Tokyo Pop and Disney Launch "Alice in Wonderland" and "Finding Nemo" in Limited Edition Manga

Tokyo Pop announced today that they will be launching a new line of family-friendly English-language Manga books by Disney. The first title will be “Alice in Wonderland: Special Collector’s Manga” -- a mammoth 352-page hardcover adaptation of the classic film; and the second title will be “Pixar Manga Collection:  Finding Nemo,” a 176-page hardcover adaptation featuring bonus material. TOKYOPOP’s distribution to both the comic book specialty market and bookstores will be handled exclusively by Diamond Comic Distributors. Besides the return to print publishing, TOKYOPOP will be releasing eBook versions of its titles, available on all digital platforms.  In 2016, the company will publish at least one new title per month beginning in May 2016, with upcoming brands to be announced shortly.

Levy commented “I couldn't be more excited to return to publishing with such esteemed licensing and distribution partners.  Diamond boasts the longest experience with comic book distribution and reaches the widest range of retail partners, while Disney’s influence on pop culture speaks for itself.  I’d like to thank our partners, fans, and creative talent for supporting us through the difficult times and keeping their faith in us”.

“We’re delighted to welcome back TOKYOPOP® to publishing,” said Tim Lenaghan, Diamond’s Executive Director of Purchasing. “Their new manga initiatives will surely be a hit with audiences, and we look forward to helping the company market and distribute their titles. We’re especially thrilled that TOKYOPOP® has chosen Diamond Book Distributors to represent them in the book market, as we add to our list of growing manga publishers.” Details of the first two TOKYOPOP releases are:

Title:  Disney‘s Alice in Wonderland Special Collector’s

Manga SRP:  $19.99Pages:

352Hardcover color w/ B&W interiors

Release date:  May 25, 2016

Title:  Disney’s Pixar Manga Collection:  Finding Nemo

SRP:  $15.99

Pages:  176

Hardcover color w/ B&W interiors

Release date:  June 8, 2016
 

MHz Choice Relaunches with VHX/Vimeo

MHZ Choice announces the re-launch of its SVOD service MHz Choice. Now available through video technology platform VHX, which is a full-stack solution providing the technical capabilities, MHz Choice can now deliver a high quality SVOD experience to their growing list of subscribers.

MHz Choice offers subscribers continuous online access to its critically-acclaimed library, which includes the International Emmy Award-winning series Spiral (Engrenages), and the acclaimed drama A French Village (Un Village Français). Subscribers also have exclusive access to new installments of many of MHz's beloved series such as, the Italian series Detective Montalbano. 

New series, seasons and episodes, will be released on Tuesdays through, MHz Choice adding to their extensive collection of international mysteries, dramas, comedies and documentaries.
 
“After more than 20 years of bringing viewers MHz Worldview, no other media outlet knows this market better and MHz Choice represents the company’s bold next phase. As a commercial network, we aren't just adapting to an ever-changing market, we're leading it,” states Frederick Thomas, MHz Networks founder and CEO.
 
With VHX powering the technology for the SVOD service, MHz can now deliver branded video experiences to fans on the web and across a suite of custom OTT apps developed for iPhone, iPad, Android, and Roku, with a continued roll out of other connected devices to increase subscriber access. New customers receive a free 30-day trial and then subscribe for $7.99 per month.
 

MHz Choice can be accessed online at http://choice.mhznetworks.com.

VIZ Media To Publish First-Ever POKÉMON COOKBOOK Later This Year

Tantalizes the taste buds of POKÉMON fans and home chefs everywhere as it announces plans to publish THE POKÉMON COOKBOOK: EASY & FUN RECIPES on December 6th. Arriving in time for the holidays, THE POKÉMON COOKBOOK: EASY & FUN RECIPES contains delectable and inventive recipes inspired by the best-selling Pokémon characters. Created by Maki Kudo, THE POKÉMON COOKBOOK will carry an MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $17.99 CAN. Create a variety of delicious dishes that look like your favorite Pokémon characters—from desserts to pizza—with more than 35 fun, easy recipes. Make a Poké Ball sushi roll, Pikachu-style ramen or mashed “Meowth” potatoes for your next party, weekend activity or powered-up lunch box.

“This book offers fans a tasty way to celebrate POKÉMON with dozens of recipes inspired by the property’s many iconic characters,” says Beth Kawasaki, Senior Editorial Director for VIZ Media. “Filled with mouth-watering snacks, entrees and desserts, THE POKÉMON COOKBOOK is sure to become a fun and creative kitchen companion for families and foodies!”

POKÉMON is one of the most successful international entertainment franchises of all time. More than 275 million POKÉMON video game titles and over 21.5 billion Pokémon Trading Cards have been sold in more than 74 countries in addition to substantial publishing and merchandise sales. VIZ Media is the official North American distributor for a wide variety of POKÉMON home media releases including animated series and films and also publishes a variety of POKÉMON manga graphic novel series including Pokémon Adventures, Pokémon Adventures: FireRed & LeafGreen, Pokémon Adventures: Emerald, Pokémon Adventures: Diamond & Pearl/PLATINUM, Pokémon Adventures: HeartGold & SoulSilver, Pokémon Adventures: Black & White and POKÉMON X•Y.

Sega & Relic Announced Warhammer Dawn of War III Officially Unchained

At long last, the sun rises on a new age of battle! Relic Entertainment and SEGA Europe Ltd. today announced Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III, the long-awaited third instalment of the critically-acclaimed real-time strategy franchise. The loyal are rewarded!

Dawn of War III immerses players in the escalating brutality of galactic warfare, where they will lead elite hero units and colossal armies to victory, or oblivion. Powerful super-walkers will tower over the front lines as screen-shaking assaults blister the battlefield in an all-out, over-the-top spectacle worthy of the iconic Games Workshop® Warhammer 40,000 universe.

Building on 12 years of explosive gameplay, Dawn of War III combines the epic scale of Dawn of War, with the customization and elite heroes of Dawn of War II. The result is a best-in-class edition giving players the rich strategic experience, stunning visuals, and catastrophic surprises that they’ve come to expect as Relic brings the franchise into the modern era.

“This is the Dawn of War that fans have been waiting for,” said Stephen MacDonald, the title’s Executive Producer. “Our biggest units ever? Check. Giant orbital lasers? Check. Base-building, epic heroes, huge battles, it’s all in there. Get ready for the biggest Dawn of War yet. For the Emperor!”

In an announcement trailer released on the official Dawn of War III YouTube Channel this morning, Relic revealed the devastating forces of Space Marines, Eldar, and Orks locked in battle, slipping ever deeper into the darkness of endless war.

With previous instalments released prior to Relic’s acquisition in 2013, Dawn of War III will be a landmark release for Relic: its first main title produced entirely as a SEGA®-owned studio.

“This announcement is a big moment for all of us at Relic, and at SEGA,” said Justin Dowdeswell, General Manager at Relic. “We’re setting the bar for what we can achieve, and showing players what they can expect from us in the future. This is just the beginning.”

Patlabor and Ghost in the Shell Music composer Kenji Kawai on toco toco tv

Kenji Kawai composer of Patlabor and various anime soundtracks is featured on the Japan discovery show "toco toco." In this show, Japan creators show us places they like in Japan and speak about their activity. In this episode Kenji Kawai will introduce us to the Kita-Shinagawa area, where he was born and raised and where he is still living today. Check out the episode below.

NightHawk #1 Preview

image credit marvel

Press Release

Straight from the pages of Squadron Supreme comes the most brutal super hero in the Marvel Universe in a hard-hitting new ongoing series! Marvel is pleased to present your first look inside NIGHTHAWK #1 – the new ongoing series from fan-favorite creators David Walker (Power Man And Iron Fist) and Ramon Villalobos (E is for Extinction). He is Chicago’s lethal vigilante – dispensing swift and vicious justice to those who truly deserve it. But when the city’s shadiest power brokers begin turning up dead – each murdered more gruesomely than the last – Nighthawk must ask himself the hard questions. Does this killer deserve to be caught? What does he want? More importantly, what does the killer have to do with Nighthawk? To answer those questions – Nighthawk might have to look in the mirror first. The mystery begins here! Don’t miss one minute of the bone-crunching action when NIGHTHAWK #1 comes to comic shops and digital devices this May!  

The Maiden Premieres on April 19th

THE MAIDEN, a short thriller/horror film, made its online premiere exclusively on bloody-disgusting.com on April 18. Following the 24-hour exclusive, the film will live on the-maiden.com.

 THE MAIDEN is the story of a real estate agent (Alia Raelynn) who is pushed to the edge as she struggles to close on a mysterious estate. As she goes about her business, she begins to discover that this house is not as deserted as it seems - and a very powerful and evil presence is working against her. The closer she gets to the sale, the more dangerous things get. Can she close on the house before its too late?

 Michael Chaves wrote and directed the original short. The story was inspired by the real estate crash a few years ago. “I was fascinated by how corrupt it was,” said Chaves. “I’ve always loved haunted house stories, but I wanted some kind of a twist. I started wondering ‘what happens before the young family moves in? How was someone able sell something so evil?’

The film was shot on location in Los Angeles at the famous Beckett Mansion. Chaves produced the short with his family and close friends. He enlisted his high school best friend Tristan Nyby to shoot it. Michael’s wife, Dina Buglione, did the casting. His next door neighbor David Moore and Lynda Pribyl produced it with Chaves.

“We wanted to anchor it in reality, so we shot primarily with natural light,” said Tristan Nyby, Director of Photography. “Especially for a thriller/horror, the power is in believing this is real. The house had such an amazing structure that it shaped the light really beautifully.”

For more information please visit http://www.the-maiden.com.

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