Johnnie To's THREE coming to Blu-ray & DVD on April 4th

Well Go USA

Entertainment

presents

Three / San ren xing

Directed by Johnnie To

With  Louis Koo, Wei Zhao, and Wallace Chung

Hong Kong/China, 2016, 89 minutes

Tensions mounts and bullets fly in master filmmaker Johnnie To’s (Drug War, Exiled, Election) Three, his latest showdown between cops, robbers and everyone else caught in the crossfire. The action-packed thriller will become available on Blu-ray™ and DVD on April 4th from Well Go USA Entertainment. (It's been available on digital since March 7th.)

When a police sting goes bad, a cornered criminal (Wallace Chung, Drug War) makes a desperate choice: he shoots himself, forcing the officers to cease fire and rush him to the hospital. Once there, he refuses treatment, waiting for his cohorts to break him out. Caught between an obsessed cop (Louis Koo, Triad Election) and the dedicated surgeon assigned to save his life (Zhao Wei, Red Cliff), the hospital is now a battleground of deception, double-crosses and a coming onslaught of violence.

Synopsis:
When three disparate souls—a doctor desperate to redeem her reputation (Vicki Zhao), a policeman who will go to any length to seek out justice (Louis Koo), and a criminal with a gunshot wound to the head (Wallace Chung)—are thrown together in the hustle and bustle of an emergency room, a hospital descends from a pristine sanctuary to an explosive battleground.

Bonus Materials Include:
-- “Master Director Johnnie To” featurette
-- “Three Complex Characters” featurette

BEYOND GODZILLA series lecture by curator Mark Schilling

Japan Society

presents

The H-Man © 1959 Sony Pictures; Blue Christmas © 1978 Toho Co. Ltd.; Invisible Man © 1954 Toho Co. Ltd.

Beyond Godzilla

Series Curator Lecture

When: Saturday, March 25th at 5:00 PM

Where: Japan Society NY

333 East 47th Street, NYC

Map

Beyond Godzilla series curator Mark Schilling traces the evolution of the sci-fi/fantasy genre in Japan that (save for one big, scaly beast) remains largely neglected, considering its prewar origins to the present. The lecture will introduce Schilling’s selections and provide context for their inclusion in relation to the history of sci-fi/fantasy films in Japan, from Toho sci-fi epics helmed by Ishiro Honda and Eiji Tsuburaya to fantasies by pioneering indie auteur Nobuhiko Obayashi and beyond.

Approx. 60 min. This event is free with the purchase of a ticket to any film in the series. Seating is limited. Ticketholders will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Part of Beyond Godzilla: Alternative Futures & Fantasies in Japanese Cinema.

Section23 Films has announced its June 2017 slate of releases

Home video distributor Section23 Films has announced its June slate of releases, including two Limited Edition Premium Box Sets from Sentai Filmworks. Chivalry of a Failed Knight and School- Live!

Product details, in order of release:

Title: KINO'S JOURNEY COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: ADV Films
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 6/6/2017
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $29.98

SYNOPSIS: Three days. Two nights. That’s how much time Kino and Hermes allot to each new place they visit before drifting off again, crossing a mysterious land filled with mystical sights and strange customs. Kino’s an enigmatic loner, skilled with weapons and always anticipating what might lie around the next hill or bend of the river. Hermes is Kino’s friend, companion, and motorcycle, gifted with the ability to think and speak, seldom as bold as Kino, but always there when speed is required. What is their goal, their ultimate destination? Like life itself, it’s all a mystery that one can only solve by taking the journey. All Kino and Hermes know is that adventure, danger, and new wonders lie on the horizon, waiting to be encountered at each passing stop. Join the odyssey and drift along for the ride in KINO’S JOURNEY!


Title: CHIVALRY OF A FAILED KNIGHT COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 6/13/2017
Format: BD, DVD, COMBO
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $69.98 $59.98, $169.98

SYNOPSIS: Ikki Kurogane may have come from a long line of Blazers, people with the ability to create weapons or devices manifested from their souls, but as far as the Hagun Academy is concerned, he's been a major disappointment in the magical powers department. He is so disappointing, in fact, that he's earned the unfortunate nickname of the "Worst One". However, things change for Ikki in the most surp rising way when Princess Stella Vermillion, the most promising Rank-A Blazer to come along in many years, decides to transfer to Hagun. When she challenges him to a duel where the loser must obey the winner for the rest of their life, the last thing anyone expects is that the Worst One might prove to be a match for the Crimson Princess… and the unforeseen consequences will push the boundaries of society itself in CHIVALRY OF A FAILED KNIGHT!


Title: THE PATIENTS OF DR. MARO BLU-RAY
Published by: SoftCel Pictures
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 50 min.
Street Date: 6/13/2017
Format: BD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $19.98

SYNOPSIS: Hikomaro, better known as Dr. Maro, knows his way around the human body and can stick a thermometer in like a professional. Unfortunately, his medical ethics are seriously lacking, his concept of an appropriate Doctor-Patient relationship is entirely inappropriate, and his common sense is as non-functional as his sense of morality. When Sakimi and Masashi, a young married couple, come to inquire about a medical issue and to consult on the possibility of having children, what starts as a routine breast exam spirals madly out of control. Then, when Dr. Maro's far too intimate examination of the blushing bride results in a bashing husband, Maro finds his manual dexterity severely reduced by a pair of casts. Even then, Maro finds a way to come out on top, and to keep the not-so-good doctor from suing her husband, Sakimi must become his VERY personal servant in THE PATIENTS OF DR. MARO!


Title: THE BIG O BLU-RAY COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 650 min.
Street Date: 6/20/2017
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $79.98

SYNOPSIS: Forty years ago, the minds of Paradigm City's inhabitants were wiped clean of all recollections of the past. Now, ruled by a powerful corporation and cut off from the rest of the world by desolate wastelands, Paradigm has become a virtual police state where Negotiators like Roger Smith keep the wheels of progress, commerce, and society turning. As a combined hybrid of detective, mediator, and enforcer, Smith's primary resource is his keen, analytical mind, but it doesn't hurt to have a mansion filled with gadgets, his butler Norman, and his attractive assistant Dorothy to fall back on. Additionally, for those times when cases end up "in dispute," he also has the biggest, baddest back-up that any cop or small army could ever hope for: the Big O, a giant robot loaded with all the extras. Film noir thriller meets mecha mayhem masterpiece as the acclaimed classic series returns in the complete collection of THE BIG O!


Title: NORN9: NORN + NONETTE COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 6/20/2017
Format: BD, DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98, $49.98

SYNOPSIS: It's been so long since someone used her name that she's forgotten it. Suddenly, she's ripped away from everything she knows, chosen by a mysterious organization called The World for a secret mission. However, from the moment she steps on board the incredible spacecraft Norn, she knows that she's found home. The other young people aboard the ship are just like her: gifted with unexpected skills and abilities. Now, to protect the future of peace and harmony, they're at The World's beck and call. Maybe she'll find more than just a purpose. Maybe she's finally found a family and, possibly, even… her soul mate? Join three amazing girls, nine incredible guys, and a mysterious kid as an epic odyssey begins in NORN9!


Title: SCHOOL-LIVE! COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 6/27/2017
Format: BD, DVD, COMBO
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $69.98 $59.98, $129.98

SYNOPSIS: Why would anyone form a School Living Club? Could four girls, their advisor, and a puppy really love their school so much that they'd want to live in it? Or is there another reason, something that lurks behind the façade of their comfortable existence? Something that waits outside their school's doors. Something that has already robbed one girl of her sanity? While the others try to come to grips with a dark new reality, the rest of the world falls to ruin at the hands of a ravenous force, and insanity may be the last hope for survival. Shocks, heartbreak and stunning revelations await as the twisted tale unfolds in SCHOOL-LIVE!

LEGEND OF BRUCE LEE: Vol. 2 coming to DVD on April 4th

10 Episodes in a Three-Disc Collection Available on DVD April 4

Danny Chan (Ip Man 3, Kung Fu Hustle) is back as legendary martial arts icon Bruce Lee when Well Go USA Entertainment debuts LEGEND OF BRUCE LEE: VOLUME TWO on DVD April 4. The set features 10 action-packed episodes on three-discs and follows Lee as he comes to America and begins a revolution in the world of martial arts. LEGEND OF BRUCE LEE: VOLUME TWO also stars Michelle Lang, Mark Dacascos, Wang Luoyang, Tim Storms, Ray Park and Michael Jai White.

Synopsis:
Determined to promote Chinese martial arts in America, Bruce Lee establishes a small but popular kung fu school. As he encounters different opponents and their various fighting styles, Bruce envisions a new way of kung fu capable of revolutionizing the world of martial arts forever.

LEGEND OF BRUCE LEE: VOLUME TWO has a runtime of approximately 456 minutes and is not rated.

VIZ laiunching new YU-GI-OH! ARC-V manga series on April 4th

YU-GI-OH! ARC-V © 2015 by Kazuki Takahashi, Shin Yoshida, Naohito Miyoshi, Masahiro Hikokubo/SHUEISHA Inc.

VIZ MEDIA LAUNCHES NEW

YU-GI-OH! ARC-V MANGA SERIES

Latest Manga Series Of The Action Adventure

Card Dueling Franchise Launches This Spring

VIZ Media expands the world of YU-GI-OH! with the launch of YU-GI-OH! ARC-V on April 4th.

YU-GI-OH! ARC-V features story by Shin Yoshida and artwork by Naohito Miyoshi. First printings of the latest incarnation of the iconic series will include an ultra-rare trading card that will be highly prized by collectors and game players. The series is rated ‘T’ for Teens and will be published under the Shonen Jump imprint with a print MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. YU-GI-OH! ARC-V also launches digitally via VIZ.com and the VIZ Manga App, as well as in the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks, comiXology, and Google Play stores. Subsequent volumes of the ongoing series will be published in English bi-annually.

In YU-GI-OH! ARC-V, action duels have become a global sensation, but what is the dark secret behind them that threatens to destroy the world? In the opening volume, Yuzu Hiiragi and her father run a Dueling school that’s seen better days. If only they had a star teacher to bring in new students! When a rogue Duelist known as Phantom appears in the city, Yuzu may have found a savior, but Phantom will have to deal with the Leo Corporation’s special forces before he can get into any community service!

“Dueling takes center stage in this new adventure with a fresh cast of characters and non-stop action,” says Michael Montesa, Editor. “YU-GI-OH! fans and manga readers won’t want to miss out on the latest tales from the dark and dangerous world of dueling.”

Original YU-GI-OH! series creator, Kazuki Takahashi, first attempted to break into the manga business in 1982, but success eluded him until YU-GI-OH! debuted in the Japanese Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 1996. YU-GI-OH!'s themes of friendship and competition, together with Takahashi's weird and wonderful art, soon became enormously successful, spawning a real-world card game, video games, and six anime series (two Japanese Yu-Gi-Oh! series, YU-GI-OH! GX, YU-GI-OH! 5D's, YU-GI-OH! ZEXAL, and YU-GI-OH! ARC-V). VIZ Media is the official North American publisher of a variety of YU-GI-OH! manga series including YU-GI-OH!, YU-GI-OH! GX, YU-GI-OH! 5D's, and YU-GI-OH! ZEXAL.

YU-GI-OH! is a $2-billion-dollar global entertainment franchise and is the leading trading card game in the world. The popular property has spawned a wide array of top rated TV anime series as well as trading cards, action figures, video games, magazines, apparel and other consumer products. In North America, the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime series is widely seen on Nicktoons and over 7.2 million Yu-Gi-Oh! video games have been sold in the U.S. to-date.

For more information on YU-GI-OH! and other manga titles available from VIZ Media, please visit VIZ.com.

NARUTO: SASUKE’S STORY - SUNRISE is available now

NARUTO SASUKE-SHINDEN RAIKOHEN © 2015 by Masashi Kishimoto, Shin Towada/SHUEISHA Inc.

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES NEW NARUTO

NOVEL WITH THE RELEASE OF

NARUTO: SASUKE’S STORY - SUNRISE

Latest NARUTO Novel Focuses On Naruto’s Best Friend And

Rival From Masashi Kishimoto’s Smash Hit Manga Series

VIZ Media adds a brand new addition to the continuing series of NARUTO novels with the debut of NARUTO: SASUKE’S STORY – SUNRISE.

Readers are invited to join Sasuke Uchiha on his journey to atone for his sins following the conclusion of the Great Ninja War. SASUKE’S STORY – SUNRISE will be available in print and digital editions. The novel was written by Shin Towada and features original cover art by NARUTO creator, Masashi Kishimoto.

NARUTO: SASUKE’S STORY – SUNRISE
MSRP: $10.99 U.S. / $14.99 CAN / $6.99 Digital • Available Now!
The Great Ninja War has ended, but to untangle the mystery that remains, Sasuke sets out on a journey – a journey that he hopes will allow him to atone for his sins. During his travels, those ninja faithful to the avenger Sasuke bring about tragedy. Meanwhile danger closes in on the villages of Konoha, Kiri, and Kumo, where red eyes burn with hatred. What is the future Sasuke stares down?

Currently available NARUTO novels include NARUTO: KAKASHI’S STORY, NARUTO: SHIKAMARU’S STORY, NARUTO: SAKURA’S STORY, NARUTO: ITACHI’S STORY – DAYLIGHT and NARUTO: ITACHI’S STORY – MIDNIGHT.

Manga author/artist Masashi Kishimoto was born in 1974 in rural Okayama Prefecture, Japan. Like many kids, he was first inspired to become a manga artist in elementary school when he read Dragon Ball. After spending time in art school, he won the Hop Step Award for new manga artists with his story, Karakuri. After considering various genres for his next project, Kishimoto decided on a story steeped in traditional Japanese culture. His first version of NARUTO, drawn in 1997, was a one-shot story about fox spirits; his final version, which debuted in Japan in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999, quickly became the most popular ninja manga in the world. The series would also spawn multiple anime series, movies, novels, video games and more. Having concluded the series in late 2014, Masashi Kishimoto has kept himself busy this year with the side story, NARUTO: THE SEVENTH HOKAGE AND THE SCARLET SPRING, and writing the story for the latest NARUTO movie, BORUTO: NARUTO THE MOVIE, both of which focus on the title character's son, Boruto.

VIZ Media is the North American master licensor for NARUTO and publishes the bestselling NARUTO manga series in print and digitally and also distributes the NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN anime series and feature films. For additional information on NARUTO and other manga titles published by VIZ Media, visit VIZ.com.

China Lion to release THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X in North American and other markets on March 31st

China Lion

presents

The Devotion of Suspect X

Directed by Alec Su

China, 2017

China Lion Film Distribution has announced that it will release the Chinese language film The Devotion of Suspect X in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand on March 31st, along with special United Kingdom screenings, the same weekend as the Mainland Chinese release date. The film stars Wang Kai, Zhang Luyi, Ruby Lin, Hou Minghao, Yan Xujia and Ren Xiqing and is directed by Alec Su, who previously helmed the hit film The Left Ear.

Based on Keigo Higashino’s award-winning novel The Devotion of Suspect X, the film follows a professor (Wang Kai) assisting in a murder investigation, only to find that a longtime rival and friend (Zhang Luyi) from his early university days may be involved. The book won Japan’s prestigious Naoki Prize for Best Novel and was a nominee for an Edgar Award and a Barry Award. It was chosen by the American Library Association as one of their Best Mystery Novels of the year. The English-language translation of the Japanese book is published by Macmillan imprint, Minotaur Books; it is the first of three novels that form the author’s “Detective Galileo" series, with “Salvation of a Saint” and “A Midsummer’s Equation” representing the latest entries. The novel was previously made into a Japanese feature of the same name, directed by Hiroshi Nishitani, and a Korean feature entitled Perfect Number, directed by Bang Eun-jin.

Film and television star Wang Kai previously co-starred in the China Lion film The Golden Era, the Hong Kong Film and Golden Horse film award winner from director Ann Hui. He also co-starred in the recent Jackie Chan led Railroad Tigers, which China Lion distributed in the United Kingdom. He graduated from the prestigious Central Academy of Drama. China Lion Film will release The Devotion of Suspect X in more than 40 cities in the U.S. and Canada, 20 cities in Australia and New Zealand, and feature special shows in the United Kingdom, all on the same weekend the film releases wide in the Mainland. The company acquired the film directly from Beijing Enlight Pictures, one of the largest film distributors in China.

Kore-eda's MABOROSI screens at Japan Society NY tonight at 7:00 PM

Japan Society NY

presents

Maborosi © 1995 TV Man Union, Inc.

Maborosi / Maboroshi no Hikari

Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda

With Makiko Esumi, Takashi Naito, Tadanobu Asano

Japan, 1995, 110 minutes

35mm, color, in Japanese with English subtitles

When: Friday, March 10th, 7:00 PM

Where: Japan Society NY

333 East 47th Street, NYC

Map

The first narrative feature by Hirokazu Kore-eda is a contemplative and poetic film about loss and the everpresent specter of death. Yumiko and Ikuo lead a happy life together in Osaka that is suddenly disrupted when Ikuo is killed by a train in an apparent suicide. Although she eventually remarries and relocates to a quiet seaside village, Yumiko is continually haunted by the experience, struggling to understand why it happened. Beautifully shot with an emphasis on silhouettes, shadows and natural light, Maborosi remains one of Kore-eda's most visually striking f ilms and an early testament to his exceptional talents.

Tickets: $13/$10 seniors & students/$5 Japan Society members

Part of Monthly Classics
Year-round screenings of beloved classics, hidden gems and recent discoveries of Japanese cinema. Only $5 for Japan society members!

COLD WAR 2 reviewed; debuts on Blu-ray & DVD today

Well Go USA

Entertainment

presents

Cold War 2

Directed by: Lok Man Leung and Kim-Ching Luk

Starring: Aaron Kwok, Tony Leung Ka Fai, and Chow Yun-fat

Hong Kong/China, 2016, 110 minutes

Cold War 2, which continues the original film’s saga of intra-police rivalry, debuts toady, March 7th on Blu-ray™ and DVD from Well Go USA Entertainment. (It's been available on digital since February 7th.) This review is based on my watching the Blu-ray release.

The original Cold War (2012) also was directed by Leung and Luk. I also had Kwok and Leung starring as rivals in the Hong Kong police force. It was shown at the 14th New York Asian Film Festival in 2015 as one of several films starring Aaron Kwok, who was in attendance to receive that year's Star Asia Award.

M.B. Lee (Tony Leung Ka Fai, right center) is pissed at Sen Lau (Aaron Kwok, left center)

This second installment, which includes Hong Kong superstar Chow Yun-fat as eminent legislator Oswald Kan, picks up after the events of the first film. Sean Lau (Kwok), a straight-arrow bureaucrat, has risen to the position of Commissioner of Police, besting M.B. Lee (Tony Leung Ka Fai), the former Deputy Commissioner of Operations.

Lee's son, Joe Lee (Eddie Peng of Call of Heroes), is a criminal in police custody. His buddies kidnap Lau's wife and demand his release in exchange for her life. This sets things in motion, including a behind-the-scenes conspiracy to control the Hong Kong Police Force.

Chow Yun-fat as legislator Oswald Kan

The film starts out at a funeral and numerous characters are identified by subtitles, in Chinese and English, as they appear on scree. This tends to get things off to a slow start. There are a few decent action scenes, but nothing all that spectacular.

Frankly, the best thing about the film was the opening credits which feature ice figures such as those seen in the Blu-ray image above. It's truly lovely to watch, and every bit as good as the best Bond film openings credit sequences.

Disc Specs:
-- Audio
   -- Cantonese DTS 5.1 HDMA
   -- Cantonese 2.0 Stereo
   -- Mandarin DTS 5.1 HDMA
   -- Mandarin 2.0 Stereo
-- Subtitles
   -- English
   -- Chinese
   -- Off
-- Bonus
   -- Behind the Scenes
      -- A Powerful Cast
      -- The Story
      -- The Three Powers
      -- VFX and Action
   -- Teaser
   -- Trailer
-- Previews
   -- Sky on Fire
   -- Operation Mekong
   --  Three

AsianCineFest Rating: 2.5 out of 4 stars. A decent-enough policier,  but not all that great.

Adult anime distributor SoftCel Pictures to re-launch in June 2017

Hentai fans rejoice! After 13 long years, adult anime market pioneer SoftCel Pictures is back, shaking up the North American home video scene with a sizzling new slate of Japan’s wildest animated entertainment. With an emerging catalog of uncut, uncensored, and high-definition Blu-rays, SoftCel Picture’s reputation as the premiere distributor of “hentai” animation will be at the forefront as the label re-launches in June 2017.

The revival of SoftCel Pictures is driven by a new mission: to achieve maximum market penetration and bring the finest in animated erotic entertainment directly from Japan to an eager and willing audience; to bring startling Blu-ray level clarity to acts that previously were hidden under sheets and layers of mosaics; and to boldly let anime characters go where they have never gone before!

With fine translations, English-subtitles, and HD materials that allow the viewers to take in every detail, SoftCel will deliver the highest quality in adult animated entertainment, straight from the uncut, uncensored masters. SoftCel Pictures aims to provide a sensual and sense pounding animated experience that exceeds all audience expectations, taking the viewer to dizzying new heights of ecstasy. The only thing not included is ribbing for enhanced viewing pleasure.

Ready to sign up? SoftCel’s first prescription for animated naughtiness begins with the completely shameless (and frequently shameful) doctor-patient exploits of The Patients of Dr. Maro (original Jpanese title: Maro no Kanja wa Ganteki). The Blu-ray, with reversible cover, (Region A) will be available for pre-order through select outlets beginning in February 2017.

As the year continues, the hits will keep coming. SoftCel Pictures’ avalanche of new releases will continue later in the year with a whole slate of new Blu-ray titles, including King of Breasts, Slave Princess, Sex Hypnotist Zero, and The Devil’s Virgins. Fans of explicit Japanese anime can learn more about these exciting new releases and receive forthcoming updates by visiting www.softcelpictures.com.

COLD WAR 2 coming to Blu-ray & DVD on March 7th

Well Go USA

Entertainment

presents

Cold War 2

Directed by: Lok Man Leung and Kim-Ching Luk

Starring: Aaron Kwok, Tony Leung Ka Fai, and Chow Yun-fat

Hong Kong/China, 2016, 110 minutes

Cold War 2, the sequel to the 2012 Hong Kong box-office smash, continues the original film’s saga of intra-police rivalry. This second installment will debut on Blu-ray™ and DVD March 7th from Well Go USA Entertainment. (It's been available on digital since February 7th.)

Picking up some time after the events in the first movie, Sean Lau (Aaron Kwok, The Monkey King franchise) is now the Commissioner of Police. Things turn bad when his wife and daughter are kidnapped and he must seek help from a former rival (Tony Leung, The Taking of Tiger Mountain) to save their lives. Joining Kwok and Leung from the original cast are Charlie Young (Kung Fu Killer), Eddie Peng (Call of Heroes), Aarif Rahman (Young Bruce Lee), Ma Yili (Badge of Fury) and Alex Tsui (Merry-Go-Round). They are joined by new cast members, including legendary Hong Kong star Chow Yun-fat (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), Janice Man (The Midnight After) and Tony Yang (Phantom of the Theatre), in the “superbly acted” (Edmund Lee, South China Morning Post) ensemble drama.

Synopsis:
A suspected criminal mastermind escapes from police custody, throwing the city into turmoil. With the police department now divided, rival police chiefs are forced to take their fight to the streets of Hong Kong—with deadly consequences.

Bonus Materials Include:
-- A Powerhouse Cast
-- The Story
-- The Three Powers
-- VFX and Action

Section23 Films has announced its May 2017 slate of releases

Home video distributor Section23 Films has announced its May slate of releases; including Sentai Filmworks’ Himouto! Umaru-chan! Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Collector’s Edition Premium Box Set!

Product details, in order of release:

Title: NURSE WITCH KOMUGI R COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 5/2/2017
Format: BD, DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98, $49.98

SYNOPSIS: Komugi Yoshida wants to be famous, but her efforts as an idol don't seem to be working out so far. Unlike her prim friend Cocona or her tomboyish rival Tsukasa, both of whose idol popularity is soaring, Komugi seems to be getting only the bottom-tier jobs, like pitching pharmaceutical products to the locals. However, everything changes when Komugi discovers an injured creature named Usa-P who offers her a chance to be something bigger: a magical nurse! With awesome powers and a cute outfit to boot, Komugi might just be moving up in the world, but is she going to be able to handle the stress of saving the world, being an idol, AND keeping up in school? Find out as the universe of SOULTAKER and NURSE WITCH KOMUGI is reborn in an all new adventure: NURSE WITCH KOMUGI R!


Title: AJIN SEASON 1 COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 5/16/2017
Format: BD, DVD, COMBO
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $69.98 $59.98, $149.98

SYNOPSIS: When the truck slammed into Kei Nagai's body, he should have died instantly. Instead, the high-school student finds himself resurrected, with all of his wounds somehow healed. However, Kei's real problems are just starting. Now revealed to be an Ajin, one of a mysterious new breed of demi-human that have begun appearing around the world, he's been marked with an international bounty, and in the eyes of the world's governments, Kei is a specimen to be contained by any means possible. Now he's on the run, unable to trust anyone except his closest friend, and his only hope is to discover the terrifying secrets behind his new abilities before he's forced to use them in battle! When you have an infinite number of lives ahead of you, death is only the beginning in AJIN: DEMI-HUMAN!


Title: GIRLS UND PANZER DER FILM
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 120 min.
Street Date: 5/16/2017
Format: COMBO
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $49.98

SYNOPSIS: When the Ministry of Education goes back on its promise to keep Ooarai Girls Academy open, the task of saving the five-mile-long Academy Ship from the wreckers falls to Miho and her barely-seasoned tankery team. However, things go off track almost immediately. While the Oorai tank crew may have won the high school tournament, they're now facing a larger and more experienced university team, and if they fail, their armored vehicles will be forfeit! Will they be swapping their tanks for the memories? It's possible, but winning a tank battle is all about tactics and teamwork, and the fledgling Ooarai students have more friends and allies than anyone suspects. Get ready for another high-caliber round of the only sport where "having a blast" doesn't necessarily mean you're having a great time, as the Ooarai team puts everything on the line in GIRLS UND PANZER DER FILM!


Title: WANDABA STYLE COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Maiden Japan
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 5/16/2017
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $39.98

SYNOPSIS: Dr. Susumu Tsukumo isn't your typical mad scientist. First, he's only 14 years old, and second, he's firmly convinced that the moon landings never happened. He intends to fix that, however, just as soon as he can find some human guinea pigs to test out his highly-unorthodox, but environmentally-friendly, methods for getting people into space without using fossil fuels. He has one problem: where do you find someone who's crazy enough to let a kid launch them into orbit? Enter Michael Hanagata, manager of MIX JUICE, a struggling girl band that's so desperate for a break that they'll do just about anything to be seen. Do they really mean… anything? Get ready to blast off with former child-star Sakura, tough-as-nails rocker Yuri, construction worker Himawari, and folk singer Ayame as they attempt to go from the Earth to the Moon with a little WANDABA STYLE!


Title: MOMOKURI COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 5/23/2017
Format: BD, DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98, $49.98

SYNOPSIS: For the longest time, Yuki Kurihara has been obsessed with Shinya Momotsuki (aka Momo), and her crush is a little more extreme than writing his name surrounded with dozens of hearts in her binder. In fact, Kurihara does things outside the realm of a typical high school girl… like secretly following him, taking pictures of everything he does, and collecting anything he happens to discard and drop. The funny thing? Despite being considered rather cute by most girls, Momo is relatively inexperienced with the opposite sex, explaining why he misses the warning signs of her fixation. However, now that he and Kurihara are going out, is it possible that a little obsession might not be such a bad thing? Love can be strange, and it's about to get even stranger in MOMOKURI!


Title: HIMOUTO! UMARU-CHAN COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 5/30/2017
Format: BD, DVD, COMBO
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $69.98, $59.98, $179.98

SYNOPSIS: To her classmates, Umaru Doma appears to be the perfect girl. She's beautiful, friendly, and fashionable, earns top grades, and seems to be able to do any task asked of her with ease. She's even humble and polite! However, if Umaru's classmates could see her in the privacy of her home, they wouldn't even recognize her. Once she's inside the door, the pretty clothes come off, the orange hamster hood goes on, and it's time to pig-out on snack foods, binge-watch television, and play violent video games! This version of Umaru is everything that the public Umaru isn't: she whines, rolls on the floor, leaves messes all over the apartment, and makes life miserable for her poor older brother, Taihei. Even the most guarded secrets have a way of being found out, and, as Umaru becomes even more obnoxious and outrageous, her two lives are bound to collide in disastrous fashion in HIMOUTO! UMARU-CHAN!