Tue, July 3, 2007 (1:17pm EDT)
According to Anime on DVD, Media Blasters announced at Anime Expo that its Tokyo Shock division has picked up several new films for U.S. release. At the top of the list are Takashi Miike's "Crows ZERO" and Sion Sono's "Exte" (also known as "Hair Extensions"). The company also licensed the live-action "Devilman" movie, Sang-il Lee's "Scrap Heaven," Miike's "Zebraman," the Korean horror flick "Redeye," and several Shaw Brothers films.
Tue, July 3, 2007 (5:14am EDT)
According to Enterbrain, the Nintendo Wii is now outselling Sony's Playstation 3 in Japan by more than a 6:1 ratio, an increase from the previous month's ratio of 5:1.
Between May 28 and June 24, the Wii sold 270,974 units, almost six and a half times the PS3's sales figure of 41,628 units. The Xbox 360 trailed both with only 17,616 machines sold in the same period.
Between May 28 and June 24, the Wii sold 270,974 units, almost six and a half times the PS3's sales figure of 41,628 units. The Xbox 360 trailed both with only 17,616 machines sold in the same period.
Tue, July 3, 2007 (4:59am EDT)
Model and singer Anna Tsuchiya was scheduled to appear at Monday's opening ceremony of the 2007 Russian Culture Festival in Tokyo, but she made a last-minute cancellation, reportedly due to fatigue from her busy schedule. Tsuchiya had just returned to Japan after a performance on Saturday in Long Beach, California for the 2007 Anime Expo.
Tue, July 3, 2007 (4:47am EDT)
Kotaro Isaka's novel "Shinigami no Seido" is being turned into a movie, starring Takeshi Kaneshiro. It will be the actor's first domestic film since "Returner" in 2002.
Kaneshiro plays the role of Chiba, a death god in human form. Whenever he is assigned a candidate for death, he spends a week with the person to make his final decision. Rain follows him everywhere he goes, and because his direct touch causes people to faint, he always wears white gloves. As an avid music lover, he spends his free time sampling CDs in music shops.
Manami Konishi plays the heroine, an OL targeted for judgment. Sumiko Fuji has also been cast. Masaya Kakehi is directing, and Warner Brothers will distribute the picture next spring.
Kaneshiro plays the role of Chiba, a death god in human form. Whenever he is assigned a candidate for death, he spends a week with the person to make his final decision. Rain follows him everywhere he goes, and because his direct touch causes people to faint, he always wears white gloves. As an avid music lover, he spends his free time sampling CDs in music shops.
Manami Konishi plays the heroine, an OL targeted for judgment. Sumiko Fuji has also been cast. Masaya Kakehi is directing, and Warner Brothers will distribute the picture next spring.
Tue, July 3, 2007 (4:14am EDT)
13-year-old Karen Miyazaki, who is being touted as "the next Kumiko Goto," will make her acting debut in Toshiro Zoga's "Chest!"
The movie is about an elementary school in Kagoshima that holds a long-distance swimming event, focusing on a group of sixth graders looking to face the four-kilometer challenge. Miyazaki, who won the Acting Category award in the 11th All-Japan National Young Beauty Contest held last year, was chosen from more than 1,500 applicants to play the lead female role.
P's International and Kyodo TV are producing the picture. Filming begins in August, and the release is scheduled for next spring.
The movie is about an elementary school in Kagoshima that holds a long-distance swimming event, focusing on a group of sixth graders looking to face the four-kilometer challenge. Miyazaki, who won the Acting Category award in the 11th All-Japan National Young Beauty Contest held last year, was chosen from more than 1,500 applicants to play the lead female role.
P's International and Kyodo TV are producing the picture. Filming begins in August, and the release is scheduled for next spring.
