ACF 1258: Meeting Ric Meyers

As I was walking through the aisles of New York Comic Con last month, I noticed the Media Blasters booth and ambled over. I'd recently participated in my first gig as the new co-host on the VCinema Show Podcast. Episode 35. Exte: Hair Extensions was the movie host "Coffin" Jon Jung, co-host Josh Samford and I had discussed. I'd suggested the film for review and had mentioned the fine two-disc edition that Media Blasters puts out on its live-action Tokyo Shock label. I felt that they'd like to know that I'd done this, and it would be a good way for me to re-establish contact with them.

There were several people manning the booth, but I was drawn to one fellow standing by himself in the back on one side. He looked rather familiar.

After introducing myself, he said something along the lines of, "Stan, it's me, Ric Meyers." I quickly realized why he looked familiar: I'd recently seen him in a YouTube clip pertaining to actor/director/co-writer Ara Palaya's recent film The Suppressor, in which Ric appears as the evil Claude Santos, a character whose name is a spoof on his resemblance to jolly old Saint Nic. (You can access the clip here.)

I've known about Ric since I started reading Asian Cult Cinema magazine in the mid-to-late '90s. I still feel honored when I recall learning that I'd been made the third columnist at the magazine, joining "elder brothers" Ric and Max Allan Collins, both of whom were far more knowledgeable than I.

It's pretty much impossible to overstate Ric's importance in promoting awareness and appreciation of Asian martial arts movies in the West. His first book Martial Arts Movies: From Bruce Lee to the Ninjas (a.k.a. From Bruce Lee to the Ninjas: Martial Arts Movies in its trade paperback form) came out in 1985! It was updated in 2001 and given the new title Great Martial Arts Movies; From Bruce Lee To Jackie Chan And More. In addition to writing for Asian Cult Cinema, Ric also wrote about films for Inside Kung Fu magazine. (He has consolidated and continued his Inside Kung Fu and Asian Cult Cinema columns on his website, ricmeyers.com.)

Ric was at The Con primarily to promote his two recent books, Films of Fury: The Kung Fu Movie Book and For One Week Only: The World Of Exploitation Films. I bought Films of Fury (For One Week Only is on my wish list) and I'll be reviewing it in the near future. The book came about because Lux Digital Pictures asked Ric to write a kung fu film documentary. Entitled Films of Fury: The Kung Fu Movie Movie, it became available on video-on-demand (VOD) earlier this month on the Cox, Comcast, Cablevision, and Insight cable systems. You can read about it here.

Though we'd both been columnists for Asian Cult Cinema, we'd never had any sort of contact with one another. It was wonderful to finally meet him. We had a great chat, exchanged email addresses and wished each other well.

Oh, and before I moved on, I did remember to tell the Media Blasters staff about that mention of their Exte DVD on the VCinema podcast. They were glad to hear of it, but not nearly as happy as I was to have met Ric.

ACF 1257: ART FOR HOPE digital art anthology coming in December

Love © 2011 Jacques Pena

VIZ MEDIA TO RELEASE ART FOR HOPE 
DIGITAL ART ANTHOLOGY IN DECEMBER

Innovative Art Book Created In Partnership With Autodesk

To Benefit Japanese Disaster Recovery; Exhibit Of Artwork

Also Takes Place In Las Vegas At Autodesk University

VIZ Media has announced the upcoming debut of ART FOR HOPE, a limited edition digital art book anthology created in partnership with Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) to benefit Architecture for Humanity. The anthology will be available for a limited time, from December 1, 2011 to May 31, 2012, for $4.99 through VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. 100% of VIZ Media’s net proceeds will support Architecture for Humanity’s ongoing disaster reconstruction efforts in Japan. To learn more about these rebuilding projects, please visit: www.ArchitectureForHumanity.org.

Each of the 40 artists participating in the ART FOR HOPE anthology used Autodesk SketchBook digital paint and drawing software applications in some way to create original pieces for the anthology. The artists, both professional and amateur, hail from around the world and from diverse fields, and range in style from the realistic to the fantastic, each illustrating the theme of “Hope.” Notable contributors include Eisner Award and Harvey Award winner Rob Guillory, Harvey Award winner Lark Pien, muralist Sirron Norris, and MAMESHIBA artists Jorge Monlongo and Gemma Corell.

First Flight © 2011 Dave Guertin

Selections from ART FOR HOPE will also be exhibited at the Autodesk annual user conference, Autodesk University, taking place at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, NV from November 29th to December 1st Access to the exhibit is free to the public within the Creative Studio a unique hands-on space to celebrate the creative spirit and showcasing a variety of Autodesk software and products. More information on the exhibit and conference is available at: http://www.sketchbooknews.com/news/creative-studio-art-exhibit.html.

The following artists contributed to the ART FOR HOPE digital art anthology:

Janet Alvarado                                 Don’t Lose Hope

Asuka 111 (Patipat Asavasena)       Hope

Azure                                               Untitled

Greg Baldwin of CreatureBox         Sheltered

Alan Bay                                          A Little Piece of Hope

Drew Blom                                      Calvin Hedge and the Iron Golem

Steve Boura                                     Bright Future

Carsten Bradley                               A Wish for You

Matthew Britton                                Regrowth

Veronica Casson                              The Guest Room

Geikou Chen                                    Rainbow Bridge to Tomorrow

Gemma Correll                                Pierre, le Chat Français

Kalii Delarosa                                  The Rainbow in the Rain

Conrado Hernan Villa Gil                Untitled

Dave Guertin                                   First Flight

Rob Guillory                                    Hope

Rodolpho Langhi                             A New Sunrise

C. Lijewski                                       Light Side of Dark

Chris Lui                                          Birds of a Feather

Holly Mongi                                     Good Morning, Friend

Jorge Monlongo                              The Sprout and the Bean

Brian Muelhaupt                              Ojizo-sama

Shaun Mullen                                   Kodama (Tree Spirits)

Susan Murtaugh                               Enduring Beauty

Ray N.                                              Deliverance

Joe Ng                                              Rise Above the Storm

Sirron Norris                                    Kibou

Jacques Pena                                  Love

Luis Peso                                         Gathering Hope

Lark Pien                                         Wishes, Dreams

Kyle Runciman                                Ready to Roll

Francesco Salvati                            DEAR HOPE

Janet Shaw                                      The Hope of Japan

Brad Silverman                                Dancing Dragon

Joseph Strachan                              Flight of the Phoenix

James Turner                                   Never Give Up

Colie Wertz                                      Sea Turtle

Pinar Yalcin                                     Beam of Light

John Yandall                                   One Little Sign

Jim Zub                                           Seed Starter

For more information on the ART FOR HOPE project, please visit www.VIZ.com/artforhope.

For more information on VIZ Media digital initiatives, visit VIZManga.com or www.VIZ.com/apps/.

ACF 1256: COICENT / FIVE NUMBERS available on DVD & Blu-Ray from Section23

Section23 Films has released the twin sci-fi anime mini-features COICENT and FIVE NUMBERS. The two stories are being released together in both DVD and Blu-Ray editions.

COICENT / FIVE NUMBERS

Running Time:   60 min.

Age Rating:       TV PG

Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles

Published by:    Sentai Filmworks

Distributed by:  Section23 Films

Format:             DVD

SRP:                $29.98

             COICENT / FIVE NUMBERS BLU-RAY EDITION

             Running Time:  60 min.

             Age Rating:      TV PG

             Language:        English & Japanese with English Subtitles

             Published by:   Sentai Filmworks

             Distributed by: Section23 Films

             Format:            BD

             SRP:               $39.98

SYNOPSIS: Get ready for a double dose of amazing science fiction as two astounding tales come together in one incredible collection of state of the art animation!  First, it’s a quick time jump to the 26th century where a school trip to a rebuilt 21st century city turns into a wild adventure for teenage Shinichi.  While chasing a talking deer that steals his bag, he runs into a strange girl trying to elude even stranger pursuers, and then things get wild.  It’s a mad dash through a city of the past as two young people discover a chance at a new future in COICENT.

Then, four people awake to find themselves in the ultimate prison: an ex-soldier, a beautiful woman, an average Joe and a young computer hacker.  Why are they there?  What connection links them together?  And how can they escape?  The answer seems to lie with the fifth prisoner, an old man who knows far more than he is telling.  And then there’s the cat.  It’s the ultimate locked room mystery and all their lives hinge on solving it in FIVE NUMBERS.

ACF 1255: FLYING GUILLOTINE 1 and 2 coming at you on Tuesday

Arc Entertainment & Dragon Dynasty are releasing two more classic Shaw Brothers films that represent the absolute cream of the crop of Kung Fu cinema. FLYING GUILLOTINE and FLYING GUILLOTINE II hit retail stores this coming Tuesday, November 29th and will be available at Wal Mart, on Amazon and from other retailers. Both films have been beautifully re-mastered and include both Chinese and English audio tracks. 

These are the last two of 10 Shaw Brothers classics released by Arc/Dragon Dynasty this year, which also included AVENGING EAGLE, BLOOD BROTHERS, EXECUTIONERS FROM SHAOLIN, FIVE SHAOLIN MASTERS, GOLDEN SWALLOW, KILLER CLAN, MAD MONKEY KUNG FU and MARTIAL ARTS OF SHAOLIN. 

FLYING GUILLOTINE
"The wonderfully outlandish title weapon is irresistible...” -Hong Kong Digital
"Pure camp fun" -City on Fire 

The film that started it all! Hong Kong kung fu cinema is filled with all types of inventive weaponry, but few are as original, iconic or over-the-top as THE FLYING GUILLOTINE, and this was the first film to use it. The corrupt Emperor wants to dispatch of subordinates who dare disagree with his evil rule. Unable to publicly execute popular and decent officials, he commissions a new deadly weapon to clandestinely carry out these killings.

Enter the Flying Guillotine and the elite squad trained to use the new, seemingly invincible weapon. When top squad member Ma Teng (Chen Kuan Tai, EXECUTIONERS FROM SHAOLIN) can no longer stomach these immoral killings, he goes on the run, pursued by his former comrades. Now our hero must protect his family and create a counter-weapon that can defeat THE FLYING GUILLOTINE! 

FLYING GUILLOTINE 2
“FLYING GUILLOTINE 2 is one sequel worthy of its predecessor” –Kung Fu Cinema 

Few sequels match the original, especially one that brought us a weapon as iconic as THE FLYING GUILLOTINE, but FLYING GUILLOTINE 2 ramps up the action to a new level. The heroic Ma Teng (Ti Lung, AVENGING EAGLE) has developed a counter to the Flying Guillotines attack, but when word reaches The Emperor, who is more bloodthirsty than ever, he creates a new deadlier version and trains a squad of female assassins to use it!

Now Ma must help the gang of rebels trying to overthrow the evil tyrant and create a new counter-weapon to defeat the improved Guillotine. With frantic martial arts action and weapons that “...would be the envy of James Bond for their ingenuity” (KungFuCinema.com). FLYING GUILLOTINE 2 is bloody good fun for kung fu fans!

ACF 1254: South Korean animation double feature coming to MAD

Aachi and Ssipak + A Coffee Vending Machine and Its Sword

When: Friday, December 2, 2011 at 7:00 pm

Where: The Museum of Arts and Design

2 Columbus Circle, NYC

$10 general / $7 members and students

Purchase tickets here, or call 1.800.838.3006

Aachi and Ssipak

Directed by Jo Beom-jin

With the voices of Yeong Hyeon, Gyu-hwa Lee and Gyu-hyeong Lee

South Korea, 2006, 90 minutes, Digital Projection

Synopsis: In the future, life is literally a pile of feces. With Earth’s resources completely depleted, only human waste is left as a fuel source. Diaper gangs and black markets vie for control of “Juicybars,” highly addictive fruit bars given as compensation for defecation. In this new landscape of limited resources, the anti-heros of Aachi and Ssipak battle against the Diaper Gangs for control over the “Juicybar” supply. Highlighting the originality in story and technical ability found in Korean animation, "Aachi and Ssipak" presents a fresh and original take on the animated feature.

ACF note: Aachi and Ssipak was my personal number one pic as the most extreme, most outrageous Asian film of all time in the special 15th anniversary issue of Asian Cult Cinema magazine (Number 57, First Quarter 2008). It garners a 4 out of 4 star rating, my highest recommendation. Don't miss this screening!

Aachi and Ssipak will be shown with:

A Coffee Vending Machine and Its Sword

2007, Dir. Hyung-Yun Chang

South Korea, 2007, 30 minutes, Digital Projection

Synopsis: After being slain in battle, Jin Yeong-yeong, a swordsman who was called Murimjeilgeom (Best Martial Sword), finds himself reincarnated. This time it's as a coffee vending machine.   After the new steel warrior experiences love-at-first-sight with Hye-mi, a sympathetic girl who enjoys drinking wine. Jin Yeong-yeong must discover his place in the new world he inhabits.

ACF 1253: Holiday manga and anime releases from VIZ KIDS

© 2011 Pokémon. ©1995-2010 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.
TM, ®, and character names are trademarks of Nintendo.

VIZ Media has plenty to delight even the youngest manga (graphic novel) and anime fans this holiday season with a variety of new releases from VIZ KIDS to fill young minds with wonder and fire imaginations with fun adventures with characters from POKÉMON, MAMESHIBA and THE LEGEND OF ZELDA.

This year, VIZ Media highlights THE LEGEND OF ZELDA Manga Box Set, which celebrates the series’ 25th Anniversary and bundles all 10 volumes of the fantasy action manga adventure series based on the hit Nintendo video game. MAMESHIBA will delight young readers with adorable characters in a winter-themed story and pop-out play scene. The timeless fun of POKÉMON is also well-represented this holiday season with the DVD release of the latest feature film, POKÉMON – ZOROARK: MASTER OF ILLUSIONS, as well as a POKÉMON DIAMOND AND PEARL ADVENTURE! Manga Box Set, and much, much more.

Manga Gift Releases:

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA Manga Box Set · Rated “A” for All Ages · MSRP: $69.99 U.S. / $80.99 CAN · Available Now 

The box set contains all 10 volumes of THE LEGEND OF ZELDA manga series and a collectible poster. THE LEGEND OF ZELDA takes place in the mystical land of Hyrule, where three spiritual stones hold the key to the Triforce. Whoever holds them will control the world. A boy named Link sets out on a quest to deliver the Emerald, the spiritual stone of the forest, to Zelda, Princess of the land of Hyrule. The journey will be long and perilous, and Link will need all his skill and courage to defeat evil. The battle for Hyrule and the Sacred Realm has begun.

Mameshiba ♥ Winter © 2011 VIZ Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
Mameshiba characters licensed from Dentsu Inc. © DENTSU INC. All rights reserved.

MAMESHIBA ♥ WINTER · Rated “A” for All Ages · MSRP: $12.99 U.S. / $14.99 CAN · Available Now 

It's a BEAN! It's a DOG! It's... BOTH?! Not quite one or the other – they're Mameshiba, cute little bean dogs with their own personalities and strange facts to share.

When it's cold and snowy, Mameshiba are ready to play! The clever beans are building a snow castle, and you can join in the fun! With MAMESHIBA ♥ WINTER  you can decorate the snowy scenes with stickers and play around the castle with your very own Mameshiba figures. Plus, keep the beans warm by dressing them up in winter gear

POKÉMON – ZOROARK: MASTER OF ILLUSIONS · Rated “A” for All Ages · MSRP: $7.99 U.S. / $9.99 CAN · Available Now 

Ash and Pikachu travel to Crown City to watch the Pokémon Baccer World Cup competition, but it’s not all fun and games. The powerful Pokémon Zoroark has attacked! Ash and his friends must solve an old mystery before they can stop Zoroark and save the people of Crown City.

POKÉMON BLACK & WHITE, Vol. 4 · Rated “A” for All Ages · MSRP: $4.99 U.S. / $5.99 CAN · Available Now 

Meet Pokémon Trainers Black and White! His entire life, Black has dreamed of winning the Pokémon League! Now he embarks on a journey to explore the Unova region and fill a Pokédex for Professor Juniper. White has an exciting career as the Trainer of a talented troupe of performing Pokémon. She dreams of making her Tepig Gigi a star! Together, Black and White continue on their journey... What surprising new Pokémon – and people – will they meet next?!

© 2008-2010 Pokémon.
©1995-2010 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.
Pokémon properties are trademarks of Nintendo.
Pokémon D･P POCKET MONSTER DIAMOND PEARL MONOGATARI © 2007 Shigekatsu IHARA/Shogakukan

POKÉMON DIAMOND & PEARL ADVENTURE! Manga Box Set · Rated “A” for All Ages · MSRP: $59.99 U.S. / $67.99 CAN · Available Now! 

Contains all 8 volumes of the POKÉMON DIAMOND & PEARL ADVENTURE! series and a collectible poster. Most kids spend their days at school, but not Hareta. Raised in the wild by Pokémon, he can climb as high as an Aipom, swim as fast as a Magikarp, and even eat bark like a Bidoof! Recruited by Professor Rowan, Hareta decides to become a Pokémon Trainer. Along with his first Pokémon, Piplup, and his new friend Mitsumi, he sets off in search of the legendary Pokémon Dialga. But Team Galactic is hunting for Dialga too. Can Hareta and Piplup defeat Team Galactic and stop their evil plans?

POKÉMON MAGNET PLAY BOOK · Rated “A” for All Ages · MSRP: $8.99 U.S. / $10.99 CAN · Available Now 

Now children of all ages can have their own adventures in the Unova Region! This book includes eight magnets that can be used in the book or on any other magnet-friendly surface, featuring Oshawott, Snivy, Tepig, Pikachu, Axew, Pansage, Reshiram and Zekrom.

Anime Gift Releases:

© 2011 Pokémon.
© 1997-2010 Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK, TV Tokyo, Shopro, JR Kikaku.
© PIKACHU PROJECT 2010. Pokémon properties are trademarks of Nintendo.
GENEI NO HASHA ZOROARK © 2010 Momota INOUE/Shogakukan

POKÉMON – ZOROARK: MASTER OF ILLUSIONS DVD · Rated “A” for All Ages · MSRP: $19.98 U.S. / CAN · Available Now 

As Ash and his friends journey to Crown City to join the crowds watching the Pokémon Baccer World Cup, mysterious forces are in motion that could bring untold misfortune to them all! What secrets does Zorua, a Pokémon they befriend along the way, hide? Why is the powerful Zoroark rampaging through the city, and what does the appearance of the Legendary Pokémon Raikou, Entei, and Suicune mean? All these questions and more will be answered in POKÉMON—ZOROARK: MASTER OF ILLUSIONS! 

POKÉMON DP GALACTIC BATTLES DVD Gift Set, Vol. 4 · Rated “A” for All Ages · MSRP: $24.92 U.S. / $24.98 CAN · Available November 22nd 

The DVD gift set contains POKÉMON DP GALACTIC BATTLES Vols. 7-8! When it comes to Pokémon, the more, the merrier:  two new friends have joined Ash, Dawn, and Brock on their Sinnoh journey!  Together, they’ll chase a rogue Gible and face off in a tag battle. Before long, however, things take a turn for the worse as Team Galactic and Pokémon Hunter J return with a vengeance. Now Team Galactic is poised to achieve its ultimate goal: summoning the Legendary Dialga and Palkia in order to destroy the world! Are Ash and his friends ready to face the biggest Galactic battle of all?

For more information on these and other titles available from VIZ Media’s VIZ KIDS imprint, please visit www.VIZKids.com or www.VIZ.com.

ACF 1252: New anime releases available for the holidays from VIZ

© LEVEL-5/Team Layton 2009. All Rights Reserved

VIZ Media is offering fans and holiday shoppers a variety of new anime releases of some of the company’s hottest properties.

Holiday wish lists and shopping guides won’t be complete without BLEACH THE MOVIE: FADE TO BLACK (also offered in Blu-ray edition), NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE: BONDS (Blu-ray also available), and VAMPIRE KNIGHT GUILTY: THE COMPLETE SERIES, as well as the newest episodic DVD releases for each of these popular series. 

Kids and the young at heart can also look forward to VIZ Media’s launch of PROFESSOR LAYTON AND THE ETERNAL DIVA, based on the popular video game, as well as the new POKÉMON – ZOROARK: MASTER OF ILLUSIONS feature film and the latest Pokemon DP Galactic Battles Gift Set.

© Tite Kubo/Shueisha, TV TOKYO, dentsu, Pierrot © BMP 2008

BLEACH THE MOVIE: FADE TO BLACK · Rated “T” for Teens ·

MSRP: $19.98 for DVD (U.S. / CAN) & $24.98 for Blu-ray (U.S / CAN) · Available Now  

A strange disturbance in the World of the Living sends Ichigo and Kon to the Soul Society, where the Seireitei has been devastated by an explosion of reishi and Rukia is missing. Stranger still, none of the Soul Reapers remember Ichigo, and they think he’s the one responsible for the destruction. Now on the run, Ichigo is forced into a lonely battle in order to find Rukia and stop the real culprits.

BLEACH UNCUT DVD BOX SET, Vol. 11 · Rated “T” for Teens · MSRP: $49.95 U.S. / CAN · Available December 13th   

Ichigo and Rukia take responsibility for looking after Rurichiyo, a girl of noble birth who one day appears in the World of the Living. She and her two bodyguards transfer into Ichigo’s class at school, and Rukia decides to show her how to have fun. But the fun stops when first Rurichiyo disappears and then a group of assassins arrives and challenges Ichigo and friends to a fight.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN UNCUT DVD BOX SET, Vol. 8 · Rated “T+” for Older Teens · MSRP: $49.95 U.S. / $43.24 CAN · Available Now   

Naruto’s new jutsuRasen Shuriken is unbelievably powerful—but because of the risks to the user, Tsunade forbids Naruto to use it! When Jiraiya returns to the village, Naruto seeks his guidance, and the two head off to a hot springs resort to work on a solution. Meanwhile, Kakashi leads a team in search of Orochimaru’s hideout, and when Naruto hears about it, he begs to join them. Set includes special "Kakashi Chronicles" story, featuring a young Kakashi on one of his early missions.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE: BONDS · Rated “T+” for Older Teens · MSRP: $19.98 for DVD (U.S. / CAN) & $24.98 for Blu-ray (U.S / CAN)· Available Now   

A group of mysterious flying ninja have arrived from overseas to launch a sudden attack against the Hidden Leaf Village, leaving behind a wake of destruction. The group is revealed to be the “Sky Ninja” from the Land of Sky, a nation thought to have been destroyed by the Hidden Leaf Village long ago. To save their village, Naruto and his friends set out to stop this new threat. During the course of the mission, Naruto crosses paths with Sasuke, his friend who has parted ways from the Leaf Village.

© 2011 Pokémon. © 1997-2010 Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK, TV Tokyo, ShoPro, JR Kikaku. © PIKACHU PROJECT 2010.

Pokémon properties are trademarks of Nintendo.

POKEMON – ZOROARK: MASTER OF ILLUSIONS · Rated “A” for All Ages · MSRP: $19.88 U.S. / CAN · Available Now   

As Ash and his friends journey to Crown City to join the crowds watching the Pokémon Baccer World Cup, mysterious forces are in motion that could bring untold misfortune to them all! What secrets does Zorua, a Pokémon they befriend along the way, hide? Why is the powerful Zoroark rampaging through the city, and what does the appearance of the Legendary Pokémon Raikou, Entei, and Suicune mean? What has brought Celebi back to the city at this precise moment in time for the first time in 20 years? And what will happen when the paths of all of them come together in one time and place?

 

POKEMON DP GALACTIC BATTLES GIFT SET, Vol. 4 · Rated “A” for All Ages · MSRP: $24.97 U.S. / $24.98 CAN · Available Now    

When it comes to Pokémon, the more, the merrier:  two new friends have joined Ash, Dawn, and Brock on their Sinnoh journey! Together, they’ll chase a rogue Gible and face off in a tag battle. Before long, however, things take a turn for the worse as Team Galactic and Pokémon Hunter J return with a vengeance. Now Team Galactic is poised to achieve its ultimate goal: summoning the Legendary Dialga and Palkia in order to destroy the world! Are Ash and his friends ready to face the biggest Galactic battle of all? Set contains PokÉmon DP Galactic Battles Vols. 7-8.

© 2008 MATSURI HINO, HAKUSENSHA/VAMPIRE KNIGHT PROJECT

VAMPIRE KNIGHT GUILTY: THE COMPLETE SERIES · Rated “T+” for Older Teens · MSRP: $49.95 U.S. / $43.24 CAN · Available Now    

Zero is accused of Shizuka Hio's murder and becomes the target of the Senate. When Kaname refuses to attest to Zero's innocence, Yuki's loyalties are torn between the two. Then Yuki meets a mysterious little boy whose seemingly innocent kiss on the cheek draws her deeper into the world of vampires. Zero, seeing Yuki struggle to recall her past, tries to help. Do the archives of the Hunter's Society headquarters hold the key that will unlock Yuki's memories? Set contains episodes 1-13, original & uncut.

For more information on VIZ Media anime titles, visit: www.VIZ.com.

ACF 1251: Japanese Pop Fashions and Products sale for the holidays at NEW PEOPLE, The Store in S.F.

NEW PEOPLE Store Interior

NEW PEOPLE is kicking off the 2011 holiday shopping season with a variety of special sales and promotions that will take place throughout the venue beginning on Black Friday, November 25th.

NEW PEOPLE, The Store will offer several Thanksgiving Weekend Shopping Specials on select items in the store on sale for 30%-50% off! Visit NEW PEOPLE’s very on retail location, located in the venue’s lobby, and explore a vast collection of fun and inventive products inspired by Japanese pop culture. Shoppers can browse a fantastic selection of carefully selected Japanese products that include apparel, accessories, books, toys, DVDs, music, and design items for the home and office.

Also announced is a special DVD pre-order promotion for the upcoming release of the DOCUMENTARY of AKB48 to be continued, which traces the incredible rise to international stardom of AKB48, one of Japan’s hottest pop idol groups. Pre-orders are now being accepted for the new film, which will be sold exclusively online for $19.99 through the NEW PEOPLE store at: store.newpeopleworld.com. For a limited time, NEW PEOPLE, The Store is offering a FREE bonus DVD title from its catalog to all pre-order purchasers. The film will be released December 1st.

NEW PEOPLE’s newest apparel boutique, the edgy Goth fashion brand, h. NAOTO, will also hold a sale with items available for between 30% and 50% off. The sale runs thru November 27th. The first 50 customers that purchase over $100.00 of merchandise will also receive a special invitation to attend h. NAOTO’s Holiday Party on December 10th More details are available at the boutique.

Baby, The Stars Shine Bright, the renowned Japanese Lolita fashion brand, will have a special sale with over 250 items marked 30% to 50% off. Shoppers are invited to take advantage of some of the best deals of the season on hand-crafted Lolita-inspired baby doll dresses and accessories.

Finally, Japanese Tabi shoe manufacturer SOU • SOU will hold a Holiday Sale beginning November 25th thru November 27th. SOU • SOU has developed a unique line of Japanese classic “Tabi” shoes based on a design originally favored by Japanese construction workers. SOU • SOU’s combination of form-fitting soles and colorful graphic patterns has attracted a huge following, from dancers to the sneaker-obsessed. During the sale, shoppers that purchase at least $100.00 of SOU • SOU products will receive a free pair of Tabi socks. Offer applies to in-store purchases only; limit one pair of socks per customer. SOU • SOU will also offer free shipping to online purchases over $75.00. (U.S. shipping only)

ACF 1250: Japanese science fiction novel TEN BILLION DAYS AND ONE HUNDRED BILLION NIGHTS now available as hardcover & ebook

JOURNEY ON A COSMIC ADVENTURE BLENDING

PHILOSOPHY, RELIGION, HUMAN EVOLUTION AND THE LIFE

AND DEATH OF THE UNIVERSE IN

TEN BILLION DAYS AND ONE HUNDRED BILLION NIGHTS

New Novel From VIZ Media’s Haikasoru Imprint

Called The Greatest Japanese Science Fiction Novel Of All Time

VIZ Media has announced the availability of the acclaimed novel, TEN BILLION DAYS AND ONE HUNDRED BILLION NIGHTS, by author Ryu Mitsuse. The hardcover book is published by the company’s Haikasoru imprint and carries an MSRP of $25.99 U.S. / $29.99 CAN. The eBook edition is also available on the Amazon Kindle, the Nook, and Apple’s iBooks Store for $9.99.

Haikasoru publishes some of the most compelling contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy stories for English-speaking audiences, and is the first imprint based in the U.S. dedicated to Japanese science fiction and fantasy in translation.

In TEN BILLION DAYS AND ONE HUNDRED BILLION NIGHTS, the philosopher Plato, in his exploration of the ruins of the fabled city of Atlantis, travels through time and space to determine the secret history of the human race, encountering Christ, the Buddha, and other iconic religious figures on the way. This celebrated novel of philosophy and the future has been named the greatest Japanese science fiction novel of all time.

“TEN BILLION DAYS AND ONE HUNDRED BILLION NIGHTS won the title of the greatest Japanese science fiction title ever written in a 2006 poll by Science Fiction magazine,” says Nick Mamatas, Haikasoru’s Editor. “The novel, which comes with a striking glow-in-the-dark dust jacket, delivers a cosmic adventure in the style of Arthur C. Clarke, covering the evolution of humanity, the lives of some of history’s most iconic religious figures, a future techno-dystopia, and the very death of the universe itself. Originally published in 1967, author Ryu Mitsuse revised the novel in later years and republished it in 1973. We’re truly honored to finally release this masterpiece to North American readers.”

Born in Tokyo in 1928, Ryu Mitsuse graduated from Tokyo University of Education with a degree in the sciences, after which he took up the study of philosophy. He debuted with “Sunny Sea 1979” in 1962, and his work—which often combines Eastern philosophy and hard science fiction—includes Tasogare ni kaeru (Returns in the Twilight) and Ushinawareta toshi no kiroku (The Chronicle of a Lost City). Mitsuse made SF history when his short story “The Sunset, 2217 A.D.” was translated into English for inclusion in Best Science Fiction for 1972. With artist Keiko Takemiya, he created the manga Andromeda Stories. Ryu Mitsuse died in 1999.

For more information on TEN BILLION DAYS AND ONE HUNDRED BILLION NIGHTS and the Haikasoru imprint, visit www.haikasoru.com.