Pokemon the Movie: White – Victini and Zekrom to get limited theatrical release in US

Yup, it’s true. After all these years, Pokemon will be on the big screen again. It will be in select theaters on December 3 and 4. It will be the first Pokemon film to go in US theaters since Pokemon Heroes in 2003. This is the 14th feature film in the Pokemon anime franchise, along with Pokemon the Movie: Black – Victini and Reshiram, which both opened in Japan this July as a double feature. It is unknown of the Black version will play in US theaters.

This, as stated before, is the 14th film in the Pokemon anime franchise, and the 1st film in the Pokemon: Black and White sub-series. This film follows Ash, Pikachu, Iris, and Cilan as they arrive Eindoak Town, having come to compete in some competition. But trouble arrives when a madman decides to use the legendary Victini to accomplish something possibly sinister.

The two legendary Pokemon featured in this film are Victini, the victory Pokemon who supposedly has infinite energy, and Zekrom, the Deep Black Pokemon, who can cause storms. Both Pokemon are available in the Pokemon: Black and White video game for the Nintendo DS.

In Japan, both films made over 50 million dollars. In North America, the film distribution will be handled by Cinedigm. Cinedigm also previously helped release Yu-Gi-Oh 3D: Bonds Beyond Time this year.

This film is directed by Kunihiko Yuyama (Various Pokemon films, OVAs, and TV series) and animated by Oriental Light and Magic (Pokemon, Berserk). In North America, the anime show airs on Cartoon Network on Saturday mornings.

So, will you be seeing this in theaters?

New Games Coming out this Month

This month is being overshadowed by some of the next few months coming up, but we have some at least decent games this month too.

On September 19, we have two Nintendo DS releases: Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 and Kirby: Mass Attack. Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 is the second game in a spin-off from the Dragon Quest RPG series from Square Enix. In this game, you can collect monsters, kinda like Pokemon, but unlike Pokemon, you can also mix them to create whole new monsters, which sounds pretty fun. And it still features are from Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball). Kirby: Mass Attack is differant than most Kirby games in that instead of being a platformer or sidescroller, it’s more of a strategy game. In the game, Kirby is split into ten Kirbys, and with the DS stylus, you need to control all those little critters in able to get across specific challenges.

Then, on September 20th, we have Gears of War 3 for the Xbox 360. Gears of War 3 is the third game in the third-person shooter series, and will be the final game for this story arc. It has over 1 million pre-orders, making it one of the most anticipated games of the year, helped by a release date delay.

Then on September 21, the PSP will be getting Persona 2: Innocent Sin (Sin can be innocent?).  The game is part of the popular and disturbing Persona JRPG series from Atlus. This game, as per the course for this series, will have anime-style characters and weird diologue to match a strange plot.

Then, on September 27th, X-Men: Destiny will be released on the PlayStation 3, Wii, Nintendo DS and Xbox 360. The game will have original characters working with old comic characters side-by-side in a platformer setting. It looks fun, but early reviews haven’t been so nice.

 

Of course, there are many others. Remember, buy games and support the gaming industry.

X-Men anime US TV premiere on G4 this October

The third Marvel anime TV series, X-Men, now has a US airdate. It will begin airing on the G4 Channel on October 21, at 11:00 PM ET. The anime will be the third Marvel anime to have aired on G4. In 2010 in Japan, Marvel and Madhouse teamed up to create four various Marvel anime, all of which were licensed in North America by Marvel Entertainment, and were set to air on G4. G4 is currently airing the first two Marvel anime, Iron Man and Wolverine, and are set to air the fourth, Blade, this winter.

The series is the fourth X-Men animated series, after X-Men: TAS, X-Men: Evolution, and Wolverine & the X-Men. In this show, after a member dies, the team disbands, only to be brought back together in order to find a missing girl in Japan.

The anime aired in Japan from April to June 2011 on Animax with 12 episodes. It was directed by Fuminori Kizaki (Afro Samurai, Basilisk) and animated by Madhouse (Death Note, Cardcaptor Sakura). In the dub, the protagonist, Cyclops, will be voiced by Scott Porter (Rex Racer in the Speed Racer film). He previously voiced Cyclops in the Wolverine anime.

Source: AnimeNewsNetwork

Kodansha to re-publish Sailor Moon manga in North America!

After all these years of waiting, Kodansha’s US division has answered many fan’s prayers: the return of cult phenom Sailor Moon! Many fans rejoice! Kodansha will release the first three volumes as one big kazenban this September. Each volume will contain about three volumes. Also, each volume will contain all-new artwork!

Sailor Moon, written and illustrated by Naoko Takeuchi, ran in Japan in Nakayoshi from 1992 to 1997 with 18 volumes. It was adapted into an anime, which was animated by Toei and directed by Junichi Sato (ARIA) and made 46 episodes. The anime was followed by four anime TV sequels, three films, and a live-action series.

The manga was originally licensed by Tokyopop, which released all 18 volumes, but went out of print around 2003, untill this September. The anime was first licensed by DIC Entertainment, who dubbed the first two series. Series three and four were licensed and dubbed by Geneon. The final series was never licensed in North America. The first four series all aired on Cartoon Network’s Toonami block.

Kodansha will also be releasing the Sailor V prequel manga for the first time ever in North America. I am pretty glad; I read the manga when I was a little kid.

Source: AnimeNewsNetwork

VizAnime now streaming Neuro

Majin Tantei Nogami Neuro, or as Viz is naming it, Neuro, is now streaming on their anime website, VizAnime, for free, subbed. The first five episode are currently up, with new episodes every week. Neuro is a fantasy/supernatural Shonen Jump anime. The anime is licensed by Viz Media.

The anime is based on a manga series of the same name by Yusei Matsui, which ran in Weekly Shonen Jump from 2005 to 2009 with 23 volumes. The manga is currently unlicensed in North America as of early 2011.

The anime adaption ran in Japan from October 2007 to March 2008 with 25 episodes on NTV. The anime was animated by Madhouse (Death Note, Black Lagoon, Birdy the Mighty, Kiba) and was directed by Hiroshi Koujina (Kiba, Grenadier). Some video games were also made.

So: Will you watch Neuro?

X-Men anime teaser released!

The upcoming X-Men anime series, which will air in Japan this spring, now has a teaser. I think it looks pretty cool, and may end up being the best Marvel Comics based anime.

This is the third Marvel anime. The first two were Iron Man and Wolverine, which aired back-to-back in Japan starting October 2010. X-Men is scheduled to start in April.

G4 is scheduled to air all three anime in North America in 2011. Here is the teaser. I think it looks pretty cool.

Gundam Musou 3 heading to North America!

Namco Bandai announced on their Facebook page that Gundam Musou 3 (Known in America as Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3) will be heading to North America. Gundam Musou 3 is the third game in the Gundam Musou beat ’em uo video game series.

The first game was released in Japan on March 2007 for the PS3, PS2, and Xbox 360. The second game was released in Japan on December 18, 2008 for the PS2, PS3, and Xbox 360. Both games were later released in North America.

This game was released in Japan on December 16, 2010 for the PS3 and Xbox 360, and will be released in North America this summer.

As a fan of the game series, I am pretty pleased by this turn of events. I will be buying!

Both Mortal Kombat films to get Blu-Ray release!

Fans of the old Mortal Kombat films will be pleased. Live-action video game-based films Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation will get the Blu-Ray treatment, their first HD release.

The first Mortal Kombat film was released in North American theaters on August 18, 1995. It was directed by Paul W.S. Anderson (Resident Evil, Alien VS Predator, Death Race) and made over 120 million dollars.

The sequel, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation was released on November 21, 1997, and was directed by John R. Leonetti (The Butterfly Effect 2). The film critically panned, but still made over 50 million.

Both films are based on the very popular fighting video game series Mortal Kombat.

Both films will be re-released on Blu-Ray this April. If you are a fan, you will be happy to know that in the bonus features, it comes with the rare Mortal Kombat animated film.

Via DVDactive

Udon Licensed Mega Man Gigamix!

This week, the American manga publisher Udon licensed that they licensed the Mega Man manga Mega Man Gigamix. I am very excited since I also liked their Mega Man Megamix manga.

Mega Man Gigamix, written and illustrated by Hitoshi Ariga (The Big O), is the sequel series to the manga Mega Man Megamix (also licensed by Udon and written by Ariga) which is based on the video game franchise by Capcom.

Mega Man Megamix ran in Japan in the late ninties with three volumes, and covered the events of the first few Mega Man video games. Mega Man Gigamix, the sequel, ran in Japan from 2009 to 2010 with three volumes, and covers the newer games. The manga follows the advetures of Mega Man, a robot who fights evil robots who work for a diobolical maniac called Dr. Wily.

Udon released Mega Man Megamix in North America 2009 through 2010, and they will release volume 1 of Gigamix in May this year. Other Capcom manga that Udon has licensed in the past include Mega Man ZX and Street Fighter Gaiden.

Source: AnimeNewsNetwork

Vertical licenses Princess Knight and Drops of God manga series!

Manga company Vertical has licensed two new manga to add to its collection: Princess Knight and Drops of God. Vertical has always been known to make daring licensing choices; will this be different?

Princess Knight is a Shojo fantasy manga by Osamu Tezuka (Astro Boy, Kimba) that ran in Shojo Club from 1953 to 1956 with 2 volumes, which Vertical will release soon. A sequel series, Twin Knight, also helmed by Tezuka, ran in Nakayoshi 1958 with one volume. A third series, also by Tezuka, ran in Nakayoshi from 1963 to 1966 with three volumes. An anime series, directed by Tezuka, ran in Japan from 1967 to 1968 with 52 episodes. An anime film opened in Japan in 1994, and was directed by Masayoshi Nishida (Eyeshield 21, Mokke). Princess Knight is credited as being the manga that first popularized Shojo in Japan.

Drops of God, written by Tadashi Agi and illustrated by Shu Okimoto, is a manga series about win which began serializing in Weekly Morning on November 2004, and is still ongoing with 25 volumes. Vertical plans on releasing at least the first two.

I wonder how well these two manga series will do for Vertical?

Source: AnimeNewsNetwork

EDIT: Vertical will release volume 1 of Princess Knight in October, and volume 1 of Drops of God in September.