Aniplex Acquires Samurai Flamenco For Fall Season

Aniplex of America Inc. has announced today that they have acquired the highly-anticipated title, Samurai Flamenco for this fall season. Samurai Flamenco will begin its streaming schedule this October. This brand new series features an all-star staff including director Takahiro Omori, whose previous works include popular titles such as Durarara!! and Baccano! along with Hideyuki Kurata whose previous works include titles such as R.O.D. –The TV- and Oreimo 2 for the chief screenplay. The studio that will be producing Samurai Flamenco will be manglobe, the anime studio that brought popular titles such as Samurai Champloo and Michiko & Hatchin. Samurai Flamenco will be available for streaming just hours following its initial air time in Japan. In addition to their streaming plans, Aniplex of America announced that they are also planning on a home release version of Samurai Flamenco on disc. Details about the physical release will be announced at a later date.



A Synopsis on Samurai Flamenco: Masayoshi Hazama: a man who has become a superhero “by himself” with no superhuman powers or any sort of high-tech conversions, NONE!! Hidenori Goto: a cop who found out the true identity of “the superhero” by a strange twist of fate and thus constantly gets in trouble thanks to Hazama, the superhero. This is the story of the birth of a true hero featuring these two young men with a touch of comedy and serious drama, while they come face to face with hardships as they search for the true meaning of becoming a hero of justice in this world! 


Nuke Is Unleashed: First Look At Captain America #12

This October, Nuke is on the warpath – and it’s up to Captain America to stop him as Loose Nuke continues in Captain America #12! From the blockbuster creative team of Rick Remender and Carlos Pacheco – it’s an all-out brawl between Super Soldiers as Nuke & Captain America come head-to-head! It’s a showdown for the ages, and you’ll never guess which flag-wearing Weapon Plus alumni comes out on top! Don’t miss Captain America #12 for the answer!




Otakus & Geeks: Netflix Picks of The Week #2

Another Sunday which means it's time for Netflix Picks of The Week. Sorry I miss last Sunday I was traveling and had some parties to attend. Here are my five choices for the week.

Pick Number 1
Genre - Educational Documentary
Title - Walking With Dinosaurs





















Synopsis - The Cretaceous, Triassic and Jurassic periods come to life in this Emmy-winning series that shows the Earth through the eyes of individual dinosaurs.

Why You Should Watch - It's dinosaurs of course. This is a good six part episode that showcases different times of the dinosaur era. It shows dinosaurs that you probably never heard of and does a great job of showing dinosaurs of the sea. It's very interesting and educational.

Pick Number 2
Genre - TV Show
Title - Who The (Bleep) Did I Marry?












Synopsis - Meet men and women who thought they were happily married until one day they uncovered secrets about their spouse...secrets that would unravel their peaceful lives and leave them asking: Who the Bleep Did I Marry?

Trailer


Why You Should Watch - This is real stories of real people who married the wrong person. Not to the mention it features the woman who married one of the most notorious serial killers in DC. It's a great show and really makes think of doing intense background checks on the person you are with. Better safe than sorry.

Pick 3
Genre - Sports
Title - WWE: The Epic Journey of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson






















Synopsis - Follow the career of one of sports entertainment's biggest superstars, and find out what exactly "the Rock is cooking."

Trailer

Why You Should You Watch - There is only three reasons you should watch this on Netflix. Reason 1 it's the great one. 2. Don't be a jabroni. 3. It's one hell of a documentary showing the great one's origins and how he became the mega star he is today.

Pick Number 4
Genre - Foreign Action/Comedy
Title - The Thieves






















Synopsis - Cranking up the action to full throttle, this slick caper flick finds two teams of Korean and Chinese professional thieves working together to pinch a $20 million diamond from an impenetrable casino vault in Macao.


Trailer

Why You Should Watch - This is a very entertaining caper movie. It has great characters, great action sequences and the chase on the building is epic and well filmed. If you don't mind subtitles for 2 hours and 16 minutes give this one a look.

Pick 5
Genre - Kids/Cartoon
Title - Ultimate Spider-Man





















Synopsis -  Peter Parker comes of age in an epic tale - which finds him torn between his teenage life and a war between SHIELD and Norman Osborn. 16 year old Peter Parker is given the chance to become the Ultimate Spider-Man!

Trailer 

Why You Should Watch - It's a decent Spider-Man series. It's not as good or emotional as Spider-Man TAS but for this generation it's a fun kids show. It has some good animation and some fun humor for all ages.

Lenni Reviews: Blue is the Warmest Color by Julie Maroh



Who can resist that smirk on the cover? I sure can't. And as is par for the course for me, I flipped through the pages of  Blue is the Warmest Color by Julie Maroh (originally called Blue Angel when it was published in France) before I read it and my art geek tendencies were immediately satisfied by the breathy style of the art in this book. Every page is like a sigh; poignant and emotional.

The story begins with a young woman named Emma vising the home of her deceased lover, Clementine. Before she died, Clementine wrote a letter to her mother asking for her diary to be delivered to Emma after she passed. The story of how Clementine realizes she is a lesbian and her relationship with Emma is told via the entries Clementine wrote.

I am a fan of well done LGBT comics and I am a sucker for a good (honest) love story no matter the sexual orientation of the characters. As long as the characters are genuine and the relationship realistic, they could be tri-sexual for all I care (apparently that's a thing). As long as the story is good, I'll be a happy otaku.

As the story is told in flashbacks, the colors are muted, save for blue; the color Emma's hair was dyed when Clementine met her. Even the scenes set in the present have a dream like quality. This story does contain some scenes of smexy woman love so be aware if that offends your sensibilities.

I know there are readers out there who get tired of the traditional coming out story but this comic is worth picking up. It isn't just the story of how Clementine became a lesbian, its the story of two women in love who were taken from one another too soon. This graphic novel has been made into a movie and when it comes out, I plan to watch it to see if its as good as the book. If your heart can stand the ending, I highly recommend this stunning graphic novel.

Can't get enough of Lenni's writing? See more here.

Karneval Review

 If you like the circus when you were younger, "Karneval" is anything but prancing clowns, trained animals, and beautiful acrobatics. "Karneval" is about how two people Nai and Gareki, who met at a very weird situation. Nai was looking for a long lost friend until he was captured and about to be killed by a woman. Geraki comes in and has the intentions to rob the woman. Come to find out the woman is not really a woman and the two boys run into an organization called "Circus", which is like the Men in Black but they actually disguise themselves by being in a circus. So now these two boys are now stuck in this organization and travel with this mysterious "Circus" to many new adventures.

Characters: I love these characters. Geraki is my favorite because of his bad boy attitude but Nai has a cute factor which will be explained later in the series. Yogi is adorable but has a 360 later in the series that I did not expect. The characters are awesome and mysterious as "Circus" itself.

Music: I love the opening song for it has a rock feel, but the ending song really takes the show and put it into a campy, circus, type feel which makes sense because they hide their identities by being in a circus. I listened to some of the OST and I love it. It's jazzy and it fits this anime well.

Overall: A-
    I have only seen up to episode 8 so this is what I think based on what I've seen. Its a great show with great music and dynamic characters. If you enjoy mystery, fun, beautiful artwork, and all around action, then come on down to the one and only "Karneval"!

                                         

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF RANMA 1/2 ANIME & MANGA SERIES TO NORTH AMERICA

VIZ Media today also launches the smash-hit RANMA ½ (subtitled, rated TV-14) anime series on its VIZAnime.com streaming service as well as on Hulu. The series will debut on its Neon Alley anime channel this fall (dubbed), and will be available on DVD and, for the first time ever, Blu-ray box set editions next year.
To celebrate the return of RANMA ½, VIZ Media is planning a variety of booth activities and special programming scheduled for the 2013 New York Comic-Con, taking place October 10-13 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. More details will be announced shortly.
Ranma Saotome never thought a martial arts training mission to China would turn out like this! Due to an unfortunate accident at the cursed Chinese training ground Jusenkyo, when Ranma and his father get splashed with cold water, papa turns into a giant panda and male Ranma becomes a buxom young woman! Hot water reverses the effect, but only until the next time! Constantly chased by battle-happy martial artists and lovesick suitors of both sexes, what's a half-boy, half-girl martial artist to do?
A groundbreaking story with eccentric characters, martial arts mayhem, and quirky romantic subplots, RANMA ½ is a zany adventure that has thrilled generations of fans with its colorful mix of action, romance and screwball comedy,” says Leyla Aker, Vice President, Publishing. “We’re delighted to deliver this classic manga series to a new legion of North American fans this spring in 2-in-1 editions presented in right-to-left format for the first time.”
“RANMA ½ also introduced many influential artists to manga and anime fandom, and it remains a celebrated piece of the genre’s history,” adds Brian Ige, VIZ Media Vice President of Animation. “The addition of the anime series to our extensive digital catalog will present these acclaimed episodes in an entirely new way and allow fans to take advantage of the convenience and flexibility that VIZAnime and Neon Alley offer. Fans can also look forward to the hi-definition Blu-ray and DVD release this spring!”
Rumiko Takahashi is one of Japan’s most prolific and respected manga artists and is the creator of several long running series including MAISON IKKOKU, RANMA 1/2, and INUYASHA – all published in North America by VIZ Media. The spotlight on her prolific career began in 1978 when she won an honorable mention in Shogakukan's annual New Comic Artist Contest for Those Selfish Aliens. Later that same year, her boy-meets-alien comedy series, Urusei Yatsura, was serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday. This phenomenally successful manga series was adapted into anime format and also spawned a TV series and half a dozen theatrical-release movies, all incredibly popular. Takahashi followed up the success of her debut series with one blockbuster hit after another— MAISON IKKOKU ran from 1980 to 1987, RANMA ½ from 1987 to 1996, and INUYASHA from 1996 to 2008. Other notable works include MERMAID SAGA, RUMIC THEATER, ONE-POUND GOSPEL, and RIN-NE (all also published in North America by VIZ Media).
 
 

Street Fighter Origins: Akuma Graphic Novel Released Today!

Akuma! The world’s most feared martial artist, mentioned only in whispers. Few have dared to challenge him, and even fewer have survived to speak of the nightmare! Master of the Fist, wielder of the Dark Hado… but he was not always trapped on the path of chaos. Featuring story by Chris Sarracini and art by Joe Ng, this original graphic novel mixes a surprising and intense coming-of-age story with the all-out action that Street Fighter fans love! Street Fighter Origins: Akuma reveals the secrets of this dark figure’s past for the first time, and shows how a frustrated young man grew into the mad demon! Here is a preview from the graphic novel.





Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons Review

Starbreeze Studios and 505 Games bring us a unique downloadable game for the PSN and XBOX 360. Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons tells the story of two brothers on a journey to save their father from a fatal illness. Is the journey worth the $14.99 price of admission? Or should this journey not be taken?

Story -

The story kicks off with the younger brother paying respects to his mother's grave, from there you get a flashback on how she lost her life. Once the flashback is over the older brother enters to the scene informing the younger brother that the father has fallen ill. The story has a unique way of storytelling. Without any real dialogue to move the story it relies on actions, facial expressions and emotion to tell what the characters are feeling. Fans of games like ICO and Shadow of The Colossus will be use to this type of storytelling. I thought it was very clever to do characterization of the older brother and younger brother through interactions with people they meet on the road. As you progress and visit different towns you will find out more about what type of person each brother is. The younger brother is more care free and also a prankster. He will play tricks on the townspeople like pinching them, pouring water on them and more. The older brother is more laid back and more focused on the mission except when it comes one girl. Overall the story is moving when it hits the right beats. Characters are likable and the characters you meet are interesting.

Gameplay -

The gameplay is unique to stay the least. Players will have to control both brothers at the same time using the left analog stick for the older brother and the right analog stick for the younger brother. The controls will take some getting use to since you have to keep your eyes on both brothers to see what direction they are going. The shoulder buttons of L2 and R2 controls each brother's interaction and is used to engaged townspeople and solve puzzles. L1 and R1 are use to control the camera. The gameplay is as simple as it gets and the puzzles are not that challenging. The biggest challenge you will find in this game is controlling each brother at the same time. You can however control one brother and then have him wait and then control the other brother to make sure he catches up. I find that easier at times, but it's more better and less tedious if you control both at the same time.

While the gameplay is simple and easy and runs smoothly there are some glitches with the control movement sometimes. Characters sometimes don't respond as accurate as it should and movement can feel awkward at times. In chapter 2 there is a puzzle that involves you taking a key from a giant who has his back turned. Unfortunately the glitch will have the giant facing towards you making the puzzle unplayable. In order to fix this glitch you will have restart the entire chapter. Even though the game is short and the chapters only go up to eight this glitch is annoying and should be patched. Other then those complaints the game is fun to play and you will enjoy it in the short time it takes to beat it.

Graphics -

The graphics are good, not the best graphics in the downloadable game land but good enough. The graphics really shine in the woods where the brothers encounter a group of wolves. This segment of the game shows the lightning effect as the brothers have to use torches in a foggy, dark environment. Other highlights is the land of ice in the mountains. The snow and water look absolutely beautiful I wish there was more of the mountain top in this game.

Sound -

The game does contain some voice acting and even though you won't understand what's being said it's pretty good. The music shines very well capturing the emotional and epic journey the brothers face. The opening song sets the tone for the entire game and this is an ost I would recommended you check out. 

Replay Value -

The game will take you about 4 to 5 hours to beat. It doesn't offer much replay value, unless you want to check out all the interactions you can do with the environment.

Final Grade 8.5/B+:

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons will be a sleeper hit among gamers. It has a great story, unique gameplay, beautiful music and graphics. It has all the elements for a great experience for a couple hours. The downside will be the game is short, the glitch in chapter 2 will be frustrating for some and the controls take a while to get use too. Overall this is a solid game that you need to have in your collection.

Yu-Gi-Oh: The Official First Season DVD Review

On September 10th 2013 Yu-Gi-Oh fans will have the opportunity to own the very first season of Yu-Gi-Oh on DVD. The DVD comes in two volumes. Volume 1 which contains three disc includes episodes one to twenty four and includes the epic battle between Yugi and Kaiba. Volume 2 which also contains three disc includes episodes twenty five to forty nine and concludes with the battle between Yugi and Pegasus. If you wanted to collect the Yu-Gi-Oh franchise at a decent price this will be the DVD to buy. 

All forty nine episodes are included untouched just how you remember it on television. Unfortunately fans looking for the original Japanese version of the show will be disappointed. This DVD contains the 4K edited version just how you remembered it on the CW. The DVD doesn't contain any special features or behind the scenes look at the show. It's just the forty nine episodes in English dub nothing more and nothing less. Personally I would love to see some special features like interviews with the English voice cast, the impact Yu-Gi-Oh had in the west and a little better presentation on the menu. However the DVD exceeds on giving you what you want which is Yu-Gi-Oh Season 1 in its entire length. The animation holds up well and you don't really see the age of the show which is great. Overall if you love Yu-Gi-Oh and want the collection at a fair price this is the DVD collection for you.

Final Grade: 8.0/B+

DVD Product Information

YU-GI-OH! SEASON 1, VOLUME 1 AND SEASON 1, VOLUME 2

Language: English (dubbed)        Color/ B&W: Color
Audio Format: Stereo                    Widescreen: No
Length: 8 hours, 16 mins. / 8 hours, 39 mins
Year:  Various                                    Genre:Anime

Format: DVD 3-PK Swing
Packaging: 3 Pack Swing + O-Card
SRP:  U.S. $24.95 , CAN $29.95


YU-GI-OH! CLASSIC SEASON 2

Language: English (dubbed)        Color/ B&W: Color
Audio Format: Stereo                    Widescreen: No
Length: 16 hrs. 32 mins.                 Units Per Carton: TK      
Year:  Various                                    Genre: Anime

Format: DVD 6-PK Set
Packaging: 2xTriple Swing Amarays in Slipcase
SRP: U.S. $44.95, CAN $52.95


DVD Product Information

YU-GI-OH! SEASON 2, VOLUME 1 AND SEASON 2, VOLUME 2

Language: English (dubbed)        Color/ B&W: Color
Audio Format: Stereo                    Widescreen: No
Length: 8 hrs. 16 mins./8 hrs. 16 mins.                   
Year:  Various                               Genre:Anime

Format: DVD 3-PK Set
Packaging: Triple Swing Amaray
SRP: U.S. $24.95 , CAN $29.95



New On Nick.com is Legend of Korra Book 2: Dark Into Light

New this week on Nick.com is Legend of Korra Book 2: Dark Into Light, based on upcoming episodes from the new season of Nickelodeon’s top animated series Legend of Korra. Help Korra fight against dark spirits and enemies encountered through various levels, trying to bring light and balance back to the environment. This interactive, side-scrolling game features rich animations, effects and parallax scenes to keep gamers on their fingertips. In addition, fans can earn collectible tokens, upgrades and power-ups as missions are completed.
 
 
Legend of Korra Book 2: Dark Into Light is also available on the Nickelodeon HTML5 mobile games hub at m.nick.com/games and the Emmy-award winning Nick App. Mobile play features a character overview with description of newly introduced characters and a trivia section. Answer all five trivia questions per episode to earn a special code to unlock secret missions for the game on Nick.com.
Legend of Korra season two premieres this Friday at 7 p.m. / 6 p.m. (ET/CT) on Nickelodeon. Visit Nick.com/korra to access more games, photos and episodes from the series.
 
 

"Homer Simpson’s Little Book of Laziness" on Sale Sept. 10

Few men have reached the very pinnacle of apathy quite like Homer Simpson. His epic inertia is an example to us all. Now, for the first time, Homer reveals the secrets behind his extraordinary ability to get absolutely nothing done. From tips on how to avoid working at work to Homer’s suitably slapdash design for his “Lazy House of the Future,” this ode to the joys of sloth shows a true American idle at his lazy best.

Also covering Homer’s lazy takes on classic art, his indispensable tips on lethargic eating, housework avoidance, and many more sluggish subjects,
Homer Simpson’s Little Book of Laziness is a must-read for ne’er-do-wells everywhere. Packed with inserts and special features, such as an eight-page pullout Sloth Man comic and a foldout “Anatomy of a Layabout” feature—focusing on fellow lazybones Barney Gumble—Homer Simpson’s Little Book of Laziness is absolutely bursting with idleness.
Homer Simpson’s Little Book of Laziness is the first title in the Vault of Simpsonology, an exciting new twelve-book series that delves into the zany worldview of Simpsons favorites such as Bart, Lisa, and Mr. Burns. Filled with inserts and special features, this colorful collection provides an insider’s look at the everyday lives, best-kept secrets, and sage advice of the beloved characters. Entertaining, humorous, and informative, the Vault of Simpsonology will delight Simpsons fans everywhere.

Microsoft Announces Jinni as Xbox Video Discovery Engine

Video content discovery solutions provider Jinni, announced today a multi-year agreement with Microsoft to enhance entertainment discovery on Xbox video game and entertainment systems. Jinni’s proprietary Entertainment Genome™ uses deep knowledge of every show and movie in the Xbox Video catalog to help the Xbox recommendations system intuitively and accurately connect Xbox users to content they’ll enjoy.  By using the rich set of attributes in the Jinni Entertainment Genome, Xbox recommendations go beyond the standard genre similarity. When paired with other Xbox signals, such as a user’s viewing history, this sets a new bar in content discovery.
 
“Creating the most amazing entertainment experience means always putting the customer experience first,” said Dave Alles, Xbox General Manager. “Our goal is to make it effortless to get you to entertainment you’ll truly love.  Pairing Jinni’s Entertainment Genome™ with other key advances such as Conversational Understanding, makes finding something to watch on Xbox as fun as watching it.”
 
“The inspiration for Jinni has always been putting the user at the center of the entertainment experience, by making finding great content intuitive and fun,” said Jinni Co-founder and CEO, Yosi Glick. “We are happy to be a part of the legendary Xbox entertainment experience.”
 
About Jinni
Jinni is the first and only taste-and-mood based engine powering entertainment discovery. Using content genetics and nuanced understanding of user tastes, the Jinni engine powers a uniquely intuitive and personalized experience that increases content consumption and consumer satisfaction.
 
The Jinni service is powered by the Entertainment Genome™, containing thousands of genes that are assigned to each title to describe mood, style, plot, setting and more; this is a rich alternative to the
usual genre language, which benefits both the quality of the content delivered as well as the intuitive semantic-based user experience. New titles are automatically indexed via analysis of user reviews and synopses, using a proprietary Natural Language Processing solution.

 

First Trailer for Robocop Remake

Today the first trailer for the Robocop remake has arrive. I must admit that I was skeptical when the first picture stills was released. After watching the trailer I must say I like how they combine the old suit and give reasons for the new one. Check out the trailer below.In the film, the year is 2028 and multinational conglomerate OmniCorp is at the center of robot technology. Their drones are winning American wars around the globe and now they want to bring this technology to the home front. Alex Murphy (Kinnaman) is a loving husband, father and good cop doing his best to stem the tide of crime and corruption in Detroit. After he is critically injured in the line of duty, OmniCorp utilizes their remarkable science of robotics to save Alex's life. He returns to the streets of his beloved city with amazing new abilities, but with issues a regular man has never had to face before.



EA Sports Announced Next UFC Game Will Feature Female Fighters

Great day for us UFC fans and personally I will like to say it's about time. Check out the news below.

Electronic Arts Inc. today announced that EA SPORTS™ UFC will feature playable female fighters for the first time ever in a UFC videogame. This groundbreaking moment is headlined by UFC Women's Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and top bantamweight contender Miesha Tate, the historic inaugural female coaches on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter.

Starting next Spring, players will "Feel the Fight" in the Octagon™ and experience the crippling power of Rousey's signature armbar, the ferocious intensity of Tate's grappling, and many other fighting styles from an esteemed roster of female fighters in EA SPORTS UFC.

"This is a great moment for videogames and for Mixed Martial Arts," said Dean Richards, General Manager, EA SPORTS UFC. "In our commitment to delivering the most realistic fighting experience ever achieved, we wanted to represent the full spectrum of talent and diversity of all the fighters in the sport, including women who have become an undeniable force to be reckoned with."


"Since we added the Women's Bantamweight division earlier this year, the women have impressed everyone," said Dana White, UFC President. "The fights are always exciting, Ronda Rousey is as talented as any champion in the UFC and her rivalry with Miesha Tate is one of the most intense in UFC history. The female division has become a huge part of the UFC and fans will now be able to experience fighting with them in the game." 






Max Steel Movie Announced

Dolphin Entertainment, Inc. and Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT), have partnered to develop the live-action, feature-length film “Max Steel” based on Mattel’s franchise property of the same name.  The film will be produced by Dolphin Films, a newly-formed subsidiary of Dolphin Entertainment.  Open Road Films will distribute “Max Steel” in the U.S. as the first of a multi-picture agreement with Dolphin Films.  The film will be given a wide release in theaters in the fourth quarter of 2014.

“Max Steel” tells the story of teenager Maxwell McGrath and alien companion Steel who can combine special turbo-energy powers to generate sensational superhero Max Steel. The storyline centers on bringing a positive and relatable hero to kids, drawing upon turbo-charged teamwork, laughter and friendship.


"Glee" Star Jane Lynch Gets Star On Hollywood Walk of Fame

Today in Hollywood "Glee" star Jane Lynch finally got on the prestigious honor of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Lynch portrays the cheerleading coach Susan Sylvester and she has won multiple awards including the Primetime Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series and more! "Glee: Season 4" will be available on DVD October 1 courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.




KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5 ReMIX Launch Event at Downtown Disney District

Square Enix and Disney are about to kick off the celebration of the release of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX. Read the details below to see how you can be part of the celebration.

WHAT:    
KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5 ReMIX official community launch event
WHEN:   
Sunday, September 8 from 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
WHERE:
Downtown Disney District (1313 South Harbor Blvd. Anaheim, Calif.)
ABOUT:  
In a setting that fits the title’s theme, Square Enix and Disney are celebrating the first KINGDOM HEARTS title launch for the PlayStation® 3 system at Downtown Disney District. This free event offers guests and fans the opportunity to try out the game, take photos in the themed photo booth, and be a long-lasting part of the “ReMIX The History Of KINGDOM HEARTS”, an interactive game-themed mural. Radio Disney will also be providing entertainment at the launch event.

Also while supplies last, Square Enix will be giving away posters, T-shirts, merchandise signed by franchise director Tetsuya Nomura and limited edition collectible pins with purchase of the KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5 ReMIX. Limited quantities of the game (which include the 24-page artbook) are made specially available two days prior to the official release date. Everyone is invited to visit the official Facebook® event page where details will be unveiled.

Upcoming December 2013 Releases From Section 23 Films

Home video distributor Section23 Films today announced its December slate of releases; including the highly anticipated release of Girls und Panzer TV Complete Collection. Available on both DVD & BLU-RAY.
 
 
Coming December 2013
Title: GIRLS UND PANZER TV COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 12/3/2013
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98
SYNOPSIS: You may have heard of kung fu, but the girls at Oarai Academy practice gun-fu - really, really BIG gun-fu, in fact. It's called Tankery, and it's the martial art of operating armored tanks! And even though the Tankery program at Oarai has been defunct for years, the student council has taken a sudden interest in the art and no one they set their sights on is safe. Which is how Miho Nishizumi, who transferred to Oarai specifically to stay out of tanks, gets drafted to join the newly revived Tankery divison. But it's not all bad, because joining her in Team Anglerfish are her new found friends Saori, the highly receptive radio operator; Hana, a flower arranger turned gunner; Mako, their brilliant, but chronically sleepy driver; and combustible tank fangirl and loader Yukari. They may not be on the half-track to fame and fortune, and maybe some of them would rather shop for tank tops than become tops in tanks, but once their focus is locked and loaded, they're absolutely driven. It's mad, it's metal and mayhem is guaranteed! It's GIRLS UND PANZER!

Title: GIRLS UND PANZER TV COLLECTION BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 12/3/2013
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $69.98
SYNOPSIS: You may have heard of kung fu, but the girls at Oarai Academy practice gun-fu - really, really BIG gun-fu, in fact. It's called Tankery, and it's the martial art of operating armored tanks! And even though the Tankery program at Oarai has been defunct for years, the student council has taken a sudden interest in the art and no one they set their sights on is safe. Which is how Miho Nishizumi, who transferred to Oarai specifically to stay out of tanks, gets drafted to join the newly revived Tankery divison. But it's not all bad, because joining her in Team Anglerfish are her new found friends Saori, the highly receptive radio operator; Hana, a flower arranger turned gunner; Mako, their brilliant, but chronically sleepy driver; and combustible tank fangirl and loader Yukari. They may not be on the half-track to fame and fortune, and maybe some of them would rather shop for tank tops than become tops in tanks, but once their focus is locked and loaded, they're absolutely driven. It's mad, it's metal and mayhem is guaranteed! It's GIRLS UND PANZER!

Title: MAGICAL PLAY COMPLETE
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 150 min.
Street Date: 12/3/2013
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $29.98
SYNOPSIS: Becoming a Magical Girl isn't easy, but Padudu thinks she has most of the bases covered. She even has a magical pet and a magical cloak! Granted, her pet's a talking fish that she wears as the cloak (and occasionally snacks on,) but now all she SHOULD have to do is wander the countryside, fight in official Magical Battles and collect enough Hanamaru stamps to become an official Magical Girl. But life isn't always that simple, and when Padudu accidentally breaks a law, she ends up on the run and traveling with some really odd companions: There's MyuMyu, who wears a pair of cats as a bikini, Pipin, who dresses like a rabbit and wears HER magical pet bunny as a back pack, and the nefarious criminal Nonononn, who also wanted to be a Magical Girl, and has both a Hammerhead Shark and mysterious ties to the Queen (who's nowhere near as nice as her PR would have you believe.) So what happens when the strangest set of strangers ever set forth in an even stranger land? The one thing you can count on is that it's going to get REALLY weird in MAGICAL PLAY!

Title: BIG, BAD MAMA-SAN
Published by: Switchblade Pictures
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 75 min.
Street Date: 12/10/2013
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $19.98
SYNOPSIS: She's been ridden long and she's been ridden hard, but when that old truck is the only thing your father left you besides a pile of bills, how else is a girl going to make a living? That's how Nami became the hottest thing on wheels, taking any load offered up the back roads of Japan and delivering whatever's been ordered, no questions asked, C.O.D., A.S.A.P. Unfortunately, Nami's drive to become debt free is full of speed bumps like obsessive cops and cheating rival truckers, major detours like old acquaintances who want to be more than "just friends," and one big pot hole in the form of Momoko, an eager beaver truck stop hooker with a heart of gold, a brain of tofu and a desperate yen to become Nami's partner. And all that's just a warm up for what happens when a package belonging to a gang of dim but ruthless gangsters somehow ends up in Nami's back end! Get ready for hijackings, high balling and the most crazed hijinks to ever hit the highways and byways of Japan as everyone tries to worm their way into Nami's flatbed in BIG, BAD MAMA-SAN - DEKOTORA 1!

Title: BTOOOM! COMPLETE
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 12/10/2013
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98
SYNOPSIS: In the blink of the mind's eye, Ryuta Sakamoto suddenly finds himself transported from playing the hit BTOOOM! video game to being stranded on a mysterious island. He's equipped with a day's worth of provisions, a bag of bombs, a strange crystal embedded in his left hand and a huge gaping hole in his memory. But it doesn't take long to figure out what's going on, especially after the first person Ryuta meets tries to kill him. Someone is attempting to recreate the ultra-violent BTOOOM! game in real life, and the island has been filled with an army of other unwilling players, each armed with one of the multiple variants of explosive weapons called BIM. Fortunately, Ryuta's an ace BTOOOM! player, but this insane version of the game has no reset switch or second lives, and there's only one way off the island: kill seven other people before they can kill you! Can Ryuta repurpose his game-based skills fast enough to survive this ultimate battle royale? The action is ultra-violent, ultra-graphic and ultra-lethal as the ultimate blood sport is unleashed in BTOOOM!

Title: BTOOOM! COMPLETE BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 12/10/2013
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $69.98
SYNOPSIS: In the blink of the mind's eye, Ryuta Sakamoto suddenly finds himself transported from playing the hit BTOOOM! video game to being stranded on a mysterious island. He's equipped with a day's worth of provisions, a bag of bombs, a strange crystal embedded in his left hand and a huge gaping hole in his memory. But it doesn't take long to figure out what's going on, especially after the first person Ryuta meets tries to kill him. Someone is attempting to recreate the ultra-violent BTOOOM! game in real life, and the island has been filled with an army of other unwilling players, each armed with one of the multiple variants of explosive weapons called BIM. Fortunately, Ryuta's an ace BTOOOM! player, but this insane version of the game has no reset switch or second lives, and there's only one way off the island: kill seven other people before they can kill you! Can Ryuta repurpose his game-based skills fast enough to survive this ultimate battle royale? The action is ultra-violent, ultra-graphic and ultra-lethal as the ultimate blood sport is unleashed in BTOOOM!

Title: KOKORO CONNECT OVA COMPLETE
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 100 min.
Street Date: 12/10/2013
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $29.98
SYNOPSIS: They’ve already had their bodies swapped like musical chairs, had their ages changed at random and experienced their deepest desires taking control of them without warning, but if you thought Heartseed was finished with Taichi, Iori, Himeko, Yoshifumi and Yui, you’ve got another think coming! Now there’s a new affliction going around, and the name of this peculiar bug is emotion sickness. As in, suddenly your emotions jump out of your body and sic someone else! Needless to say, that’s more than simply awkward if you’ve got a deep rooted phobia like a fear of men or repressed emotions that you’ve been trying to keep hidden, but in some situations it can literally be deadly! What is Heartseed up to this time, and why is he making our heroes involuntarily share their innermost dirty laundry? Get ready for another trip through the emotional wringer in Kokoro Connect ~ The OVAs!

Title: KOKORO CONNECT OVA COMPLETE BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 100 min.
Street Date: 12/10/2013
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $39.98
SYNOPSIS: They’ve already had their bodies swapped like musical chairs, had their ages changed at random and experienced their deepest desires taking control of them without warning, but if you thought Heartseed was finished with Taichi, Iori, Himeko, Yoshifumi and Yui, you’ve got another think coming! Now there’s a new affliction going around, and the name of this peculiar bug is emotion sickness. As in, suddenly your emotions jump out of your body and sic someone else! Needless to say, that’s more than simply awkward if you’ve got a deep rooted phobia like a fear of men or repressed emotions that you’ve been trying to keep hidden, but in some situations it can literally be deadly! What is Heartseed up to this time, and why is he making our heroes involuntarily share their innermost dirty laundry? Get ready for another trip through the emotional wringer in Kokoro Connect ~ The OVAs!

Title: DI GI CHARAT OVA SERIES
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 194 min.
Street Date: 12/17/2013
Format: DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $24.98
SYNOPSIS: You never know when the chance for a new adventure is suddenly going to pop up, and even if you were born here, our world can be a pretty strange and unusual place. However, when you’re an alien princess like Dejiko, who came to Earth to break into the music industry, it’s almost impossible to go out walking without it becoming the start of something wild and wonderful. Whether Deji’s just hanging out, going on a Christmas Cruise or being kidnapped by her new arch rival Pyocola Analogue III (just call her Piyoko,) you never know what might happen next. The one thing you can bet on, however, is that Dejiko’s stalwart companions Genma and Puchiko will be right alongside her… and usually in trouble up to the tips of Puchiko’s cat ears! The deliriously wacky escapades of the globetrotting princess of Planet Di Gi Charat continue in another interplanetary collection of out of this world silliness in Di Gi Charat Specials!



Title: THE PET GIRL OF SAKURASOU 1
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 12/17/2013
Format: DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $49.98
SYNOPSIS: Banished from normal housing for the crime of adopting stray cats, Sorata Kanda's life has gone to the dogs and now he's been impounded in Room 101 of Sakura Hall, a notorious den of troublemakers, geniuses and weirdos. Meanwhile, Mashiro Shiina in Room 202 is the cat's meow of the art world. However, she's so unfocused and dysfunctional that she needs a full-time keeper to survive day-to-day life while she puts her career as a famous artist on hold and studies to be a manga creator. That's too big a task for Chihiro, Mashiro's cousin who lives in the same dorm and also happens to be Sorata's teacher. But given Sorata's weakness for taking in small, cute but sometimes not completely loveable creatures, could he be the one destined to take over Mashiro's grooming, feeding and general, er… domestication? Well, if he's not, too bad, 'cause no one else is stepping up and he's stuck with it and her! Heavy petting gets redefined, the dorm's the only thing likely to get housebroken and hopefully no one will get neutered as who's on whose leash becomes anybodies' guess in The Pet Girl of Sakurasou Collection 1!
Title: THE PET GIRL OF SAKURASOU 1 BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 12/17/2013
Format: BD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98
SYNOPSIS: Banished from normal housing for the crime of adopting stray cats, Sorata Kanda's life has gone to the dogs and now he's been impounded in Room 101 of Sakura Hall, a notorious den of troublemakers, geniuses and weirdos. Meanwhile, Mashiro Shiina in Room 202 is the cat's meow of the art world. However, she's so unfocused and dysfunctional that she needs a full-time keeper to survive day-to-day life while she puts her career as a famous artist on hold and studies to be a manga creator. That's too big a task for Chihiro, Mashiro's cousin who lives in the same dorm and also happens to be Sorata's teacher. But given Sorata's weakness for taking in small, cute but sometimes not completely loveable creatures, could he be the one destined to take over Mashiro's grooming, feeding and general, er… domestication? Well, if he's not, too bad, 'cause no one else is stepping up and he's stuck with it and her! Heavy petting gets redefined, the dorm's the only thing likely to get housebroken and hopefully no one will get neutered as who's on whose leash becomes anybodies' guess in The Pet Girl of Sakurasou Collection 1!
Title: HUMANITY HAS DECLINED COMPLETE
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 12/24/2013
Format: DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $49.98
SYNOPSIS: For years, declining birth rates have forced what's left of the human race to cede more and more territory to other beings who have appeared to take advantage of the emptying ecological niche. Now, only a handful of humans remain among the remnants of civilization and Earth is dominated by faeries - tiny, ten-inch tall creatures of surprising intelligence. But humanity's importance isn't over quite yet, as young Watashi learns as she makes the decision to return to her hometown and assume her grandfather's position as an arbitrator between the races. Unfortunately, the job isn't going to be anywhere near as simple as she expected, and it's going to take wisdom far beyond her years to achieve her most important mission. Because it's not about how often you fall and fail, it's about how often you get back up and try again, and the human race still has a lot left to accomplish in HUMANITY HAS DECLINED.
Title: HUMANITY HAS DECLINED COMPLETE BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 12/24/2013
Format: BD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98
SYNOPSIS: For years, declining birth rates have forced what's left of the human race to cede more and more territory to other beings who have appeared to take advantage of the emptying ecological niche. Now, only a handful of humans remain among the remnants of civilization and Earth is dominated by faeries - tiny, ten-inch tall creatures of surprising intelligence. But humanity's importance isn't over quite yet, as young Watashi learns as she makes the decision to return to her hometown and assume her grandfather's position as an arbitrator between the races. Unfortunately, the job isn't going to be anywhere near as simple as she expected, and it's going to take wisdom far beyond her years to achieve her most important mission. Because it's not about how often you fall and fail, it's about how often you get back up and try again, and the human race still has a lot left to accomplish in HUMANITY HAS DECLINED.
Title: SAY, "I LOVE YOU" COMPLETE
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 12/24/2013
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98
SYNOPSIS: Friends suck, and trusting someone is just setting yourself up. That's the lesson Mei Tachibana learned after her heart was ripped out and only a shell was left where a girl used to be. But unlike so many, she found an easy solution: she'll never make another friend. Ever. Okay, maybe that's not as easy as it sounds, but it's worked for Mei. Or at least it did. Until handsome, charming and annoyingly popular Yamato Kurosawa came along. Because for some freakish reason, he seems to like Mei. He even gave her his phone number! As if she would ever call him. Except she did. But only because she needed help. Still, he came. He actually came. And now things are getting way too complicated. Mei's no princess in a tower. She's not waiting for a knight in shining armor to rescue her. So why did he have to kiss her and confuse everything? And why are those three little words so hard to say? Between heartbeats, behind trembling lips, and unspoken with every breath, the specter of betrayals past, future and present now haunt them both in SAY "I LOVE YOU."
Title: SAY, "I LOVE YOU" COMPLETE BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 12/24/2013
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $69.98
SYNOPSIS: Friends suck, and trusting someone is just setting yourself up. That's the lesson Mei Tachibana learned after her heart was ripped out and only a shell was left where a girl used to be. But unlike so many, she found an easy solution: she'll never make another friend. Ever. Okay, maybe that's not as easy as it sounds, but it's worked for Mei. Or at least it did. Until handsome, charming and annoyingly popular Yamato Kurosawa came along. Because for some freakish reason, he seems to like Mei. He even gave her his phone number! As if she would ever call him. Except she did. But only because she needed help. Still, he came. He actually came. And now things are getting way too complicated. Mei's no princess in a tower. She's not waiting for a knight in shining armor to rescue her. So why did he have to kiss her and confuse everything? And why are those three little words so hard to say? Between heartbeats, behind trembling lips, and unspoken with every breath, the specter of betrayals past, future and present now haunt them both in SAY "I LOVE YOU."
Title: NYAN KOI! COMPLETE
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 12/31/2013
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98
SYNOPSIS: Saying that Junpei Kosaka's allergic to cats is something of an understatement, just thinking about cats can make him sneeze. A fact that seems to be lost on his mother and sister, who both ADORE cats. And if that wasn't bad enough, when Junpei inadvertently damages a statue of a cat deity, he becomes cursed with the ability to understand felines. Now Junpei must perform one hundred great favors for cat-kind or face the fate of being turned into a cat himself! Life quickly becomes a purrfect hell as every cat in the neighborhood starts sending Junpei their list of "requests." But it's not just the cats: the local Yakuza's daughter is playing cat and mouse; the monk's daughters are acting catty; Junpei's childhood best friend is ready to use him as a scratching post; and the girl he has a secret crush on is as cat crazy as the rest! Get ready for the ultimate catfight on the road to purrdition in this cataclysmic complete collection of Nyan Koi!

Title: NYAN KOI! COMPLETE BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 12/31/2013
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $69.98

SYNOPSIS: Saying that Junpei Kosaka's allergic to cats is something of an understatement, just thinking about cats can make him sneeze. A fact that seems to be lost on his mother and sister, who both ADORE cats. And if that wasn't bad enough, when Junpei inadvertently damages a statue of a cat deity, he becomes cursed with the ability to understand felines. Now Junpei must perform one hundred great favors for cat-kind or face the fate of being turned into a cat himself! Life quickly becomes a purrfect hell as every cat in the neighborhood starts sending Junpei their list of "requests." But it's not just the cats: the local Yakuza's daughter is playing cat and mouse; the monk's daughters are acting catty; Junpei's childhood best friend is ready to use him as a scratching post; and the girl he has a secret crush on is as cat crazy as the rest! Get ready for the ultimate catfight on the road to purrdition in this cataclysmic complete collection of Nyan Koi!

Title: SO, I CAN'T PLAY H COMPLETE
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 12/31/2013
Format: DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $49.98

SYNOPSIS: Never make a deal with a wet goddess you've only just met. That's a lesson Ryosuke Kaga learns the hard way when he foolishly agrees to let Lisara Restole use some of his "essence" to stay in this world. Because despite her smoking hot appearance, Lisara's actually a Shinigami, a Goddess of Death. However, she doesn't steal years off his life like any decent Shinigami would do. Oh no, instead she sucks off his lecherous spirit, draining his ability to enjoy… well, the things that teenage boys normally spend most of their time thinking about! And now the poor degenerate's only hope of getting his licentiousness renewed is to join the Lisara on her quest, since when she leaves our mortal plane he regains his normal immorality! But Shinigami can be really harsh mistresses and it's going to be anything but easy to go back to being sleazy in So I Can't Play H!

Title: SO, I CAN'T PLAY H COMPLETE BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 12/31/2013
Format: BD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98

SYNOPSIS: Never make a deal with a wet goddess you've only just met. That's a lesson Ryosuke Kaga learns the hard way when he foolishly agrees to let Lisara Restole use some of his "essence" to stay in this world. Because despite her smoking hot appearance, Lisara's actually a Shinigami, a Goddess of Death. However, she doesn't steal years off his life like any decent Shinigami would do. Oh no, instead she sucks off his lecherous spirit, draining his ability to enjoy… well, the things that teenage boys normally spend most of their time thinking about! And now the poor degenerate's only hope of getting his licentiousness renewed is to join the Lisara on her quest, since when she leaves our mortal plane he regains his normal immorality! But Shinigami can be really harsh mistresses and it's going to be anything but easy to go back to being sleazy in So I Can't Play H!

 

New On Nick.com SpongeBob SquarePants Marble Bash

SpongeBob fans can take a dive into the deep blue sea with SpongeBob SquarePants Marble Bash, now available on Nick.com. Players are tasked with matching marbles featuring SpongeBob and his friends in this fun and fast-paced game, while enjoying some Bikini Bottom tunes. Users must quickly connect the line to find all the matches before the clock ends. The game includes three modes of play and 40 levels that just might keep players hooked until the game is over.
In addition, SpongeBob SquarePants Marble Bash is available on the Emmy-award winning Nick App, as well as Nickelodeon’s new HTML5 mobile games hub at m.nick.com/games.

 

Shattered Planet Showing At Boston FIG

As some of you might know the Otakus & Geeks game will be attending this year's Boston Festivial Of Indie Games. This convention showcases the indie developers of the state of Boston. One of the developers that will be there is the group called Kitfox Games. Kitfox will have a demo of their RPG game entitled "Shattered Planet." Shattered Planet is a survival-strategy RPG with randomised planets and dozens of crazy items at your disposal. As the Blight devours all light and life in the Universe, you are tasked with finding the only cure: the Amulet of Yendor, left behind aeons ago on the war-shattered human homeworld. Venture ever deeper into Old Earth's wilderness and try to survive as long as you can! The game will be released on PC and Tablets early next year. Here are some screenshots of the game and  more coverage of "Shattered Planet" when we hit Boston FIG.

Screenshots