Aniplex of America Sets Nationwide Release Date for SAO Movie

Aniplex of America Inc. announced today that the nationwide release of the highly anticipated feature film Sword Art Online the Movie -Ordinal Scale-
will take place on March 9, 2017. Details on theater locations and tickets for the nationwide release will be announced at a later date on the official homepage (www.sao-movie.net/us). Sword Art Online the Movie -Ordinal Scale- will be distributed by ELEVEN ARTS in the original Japanese audio with English subtitles.

About Sword Art Online:

The animated TV series Sword Art Online is based on author Reki Kawahara’s light novel in which the protagonist Kirito fights to survive in the mysterious next-gen VRMMORPG called “Sword Art Online.” Since the first volume of the novel was published in April 2009, the series has proved extremely popular, with cumulative sales exceeding 12.5 million units in Japan and 19 million worldwide, spawning two TV anime adaptations, video games, comic books, and merchandise.

Story of Sword Art Online the Movie -Ordinal Scale-:

In 2022, the world of virtual reality was upended by the arrival of a new invention from a genius programmer, Akihiko Kayaba, called NerveGear. It was the first full-dive system, and with it, came endless possibilities to VRMMORPGs.

In 2026, a new device called the Augma is developed to compete against the NerveGear and its successor, the Amusphere. A next-gen wearable device, the Augma doesn’t have a full-dive function like its predecessors. Instead, it uses Augmented Reality (AR) to get players into the game. It is safe, user-friendly and lets users play while they are conscious, making it an instant hit on the market. The most popular game on the system is “Ordinal Scale” (aka: OS), an ARMMORPG developed exclusively for the Augma.

Asuna and the gang have already been playing OS for a while, by the time Kirito decides to join them. They’re about to find out that Ordinal Scale isn’t all fun and games...

For details on Sword Art Online the Movie -Ordinal Scale-, please visit: www.sao-movie.net/us

STAFF

Original Story: Reki Kawahara (Dengeki Bunko)

Director: Tomohiko Ito

Character Design & Chief Animation Director: Shingo Adachi

Prop Design: Tomoya Nishiguchi

Art Director: Takayuki Nagashima

Art Setting: Yoshinori Shiozawa

Concept Art: Sotaro Hori

CGI Director: Ryuta Undo

Sound Director: Yoshikazu Iwanami

Animation Production: A-1 Pictures

Produced by: SAO MOVIE Project

Character Design Concept: abec

Script: Reki Kawahara/Tomohiko Ito

Monster Design: Ryuta Yanagi

UI Design: Satoshi Watsuji

Art Supervision:Yusuke Takeda

Color Design: Satoshi Hashimoto

Director of Photography: Kentaro Waki

Editing: Shigeru Nishiyama

Music: Yuki Kajiura

CAST

Kirito: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka

Asuna: Haruka Tomatsu

Yui: Kanae Ito

Leafa: Ayana Taketatsu

Silica: Rina Hidaka

Lisbeth: Ayahi Takagaki

Sinon: Miyuki Sawashiro

Klein: Hiroaki Hirata

Agil: Hiroki Yasumoto

Akihiko Kayaba: Koichi Yamadera

Gameacon 2016 (indie game con)

Hey O&G fans, are you a indie game fan? Do you like to meet and pick the brain of game developers? Would you like to embarrass a friend in smash bros. in front of strangers for bragging rights (LOL)? GameAcon is for you!

Gameacon is the only conference of its kind — one that combines the business-to-business networking and educational opportunities of the GDC with the entertainment and public feedback aspects of Magfest or Pax. And it all focuses exclusively on independent game developers from around the world. Our mission is to promote independent artists in game creation by providing a space for them to showcase their work, the opportunity to reach an audience who craves to see it, and a forum to learn from each other. (from gameacon webpage)

Gameaconwas held this past weekend at the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City. developers got an opportunity to show games that they are working on to potential players.

Panels

Speakers present at the event were Jon Jones, Content Curator at Epic Games, Nick Landry from Microsoft, and Andy Hess from Unreal. The panels and roundtable discussions ranged from topics like art direction in games, how to develop prototypes. Fans and future game developers got a chance to ask question and get some insight into the game industry.

Game Room

Deadpool The Duck #1

PRESS RELEASE

What do you get when you take one cynical anthropomorphic duck (named Howard) and cross it with the smelliest (and most annoying) mercenary in the Marvel Universe? DEADPOOL THE DUCK #1! Coming to comic shops and digital devices everywhere on Janurary 4th, its high-stakes avian antics as two of Marvel’s most beloved, and crass, heroes merge for an all-new series brought to you by Stuart Moore (CLOAK & DAGGER, THANOS: DEATH SENTENCE Novel) and Jacopo Camagni (DEADPOOL’s SECRET SECRET WARS).

When Deadpool is sent on a mission from S.H.I.E.L.D. to capture a high-profile E.T. that is rampaging across the high plains, the snatch-and-grab turns out to be much more complicated than the Merc with a Mouth anticipated. One unfortunate wrong place at the wrong time accident later leaves Deadpool and Howard fighting for control as the newest mercenary of the Marvel Universe!

So strap in, break out your chimichangas and crusty bread scraps and hang on! Because you’re in for: rabid raccoons, secret laboratories, cramped spaceships, evil corporations, gastric distress, and S.H.I.E.L.D. Did we mention that’s only issue one?! Flap your wings over to your local comic shop on January 4th to get your hands on DEADPOOL THE DUCK #1!

Valliant teases its upcoming XO Manowar movie

Despite the story of the Valiant Universe’s cornerstone character coming to a true conclusion with the final issue of his self-titled comic in September of 2016, the armored hero known as X-O Manowar is poised to return in as the lead in an all-new series early next year.

Today, Valiant Entertainment teases the next chapter in the saga of X-O Manowar with a new piece of art. But will Aric of Dacia once again don the iconic armor, or is there a new hero waiting to take up the mantle? After all, when it comes to superhero comics, a character’s story is never truly over, but heroic legacies can be the stuff legends — and franchises — are made of.

Whatever the answer, readers will learn more when “X-O Manowar” #1 arrives in March 2017, just in time to celebrate the character’s 25th Anniversary. The creative team has not yet been announced, but the teaser art (below) announcing the upcoming series is by Monika Palosz.

"The Doll Life" Sneak Peek: Drama at the Dolldelight Sample Sale

Here is a sneak peek of tonight's episode of The Doll Life. In the clip, Dolldelight fashion designer Cyril Lumboy and her manager Paula explain how the fashion line’s sample sales work and the deals fans can get on these beautiful dolly dresses. Stephanie is doing her best at the sample sale to get shoppers to purchase as many dresses as possible and prove to Cyril that she’s dedicated to Dolldelight’s success.

Lenni Reviews: "Octavia Butler's Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation" by Damian Duffy and John Jennings

(Image Source)

In this adaptation of Octavia Butler's groundbreaking story of a young Black woman thrust back in time to see her slave ancestors, you get a gripping and harrowing view of this tale.

Having not read the original, I can say that this is a hard story to get through. Butler's depiction of the life of slaves on a plantation in antebellum South is raw, unfiltered, and heartbreaking. And as our main character grapples with being treated like garbage by the same man who is intrinsic to her existence so she has to protect him? Yikes...

The art style is sketchy and raw; it really is perfect for this story. You feel every punch, every whip crack, every pejorative word. By the end you're almost relieved because it's so hard to deal with so much raw evil but it's part of our history and it's more important now than ever to be reminded so as not to head down the same path. I think Octavia Butler would be proud of this adaptation. 4.5 out of 5.

See The Tyrannosaurus Rex At The Jurassic World: The Exhibition

Based on one of the biggest blockbusters in cinema history, Jurassic World: The Exhibition, opened its gates this morning at the renowned Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.  The Exhibition immerses audiences of all ages in settings inspired by the beloved film.  Visitors will travel to Isla Nublar as VIP guests to explore a towering Brachiosaurus; come face-to-face with a Velociraptor; and get a rare up-close look at the most vicious dinosaur of them all, Tyrannosaurus rex.

Created in close collaboration with renowned paleontologist Jack Horner, the Exhibition is infused with interactive educational elements—drawn from the real-world science of dinosaur DNA that allowed Jurassic World to come to life. Visitors of all ages can now learn all about these incredible prehistoric creatures.

Produced in conjunction with NBCUniversal Brand Development and Imagine Exhibitions, and co-produced by MagicSpace and IES, the life-like animatronic dinosaurs were designed by The Creature Technology Company (Walking with Dinosaurs).  Running now through April 23, 2017, tickets are available at:http://www.JurassicWorldTheExhibtion.com.