Author: Kari Lane

Actor. Filmmaker. Dancer. Movie/TV aficionado. Dog lover. Amateur chef. Crafter. Love the outdoors. Nerd/Geek. ♥Anime On twitter @karidlane

Kari’s Manga Corner: First Impressions of ‘Deadman Wonderland’

by Kari Lane

It was a day like any other day until all of Ganta Igarashi’s classmates were brutally murdered right in front of him by a mysterious “Red Man”. Being the lone survivor, fourteen year old Ganta is charged with the murders and receives the death penalty! He is then sent to Deadman Wonderland, a bizarre and fatal theme park/prison. It is a privatized prison that has the prisoners “perform” for tourists/viewers to fund the restoration of Tokyo which was destroyed ten years ago by a massive earthquake. Will Ganta survive this intense place where everyone seems to be more than a little bit crazy? Shortly after his arrival, Ganta meets an insanely strong, skin-toned bodysuit wearing girl named Shiro, who seems to be from Ganta’s past (though he does not remember her). Who can he trust in this strange place? Who is there to help and who is there to harm him?

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I blazed through Deadman Wonderland (story and art by Jinsei Kataoka and Kazuma Kondou) volume 1 and 2. It is an exciting ride with intriguing mysteries. Who is the Red Man? Why is Ganta special? How is Shiro so strong?! The pacing is engaging and definitely makes for a page turner. I enjoy post apocalyptic stories and this reminds me of the films from the 70s and 80s like Running Man and Rollerball. It has lots of action and drawn to effectively convey movement! Some pages break up the traditional layout with many panel image overlays. This variation allows for important moments/expressions/people to be showcased.

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Ganta is somewhat your standard anime kid who is trying to learn why/how he is special aside from being full of determination. I love how crazy and seemingly oblivious Shiro is. She often provides the comic relief. Yo Takami (a thief and possible friend to Ganta) is unpredictable and I am curious to see how his character will develop. You learn a bit more about what is really going on and get more information on the characters in volume 2 (I won’t spoil it for you), but it still keeps you guessing and wanting more!

The manga opens with six awesome full colored pages. The over all style is very clean and detailed. The variations in the speech/thought bubbles adds even more emphasis to what is occurring in that moment.

If you want something with action, rich characters, a crazy environment and mystery, then you need to check out Deadman Wonderland!

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DEADMAN WONDERLAND, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens · MSRP: $9.99

To learn more about VIZ Manga, please visit www.vizmanga.com.

The Second ‘Tiger & Bunny’ Movie Is In Theaters!

by Kari Lane

Fans of Tiger & Bunny will be happy to learn that the second film, Tiger & Bunny the Movie: The Rising, is now in theaters for a limited release! Viz Media announced there will be a special screening in San Francisco on March 22nd at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema located inside the “dynamic Japanese pop culture entertainment venue in San Francisco’s Japantown at 1746 Post St. In partnership with ELEVEN ARTS, the second and latest action-packed feature film in the smash hit Japanese superhero franchise is also debuting in a national theatrical premiere at select theaters in 21 U.S. cities Friday, March 14th through March 26th.”

TIGER & BUNNY THE MOVIE: THE RISING, which premiered in Japan in February, will screen at the ultra-modern NEW PEOPLE Cinema on Saturday, March 22nd at 2:30pm and again at 6:00pm. Pre-sale tickets for the special NEW PEOPLE premiere are on sale now for $15.00 each (plus service fees) and are available exclusively at the theatre box office or at: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/582176. A special TIGER & BUNNY premium clear movie file card and a full-color mini double-sided poster also will be given to attendees while supplies last. Additional screening information is also available from the NEW PEOPLE website at: www.newpeopleworld.com/schedule/2014/2/14/tiger-bunny-the-movie-the-rising.

Don’t live near San Francisco? Not to worry. Read on to learn when and where you can catch a screening!

For moviegoers outside of the San Francisco area, TIGER & BUNNY THE MOVIE: THE RISING will screen in an additional 21 U.S. cities including New York, Boston, Chicago, Portland, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle, Houston, Miami and more. Tickets are currently on-sale for $15.00 each. Attendees will each receive the free 12” x 18” premium cardstock movie mini-poster and exclusive clear movie file card while supplies last. Please visit www.elevenarts.net/th_gallery/tigerandbunny-therising/ for a complete list of cities and advance ticket sales.

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Curious to know what the sequel is about?

In TIGER & BUNNY THE MOVIE: THE RISING, the heroes are back in an all-new feature-length film! Kotetsu T. Kaburagi, a.k.a. Wild Tiger, and Barnaby Brooks Jr.’s partnership comes to a sudden end when Apollon Media’s new owner Mark Schneider fires Kotetsu and moves Barnaby back into the First League, pairing him up with Golden Ryan, a new hero with awesome powers and a huge ego to match. When the heroes are sent to investigate a string of strange incidents tied closely to the city’s Goddess Legend, they discover three superpowered NEXTs plotting to bring terror and destruction to Stern Bild.

VIZ Media is the also distributor of the TIGER & BUNNY manga series (rated ‘T’ for Teens), which features artwork by Mizuki Sakakibara and is based on the massively popular animated series, created by the famed Tokyo-based anime studio Sunrise. VIZ Media also licenses and distributes the popular TIGER & BUNNY feature film and anime series that are available on DVD/Blu-ray.

More information on the TIGER & BUNNY anime is available at: www.facebook.com/TigerAndBunny and VIZAnime.com/tiger-and-bunny/

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

Viz Media Previews Perfect Square’s Summer and Fall 2014 Collectible Releases

by Kari Lane

Get ready for the launch of two Bravest Warriors titles in the summer of 2014 and an exclusive anniversary hardcover for Hello Kitty® in the fall of 2014!

The forthcoming titles feature memorable characters and stories that are universally loved by a diverse cross section of adult, teen, and young adult readers. Fans can look forward to the launch of two fun releases from Perfect Square’s newest addition, BRAVEST WARRIORS, as well as an anniversary collectible for HELLO KITTY that are scheduled for release in print and digitally via the Perfect Square App beginning this summer and continuing into fall. The Perfect Square App, available from the iTunes store, offers a wide variety of All Ages titles available for the Apple iPad® and iPad® Mini. Fans can also find digital versions of Perfect Square titles for the NOOK, Kindle Fire, and Kobo ereaders, as well as in the iBooks and GooglePlay Stores. “Each of our forthcoming titles will expand the Perfect Square catalog in a dynamic way, from the out-of-this-world and irreverent BRAVEST WARRIORS, to the anniversary companion book for the timeless HELLO KITTY,” says Beth Kawasaki, Senior Editorial Director, Perfect Square. “We look forward to issuing release dates and additional information on each of these exciting titles in coming months and to readers of all ages enjoying these new titles throughout the summer and fall.”

New Perfect Square 2014 Releases Include: BRAVEST WARRORS PRESENTS: CATBUG’S TREASURE BOOK· MSRP: $12.99 U.S. / $14.99 CAN · Print & Digital Available Summer 2014 In CATBUG’S TREASURE BOOK we see the world through Catbug’s unique perspective. Presented as a kind of scrapbook, the pages are filled with his playtime imaginings and souvenirs of his adventures with the Bravest Warriors. There’s no telling what will be revealed on the pages of Catbug’s Treasure Book!

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BRAVEST WARRIORS: THE SEARCH FOR CATBUG · MSRP: $19.99 U.S. / $22.99 CAN · Print & Digital Available Summer 2014 An amazing collection of artists venture to multiple dimensions to help you in…THE SEARCH FOR CATBUG! Catbug ate some weird new cubes of food that caused him to lose what little control he already had over his jump abilities! Now he’s careening through dimensions, unable to stop! Help the Bravest Warriors travel the galaxy and find Catbug. Just don’t eat any of those cube snacks or you might end up lost too!

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HELLO KITTY, HELLO 40: A Celebration in 40 Stories · MSRP: $29.99 U.S. / $34.99 CAN · Print & Digital Available Fall 2014 Forty years ago, Hello Kitty stepped on the scene, and she’s had the world wrapped around her little red bow ever since. Here, some of her biggest fans pay tribute in the best way they know how: through story and art. From comic artists to muralists to toy creators, everyone has a tale to tell about the little girl who speaks from her heart. The new book also features an introduction by Babymouse co-creators Jennifer L. and Matthew Holm.

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VIZ Media’s Perfect Square imprint focuses on delivering original comics, graphic novels and other books with an emphasis on strong storytelling, eye-popping graphics, empowering themes, and a dash of irreverence, that captures the imagination of a whole new generation.

Additional information on titles published by Perfect Square is available at www.PerfectSquare.com.

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

Check Out Japanese Rock Band L’Arc～en～Ciel In Concert!

by Kari Lane

Can’t get to Japan? No problem! You can still check out L’Arc～en～Ciel in concert at the movie theater. Read on to learn about this cool event!

Live Viewing Japan, a famous distribution company dedicated to introducing Japanese artists of various genres globally, is very pleased to share the spectacular stage presence of world-famous Japanese rock juggernaut, L’Arc~en~Ciel, with 10 major cities all over the United States, in the form of a delayed satellite broadcast of their long-awaited “L’Arc~en~Ciel LIVE 2014 at National Stadium.”

 

Chosen as the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, the iconic National Stadium only played host to four most influential Japanese music bands’ performances as of 2012, with L’Arc~en~Ciel included. Being the band’s second time to play at this enormous venue as well as their very first show since the last world tour, the significant “L’Arc~en~Ciel LIVE 2014 at National Stadium” sparked worldwide attention as soon as it was announced. In response to fervent requests from the U.S. audience, the second day (March 22nd, 2014) of the two-day concert will be presented in 10 theaters across the United States as a special delayed satellite broadcast.

 

Original post cards will be given to everyone attending the live viewing and original limited edition glow sticks for the first 50 people who arrive. Tickets are available for $20 at the following theaters and Fandango.com.

City    

Theater

Time

Los Angeles, CA

Century City 15

3:00 (PST)

Orange, CA

Orange 30

3:00 (PST)

San Diego, CA

Mission Valley 20     

3:00 (PST)

San Francisco, CA

Bay Street 16

3:00 (PST)

Seattle, WA

Pacific Place 11           

3:00 (PST)

Chicago, IL

River East 21               

5:00 (CST)           

Houston, TX

Willowbrook 24

5:00 (CST)

Baltimore, MD          

Columbia Mall 14           

6:00 (EST)

Boston, MA

Burlington 10              

6:00 (EST)

New York, NY

Empire 25

6:00 (EST)

Please visit http://larcenciel2014lvj.com for more information.

Comprised of Hyde (vocals), Ken (guitarist), Tetsuya (bassist), and Yukihiro (drummer), L’Arc~en~Ciel achieved blockbuster commercial success with many number one singles and albums on the Oricon charts after their major debut in 1994. Featuring a wide range of sounds from hard-rock tunes to romantic ballads, the band has so far sold over 15 million albums, 16 million singles, and millions of merchandise, including DVDs.

 

Finding success at home, L’Arc~en~Ciel continued to expand their profile through launching activities overseas. On July 31st, 2004, L’Arc~en~Ciel made their North American debut at the anime convention, Otakon, as the first Japanese band to perform at the 1st Mariner Arena, which attracted an audience of 12,000 people. Sequentially hitting Asia and Europe from 2005 to 2008, L’Arc~en~Ciel gained increasing international fame and solidified their loyal fan base everywhere they went.

 

The band embarked on a stunning world tour, which covered 10 countries throughout Asia, Europe, and North America, one year after they celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2011. Their New York show took place at Madison Square Garden on March 25th, 2012, making L’Arc~en~Ciel the first Japanese artist ever to be the lead act at the legendary venue. Acclaimed for having “made a great contribution to cultural activities, and built a bridge of friendship between Hawaii and Japan” by the mayor of Honolulu, Peter Carlisle, the band has conquered the Japanese rock scene at a furious pace with their captivating music and dramatic live performances, while setting their sights worldwide to keep up with the frenzied response in Asia, Europe, and the United States.

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About Live Viewing Japan:

Live Viewing Japan is a famous Japanese-based media distribution company dedicated to introducing Japanese artists of various genres around the world. More information on the company and its projects is available at: www.liveviewing.jp.

Geekscape Reviews ‘Nights’ Yaoi *Mature Content*

by Kari Lane

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

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The nice thing about short story compilations is that you get multiple stories in one book. You are often dropped in the middle then taken to an engaging ending. Nights (art and story by Kou Yoneda) is a compilation of three different relationships.

The first segment, Nights, is about a young transporter, Masato Karashima, who will smuggle just about anything. He is approached by a yakuza gang member, Masaki Hozumi, who offers Masato a job. While working out the job specifics, Masato finds himself attracted to Masaki and everything escalates from there. However, there is more to Masaki than meets the eye. The story ends abruptly, leaving you wanting more, but not to worry because there is a short follow up at the very end of the book.

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The second story, Emotion Spectrum, is brief but rather fun. High school student Kugo helps out his friend Nakaya by being his wingman. Kugo thinks fellow classmate, Usui, has a thing for Nakaya but that might not be the case.

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The final story, Reply, is the longest and most intriguing because it is broken into two parts that tell the same story but from two different perspectives. The first is the view of a mechanic, Seki, who starts falling for the aloof car salesman, Takami. Takami does not get along with his co-workers much because he is seen as strange and somewhat emotionless. However, Seki seems to get along with him and they start developing a friendship. It does not take long for Seki to develop feelings for Takami and the first part ends with him confessing how he feels to Takami. The “reply” is what happens next from Takami’s view point. After that bit, there are a couple of mini follow ups that have a satisfying ending.

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The art style is consistent throughout with handsome but not overly pretty guys and backgrounds that are simplistic yet realistic. The focus of all the stories is more on the relationships and thus the characters are the thing that stand out. The first story has lots of shadows and a darker gray scale because most of it happens at night. Emotion Spectrum has darker outlines of characters and some parts have a more sketch like quality. These slight differences give the book variety while still being cohesive. Also, the book contains a few full cover pages made specially for this edition.

All of the stories have an element of fun in the passion between the characters. The budding romances are engaging and make you want to know what happens next! The first two stories have characters that immediately see past each other’s sex. While in the third story, Takami is does not love Seki the same way at first. Takami thinks to himself, ” I don’t know what it’s like to love someone of the same sex. I’m sure it’s special somehow, not like a normal relationship.” However, everyone has their happy ending. The sex scenes are short and all lower regions are blank. Nights is much more about the relationships and desire between the characters.

NIGHTS is rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers and carries a print MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $14.99 CAN. A digital version is also available for an MSRP of USD $5.99 and offers readers two methods of digital access to the volume on www.SuBLimeManga.com – a DRM-free downloadable PDF that is viewable on any enabled eReader device and computer, and via the online manga viewer found on the web site. A free online preview is also available on the SuBLime website.

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.

Get Your Hands On The Action Anime Series ‘K’!

by Kari Lane

The wait is finally over! The psychological anime action thriller K will be released as a special limited edition Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, as well as a standard DVD edition, on February 25th! Read on to learn more about the awesome combo pack and engaging series!

The acclaimed 13-episode series is rated TV-14 and will be offered as a special 4-Disc limited edition Blu-ray/DVD combo pack with an MSRP of $69.99 US/CAN. The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack will come packaged in a luxurious collectible specialty print chipboard box holding the art booklet and disc case. The set also includes a full-color 80 page premium art booklet containing individual episode synopses, character profiles, poster art, translated song lyrics, an exclusive KANAME☆ K cosplay photo gallery and interview, and much more! The standard edition 2-disc DVD set will be offered at an MSRP $44.88 US/CAN.

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If you are not familiar with this cool title, here is the exciting synopsis!

K introduces viewers to Shiro, an easygoing teenager content with just being a student – until his seemingly perfect life is suddenly halted when a bloodthirsty clan, glowing red with fire, attempts to kill him in the streets. Unbeknownst to Shiro, he is suspected of murdering a member of their clan and will need a miracle to escape their vengeance. Miraculously, a young man named Kuroh Yatogami swings in and aids Shiro in his getaway, only to reveal afterward he’s also after Shiro’s life. Now a hunted man, Shiro will have to evade the clans of seven powerful kings and desperately try to prove his innocence – before it’s too late!”

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VIZ Media premiered K in North America on its VIZAnime.com streaming service on the same day as the Japanese broadcast debut and the series continues to grow in popularity in rotation on the company’s Neon Alley 24/7 anime channel.

Here is the Neon Alley trailer (English) for K !

“Filled with gorgeous imagery, attractive characters and an engaging story from GoRa and GoHands, K became a viewer favorite during its simulcast premiere and subsequent runs on Neon Alley,” says Charlene Ingram, VIZ Media Senior Manager, Animation Marketing. “With such a fantastic fan response, we’re pleased to have K be our first Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD combo pack title. With such beautiful packaging and loads of extras, we hope fans will become as excited about this upcoming release as we are!”

For more information on K and other animated titles from VIZ Media please visit www.VIZAnime.com.

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HawaiiCon Valentine’s Day Sale Is Today 2/13 and Tomorrow 2/14!

by Kari Lane

Back in September I interviewed one of the founders of HawaiiCon, GB Hajim, about this new and fun convention! Tickets, tours and hotel bookings are now available and from 2/13-2/14 there is a special sale on passes!

HawaiiCon Valentine’s Day Sale!

What better way to treat your most favorite fan in the galaxy than to take them to the most exclusive convention – HawaiiCon! On February 13th & 14th only via this special link ( http://goo.gl/PtQ0Fi ) you can get a free companion pass with the purchase of a pass with hotel package. HawaiiCon is scheduled for September 12, 13, and 14, 2014 right on the beach at the Hapuna Beach Prince Resort.

The list of celebrities is unprecedented for a first year convention: Most of the cast of Stargate: Atlantis are scheduled to appear for a 10 year reunion, Claudia Christian and Patricia Tallman from Babylon 5, Richard Hatch, Michael Hogan and Kate Vernon from Battlestar Galactica, Esme Bianco from Game of Thrones, and voice actress Cree Summer (Drawn Together). Super genre writer-producer Jane Espenson will be on panels and running a writing workshop. For an extra special event, HawaiiCon will be hosting the 78th birthday bash of Walter Koenig, the original Chekov from Star Trek with some special guests. Panelists and workshop experts include world renown Mars mission scientist Bobak Ferdowski, Hawaiian cultural experts, cosplay designers, robotics teams, astronomers, and aerospace experts.

More info about tickets, tours and hotel bookings are available via www.hawaiicon.com

Follow HawaiiCon on FaceBook at: facebook.com/HawaiiCon and Twitter: @HawaiiCon

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VIZ Media Releases New 3-in-1 Manga Edition Of ‘High School Debut’!

by Kari Lane

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Just in time for Valentine’s Day, High School Debut has been released as a new 3-in-1 omnibus edition (manga)!  It is story of a girl’s “endearing and hilarious quest for love.”

The opening omnibus volume from the Shojo Beat imprint contains the first 3 volumes of the hit series by Kazune Kawahara, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN. VIZ Media will release Vol. 2 of the 3-in-1 adaptations on May 6th. The final 3-in-1 volume (Vol. 5) will contain the series finale as well as 2 additional volumes of special side stories and collected new material that has never before been published in English.

Individual volumes of HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT are also available digitally for $6.99 (U.S. / CAN) on VIZManga.com and the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® touch, Android-powered smart phones and 7” tablets as well as for the Nook, Kindle, Kobo, iBooks and GooglePlay stores.

Read on to learn more about this adorable and romantic story!

Hapless Haruna needs help finding a boyfriend! After failing to win the eye of any guy in high school, Haruna enlists the help of cute upperclassman Yoh to coach her on how to make herself more appealing. Yoh agrees, but with one catch: Haruna better not fall for him! In the opening volumes, with Yoh’s help, Haruna starts to discover all sorts of dating tips – how to dress better, what guys to avoid, and what it feels like to fall in love for the first time. Haruna’s foray into love has its ups and downs, but nothing’s going to prepare her for when she actually lands herself a boyfriend!

“Whether you are a seasoned shojo fan or new to the genre of girls manga comics, this 3-in-1 edition of HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT is a wonderful way to revisit this funny and endearing story or enjoy it for the very first time,” says Amy Yu, Editor. “The series has been named one of the Great Graphic Novels for Teens by the Young Adult Library Services Association and remains a favorite with readers. Don’t miss this new release from Shojo Beat!”

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For more information on High School Debut, or other popular shojo manga titles from VIZ Media, please visit http://www.viz.com/manga/print/shojo-beat.

‘Blue Exorcist’ Is Coming To Toonami!

by Kari Lane

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I was introduced to Blue Exorcist right before Anime Expo 2013. Aniplex was premiering the movie at the convention and I wanted to make sure I watched some of the show before seeing the movie (you don’t really have to by the way). I ended up blazing through the whole series because it was that good! Now fans can check out the show in English on Adult Swim’s TOONAMI™ starting February 22nd. Specific premiere time on Feb. 22nd will be announced on a later date.

The Blue Exorcist TV Series is based on Kazue Kato’s hit manga published in Jump Square (by SHUEISHA) and it saw a multi-stream simulcast on websites such as Hulu, Crunchyroll (subtitled version), and as well as on Neon Alley (English dub version). In response to its worldwide popularity, the series was also adapted into a film and theatrically released across North America this past August. Produced by the highly-acclaimed studio A-1 Pictures, (Sword Art Online, Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, Oreimo 2) the Blue Exorcist TV Series has gained popularity among its fans for its unique storyline and characters. Aniplex of America has released the Blue Exorcist TV Series on home video earlier this year featuring both the original Japanese and English dub which features many popular voice actors such as Bryce Papenbrook (as Rin Okumura), Johnny Yong Bosch (as Yukio Okumura), and Christine Marie Cabanos (as Shiemi Moriyama).

A little about Blue Exorcist: Assiah: the realm of humans. Gehenna: the realm of demons. The hero, Rin Okumura, “an energetic, yet naïve young man aims to become the ultimate exorcist.” Rin is a bit of a screw up but he means well. His twin brother Yukio is the perfect child and they are both raised by a catholic priest. Well, things start getting strange and Rin learns he is the son of Satan! After a tragedy, he enrolls at True Cross Academy where he learns his brother already has been training for some time. Along the way Rin learns more about himself, meets other young exorcists in training, and has some fun epic battles. The show is a cool/interesting mix of various religions. The characters are relatable and likeable and the show delves into their relationships wonderfully. The action and animation are top notch! Also, there is a lot of humor in the show.

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For more details, please visit: www.BlueExorcist.com

About Aniplex of America Inc.

Aniplex of America Inc. (Santa Monica, California) is a subsidiary of Aniplex Inc. (headquartered in Tokyo, Japan), a group of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. and a leading provider of anime content and music production and distribution in Japan. Aniplex of America has launched fan-favorite Blu-Ray and DVD releases such as Bakemonogatari, Durarara!!, Fate/Zero, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, the Garden of Sinners, Sword Art Online, Blue Exorcist, Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic and Blast of Tempest. The company’s ever-growing line-up of shows includes our most recent titles Kill la Kill, Monogatari Series Second Season, Nisekoi, World Conquest: Zvezda Plot, Silver Spoon, Magi: The Kingdom of Magic, VALVRAVE the Liberator and Samurai Flamenco.

www.AniplexUSA.com

www.Youtube.com/AniplexUS

Interview With David Dean Bottrell About ‘Sci-Fest’ : The Science Fiction One-Act Play Festival!

by Kari Lane

Los Angeles will soon be hosting their first science fiction one-act play festival called Sci-Fest! I was able to speak with David Dean Bottrell about this unique festival. David Dean Bottrell is a veteran character actor and screenwriter probably best known for playing the creepy and psychotic “Lincoln Meyer” on season three of “Boston Legal.”  His more recent work includes oddball characters on “True Blood,” “Justified,” and “Mad Men.”  In addition, he is also an award-winning stage and short film director. Read on to learn more about Sci-Fest!

 2012 Headshot - David Dean Bottrell

What is Sci-Fest? How is it different from other play festivals?

To my knowledge Sci-Fest is completely unique.  It’s the first-ever festival of one-act science fiction plays.  Once we put the word out, we received almost 400 submissions.  In the end, we picked the nine one-acts that will make up the festival.  They will be spread out over 2 evenings.  They’re all fantastic.  Sort of like 9 mini-twilight episodes.  All very different.  Some scary and disturbing.  Some hilarious.

How did it get started?

I occasionally work as a screenwriter and about 2 years ago, I happened across a short story by Ursula Le Guin called “The Wife’s Story.”   It’s this creepy tale  being told in the first person by this strange female character.  The writing is amazing and it has a fantastically unexpected, very chilling ending.  I loved it, but realized I couldn’t turn it into a movie or TV show without totally ruining it.  Then I realized it could be done as theatre — As a story being told to the audience by a compelling performer.  It was from that kernel that the idea for the whole festival sprang.  Amazingly, when we asked Ms. Le Guin for the rights, she gave them to us.  The story is going to be performed by Tony-Winner, L. Scott Caldwell who played “Rose” on the TV show, “Lost.”  I’ve seen her on stage before and I think she’s going to blow the roof off the place.

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You have some pretty big names in sci-fi attached to this project! Would you please tell us about them and how they are involved?

We already have some remarkable people on board and more seem to be signing up every day.  Some of our directors include Dan Castellaneta (“The Simpsons”), Jack Kenny (Showrunner, “Warehouse 13”) and Philippe Mora (director of “Communion,” “The Howling II & III”).  On the acting front, everyone can expect to see Tim Russ (“Star Trek: Voyager”), David Blue (“Stargate Universe”), Dean Haglund (“The X-Files”) , David H. Lawrence, XVII (“The Puppetmaster” on “Heroes”) and Adrienne Wilkinson (“Xena: Warrior Princess) who will appear in a taped segment.  We will have even more well-known Sci-Fi actors on board soon.   We’re just waiting make sure they can clear their schedules.  I’ve been astounded by the people who are expressing interest.

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What is your involvement with the festival?

Well, I came up with the idea, so I guess you say I created it, but I instantly knew I couldn’t pull it off by myself.  My producing partners are Lee Costello and Michael Blaha, both of whom are very talented, experienced producing veterans.  Together, we’re sort of unstoppable.  I’m also acting in one of the shows.

What should people expect?

They should expect the unexpected!  All the shows are unique in content and style.  The subjects range from time travel to alien invasion to androids to post apocalyptic worlds.  We really managed to pick material that spans a wide range of all the sci-fi genres.

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What plays will be showcased?

7 of the plays are brand new.  “The Wife’s Story” is a world premiere stage adaptation of a classic Le Guin story, but the centerpiece of the festival will be Ray Bradbury’s “Kaleidoscope” which a beautiful longer one-act that’s maybe 35 minutes long.  It’s a very compelling, poignant story about 7 astronauts adrift in space.  Basically, it’s “Gravity” but without the happy ending.  It’s truly a beautiful piece of writing.

What are you most looking forward to?

I can’t wait for opening night.  This journey has been mind-blowing already.  The response has been so amazing, we’re hoping to make the festival an annual event.

When is the festival scheduled for?

We are currently schedule to open in May 2014 at a beautiful venue in Hollywood.  Tickets will probably go on sale in early April.  More details on that soon.

Sci-Fest currently has a Kickstarter campaign running. Could you please tell us more about that?

Our Kickstarter just launched.  I’ve done these before and it’s always hair-raising since the money tends to all come in at the last second.  We had a source of funding evaporate, so we are now reaching out deep into the Sci-Fi fan base for both more major donors and for folks who are willing to help out with even a few bucks.  All donations are very welcome and it all adds up.  Yesterday we received a very generous challenge grant, so we are scrambling to match the funds!  If anybody can help out, today would be a great day to do it!  Please feel free to go to our Kickstarter page at: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sci-fest/sci-fest We would truly appreciate their support ASAP!

Where can people get more information?

To learn more, everybody can visit our website at www.Sci-Fest.com.  The can also “like” us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SciFest2014 or follow us on Twitter @SciFest2014.  This has (and continues to be) a community effort.  Together we’re going to create a truly unique and memorable festival.

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Kari’s Manga Corner: First Impressions Of ‘Black Bird’

by Kari Lane

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Want passion, mythology and demons? Then you need to check out Black Bird by Kanoko Sakurakouji. There is a whole world of demons and spirits that intersects ours but only a few can see it. Young Misao Harada can, and not only that, she is the Senka Maiden! If a demon drinks her blood they will become more powerful, if they eat her flesh they will become immortal, and if they marry her their clan will thrive. Suddenly a handsome and mysterious man, Kyo, comes into Misao’s life and apparently they knew each other as children. Well, it turns out that Kyo is also a demon, and not just any demon, he is the head of the Tengu (bird demon) clan! Is Kyo the same as Misao remembers? Does he want her for his bride? Does he have sinister motives? Or does he really love Misao? What’s a sixteen year old girl to do?!

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I have enjoyed reading this title. The art is a bit different than I have seen before. The characters have wider faces than typical anime/manga characters. Kyo especially has a wide face (narrow oval eyes that are wide and a wide mouth). It is like his face has been pulled to the sides, yet he is still good looking. Misao has HUGE round eyes that add to her childlike personality. Also, everyone’s pupils have this scribble/scratchy look that gives them all a dream-like quality. There are lots of detailed patterns on the clothing which gives artwork a sense of realism. Emotions are a big part of Shojo manga and they are expressed nicely in this series. They range from a sly smirk to over the top, but it all comes across as believable.

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The story is engaging and the characters are likeable. However, it flickers across the line between sexy and slightly uncomfortable. For example: Misao is a typical teenager who falls madly in love with Kyo and there are jokes about his advances that are playful but it is clear Misao is not thrilled with his forwardness most of the time. Then the story redeems itself by having Kyo tell Misao he does not want to pressure her into sex and will wait until she is ready. Their cuddling and kissing is super romantic and you just want them to be together. Also, you should not be bothered by blood because there is a bit of violence and Misao is constantly tormented by smaller demons in the beginning. As the Senka Maiden, Misao is occasionally kidnapped and held prisoner which presents a sort of BDSM situation (one situation is particularly graphic). Be warned: Misao cries a lot! This makes most of the scenarios a lot less sexy or just awkward. Even with all of that, I thoroughly enjoy reading the intense romance between Kyo and Misao and I enjoy the series pushing the limits.

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Currently I am almost done with volume 5 and plan to finish the series. One other thing the series has going for it is there is a lot of humor which helps lighten the mood. Black Bird captures the passion of young love and explores different kinds of relationships that make Shojo manga so enjoyable to read!

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VIZ Media Kicks Off February With A New Digital Manga Update!

by Kari Lane

For the first half of February, VIZ Media will be releasing a new round of digital manga titles. Two particular series debuting will be the classic, Dragon Ball (available now), “presented for the first time in a vivid full-color collection” and Deadman Wonderland (available February 11th) ,”the gritty post-apocalyptic prison action-drama.”

Readers will not want to miss these new releases as well as digital updates to over two-dozen other series featured on VIZManga.com and the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® touch, Android-powered smart phones and 7” tablets, as well as on the Nook, Kindle, Kobo, iBooks and GooglePlay stores. With these dynamic platforms, fans can explore and enjoy a wide range of new and classic manga series that spans more than 2,000 volumes across 170 different series.

New additions to more than 25 popular ongoing VIZ Media series will include digital updates for fan favorites such as BLEACH, HAPPY MARRIAGE, MAGI, TORIKO, Osamu Tezuka’s award-winning PHOENIX, and many more, as well as the series finale for A DEVIL AND HER LOVE SONG, and special double-volume updates for BASARA, BOYS OVER FLOWERS, and YUYU HAKUSHO.

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DRAGON BALL FULL COLOR, Vol. 1  Rated ‘A’ for All Ages

MSRP: $12.99 (U.S. / CAN) Available Now!

Son Goku is the greatest hero on Earth. Five years after defeating the demon king Piccolo, he’s grown up and has a family. But what is the real reason for Goku’s incredible strength? A visitor from outer space arrives bearing terrible news – Goku is an alien, and the visitor, Raditz, is Goku’s brother! When Raditz turns out to be a ruthless killer, Goku must fight his incredibly strong brother to save his family and the entire human race. A surprising alliance may be Earth’s last hope: Goku will team up with his old enemy Piccolo to save the world!

 

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DEADMAN WONDERLAND, Vol. 1 Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens

MSRP: $6.99 (U.S. / CAN)  Available February 11th!

Framed for the brutal murders of his classmates by the mysterious Red Man, middle school student Ganta Igarashi finds himself sentenced to death and sent to the bizarre and fatal theme park/prison that has risen from the ruins of the Great Tokyo Earthquake – a hell on earth known as “Deadman Wonderland.”

The free VIZ Manga App continues to be the top application for reading digital manga and features a massive library of the most popular series in the world. Through the innovative VIZ Manga digital platform registered users are able to use one account to view their purchased manga across more devices than ever. New series and volumes are added every Tuesday. Fans can also find these titles and more for the NOOK, Kindle Fire, and Kobo ereaders, as well as in the iBooks and GooglePlay Stores.

All manga volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada within the VIZ Manga application starting from $6.99 (U.S. / CAN) each and readers can also explore all titles with free Chapter 1 previews of every series. For more information, please visit VIZManga.com or www.VIZ.com/apps.

Download the free VIZ Manga App for Android and iOS devices at www.VIZ.com/apps.

To learn more about VIZ Manga, please visit www.vizmanga.com.

 

Stay tuned for my review of Deadman Wonderland volume 1!

Comic Book Reviews: ‘Hass’

by Kari Lane

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“I haven’t done a study or a poll, but deep down I think this is one of the worst fears for every black person in America…Being alone and at the mercy of a huge group of racist whites.”

If you can’t already tell from the cover, Hass is an intense and visceral comic book. It opens with Josh Jones being beaten by five white guys then it transitions to what happened earlier with Josh thinking it is not his life flashing before his eyes but rather the past 24 hours. Earlier Josh arrives on a college campus in Texas and is smitten by a certain girl. He then proceeds to win her over. They have their ups and downs during the date; they open up to each other and in the end they wind up at her place. That is where everything goes wrong. Will Josh be able to survive the beating? Is living after being treated that way worth living? This comic addresses many heavy issues, primarily racism. “Yet even today with all of our advancements and our political correctness there’s still racism that festers under the surface.”

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This was a heavy read. I had to take a break after I finished it. Josh is a likeable guy who just happens to fall for a white girl in the wrong place at the wrong time. Mixed race couples are presented as average/no big deal. Josh has a Latin roommate and thinks nothing of it. It is the racist individuals that are the problem. Also, the comic book brings up stereotypes by having Josh be a hipster into heavy metal and he is a “trust fund baby.” Not typical things associated with a black character (or at least not all at the same time). The back of the comic book and the last inside cover image show Josh with name tags all over him with labels such as: hipster, oreo, white washed, snob, Uncle Tom, etc. They are pretty powerful images. One of the racist characters tells Josh he acts like he is white. What does it mean to be white? Is Josh an oreo? Why does he have to have a label?

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The overall look is also dark with deeply saturated images, thick lines, and mostly dark lighting.  The style shows the main characters and even the background people with realistic expressions. This made it difficult to read through the fight scenes. They make your stomach churn and you feel bad/sad to see what to Josh goes through. The worst part is that stuff like this really does happen which makes it all the more grounded. The characters look like people you could meet anywhere; they look like animated versions of real people. There are some hidden gems in the panels, for example: Master Roshi can be spotted in the restaurant they go to for their date. Also, Josh’s hat and scarf look like he is channeling Dr. Long Scarf from Dr. Who mixed with Freddy Krueger (or maybe it’s just me).

B. Alex Thompson‘s deep story is brought to life by Federico Santagati’s impressive artwork and colors by Russell Vincent Yu. If you are looking for a comic book with depth and great style that addresses current issues you need to check out Hass. This is not a fluff comic book. It makes you think. It makes you look at real events that still go on today. I enjoyed it even though it is a bit darker than I am used to reading. I want to know what happens to Josh. What will he do next? Will he stay with the girl? Will the racist guys get punished? I will definitely keep my eye on this one to see what happens next!

An “Attack On Titan” Subaru Commercial?!

by Kari Lane

The popularity of Attack on Titan has now spread to car commercials! The team that will be working on the upcoming (slated for 2015) live-action adaptation of the popular anime/manga series gave us a glimpse at what the titans may look like in this exciting Subaru Forrester commercial. Take a look!

  

Also, there is a creepy/cool behind-the-scenes video, all in Japanese, that shows how they did the effects. Now, when I first heard they would be making a live-action version of Attack on Titan I was extremely skeptical (still am) but seeing what the titans could look like in this ad puts me a little at ease.

 

As for the brutality that will be in the film, I hope they do not shy away from how intense the show is. The violence and shock when someone dies is part of the viewing experience. It makes the world of the show real and shows you this is not just some game. For example, I liked how Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters depicted the troll smashing humans (the talented effects team at Spectral Motion who also did Hellboy!). Hopefully the filmmakers for Attack on Titan will go a similar route. Then there is the 3D maneuver gear! Imagine all the work that went into making Spider-Man swing around town, put that on crack and do it for five to ten characters zipping around all at once! We shall see.

Either way, the advertisement is epic just like the show! What do you think of the ad? Do you like how they made the titans come alive?

Ready For Some Turbo-Charged Action? Check out ‘Max Steel: Hero Overload’

by Kari Lane

Max Steel fans will be excited to learn that VIZ Media has released the newest installment of the ongoing series of “original graphic novels based on the hit kids action adventure property, MAX STEEL™, with the release of MAX STEEL: HERO OVERLOAD”!

MAX STEEL: HERO OVERLOAD features an original story by B. Clay Moore and artwork by Alfa Robbi. The full-color release from VIZ Media’s Perfect Square imprint is available now, rated ‘A’ for All Ages, and carries an MSRP of $7.99 U.S. A digital version is also available for $4.99 U.S. from the Perfect Square App, which offers titles for the Apple iPad® and iPad® Mini. The Perfect Square App is available from the iTunes store. Fans can also find a digital version for the NOOK, Kindle Fire, and Kobo ereaders, as well as in the iBooks and GooglePlay Stores.

Curious to know what this exciting volume is about? Read on!

In the latest adventure, Max Steel realizes that he isn’t the only superhero around. Max encounters a trio of super-powered teens with mysterious skills who are in serious need of training. He takes on the task, but can Max get these new heroes up to speed before they have to battle a real threat? One of Max’s biggest baddies is waiting in the wings to strike… and Max is going to have to face him with a bunch of newbies!

Unfamiliar with Max Steel? Read on to get all the info on this cool action superhero!

Originally developed by Mattel, MAX STEEL is a global boy’s entertainment franchise spanning toys, publishing and consumer products. Season 1 of an acclaimed MAX STEEL CGI animated series, co-produced with FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment, has also captivated legions of fans of all ages on the Disney XD channel in the U.S. and Teletoons in Canada. In the TV and original graphic novel series, Maxwell McGrath™ is just an average 16-year-old boy… until he starts experiencing uncontrollable Turbo Energy! To control this amazing superpower, he must merge with a know-it-all alien Ultralink™ named Steel. Steel gives Maxwell the ability to harness his power and merge his own to create one unified super force – Max Steel – and together, this unlikely duo will battle to save the earth as the ultimate turbocharged superhero!  Max Steel draws upon turbo-charged teamwork, laughter and friendship to help kids overcome life’s obstacles — from the everyday, to the out-of-this-world. For more information, visit www.maxsteel.com

Check out what the character designer and editor of the graphic novel had to say about this volume!

“In Hero Overload, the latest graphic novel featuring teen superhero MAX STEEL, Max encounters a new team of superhero peers that were created exclusively for this story by writer B. Clay Moore. The new characters have a design from Alfa Robbi that helps them fit perfectly into the world of Max Steel, and of course, they are not at all what you might think when you first meet them,” says Joel Enos, Editor for the MAX STEEL™ graphic novels. “As you can expect from a veteran comics writer like B. Clay Moore, the action jumps off from the very first page. And like all our Perfect Square books, readers of all ages can really dig into this turbo-powered new story!”

 

VIZ Media’s Perfect Square imprint focuses on delivering original comics, manga (graphic novels) and other children’s books with an emphasis on strong storytelling, eye-popping graphics, empowering themes, and a dash of irreverence, that captures the imagination of a whole new generation. Additional information on titles published by Perfect Square is available at www.PerfectSquare.com.

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

 

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MAX STEEL and associated trademarks and trade dress are owned by, and used under license from Mattel, Inc. ©2014 Mattel, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

VIZ Media And ‘Weekly Shonen Jump’ Have Some New Manga For You!

by Kari Lane

Can you believe we are already halfway through January?! Well, to kick off the second half of month VIZ Media has a bunch of new digital manga titles as well as an update to the digital WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Starter Pack.  Fans won’t want to miss all the new manga updates that will be available today and January 28th at VIZManga.com and through the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® touch, Android-powered smart phones and 7” tablets! The digital manga titles are also available on the Nook, Kindle, Kobo, iBooks and GooglePlay stores.

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A new WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Jump Pack, combining a 3-month WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP digital subscription, YU-GI-OH! Collectible Card, and print edition sneak peek of series featured in the anthology, is also now available in stores.

 

An update to the popular and free WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Starter Pack is also available at VIZManga.com; no subscription or purchase is necessary. The update also includes the first chapter of the new ALL YOU NEED IS KILL manga, by acclaimed creator Takeshi Obata (artist for DEATH NOTE and more), based on the bestselling novel by Hiroshi Sakurazaka. With the WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Starter Pack, manga fans can get up-to-date on all current series featured in the world’s most popular weekly manga magazine before diving into the latest issue. WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP carries the latest installments of some of the world’s most popular manga series including ONE PIECE, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, NISEKOI, BLEACH, TORIKO, and WORLD TRIGGER, released digitally by VIZ Media each week to English readers on the same day as their general release in Japan. For more information on WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and exclusive subscriber offers, please visit shonenjump.viz.com.

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Also new for the second-half of January is the WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Jump Pack, which gives Shonen Jump fans an ideal way to access all of the publication’s great manga, secure collectable Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, and gain access to 3 months of digital WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP content in one convenient location.  The first full issue for 2014 is now available, and features a Yu-Gi-Oh! “Archfiend Commander” Card along with a chance to win an extra “Slifer: The Sky Dragon” card. Complete details are contained in the new issue. The Jump Pack is rated ‘T’ for Teens, carries an MSRP of $19.99 U.S. / $22.99 CAN, and is available exclusively through retailers serviced by Diamond Comic Distributors. Interested fans should check with their local comics retailer for availability.

 

The second-half of January also sees the digital debut of Osamu Tezuka’s legendary manga masterwork PHOENIX, as well as updates to 17 other popular ongoing manga series, including the exciting conclusion to the action series BLACK CAT, and new multi-volume updates to other series including BABY & ME, BOYS OVER FLOWERS, FIREFIGHTER! DAIGO OF FIRE COMPANY M, KNIGHTS OF THE ZODIAC (SAINT SEIYA), MUHYO & ROJI’S BUREAU OF SUPERNATURAL INVESTIGATION, SKIP BEAT!, and YUYU HAKUSHO.

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PHOENIX Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens · MSRP: $10.99 (U.S. / CAN)

Considered by many to be the peak of Osamu Tezuka’s artistic achievement and called his “life’s work” by the author, PHOENIX is composed of twelve complex stories linked by the presence of the mythical bird, an immortal guardian of the universal life force. Read in order, the separate stories jump across time, alternating between a distant future and a distant past, converging on the present, with characters from one story being reincarnated in another. With grand historical sweep, the self-contained opening volume of Osamu Tezuka’s acclaimed PHOENIX saga gives an epic account of the human spirit in a time of chaos and warfare, where would-be warrior Nagi and his crew struggle against the elements, invaders, and history itself.

All manga volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada within the VIZ Manga application starting from $6.99 (U.S. / CAN) each and readers can also explore all titles with free Chapter 1 previews of every series. For more information, please visit VIZManga.com or www.VIZ.com/apps.

 

Download the free VIZ Manga App for Android and iOS devices at www.VIZ.com/apps.

To learn more about VIZ Manga, please visit www.vizmanga.com.

Comic Book Review: ‘Find Kelley Green’

by Kari Lane

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Find Kelley Green is a new independently published comic book by Sarah Banning. The story starts off with a girl who has been mysteriously attacked. Then young Wot is introduced going to Bramley Boarding School – the site of the attack! Wot’s father also attended Bramley but has recently disappeared. The only connection Wot has to his father is through a special book titled Find Kelley Green which his uncle and his father thought was real when they were young. This proves to be more than Wot expected when two strange creatures suddenly appear! What are they and where did they come from? Another student at the boarding school, Lettie, has a weird encounter as well. Lettie does not fit in with her peers because she is a bit too smart for her own good and her interests are rather unusual. What is the peculiar creature that shows up in Lettie’s room and what does it want?

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The story and pacing are well written. It is an engaging mystery that makes you extremely curious to know what happens next, what are the creatures, and how was the little girl hurt? The text bubbles are easy to read and the font has a Disney-esque quality. Find Kelley Green is an all ages comic book that both kids and adults can enjoy. It has just the right amount of mystery and creepiness that kids can follow but will entertain adults. The art style is whimsical with identifiable characters, saturated colors and an almost soft sketch-like quality. Wot appears small and vulnerable wearing his father’s old sweater which is much too big on him. His large eyes convey his bewilderment and uncertainty. Lettie’s confidence is amplified by her abundant curls (an ambitious choice successfully pulled off by Banning). I especially liked Lettie’s suspicious half squinty eyes and expressive eyebrows.

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Find Kelley Green has monsters, mystery, adventure, and fun for all ages! The comic book is available for free on their website but you can also purchase it for only $4.95 (limited edition copy) and support indie comic books. You can also check out their twitter and facebook accounts for more info.

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Interview With Tara Cardinal-The Driving Force Behind ‘Legend Of The Red Reaper’

by Kari Lane

I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Tara Cardinal about four years ago. I have been following her filmmaking achievements over the years and was super excited to hear that her film, Legend of the Red Reaper, was to be screened at Stan Lee’s Comikaze 2013. I interviewed Tara about her film, what it is like to be an independent filmmaker and what it is like to be a woman in the film industry. Read on to learn more about this epic film and check out some cool behind-the-scenes/promo pictures for the film!

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What is ‘Legend of the Red Reaper’?

A an action/adventure/fantasy feature film franchise with a movie, novel and upcoming comic book. Depending on audience reaction I’ll produce sequels to all of the above.

Your project took quite some time to finish, would you elaborate on that please? And what made you stick with the project to its completion?

Independent films are extremely difficult to complete. Typically you’re working with first-timers – people who saw some bts footage on a dvd and think they’re film makers now mixed with film school grads with little real world experience. Everyone is enthusiastic to begin… It takes the right blend of enthusiasm, talent and experience to pull of ANY feature film. But I didn’t make any film. I made an action packed period piece and the majority of my “above of the line” staff were all first times.

Eventually my “above the line” just weren’t up for the challenge, and one by one they fell away. Someone had to save the project, and that someone turned out to be me. I donned the hats of “director” and “producer” and eventually “writer” when a two year delay made the original filming script impossible. I felt strongly that the story was worth saving. I added my own flair to the story, made it more relationship based (the first version went from one fight scene to another but didn’t really explore the relationships or mythology of the story). I added some new characters and added a plot to the fight scenes.

After the new script was done, it was simply a matter of putting the details in place, and in the right order. That was the hardest part. But when you watch the film you’ll see it – stone goblets, hand made leather armour, fight choreography that is logical and easy to follow – none of that handy cam shaky shit for me! I had real fighters that could give and take. You’ll see my ass hit the ground and get back up – you’ll see my FACE too, because I did those stunts. You’ll see real castles, tapestries, and hundreds of weapons.

It takes TIME to make a good movie with that level of production value and a small staff. You can have it good, fast or cheap – but not all three. I sacrificed fast.

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How did Uwe Boll get attached to your project and how was he involved with the film?

He came is a sales agent after I completed filming. He didn’t like my post production staff so he cut them loose and brought in his own. They were top notch professionals with A-list films. I was worried that these high end industry professionals would think my film was beneath them – but they didn’t. They were impressed with my tenacity and the sacrifices I went through to complete the film no matter what. They respected me as a professional and accepted my input as a director even when it flew in the face of industry standard. It was a wonderful experience and I’m grateful to Uwe for believing in me – an unproven, first time film maker to make that happen.

Where are you currently with this project?

The book is released in the English language throughout most of the world. The movie is set for release in MAY of 2014 in the US. March 2014 in Germany, and Summer 2014 everywhere else.

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How do you think your screening at Comikaze went?

I had tears streaming down my face – as I was afraid would happen (which is why I sat in front – where no one could see my wet face!)

I thought it went great. I was thrilled we had some industry professionals that I really respect and admire. Even Steven Sears (Xena, Warrior Princess Producer) came. He had to leave for a meeting part way through – but I was so honored that he CAME! He’d already seen the film, but he came anyway. That made me all warm and fuzzy inside. You might have noticed from my work I’m something of a Xena fan.

How was having a panel and a screening Comikaze?

Like a dream come true! You work for years on a project, and your friends, family, everyone is telling you: “Give up, it’s not worth it! You’ll never get it finished.” But then you DO get it finished, and Stan Lee’s own convention gives you a PRIME spot at the LA convention center to screen it. I had to keep pinching myself to make sure I didn’t die during filming and now I’m just dreaming about this in heaven or something.

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You are a female filmmaker, which is awesome, any advice to female filmmakers out there?

Watch and cover your ass, because if you don’t there will be someone there to watch it for you. Being a female film maker is 10 times harder than a male one. Not everyone in Hollywood is here for the arts. Your best friend will eat you for breakfast over a $5000 film. Half the time that “Business meeting” is actually a date. That’s just the way of the industry right now. Stand your ground, be true to yourself and to your art, and don’t be afraid to fire someone who is under performing.

Did you encounter any difficulties/skepticism because you are a female filmmaker?

Oh constantly. My male business partner continues to get credit for things I did before I ever met him. He doesn’t accept the credit, but people just ASSUME he did things. People seem really confused by the fact that I can edit, color correct, do (some) visual effects AND act. They have this limited view that because I’m actress I couldn’t possibly have any technical skill. And girls don’t edit, apparently. I’m pleased with my editing – especially when it comes to action. As a martial artist, actor and writer, I have a specific way of cutting action that honors all of those hats. But people just assume that Sean does all the editing, even when we do it together. Or when it’s just me.

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When will your film be released?

Germany – March 4 2014

USA – May 2014

Everywhere else – Summer 2014

Where can people find more information on the film?

www.facebook.com/legendoftheredreaper

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Kari’s Manga Corner: First Impressions of ‘Library Wars’ And Film Review Special!

by Kari Lane

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I noticed Library Wars (manga) at my local library but never picked it up because they were always out of v1 or I was reading something else at the time. The LA Eigafest (Japanese film festival) rolled around in December and I saw that they were going to screen a live action version of Library Wars. I hurried out to read the manga but was only able to finish v1 before the movie screening. The film covers the main storyline from v1-v4, so for v2-v4, I ended up seeing the movie version before reading it. It was a unique experience for me because I was able to partially read it before seeing it and partially see it before reading it. This is probably one of the few times where I loved both mediums equally and each just made me enjoy the other that much more!

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Library Wars is set in the near future where media censorship has been taken to the extreme! The Japanese government passed the Media Betterment Act in 1989 which allowed the censorship of any material deemed “inappropriate” and said material would be confiscated and possibly destroyed. Local governments who opposed this act passed The Library Freedom Act which provided armed units to protect the libraries and continue to offer library collections to citizens.

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The story takes place in 2019 with Iku Kasahara, who is the first female to apply to the library Defense Force. She is a spunky, often reckless and a tomboy, but it is her determination that sets her apart. When she was in high school, a library Task Force officer saved a book that was about to be taken from her by a Media Betterment officer. From then on, she idolized that man as her “prince” (though she does not remember what he looks like) and she wants to defend books just like him! Well, it turns out that being part of the library Defense Force is much harder then Iku expected with instructor Dojo working her into the ground (at least from her point of view). Will Iku find her “prince”? Why is Dojo picking on her? What will happen to Iku in training? Will she be able to keep up?

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The manga is a fun and easy read and I am currently on v5 (still loving it!). I thoroughly enjoyed the movie as well! It is an action story with comedy, lots of heart and it encourages standing up for what you believe in. I also enjoyed having a female character that was able to keep up, and at times, surpass the boys. She often needs rescuing but on many other occasions she is able to fend for herself and take out the bad guy.  Iku feels like a real person who is just trying to do her best but can often let her emotions dictate her actions. I feel the love story develops in a believable way with a logically slow progression which just makes you all warm and fuzzy inside when the romantic moments happen. Shojo manga is all about relationships, and not just romantic ones; friendship is equally important.

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Since Library Wars is based in a realistic setting (not fantasy or sci-fi) it translates well to live action. In the manga, the characters are drawn younger and some are better looking but that is partially due to the style of manga (Shojo). At first, I was thrown by what instructor Dojo looked like in the movie but then he grew on me. Iku was perfect casting and I felt she embodied the character and her mannerisms spot on. The stories in the film and the manga are pretty similar but the film cuts out some of the side stories from the manga which is for the better (in terms of having a coherent movie). There are some more action scenes in the movie which are really cool. All the changes that were made for the film make sense. I highly recommend checking the movie out, even if you are not into anime/manga because it is a highly entertaining film. Then, if you like reading manga, you should definitely read this title because it offers all you want in a Shojo manga (romance, humor, excellent characters and good looking artwork) along with a believable and engaging storyline.

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‘Weekly Shonen Jump’ Celebrates Their Anniversary With A Special Issue!

by Kari Lane

VIZ Media marked Weekly Shonen Jump‘s 2 Year Digital Anniversary with the debut of All You Need Is Kill, by acclaimed manga creator Takeshi Obata, in a special issue debuting TODAY, January 11th.

Weekly Shonen Jump takes a short break in Japan next week, but to launch this highly anticipated new series, VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump editors have prepared a very special Takeshi Obata-themed edition that coincides with the sophomore anniversary of the digital launch of the publication.

 

Scheduled for a Saturday release, this bonus issue will feature Chapter 1 of ALL YOU NEED IS KILL along with previews of Obata Sensei’s greatest hits. ALL YOU NEED IS KILL is the story of a futuristic soldier who dies in battle and is reborn each day to defend Earth against deadly alien invaders called Mimics. Takeshi Obata is a renowned artist of several massively successful manga series including DEATH NOTE, BAKUMAN。, RALΩGRAD, and HIKARU NO GO (all titles also published in North America by VIZ Media)

 

The original ALL YOU NEED IS KILL novel, by author Hiroshi Sakurazaka, has been called, “science fiction for the adrenaline junkie,” and is published in North America by VIZ Media’s Haikasoru imprint. The novel been notably adapted into a forthcoming sci-fi live-action blockbuster, titled Edge of Tomorrow, scheduled for release this summer from Warner Bros. and starring Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt and Bill Paxton.

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“WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP is the world’s leading ambassador for manga content and, aided by the advent of digital technology, we are able to oversee the simultaneous release of the latest chapters of some of the world’s most popular series to fans in North America as well as in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Oceania,” says Editor-in-Chief Andy Nakatani. “We were honored to be the first publication to bring Takeshi Obata’s newest work to North American readers and we look forward to him reaching an even wider international fan base with the debut of the ALL YOU NEED IS KILL manga.”

 

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP is the world’s premiere manga brand and leading weekly manga magazine. VIZ Media offers North American fans single issues for only $0.99 each and 1 Year Memberships are available for only $25.99 and include 48 weekly digital issues as well as exclusive Yu-Gi-Oh! Collectable Trading Cards, special one-shot manga, exclusive digital-only promotions, and access to additional subscriber-only content including creator interviews and insightful promo videos. Current subscribers can also access their accounts via VIZManga.com, the VIZ Manga App, or with the Apple iPad Newsstand App.

 

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP is further available to North American fans as well as readers in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa via the Newsstand App for the Apple iPad® and iPad® Mini or the WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP App on the Google Play Store for Android devices. International issues debut each Monday at 10:00am (PST) and monthly subscriptions are available with automatic monthly renewals. (*Note: Yu-Gi-Oh! cards are not available to iPad Newsstand or international subscribers) Additional information on international subscriptions is available at: http://shonenjump.viz.com/international-wsj-app.

 

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP International Subscription Pricing:

  • U.S. – $2.99 / month
  • UK – £1.99 / month
  • Ireland – 2,69 € / month
  • Australia – $2.99 (AUD) / month
  • New Zealand – $4.19 (NZD) / month
  • South Africa – R24.99 / month

 

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP features an award-winning roster of the very latest chapters of popular ongoing manga series such as BLEACH, BLUE EXORCIST, NARUTO, NISEKOI, ONE PIECE, ONE-PUNCH MAN, SERAPH OF THE END, TORIKO, WORLD TRIGGER, YU-GI-OH! ZEXAL and a colorized version of the classic DRAGON BALL.

For more information on WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and exclusive subscriber offers, please visit shonenjump.viz.com.

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For more information on VIZ Media manga titles, please visit www.VIZ.com.

Xbox 360/Xbox Live Users Can Now Have Some Fun Naruto Inspired Avatars!

by Kari Lane

Hey Xbox users, check out some new avatars you can get! Read on to learn more and see more avatar pics!

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VIZ Media gives Xbox 360 and Xbox Live users across North America a fun new way to show their love for the hit NARUTO SHIPPUDEN anime. Fans can customize their avatars with a selection themed iconography from the hit series, including t-shirts and full costumes. Xbox Live Avatars represent users of the Xbox Live service on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One video game consoles. Users are invited to visit http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/AvatarMarketplace to shop a range of fun NARUTO SHIPPUDEN-inspired items that are available now.

 

 

A selection of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN custom virtual attire, including four (4) t-shirts and eleven (11) costumes, are now available for between $1.00 and $3.99 each. NARUTO avatar themes are available to Xbox 360 and Xbox One users of the innovative Xbox Live service. Fans can also purchase real-world versions of the virtual NARUTO t-shirts from leading apparel retailers, including ThinkGeek: http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/11a4/.

 

 

Created by Masashi Kishimoto, NARUTO was first introduced in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in Japan in 1999 and quickly became that country’s most popular ninja manga properties. The manga series (rated ‘T’, in print and digital editions) and anime counterpart (NARUTO & NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, rated ‘TV-14’) are some of VIZ Media’s most successful titles and have captivated millions of fans across North America, Europe, and South America. Additional information on NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN is available at www.viz.com/Naruto.

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Kari’s Manga Corner: First Impressions of ‘Nisekoi: False Love’

by Kari Lane

Remember you first crush? How old were you? Did you make a promise to your special someone? Well, that is what Raku Ichijo did in Nisekoi (False Love) by Naoshi Komi. He is the heir of a yakuza clan and ten years ago he made a promise to his childhood sweetheart. She gave him a lock pendent, she kept the key, and they promised to get married when they meet again as grownups. Now, Raku is in high school and still believes he will meet her again but he has forgotten her name and what she looks like! Things get complicated when a new girl, Chitoge Kirisaki, transfers to Raku’s school. Immediately the two fight over EVERYTHING! It turns out she is the daughter to a rival gang and in order to keep the peace, Raku’s father and Chitoge’s father implore the two to date. Both kids can think of nothing worse but soon realize that their fake love might really be the only way to stop the gangs from fighting each other.

Volume 1 is full of action, extreme emotions (it is high school after all) and the romance is fun to read. Will Raku fall for the brute Chitoge? Will Onodera (the girl Raku actually has a crush on) turn out to be the locket girl? I am actually kind of torn between the two girls and who I want to end up with Raku which goes to show how well written the love story is. The art style shows off the emotions and action sequences well with expressive facial expressions and lots of lines to show the tension and movement.

At first, I thought the potential love plot line between Raku and Chitoge would be cliché, but Komi has pulled me in. The characters have depth and you really want to know what happens to them. You will have to check out volume 1 to find out what happens! I will be on the look out for volume 2!

 

Volume 1 is currently available for $9.99.

Nisekoi, Volumes 1-6 are also available for digital download for $6.99 each on VIZManga.com and through the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® touch, Android-powered smart phones, and also for NOOK, KOBO, and KINDLE tablets and devices.

 

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Pokemon Manga Now Available On eReaders And At eBook Stores!

by Kari Lane

Pokémon fans rejoice because for the first time Pokémon manga titles (30 volumes!) will now be available on NOOK, Kindle Fire, and Kobo eReaders, as well as through iBooks and GooglePlay Stores!

The new series that are available now include: POKÉMON ADVENTURES Vols. 1-14, POKÉMON DIAMOND & PEARL ADVENTURE! Vols. 1-8, POKÉMON ADVENTURES: DIAMOND & PEARL/PLATINUM Vols. 1-4, and POKÉMON BLACK AND WHITE Vols. 1-4.  POKÉMON manga series are published in North America by VIZ Media’s Perfect Square imprint. All volumes are rated ‘A’ for All Ages and will be offered with an MSRP of $3.99 to $4.99 per volume.

 

POKÉMON is one of the most successful entertainment franchises of all time with over 241 million video games sold worldwide in addition to extraordinary publishing and merchandise sales. The next generation of Pokémon video games, Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, launched worldwide in October 2013, exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS system. Pokémon VIZ Media distributes a wide array of POKÉMON animated titles and also is the exclusive North American publisher of POKÉMON manga graphic novels through its Perfect Square imprint.

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Pokémon digital manga available now:

POKÉMON ADVENTURES, Vols. 1-14 · Rated ‘A’ for All Ages

All your favorite Pokémon game characters jump out of the screen into the pages of this action-packed manga! Follow Red, Blue, and Green on their journey around the Kanto region. Then meet Yellow as she searches for Red, who goes missing! The Johto region is the next stop in the series and there’s more excitement when you meet Gold and his rival Silver. Round out the series with stories of Crystal, who teams up with Yellow to find a mysterious flying Pokémon. Will all seven Trainers meet again?

 

POKÉMON DIAMOND & PEARL ADVENTURE!, Vols. 1-8 ·

Rated ‘A’ for All Ages

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

 

POKÉMON ADVENTURES: DIAMOND & PEARL/PLATNINUM, Vols. 1-4 ·

Rated ‘A’ for All Ages

Pokémon Trainers Pearl and Diamond are star-struck! Their lifelong dream is to floor an audience with their Pokémon comedy act. So how do they wind up as bodyguards to a pampered little rich girl on a quest to reach the peak of Mt. Coronet…?! Come along and join the thrills and laughs as Pokémon Adventures continues! Plus, meet Starly, Bidoof, Luxio, Combee, Bronzor, Rotom and many more Sinnoh Pokémon friends!

 

POKÉMON BLACK AND WHITE, Vols. 1-4 · Rated ‘A’ for All Ages

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

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Additional information on Pokémon titles published by Perfect Square is available at www.PerfectSquare.com.

The Edgy Anime Series ‘K’ Is Available On Hulu In English!

by Kari Lane

I recently posted an article announcing the upcoming release (February 25th, 2014) of the special limited edition Blu-ray/DVD combo pack and standard DVD edition of the anime series K. Well, now you can watch the complete series (13 episodes) dubbed in English on Hulu and Hulu Plus until Wednesday, January 15th! Please visit www.Hulu.com for complete details.

Wondering what this show is about? Read on to learn more about this action/thriller!

K introduces fans to Shiro, an easygoing teenager content with just being a student – until his seemingly perfect life is suddenly halted when a bloodthirsty clan, glowing red with fire, attempts to kill him in the streets. Unbeknownst to Shiro, he is suspected of murdering a member of their clan and will need a miracle to escape their vengeance. Miraculously, a young man named Kuroh Yatogami swings in and aids Shiro in his getaway, only to reveal afterward he’s also after Shiro’s life. Now a hunted man, Shiro will have to evade the clans of seven powerful kings and desperately try to prove his innocence – before it’s too late!

K also is also currently featured in Japanese with English subtitles on VIZAnime.com, VIZ Media’s own website for free anime.

For more information on K and other animated titles from VIZ Media please visit www.VIZAnime.com.

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LBCC: May The Fold Be With You (Star Wars Origami)!

by Kari Lane

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Looking for that last minute gift for the geek/craft lover in your life? Well, look no further than Star Wars Origami! While attending Long Beach Comic and Horror Con, I attended the Star Wars Origami panel hosted by master folder himself Chris Alexander. Everyone who attended the panel was given their own blue print to make Boba Fett’s helmet. I had a fun time trying to get the pieces to fold just the right way and was proud of my final result.

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I was able to interview Chris Alexander and get the full story on how this creative idea came about. Read on to see how Star Wars turned into a folding art and how it is something anyone can do!

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So what exactly is Star Wars Origami and how did it come about?

This starts with the disclaimer “kids, don’t try this at home”. I was driving home after teaching first graders how to make an origami penguin. If you picture a penguin and turn it on its side you end up with something that looks like the B-Wing from Return of the Jedi. Both have a pointy head, long skinny body with stubby wings, and little feet. So there I was on the freeway and I thought I could make my first Star Wars model. I couldn’t wait. I pulled out a piece of paper and folded it. After that, I wanted to make the whole universe. I set myself a goal of creating an origami X-wing by the end of the month. Later I showed these to models to an acquaintance who suggested I write an entire Star Wars Origami book. It took a lot of perseverance, but after 15 years the book became a reality.

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B-Wing design

How were the shapes/characters/ships chosen?

Workman Publishing approached me asking if I wanted to publish the book and already had in mind exactly what they wanted it to look like, 35 models from all 6 movies. At the time I’d created about 45 Star Wars models. Selecting 35 wouldn’t be too hard, but Lucasfilm requested a few to be included that I hadn’t created yet. Darth Vader and Luke’s pilot helmet for example.

I wanted the book to have models from all 6 movies and range from very easy to very difficult to make. For the most part origami is created from a single sheet of square paper. However there are many famous designs which start from triangles and other simple geometric shapes. Other models have more than one piece of paper. Knowing a lot of the readers of my book have probably never tried origami before I wanted to include a few models which showed the range of what can be done with origami.

How were the shapes developed?

For the most part I start with an idea of what I’d like the finished model to look like. Take Jabba the Hutt for example. He’s a big, vaguely triangular blob with a long fat tail and two arms. Once I get to that shape I see what can be done to make it more recognizable. There’s a balance when it comes to adding details. You don’t want to create a model that takes an hour to fold only to have 80% of the folding time dedicated to adding a pimple on his cheek. And what’s the point of adding that pimple if the models won’t have eyes and a mouth when you’re done.

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Who did the artwork and how was it done?

I created all of the origami designs in the Star Wars Origami book. Once a design is created it’s a simple matter of  folding it with a blank sheet of paper and marking all the places you want “painted”. Unfold the paper and see where the markings and the creases are. Then you turn those over to an awesome artist, in my case Phil Conigliaro at Workman. He took my layouts and made the special paper Pop.

Why Star Wars?

I’ve been a fan of origami all my life, and a huge Star Wars fan forever. It’s only natural to combine the two things you love. Consider the Reeses Peanut Butter Cup. Peanut Butter and Chocolate. Just try to imagine a world where that was never combined.

What is your favorite Star Wars origami shape to make?

I love folding the Falcon. It’s pretty quick, very recognizable, has an elegant folding process, and it’s once of my first designs.

Which one was the hardest?

Slave I, although the ETA fighter comes in a close second. It took me 7 years to get Slave I just right.

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Slave I design

Can anyone do origami?

I believe anyone with a little patience can do origami. Origami has the undeserved reputation as being a kids art form, much like finger painting. So a lot of people get frustrated when they try to make moderately challenging models and can’t get them to come out right the first time. Just like with any other art form anyone can make simple things on their first try, but to get good takes practice. I’m sure even Michelangelo started with stick figures.

Any tips for those new to origami?

There are two “secrets” to origami. First, always be as accurate as you can when lining up a fold. Second, crease the fold as sharply as possible. Beginners tend to pat the crease into place. The creases need to be folded until they lose their will to survive.

How long did it take to put the book together?

Once I set out to create a Star Wars origami book it took me just over 2 years to create and diagram the 15 models I though should be included. I’d originally hoped to make one book for each movie. Once that was done I starting trying to find a publisher. Over the years I was turned down many, many times by many publishers. Undaunted I kept creating more Star Wars models and sending more proposals. 13 years after I’d first started Workman Publishing approached me asking if I’d be interested in getting the book published. It just goes to show what you can do with perseverance.

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Any plans for future origami books?

I’m still inventing Star Wars models and hoping to put out a second book. There are still a few models I’d love to see published which didn’t make it into the first book, as well as material from the Clone Wars TV series, and a brand new movie coming out in December of 2015. I’m also working on a secret project which explores a new aspect of origami. I’ve created a few models for that project, and when I have enough I’ll see if I can get that published as well.

Where can people find the Star Wars Origami book?

You can find my book anywhere books are sold. Just about every book store has a copy, as well as Target, Costco, and craft stores like Michaels. Its also available online at sites like Amazon.

Geekscape Reviews ‘Embracing Love’ Yaoi *Mature Content*

by Kari Lane

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

 

Yaoi explores gender roles and sexuality and what better way to delve into that than to have the two main characters be adult film stars. Embracing Love by Youka Nitta (same author/artist from Spiritual Police) focuses on successful adult film actor, Iwaki Kyousuke, and young rising adult star, Katou Yoji. Both men want to expand their careers by working in more mainstream films and they get the opportunity when they are both asked to audition for a new erotic film. However, at the audition they are shocked when asked to have sex with each other to see who will get the lead role. Ambitious Katou rises to the challenge first but Iwaki will not be outdone by this young punk.

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What starts out as a rivalry begins to transition into a romance when Katou starts having feelings for Iwaki. Will Iwaki embrace this new kind of relationship? What does the future hold for these two stars? Their developing romance is a pleasure to read but Iwaki’s self doubt about it all does drag on a little long. I found it interesting that the story is centered around people who have sex for a job and examines how they approach intimate connections.

The characters in this manga are drawn in an elongated fashion. I thought to call them daddy long legs because in some full body images their legs are impossibly long. Their faces are also extended — a sort of cross between an oval and a heart shaped face. Even though they may have long faces, they have chiseled jaw lines and big expressive eyes. The overall visual tone is rather bright with only minimal shading on the characters and blush lines to give any sort of 3D depth to the space. Their clothes and backdrops have nice textures and, in that way, the characters stand out against their surroundings. There is only minor censorship on the private parts; there is actually pubic hair and everything is drawn out, but in a more basic outline style rather than detailed.

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I like that volumes one and two come together in a single book as it leads to a solid story arc and character development in one package. I am curious to see where the relationship between Iwaki and Katou goes. Will they be able to stay together? Will Iwaki be able to let go of his envy towards Katou’s mounting fame? Will other people come between them? Will they get to act in the films they always dreamed of? Hopefully the next few volumes will be just as entertaining.

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Embracing Love (volume 1 & 2) is rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers, and retails for $16.99.

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.

Kari’s Anime Corner: First Impressions of ‘Accel World’

by Kari Lane

Hi! My name is Kari Lane, and I’ve been an anime lover since I was a little girl. Those good old days when classics like Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball/Dragon Ball Z, Card Captor Sakura, Digimon and Monster Rancher were on the most basic of cable.

Over the years, I have expanded my anime repertoire and have attended numerous anime conventions. I’m currently a host on Neo-Cinema, a web-based anime and Japanese live-action movie review show. Recently, I’ve been watching the first few episodes of various anime series’, and thought it an excellent idea to write reviews based on my “first impressions”. Of course, you’ll have many unanswered questions after viewing just 4, 5, or 6 episodes, but you can get a feel for the show and decide if you want to continue watching! I hope my reviews will help introduce you to some awesome anime, or help you avoid the more mediocre junk that’s out there!

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I heard about Accel World at Anime Expo 2013 and was reminded about it with the recent press release announcing season 1 was available for purchase. It looked like a cool show and it did not disappoint. This was a show where I blazed through season 1 in one day (12 episodes). The episode structure flows from one to the next and you just want to know what happens next.

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Accel World is set in the near future where everyone has a neuro-link to manage anything and everything in their daily lives; it is networking and Google Glass to an extreme. The main character, Haruyuki “Haru” Arita, is a short fat boy who is constantly bullied and finds his only escape from the harshness of reality in virtual reality games. In the virtual world, he feels he can be the best he can be and not be tormented for being a little different. It is funny though because he chose a cute little pig as his avatar. While in the Sims-like virtual world, Haru is approached by the beautiful and super popular student counsel Vice-President, Kuroyukihime, who asks him to meet her in the real world! They directly link into each other (a thing only couples do!!!) and Kuroyukihime invites him to try Brain Burst and enter an accelerated world.

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The virtual reality environment of Accel World is primarily a fighting game but what makes it addictive is in the real world you can essentially “freeze time”. Time does not stop but rather you are able to process the situation faster and are able to step out of your body to fully understand your surroundings. Kuroyukihime explains that people use this to their advantage for fame, power, money, whatever you can think of. How many times you can “brain burst” is determined by how many points you have and the only way to gain points is to battle in Accel World. Time in Accel World is accelerated such that you could be in the game for a year and only a day will pass in the real world.

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The concept and art style are similar to Sword Art Online (another really good show), but the shows are also very different. Accel World has a good amount of humor, some of which arises from Haru’s awkward interactions with girls. Though there is a lot of cool battles/fight scenes, at its heart Accel World is about relationships (friends, family, mentor-protégé, boyfriend-girlfriend, and more). Through the course of the season, the relationships between characters are explored and go through their ups and downs. Also, the show is about getting past your own insecurities and not letting anything hold you back.

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Why did Kuroyukihime recruit Haru? Will Haru be able to stay friends with his childhood companions? Who is the real enemy in Accel World? If want a cool action/sci-fi type of show you should check this one out! I look forward to season 2 to see where our hero and friends go next!

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For more information on Accel World please visit www.VIZAnime.com/accelworld.

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Geekscape Reviews ‘Spiritual Police’ Yaoi *Mature Content*

by Kari Lane

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

 

I have read manga for many years but only recently started reading yaoi (see SuBLime interview for more info). I enjoy the emphasis on relationships, especially the ooey gooey romantic stuff, and yes, I enjoy reading the sexy time parts. One of the first titles I read was Spiritual Police by Youka Nitta.

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Police officer, Nagatsuma, visits a special massage therapist on the recommendation from one of his senior detectives. Nagatsuma is good at his job but he is too empathic and the harshness of his job puts stress on his overall well being. He is skeptical of the treatment at first but soon realizes masseur, Aoi (who is blind), not only mends bodily ailments but also taps into something greater. It seems that with his blindness, Aoi has gained another kind of sight – a sight into the future. Aoi warns Nagatsuma of some impending danger and this just makes Nagatsuma more curious (and apprehensive) about this beautiful man.

Aoi is a person who “sees” beyond one’s sex and Nagatsuma is blindsided by his developing feelings for Aoi. Other characters mention how attractive Aoi is and one even says, “The doc there’s so pretty it’s a pity he’s a guy, don’tcha think”? Another interesting example of gender switch ups is occurs when a character thinks to himself about Nagatsuma, “What kind of man is he? He’s a woman…” Yaoi is a genre where gender roles can be expressed in various ways. The relationship between Nagatsuma and Aoi progresses rather naturally with Nagatsuma giving in and slowly embracing this new kind of relationship. Unfortunately, towards the end of volume 1, a conflict comes up and Nagatsuma instead of asking Aoi what is going on he does something rather frustrating. I did not care for that part of the story but enjoyed the rest enough to overlook that segment.

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The art style depicts emotional moments well with many blush lines, expressive eyes, and movement indicators (lines, light bursts, etc). The characters/environments are drawn/shadowed/textured well and reflect the one of the more common styles of manga/anime. Yes, the men are nice to look at and have gorgeous hair and slender bodies. The private parts are mostly whited out, but you can still tell the shape and what is going on. I did find a few of the dialogue boxes hard to follow, but each character has their own style of speaking so it was not too disruptive to my reading.

This volume peaks your interest when it introduces a mysterious organization (possibly evil) that wants to keep Aoi prisoner and use his powers for their own benefit. Will Aoi be able to escape? Will Aoi and Nagatsuma be reunited? I enjoyed the extra element of the psychic abilities, and the developing mystery and I am excited to read what happens next!

Spiritual Police is rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers, and retails for $12.99.

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.

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‘Madoka Magica Part III’ Movie Premiere!

by Kari Lane

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Hollywood got a taste of anime glamour Tuesday night at the Egyptian Theater with the premiere of Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part III: The Rebellion Story. I spoke with Marketing Specialist at Aniplex, Joanna Metoki, about the event. She mentioned the first people to get in line arrived around noon (the event page said doors open at 5:30PM with the film starting at 7PM). Anime fans are dedicated! Regarding the fans, Metoki said, “you could feel the excitement” and that you “could tell the fans were serious about this movie.” She also added “the fans were amazing!” I asked Metoki which Madoka character she liked best and she said Mami was her favorite  because “she was so passionate about what she was doing,” and she liked that Mami was a mentor and helped the other girls.

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From Left to Right: Christina Vee (Homura), Sarah Williams (Sayaka), Mitsutoshi Kubata (President of Shaft), Atsuhiro Iwakami (Aniplex producer), Lauren Landa (Kyoko), Cassandra Lee (Kyubey), Christine Marie Cabanos (Madoka), Alexander von David (English ADR Director) *The voice actors are from the English cast*

As I surveyed the fans I noticed many cosplayers dressed in Madoka Magica outfits. One of the first groups I talked to came all the way from Las Vegas, Arizona and New Mexico to attend the premiere! They arrived in full cosplay around 2PM. When asked if they had trouble picking out who will cosplay which character, they said their choices just fell into place. They have all been cosplaying for a few years and met mainly through conventions but stayed in touch via Skype. This event was such a big deal to them that they planned their trip as soon as they saw the trailer on part 1 and 2 of Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie (part 1 and 2 screened together last year).

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From Left to Right: Ana, Katrina, Aubree, Jude

Another friendly group came from a closer location, Claremont, CA. They also have been cosplaying for a few years and met through school. Last year, some of them saw part 1 and 2 twice because not everyone could make it to the same screening. Jacob decided to crossplay (dress as a character of the opposite sex) because there really are no boys in the show. He also mentioned that it was actually nice to wear a skirt and tights. I was rather impressed that he even wore fake lashes thought he mentioned they were hard to put on.

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From Left to Right: Jacob, Samantha, Madelynn

Getting in line somewhat on the later side, around 6PM, this young lady still managed to rock her cosplay. She attended a screening last year but was not able to make it to the premiere. As soon as ticket sales were announced (a friend clued her in) she made sure to get a ticket to this year’s premiere! She mentioned she has been casually cosplaying for about five years and she chose Kyoko because she likes that Kyoko is bratty in order to cope with the troubles she has endured.

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Hope

Along with cosplays of specific characters, I spotted a cute gothic lolita outfit. She mentioned she had just got the dress and wanted an occasion to wear it. The premiere of an anime film was the perfect opportunity and she felt the unicorns on the dress suited the event. She was also sporting a Madoka key chain/charm that she purchased at last year’s event.

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Karlee

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Not only were there fans who cosplayed, there were some professional cosplayers at the event that posed on the red carpet with the voice actors, handed out gift bags and added a huge slice of kawaii (Japanese for ‘cute’) to the event. I spoke with Madoka herself (Jessie) about her experience at the event.

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Characters from Left to Right: Mami, Kyoko, Lauren Landa (English voice of Kyoko) Homura, Madoka, Sayaka

K: How was it cosplaying at the Madoka premiere?

J: A lot of fun! It’s always nice getting to meet people who go to these events and work with the companies.

K: Did you make your costume?

J: Yes.

K: How did you get involved with Aniplex?

J: I was hired by ACParadise

K: Are you a fan of the Madoka series?

J: Yes!

K: Any memorable moments from the premiere?

J: The producer wearing a tie to match my costume was pretty great, plus the movie was amazing.

At the screening, there was a pretty awesome merchandise table that had domestic merchandise and special merchandise imported from Japan just for the event! Aniplex provided a printed sheet/purchase form that people were able to look at before they reached the actual goodies. They also made announcements when items sold out (many items did sell out!) so that customers knew before reaching the cash register. The merchandise that remained after the premiere will be sold at the Downtown Independent screenings, so if you could not make the premiere, you might be in luck! Anime Jungle was the exclusive vendor selling the merchandise this year (as well as last year) and I spoke with their general manager, Tetsu Shiota. Anime Jungle is a store in Little Tokyo (as well as in Japan!); they usually have a booth at conventions and at special events.

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I also interviewed EJ Rivera, Marketing Specialist at Aniplex, about the event.

Congratulations on a sold out premiere! How do you think the event went overall?

Thank you very much. The event went pretty well.  It was great to see the fans having a great time and enjoying Madoka Magica together along with our special guests.

Were you surprised by how quickly tickets sold?

Very surprised; tickets for the event sold out immediately after they went on sale. It pretty much shows how strong the following is for the Madoka Magica Series.

What was your favorite part of the evening?

My favorite part of the evening was the Talk Session following the movie; it was great to see both Mr. Kubota (President of SHAFT) and Mr. Iwakami (Aniplex Producer) provide some in-depth insight on the Madoka Magica series and –Rebellion– itself. It was also great to see the fans enjoying the Talk Session. We definitely wanted to give the fans a unique and special experience at this event.

The premiere expanded from last year’s premiere! Why the change in theater and scale of the event?

Seeing how popular the first two movies were here in the US, we really wanted to give the fans a memorable experience when attending this event. We weighed our options and believed the Egyptian Theater would be the best venue to host this special event.

How are fans receiving the film?

From what I saw from the US Premiere Event, it looks like the fans enjoyed the film. It was great to see everybody in the theater clapping once the credits started.

Any final comments on the event?

On behalf of Aniplex of America, I would like to thank everybody who attended the Madoka Magica –Rebellion– US Premiere Event here in Los Angeles, CA. We hope that you enjoyed the event and we look forward to organizing more events like this in the future.

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madokacharacters

 

Hope you enjoyed my coverage of the Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part III: The Rebellion Story premiere. Click here for additional screening dates and locations. Check back soon to read my review of the film!

 

Here are some pictures of the lovely and handsome people involved with the film on the red carpet!

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Sarah Williams (Sayaka)

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Christina Vee (Homura)

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Lauren Landa (Kyoko)

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Cassandra Lee (Kyubey)

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Christine Marie Cabanos (Madoka)

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madoka1

 

Geekscape Interviews: SuBLime Editor Jennifer LeBlanc Discusses All Things Yaoi! *Mature Content*

by Kari Lane

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

Yaoi is an interesting genre because it is part of the anime community but is often misunderstood by those unfamiliar with it. I always noticed the loud (they did a good job at getting your attention) and colorful yaoi booths at anime conventions but never understood the appeal. Then I watched Brokeback Mountain with my friend, and she and I swooned over the romantic relationship between the two male leads. Ah! I finally understood why this genre was so popular with the ladies (and boys). Curious to know more? Well, I was able to interview SubLime editor Jennifer LeBlanc. Read on to get an in depth perspective on all things yaoi!

Can you explain what yaoi is for the benefit of those who may have never heard of it?

The definition of yaoi varies depending on whom you ask, but what most people understand it to be is stories written by women about two men in a romantic relationship, and they are written with a female audience in mind. That’s not to say that men don’t read yaoi, just that the target audience is women.

EmbracingLove-GN01&02

“Embracing Love”
© 2012 Youka Nitta/Libre Publishing
 

What do you think the draw of this genre is, and why do you think women love it so much?

Women read yaoi for a myriad of reasons, more reasons than we have space for here. There’s the lingering misconception that women aren’t sexual beings who like to explore their sexuality. They are and they do. Yaoi is one of those things that allow women to do this in a safe environment. They can share their love of the genre with other women in the fandom without being judged for it, or being told that because they’re women they shouldn’t like this kind of material.

 BlueMorning-01

“Blue Morning”
YUU−UTSU NA ASA © SHOKO HIDAKA (2009)／TOKUMA SHOTEN
 

In most yaoi, the men are beautiful and often one of them is the “female” (and they can look more feminine too) in the relationship, would you still consider those stories about gay relationships?

They’re about gay relationships to the extent that the characters are both men and are living their lives as men, even if one is portrayed with more feminine attributes. In real-life gay relationships, one man could choose to have a more feminine look or affect, or a more masculine one; it doesn’t make him more or less gay. That said, realism isn’t the main focus of these stories, any more than it is with other romance genres.  In most yaoi stories, traditionally defined gender roles and depictions are deliberately broken.

TableauNumero20

“Tableau Numero 20”
© 2009 Esutoemu/LibrePublishing
 

What you would say to people who think yaoi is just hentai? How would you say the two are different/similar?

Well, that’s kind of like saying gay sex is just straight sex. At their core, yes, hentai and yaoi are both erotic material. However, how each is presented, what they’re about, and who they’re for just aren’t the same. There is some crossover as far as the audience for both, but generally the audience for each is simply not the same. If yaoi was just hentai, we’d have a much larger male demographic.

How much is lost in translation when a title is converted from Japanese to English?

Our goal as a publisher is to not lose anything in translation, so we look to hire the best translators we can who have an excellent grasp of the Japanese and English languages. Sometimes there may be jokes in a story that won’t make sense to readers not familiar with Japanese culture. In those instances we may adapt the joke for English readers, or instead leave it as is with a side explanation.

SleepingMoon-GN01

“Sleeping Moon”
NEMURERU TSUKI © KANO MIYAMOTO (2009)／TOKUMA SHOTEN
 

How did you get into reading yaoi?

My curiosity got the better of me. I was already a fan of anime and had heard there was anime porn (hentai) that existed. I kind of didn’t believe it, so off to Google I went, and that’s how I found yaoi. It didn’t take long to find out that there were books with the material in it as well.

ManOfTango_cover

“Man Of Tango”
© Tetuzoh Okadaya 2013
 

What are some of your favorite titles?

Well, my first favorite when I found out yaoi existed was Ayano Yamane’s Viewfinder (now called Finder). That will always be a favorite of mine. Currently, I am absolutely in love with the series Blue Morning by Shoko Hidaka.

How did you get into working with yaoi as a job?

When I first got into yaoi, I was having a hard time finding the stories I wanted to read (hard yaoi). There weren’t any reviews that told me what I wanted to know—Is there sex in the story and if so, how explicit is it? I decided to start my own yaoi review site that specialized in hard yaoi, The Yaoi Review. After running it for a few years, VIZ suddenly posted a position for a yaoi editor. I had no intention of applying, but a few industry people and also readers of my site prodded me about applying, and here I am.

SpiritualPolice-01

“Spiritual Police” © 2012 Youka Nitta/SHINSHOKAN
 

What exactly is SuBLime?

SuBLime is a yaoi 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). We publish both print and digital books, and we were the first manga publisher to offer DRM-free downloadable PDFs of our books for purchase.

Where can fans and curious people find out more about yaoi and SuBLime titles?

The first place they should look is our website, which is www.sublimemanga.com. Fans of the Nook can also find many of our titles on the Nook Book site. SuBLime also has a large social media presence and can be found on:

Twitter:             @SuBLimeManga

Facebook:        facebook.com/SuBLimeManga

Tumblr             sublimemanga.tumblr.com

Check back soon for my reviews on this titillating titles!  ^_^