Kari Lane | Geekscape

J-POP SUMMIT 2014: Geekscape Interviews YANAKIKU

by Kari LaneAugust 7, 2014

This was my first year attending the J-POP SUMMIT Festival in San Francisco and it was sugoi (Japanese for awesome)! The event is a celebration of Japanese pop culture, music, fashion, games, art, food and film. This was their 6th year and they broke all previous attendance records with more than 120,000 people attending the two-day festival in Japantown! There was one group in particular that stood out to me, YANAKIKU, and they were also a crowd favorite. I had never heard of them before this event, but now I am a huge fan!

“YANAKIKU” is a female J-Pop duo with a mission to share the wonders of Japan with the world.

Yana on the left and Kiku on the right

They first performed on Saturday afternoon on the Peace Plaza main stage and instantly attracted a large crowd. Fans returned to see them Sunday afternoon on the Japan Discovery Stage. I thoroughly enjoyed both shows. This duo engages the crowd by speaking with them (in English!) and teaching them to dance along with one of their routines. It took a lot of courage to speak in another language and it just made them all the more adorable. “Music is stronger than our differences” stated Kiku before performing their closing song ‘Hello World’ (during which she cried a little).

Singing ‘Hello World’

Their kimono inspired outfits are gorgeous and they even have a fun little costume addition for one song. They developed their own style, kimocos = kimono meets cosplay. Also, they are super genki (“enthusiastic, energetic, lively”)! They had constant energy that was infectious. You just could not help but love them.

Leaping into the air during ‘Ninja Iroha’

I made sure to snag an interview with them and even though they had been doing interviews for two hours prior, they were so friendly and excited. Below is our interview (with translation assistance by their manager, Kaoru Karen Sakurai).

Kari: How was your J-POP experience?

Yana: Exciting! I didn’t know so many people were interested in Japanese culture.

Kiku: We were worried…because no one knows us, but the people sang and danced with us. We felt we were touching each other’s hearts.

Yana

Kari: At your second show, Kiku, you got a little emotional. Daijoubu desu ka (Are you ok)?

Kiku: I was so worried. It was our last show. I saw the most beautiful sight, all smiles! The happiness just came out.”

*Via the translator, I told her I cried a little with her. It was overwhelming to watch her cry a little on stage. It was such a precious moment.*

Kari: How long have you been performing together?

Both: About a year and a half.

Kari: Will you be touring in the future?

Manager: Right after this [J-POP SUMMIT] is Hyper Japan in London, and this will be their second time performing there. They will be performing on the main stage next weekend. After that is Korea, China, then Europe.

Kiku: We want to conquer the world!

Kiku

Kari: When will you have more YouTube videos?

Manager: There are currently three videos on YouTube and there will be more soon.

Kari: Why kimonos?

Kiku: The kimono is very traditional. The younger generation does not want to wear it but we think they are cool. We want to renew the image. Connect the past and future.

Kari: What made you chose wigs?

Yana and Kiku at the same time: We wanted to be twins!

At their booth

“PAKU PAKU KINGYO KINGYO” means Golden Fish in Japanese.

Here is one of their fun videos that captures their quirky style. The song itself starts at :47 after a cute intro. This is their explanation of the lyrics:

In Japan we have this festival game called, “KINGYO SUKUI (golden fish scooping)” that you catch the fish with a shallow paper. The song is about a little crush on a boy and trying to sneak and get his heart like you sneak to catch the golden fish!

They are fantastic live performers and hopefully they will be back soon!

You can purchase their music on iTunes.

Follow them on facebook, twitter, and YouTube.

Check out their website.

Selfie with the audience! You can see me on the left against the stage with the purple scarf

SDCC 2014: Rocky and Bullwinkle Are Back!

by Kari LaneAugust 4, 2014

Rocky and Bullwinkle are back with a brand new short film produced by DreamWorks! The short (Rocky and Bullwinkle) premiered at San Diego Comic-Con to a standing room only panel. The short will be released in October on the Mr. Peabody & Sherman Blu-ray/DVD along with the first episode of the Rocky and Bullwinkle show. The original short brings back the lovable characters fans have known for years and introduces them to the next generation.

People liked the Rocky and Bullwinkle show for the story and the humor, not the animation, explained Gary Trousdale, the film’s director. Trousdale is known for having directed Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Atlantis. The original show’s animation was not that fluid. The new film is computer animated but Leonard Maltin (panel moderator) pointed out that it still looks like a cartoon; it did not try to be real. Trousdale mentioned the artists were used to doing big scale projects so they had to tone it down for Rocky and Bullwinkle.

Someone from the audience asked if it started out as a storyboard or a script and Trousdale said it started at as script. There was a table read and he let the actors play it out. Trousdale went on to say that it was easy to animate from the script because it was so well written. Originally, they were going to have a longer version but they cut it down. Maltin commented on the length of the short saying it, “seems just the right length.”

Some of the voices on the short are soundalikes and they sound “just like the original show” remarked Maltin. June Foray returns as the voice of Rocky. Bullwinkle is voiced by Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants, Adventure Time, CatDog and much more). The film is written by Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon (Night at the Museum and Reno 911!)

Rocky and Bullwinkle originally aired from 1959 to 1964 and there was a live action movie that came out in 2000. The movie was not well received, but Tiffany Ward (daughter of Jay Ward-creator of Rocky and Bullwinkle) felt it was “true in spirit” to the show and she liked it. Needless to say it has been some time since there was a new Rocky and Bullwinkle story which is actually joked about in the beginning of the short. The short itself is fun, playful and very true to the feel of the original show. Except for the fact that it is computer animated, it feels like nothing has changed. For fans of Rocky and Bullwinkle, you will want to check this out and hopefully new fans will discover this lovable and quirky duo!

SDCC 2014: There Is Going To Be A ‘Goosebumps’ Movie!

by Kari LaneJuly 30, 2014

One of the panels I made sure to attend at Comic-Con was Sony Pictures Entertainment, simply because they were going to talk about the new Goosebumps movie. What?! A Goosebumps movie! I am so there! I have read almost every book in the series, loved them, and still have my original copies.

Goosebumps, if you are not aware, is a highly successful (over 400 million books sold worldwide) children’s book series by R.L. Stine that were published in the 90s. The stories feature young protagonists who encounter scary monsters/creatures/situations then have to use their wits and imagination to conquer their fears or overcome evil. The stories often feature a twist ending so you could say they are Twilight Zone horror stories for kids.

There was a television series based on the books that came out in the mid 90s that did pretty well, but personally, I did not care for it. Though the books have humor, I felt the series was cheesy but not in a good way. At first I was a little skeptical of the idea of a film, but after the panel, I am looking forward to watching it!

The panel started with a video introduction by R.L. Stine himself! Instead of the film being based on one particular book in the series, it focuses on the life of R.L. Stine (in a fictional way). The plot of the film, as explained by Rob Letterman, the film’s director, is “What if all of R.L. Stine’s creatures got loose?” Who could possibly play the part of the famous writer? Well, it is going to be none other than Jack Black.

A cartoon version of R.L. Stine with some of his monsters

They actually just finished filming two days before the panel and were able to show us a teaser trailer for the film (with only super basic FX). It looked really cool! It had action, humor, creepiness and the quality looked good. Following the trailer, Jack Black and Rob Letterman answered questions from the audience. Based on the questions, fans of Goosebumps are VERY attached to the series. One kid asked Jack Black if he has read all of the books in the series to which he replied that he had “read quite a few but not all.” Then Black joked that there are a lot of books in the series and to give him some time to finish them all. Black also commented on how he enjoys the series because as an adult they are a quick read.

Jack Black talking about the film

Will this be a movie for kids? How scary did they make it? They did not “want to undercut the scares, so there will be some real tension and some humor”, said Letterman. Both Letterman and Black commented on how they have kids of their own and they wanted to make the film for kids and adults alike.

Reacting to a giant monster

Which stories will be represented in the film? Letterman said that they “…figured out the ones that were appropriate for the story they were telling.” Black and Letterman somewhat hinted at which monsters will be in the movie but they wanted to leave it a surprise. One person asked how many monsters are in film and it was funny that they could not recall exactly how many. Speaking of the monsters, some will be pure CGI, some are all makeup/practical FX and some are a hybrid of both.

A funny moment in the teaser trailer where the monsters where told it was over and to go away

Letterman and Black both said Night of the Living Dummy was their favorite in the series and, at the end of the panel, Slappy himself came out on stage! It looks like Slappy is going to be a major villain in the film and apparently he is like R.L. Stine’s alter ego. Slappy took over the panel by ushering in a bunch of monsters that dragged Jack Black away. It was a fitting ending for such a panel.

Jack Black talking to Slappy

Right before Jack Black was taken away by the monsters! There were so many of them that they covered the stage!

Beware of Slappy!

Goosebumps the film is scheduled to come out August 5th, 2015, and I know I will be checking it out!

J-POP SUMMIT Fashion Programming

by Kari LaneJuly 18, 2014

The fashion of J-pop is almost as important as the music and, as such, there will be plenty of kawaii (cute) and sugoi (cool) booths and programming at J-POP SUMMIT this weekend in San Francisco!

Fashion Programming

Festival-goers and fashionistas will not want to miss the return of a variety of “KAWAii!!” themed fashion shows,contests and live performances showcasing edgy new sides of Japanese pop style along with autograph and meet-and-greet opportunities with several of the J-Pop fashion world’s fastest rising stars.

This year’s KAWAii!! events are supported by Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco and presented as the first collaboration with MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON, a new initiative developed by ASOBISYSTEM, a prominent entertainment company based in Harajuku, Tokyo, to promote a wider range of Japanese pop culture on an even bigger, more global level.

Fashion Programming highlights appearances by several of Harajuku’s iconic models and designers including Ayumi Seto, Misa Kimura, Una and Akira. Several of these models will join others from Bay Area to showcase a colorful debut summer collection from Ayumi Seto’s fashion line, “Aymmy in the batty girls.” Many of the same outfits featured in the show will be available to purchase at KAWAii!! Pop-Up Store located inside the NEW PEOPLE building.

The action carries over the Pagoda Main Stage in Peace Plaza where fans are invited to catch solo live sets from Akira, a popular model and singer, as well as Una is a charismatic plenty of danceable groove to J-POP SUMMIT for special concert performances not to be missed!

More fashion programming information at: http://www.j-pop.com/2014/harajuku-kawaii.

Ayumi Seto

Misa Kimura

Una

Akira

J-POP SUMMIT Music Line-up

by Kari LaneJuly 18, 2014

Music is what J-POP SUMMIT is all about! Come out to Japantown for the free event and check out some exciting Japanese pop and rock acts!

Live Music

J-POP SUMMIT attendees are invited to catch some of the hottest Japanese pop and rock acts in a series of FREE afternoon concert sets on the Pagoda Main Stage in Japantown’s Peace Plaza as well as at a special FREE open-air live concert, “J-POP LIVE AT UNION SQUARE,” in city’s downtown Union Square on the evening of Saturday, July 19^th beginning at 6:30pm.

Music headliners scheduled to perform this year include the U.S. concert debut of famed pop music superstar Tomomi Itano, as well as the popular idol group Tokyo Girls’ Style, which also makes its first-ever U.S. appearance at J-POP SUMMIT. Others set to perform include the amazing beat box vocal skills of DAICHI, a special musical performance by Harajuku fashion model/singer Una, Japanese pop singer Kylee, the U.S. debut of the kimono cosplay idol duo YANAKIKU, and the hard rocking sounds of J-rock bands Pinky Doodle Poodle, and the all-girl punk rock trio, The Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass.

Full details on the J-POP LIVE AT UNION SQUARE concert are available at:

http://www.j-pop.com/2014/j-pop-live-at-union-square.

Also catch May’n at Slims for a special solo show on Sunday as the closing event of the Festival, on Sunday, July 20^th. Details at: http://www.j-pop.com/2014/mayn-at-slims.

Tomomi Itano

Tokyo Girls’ Style

DAICHI

Una

Pinky Doodle Poodle

The Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass

J-POP SUMMIT Guests Of Honor

by Kari LaneJuly 18, 2014

Check out the stellar guests of honor line-up for J-POP SUMMIT!

Guests of Honor

The J-POP SUMMIT is proud to welcome several special Guests of Honor for 2014 including pop stars Tomomi Itano (former AKB48), Tokyo Girls’ Style, and May’n, Harajuku fashion models/designers Ayumi Seto, Una, Misa Kimura and Akira, the amazing beat boxer DAICHI, along with artist KEI, who created the iconic character design for the world’s first virtual pop singer Hatsune Miku. The J-POP SUMMIT also joins with the 2014 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco to present Japanese actor Yûki Furukawa (“Mischievous Kiss: Love in Tokyo”) and film director Mitsutoshi Tanaka (“Ask This of Rikyu”) as special Guests of Honor.

Fans and attendees can look forward to appearances by all of the Guests of Honor across a variety of events throughout the weekend. Additionally, several will participate in special meet & greet opportunities as well as audience Q&As, exclusive signings and photograph opportunities.

More information at: http://www.j-pop.com/2014/category/guests.

Tomomi Itano

Tokyo Girls’ Style

May’n

Ayumi Seto

Una

DAICHI

KEI (creator of Hatsune Miku)

Mitsutoshi Tanaka

Food And Sake At J-POP SUMMIT

by Kari LaneJuly 18, 2014

While getting your fill of J-pop music at J-POP SUMMIT, you can also fill your tummy with tasty Japanese food and beverages! I am definitely excited about this because I love Japanese food and sake. Yum!

POP Gourmet Food, RAMEN STREET & Sake Tasting Attractions

The POP GOURMET Food Festival returns for its second consecutive year to present new expanded attractions including Sake Tasting, RAMEN Street, and a Japanese Beverage and Bites & Snacks Area, along with an array of the Bay Area’s most unique mobile eateries and food trucks.

RAMEN Street is a brand new attraction presented for the very first time at J-POP SUMMIT and will give attendees an appetizing look at Japan’s favorite food. RAMEN Street is organized and co-presented in cooperation with the Ramen Yokocho Association.

Those of legal age are also invited to sample an assortment of some of the world’s preeminent sake brands in a special Sake Tasting Area. Festival sponsor Takara Sake USA will offer a variety of sake and anchor a prominent “J POP” booth in Beverage Area promote its popular sparkling cocktail Takara Can Chu-hi “J POP” as well as present Takara’s Official “J POP” Ambassador, the amazing 23-year-old Japanese human beat-box, DAICHI, in a series of special in-booth performances.

More information at: http://www.j-pop.com/2014/pop-gourmet.

J-POP SUMMIT And Japan Film Festival In SF This Weekend!

by Kari LaneJuly 18, 2014

J-POP SUMMIT is happening in conjunction with the opening weekend of the 2014 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco. The film festival opens Saturday, July 19th and runs through Sunday, July 27th with screenings taking place at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema (located at 1746 Post St.). Read on to learn about some of the awesome films screening this weekend!

J-POP SUMMIT Festival film premieres include the inspiring anime omnibus SHORT PEACE, and J-POP Splash! 2014, a music video collection presented by the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco, featuring the hottest J-Pop artists, along with TOKYO SHORT SHORTS: A New Generation Of 5 Short Films which takes place in Tokyo and other parts of Japan and was directed by a innovative new generation of young filmmakers.

J-Pop fans and film-goers will also not want to miss the very special U.S. theatrical premiere of COUNT FIVE TO DREAM OF YOU and KOTODAMA: SPIRITUAL CURSE. Both films star the members of Tokyo Girls’ Style in leading roles. The group will host a special audience Q&A immediately following the film screenings.

Also don’t miss special in-person appearances by JFFSF Guests of Honor actor Yuki Furukawa, who will help mark the U.S. theatrical premiere of his new short film, “wo ai ni” in TOKYO, and director Mitsutoshi Tanaka who appears to celebrate the Bay Area premiere of his newest work, Ask This of Rikyu. Both films will screen at NEW PEOPLE Cinema during J-POP SUMMIT.

Tickets and additional information at: www.JFFSF.org.

TOKYO SHORT SHORTS: A New Generation Of 5 Short Films

COUNT FIVE TO DREAM OF YOU

KOTODAMA: SPIRITUAL CURSE

Ask This of Rikyu

Kari’s Anime Corner: First Impressions of ‘Kill la Kill’

by Kari LaneJuly 18, 2014

One of the popular cosplays at Anime Expo this year was Ryuko Matoi of Kill la Kill. There was a special panel/screening at the convention as well. Many of my friends have been fans of the show for quite some time and I finally decided to check it out. Let me just say, it is not my cup of tea.

Kill la Kill is about a girl, Ryuko, who shows up at Honnouji Academy looking for her father’s murderer. The only clue she has is a giant half scissor. This school and town are insane. Satsuki Kiryuin (otherwise known as Lady Satsuki) is the student council president who runs the school and town with absolute control. Students live in neighborhoods based on their academic status. Then there is extreme violence that is not only tolerated, but is expected. Is Ryuko’s father’s murderer at the school? What is Lady Satsuki hiding?

Another strange part of this show are the outfits. Early on, Ryuko learns some of the students have uniforms that are like super suits. She tries to fight a student who has on one such uniform and is pummeled. After retreating, she comes across a mysterious and violently animated sailor uniform which also happens to be a super suit. Where did it come from? How does it work? Why does it have to be so naked?! The show does a good job of being self aware by having Ryuko question the size/look of the outfit. She is obviously uncomfortable about the lack of coverage. Remember I said this was a popular cosplay? Yep. There were many ladies and even some guys wearing Ryuko’s outfit (or even some Lady Satsuki’s outfit). The show is packed with fan service. Even the opening sequence has boobs flopping around for no real reason. Other characters are aware of the indecent exposure and the writing is pretty funny with everyone’s commentary.

My main complaint with the show is the style of animation. I personally think it is ugly with its sketchy lines and jerky movement. Though the stills seem to look surprisingly good. The show is produced by Trigger (this is their first original TV program) and I thoroughly enjoyed their previous project, Little Witch Academia (short film). I am biased because I tend to prefer the more pretty Shoujo style art. The more saturated colors and cleaner lines are more pleasing to watch.

The show is written and directed by the same team that did Gurren Laggan, which is an excellent series. Though the art is somewhat similar, I feel Kill la Kill is just not as engaging as Gurren Laggan. After 4 episodes of Kill la Kill, I am far from hooked but I might continue to see what all the fuss is about. There are many hints at deeper storylines within the first few episodes but not enough concrete substance for me to care about the characters, who seem very one dimensional at this point.

I cannot deny it is a popular show and the people who like it do LOVE it, but so far I am not won over yet. If the animation does not bother you and you like fighting shows, then you might want to check out Kill la Kill.

Anime Expo 2014: ‘Sailor Moon’ Day!

by Kari LaneJuly 16, 2014

You might have noticed our many Sailor Moon posts because, well, there is lots of exciting Sailor Moon news lately! At Anime Expo, they even had a Sailor Moon Day organized and hosted by VIZ Media! This special day took place on the Saturday of the convention and included an official Sailor Moon panel (where they screened the new Sailor Moon Crystal episode), a photo op with the new English voice cast as well as autograph opportunities, a scavenger hunt to get a collectable coin, and a cosplay gathering (which had at least 319 Sailor Moon cosplayers!).

Many fans of Sailor Moon grew up on the show in the early to mid 90s and were thrilled to take part in this special day. I too, was thrilled about the event and dressed up in a casual Sailor Mars cosplay. Sailor Moon was one of the first shows that introduced me to anime as is case for countless others.

The gathering generated a strong feel of nostalgia for everyone who showed up. We sang the theme song together in English and in Japanese with gusto! Each group of scouts stood up to say their own transformation catch phrase (ex. Moon prism power… make up!) and every cosplay was recognized. There was a sense of solidarity that made the whole experience wonderful beyond what I could have expected.

Photo by Cospix.net

Check out this coverage of the event by Things To Do In LA. It has our singing and Sailor Moon’s catch phrase.

Following the gathering, there was another Sailor Moon photo op organized by cosplayers (see photos below).

Overall, it was a fantastic day for Sailor Moon fans new and old!

Sailor Mars

Sailor Uranus getting the Sailor Jupiters ready with the photographers and fans looking on

All the Sailor Moon Cosplayers – Photo by Kazu

Tuxedo Mask – Photo by Kazu

Silly face! – Photo by Kazu

Anime Expo 2014: FAKKU Interview Mature Content

by Kari LaneJuly 10, 2014

******WARNING***** Adult content discussed below!

A few years ago, Anime Expo added adult (18+) panels to their line up. These were well received with people lining up over an hour in advance and rooms filling to capacity. ‘Hentai Worth Watching’ hosted by FAKKU, was one of the first adult panels and has been back every year since. Obviously people are curious to know which hentai IS worth watching. During Anime Expo 2014, I interviewed Mike Ingraham, Project Director at FAKKU. Read on to learn more!

So for those who may not know, what is FAKKU?

M– FAKKU is the largest English speaking hentai website in the world and we just recently became publishers. We will be printing English uncensored copies of WANI Magazine’s ero manga. FAKKU has grown into so much more than just a hentai website as well. We have a great community and it is always so much fun coming to Anime Expo and meeting all these friendly faces in person.

How would you describe hentai?

M– Funny thing, hentai actually means perverted/creepy person, deviate, etc. in Japanese. It’s actually a rather harsh term! To the Western community, however, it has become the term we use for all adult material with the Japanese anime style. Manga, doujinshi, anime, anything adult themed could be referred to as hentai. What I love about hentai is that the possibilities are endless. You could have the sweetest love story or the funniest, most ridiculous scenario ever imagined.

How did FAKKU get started?

M– It started with Jacob wanting to start a doujinshi site because at the time they were all less than credible pay sites. He made the website in college and had it sitting for a while until he came across the word “fakku” which is slang Japanese for… well I’m sure you can guess! He then decided to put it on the web in 2007 and it has been growing since. I joined FAKKU a couple years later as a moderator on the forums and I have been going to cons and doing panels with him ever since!

Mike Ingraham, Momoka cosplayer and Jacob Grady

How many years has FAKKU had a panel at conventions and about how many conventions have you attended?

M– Wow, how long has it been? Haha. I think our first panel was at Anime Boston in 2009. Since then we have been doing them all over the United States and even Otakuthon in Montreal. As for conventions I’ve attended, I think I’ve only been an “attendee” at two conventions, but working booths and doing panels… that’s a whole different story! It must be pushing 50+ by now…

How many years has FAKKU had a booth at Anime Expo?

M– I believe this is the 3rd or 4th year that we have had a booth at Anime Expo.

How was Anime Expo for FAKKU this year?

M– Absolutely unbelievable. I had so much fun meeting with all sorts of people, new fans and old ones. We had great reception about our deal with WANI Magazine and it’s just the kind of encouragement that I needed. To know that the community is happy for us and completely supporting us makes the job worth it. I’ve been a fan of hentai for a long time and to know that my peers are excited and looking forward to our releases is the best feeling. The panels are always fun and to get people laughing and asking us questions is why we do it!

Can you please give a brief description about the panel(s) you hosted at Anime Expo?

M– We had 3 panels this year, our first was ‘Manga and Doujinshi’. We talked about what ero manga and doujinshi were, the process, and our new deal with WANI Magazine. ‘Hentai Worth Watching’ is us showing a few of our favorite hentai anime titles, new and old, and giving some commentary of our own about them. This is a fan favorite, as well as a personal favorite of ours. Our last panel was the FAKKU Q&A. Fans line up to ask us questions about anything! This one can usually get a little personal but it’s all in good fun!

Jacob and Mike hosting ‘Hentai Worth Watching’ at Anime Expo 2012 – Bicycle Fairy

Congratulations on getting a bigger room this year for your panel! It seems there is quite a demand to attend your panel. Any comments?

M– Why do so many people want to see us!? We’re just a couple of blokes talking about hentai! Haha. But on a serious note, it’s great that so many people want to come see us but I heard that there were still hundreds of people that weren’t able to make it in because we hit maximum capacity. Hopefully next year we can get an even bigger room and not let anybody down!

What is it like talking to a room of hundreds of people about hentai?

M– You would think it would be strange or awkward but it’s so much fun! That’s what I love about what FAKKU has become, it’s more of a community of people with similar interests and Japanese anime pornography just happens to be one of them. I don’t get nervous or anxious because we’re all just friends hanging out and having a good time. We joke, laugh, share our thoughts, our favorite hentai or anime or manga, our waifus and husbandos, and anything else that comes to mind.

How do you choose the material you talk about in your panels?

M– Like I said earlier, we are just huge fans at our core. All of the stuff that we choose are things that we like or have seen that has made an impact on us as fans. Things that we want to share with everyone and think fans similar to us would enjoy.

Congrats on becoming publishers! Could you please tell our readers a little about FAKKU’s new chapter?

M– Thank you! We are very excited to announce FAKKU Books! Recently FAKKU has made a deal with WANI Magazine, one of Japan’s top ero manga publishers. We have the rights to release their work in English and completely uncensored! I have been a huge fan of WANI Magazine for a very long time, so this deal is still so unreal to me. They have worked with over 300 artists and chances are there is a favorite among them for everyone! Our first releases will be “Renai Sample” by Homunculus, “PuniKano” by Pyon-Kti, and “TiTiKei” by Ishikei.

Anything else you would like to share about your company?

M– I just want to say I’m so happy that I can work with FAKKU and bring porn to all the good people of the world. FAKKU Books is only the beginning and we hope to do even more amazing things in the future. Keep an eye out for our new releases and I can’t wait to see everyone again at Anime Expo 2015!

Momoka by Cross_Over

Kari’s Anime Corner: ‘Dragon Ball Z: Battle Of Gods’

by Kari LaneJuly 8, 2014

It is hard to believe that it has been 17 years since release of the last Dragon Ball feature film! If you had cable in the early to mid 90s you probably have seen some Dragon Ball/Dragon Ball Z or at least heard the phrase “Next time on Dragon Ball Z!” Fans can rejoice because this new film, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, is an original work by Dragon Ball creator, Akira Toriyama!

Following the events from the internationally renowned animated television series, Dragon Ball Z, after the defeat of Majin Buu, a new power awakens and threatens humanity. Beerus, an ancient and powerful God of Destruction, searches for Goku after hearing rumors of the Saiyan warrior who defeated Frieza. Realizing the threat Beerus poses to their home planet, the Z-fighters must find a way to stop him before it’s too late.

The film is super funny and, as one would expect, it has some awesome action scenes! They did an excellent job of making a film that anyone can enjoy regardless of how much of the TV show/films one has seen. There are inside jokes for those who know the series well but many of those jokes are explained without being bothersome to the veteran viewers. I only watched some of the show as a kid but I never felt lost while watching the film. It was nice to see old characters again and the film did a good job of capturing the feel of the TV show. The animation is sharp with vivid colors while still retaining the look of the original material.

I was able to speak with Kyle Hebert (best known as the English DBZ narrator) and asked him about his experience working on the new film.

It’s been amazing to get to return to characters I first voiced well over a decade ago, with brand new adventures. Dragon Ball is where my career began so it will always be special to me.

If you are looking for an anime with lots of action and humor or if you have ever seen any Dragon Ball/Dragon Ball Z, then you will definitely want to check out Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods!

Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods hits theaters nationwide on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2014. For more details about the US theatrical release, visit www.dragonballz.com

E3 2014: Geekscape Previews ‘BattleCry’

by Kari LaneJune 17, 2014

Bethesda previewed, BattleCry, their new free-to-play multi-player combat game at E3 and it looks bloody awesome! BattleCry will be a mix of melee and ranged fighting and will be a 32 player online game. It is going to be fast and fun where different kinds of players can jump in at any time.

BattleCry is set in an alternate history where there is no gunpowder. Instead of going to war, countries send warriors to specific “war zones” to fight out there differences. The game developers wanted a very stylized world and were inspired by graphic novels. There is a wonderful contrast between the beauty of the environment and the brutality of the fighting. The world is also somewhat surreal to reflect the state your character is in – constantly on the verge of death.

Right now there are two warrior factions: The Royal Marines (British) and the Cossacks. There are three warrior classes within each faction: Enforcer (brute strength), Duelist (speedy and sneaky), and the Tech Archer (can play a cat and mouse game). By the launch in 2015, there will be two additional warrior classes. There are currently two supporting warrior classes as well: the Gadgeteer and the Brawler. Each class has a special ability and you can use adrenaline (which costs energy) to be essentially super human for a short period of time.

There are many customizations for your character too. You can earn iron (currency) to alter your appearance and you will keep your character for each battle (no starting over every time). Eventually, you will be able to unlock both genders for all characters.

This game features an intimate 3rd person camera and you are able to move around slowly or go rather quickly. After the game ends, you can salute people who you felt played well. You get rewarded for saluting your opponents and they get recognition – it’s a win win situation.

If you are looking for a cool looking fast-paced game, then you will want to check out BattleCry!

E3 2014: ‘Skylanders Trap Team’ Let’s You Capture Enemies!

by Kari LaneJune 16, 2014

Skylanders Trap Team is the newest Skylander game and, don’t worry, your old figures are compatible with the new game. The new game comes with a portal (it lights up!), two figures and two crystals. There are other figures and crystals sold separately.

The cool thing with this new game is that you can capture enemy characters, put them into the crystals (that fit into the portal), and use them to fight for you! There are over 50 new Skylanders and 40 playable enemies. In this new game, you can tag team with the enemy characters and use their techniques to your advantage. For example: with Chill Bill, you can freeze something then switch back to smash it or with Broccoli Guy you can leave healthy food and you can heal yourself when you switch back.

Not only does the portal light up, but the crystal traps do too! The crystals are placed into the portal in a section that looks like a dungeon. There is a speaker in there and the villians talk to you while imprisoned. They will let you know if they are ready or not ready (you can only use them for a certain amount of time), they can drop hints on what you are supposed to do and they can congratulate you when you do well.

This looks like a fun game that kids and adults can enjoy! Having actual figures outside the game that are playable is a super cool feature of this game. Make sure to check it out.

E3 2014: ‘Alien: Isolation’ Sends Shivers Down Your Spine

by Kari LaneJune 16, 2014

In Alien: Isolation, you get to play as Amanda Ripley, Ellen Ripley’s daughter. You start at an unmanned space station, not sure what has happened, and the reason behind the chaos is revealed as you play.

An interesting fact: The technology in the game is the same as the technology in the original Alien film. The game is based on the world of Alien the movie and has the same suspense horror vibe.

In this survival game, your means of surviving are run, hide or fight – weapons/technology are not always reliable. One neat device you have is a motion detector but it is not always accurate. However, it is useful because you can scan the area ahead and get an idea if it is clear. During the game demonstration, Amanda would hide in a locker or a cabinet and have to wait for the threat to leave. You can even “hold your breath” in the game as the alien approaches your hiding spot. I really like this realistic approach to game play. There are many times when you want a character in a movie to just run and hide because you know their flimsy weapon will be no match, and now you can do that in this heart pounding game. Just watching the demo, it made you uncomfortable because it felt like you were actually there. It definitely is a thriller!

Discover the true meaning of fear in Alien: Isolation, a survival horror set in an atmosphere of constant dread and mortal danger. Fifteen years after the events of Alien, Ellen Ripley’s daughter, Amanda enters a desperate battle for survival, on a mission to unravel the truth behind her mother’s disappearance. As Amanda, you will navigate through an increasingly volatile world as you find yourself confronted on all sides by a panicked, desperate population and an unpredictable, ruthless Alien. Underpowered and underprepared, you must scavenge resources, improvise solutions and use your wits, not just to succeed in your mission, but to simply stay alive.

The game’s release date is set for October 7th.

E3 2014: Geekscape Previews ‘Bloodborne’

by Kari LaneJune 15, 2014

We got to take a look at Bloodborne, the newest and coolest action RPG game from director Hidetaka Miyazaki (Dark Souls and Demon’s Souls), and it looks fantastic! Bloodborne was developed by FromSoftware and is a new story, not a sequel to Demon’s Souls. Though it is a similar 3rd person RPG, everything else is “very original to this brand new title” (Miyazaki).

At E3, Miyazaki lead a presentation highlighting the game followed by a game play demo. One of the major themes of Bloodborne is the exploration of the unknown in a broad sense. They want players to explore and learn more about the world of the game. You will “venture into a deeply-layered universe laden with mystery cradled by a fresh game concept” (according to the presentation).

This game will feature truly perilous combat where each battle will feel like it is for your life!

They made the enemies something to be truly feared. When you “face an enemy [you are] facing death” (Miyazaki). The euphoria of victory will be worth it after experiencing the “terror of spine tingling battles”(Miyazaki). Now, of course you will need to be equipped with weapons to face these horrific creatures head on. There will be trick weapons and firearms. During the demo, they stated that the game will have a unique online concept but they could not go into further detail.

The game play is a work in progress, but they are past the alpha stage. Miyazaki mentioned there might be flaws in the demo and to “please be gentle”; which got a few chuckles in the room. So, if you caught the clip going around online of someone who snuck footage of the game play, that is not the final version of the game.

The story takes place in the fictional city of Yharnam around the 19th century. The Victorian architecture is gorgeous! The look was inspired by Victorian gothic, with gas lamps, fog, well worn cobblestone streets and an overall sense of a cold dark wet place. There is a curse, illness or plague that has transformed people into terrible beasts.

The night starts off with a beast hunt but things are not as they appear. Your weapon is a transforming saw that can extend its reach for a powerful attack or you can use it as is. Also, you can transform it mid way through an attack. Weapons can be used in a variety of ways and it is up to the player as to how they want to use them.

Players will be challenged to think on their toes because enemies will not be placed statically; they will move around. This was demonstrated when the bell tolled and the mob that was gathered in the courtyard dispersed into the city.

– Guns will not be useful for sniping but rather they are more effective at close range, like a shotgun.

– You can team up with another hunter (NPC). If you help them, they can come to your aid.

– The map is extensive and complex but you will be able to unlock shortcuts.

Following the game play demo there was a Q&A.

Though there is a horse in one of the trailers there is no mount in the game at this time.

Is there an easy setting? No. Even Miyazaki himself said he is not a master of action games but he does not want people to give up. He enjoys overcoming the challenge and he wants the same for you.

Miyazaki did not want to name the influences for the game because he felt it would give away hints of what is to come in Bloodborne. However, once the game ships he said he would say more.

How will death work in the game? They are still fine tuning the weight of the “death penalty”. They do not want it to be more stress on the player or be what stops a player from playing the game. Miyazaki explained that even though you die, you want to get back and challenge it, which is a delicate balance.

Will there be safe zones? Yes! “We will have a safe zone so you can have your zen moment” (Miyazaki).

Will stamina be a factor? Yes.

Hope you enjoyed our in-depth look at Bloodborne. This game looks stunning and definitely looks like a thrilling game to play!

E3 2014: Geekscape Previews ‘The Order: 1886’

by Kari LaneJune 12, 2014

We showed you the E3 trailer for The Order: 1886 and now I’m going to give you some more insight into this excellent game!

I attended a demo at the Playstation booth that showed off the title at a slowed down pace to really highlight the immense detail. For example, the character walked through one room that had some bookshelves with numerous different objects, such that no shelves looked the same. There is so much put into this game that even during the demo, the player, Dana Jan, noticed a clock he had never seen before. For visual reference, they looked at actual hospitals from the Victorian era. Nathan Phail-Liff, Art Director for the game, commented that is was lots of fun to research and they used that knowledge to create a beautifully detailed world.

The game has its own physics engine so that objects that should move, can and will move. This point was made as Jan bumped into a medical skeleton. It definitely gives the game environment a sense of realism because the environment is not just static. When the character talks on the communicator, you can see his face and it is rather impressive. The character models have a very high resolution which adds to the overall cinematic quality.

The choreographed pace changes to give you a sense of what you should be doing. When everything slows down, it creates suspense and keeps you on your toes. This is a game where you do not want to zone out. Everything is in real time. There are seamless transitions from game play to QTE (quick time event) to cinematics. There is no change in lighting and the black bars (at the top and bottom of the screen) are present the whole time you are playing. Since it is real time, you get to see the full image – no compression. Also, the black bars are not covering up any of the image, but rather the image has been made to fit the whole area between the bars. Now, there are some limits to the controls on some parts to help shift focus. Controls are also affected if you get hurt; if you are hurt you move slower. Additionally, there is a substance you can ingest, Black Water, that can slow down important moments.

There are ammo pick ups in game but you do not have unlimited resources. You can blind fire and shoot in any general direction without the guide sight on screen if you want.

The lycans are basically bosses but you do not just fight one and leave. It will be a “ride where you are being hunted/stalked” (Jan).

Why the 19th century? Phail-Leff said it was an interesting time because it was on the edge of the industrial revolution. It was a time where science was advancing but there was still an air of mystery and you can imagine strange things happening in that sort of time. Also, it is a time that is still similar enough to our own such that you can relate.

You will play as Galahad throughout the game. Jan and Phail-Liff mentioned how they have been excited to hear that people want to play the supporting characters which may incorporated in the future but not at this time.

This game looks gorgeous, it feels suspenseful and the concept is intriguing! This is one you will want to check out.

Check Out ‘Gam3rs’ At The Hollywood Fringe Festival!

by Kari LaneJune 9, 2014

This is definitely a week to get your geek on! Tomorrow through Thursday is E3 and this weekend you can catch Gam3rs the play at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. I have seen the show a couple times and I love it!

Gam3rs a hilarious one man show about a guy stuck at his call center job, while he tries to lead an epic raid and is constantly interrupted by his coworker, boss and girlfriend; each conveyed entirely by his reactions (it is a one man show after all). Gam3rs is packed to capacity with nerd and geek pop culture references so everyone (especially readers of Geekscape) can relate to some part of it. Also, the show is still very amusing, even if you have never played a role playing game: we’ve all had that boss, that phone call with mom, or that conversation with a significant other that made the day that much more frustrating.

It is possible that this might be the last time that Brian Archer performs the role he created so make sure you check it out!

You can purchase tickets here.

Showtimes are:

Friday, June 13th at 7pm

Saturday, June 14th at 2pm

Sunday, June 15th at 7pm

The J-Pop Summit Line-Up Has Been Announced!

by Kari LaneJune 9, 2014

The line-up for 2014 J-Pop Summit Festival has been announced and it is an impressive one! The theme this year is “POP Is Our Tradition” and this year’s festivities will be highlighted by the appearance of a unique array of top Japanese pop, rock and Kawaii acts.

The J-Pop Summit Festival will be held in San Francisco’s Japantown district on Saturday, July 19th and Sunday, July 20th. The event is FREE to attend (though there are some activities that will require an admission fee)! There will be concert sets by some of Japan’s hottest pop and rock acts that will take place throughout both days on the Pagoda Main Stage in Japantown’s Peace Plaza, as well as at a special open-air live concert, “J-POP LIVE AT UNION SQUARE,” in the city’s downtown Union Square on the evening of Saturday, July 19th.

Check out the line-up info below!

Headliners scheduled to perform this year include pop/rock/anime singer May’n, the popular idol group Tokyo Girls’ Style, which makes its first-ever U.S. appearance at J-POP SUMMIT, the return of the amazing beat box vocal skills of DAICHI, a special musical performance by Harajuku fashion model/singer Una, the U.S. debut of the kimono cosplay duo YANAKIKU, and the hard rocking sounds of J-rock bands Pinky Doodle Poodle, and the all-girl punk rock trio, The Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass. Details and specific set times will be posted on the official 2014 J-POP SUMMIT Festival website at: www.J-POP.com.

2014 J-POP SUMMIT Festival Music Artists:

May’n – Special Appearance AT UNION SQUARE ON Saturday, JULY 19^th & Headline Show at SLIM’S S.F. ON Sunday, JULY 20^th

Japanese pop/rock/anime star May’n (pronounced “Main”) is known as the singing voice of Diva of the Galaxy Sheryl Nome from the blockbuster anime film, Macross Frontier, as well as many other popular anime series. Her powerful rock and pop vocal style has drawn critical acclaim and legions of fans. In addition to a very special appearance at J-POP LIVE AT UNION SQUARE, the 2014 J-POP SUMMIT Festival proudly presents a May’n Special Live Concert at the famous SF live venue, Slim’s (333 11^th St., San Francisco, CA 94103) on Sunday, July 20^th,at 8:00pm. Advance tickets are available along with special VIP show packages that include an exclusive artist meet-and-greet. (Quantities are limited) More details on the Slim’s show are available at: http://www.j-pop.com/2014/mayn-live-concert-at-slims.

Tokyo Girls’ Style – Two live shows On July 19^th & July 20^Th

Tokyo Girls’ Style is a massively popular Japanese teen idol vocal group and will make their U.S. debut at J-POP SUMMIT this year. The group will perform at J-POP LIVE AT UNION SQUARE on Saturday, July 19^th, and also on the Pagoda Main Stage in Japantown on Sunday, July 20^th. Tokyo Girls’ Style consists of 5 teenage girls whose funk and disco sounds infused with glossy urban appeal have garnered the group a massive following in Japan. Additional info is available at: http://www.j-pop.com/2014/tokyo-girls-style.

As part of the U.S. debut of Tokyo Girls’ Style, the J-POP SUMMIT Festival and the 2014 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco (JFFSF) will also present the U.S. theatrical premiere of Count Five to Dream of You, an inspiring feature film starring Tokyo Girls’ Style set in all-girls high school that captures the short-lived and unforgettable moments of adolescence. Also set to premiere is Kotodama – Spiritual Curse, a J-horror movie about a haunted school based on the bestselling book “Gakkou no Kwaidan,” in which members of Tokyo Girls’ Style play the leading roles. Both films will screen at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema following the group’s special appearance. Advance ticket sales start on June 3^rd at the JFFSF website at: www.JFFSF.org.

Daichi – Two live shows On Saturday & Sunday July 19^th & July 20^Th

The 23-year-old Japanese human beat-box, DAICHI, taught himself his amazing vocal skill beginning at the young age of 10. Without using any instruments or machines, DAICHI can create more than 50 different sounds using only his voice, and moreover, can play rhythm beat and sing melody simultaneously. DAICHI is known internationally for his talents and he has opened for the likes of Boys II Men and collaborated with numerous singers, dancers, DJs and performers. DAICHI will perform at J-POP LIVE AT UNION SQUARE on Saturday, July 19^th, and also on the Pagoda Main Stage in Japantown on Sunday, July 20^th. Additional info is available at: http://www.j-pop.com/2014/daichi.

UNA – Two live shows On Saturday & Sunday, July 19^th & July 20^Th

Una was formally a charismatic shop assistant in Harajuku and began her modeling career in 2010. It didn’t take her long to begin appearing regularly in numerous fashion magazines. With her beautiful looks and edgy fashion style Una represents a new type of model capable of expressing not only Kawaii style but also showcasing other cool aspects of Harajuku culture. Una also has a budding singing career and has performed with top artists including Katy Perry and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. She will appear at J-POP SUMMIT in support of her newest single, “BOOM BOOM BOOM,” and will participate in this year’s HARAJUKU KAWAii!! fashion events as well as perform at J-POP LIVE AT UNION SQUARE on Saturday, July 19^th, and also on the Pagoda Main Stage in Japantown on Sunday, July 20^th. Additional info available is at: http://www.j-pop.com/2014/una.

Yanakiku – Live Performance on Saturday, July 19^th

YANAKIKU is a unique Japanese kimono cosplay duo consisting of members Yana and Kiku. In 2013, they performed for international audiences at Hyper Japan (London) and TIFFCOM (Japan) and have garnered a massive following for their costume and dance performances. YANAKIKU makes their U.S. debut at the 2014 J-POP SUMMIT Festival and will perform on the Pagoda Main Stage in Japantown on Saturday, July 19^th and participate in the Festival’s cosplay contest and events. The duo will also host a meet and greet session and have a selection of merchandise available for sale to attendees. Additional info is available at: http://www.j-pop.com/2014/yanakiku.

Pinky Doodle Poodle – Live performance on Sunday, July 20^th

Pinky Doodle Poodle is a high energy, female fronted rock band from Tokyo that formed in 2008. The group features lead vocalist/bassist/guitarist Yuria, a successful Japanese anime singer often heard in popular video games in Japan as well as on solo records and with her band Honey Bee. Pinky Doodle Poodle just completed their first full-length record which was produced by Goo Goo Dolls member Robby Takac. The 10-song self-titled album, Pinky Doodle Poodle, was released worldwide in the spring of 2014 on Takac’s Good Charamel Records. Pinky Doodle Poodle will perform on Sunday, July 20^th on the Pagoda Main Stage in Japantown. Additional info at: http://www.j-pop.com/2014/pinky-doodle-poodle.

The Akabane Vulgars On Strong Bypass – Live Set On Saturday, July 19^th

The Akabane Vulgars On Strong Bypass is an all-girl punk rock trio from Tokyo and returns for their third consecutive concert appearance at J-POP SUMMIT. A favorite with Festival-goers, the band plays in support of their two newest releases “Proclamation” and “Live in Brooklyn.” Catch the Akabane Vulars on Strong Bypass on Saturday July 19^th for a powerful live set on the Pagoda Main Stage. Additional info at: http://www.j-pop.com/2014/akabane.

Stay tuned for additional J-POP SUMMIT Guest of Honor, programming and event announcements!

About J-POP SUMMIT Festival

Launched in 2009, J-POP SUMMIT Festival is an annual street fair held in San Francisco, CA that celebrates Japanese popular culture. By introducing the latest in Japanese music, film, art, fashion, gaming, anime, food, as well as niche subcultures, the festival has become a prominent platform to showcase the latest pop trends and creative innovations from Japan.
The 5^th annual J-POP SUMMIT held in July 2013 welcomed more than 80,000 attendees, making it one of the largest Japanese festivals in the United States. In addition to the original Festival held in Japantown, new attractions include the J-POP LIVE AT UNION SQUARE concert in downtown San Francisco, the Bay Area’s premier dedicated Japan Film Festival of San Francisco, and sake-tasting and fine foods events at the POP GOURMET Food Festival, which have each further enriched the experience. Additional information about J-POP SUMMIT Festival is available at: J-POP.com.

Classic ‘Sailor Moon’ Licensing Update

by Kari LaneMay 23, 2014

Earlier this week, we were super excited to announce that the classic Sailor Moon series will be available to watch on Hulu! Yep, VIZ Media has acquisitioned the Sailor Moon anime franchise and as part of the new agreement, VIZ Media has licensed all 200 episodes of the original Sailor Moon anime series (rated ‘TV-PG’), including the never before licensed for North America fifth and final climatic season, Sailor Stars. The three feature films and additional specials for the long-running show are also part of the acquisition.

SAILOR MOON will be presented digitally for the first time, with subtitled EST sets available starting Summer 2014 and dubbed editions late 2014, and DVD and deluxe limited edition Blu-ray/DVD combo packs are planned for Fall 2014. The uncut and uncensored VIZ Media release of SAILOR MOON, featuring its original uncropped 4:3 aspect ratio, will also feature all original Japanese names, story elements and relationships, as well as an all-new, uncut English dub with a new voice cast.

VIZ Media premiered Sailor Moon Episodes 1-4 (subbed) on Monday, May 19th on its free NeonAlley.com anime streaming destination and also via the subscription-based Hulu Plus in High Definition. Two new Sailor Moon episodes will premiere every Monday. Visit www.NeonAlley.com and Hulu.com/sailormoon for more information; the trailer may also be viewed at http://www.hulu.com/watch/635233 and http://youtu.be/RWPyM9afQ-w.

VIZ Media has also acquired the new Sailor Moon Crystal and more details will be announced at a later date.

“We’re pleased to partner with VIZ Media to bring the beloved SAILOR MOON anime series back to North America,” says Masayuki Endo, General Manager, Toei Animation, Inc. “This fresh uncut and uncensored release of SAILOR MOON featuring the most accurate adaptation available will be just as creator Naoko Takeuchi intended. We look forward to fans current and new discovering and falling in love with this classic series all over again!”

“SAILOR MOON is one of the extremely rare breed of anime series truly deserving of the title of ‘Legendary’,” says Charlene Ingram, VIZ Media Senior Manager, Animation Marketing. “Since its initial debut in the mid-1990’s, SAILOR MOON has been unavailable to English-speaking fans for nearly a decade. It has also never seen a complete and proper unedited release in North America…until now!”

“SAILOR MOON was groundbreaking in the way its storyline and main characters resonated with both a male and female audience, and these aspects continue to attract a new generation of fans eager to see this iconic series,” says Brian Ige, VIZ Media Vice President of Animation. “We’re thrilled to be able to release this empowering action title uncut and in its entirety. We invite fans to catch the official premieres on Neon Alley and to enjoy the series on DVD and Blu-ray later this year!”

Exciting news for Anime Expo 2014 (July 3rd-6th Los Angeles Convention Center), VIZ Media will be celebrating Sailor Moon at the con! VIZ Media will host a variety of special activities and panels throughout “Sailor Moon Day,” on Saturday, July 5th. More details to come.

I would be kind of surprised if you have never heard of Sailor Moon (even Barenaked Ladies make a reference to it in one of their songs), but if you are in the dark, read below to learn what this fun series is all about.

The smash hit SAILOR MOON anime series is inspired by the bestselling manga (graphic novel) series created by Naoko Takeuchi (published in North America by Kodansha). In the series, Usagi Tsukino is a clumsy but kindhearted teenage girl who transforms into the powerful guardian of love and justice, Sailor Moon. Meeting allies along the way who share similar fates, Usagi and her team of planetary Sailor Guardians fight to protect the universe from forces of evil and total annihilation!

For more information on Sailor Moon or other award-winning anime titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

Attention Yaoi Fans – SuBLime Will Be At Fanime!

by Kari LaneMay 23, 2014

Fanime will be taking place tomorrow through Monday (May 23rd-26th) at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, CA and SubLime will be there! Complete details on Fanime are available http://www.fanime.com.

SuBLime will demo and sell its extensive library of acclaimed print yaoi manga (graphic novel) titles throughout the convention. The SuBLime booth will be located in Booth #1201. Yaoi fans are invited to stop by the booth to sample popular manga titles such as AWKWARD SILENCE, HIDE AND SEEK, CRIMSON SPELL and many more that are available in print and digitally from the SuBLime imprint. Fans can also sign up for the SuBLime newsletter and enter to win a Grand Prize package featuring digital and print editions of AWKWARD SILENCE – please visit SuBLime booth 1201 for more details!

If you are not able to attend the con, SuBLime has a special Spring treat for you with a sale offering $1.00 off ALL digital manga titles currently featured on SuBLimeManga.com. The sale kicks off today and runs for a limited time only through Friday, May 30th.

Fans can take advantage of this weeklong discount on more than 80 acclaimed yaoi titles regularly priced between $1.99 and $7.99 (USD) that are available digitally in a flexible download-to-own format from the SuBLime web site. Selections are viewable as a PDF on any enabled eReader device or computer and can also be accessed via the online manga viewer found on the web site.

If that was not enough, all SuBLime print volumes will be on sale at retailer Right Stuf through May 29th. Readers can save at least 33% off all SuBLime titles, regularly priced at $12.99 and $16.99 (USD) – please visit RightStuf.com to view the full title list!

Explore a wide range of some top BL series and single-volume releases such as AWKWARD SILENCE, DEVIL’S HONEY, LOVE PISTOLS, OKU-SAN’S DAILY FANTASIES, THE SCENT OF APPLE BLOSSOMS, and scores more by some of the most celebrated creators in the yaoi genre. A complete roster of current manga titles is available at: http://www.sublimemanga.com/titles.

For up-to-date news and release information, please visit the SuBLime website at www.SuBLimeManga.com, or follow SuBLime on Twitter at @SuBLimeManga and Facebook at facebook.com/SuBLimeManga.

About SuBLime

SuBLime is a global yaoi/boys’ love manga publisher, and is a partnership between VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, and Japan’s Animate, Ltd. (Animate). This bold, global publishing initiative will present English-speaking fans everywhere with a broad selection of high quality titles. SuBLime will offer titles digitally worldwide available at www.SuBLimeManga.com, with many available in Download-to-Own format, and selections in print also available in English-language editions worldwide.

VIZ Media Will Be At Anime Central (May 16 -18)

by Kari LaneMay 14, 2014

VIZ Media announced its return to Anime Central (ACen), the Midwest’s largest anime convention, taking place May 16th to 18th about 30 minutes from Chicago in Rosemont, IL. Read their press release below to get all the info!

VIZ Media marks its return to Anime Central (ACen), the Midwest’s largest anime convention, as it announces a weekend full of unique booth giveaways, informative panel discussions, exclusive anime screenings, and other fun activities. Fans can look forward to some very special and big announcements from the company during the show.

The 2014 Anime Central convention takes place May 16^th to 18^th in Rosemont, IL, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare and the adjacent Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, located less than 30 minutes from downtown Chicago. VIZ Media will be located in Booth #126. Complete details on Anime Central are available at: http://www.acen.org.

Stop by the VIZ Media booth throughout the convention for a host of special giveaways including RANMA ½ postcards, full-color collectable posters for NARUTO, ONE PIECE, RANMA ½ and more, along with free manga samplers featuring a range of popular characters and bestselling titles from the North America’s leading publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime.

VIZ Media also invites Anime Central attendees to discover its Neon Alley 24/7 anime channel. Fill out a short survey form in the booth expressing your manga and anime preferences and get a free durable Neon Alley drawstring backpack (while supplies last)!

Neon Alley is available anytime, anywhere on the web for FREE and across major digital platforms, including PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Roku, Chromecast, and most mobile devices through the subscription-based Hulu Plus Video-On-Demand service. Neon Alley offers the hottest in subbed and dubbed digital series, simulcast world premieres, exclusive on-demand access, and a massive legacy catalog of new as well as classic favorites (in HD when available).

VIZ Media’s Anime Central Panels Include:

Friday May 16^th

5:00 – 6:00PM    VIZ Media Industry Panel

                             (Panel Room 1) – Special Announcements at Panel!

Join the VIZ Media staff for an insightful presentation and Q & A session about the latest in manga and anime! We will be talking about the latest news, upcoming releases and other noteworthy announcements from the publishing and animation teams. Fans will definitely want to stick around until the end for some special announcements and an exclusive giveaway item (while supplies last)!

Saturday May 17^th

5:00 – 6:00PM    VIZ Media Featuring Neon Alley Animation Panel

                             (Panel Room 1)

A fun and unique panel about all things anime! Join VIZ Media and the Neon Alley team as they discuss all the new and exciting news and new titles including what’s coming up on DVD, Blu-ray and the newly expanded anime streaming service, Neon Alley.

Love of all things anime is one of the foundations of Anime Central and VIZ Media is pleased offer fans and attendees a wide range of special premieres and screenings throughout the duration of the convention. Catch the must-see World Dub Premiere of BLOOD LAD, Episodes 1 & 2, on Saturday, May 17^th beginning at 8:00pm in the Lambert Room at the Hyatt. Fresh from the recording studio, fans won’t want to miss this premiere of the top-rated English cast for this dark comedy series about a vampire that falls for a high school girl who becomes a ghost.

Also don’t miss special convention screenings of other acclaimed VIZ Media anime titles including COPPELION, BERSERK THE GOLDEN AGE ARC III THE ADVENT, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, ACCEL WORLD, K, NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN and RANMA ½ in High Definition. Specific screening times and dates will be listed in the official convention program guide.

Additional information on Neon Alley is available at: www.NeonAlley.com.

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

‘The Last Ship’ Premieres June 22nd

by Kari LaneMay 14, 2014

I am not exactly sure why but I am particularly fond of post-apocalyptic stories. Maybe it is the uncertain future or all the strange possibilities after a disaster? Well, I was excited to learn that TNT has a new drama show coming out Sunday June 22nd at 9/8c that is not quite post-apocalyptic, but rather, it is apocalyptic. The Last Ship is a show where the disaster is currently happening!

When a global pandemic wipes out eighty percent of the planet’s population, the crew of a lone naval destroyer must find a way to pull humanity from the brink of extinction.

Executive Producer Michael Bay presents The Last Ship, starring Eric Dane, Rhona Mitra and Adam Baldwin.

At WonderCon 2014, during The Last Ship panel, Executive Producer Hank Steinberg talked about the inspiration for the show saying, “The story was brought to us by TNT” and it is based on an 80s book where the Cold War was the “disaster.” The draw was that it is a story about “people alive at sea…alone” (Steinberg). The producers wanted to explore the existential and emotional journey and see how the captain would keep the crew together. To update the show, producers/creators considered global thermal nuclear war because some people could survive that, but they opted for a global pandemic since it is much more realistic and “they can solve it” (Steinberg). Steinberg compared The Last Ship to Star Trek by stating, “we have a ticking clock with a sense of urgency and if they can solve this, they can get back to their families and save them.”

Having a ship as the setting, “opens up the possibility to go anywhere” explained Executive Producer Steven Kane. He went on to say that the “missions of the first season are based on the needs of the scientists.” Also, there will be a lot of moving around within the ship.

The actors at the Q&A, Charles Parnell (Commander Master Chief) and Travis Van Winkle (Lt. Danny Green), mentioned how they both trained with the military. Parnell even read up on the origins of the navy during his own research. Van Winkle trained with Navy Seals and felt that it was “inspiring to hear their stories,” and that it was a blessing to work with them.

So what makes this an intriguing show? It is a sci-fi in a very pure sense because the science is actually based in reality. The show is philosophical and looks at what it means to be human/civilized. Every day that they are not back with the vaccine, more people die; they really are the last hope. The Executive Producers also said it will have different types of heroes than we have seen before. Sounds good to me! Make sure to check out The Last Ship Sunday June 22nd!

http://www.tntdrama.com/series/the-last-ship/

WonderCon 2014: ‘Salem’ Panel

by Kari LaneMay 5, 2014

The subject of witches can be a tricky one. The word “witch” can bring up all kinds of pop culture images such as: the Wicked Witch of the West (Wizard of Oz), broomsticks, scary/ugly women over a caldron (Macbeth), cute girls (Sabrina the Teenage Witch), and so on. There have been many films with witches as the subject but not too many television shows. Well, now there is Salem on WGN America. The show has gained so much attention and is doing so well that it has already been renewed for a second season after being on the air less than a month (3 episodes)!

“Set in the volatile world of 17th century Massachusetts, Salem explores what really fueled the town’s infamous witch trials and dares to uncover the dark, supernatural truth hiding behind the veil of this infamous period in American history. In Salem, witches are real, but they are not who or what they seem.”

While at WonderCon, I attended the Salem panel where we saw the first twenty-five minutes of the pilot episode a couple of days before it aired. However, a few scenes were cut out of our screening because it was just too graphic (violence and sex) for an all ages panel. The audience laughed when the blank screen came up during the episode and laughed even more when the blank screen was up for an apparently long scene. They did warn us about the graphic nature of the show and, during one scene, a few parents with kids made their way out of the panel room. Everyone else liked what they saw of the pilot! The screening was followed by executive producers Adam Simon and Brannon Braga, along with series star, Shane West, talking about the show.

Simon started talking about the inspiration behind the show by asking, “Who doesn’t love Salem? Who doesn’t love witches?” He went on to mention how we all know some of the history of Salem but there is still much that has not been explored. Braga mentioned, “What uncharted territory this was…” explaining that they delved into the transcripts from the time and those reveal way more weird stuff than has been shown before. Now, you could make a show where the witch hunters were just a crazy mob or you could approach it as if witchcraft was real. Simon explained that at the time, “…everybody believed in witches” and the producers and series creators wanted to “…show the world as they [the people of Salem] perceived it”. West plays a character who is not a believer. He told the audience that his characters would “…react like most of you would react” and that his character is basically the “audience POV”.

You can check out a series trailer below!

VIZ Media Supports Free Comic Book Day With Graphic Novel And Manga Samplers

by Kari LaneMay 2, 2014

Free Comic Book Day is tomorrow (May 3rd)! Read below to hear about the exciting releases from VIZ Media via their press release!

VIZ Media is proud to be a supporter and sponsor of 2014 Free Comic Book Day, and participates this year with a pair of special FREE manga and full-color original graphic novel samplers from the all-ages Perfect Square imprint, as well as out-of-this world previews from its first Haikasoru original graphic novel and VIZ Signature.

VIZ Media participates this year as a Gold Level Sponsor and will offer two FREE exclusive releases (available while supplies last).

HELLO KITTY AND FRIENDS, FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2014 EDITION

Readers of all ages can join in the fun with Hello Kitty and her friends in all-new full-color adventures! This time they’re letting their imaginations run wild in two stories from the upcoming HELLO KITTY: JUST IMAGINE…, scheduled for August 2014 (MSRP: $7.99 U.S. / $9.99 CAN). Plus don’t miss a special sneak peek of Perfect Square’s upcoming tribute book, HELLO KITTY, HELLO 40: A Celebration in 40 Stories, celebrating Hello Kitty’s 40^th anniversary and iconic cultural impact. Scheduled for Fall release (MSRP: $29.99 U.S. / $34.99 CAN).

Also debuting in the Perfect Square 2014 Free Comic Book Day sampler are special bonus pages from BRAVEST WARRIORS: THE SEARCH FOR CATBUG (July, MSRP $19.99 U.S. / $22.99 CAN), featuring the adventures of the irrepressible Catbug, the darling, fan favorite character from Cartoon Hangover’s Bravest Warriors!

A special Perfect Square trailer for Free Comic Book Day may be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE-4DlsiWMc&authuser=0.

The VIZ Media 2014 Free Comic Book Day VIZ Signature manga sampler is aimed at older teen and adult readers and will offer excerpts from the new ALL YOU NEED IS KILL official graphic novel adaptation and the forthcoming manga series, TERRA FORMARS.

ALL YOU NEED IS KILL, AND TERRA FORMARS SNEAK PREVIEW!

Live…Die…Repeat… The mantra continues in exciting new graphic novel form and sci-fi and action fans are invited to preview an entire chapter from the new ALL YOU NEED IS KILL official graphic novel adaptation (May 6^th debut, MSRP: $14.99 U.S. / $17.99 CAN). The gripping release from the Haikasoru imprint offers a single-volume retelling of the acclaimed ALL YOU NEED IS KILL novel, and is written by Haikasoru editor and noted sci-fi author, Nick Mamatas featuring full-color artwork by popular comic book artist Lee Ferguson (Green Arrow, Miranda Mercury). When the alien Mimics invade, Keiji Kiriya is one of many recruits shoved into battle armor Jackets and sent out to kill. Keiji dies on the battlefield, only to be reborn to fight and die again and again. He receives a message from a mysterious ally – is she the key to Keiji’s escape or his final death? The full ALL YOU NEED IS KILL graphic novel carries an MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $17.99 CAN.

Manga fans can also catch an early peek of TERRA FORMARS, the tense sci-fi horror series created by Yu Sasuga and illustrated by Kenichi Tachibana that has become a bestseller in Japan (MSRP: $12.99 U.S. / $14.99 CAN). In TERRA FORMARS, the colonization of Mars is an epoch-making event, but an unintended side effect of the terra-forming process unleashes a monstrous horror that no one could ever have imagined… Look for its serialized debut this July in print and digital formats from the VIZ Signature imprint and VIZManga.com.

Readers should visit freecomicbookday.com to find a local participating retailer in their area.

For information on other all-ages titles available from the Perfect Square imprint, please visit: www.perfectsquare.com.

For more information on VIZ Signature and other manga titles published by VIZ Media, please visit: www.viz.com.

Geekscape Theater Reviews: ‘Taste’

by Kari LaneMay 2, 2014

“You’re invited to the most disturbing dinner party of the year. Based on a shocking true story, two men meet online and make a unique arrangement: one will kill, cook, and eat the other. Taste imagines their first and only meeting, told in real time, in a working kitchen”.

I attended a performance of Taste knowing only as much as the statement above alludes to and I had a wickedly good time! If you are a fan of horror/the macabre or excellent theater, then you need to see Taste!

The story unfolds in real time over 90 minutes (no intermission). It starts off with fastidious Terry (played by Donal Thomas-Cappello) cooking and prepping his upscale city apartment for his guest. I loved that he actually cooked and the smell of onions added an extra dimension to the experience. Soon, nervous and awkward Vic (played by Chris L. McKenna) arrives and things are off to a rocky start. Vic does not care for the food Terry has been working on but both want to make this an evening they won’t forget.

Terry pours a drink while Vic tries to help out in the kitchen

The set is exceptional and looks like it could be a set from a TV show. There is even a working faucet and stove! It felt like a real space that two actors inhabited and the staging worked out perfectly to show you just enough during the gory segments. There is one off stage room, the bathroom, but the actors are mostly on stage the whole time.

The acting was superb! Both gentlemen responded to each other and worked off each other’s energy. You could see the intimacy and the whole time you have a sense of voyeurism as you watch they two people try and connect. They are both so committed the whole time that you cannot look away, well, at least not until the cringe worthy parts.

Just to give you a fair warning, this play is not for the squeamish. If you don’t mind gore or can at least stomach it, you will be fine. It is amazing that even though you know it is fake, everyone in the audience with me still cringed/groaned/gasped together. The special effects are provided by Tony Doublin and the special makeup effects are by Gabe Bartalos. Combined with the staging, the effects make you believe the horror that is happening on stage.

Stuart Gordon directed and has brought out the best performance from his two actors. He is also known for directing Re-Animator and Re-Animator The Musical. Yes, there is blood, but not quite as much as the “splash zones” of Re-Animator The Musical. Taste was written by Benjamin Brand whose script is full of engaging dialogue. The conversations between Thomas-Capello and McKenna sound like everyday conversations, except for the whole cannibalism part (hopefully).

Taste is surprisingly funny. Most of the night is like an awkward date and the jokes that arise from those situations are fairly relatable. Even during one of the most shocking/bloody segments, there is still humor. If you want to see some intense theater, enjoy horror, and are able to laugh at gore, or if are just looking for something a little different, then you should go see Taste!

Where: Sacred Fools Theater, 660 N. Heliotrope, Hollywood CA 90004

When: Now through May 17

Thursdays-Saturdays @ 8pm and Sundays @ 7pm

http://www.sacredfools.org/

Kari’s Anime Corner: First Impressions of ‘Another’

by Kari LaneApril 28, 2014

I remember hearing about Another from my anime friends a couple of years ago. I had also seen some of the art and was told it was a weird show. Well, to say anime is weird, is redundant because almost all anime is strange in some way and that’s why we love it! I started Another planning to watch just the first few episodes but I just had to know what happened next and ended up watching all 12 episodes.

The series starts off with Koichi Sakikabara, a ninth grade boy who is soon to be released from the hospital. He had a lung collapse and is now staying in the rural town of Yomiyama with his maternal grandparents and aunt. His mother died shortly after he was born and his father is away on business. Cue the creepiness! While at the hospital, Koichi meets a mysterious young girl who is on her way to the basement to give her “friend” a doll. He is later surprised to see her at his new school (she is even in the same class as him) but no one else seems to notice her. Is she a ghost? What is wrong with class 3-3? Why won’t any of the students tell Koichi what is going on? More importantly, why are students and some of their family members dying in gruesome accidents?

The show starts off as a ghost story then it turns into more of a thriller. Turn off the lights for this one and enjoy the spooky visuals, the moody music and the heart racing series of events. I really enjoyed the Final Destination movies and I think 1000 Ways to Die is fascinating, and the deaths on this show fall into the same category. They are crazy accidents and, after you have witnessed a couple, any dangerous situation makes you nervous. There is a lot of blood but deaths are over rather quickly, until the final climax of the series.

The muted color palette fits the emotionally drained students. Artistically, everyone is drawn in a cute/youthful way which contrasts nicely with the somber environment. Towards the end of the show, when some of the extreme violence occurs, many characters are drawn in an over-exaggerated way which fits perfectly with how crazy they have become.

The horror aspect of the show peaked my interest and the mystery made me watch episodes back to back. The show explains many things, but not enough to answer all of your questions. Also, the last bit of the show is an extremely different vibe though it still has that hair raising suspense. The less you know about this show before you watch it the better. It puts you on the same level as Koichi and you learn the information as he does. This is what happened for me and I feel it improved my viewing of this show. If you want to watch something creepy with an intriguing mystery, you will want to check out Another!

WonderCon 2014: ‘The Secret Service’

by Kari LaneApril 23, 2014

One of the awesome benefits of attending a convention is getting a sneak peak/extended look at upcoming projects. One such project that was announced at WonderCon was The Secret Service starring Colin Firth and Samuel L. Jackson (as the bad guy!). A nearly finished (rough cut) fight scene was screened along with a short trailer. The scene consisted of Firth talking to a young man in a bar when they are rudely interrupted by a group of troublemakers. Firth gets up but instead of leaving he takes on the entire gang by himself! It was AWESOME! Academy Awarding winning Firth is not known for action films so this scene was a big surprise.

The Secret Service is based on Mark Miller’s (writer of Kick-Ass) comic book of the same name. The film will be directed by Matthew Vaughn who directed Kick-Ass and X-Men: First Class. I would say the film is in some good hands. Firth is a veteran agent who brings in a young man, in whom he sees great potential.

The style of fighting does have that over-the-top Kick-Ass vibe. Parts were in slow motion which gave you a cool perspective and contributed to the comic book style. Did I mention Firth also fought the gang using an umbrella? Yep. This reminded me of the film Gothic & Lolita Psycho (2010) where the female protagonist uses an umbrella as a weapon as well (though I doubt many people saw this film). The film also reminded me of The Avengers; no, not that one. I am referring to the 1960s TV show and 1998 film.

All that being said, I was blown away by the footage. I had heard nothing about the film before WonderCon and now I am excited to see it! Unfortunately, a trailer has not been released yet, but be on the look out. The film is scheduled to be released in late October this year.

TNT Greenlights Action-Packed Drama Series ‘The Librarians’!

by Kari LaneApril 18, 2014

I was thrilled to learn that there will be a new TV show based on The Librarian trilogy! The Librarians will be a continuation of the successful TNT films (The Librarian: Quest for the Spear, The Librarian: Return to King Solomon’s Mines, and The Librarian: Cure of the Judas Chalice) starring Noah Wyle as the librarian charged to guard ancient/mystical artifacts. Not sure what I am talking about?

Well, the first Librarian film came out in 2004 and I saw it while working at Hollywood Video (remember that ancient place?). I thought it was such a fun film and was quick to watch the well done sequels over the next several years. If you like movies such as National Treasure and Indiana Jones then you will enjoy The Librarian films (and hopefully enjoy the new TV show as well). They are full of action and adventure, lots of humor and they are extremely smart.

Wyle’s character, Flynn Carsen, has 22 college degrees, is socially awkward and does not have much direction in his life. He finds himself at the Metropolitan Public Library and applies to be a librarian. The library holds more than just books though. It turns out to be the place where mystical artifacts such as Excalibur, Pandora’s Box, and the Holy Grail (just to name a few) are stored. It is the job of the librarian to locate these items in the world and bring them safely to the library.

The TV series will be set 10 years after Flynn started working for the library which is cool because it parallels the real world timeline (remember the first film came out in 2004). Being the librarian can be a tough job so now he will be working with a team.

To aid him in his duties, the Library has recruited four people from around the world, including Eve Baird (Rebecca Romijn), a highly skilled counter-terrorism agent who is responsible for protecting the group and keeping them all alive; Jake Stone (Christian Kane), an Oklahoma oil worker with an IQ of 190 and an encyclopedic knowledge of art history; Cassandra (Lindy Booth), a quirky young woman with the special gift of auditory and sensory hallucinations linked to memory retrieval, known as synesthesia; and Ezekiel Jones (John Kim), a master of new technologies and aficionado of old classic crimes who enjoys playing the role of international man of mystery.

TNT has ordered ten episodes of The Librarians with the intent of launching the series later this year and I cannot wait to check it out!

New Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt Movie Tie-In Novel Set To Release On 4/29!

by Kari LaneApril 15, 2014

VIZ Media’s Haikasoru literary imprint supports the upcoming release of the gripping sci-fi action film, Edge of Tomorrow with the release of an official movie tie-in novel available April 29^th. The new Edge of Tomorrow paperback will cost $7.99. As you can see from the picture below, the book cover features the official movie poster with Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. The Edge of Tomorrow novel was written by Japanese author Hiroshi Sakurazaka and was previously published as All You Need Is Kill.

The Haikasoru imprint has also announced the May 6^th release of the ALL YOU NEED IS KILL official graphic novel adaptation. Written by Haikasoru editor and noted sci-fi author, Nick Mamatas, and featuring full-color artwork by popular comic book artist Lee Ferguson (Green Arrow, Miranda Mercury), the new graphic novel offers a single-volume retelling of the original ALL YOU NEED IS KILL novel that inspired the EDGE OF TOMORROW movie. The graphic novel carries an MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $17.99 CAN, and features an oversized North American graphic novel trim size of 6 5/8″ x 10 ¼”. An eBook edition will also be available worldwide for $8.99 (U.S. / CAN) for the Amazon Kindle, Apple’s iBooks Store, Barnes & Noble’s Nook Book Store, and the Kobo eBooks Store. North American fans can also access the graphic novel digitally on the VIZ Manga App as well as through VIZManga.com.

The Edge of Tomorrow feature film is scheduled to be released from Warner Bros. Pictures on June 6^thin 3D, 3D IMAX and regular 2D. The film is directed by Doug Liman and stars Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt and Bill Paxton.

The story is set in the future when aliens called Mimics invade. Keiji Kiriya is just one of many recruits shoved into a suit of battle armor called a Jacket and sent out to kill. But he dies on the battlefield after only a few minutes, only to be reborn each morning to fight and die again and again. On his 158^th iteration, he gets a message from a mysterious ally – the female soldier known as the Full Metal Bitch. Is she the key to Keiji’s escape or his final death?

In 2009, ALL YOU NEED IS KILL served as the launch title for Haikasoru, a unique imprint developed by VIZ Media dedicated to publishing the most compelling contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy for English-speaking audiences. New York Times best-selling author John Scalzi declared ALL YOU NEED IS KILL to be a novel that, “reads fast, kicks ass, and keeps on coming,” and it has proven to be one of Haikasoru’s most popular titles. Sakurazaka’s other novels include Characters (co-written with Hiroki Azuma) and SLUM ONLINE, which was published in English by Haikasoru in 2010.

“Live…die…repeat. ALL YOU NEED IS KILL / EDGE OF TOMORROW delivers a nightmarish, action-packed spin on reliving one’s own triumphs, and failures,” says Nick Mamatas, Editor, Haikasoru. “Catch the original story that inspired the gripping movie with the official movie tie-in edition and in the Western comic book mode with the ALL YOU NEED IS KILL official graphic novel. Both of these debuts are perfect reads leading up to the highly anticipated theatrical debut of Edge of Tomorrow this summer!”

“The ALL YOU NEED TO KILL graphic novel stays very true to the original source novel,” says Joel Enos, editor for the new comic. “We made a conscious effort to create something unique that could stand on it’s own away from both the original novel, the film and the upcoming manga, but would nicely complement and pay respects to all three! Lee’s retro-futuristic art style especially puts ALL YOU NEED TO KILL as a comic into it’s own orbit!”

For more information on Edge of Tomorrow / All You Need Is Kill and the Haikasoru imprint, please visit www.haikasoru.com.

For more information on other titles available from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.