ACF 262: Preview of Naruto Manga Vol 45 free online with Special Password

120-PAGE PREVIEW OF NARUTO MANGA VOLUME 45 ONLINE FREE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY ON SHONENJUMP.COM

Monthly Manga Anthology Offers 7 Chapters From NARUTO Volume 45 For Free With Special Password Available Only In May Issue

From the traffic stats for AsianCineFest, it's clear that lots of you are interested in Naruto. So here's some news that just came in from VIZ Media:
March 31, 2009 - VIZ Media announced today SHONEN JUMP magazine has a special treat for readers—an invitation to read a free preview of the upcoming NARUTO manga Volume 45 (rated ‘T’ For Teens)—online at www.shonenjump.com, for a limited time only. These chapters will not run in the magazine and will not be available in graphic novel form until July 2009.

The 120-page preview will be available online beginning today through May 5th exclusively at http://www.shonenjump.com/. A preview link appears on the homepage. Visitors must type in the password that appears on page 20 of the May issue of SHONEN JUMP to access the chapters.

NARUTO is one of the hottest series from Japan and continues to be one of VIZ Media’s most successful manga and animated properties. Back in February, VIZ Media unveiled an accelerated publishing schedule for upcoming editions of the best-selling NARUTO manga series. Between February and April 2009, 11 volumes have been scheduled for publication, moving the series from Volume 34 (February 2009) to Volume 44 (April 2009) before returning to a quarterly release schedule beginning with Volume 45 (July 2009).

NARUTO depicts the adventures of a young boy named Naruto Uzumaki who trains to become a ninja, and through his exciting adventures, the young ninja learns the importance of friendship, teamwork, loyalty, hard work, creativity, ingenuity, and right versus wrong. Created by Masashi Kishimoto, NARUTO was first introduced in Japan in 1999 and quickly became that country’s most popular ninja manga targeting tweens and teens, and more than 85 million copies to date have been printed. The manga series has captivated millions of fans across North America, Europe and South America. More information on NARUTO is available at http://www.naruto.com/.

In NARUTO Volume 45, Sasuke and Naruto find that their powers are ever increasing. Sasuke can now use the Mangekyo Sharingan in multiple ways, and Naruto may have become even more powerful than his fallen sensei Jiraiya! But is anyone powerful enough to stop the ultimate attack as the Pains of the Akatsuki launch their deadly strike against Naruto's home village?

NARUTO animated episodes are also currently available for free on NARUTO.com and through a variety of web-based, video streaming outlets that have partnered with VIZ Media, including HULU and JOOST. More information on NARUTO is available at http://www.naruto.com/.

ACF 261: BLEACH and NARUTO Animation Films now available on iTunes

VIZ MEDIA LAUNCHING
BLEACH AND NARUTO ANIMATED FEATURE FILMS
ON iTunes

Now Available for Download for the First Time Ever

Here's the latest news from VIZ about two popular titles now being available on iTune:

San Francisco, CA, March 27, 2009 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the debut of the smash-hit animated feature film BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF A NOBODY along with three full-length NARUTO animated movies; NINJA CLASH IN THE LAND OF SNOW, GUARDIANS OF THE CRESCENT MOON KINGDOM and LEGEND OF THE STONE OF GELEL on the iTunes® Store (www.iTunes.com) in U.S. and Canada (www.iTunes.ca).

The movies are dubbed in English and available for purchase in standard-definition format for $9.99, for rent in high-definition for $3.99, and for rent in standard-definition for $2.99 in the U.S. In Canada the movies are available for purchase in standard-definition format for $14.99, for rent in high-definition for $4.99, and for rent in standard-definition for $3.99.

“BLEACH and NARUTO are two of the most popular animated properties to ever come to North America from Japan, and we’re very excited for fans to check out these feature films on iTunes,” says Ken Sasaki, Vice President of Strategy & Business Development, VIZ Media. “These movies can be enjoyed on a Mac or PC, a widescreen TV with Apple TV, or on the go with an iPod with video or iPhone, giving fans the opportunity to watch their favorite anime wherever they are. The availability of the feature films is a great addition to the already wide selection of BLEACH and NARUTO TV episodes available on iTunes now.”

BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF NOBODY (Rated 'T' for Teens) is the first feature film adapted from the wildly popular animated series and best-selling manga graphic novel series (both distributed and published in North America by VIZ Media) created by acclaimed Japanese artist Tite Kubo. The film begins as unidentified beings known as “Blanks” start popping up. They are soon followed by a Soul Reaper named Senna who makes them disappear. Puzzled by these unknown beings and the even more mysterious girl, main characters Ichigo and Rukia set out to learn more and soon uncover an evil plot when a menacing clan tries to kidnap Senna. Banished from the Soul Society long ago, the clan’s leader has sent the World of the Living and the Soul Society on a collision course, and Senna seems to be the key to his diabolical plot for revenge. Can Ichigo and his fellow Soul Reapers save the two worlds from annihilation?

NARUTO THE MOVIE: NINJA CLASH IN THE LAND OF SNOW (Rated 'T' for Teens) finds Naruto and his team on a mission to guard Yukie Fujikaze, a popular actress starring in the hit movie The Adventures of Princess Gale. The crew is heading toward the Land of Snow, a land forever covered in snow, to shoot the final scenes of the film. When Yukie refuses to go and escapes from the set, she is brought back by force by Naruto and his teammates. But little do they know there are three rogue Snow Ninja lying in wait with a sinister purpose that forces Yukie to make a crucial decision and face her hidden past.

NARUTO THE MOVIE 2: LEGEND OF THE STONE OF GELEL (Rated 'T' for Teens) begins as Naruto, Shikamaru and Sakura are in the middle of returning a lost ferret to its owner, supposedly the easiest mission ever. Or so they think! When a young knight, Temujin, attacks them out of nowhere, they are drawn into a fierce struggle over a treasure harboring legendary power – the Stone of Gelel. Temujin's master wants to use the Stone’s power to create a utopia, while the last of the clan who once controlled the Stone wants to keep it sealed away forever. Naruto and the others, along with help from Gaara and Kankuro, must protect the Stone from those who want to misuse its power. When the dream of utopia becomes a nightmare, it'll take a ninja to set things right!

NARUTO THE MOVIE 3: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom (Rated 'T' for Teens) is the latest feature adventure featuring everyone’s favorite band of ninjas. Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi team up with Rock Lee to protect Prince Michiru and his son Hikaru on their return home to the Crescent Moon Kingdom. Easy enough, until the royal family becomes a royal pain! Prince Michiru can’t help indulging his son, even buying him a circus along the way! Naruto has a tough time putting up with both the spoiled Hikaru and a saber-toothed tiger, but the real adventure begins when they reach the Land of the Moon and find themselves facing a villainous uprising. Does Naruto have what it takes to save an entire kingdom?

More information on NARUTO is available at www.Naruto.viz.com. More information on BLEACH is available at www.Bleach.viz.com.

ACF 260: Naruto "Watch-and-Win" contest begins tomorrow, March 27, 2009

VIZ MEDIA LAUNCHES SPECIAL NARUTO SHIPPUDEN WATCH-AND-WIN CONTEST ON OFFICIAL NARUTO WEB SITE NARUTO.COM

Fans Can Watch The Newest NARUTO Shippuden Animated Episode Each Week At NARUTO.com Then Test Their Knowledge To Win Exciting Prizes Including NARUTO Video Games And A Game Console!

More Naruto news from those folks at VIZ:

San Francisco, CA, March 25, 2009 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has launched a new watch-and-win contest on its official NARUTO web site at www.NARUTO.com beginning March 27th. Every week, a new NARUTO Shippuden episode (English subtitled) will stream for free on the site and fans are invited to watch and take part in the contest by answering a trivia question about each new installment. The contest runs through September 2009.

Winners will be announced weekly and are eligible for a variety of exciting prizes, from action figures and apparel to video games. Leading video game publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. sponsors the first 4 weeks of the contest and will award each lucky winner a copy of Ultimate Ninja® 4: NARUTO™ Shippuden, the first video game released in North America based on the NARUTO Shippuden animated series. On the fourth week the company will award one lucky fan a copy of the video game and a PlayStation®2 game console.

Ultimate Ninja® 4: NARUTO Shippuden features several unique game modes allowing players to experience perspectives as different characters in this immersive world of the ninja. The video game combines role-playing and action-platforming elements, telling the story of how Naruto returned to the Hidden Leaf Village after his training with Jiraiya - an original narrative arc that fans won’t find anywhere else. Packed with new NARUTO Shippuden characters, as well as updated versions of fan favorites, the game offers a total of 52 playable characters to take into battle and also features the series’ trademark one-on-one ninja battles for one or two players.

“This NARUTO Shippuden watch-and-win contest is a unique and fun way for fans to flex their knowledge of each week’s new episode to win special NARUTO prizes,” says Gonzalo Ferreyra, Vice President Sales & Product Marketing, VIZ Media. “We invite fans to visit the official NARUTO web site, NARUTO.com, regularly over the coming months for more chances to win and updates on future prize sponsors.”

Created by Masashi Kishimoto, NARUTO was first introduced in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in Japan in 1999 and quickly became that country’s most popular ninja manga targeting tweens and teens and has sold more than 80 million copies to-date. The manga series (rated ‘T’ for Teens) and animated counterpart (NARUTO rated ‘T’ for teens, and NARUTO Shippuden rated ‘T+’ for older teens), is one of VIZ Media’s most successful properties and has captivated millions of fans across North America, Europe and South America.

In the NARUTO manga and animated series, Naruto Uzumaki wants to be the best ninja in the land. He's done well so far, but Naruto knows he must train harder than ever and leaves his village for intense exercises that will push him to his limits. NARUTO Shippuden begins two and a half years later, when Naruto returns to find that everyone has been promoted up the ninja ranks—except him. Sakura’s a medic ninja, Gaara’s advanced to Kazekage, and Kakashi…well he remains the same. But pride isn’t necessarily becoming of a ninja, especially when Naruto realizes that Sasuke never returned from his search for Orochimaru. Plus, the mysterious Akatsuki organization is still an ever-present danger. As Naruto finds out more about the Akatsuki’s goals, he realizes that nothing in his universe is as it seems. Naruto is finding that he’s older, but will he also prove wiser and stronger?

Earlier NARUTO episodes are also currently available for free through a variety of other web-based, video streaming outlets that have partnered with VIZ Media, including iTunes®, HULU and JOOST.

More information on NARUTO is available at www.NARUTO.com.

ACF 259: Asian Pop Star BoA's Free Concert at Universal CityWalk

On Saturday, March 21, 2009, Universal CityWalk, Hard Rock Café and KIIS celebrated Asian pop sensation BoA’s first English album release, “BoA”, with a FREE mini-concert performance that featured popular songs from her new album, including “I did it for love” and “Eat you up”.

BoA signed autographs for her fans after her performance and memorabilia that she presented to the Hard Rock Cafe.

Born Boa Kwon in South Korea on November 5, 1986, her performance name reportedly stands for "Beat of Angel." She has enjoyed major success not only in her homeland, but also in Japan and elsewhere in Asia. Multi-lingual, she's now poised to make her mark here in the States.

BoA performing with her back-up dancers

Part of the large crowd gathered to see BoA perform

Some of BoA's excited fans

BoA at Wikipedia
"BoA" audio CD at Amazon.com
"BoA" album MP3 downloads at Amazon.com

ACF 258: Taekwondo presentation at The Korea Society tonight

Exploring the Traditional Korean Martial Art of Taekwondo

with

Master Doug Cook

Author of Taekwondo: Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Warrior and Traditional Taekwondo—Core Techniques, History and Philosophy

When:

Monday, March 23, 2009

6:30 PM-7:00 PM ♦ Registration and Reception

7:00 PM-8:30 PM ♦ Presentation and Q&A

Where: 

The Korea Society

950 Third Avenue @ 57th Street, 8th Floor

(Building entrance on SW corner of Third Avenue and 57th Street)

Taekwondo's immense international popularity has made it the fastest growing martial art in the world today. One of only two martial arts recognized by the International Olympic Committee, taekwondo offers combat techniques with proven effectiveness as a means of self-defense, but also has metaphysical and philosophical aspects derived from Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism which attract those seeking more than a simple, physical workout.

Doug Cook, 5th dan black belt master instructor, will explain some of the key elements of taekwondo, talk about the formative years of this unique Korean martial discipline, and highlight the distinction between the practice of the traditional art and the combat sport of taekwondo.

About the Presenter:

Master Doug Cook is a certified taekwondo instructor, referee and the owner of Chosun Taekwondo Academy in Warwick, New York. A student of world-renowned 9th dan black belt grandmaster Richard Chun, Cook holds a 5th dan black belt in taekwondo. He has trained the U.S. Army National Guard, the Department of Homeland Security, the New York City Police Department and the Bronx County Sheriff’s Department. Named by Black Belt magazine as one of America’s top 20 taekwondo instructors, he has been recognized by the Republic of Korea and the World Taekwondo Federation for his work to strengthen the U.S.-Korea relationship through martial arts. Cook is the author of Taekwondo: Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Warrior and Traditional Taekwondo—Core Techniques, History and Philosophy. 

$10 for members and students, $20 for nonmembers

Walk-in registration will incur an additional charge of $5.

Info and order tickets online. click here.

ACF 257: NARUTO Shippuden Episode 101 free simultaneous streaming

SPUNKY NINJA RIDES DIGITAL CONVERGENCE WAVE WHEN THE LATEST EPISODE OF NARUTO SHIPPUDEN STREAMS ON OFFICIAL U.S. NARUTO WEBSITE

SIMULTANEOUS TO AIRING IN JAPAN

Fans Are Invited To View The Simulcast At NARUTO.com On March 26th And Watch The Newest NARUTO Shippuden Episode For FREE!

Lots of interesting and exciting news has been coming from VIZ lately. Here's their announcement of the free stream of NARUTO Shippuden Episode 101 in the U.S. on March 26th:

San Francisco, CA, MARCH 19, 2009 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, continues to generate tremendous interest in its animated NARUTO series and the property’s latest story arc – NARUTO Shippuden – with a special announcement that the newest Shippuden installment, Episode 101 (English subtitled), will stream for free in the U.S. on March 26th on the company’s official NARUTO web site, www.naruto.com, the same day the episode is scheduled to air in Japan. This episode of NARUTO Shippuden can be viewed in Canada on March 26th on www.Joost.com.

This is the first time that the official U.S. NARUTO web site will simulcast an episode with the broadcast in Japan. NARUTO is one of the most popular Japanese anime and manga properties in the world and this special simulcast is part of VIZ Media’s ongoing plan to bring hit animated properties and the latest content to its audience via the web. NARUTO is a co-production of TV TOKYO, VIZ Media parent company Shueisha Inc., and Pierrot Co., Ltd.

“We invite NARUTO fans across the U.S. to visit NARUTO.com on March 26th for this very special presentation,” says Ken Sasaki, Vice President of Strategy & Business Development, VIZ Media. “The web site is the ultimate destination for anything NARUTO and currently contains nearly 100 full-length NARUTO episodes, all offered in high quality streaming video, and is completely free for viewers. For those who have yet to check out the newest NARUTO Shippuden story arc, there’s still plenty of time to get up to speed before the latest episode debuts later this month!”

On the manga (graphic novel) side, VIZ Media is complementing the interest in NARUTO Shippuden with an accelerated publishing schedule for upcoming editions of the best-selling NARUTO manga series, making them available to North American audiences sooner than ever before. Between February and April, eleven new volumes of NARUTO manga will be released, moving the series from Volume 34 to Volume 44 before returning to a quarterly release schedule beginning with Volume 45 (July 2009). First print-run editions of the volumes released in March and April also will include a special promotional bookmark or sticker.

Created by Masashi Kishimoto, NARUTO was first introduced in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in Japan in 1999 and quickly became that country’s most popular ninja manga targeting tweens and teens and has sold more than 80 million copies to-date. The manga series (rated ‘T’ for Teens) and animated counterpart (NARUTO rated ‘T’ for teens, and NARUTO Shippuden rated ‘T’+ for older teens), is one of VIZ Media’s most successful properties and has captivated millions of fans across North America, Europe and South America.

In the NARUTO manga and animated series, Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja in training, wants to be the best ninja in the land. He's done well so far, but Naruto knows he must train harder than ever and leaves his village for intense exercises that will push him to his limits. NARUTO Shippuden begins two and a half years later, when Naruto returns to find that everyone has been promoted up the ninja ranks—except him. Sakura’s a medic ninja, Gaara’s advanced to Kazekage, and Kakashi…well, he remains the same. But pride isn’t necessarily about becoming a ninja, especially when Naruto realizes that Sasuke never returned from his search for Orochimaru. Plus, the mysterious Akatsuki organization is still an ever-present danger. As Naruto finds out more about the Akatsuki’s goals, he realizes that nothing in his universe is as it seems. Naruto is finding that he’s older, but will he also prove wiser and stronger?

Earlier NARUTO episodes are also currently available for free on a variety of web-based, video streaming outlets that have partnered with VIZ Media, including HULU and JOOST. Earlier episodes of NARUTO Shippuden are available for free on www.Naruto.com.

More information on NARUTO is available at www.Naruto.com.

ACF 256: VIZ Media Titles Rule NY Times Manga Best Seller List

VIZ MEDIA SWEEPS ALL TOP 10 SPOTS
ON THE NEWEST NEW YORK TIMES
MANGA BEST SELLER LIST

Here's some impressive news about VIZ Media's manga releases:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced that its titles dominated the entire Manga category in the most recent listing of the New York Times Graphic Books Best Seller List for the week ending March 7, 2009. The massively popular NARUTO occupied 7 of the Top 10 spots, with other widely read VIZ Media manga titles BLEACH, BLACK CAT and shojo manga THE GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE † impressively rounding out the list.

The complete Graphic Books Best Seller List (Manga) follows below:

1. NARUTO, Vol. 40, by Masashi Kishimoto
2. NARUTO, Vol. 41, by Masashi Kishimoto
3. NARUTO, Vol. 38, by Masashi Kishimoto
4. NARUTO, Vol. 39, by Masashi Kishimoto
5. BLEACH, Vol. 26, by Tite Kubo
6. NARUTO, Vol. 37, by Masashi Kishimoto
7. NARUTO, Vol. 35, by Masashi Kishimoto
8. THE GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE †, Vol. 9, by Arina Tanemura
9. BLACK CAT, Vol. 19, by Kentaro Yabuki
10. NARUTO, Vol. 36, by Masashi Kishimoto

The list is also viewable on the New York Times web site at:
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/13/graphic-books-best-seller-lists/

“It’s extremely gratifying to see the continued strong performance of BLEACH and NARUTO alongside other unique properties like BLACK CAT and GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE † which all have been recognized by the New York Times on its Manga Best Seller List,” says Gonzalo Ferreyra, Vice President, Sales & Product Marketing VIZ Media. “BLACK CAT, BLEACH and NARUTO feature the captivating art, multi-layered character-driven storylines and plenty of edge-of-your-seat action that epitomizes the best attributes of the manga genre. The popularity of THE GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE † continues to show the momentum behind the shojo category (comics for girls), which offers romantically tinged titles aimed at a sizeable segment of female readers.”

BLACK CAT (Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) Train Heartnet, also known as "Black Cat," was an infamous assassin for a secret organization called Chronos...until he abandoned that cold-blooded existence to live on his own terms as an easygoing bounty hunter. But is Train's past as far behind him as he thinks? Find out in this action-packed series created by Kentaro Yabuki.

BLEACH (Rated ‘T’ for Teens)
Creator Tite Kubo’s massively popular supernatural action-adventure manga series centers on Ichigo Kurosaki, a fifteen-year old student with the ability to see ghosts. His fate takes an extraordinary turn when he meets Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper who shows up at Ichigo's house on the trail of a Hollow, a malevolent lost soul. Drawn to Ichigo's high level of spiritual energy, the Hollow attacks Ichigo and his family, and Rukia steps in to help but is injured and unable to fight. As a last resort, Rukia transfers part of her Soul Reaper powers to Ichigo. Now a full-fledged Soul Reaper, he joins Ruika to face the challenges that lie ahead. More information on BLEACH is available at: http://bleach.viz.com.

THE GENTLEMEN'S ALLIANCE † (Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens)
Renowned manga artist Arina Tanemura created this acclaimed series that exemplifies the shojo manga style with highly stylized artwork and romantic plot twists presented with a swirl of billowing ribbons, romance and heartbreak. In return for a business loan of 50 million yen, the prestigious Kamiya family gave their daughter Haine away to the wealthy Otomiya family. Haine, now an Otomiya, is appointed to the student council of the exclusive Imperial Academy, a private school for the aristocracy. Even though Haine is of proper lineage to be on the council, she finds herself struggling to find her place among the many secrets of its elite members, especially those of the president who holds her heart – Shizumasa Togu, aka "the Emperor." More information on THE GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE † is available at: http://www.shojobeat.com/manga/sb_vols.php


NARUTO (Rated ‘T’ for Teens)
NARUTO depicts the adventures of a young boy named Naruto Uzumaki who trains to become a ninja, and through his exciting adventures, the young ninja learn the importance of friendship, teamwork, loyalty, hard work, creativity, ingenuity, and right versus wrong. Created by Masashi Kishimoto, NARUTO was first introduced in Japan in 1999 and quickly became that country’s most popular ninja manga targeting tweens and tees and more than 85 million copies to-date have been printed. The manga series (rated ‘T’ for Teens) has captivated millions of fans across North America, Europe and South America. More information on NARUTO is available at www.naruto.com.

The latest volumes of NARUTO (Shippuden) pick up two years after Naruto left to train with Jiraiya. Now a teenager, he reunites with his old friends to find out everyone is stronger than before – and maybe even stronger than he is!

In response to the strong fan interest in NARUTO Shippuden, VIZ Media has launched an accelerated publishing campaign for upcoming editions of the series, making them available to North American audiences sooner than ever before. Between February and April, eleven new volumes of NARUTO manga will be released, moving the series from Volume 34 to Volume 44 before returning to a quarterly release schedule beginning with Volume 45 (July 2009). First print-run editions of the volumes released in March and April also will include a special promotional bookmark or sticker.

VIZ Media manga titles continue to captivate millions of readers across North America and are regularly featured on a variety of nationally syndicated Graphic Novel and Manga Best Seller lists, some of which include: 9 VIZ Media titles on the Bookscan Top 20 Graphic Novels for 2008 list, assorted VIZ Media titles featured on the USA Today Top 150 Bestseller List on multiple occasions, and more. Retail industry watchdog ICV2 recently included BLACK CAT, BLEACH, NARUTO and GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE † among its Top 25 Manga Properties for 2008. NARUTO was also noted as the Number 7 most-searched term in 2008, as reported by the Yahoo! 2008 Year In Review Top 10 Search list.

ACF 255: "L, change the WorLd" special 2-night event at 400+ Theatres!

VIZ PICTURES AND NCM FATHOM PRESENT
LIVE-ACTION DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd
IN SPECIAL TWO-NIGHT EVENT

Riveting Unwritten Chapter Of Edgy DEATH NOTE Psychological Crime Drama on the Big Screen on April 29th and 30th in More Than 400 Theatres Nationwide

Here's complete info on this exciting nation-wide two night event. Note especially that advance ticket sale begins today, March 20th, for e-subscribers to Shonen Jump and on Monday, March 23rd for the general public.

VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced that it will team with NCM FATHOM to present DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd, a live-action two-night, multi-city event on April 29th and 30th at 7:30 pm local time. By popular demand, a subtitled version will be presented on April 29th and an English-dubbed version on April 30th with L’s voice played by Alessandro Juliani from the anime series.

Tickets for this special event are available at presenting theatre box offices and online. For a complete list of theatre locations and prices, please visit http://www.blogger.com/www.fathomevents.com/ (theatres are subject to change). Advance tickets will be available to SHONEN JUMP e-subscribers beginning March 20 (sign-up is available at http://www.shonenjump.com/) and tickets to the general public go on sale on March 23.

DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd is inspired by the immensely popular DEATH NOTE features, which are based on the best-selling supernatural action manga series written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata, but this spin-off follows a new original storyline. DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd was directed by Hideo Nakata, who also directed the U.S. #1 hit horror movie The Ring 2, which was remade from his own smash hit Japanese horror trilogy, Ringu.

DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd introduces the unwritten chapter of DEATH NOTE and reveals how the legendary detective “L” (Kenichi Matsuyama) spends the final 23 days of his life. The story begins as L takes on the “Kira” case, in which countless criminals are dying under mysterious circumstances. L successfully solves the case and stops Kira, but only after sacrificing his life, leaving himself with only 23 days left to live. For his final case L faces down a bio-terrorist group trying to wipe out humanity with a deadly virus ten times more potent than Ebola. As L tries to formulate an antidote with a scientist, he must also save the lives of two children who have no one else to turn to. DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd features what happened before and after the two earlier DEATH NOTE events and shows DEATH NOTE fans the more human side of L that could not be seen previously.

“Fathom’s ongoing relationship with VIZ Pictures has brought the best in live-action manga events to Fathom-networked theatres and will bring the anxiously awaited third event in the Death Note series to select theatres in April,” said Dan Diamond, vice president of Fathom.

“DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd stars Kenichi Matsuyama, an up-and-coming Japanese actor who has also appeared in acclaimed films such as DEATH NOTE, LINDA LINDA LINDA, NANA and DETROIT METAL CITY,” says Seiji Horibuchi, president and CEO of VIZ Pictures. “He reprises his role as the ace detective L and audiences will be riveted to their seats as his character once again works to save society from a monstrous new threat.”

The DEATH NOTE manga and animated series have become extremely popular domestically. The 37-episode animated series is seen by millions each week on cable broadcast and the series is also distributed on DVD by VIZ Media (rated T+ for Older Teens). On the print side, DEATH NOTE 13: HOW TO READ, a companion volume to the successful manga series, is also published domestically by VIZ Media and was ranked in USA Today's Top 150 list of America's best-selling books.

For more information on the DEATH NOTE live action events and other VIZ Pictures films please visit http://www.viz-pictures.com/ or http://www.deathnotefilms.com/. For more information on the DEATH NOTE manga and animation, please visit deathnote.viz.com.

ACF 254: 8th Annual NYAFF in 3 months!

The 8th annual New York Asian Film Festival will be upon us in three months! Two whole weeks of cinematic mayhem and madness!

Even if you're not in New York, you should rejoice because you can at least learn about many of the latest and greatest films that are coming out of Asia, films that may later screen near you or be available on DVD.

I'll be covering the festival here at AsianCineFest as I have since I wrote about Oh! My Zombie Mermaid way back in ACF 002 on July 4, 2006.

I don't have specifics about this years festival (other than the planned dates), but will pass them on as they become available. In the meanwhile, I suggest you check out:

The Subway Cinema website and Subway Cinema News (their blog)

ACF 253: Free Screening of Lee Chang-dong's "Secret Sunshine" in New York

I've been singing the praises of Korean director Lee Chang-dong since I saw Oasis, his third film, several years ago. His fourth and most recent film Secret Sunshine (Miryang) came out in 2007 and I saw it at a press screening in conjunction with that fall's New York Film Festival at Lincoln Center. I later reviewed it in my May 6, 2008 post (see ACF 109 in the May 2008 Archives).

The film is about Lee Shin-ae (actress Jeon Do-yeon) who moves with her young son to Miryang, the rural Korean city where her late husband was from. Kim Jong-chan( actor Song Kang-ho) is the owner of a garage who tows their broken-down vehicle into town and falls for Sin-ae. The film seems to be a romantic comedy at first, then a crime thriller, before finally settling into its true raison d'etre, an absolutely amazing consideration of grief and the search for spiritual solace.

Jeon Do-yeon won awards at the Cannes Film Festival, the Asian Film Awards, the Blue Dragon Awards, the South Korea Grand Bell Awards for her role as Shin-ae. Awards most well-deserved, as were the film's other nominations and wins.

In my opinion, Secret Sunshine, like Oasis, will hold its own in comparisons with the best works of the greatest international driectors: Ozu, Kurosawa, Fellini, Antonioni, Truffaut, etc. It is absolutely not to be missed by anyone who cares about great cinema.

The film will be shown free at the ImaginAsian Theatre, 239 East 59th Street, New York, NY. The screening is presented by Korean Cultural Service NY as part of its ChungMuRo Express: Classic Korean Cinema series. Although admission is free, you must RSVP at 212.759.9550 to have your name placed on the guest list.

ACF 252: YMCA Baseball Team

YMCA Baseball Team / YMCA Yagudan

Written and directed by Hyeon-seok Kim

Korea, 2002, color, 104 min.

The Korea Society's monthly Classic Movie Night series of films set during the period of Japanese occupation will continue this Thursday, March 19th, 2009 at 6:30 PM with this 2002 directorial debut by Hyeon-seok Kim.

Overcoming disapproval from their elders, class tensions and uncertain times, the unlikely heroes of the YMCA Baseball Team bring hope to a Korea on the cusp of subjugation by Japan. Director Hyeon-seok Kim (who previously wrote JSA: Joint Sceutiry Area) directs audience-favorite Kang-ho Song in this funny and heartwarming paean to baseball and the nation.

Buy tickets online or RSVP to Yuni at 212.759.7525, ext 323.

The film will be shown at The Korea Society, 950 Third Avenue (entrance on 57th Street), 8th Floor, New York, NY.

ACF 251: "The Sky Crawlers" coming 05.26.09 from Sony on Blu-ray and DVD

All images (c) Stage 6 Films / Production I.G. and Sony Home Entertainment

“FANTASTIC! Oshii’s best since the original Ghost in the Shell.”

- Dan Persons, Cinefantastique

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Presents

The Latest Journey from Visionary Director of Ghost in the Shell

THE SKY CRAWLERS

On Blu-ray™ High-Def and DVD May 26th

I've known about this upcoming release for some time now, but had to hold off sharing the news until Sony made its official announcement, which it did today.

In my review of the film I wrote that "The aerial scenes and dogfights in this film are terrrific, all the more amazing because they're animated" and that the film is "another visually stunning animation" from director Mamoru Oshii. That review was posted 12.26.08. To access it, click here.

Here's the pre-release info from Sony:

Culver City, CA (March 16, 2009) – Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release The Sky Crawlers on Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD May 26, 2009. From Mamoru Oshii, the world-acclaimed director of Ghost in the Shell, comes an award-winning story of an exciting but endless war with heroes too young to understand the meaning of their battles. This visually stunning anime adventure brings to life the nail-biting dogfights from the epic air battles described in Hiroshi Mori’s best-selling novel in Japan. Special features include featurettes on animation and sound design, and the research behind bringing real sights and sounds to life in anime. Exclusively available on the Blu-ray™ High-Def version is an insightful interview with director Oshii.

A group of eternally young fighter pilots known as Kildren experience the sudden loss of innocence as they battle the enemy in astonishing dogfights above the clouds. With his only childhood memory consisting of intense flight training, the fearless teenage pilot Yuichi’s dogfights coexist with his struggle to find his missing past. When his beautiful, young female commander Suito is reluctant to discuss the fate of the pilot that Yuichi is replacing – or the strangely perfect condition of that pilot’s former aircraft – Yuichi’s curiosity becomes heightened.

BLU-RAY DISC & DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
· "Animation Research for The Sky Crawlers" Featurette
· "The Sound Design and Animation of The Sky Crawlers" Featurette

BLU-RAY DISC EXCLUSIVE
· "Sky's the Limit: An Interview with Director Mamoru Oshii" Featurette

The Blu-ray Disc™ version of The Sky Crawlers is BD-Live™ enabled, allowing users to get connected and use the disc as a key to unlock exclusive content and features via an Internet-connected Blu-ray™ player. Download exclusive content, register for rewards, give feedback through our survey and more!

Get rewarded for registering your Sony Blu-ray DiscsDiscs! The Sony Pictures Blu-ray Club rewards consumers in the U.S. for purchasing and registering BD-Live enabled Sony Blu-ray movies. Members can redeem accumulated points for cool Sony products, plus enter to win cash and prizes in daily sweepstakes, including the chance to win a SONY® BRAVIA® HDTV each month! ! For details visit http://www.blogger.com/www.sonyrewards.com/bluray.

The Sky Crawlers
Rated: PG-13 for material involving violence, some sexual content and smoking
DVD Catalog #: 30748
DVD UPC Code: 043396307483
DVD SLP: $27.96
Blu-ray Catalog #: 30752
Blu-ray UPC Code: 043396307520
Blu-ray SLP: $39.95
Running Time: 121
Order Date: April 23, 2009

Visit Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on the Web at http://www.sonypictures.com/

ACF 250: DragonBall Evolution Posterzine

VIZ MEDIA CONTINUES THE CELEBRATION WITH A SPECIAL SHONEN JUMP DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION POSTERZINE

New Posterzine to Feature Exciting Action And Main Character Shots From Upcoming Live-Action Feature Film

Here's the latest DragonBall Evolution news from VIZ:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media) announces the upcoming release of a special SHONEN JUMP DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION posterzine, based on the upcoming live-action film from 20th Century Fox starring Justin Chatwin as Goku, Emmy Rossum as Bulma, Jamie Chung as Chi Chi, and Chow Yun-Fat as Master Roshi. Dragonball: Evolution opens nationwide on April 8th and is inspired by Akira Toriyama’s smash hit DRAGON BALL manga (graphic novel) series, also published domestically by VIZ Media and featured in SHONEN JUMP magazine.

The new SHONEN JUMP DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION posterzine celebrates the upcoming live-action adventure feature film Dragonball: Evolution. Both the movie, directed by James Wong, and the DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION posterzine, published by VIZ Media, bring to life the action and the characters from the eagerly awaited film. Look for the posterzine on newsstands wherever SHONEN JUMP magazine is sold and online at store.viz.com beginning March 31st. The SHONEN JUMP DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION posterzine carries an MSRP of $9.99 and is rated T for Teens. The posterzine features 11 full-color posters that fold out to 16” x 22” and depict a variety of vivid action shots and all the film’s main characters.

“We're very excited to announce our first live-action Hollywood posterzine product to support the highly anticipated release of the Dragonball: Evolution movie,” says Christopher Boily, VIZ Media Sr. Director, Newsstand. “It's great to see our hugely popular DRAGON BALL manga get the full Hollywood treatment for the big screen – and the high quality glossy images will help bring everyone’s favorite characters to life and offer a fun way for fans to pay homage to this incredible new movie.”

Dragonball: Evolution, the live-action feature film (rated PG) centers on a team of warriors, each of whom possess special abilities. Together, they protect Earth from a force bent on dominating the universe by controlling the mystical objects from which the film takes its name. Dragonball: Evolution features Justin Chatwin as Goku, Emmy Rossum as Bulma, Jamie Chung as Chi Chi, and Chow Yun-Fat as Master Roshi. Dragonball: Evolution the movie is based on the popular Japanese manga series created by Akira Toriyama (also published in North America by VIZ Media). For more information on the DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION books, or DRAGON BALL manga series please visit www.viz.com.

DRAGON BALL has become a global pop culture and entertainment phenomenon that has generated more than $3 billion in worldwide sales of a vast array of products including manga, DVDs, video games, toys, apparel and other collectibles. Over 1.6 million copies of the manga series have been sold in North America to date, while the animated counterpart remains the most successful domestic anime series ever with over 500 episodes and 17 animated movies broadcast or released on DVD to date. Over 30 DRAGON BALL video game titles are also available for the PS2, PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 platforms, and have sold a total of more than 11 million units worldwide.

ACF 249: The Love of Siam @ SFIAAFF

The Love of Siam / Rak haeng Siam
Directed By: Chookiat Sakveerakul
Thailand, 2007, 158 min.

This is one of the many films being shown at the 27th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival that runs March 12-22, 2009. It will screen tomorrow, Saturday, March 14th, 2009 at 2:15 PM at the Castro Theatre and on Sunday, March 22nd, 2009 at 2:00 PM at Camera Cinemas 10. Here's a description of it that's from The Love of Siam's webpage, where you can also order tickets.

A groundbreaking teen love story, THE LOVE OF SIAM is a moving gay romance that took Thailand by storm. Mew and Tong are childhood neighbors and become good friends after Tong protects Mew from bullies. Tragedy strikes when Tong's sister disappears, however, and soon Tong's grief-stricken family moves away. Years later, the two boys are reunited in Siam Square, a trendy teenage hangout in Bangkok, where Mew often performs with a now-popular boy band. Rekindling their affections after all these years, the two must decide if their feelings for one another are as friends, or something more. When they discover that Mew's manager looks exactly like Tong's long-lost sister, a different kind of decision is made, one that may create other problems, or a novel solution to Tong's father's grief.

Dealing with both the complexities of family life and teen love, THE LOVE OF SIAM pushes cultural boundaries further by dealing with sexuality in an honest manner rarely seen in Thai commercial film. Despite its controversial subject matter, it managed to win over both audiences and critics at home, winning all major awards and achieving huge box-office success. It also ignited websites, message boards and a slew of online fan fiction that continued the story of Tong and Mew. Chosen to represent Thailand at the 2009 Academy Awards, THE LOVE OF SIAM is a well-crafted, affecting drama that captures the vibrancy of Thai pop culture and its modern capitol.

-- Vicci Ho

ACF 248: April 2009 Shojo Beat Magazine will be Annual Art Issue

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES ANNUAL ART ISSUE OF SHOJO BEAT MAGAZINE

April 2009 Issue Covers Visual Arts And Techniques Taught By Leading Manga Creators Well As Fashion, Crafts And More

The April 2009 issue of Shojo Beat magazine will be a special art issue. It will be available Tuesday, March 17, 2009. Here's some info about it from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media) announces an exciting issue for its annual Art Issue of SHOJO BEAT magazine, expected to hit newsstands nationwide on March 17th. In addition to the next installments of the currently serialized shojo manga series CRIMSON HERO, HONEY AND CLOVER, HONEY HUNT, HARUKA: BEYOND THE STREAM OF TIME, SAND CHRONICLES and VAMPIRE KNIGHT, this special issue will allow readers to explore the latest trends in Japanese kawaii artwork, evaluate the approaches of top shojo manga creators and more!

The special April 2009 Art Issue of SHOJO BEAT, a continual favorite with readers takes a broad approach to art, focusing not only on visual arts but also fashion, crafts, and cooking. “The Fine Art of Kawaii” spotlights five key Japanese artists who have captured the often elusive cutting-edge of cute. "Manga Art Schooled” analyzes the varied and distinctive art styles of five master shojo manga creators including Matsuri Hino (VAMPIRE KNIGHT), Arina Tanemura (THE GENTLEMEN'S ALLIANCE †, FULL MOON), and the talented female artists who compose CLAMP (X/1999). Readers and budding artists can gain tremendous insight into each of these artists’ styles and understand and apply these unique techniques to their own work. Finally, “Cooking: Feast for Your Eyes" will offer up 10 easy and creative tips for artistic food plating.

“We are excited to present SHOJO BEAT’s annual Art Issue knowing the tremendous interest it generates among our very creative readers,” says Narasu Rebbapragada, Senior Editor, Shojo Beat Magazine. “Research has shown that SHOJO BEAT readers draw regularly or are similarly creatively inclined, so we‘re confident that this year’s issue combining fun and savvy articles will again be a huge success!”

The issue also contains an exclusive preview of Rinko Ueda’s TAIL OF THE MOON PREQUEL: THE OTHER HANZO(U), whose story is a prelude to the popular romantic ninja comedy TAIL OF THE MOON.

For more information on Shojo Beat magazine, which is rated T+ for older teens, please visit www.ShojoBeat.com.

ACF 247: Tokyo Sonata opens this Friday

Copyright Regent Releasing

Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Japan/Hong Kong/The Netherlands, 2008, 119 mins
In Japanese with English subtitles

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending a special preview at Japan Society of Kiyoshi Kurosawa's latest film, which is set to open theatrically in the U.S. this Friday, March 13th, 2009. The auditorium, which has nicely raked and very comfortable seating, was at near capacity, and many in the audience broke into vigorous, heartfelt, and well-deserved, applause at film's end.

Unlike the tales of horror and the supernatural that director Kurosawa is most well known for (such as Cure from 1997 and 2001's Pulse/Kairo), Tokyo Sonatata is a family drama, that coincidentally has great resonance in the harsh realities of America's current economic doldrums.

The Sasaki family is headed by Ryuhei, an administrative salaryman who is downsized out of his job and who hides this development from his wife and two sons. Instead he searches for a new job, only to find out that the only ones available are far below his former postition, and hanging out with other unemployed former bread-winners.

Teruyuki Kagawa, who was recently seen as the sheriff in Takashi Miike's Sukiyaki Western Django and in Yasuo Furuhata's The Haunted Samurai/Tsukigami, both from 2007, is perfectly cast as this Japanese everyman who can't quite come to grips with his new lot in life. Largely as a result of his response to the stress of this development, the entire family structure is sent spinning out of control.

His wife Megumi is beautifully portrayed by Kyoko Koizumi. Since 1983 she's been in 35 films according to IMDb, but I didn't recognize any of those listed there. Her finely nuanced performance here is a marvel to behold. She won both the 2008 Hochi Film Award and the 2009 Kinema Junpo Film Award for best actress for her work in Tokyo Sonata and in Gou-Gou datte neko de aru.

Yu Koyanagi has a relatively small role as Takashi, the older brother. A slacker who is described by his father as "a mess," Takashi leaves the family to join the U.S. military to serve in the Middle East.

The pivotal role of Kenji, the younger brother, is superbly handled by Inowaki Kai. An independent spirit, Kenji starts taking piano lessons from a lovely young female teacher. This is where the musical connection with the film's title is made. Kai won the 2009 Kinema Junpo Award for Best New Actor in this, his first film!

The film runs a broad gamut of emotions, from darkly humorous to achingly poignant. I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just conclude my comments by saying that I thought the film ended perfectly. At a certain point when the film was clearly going to end before long, I had an incredibly strong feeling that it should conclude in a certain way. The actual ending was very close to what I'd envisioned, only it was actually a bit better. Kurosawa's vision, not surprisingly, was superior to my own.

I give the film an ACF rating of 4 out of 4 stars - outstanding, not-to-be-missed.

Tokyo Sonata won the Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section of last year's Cannes Film Festival.

In New York the film will open at Lincoln Plaza Cinemas, Broadway between West 62nd and 63rd Streets (212.757.2280) and at the IFC Center, 323 Sixth Avenue, at West Third Street (212.924.7771).

In San Francisco, Tokyo Sonata will be showing at the 27th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (scroll down this link page, then click on the Tokyo Sonata link there for the pop-up window) on Friday, March 13th, 2009 at 6:45 PM at the Sundance Kabuki 3 and on Saturday, March 14th at 6:00 PM at Pacific Film Archive

There's lots of info to be had at the Tokyo Sonata website, including a full Release Schedule.

ACF 246: Toras-san's Dream-Come-True

Tora-san's Dream-Come-True
Episode 10 - Otoko wa Tsuraiyo: Torajiro Yumemakura
Directed by Yoji Yamada
With Kiyoshi Atsumi, Chieko Baisho and Kaoru Yachigusa
Japan, 1972, 98 min, color

The next film in Japan Society's Monthly Classics series, Best of Tora-san, will be shown on Friday, March 13, 2009 at 7:30 PM at Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017

Tora-san is furious when he finds that his family has rented out his room to Mr. Okakura, a local university professor. But when he reconnects with Chiyo, a childhood friend who has lost custody of her son, he develops feelings for her—and so has the professor.

Buy tickets online for Tora-San's Dream Come True, or call the Japan Society Box Office at (212) 715-1258, Mon. - Fri. 11 am - 6 pm, Weekends 11 am - 5 pm.

ACF 245: Pojagi: Cloth, Color and Beyond

The Korea Society will present a panel discussion on the art and history of Korean wrapping cloths on Wednesday, March 18th, 2009 at 6:30 PM. Linking pojagi aesthetics to both traditional American quilts and contemporary abstract painting, panelists Lee Talbot, assistant curator of The Textile Museum, Chunghie Lee, a fiber artist, and Seta Wehbé, assistant collection manager of the Antonio Ratti Textile Center at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, will discuss the enduring appeal of pojagi and what they reveal about the life and times of their creators.

Buy tickets online or RSVP to Heewon Kim at 212.759.7525, ext 355.

The panel discussion will take place at The Korea Society, 950 Third Ave (entrance on 57th Street), 8th Floor.

ACF 244: Oishinbo A la Carte - Japanese cuisine manga from VIZ

Oishinbo A la Carte © Tetsu Kariya, Akira Hanasaki/Shogakukan Inc.

Oishinbo A la Carte
Story by Tetsu Kariya
Art by Akira Hanasaki
B&W, 260+ pages, rated "T" for teens
SRP $12.99 U.S./$15.00 CDN

It may not be absolutely true, but it certainly seems as if the Japanese have a manga for just about any subject you can name. Oshinbo (which translates as "The Gourmet") explores the surprisingly complex world of Japanese cooking and has sold over 100 million copies since the first volume appeared in 1983.

This fascinating and informative series now runs to over 100 volumes! VIZ media, under the VIZ Signature imprint, has compiled selected highlights into seven a la carte editions for English readers. This is the first one, and it's currently available..

Yamaoka Shiro, a journalist for the Tozai news, has been placed in charge of the paper's Ultimate Menu project. Dramatic conflict is present in the form of Shiro's father, a prominent artist and epicure. He founded and is director of The Gourmet Club. Father and son have an unpleasant history, and they miss no opportunity to deride and belittle one another. This provides the through-story for the characters' - and the reader's - journey through the world of fine Japanese cuisine.

The illustrations are first rate, and a diverse layout is employed, which keeps the pages visually interesting. I'm no authority on manga styles, but for me Hanasaki's drawings remind me a bit of master Ozamu Tezuka's work. And I mean that as a high compliment, not in any way a slight.

The book is laid out in traditional Japanese style, meaning it is read from right to left. This English version thoughtfully includes two pages at the front that identify the twelve main characters and a brief story summary. There's also a fourteen page glossary at the end.

I loved reading this manga and highly recommend it. I can't wait for the next volume, which is concerned with drink and is scheduled to come out this month.

ACF 243: DRAGONBALL EVOLUTION news

DRAGONBALL © 2009 Fox, Based on DRAGONBALL series by Akira Toriyama.
DRAGONBALL TM & © Bird Studio/Shueisha, Inc.

Here's some exciting news from VIZ for DRAGONBALL fans:

VIZ MEDIA CELEBRATES
THE EVOLUTION OF DRAGON BALL
WITH NEW DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION TITLES

Three-Part Chapter Book Series, A Junior Novel And A Collectible Sticker Book Offer Unique Ways To Enjoy Books Based On The New Feature Film DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION

VIZ Media, LLC has announced a fun array of DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION books, including a Junior Novel, a Sticker Book and a trio of Chapter Books in support of the debut of the action-packed 20th Century Fox film, opening nationwide on April 8th.

The new DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION books are based on the upcoming live action adventure film. Directed by James Wong, the movie and the books center on a team of warriors, each of whom possess special abilities. Together, they protect Earth from a force bent on dominating the universe by controlling the mystical objects from which the film takes its name.

DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION features Justin Chatwin as Goku, Emmy Rossum as Bulma, and Chow Yun-Fat as Master Roshi. Each of the books include glossy color pages with photos from the movie. DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION the movie is based on the popular Japanese manga series created by Akira Toriyama (also published in North America by VIZ Media).

”VIZ Media is very excited to celebrate the upcoming release of the live-action feature film DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION with a variety of fun, kid-friendly books,” says Gonzalo Ferreyra, Vice President, Sales & Product Marketing, VIZ Media. “The DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION Junior Novel and Chapter Books are published under our popular VIZKIDS imprint, and are an ideal way to introduce the mystical world of DRAGON BALL to younger fans and help them develop a lifelong love of reading.”

DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION JUNIOR NOVEL
· Recommended for Ages 9-12
· MSRP: $5.99 US / $6.99 CAN
· Available Now!

Goku thought he was just a normal high school kid until his whole world turned upside down and he found out he's actually a martial-arts whiz with all kinds of special powers. It was bad enough that his grandpa just died. But now he must save the whole world from a madman named Piccolo who is looking for the seven fabled Dragon Balls. Whoever finds them all will have any wish come true instantly! Can a regular guy like Goku become the strongest fighter in time to stop the end of the world? The Junior Novel is aimed at readers ages 9 through 12 and also features 8-pages of full-color glossy photos from the live-action film.

DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION CHAPTER BOOKS
· Recommended for Ages 7-10
·MSRP: $4.99 US / $5.99 CAN
· Available Now!

The DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION Chapter Books is a series composed of 3 volumes designed for younger readers, ages 7 through 10. Based on the upcoming feature film, the Chapter Books depict the adventures of Goku as he tries to save the world from a madman that is looking for the seven Dragon Balls. Whoever finds them all can have any wish come true! Can a regular guy like Goku become the strongest fighter of all in time to stop the end of the world? Find out in these fun new Chapter Books from VIZ Media.

DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION STICKER BOOK
· Rated “A” for All Ages
· MSRP: $6.99 US / $7.99 CAN
· Available March 24, 2009

All the excitement of the DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION movie is featured in over 100 stickers. The book collects 8 pages of stickers and 8 pages of full-color backgrounds to bring the fun of DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION to fans of all ages. The stickers are reusable and adhere to just about anything to give a fun DRAGON BALL flair to any item.

DRAGON BALL has become a global pop culture and entertainment phenomenon that has generated more than $3 billion in worldwide sales of a vast array of manga, DVDs, video games, toys, apparel and other collectibles. Over 1.6 million copies of the manga series have been sold in North America while the animated counterpart remains the most successful domestic anime series ever with over 500 episodes and 17 animated movies broadcast or released on DVD to date. Over 30 DRAGON BALL video game titles are also available for the PS2, PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 platforms, and have sold a total of more than 11 million units worldwide.

ACF 242: 27th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival

Being New York based, many of my posts are about festivals and particular screenings here in "The Big Apple." However, I'm always glad to learn of and spread the word about such goings-on elsewhere.

So I was pleased to learn about the upcoming 27th San Francisco Asian American Film Festival. Sponsored by The Center for Asian American Media, it will run March 12-22, 2009.

San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival home page

[Note: I learned about this year's SFIAAFF at Wise Kwai's Thai Film Journal, a very worthy blog.]