horror/Action-Adventure Not Rated. For Mature Audiences Only. Barcode: 6-60200-4082-2 (0) Selection #: MANGA4082-2
Executive Producer: Megumi Sugiyama * Producers: Yasuhisa Kazama & Kazumasa Fujiya * Director: Osamu Yamazaki * Art Director: Chitose Asakura Scriptwriter: Mamiya Fujimura * Designer: Kenji Onuki * Music Director: Hironori Matsuoka
Original Author: Kazuya Suzuki & Chiaki Mikishioma
Following in the footsteps of 2001's Spriggan, ADV is planning an early 2003 theatrical release for Princess Blade - the stunning live action martial arts film based on the comic book "Shurayukihime" by Kazou Koike (The Lone Wolf and Cub) and Kazou Kamimura, and featuring fight choreography by Donnie Yen (Iron Monkey, Blade II).
The movie tells the tale of Yuki (Japanese idol Yumiko Shaku), the beautiful but deadly daughter of the Takemikazuchi assassin clan, as she cuts through her past and searches for her true destiny after discovering the head of her clan was responsible for her mother's death. Yuki's quest pits her against her former family, who are sent to kill her, and leads her towards possible happiness in the arms of computer whiz Takashi (Japanese idol Hideaki Ito).
Princess Blade has already made a splash at several prestigious film festivals around the world. In February, the film played at the Berlin Film Festival in Germany, followed by the Hong Kong Film Festival in March and April, and the renowned Cannes Film Festival in France in May. On our side of the ocean, Princess Blade entered Philadelphia's Philly Fest World of Cinema, the San Francisco International Film Festival and several others in April and May.
If you'd like to see Princess Blade before next year's theatrical run, you can still catch it when it plays the following film festivals later this year:
Egyptian Theatre Asian Film Festival in Los Angeles: August 9-25 Asian Film Festival in Dallas: August 16 San Diego Asian Film Festival: September 26-29 Asian Media Access in Minneapolis: October 4-12 Big Apple Anime Festival in New York: October 25-29
We're working hard at booking more film festivals for this amazing movie, so if you don't see one here that's near your home, check back for future updates. And keep watching for news on Princess Blade's official theatrical release early next year!
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