Manga on Film! GAHH!! At times I enjoy it so much its enough to drive me mad. I used to go to the Tokyo International Film Fest and volunteer just to get free opportunities to watch manga on the silver screens of Bunkamura and Roppongi Hills but with YaoiCon and winter comic events... ARGH!!! So damn jealous!!

Any whozzle!! Viz Pictures lead by Viz's Prez Seiji are some of the few studios that are really working that manga on film angle. Ping Pong, Densha Otoko, Uzumaki are just a few titles they have worked on over the years. Now they are coming on strong with some SJ live action in the form of two Noto Desu... I mean Death Note films scheduled for DVD release in 2008, with screenings across the States and Canada to be announced in the coming weeks. Personally I wonder how a tokusatsu director will handle this... I am hoping the shinigami scenes kick, nothing beats a actors in full body rubber suits, but that's just me.

Oh and has anyone noticed that Matsuyama Kenichi has been in a number of Viz Pictures titles... Taste of Tea, Linda Linda Linda, the Death Note-s... He was also in NANA...

Hmmm if there's a screening in SF... I guess I better set up another MANGACAST MOVIE MAYHEM night!! Maybe this year we won't get ripped off at CoCo Bang!! Small soju my ass! That was HUUUUGED!

VIZ PICTURES LICENSES THEATRICAL AND DVD RIGHTS TO LIVE ACTION DEATH NOTE FILMS

DEATH NOTE AND DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME Based On Popular Anime And Manga Series That Have Taken Japan And North America By Storm

San Francisco, CA
September 18, 2007

-VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ
Media LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced that it has licensed from Nippon Television (NTV) the North American theatrical and DVD distribution rights to the live-action feature film DEATH NOTE and its sequel, DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME, based on the DEATH NOTE anime and manga series which have gained massive followings in Japan and North America. VIZ Media is the exclusive North American publisher and distributor of the DEATH NOTE anime and manga series.

VIZ Pictures will open DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME in a series of special screenings at Austin’s Fantastic Fest 2007, September 20-27, and at the 2007 Vancouver Asian Film Festival, November 1-4. Theater information follows at the end of this release and future screenings will continue throughout 2008. VIZ Pictures also plans to release DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME on DVD in the summer of 2008.

“We are extremely proud to announce the license of DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME,” says Seiji Horibuchi President and CEO of VIZ Pictures. “Both films were smash hits in Japan upon their initial release and the established popularity of the manga in the United States, combined with the highly anticipated debut of the anime series, will prime audiences for the excitement and tension that the live feature films bring to the story.”

DEATH NOTE is based on the hit supernatural action mystery manga written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. The live-action film, directed by Shusuke Kaneko, known as a director of popular monster film “Gamera” series, was released in 2006 and mirrors the manga’s story of Light Yagami, an ace student with great prospects who is bored out of his mind. All of that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god named Ryuk. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals mysteriously begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to investigate, and he is soon hot on the trail of Light, who must now reevaluate his one noble goal. Both Light and L believe themselves to be on the side of justice, and the two match wits trying to show exactly which of them is "good" and which of them is "evil."

The film’s sequel, DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME, was a hit in Japan, staying #1 for four straight weeks. While it closely followed major plot elements from the original manga series, several new key story differences were also introduced. Both films star Takeshi Kaga, who is widely known by North American audiences as the flamboyant host of TV’s Iron Chef.

DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME will screen at:
Sept. 20-27: Austin, TX, Fantastic Fest 2007
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
1120 South Lamar, Austin, TX
For show times and tickets, go to http://www.fantasticfest.com

*DEATH NOTE will screen at:
Nov. 1-4: Vancouver, BC, Vancouver Asian Film Festival
For show times and tickets, go to http://www.vaff.org/
*Note this will only be a screening of DEATH NOTE

About VIZ Pictures, Inc.
Based in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Pictures, Inc. distributes Japanese live-action films and DVDs, with particular focus on Japanese "kawaii (cute) and cool" pop culture. VIZ Pictures approaches each film release from a J-pop fan's point of view. HULA GIRLS is the fifth VIZ Pictures title following TRAIN MAN: DENSHA OTOKO, LINDA LINDA LINDA, THE TASTE OF TEA, and PING PONG. The company will continue to offer the most entertaining live action motion pictures straight from the "Kingdom of Pop" for audiences of all ages in North America. VIZ Pictures, Inc. is an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC, the San Francisco-based leading U.S. publisher of Japanese manga (comics) and merchandise licensor of Japanese animation such as the popular "NARUTO" animated TV series.

Revenge of the Wotaku

You don't need the MangaBlog to tell you that Japanese readership of Weekly Shounen Jump magazine is split almost 50/50 between women and teenage boys. Take a look at a Princess Side ranking and there will usually be at least a couple REBORN! parodies, some Bleach! parodies and the occasional Death Note title tossed in their for angst reasons. Women seem to gobble up manga with cute righteous young men and they have ever since Sakuragi Hanamichi (Slam Dunk) and Seiya (Saint Seiya). Women make such a large market for SJ, that there have been rumors that storylines are being re-worked for fujoshi tastes and character designs are drawn to a more "cool" aesthetic.

Now the otaku are getting pubs to make shojo their way. Futabasha's Comic High was the first shojo magazine for men. Futabasha seemed to have forgotten the kanji for "bi" (beautiful) in bishojo because none of their titles are like what is found in LaLa, ShoComi or Hana to Yume. Houbunsha's Comic Yell promises a real shojo experience. So instead of hiring mangaka with ero manga, seinen, shounen and yuri backgrounds, many of the mangaka have female manga experience. I might still call this a bishojo mag, or I will until I read an issue first hand, but after checking out the Yell blog, I can clearly see that Houbunsha isn't going for the fanservice... as much.

Remember that post about Manga on Film I did last week. If you are at AX don't pass up a number of manga on film screenings including - Ping Pong!! Looks like Seven Seas might have one of their originals adapted in the near future. See... See content delivery whether its Japanese, Korean, British or American presented in an active layout format like manga just seems to translate will to the big screen. Now I wonder if Seven Seas will be able to screen their movie (if it goes to production) at AX sometime in the future? Hmmm.

And have you ever wondered what your blog would look like as a manga? Honestly I don't know how Sony's software works, but Jack and Brigid will try to give you some details in this latest episode of the MBC.

Send your email to the MangablogCast(AT)gmail(dot)com.

Download the latest edition of the MangaBlogCast here: . Also available in .mp3 (coming soon)

This program was written by Brigid Alverson and read/recorded by Jack Tse for the MangaBlog.
Subscribe to the MangaBlog at

Nice treat for all of you heading down to AX next week. Viz will be screening Matsumoto Taiyo's Ping Pong on Friday night.

Manga on film fans will have plenty to watch at AX. Other film adaptations include: Appleseed, PatLabor, Death Note, Death Note: the Last Name and Tekkon Kinkreet. Please refer to AX's website for exact dates and times as they might change.

VIZ PICTURES’ PING PONG TO SCREEN AT ANIME EXPO 2007

Critically Acclaimed Film Presents A Poignant And Often Comedic Story About Friendship And Competition Set Against Backdrop Of Table Tennis

San Francisco
June 21, 2007

– VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced a special screening of PING PONG, the critically acclaimed comedic film about table tennis by director Fumiko Sori, at Anime Expo® 2007, Friday, June 29th, 4-6PM in Video Room 1 at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach hotel. Anime Expo 2007 takes place June 29 – July 2, 2007 at the adjacent Long Beach Convention Center in Southern California.

PING PONG centers on two friends devoted to the sport of table tennis, and is based on a popular 5-volume comic by bestselling artist Taiyo Matsumoto, who also created several acclaimed youth-driven manga titles like TEKKONKINKREET, NO.5, BLUE SPRING (all published in North America by VIZ Media). PING PONG follows two friends, their two mentors, and three players they face at various high school tournaments. It explores the different motivations and philosophies towards table tennis and wonderfully portrays the excitement and subtleties of the sport.

Director Sori, who also notably worked as an effects supervisor for the movie, TITANIC, went to great lengths to preserve the visual style of the original manga in the film, which ultimately was nominated for eight Japanese Academy Awards in 2003. Actor Shido Nakamura also won the 'Newcomer of the Year' award for his performance as Dragon, a rival of the two main characters.

VIZ Pictures will release PING PONG on DVD on September 4, with the title to be distributed by VIZ Media. Best friends "Peco" Hoshino and "Smile" Tsukimoto have been playing ping pong since they were little kids. While the unique and brazen Peco plays to win and loves the sport, the quiet and introverted Smile thinks of it as just a way to kill time with friends, and only plays because he idolizes Peco. While Smile is the more talented player, he frequently and intentionally loses to Peco out of a misguided sense of friendship. However, after Peco is badly beaten by his rival, Dragon, in an important inter-high school tournament he suddenly quits the game leaving Smile to become the newest ping pong celebrity. He begins training hard for the next championship, waiting for the return of his hero and best friend, whom he is destined to meet in one last match.

"Anime Expo attendees warmly embraced our premiere showing of TRAIN MAN:DENSHA OTOKO in 2006 and this year we are pleased to offer PING PONG, another gem we think audiences will enjoy tremendously,” states Manami Iiboshi, Director of Marketing, VIZ Pictures. “The crossover demographic of anime and manga fans that also enjoy Japanese live action cinema is strongly represented at events like Anime Expo and we are pleased to offer this notable film. PING PONG is a poignant and often comedic story about friendship and competition and the positive and negative impacts of both upon a pair of adolescent boys. We look forward to attendees of all ages coming to the screening!”

About VIZ Pictures, Inc.
Based in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Pictures, Inc. distributes Japanese live-action films and DVDs, with particular focus on Japanese "kawaii (cute) and cool" pop culture. VIZ Pictures approaches each film release from a J-pop fan's point of view. VIZ Pictures titles include HULA GIRLS, TRAIN MAN: DENSHA OTOKO, LINDA LINDA LINDA, THE TASTE OF TEA, and PING PONG. The company will continue to offer the most entertaining live action motion pictures straight from the "Kingdom of Pop" for audiences of all ages in North America. VIZ Pictures, Inc. is an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC, the San Francisco-based leading U.S. publisher of Japanese manga (comics) and merchandise licensor of Japanese animation such as the popular "NARUTO" animated TV series.

© 2006 VIZ Pictures, Inc

So I haven't been around lately... Shoot me!

The San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival has been draining my life force for the last week and I still have until Sunday to go. If you haven't had a chance, go see a movie now. There is anime or as I like to call it "Manga on FILM" to be watched in the form of the Girl Who Leaped through Time. The film has character designs by mangaka Sadamoto Yoshiyuki (Evangelion).

Oh and lookie here I have more Manga on Film news to share with you from Viz... This one is from a classic and a name MM4MM fans should know well - Mastumoto Taiyo. No its not Tekkon Kinkreet that's going to be coming later this year (I hope). We have some SAMA in the form of "Ping Pong"!!!

Lucky bastards Jarred and Erin will be able to enjoy the films in their hometowns. While I will have to decide on Seattle or Chicago to experience this manga. GRUMBLE GRUMBLE

Have fun... Back to the film booth...

VIZ PICTURES ANNOUNCES SPECIAL NORTH AMERICAN SCREENINGS OF PING PONG

Humorous And Insightful Film Explores The Nature Of Friendship, Competition and Table Tennis

San Francisco, CA
March 21, 2007

– VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media LLC, the leading U.S. publisher of Japanese animation and comics that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, continues to expand its catalog of acclaimed titles set for special North American theatrical screenings with the release of PING PONG, the comedic sports film by director Fumihiko Sori.

PING PONG centers on two friends devoted to the sport of table tennis, and is based on a popular 5-volume comic by bestselling artist Taiyo Matsumoto, who also produced acclaimed youth-driven manga titles like BLACK & WHITE, NO.5, BLUE SPRING (all published in North America by VIZ Media). PING PONG follows two friends, their two mentors, and three players they face at various high school tournaments. It explores the different motivations and philosophies towards the sport of table tennis and wonderfully portrays the excitement and subtleties of the sport. Director Sori, who also notably worked as an effects supervisor for the movie, TITANIC, went to great lengths to preserve the visual style of the manga in the film, which ultimately was nominated for eight Japanese Academy Awards in 2003. Actor Shido Nakamura also won the 'Newcomer of the Year' award for his performance as Dragon, a rival of the two main characters.

Best friends “Peco” Hoshino and “Smile” Tsukimoto have been playing ping pong since they were little kids. While the unique and brazen Peco plays to win and loves the sport, the quiet and introverted Smile thinks of it as just a way to kill time with friends, and only plays because he idolizes Peco. While Smile is the more talented player, he frequently and intentionally loses to Peco out of a misguided sense of friendship. However, after Peco is badly beaten by his rival, Dragon, in an important inter-high school tournament he suddenly quits the game leaving Smile to become the newest ping pong celebrity. He begins training hard for the next championship, waiting for the return of his hero and best friend, whom he is destined to meet in one last match.

“We are excited to continue to develop the VIZ Pictures catalog with the latest release of PING PONG,” says Seiji Horibuchi, President and CEO for VIZ Pictures. “The film is a moving and uplifting story laced with many heartwarming and comedic moments and is an insightful and realistic exploration of both the positive and negative aspects of competition. Ultimately a unique film about friendship, we look forward to North American audiences discovering this acclaimed title.”

PING PONG is set to screen in the following cities:

New York
Press Screening: March 22 (Thurs), 2007 1:30pm
General Opening: April 6– April 12, 2007
THE IMAGINASIAN
239 East 59th St.
New York, NY 10022
(212) 869-4288

Chicago
General Opening: April 27 -May 3, 2007
FACETS CINEMATHEQUE
1517 West Fullerton Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 281-4114

Seattle
General Opening: May 25– May 31, 2007
GRAND ILLUSION CINEMA
1403 NE 50th St
Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 523-3935

About VIZ Pictures, Inc. -

Based in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Pictures, Inc. distributes Japanese live-action films and DVDs, with particular focus on Japanese "kawaii (cute) and cool" pop culture. VIZ Pictures approaches each film release from a J-pop fan's point of view. THE TASTE OF TEA is the third VIZ Pictures title following TRAIN MAN: DENSHA OTOKO and LINDA LINDA LINDA, the company will continue to offer the most entertaining live action motion pictures straight from the "Kingdom of Pop" for audiences of all ages in North America. VIZ Pictures, Inc. is an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC, the San Francisco-based leading U.S. publisher of Japanese manga (comics) and merchandise licensor of Japanese animation such as the popular "NARUTO" animated TV series.

© 2006 VIZ Pictures, Inc

It is the season for contests and lists and such. Viz did not want to be left out of the mix, but they are giving their contest a little twist!

By now you possibly have heard of Train_Man, Densha Otoko, Train Man: Densha Otoko... By now you possibly are completely fed up with the whole property and want to move on to something else. And most likely you are wishing for days when you possibly only had an anime to compliment your manga. Well those days are over Densha is available from three different publishers. The TV drama just had its special episode broadcast on American TV a few weeks back (though in limited viewing markets) and the film has made a whirlwind tour of US indie film houses.

Latest stop... San Francisco!! Home of Viz and home of the MangaCast! So what are we going to do. Well Viz has a contest going for free tickets for your chance, email info(at)trainman-movie.com with your name, address and phone number.

And well I want to have a field day. A Manga on Film MangaCast gathering! This might be late notice, so I want to leave this up to you all. If you are in San Francisco from 12/9 to 12/14 and want to go see the Train Man movie lets set a date! Post a reply with the right day for a get together and lets make it a night out!

One Geek. One Beauty. One Thousand Noisy Chat Room Residents...

Computer engineer Otaku (the Japanese term for “geek”) is an average young man, dressed in unstylish clothes and dorky glasses. But as luck would have it, he encounters a pretty young woman on a commuter train and saves her from a lecherous molester, falling in love with her at first sight. A few days later he receives a thank-you message from the woman along with a set of Hermes teacups. Having never had a girlfriend or received a gift from a girl in his life, Otaku seeks out his pals on his BBS website for advice using his codename Train_Man (Densha Otoko): “How should I ask her out?” Deeply interested in Train Man's first love, his BBS pals eagerly supply him with advice. Encouraged by their support, Train_Man undergoes a total makeover for his first-ever date with “Hermess”. Little does he know that he is about to ignite an Internet phenomenon...

Something tells me I might just end up going with the usual suspects but it would be cool to see some of you Bay Area members.

Densha will be screening every day starting Dec 9 at 3:15p, 7:55p and 9:40p. Think it over and maybe I can treat some of you to a movie (you buy the popcorn and dried mango though).

More fun to be had in San Diego. If you can survive the mature manga from DMP why not go to more youth-oriented manga like VIZ. Or even better check out their manga on film at the Pacific Gaslamp 15.

PRESS RELEASE

VIZ MEDIA WELCOMES RENOWNED MANGA CREATORS AT 2006 COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL IN SAN DIEGO Booth #4013
Special Theatrical Premiere and Preview Round Out Schedule for Nation’s Largest Comics Event

San Francisco, CA, JULY 13, 2006

– VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced a variety of special events, theatrical premieres, and speaker panels in and around the 2006 Comic-Con International. Comic-Con takes place July 20-23 at the convention center in San Diego, CA.

Among the notable news for this year’s convention will be rare at-show appearances by internationally renowned manga artists Matsuri Hino and Nobuhiro Watsuki. Hino has created several critically acclaimed shôjo manga series, including MERUPURI and VAMPIRE KNIGHT, both of which are published in North America under the SHOJO BEAT imprint by VIZ Media. Shôjo manga, or comics for girls, is now the fastest growing segment in the publishing arena. Nobuhiro Watsuki is internationally known for his RUROUNI KENSHIN manga series, and his appearance at Comic-Con will lend momentum to the upcoming domestic release by VIZ Media of his newest series, BUSO RENKIN under the SHONEN JUMP imprint, set to debut in August. It will be available as a show exclusive in the retail area in the VIZ Media booth.

There will also be a variety of VIZ Media panel discussions that will include exclusive previews and news. A combined 90-minute panel focusing on VIZ Media manga and anime properties is scheduled for Friday, 7/21 at 12:30 p.m. in Room #9. For shôjo manga fans, Matsuri Hino will help chair a special panel on VIZ Media’s smash hit magazine SHOJO BEAT, on Friday, 7/21 at 3:00 p.m., also in Room #9. SHOJO BEAT recently celebrated its one-year anniversary and Hino will be on-hand to help mark the occasion. She will also give insights into her own experiences as a manga artist, discuss her newest series, VAMPIRE KNIGHT, and answer questions from fans and press.

Saturday 7/22 will see a SHONEN JUMP panel discussion taking place at 1:30pm in Room #1A. VIZ Media is pleased to welcome Nobuhiro Watsuki who will help chair this discussion and discuss his internationally acclaimed samurai manga epic, RUROUNI KENSHIN, which recently completed its run in North America. He will also lend insight into his newest series, BUSO RENKIN. SHONEN JUMP is the most widely circulated monthly manga anthology in North America. Two editors from Japan’s Weekly Shonen Jump, on which the VIZ Media counterpart is based, will also participate in the panel discussion.

Rounding out the VIZ Media panels will be a discussion on Toonami Jetstream, a recent joint venture with Cartoon Network that will offer a dedicated broadband platform to stream the best in action and anime 24/7. This panel is scheduled for Saturday, 7/22 at 10:30am Room#1B.

VIZ Media will have a large presence on the main show floor with an expansive display in Booth #4013 showcasing some of the company’s latest manga and anime releases. New this year will be the availability of licensed items for purchase in the retail area, which will include NARUTO headbands and wristbands, INUYASHA messenger bags, backpacks and more. There will also be an array of convention exclusives, including advance release manga and exclusive gift-with–purchase premiums such as a free SHONEN JUMP NARUTO baseball cap with purchase of the NARUTO Uncut DVD Box Set!

Special screenings and exclusive previews are a major attraction during Comic-Con, and VIZ Media will delight fans with highly anticipated showings. The North American premiere of the latest INUYASHA anime feature, INUYASHA THE MOVIE 4: THE FIRE ON THE MYSTIC ISLAND will be the highlight of the evening on Thursday, 7/20 at 7:00pm taking place at the Pacific Gaslamp Theater - All Stadium 15, located just a short walk from the Convention Center on the corner of 5th Avenue and G Street. In addition, a special preview showing of VIZ Media and VIZ Pictures’ release of the critically acclaimed live-action film, TRAIN MAN: DENSHA OTOKO, will immediately follow at 9:30pm.

“We are pleased to announce a bevy of special guest appearances and film screenings that are sure to delight Comic-Con attendees,” states Yumi Hoashi, Editor-in-Chief of SHOJO BEAT and SHONEN JUMP and vice president of VIZ Media’s magazine division. “The rare appearances of Matsuri Hino and Nobuhiro Watsuki will undoubtedly be a big draw and we look forward to fans’ interest in VAMPIRE KNIGHT and BUSO RENKIN, the newest titles from these two renowned manga creators. This year’s Comic-Con is sure to be the highlight of the summer for thousands manga and anime fans!”

About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs, audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages.