Defend Beer: Brooklyn Brewery Event 2015 Recap

Otakus & Geeks attended Defend Beer: Brooklyn Brewery event last week. It was a full turn out filled with cosplayers, beer lovers and of course New York Comic Con hopefuls. This year's beer had a great taste I had three myself. The event was bigger than it's first year. This year's swag was Defend Beer Capes which you can see Justin wearing in the slideshow below. Good people, good drink and another year of cake. Great time. 


Marvel Television Spotlights BlockBuster Lineup at New York Comic Con

Marvel Television and ReedPOP, producer of New York Comic Con (NYCC), are once again making NYCC the ultimate destination for exclusive Fan experiences with the announcement of an action-packed lineup at the show. As part of the Marvel Television roster, Fans will witness the first cast appearance of the upcoming Netflix Original Series, Marvel’s Jessica Jones and catch the world-premiere of an all-new episode ofMarvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Those in attendance will also get an inside glimpse at what's next for Marvel Animation with an exclusive look at Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man: Web-Warriors and new series,Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.

On Friday, October 9, Marvel Fans will get a taste of the future of Marvel live action and animation with the world premiere of an all-new episode from the action-packed third season of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,before it debuts on ABC, in a panel moderated by Jeph Loeb, Marvel's Head of Television and series Executive Producer. On the same day, Marvel Animation will present an exclusive first look at new episodes and sneak peeks of its hit animated seriesMarvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man: Web-Warriors, andMarvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.

On Saturday, October 10, the highly anticipated Marvel Television and Netflix panel will kick off on the Main Stage featuring the cast of the upcoming Netflix original series, Marvel’s Jessica Jones. Also moderated by Marvel’s Head of Television and series Executive Producer, Jeph Loeb, this exclusive panel will give fans a first look at this exciting new Netflix Original Series, which will be available streaming on Friday, Nov. 20. The panel will also look back at some fan-favorite moments with the cast from the critically acclaimed first season of Marvel’s Daredevil.

"With so much of Marvel’s history rooted in New York City, it is only right for us to save our biggest reveals and announcements for New York Comic Con," said Loeb. "Our Fans are in for an awesome experience and will get a glimpse of things that no one on the planet will be able to see anywhere else.”

"New York Comic Con has become the go-to event for Marvel Fans and enthusiasts to get advance looks at some of the most highly anticipated programming," said Lance Fensterman, Global Senior Vice President of ReedPOP. "We are very excited that Marvel has once again chosen NYCC as the place to debut their new content and can’t wait to see the Fans’ excitement as we welcome the cast of Marvel’sJessica Jones for their first group appearance.”

Below are specific details on Marvel Television's New York Comic Con events:

Marvel Animation Presents

Friday, October 9 – 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM

Jeph Loeb (Marvel’s Head of Television) brings you the biggest animation panel in this universe – or any other. Get an exclusive first look at new episodes from Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man: Web-Warriors as well as glimpses of exciting new Marvel series and seasons on Disney XD!

Marvel Television Presents: Agents of Primetime

Friday, October 9 – 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM

Jeph Loeb (Marvel’s Head of Television) returns with exciting news about your favorite Marvel agents on ABC! Be the first to see an all-new episode of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. before it airs on ABC and find out what’s ahead for Peggy and Jarvis in the upcoming season of Marvel’s Agent Carter!

The Netflix Original Series Marvel’s Jessica Jones and Marvel’s Daredevil

Saturday, October 10 – 5:00 PM – 6:45 PM

Join the cast of the new Netflix original series, Marvel’s Jessica Jones, in their first-ever appearance, as they answer questions and reveal secrets from the hotly-anticipated show debuting on Netflix later this year and celebrate some of the greatest moments from season 1 of Marvel’s Daredevil.  Moderated by Jeph Loeb (Marvel’s Head of Television), this panel promises to be one you won’t want to miss!

 

Waku Waku NYC 2015 Coverage

This past weekend we went to Waku Waku NYC. An otaku and Japanese convention taken place at the Brooklyn Expo. This was the first year Waku Waku was in NYC and it didn't disappoint. The Brooklyn Expo was a great starting location for the convention. The con had a lot of things for otaku girls from Lolita merchandise, great women fan artist and NHK World was present.  There was panels from Funimation, Konesha Comics were present. Check out our walkthrough of the convention below and pics.

The Walking Dead Season 6 to Premiere at New York Super Week 10/9

AMC announced today “The Walking Dead” Fan Premiere Sweepstakes, giving fans a chance to win tickets to “The Walking Dead” season six premiere event at Madison Square Garden on Friday, October 9 at 6:30 p.m. ET.  This ultimate fan experience will include an advance screening of the extended season six premiere episode, two days prior to air, followed by a panel with 18 cast members.  The network is partnering with New York Super Week Presented by New York Comic Con, local radio stations and affiliates on ticket giveaways and sweepstakes offering thousands of lucky fans an opportunity to attend the exclusive, red-carpet event in New York City.   

“An evening that is typically reserved for cast, crew and industry will now include the fans,” said Charlie Collier, president of AMC and SundanceTV.  “Loyal, passionate fans are responsible for making ‘The Walking Dead’ the #1 show on television and this is an exciting opportunity for us to thank them in person.  For AMC, the executive producers and actors to be able to share this moment with them at Madison Square Garden – it’s truly special.”

Fans can enter “The Walking Dead” Fan Premiere Sweepstakes now until Wednesday, September 16 at 3:00 a.m. ET by visiting: www.amc.com/FanPremiereSweepstakes.  Each day, AMC will select 10 lucky winners who will each receive two complimentary tickets to the premiere.*

In addition, AMC is partnering with New York Super Week – a week-long pop culture festival brought to you by the creators of New York Comic Con – to give away tickets from August 17 through September 21. For more information on ticket giveaways, please visit www.NewYorkSuperWeek.com on August 17.

Fans can also check with local television affiliates and radio stations for additional ticket giveaways and sweepstake opportunities.

The first eight episodes of “The Walking Dead” season six kick off on Sunday, October 11 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT followed by the season premiere of AMC’s “Talking Dead,” hosted by Chris Hardwick (Nerdist), at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT.

 

Dragonball Z Resurrection F Red Carpet Premiere

Dragonball Z Resurrection  F Red Carpet Premiere

We we're on hand at the red carpet for DBZ Resurrection premiere event in New York City. The Z warriors Chris Sabat (Vegeta), Sean Schemmel (Goku) and Justin Cook (Raditz) were all in attendance. You can watch the arrival and picture stills below.

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J-Pop Summit & Japan Film Fest of S.F. Announce Guest of Honor

2015 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco (JFFSF), the first and only fully-dedicated Japanese film celebration for the S.F. Bay Area together with the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT proudly present actor Tadanobu Asano, anime director Koji Morimoto and techno DJ Legend Ken Ishii as official Guests of Honor for San Francisco’s annual Japanese pop culture festival. Tadanobu Asano will attend the opening night event at The Castro Theatre to receive Japan Film Festival of San Francisco Honorary Award.

Tadanobu Asano is widely known for starring roles in movies such as Ichi the Killer,ZatoichiThor46 Ronin, and Battleship. Koji Morimoto is renowned as one of Japan’s top anime directors and is also a founder of acclaimed Studio 4℃ and known for works such as Animatrix and Genius Party Beyond. Ken Ishii is a legendary techno DJ and producer who has performed live internationally and enjoys a worldwide fan base in the electronic music scene.

An Opening Night Event on Friday August 7th at The Castro Theatre kicks off the Japan Film Festival of S.F. with a special 35mm presentation of director Sogo Ishii’s Electric Dragon 80000V, a rollicking comic-book style action film that stars top Japanese actorTadanobu Asano, who will be on hand to personally introduce the film and participate in an audience Q&A immediately following the screening. Throughout the weekend, the Japan Film Festival of S.F. will present additional films also starring Asano, includingMy Man and Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi.

The Opening Night Event will culminate with a live DJ set collaboration betweenJapan’s legendary techno DJ and producer, Ken Ishii, and director Koji Morimoto. Advance tickets to the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT/JFFSF Opening Night Event at the Castro Theatre are available now for $25.00 each from http://jpop2015.brownpapertickets.com 

Tadanobu Asano also is set to appear at the SF premiere screening of My Man on Saturday, August 8th 6:00PM. Asano will introduce the film and will participate in an audience Q&A at NEW PEOPLE Cinema.

Koji Morimoto is set to appear at the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT at Fort Mason Main Stage on Saturday, August 8th, 12:00 PM ahead of the screening event, The World of Koji Morimoto, a collection of 3 illustrious animated short films by Koji Morimoto set to screen on Sunday, August 9th, 1:50pm at NEW PEOPLE CinemaMorimoto will introduce the film and will participate in an audience Q&A.

Koji Morimoto will additionally appear for an autograph session at on Saturday, August 8th 1:30 PM in bookseller Kinokuniya’s booth at Fort Mason. Additional details to be announced shortly at J-POP.com.

Ken Ishii is set to headline a second evening concert performance of J-POP LIVE NIGHT on Sunday, August 9th at the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT Fort Mason.

“It is a great pleasure to present Tadanobu Asano with the Japan Film Festival of San Francisco Honorary Award,” says Manami Iiboshi, Executive Director of Japan Film Festival of San Francisco. “As one of the most inspiring and outstanding figures leading the Japanese film industry, and as an internationally acclaimed actor who actively works on projects beyond boundaries, he is extremely deserving of this Award. We are also thrilled to have director Koji Morimoto and DJ Ken Ishii performing together at our opening night event at the Castro. It is probably the first time since their legendary collaboration on “EXTRA” in the 1990’s.”

Opening in conjunction with the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT on Saturday, August 8th and running thruSunday, August 16th, the 2015 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco will take place at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema, located inside the NEW PEOPLE entertainment complex in Japantown at 1746 Post St., San Francisco, CA 94115 (www.newpeoplecinema.com). Tickets to individual screenings are $13.00 each, unless otherwise noted. Film summaries, trailers, screening times and advance tickets are available at: www.JFFSF.org.

JFFSF Opening Night at Castro Theatre

ELECTRIC DRAGON 80000V

Friday, August 7th, 8:00pm

Dragon Eye Morrison (played by Tadanobu Asano) is a reptile investigator who suffers from anintermittent explosive disorder caused by brain damage he sustained in a childhood accident. He manages to find a way to survive and control his urges to destroy with his love of reptiles and an electric guitar. Meanwhile, Thunderbolt Buddha (played by Masatoshi Nagase), an electric repairman turned vigilante who has acquired powerful electro-conductive powers after sustaining a childhood accident, goes after crime bosses and gangsters that take advantage of electric signals. Holding an obsessive hatred towards Morrison, Thunderbolt Buddha challenges him to a final showdown on the rooftops of Tokyo.

Tadanobu Asano & Koji Morimoto Films to Screen at the 2015 JFFSF:

MY MAN

Saturday, August 8th, 6:00pm – Special Guest Appearance by Tadanobu Asano

When loneliness leads to forbidden love, how far will you go? After losing everything in a tsunami disaster, 10-year-old Hana is taken in by a young distant relative Jungo. The pair begins living together as family while sharing the profound sense of loss. Amidst the deep snows of Hokkaido, both desire to fill their empty, love-starved hearts and they set foot into a forbidden world. When an elder benefactor in their small town Mr. Oshio learns of Jungo and Hana's illicit relationship, tragedy begins to take over. Don't miss the special personal appearance by actor Tadanobu Asano who will introduce this film!

THE WORLD OF KOJI MORIMOTO

Sunday, August 9th, 1:50pm – Special Guest appearance by Director Koji Morimoto

A collection of three short films by one of Japan’s top anime director Koji Morimoto,widely known as a founder of Studio 4℃ and his works such as Animatrix and Genius Party Beyond. The famed director will appear in person to introduce the films as well as participate in an audience Q&A.

Magnetic Rose (45min): Magnetic Rose is the first of three episodes of MEMORIES, based on the manga by Katsuhiro Otomo (the creator of Akira). The film follows the members of the deep space salvage vessel Corona. While performing a salvage mission, the crew encounters an odd distress signal emanating from the Sargasso region, ominously nicknamed “The graveyard of space.” Soundtrack composed by Yoko Kanno.

Noiseman Sound Insect (15min): In the space of music, people used to live in the music fruit in the trees. One day, Dr. Frankein secretly succeeds in creating the creature 'Noiseman' by feeding the music fruit as fuel. Since then, the space was dominated by noise, not music. When a pair of kids Tobio and Reina find out this secret, they challenge Noiseman to bring the music back home again. The film’s soundtrack was written by Japanese composer, arranger, and musician Yoko Kanno.

Genius Party Beyond: Dimension Bomb (20min): Dimension Bomb is one of the five short animated omnibus "Genius Party Beyond," produced by Studio 4℃, which director Koji Morimoto founded in 1986. One day, a boy named Shin who wears a pupa-like mask encounters a girl named Koo. The days spent with Koo, who is a free spirit unlike any other, start to fill up his life with cherished and unforgettable moments. Noted musical composer and arranger, Yoko Kanno, provides the voiceover of Koo.

BLIND SWORDSMAN: ZATOICHI

Sunday, August 9th, 4:00pm

Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi is a 2003 samurai action film, directed by and starring actor Takeshi Kitano ("Beat" Takeshi) as Zatoichi. It also co-stars Tadanobu Asano, who plays Ronin Hattori, Zatoichi's rival. The film is a revival of the classic Zatoichi series of film and television series. It won the prestigious Silver Lion for Best Director award at Venice Film Festival and went on to win numerous other awards internationally.

NEW PEOPLE Cinema is a 143-seat cinema located in the underground floor of NEW PEOPLE in San Francisco. Equipped with a cutting-edge HD digital projection and THX®-certified sound system, NEW PEOPLE Cinema is home for local film festivals and entertaining events.www.newpeoplecinema.com

 

Dave Chappelle and Ava DuVernay Celebrate 20th Anniversary of Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation

Dave Chappelle and Ava DuVernay Celebrate 20th Anniversary of Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation

 20th Anniversary of Russell Simmons’ RUSH Philanthropic Art Foundation Celebration at the 16th Annual ART FOR LIFE gala hosted by Russell and Danny Simmons and presented by BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Gin, which took place on (7/18) at Fairview Farms in Watermill, NY.

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It's Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong Review

It's Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong Review

An attraction forms when a Chinese American girl visiting Hong Kong for the first time meets an American expat who shows her the way, but timing may not quite be on their side. A walk and talk romance set in the beautiful city of Hong Kong, the film asks the question - what happens when you meet the right person at the wrong time?

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CE Week: Cracked screen blues. Flygrip saves you the grief - and hand cramps

CE Week: Cracked screen blues. Flygrip saves you the grief - and hand cramps

Cracked screens, the number one accident plaguing cellphone owners has the people of Flygrip addressing the issue with their "Gravity" accessory. Multi-functional and well thought out, this upgraded design effectively "sticks" your phone to your hand while offering you enough flexibility to reach the farthest corner of the screen without too much effort. In addition, the same attachment functions as a kickstand...

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CE week: Ionic tech in toothbrush repels plaque, keeps teeth whiter

CE week: Ionic tech in toothbrush repels plaque, keeps teeth whiter

Toothbrushes. The one thing we desperately depend on to keep our pearly whites, well... pearly and white. Other than attempting to bleach them or heading to the dentist's office in a last ditch effort before heading to Comic Con (as a vampire with fake - but very white - vampy teeth), there's no way to remove plaque on your own. Don't fear though, Global Ionics has heard the call with a new tool to avoid the situation in the first place - the Ionic ProClean toothbrush.

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CE week: GoTech fixes tangled earbud problem. Plus, smallest selfie stick?

CE week: GoTech fixes tangled earbud problem. Plus, smallest selfie stick?

GoTech is attempting to make your earbud tangled life a little less messy with a set of high quality retractable ones built right into the phone case. Called Cell Budz, it also features a built in mic for you chatty folks and a kickstand for watching video so it can balance itself on a table (if it could've balanced my budget, I'd have been sold).

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Escape Entertainment Will Test The Mind Of New York City

Escape Entertainment Will Test The Mind Of New York City

New York City has many attractions but not many will test your mind. Escape Entertainment is a brand new attraction in New York City in Herald Square. What is Escape Entertainment? Listen to our interview with Brad Albright as he explains how Escape Entertainment got started and what you can expect.

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