The 2013 JAPAN FILM FESTIVAL OF SAN FRANCISCO PARTNERS WITH J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL TO PRESENT AN EXCITING LINE-UP OF ANIME FEATURE FILM PREMIERES AT NEW PEOPLE CINEMA

The First-Ever Dedicated Japanese Film Festival For The S.F. Bay Area Opens In Late July At NEW PEOPLE Cinema Featuring Exciting Premieres Of Hunter X Hunter, Naruto Shippuden, Resident Evil: Damnation, Tiger & Bunny, And Director Mamoru Hosoda’s Wolf Children

San Francisco, CA, May 22, 2013– The 2013 J-POP Summit Festival, the popular annual San Francisco summertime Japanese Pop Culture celebration, has just announced an exciting anime program to complement the launch of the Japan Film Festival of San Francisco, the first dedicated annual Japanese film festival for Northern California and the S.F. Bay Area.

The week-long series of film screenings also includes 9 acclaimed live-action titles and will take place at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema beginning Saturday July 27th and running through Sunday August 4th.

The Japan Film Festival of San Francisco’s slate of anime premieres and exclusive screenings at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema will include Wolf Children, the poignant new drama from director Mamoru Hosoda, the U.S. premiere of the fantasy adventure, Hunter X Hunter: Phantom Rouge, wild ninja hijinks in Naruto Shippuden The Movie: The Lost Tower, heavy weapons CGI action in Resident Evil: Damnation, and a special encore presentation of the superhero-inspired fun of Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning. All films (except Resident Evil: Damnation) will be presented with original Japanese dialogue with English subtitles.

Tickets are $13.00 per film unless otherwise indicated. NEW PEOPLE Cinema is located at 1746 Post St. (cross street is Webster St.) in the heart of San Francisco’s Japantown. A complete schedule and advance ticket information are available on www.jffsf.org.

The Japan Film Festival of San Francisco is presented in conjunction with the 2013 J-POP Summit, taking place Saturday July 27th and Sunday July 28th across the city’s historic Japantown district to celebrate the phenomenon of Japanese pop culture with a colorful array of live bands and artists, panel discussions, film premieres, edgy fashion shows and DJ dance events, celebrity appearances and more. The J-POP Summit Festival is hosted and organized by NEW PEOPLE in cooperation with the Japantown Merchants Association. In 2012, the two-day event attracted nearly 65,000 attendees. More information is available at www.J-POP.com.

Japan Film Festival of San Francisco Anime Program:

HUNTER X HUNTER: PHANTOM ROUGE – U.S. PREMIERE!!!
Saturday, August 3rd, 11:00am
Hunter X Hunter: Phantom Rouge is based on the mega-hit manga series by Yoshihiro Togashi, which has sold over 60 million copies worldwide. The new film reveals the early life of main characters Clapica and Gon. Once there was a small tribe of people called Cluta that lived in a lush and beautiful forest. One day, bandits known as the Phantom Brigade attacked and massacred the entire population except one. Their objective was the eyes that belong to the Cluta people, which turn scarlet with excitement. Known as the Eyes of Rouge, the color is considered one of the seven most exquisite hues in the world. The sole survivor was a boy named Clapica and he vows to avenge his people and becomes a Hunter.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE: THE LOST TOWER – U.S. PREMIERE!!!
Saturday, July 28th, 1:30pm
The Rogue Ninja Mukade is about to be caught by Naruto’s team when he summons forth the power of the LeyLine – an ancient underground channel of chakra. Naruto gets caught up in the chakra and is sent back in time to the city of Loran, known for its thousand towers. There he encounters the future Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, on a top-secret mission, and the Queen of Loran, Sarah, whose rule is threatened by Mukade. Will Naruto be able to return to his own time, and can a chance encounter in the past save the future?

RESIDENT EVIL: DAMNATION – U.S. PREMIERE!!!
Sunday, July 28th, 3:50pm
Resident Evil: Damnation is the sequel to Resident Evil: Degeneration, a feature-length computer-animated horror film based on the popular game developed by Capcom. The story revolves around biological weapons used in a European war zone and sees the return of Leon S. Kennedy as the protagonist. The film was released as a digital download on Xbox Live, Zune and PlayStation Network in 2012 and comes to the big screen for the first time in the U.S.!
(*Note: this screening is NOT a 3D presentation; film will be presented with dubbed English dialogue)

TIGER & BUNNY: THE BEGINNING – Special Encore Presentation!!!
Friday, August 2nd, 4:00pm
The hero-inspired big screen action of the smash hit anime property – Tiger & Bunny – is coming to the Bay Area! The city of Sternbild is protected by corporate superheroes known as NEXT, who fight crime while promoting their sponsors on the popular show “HERO TV.” Veteran hero Wild Tiger relies on his years of experience and instincts to fight crime, but his tendency to destroy public property for the sake of protecting the lives of the innocent has earned him the nickname “Crusher for Justice.” Now, under orders from his new employer, Wild Tiger finds himself forced to team up with Barnaby Brooks Jr., a rookie with an attitude. Will the two unlikely new partners find a way to work together?

WOLF CHILDREN – S.F. PREMIERE!!!
Sunday, July 28th, 11:00am & Sunday, August 4th, 6:15pm
From Mamoru Hosoda, the visionary and award-winning creator of the acclaimed anime films, Summer Wars and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, comes a beautiful tale of love and triumph. In this touching new drama, 19 year-old Hana falls in love with a wolf-man and, over the years, becomes the mother of two half-wolf/ half human children. Ame, born on a rainy day and Yuki, born in the snowy winter, must move with their mother to a rural town to hide the secret of their mysterious lineage.

NEW PEOPLE Cinema is a 143-seat cinema located in the underground floor of NEW PEOPLE in San Francisco. Equipped with a cutting-edge HD digital projection and THX®-certified sound system, NEW PEOPLE Cinema is home for local film festivals and entertaining events. www.newpeoplecinema.com

About J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL
The J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL is an annual Japanese Pop Culture celebration that features live bands and artists from Japan, pop culture panel discussions, film premieres, fashion and DJ dance events, and celebrity appearances. The Festival is hosted by NEW PEOPLE in cooperation with the Japantown Merchants Association. In 2012, the two-day event attracted 65,000 attendees. More information about the J-POP Summit Festival is available at J-POP.com.

 

ANIME EXPO WELCOMES VOICE ACTOR MEGUMI HAN AS A GUEST OF HONOR FOR AX 2013

LOS ANGELES, CA, May 22nd, 2013 – Anime Expo welcomes Voice Actor Megumi Han as a Guest of Honor for AX2013! Originally from Tokyo, Ms. Han (who is the daughter of Voice Actress Keiko Han) had her screen debut in 2008 in Sakura no Sono.  In 2011, she achieved her goal as a voice actress and was given the lead role of Gon Freecss in HunterxHunter.

Since then, Ms.Han has worked on other popular series such as Digimon and Yu-Gi-Oh.   Recently, she received the main role of Akko Kagari in Little Witch Academia and Sumire Hanano in Chihayafuru 2.  She is not only limited to anime, but also has lent her talents for computer games as well as voiceover for foreign dramas.

Ms. Han will also be participating in a Little Witch Academia panel hosted by TRIGGER, producers of the new hit anime!

​Anime Expo is thrilled to welcome Megumi Han as a Guest of Honor to AX 2013, where attendees can connect with their favorite artists, voice actors, and musicians from Japan, display their amazing cosplay and other artistic creations, and enjoy the best in Japanese anime and pop culture. Connect. Create. Culture. All at Anime Expo 2013!

About Anime Expo

Hosted annually in Los Angeles, Anime Expo is North America’s largest celebration of Japanese culture. Anime Expo 2013 will be held July 4 – 7, 2013 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. To register, or for more information, please visit the Anime Expo website.
About the SPJA

The SPJA (“Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation”) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to popularize and educate the American public about Japanese entertainment culture, as well as provide a forum to facilitate communication between professionals and fans. For more information, please visit the SPJA website.

 

ANIME EXPO WELCOMES GUNDAM UNICORN DIRECTOR KAZUHIRO FURUHASHI AS A GUEST OF HONOR

LOS ANGELES, CA, May 21st, 2013 – Anime Expo proudly announces Director Kazuhiro Furuhashi as a Guest of Honor for AX2013! Born in Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka Prefecture, Mr. Furuhashi began his career as an animator, and then moved to directing with the series Ranma ½.

His directorial debut was the Ranma ½ Netto Utagassen OVA. Since then, he has worked on numerous other titles such as Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story, Hunter x Hunter, Le Chevalier D’Eon, Real Drive and Amatsuki. In 2010, he began directing Mobile Suit Gundam UC (Unicorn) and is currently working on episode 7, the final episode, for that series.

​Anime Expo is excited to welcome Kazuhiro Furuhashi as a Guest of Honor to AX 2013, where attendees can connect with their favorite artists, voice actors, and musicians from Japan, display their amazing cosplay and other artistic creations, and enjoy the best in Japanese anime and pop culture. Connect. Create. Culture. All at Anime Expo 2013!

About Anime Expo

Hosted annually in Los Angeles, SPJA event Anime Expo is North America’s largest celebration of Japanese culture. Anime Expo 2013 will be held July 4 – 7, 2013 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. To register, or for more information, please visit the Anime Expo website.
About the SPJA

The SPJA (“Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation”) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to popularize and educate the American public about Japanese entertainment culture, as well as provide a forum to facilitate communication between professionals and fans. For more information, please visit the SPJA website.

 

VIZ MEDIA SECURES THE NORTH AMERICAN MASTER LICENSEE RIGHTS FOR ANIME SERIES “K”

Kinetic Anime Action Series About A Psychic War Between Seven Kings To Be Fully Developed For The North American Market
 
San Francisco, CA, May 20, 2013 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, continues to expand its range of anime offerings for 2013 as it announces that it has become the North American master licensee for the anime series – K.

VIZ Media will manage the domestic home video, television rights, and online rights and distribution, as well as oversee the licensing and development of a range of new products and collectables based on the property.

K was developed and produced by GoHands, the Japanese studio that also created the cyberpunk anime film series, Mardock Scramble and the enigmatic writers’ collective GoRA Project. The highly detailed look of K’s production and its intriguing story have made it of keen interest among legions of domestic fans ever since VIZ Media first debuted the series on its VIZAnime online streaming service back in October 2012 – on the same day it launched on Japanese TV.

K is set in a world where history has taken a slightly different course from the one we’re familiar with and follows the story of a young boy whose life is caught in a supernatural war between seven kings. Yashiro Isana, also known as Shiro, is wanted for a crime he has no recollection of committing. He finds himself being hunted by the groups HOMRA, led by Mikoto Suoh, “The Red King,” and SCEPTER 4, led by Reisi Munakata, “The Blue King.” While on the run, another young man named Kuroh Yatogami helps him. Will this fated encounter change Shiro’s life forever?

“K has garnered a fast-growing and fervent North American fan base and we are extremely excited to represent this property across all domestic categories,” says Daisuke Aoki, Vice President, Animation Licensing. “VIZ Media has an unsurpassed track record of successfully developing anime properties for the North American market and we look forward to partnering with a variety of top manufacturers, agents and other businesses to make K a most-loved series among fans.”

For more information on VIZ Media anime properties, please visit www.viz.com/anime.

About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan’s largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

 

VIZ MEDIA BECOMES THE NORTH AMERICAN MASTER LICENSEE FOR THE SCI-FI ANIME SERIES ACCEL WORLD

A Bullied Teen Finds New Powers & Strength In A Virtual Reality Video Game In Edgy New Series

 

San Francisco, CA, May 2, 2013 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, has announced that it has been named the North American master licensee for the sci-fi anime property, ACCEL WORLD (rated TV-14). ACCEL WORLD is currently available on the Neon Alley channel for PlayStation^®3 and Xbox 360 (dubbed), as well as on the company’s own streaming site VIZAnime.com (subtitled).

 

ACCEL WORLD is based on the light novel created by Reki Kawahara, with adaptation by renowned animation studio Sunrise. VIZ Media will hold the North American licensed rights for Videogram, Television, and Online Distribution, as well as all merchandising licensing related to the property.

 

In ACCEL WORLD, the year is 2046. Haruyuki “Haru” Arita is a young boy who finds himself on the lowest social rung of his school. Ashamed of his miserable life, Haru can only cope by indulging in virtual games. But that all changes when Kuroyukihime, the most popular girl in school, introduces him to a mysterious program called Brain Burst and a virtual reality called the Accel World.

 

“Fan excitement for ACCEL WORLD has built since VIZ Media debuted the simulcast to North American last year, and we’re thrilled to become master licensor to cater to this growing demand,” says Daisuke Aoki, Vice President, Animation Licensing. “Becoming the master North American licensee for ACCEL WORLD will allow us to fully develop this property and bring a fun range of products with a variety of manufacturers to market.”

 

Neon Alley is VIZ Media’s 24-hour, subscription-based anime channel featuring the world’s best titles (dubbed in English and uncut) and presented in HD (when available) for a low monthly subscription rate of only $6.99. Neon Alley is available for the PlayStation^®Network and the PlayStation^®3 (PS3™) system as well as Xbox LIVE and the Xbox 360.

 

For more information on Neon Alley and to register for updates, please visit: NeonAlley.com.

 

For more information on VIZ Media anime properties, please visit:

www.viz.com/anime.

 

Ani-Jam is Proud to Announce the Return of Mari Watanabe as Guest of Honor

Fresno, CA – May 1, 2013 – Ani-Jam, Fresno’s premiere anime convention is proud to announce that singer Mari Watanabe will be returning as a Guest of Honor to Ani-Jam 2013 this summer.
The two-day event will be held on August 17-18 at the Valdez Hall (at the Fresno Convention Center).
Mari Watanabe is a Sailor Moon performer whose main role is to create bridges of friendship between countries by doing anime related concerts and presentations. Having performed in the U.S., Japan and Mexico, Mari Watanabe captivated the audience with her performance at Ani-Jam 2012, that fans wanted to see Mari return for a second consecutive year.
Mari has appeared in Japanese TV as well as American media. She received an honor award from the city of San Francisco for her volunteer work as Sailor Moon and her dream is to be a friendship ambassador between many countries.
Mari Watanabe joins previously announced Guest of Honors: DJ Lord Katsuhiko Jinnai, music producer Richie Branson, anime voice talents Greg Ayres, Cynthia Martinez, Chris Patton and veteran animator/ author, Aimee Major Steinberger (“The Simpsons” and “Futurama”).
More information about Ani-Jam can be found online at http://ani-jam.com or on our Ani-Jam News site at http://ani-jam.tumblr.com.

 

Ani-Jam is Proud to Announce the Return of Producer and DJ, Lord Katsuhiko Jinnai as Guest of Honor

Fresno, CA – May 1, 2013 – Ani-Jam, Fresno’s premiere anime convention is proud to announce the return of music producer and fan-mix DJ, Lord Katsuhiko Jinnai, as a returning Guest of Honor at Ani-Jam 2013 this summer.
The two-day event will be held on August 17-18 at the Valdez Hall (at the Fresno Convention Center).
Residing in Las Vegas, Lord Katsuhiko Jinnai has been a special guest of honor and DJ for Ani-Jam since 2007, while his music was originally featured at the very first Ani-Jam back in 2003.
Since 2000, Lord Katsuhiko Jinnai has been performing at anime conventions around the United States, mixing anime songs while incorporating his electronic music talent and DJ artistry. Jinnai has worked with independent artists such as Kristine Sa, Stephanie Yanez, SLY and anime/videogame rapper Maja.
In 2008, Jinnai was also involved in the “Animetoonz 3 – Lemon and Lime” album with singer Kristine Sa and in 2011, he released his latest album “Paranormal”. Jinnai is the host of his own weekly online radio show, “The Jinfluence” on animeradio.net.
Lord Katsuhiko Jinnai joins previously announced Guest of Honors: Music producer Richie Branson, singer Mari Watanabe, anime voice talents Greg Ayres, Cynthia Martinez, Chris Patton and veteran animator/ author, Aimee Major Steinberger (“The Simpsons” and “Futurama”).
More information about Ani-Jam can be found online at http://ani-jam.com or on our Ani-Jam News site at http://ani-jam.tumblr.com.

 

Ani-Jam is Proud to Announce Music Producer Richie Branson as Guest of Honor

Fresno, CA – May 1, 2013 – Ani-Jam, Fresno’s premiere anime convention is proud to announce that music producer Richie Branson will be a Guest of Honor at Ani-Jam 2013 this summer.

The two-day event will be held on August 17-18 at the Valdez Hall (at the Fresno Convention Center).

Hailing from San Antonio, Richie Branson is best known for writing and producing the “Jersey Shore Fist Pump” in 2011 which landed him a worldwide distribution deal with the New York-based record label TuTone Entertainment.
Richie is also known for his involvement in Nerdcore pop music, having released mixtapes like “The Cold Republic (Star Wars Series)”, “Gundam”, “Wing Zero” and the song “Letter to Squaresoft” which became popular among the online gaming community.

Richie Branson also co-produced Demarcus “Bone” Hamilton’s “Homegurl” which stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 Hip Hop/R&B charts for 19 weeks and reached a radio audience of over 9 million people. Richie would go on to do production work with platinum recording artist The Dream, Bun B , Rick Ross and southern natives Chalie Boy and Slim Thug.

Richie Branson joins previously announced Guest of Honors: DJ Lord Katsuhiko Jinnai, singer Mari Watanabe, anime voice talents Greg Ayres, Cynthia Martinez, Chris Patton and veteran animator/author, Aimee Major Steinberger (“The Simpsons” and “Futurama”).
More information about Ani-Jam can be found online at http://ani-jam.com or on our Ani-Jam News site at http://ani-jam.tumblr.com.

 

VIZ MEDIA INVITES FANS TO CATCH AN EXCLUSIVE BERSERK ANIME DOUBLE FEATURE EVENT AT SAN FRANCISCO’S NEW PEOPLE CINEMA ON MAY 11th

Screening Event Includes North American Premiere Of BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC II – THE BATTLE FOR DOLDREY, And All Ticketholders Receive Exclusive Gift Pack

VIZ Media reminds anime fans of the upcoming special double-feature theatrical presentation of BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC I – THE EGG OF THE KING and the exclusive North American premiere of BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC II – THE BATTLE FOR DOLDREY taking place on Saturday, May 11th at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema, located inside the dynamic Japanese pop culture entertainment venue in San Francisco’s Japantown at 1746 Post St. Two double-feature screenings (presented with dubbed English dialogue) are scheduled for 3:00pm and 8:00pm.

VIZ Media also invites Neon Alley members nationwide to catch back-to-back airings of BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC I – THE EGG OF THE KING and BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC II – THE BATTLE FOR DOLDREY taking place the same day at the same times – Saturday, May 11th – at 3:00pm and 8:00pm PST. More details and sign-up information are available at: www.neonalley.com.

Tickets to the NEW PEOPLE Cinema double-feature are $25.00 each and are available online at: http://www.newpeopleworld.com/films/films-5-2013/. A special galley exhibit featuring original BERSERK production art from Studio 4ºC will also be showcased in the theatre lobby. Upon arrival, each ticketholder will also receive an exclusive gift pack that features exclusive BERSERK promotional collectables including a tote bag, fan, beverage koozie, bookmarks, and more.

A variety of other exclusive BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC memorabilia – including collectable figures, a special art book, cell phone charms, and Japanese theatrical pamphlets autographed by Studio 4ºC CEO Eiko Tanaka – will be given away to lucky winners who attend the screenings at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema premiere. Neon Alley viewers will also have a chance to watch and win one of 50 one-of-a-kind pieces of BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC production art available exclusively during the premiere event. Please visit www.facebook.com/neonalleynetwork for more details on the special giveaway items.

BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC I – THE EGG OF THE KING follows lone mercenary Guts as he travels the land where a hundred-year-old war is taking place. His ferocity and ability to take down enemies attracts the attention of Griffith, leader of the mercenary group “The Band of the Hawk,” and Guts is recruited to the unit. Thanks to their continued victories on the battlefield, the bond between Guts and Griffith deepens, but despite all their success, Guts begins to question his reasons for fighting for Griffith’s dream. Unknown to Guts, this unyielding dream is about to bestow a horrible fate on them both.

BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC II – THE BATTLE FOR DOLDREY picks up the story as Guts believed, for three years, that his mission was to pursue Griffith’s dream together with him. But in order to become Griffith’s equal and truly be called his friend, Guts realizes he will have to leave the Band of the Hawk. At the same time, a bloody battle to capture the impenetrable Fortress of Doldrey from the Empire of Chuder is about to begin. The Band of the Hawk will face an army 30,000 strong!
For more information on the BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC film trilogy, please visit the official Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/BerserkFilm.

 

AniplexChannel.com is the New Channel for Fans to Access their Favorite Aniplex Shows in one place

SANTA MONICA, CA (April 25, 2013) – Anime fans will be delighted to hear that Aniplex of America will be launching their own Aniplex Channel starting today at AniplexChannel.com. Fans can now easily access all of their favorite Aniplex of America titles in one place for free. The channel features a convenient interface where users can enjoy high-quality streaming videos powered by HULU, a products page making purchases a breeze, and latest information regarding Aniplex releases and featured events.

 

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