Category Archives: Films/Movies

Resident Evil Death Island – Coming Summer 2023

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The production staff of “Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness” gathers again, and a new story begins on Prison Island!

Resident Evil death Island is the 6th CGI film, following the 2017 film Resident Evil: Vendetta and the 2021 miniseries Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness. According to promotional video, the series is set to release in summer of this year.

When does Death Island take place?

According to CAPCOM, Death Island will take place one year after the events shown in Vendetta (set in 2013) and just two years before Resident Evil 7 (set in 2017). The new film is set in San Francisco in 2015, and follows Leon S. Kennedy and Chris Redfield as try to hunt down an abducted scientist with valuable information and the mysteries that lie within the prison walls of the infamous prison on Alcatraz Island. This film marks the return of fan-favourite character Jill Valentine!

Death Island Synopsis

Under direct order from the U.S. President, Leon finds himself chasing after a group of armed men who have abducted Dr. Antonio Taylor, who hold vital information that could the world at risk. Suddenly, Leon interrupted mysterious woman who let’s arm men escape. Switching over to Chris Redfield; Working as an agent of the anti-bioterrorist organization “BSAA”, Chris Redfield is in charged with controlling an zombie outbreak in San Francisco. He’s tasked to find out where the infection began, and his research leads him to the infamous prison island, Alcatraz.

The film is written by Makoto Fukami who previously worked on Psycho-Pass and directed by Eiichiro Hasumi, known for the live action adaptation of Assassination Classroom and its sequel. Director Hasumi said the following about the film’s production,

Eiichiro Hasumi – Netflix

“Following the success of “Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness,” it was a very exciting production period for me to be immersed in the world of Resident Evil again. The staff was mostly the same, so this time we all worked together to scale up the film to screen size while aiming for a film that will be especially enjoyable for users who have been familiar with the Resident Evil games for many years.” – Eiichiro Hasumi

Director Hasumi via Capcom.com

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will distribute the film worldwide, excluding Japan, this summer. No official release date has been announced nor mention of the English cast, although it’s speculated that Nick Apostolides will voice Leon S.Kennedy as he set return to voice him the upcoming Resident Evil 4 remake.

We’ll keep you updated on the theatrical release, meanwhile, subscribe to our articles below, and don’t miss any upcoming exclusive content!

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Kana Ozawa’s “Blue Thermal” Anime Film Debuts on Blu-ray & Digital

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From the renowned animation powerhouse Telecom Animation Film, director Masaki Tachibana and Kana Ozawa, comes a captivating new anime adventure, BLUE THERMAL.

The film is an adaptation of Kana Ozawa’s popular manga series, BLUE THERMAL: Aonagi College Sports Festival Aviation Club, which ran in Shinchosha’s Monthly Comic @Bunch Magazine between April 2015 and November 2017. The series was also published in five book volumes or Tankōbon.

This artful and beautiful coming-of-age movie captures the tension and excitement of a young college student who joins the school’s aviation club flying for the first time, and the beauty and exhilaration of the aerial scenery as seen from the pilot’s seat. The film is directed by Masaki Tachibana, known for Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, Princess Principal, and Barakamon.

BLUE THERMAL opened in Japan in March 2022 and will now make its North American home entertainment debut on Blu-ray and digital download from Eleven Arts and Shout! Factory on March 14, 2023, following its theatrical release.

Preorder: Blue Thermal

Popular Japanese piano rock band SHE’S performs the film’s theme songs, “Blue Thermal” and “Beautiful Bird”. SHE’S consists of Inoue Ryouma (Vocals), Hirose Shingo (Bass), Hattori Kanta (Guitar) & Kimura Masato (Drums). They have also contributed to the ending theme songs for Angolmois: Record of Mongol Invasion and Major 2nd anime series.

Meet The Cast

BLUE THERMAL features the Japanese voice talents of Mayu Hotta (Kaguya-sama: Love Is War 2019), Nobunaga Shimazaki (Summer Ghost), Junya Enoki (My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission), and more.

Mayu Hotta as Tamaki Tsuru
Nobunaga Shimazaki as Jun Kuramochi
Junya Enoki as Daisuke Sorachi

The Blu-ray will contain an exciting movie presentation and special bonus content, including an interview with director Tachibana and character profiles. A must-have for anime fans, collectors, and pop-culture enthusiasts, BLUE THERMAL, is available for pre-order now at Amazon.com and will be available in stores and other fine retailers.

Movie Synopsis

“I want to experience a love that sparkles!” Arriving from Nagasaki with her wishful mantra is Tamaki Tsuru, who in high school could think only about volleyball. Things don’t begin well, however, when she looks for an extracurricular club to join and proceeds to immediately ding a glider at aviation club tryouts ending up having to work it off. She is initially disillusioned with campus life. Then Kuramochi, the club leader and glider pilot, takes Tamaki under his wing, and from the moment he takes her up for a flight in a glider, Tamaki becomes a captive of the vast beauty of the skies.

Watch the trailer below!

Preorder “Blue Thermal”

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Join 578 other subscribers

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Eric Wong Interview – Behind The Virtual World of U

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We began this year with Mamoru Hosoda’s latest anime film, BELLE, and our exclusive interview with Kylie McNeill, the English voice of Suzu/Belle. Hosoda gave us an exclusive interview during Animation is Film Festival 2021, in where he stated the follow about BELLE,

BELLE was first screened on July 15, 2021, at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, where it received a 15-minute standing ovation. The film was released in theaters across Japan, earning a total of ¥6.53 billion at the box office and $1.8 million in the U.S. Initially Belle premiered at the Animation is Film Festival 2021, serving as the centerpiece film. Belle quickly gained popularity due to the vocal performances of artists Kaho Nakamura and Kylie McNeill (English dub), both who had never done any voice-over work prior. Additionally, anticipation for the film grew due to Hosoda’s art direction and artistic elements from Disney’s 1991 animated film, Beauty and the Beast.

Kaho Nakamura (Japanese voice) & Kylie McNeill (English Dub)

When creating the virtual world of U, Hosoda sought out different artists, until he found Eric Wong’s work online. Highly impressed by Wong’s work, Hosoda’s team contacted him for the opportunity to work as the designer of the world of U . From U”s background and buildings to the U”s clouds and sky, Eric spent the COVID lockdown meticulously working on designs and renders for U. Watch our exclusive interview with Eric Wong and find out how he created U and much more!

To learn more about Eric Wong and his work, visit his official website at, http://www.ericwong.co.uk/

Want more BELLE content? Check our following BELLE article and Cast Interviews:

Interview with Kylie McNeil (Suzu / Belle) | Interview With Paul Castro Jr. (Dragon/Ryu) | Mamoru Hosoda’s BELLE | Review | BELLE premieres at Animation Is Film Festival 2021

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Laika Limited Edition Steelbooks – Now Available

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For the first time ever, you can enjoy two LAIKA films on 4K UHD which includes a limited edition steelbook case.

Brought to you by Laika Studios and Shout! Factory, these two groundbreaking and Academy Award-nominated stop motion features, Coraline and ParaNorman, are now available in 4K for the first time ever! The films have been through 4K restoration with HDR and Dolby Vision plus Dolby Atmos for the ultimate entertainment experience.

Coraline and ParaNorman were painstakingly remastered by the team at LAIKA, led by LAIKA CEO (and Kubo and the Two Strings Director) Travis Knight, and Visual Effects Supervisor Steve Emerson, who pored over each film shot-by-shot, paying close attention to every last detail and color to present these groundbreaking films in the most dynamic format.

The use of Dolby Vision has made these films look more spectacular than ever before, with vivid colors and exacting picture quality, and with highlights brighter and essential dark elements darker, unleashing the full potential of HDR technology. The films were also mixed in Dolby Atmos spatial audio, bringing out more details and clarity in the sound, resulting in an even more immersive experience for fans.

The SteelBook releases feature new hand drawn art from auteur illustrators carefully selected to newly represent the films while keeping their original spirit alive. Known for creating bold and vibrant illustrations, Cancun-based illustrator and Art Director Cesar Moreno created the art for Coraline, and the ParaNorman cover art was drawn by Kevin Tong, an artist living and working out of Austin, TX.

The sets include all the bonus features of the recent LAIKA Studios Editions and a new booklet.

Laika films, Kubo And The Two String and The Boxtrolls are also set to be released in 4KUHD February 28, 2023. Each SteelBook + Blu-ray set with beautiful new hand drawn art. The sets include all the bonus features of the recent LAIKA Studios Editions and a new booklet. The Boxtrolls Steelbook case will be created by Cancun-based illustrator and Art Director Cesar Moreno, and the Kubo and the Two Strings cover art was drawn by Kevin Tong.

You can purchase Coraline and ParaNorman and PREORDER Kubo and The Boxtrolls below:

Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya Live Action Film | Trailer

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On Thursday, December 1st, Sony and Toei Animation premiered the first trailer for Tomasz Baginski’s live-action Knight of The Zodiac, starring Mackenyu as the protagonist, Seiya.

Mackenyu as Seiya

The film stars Mackenyu as Seiya, Sean Bean as Alman Kido, Famke Janssen as Guraad, Madison Iseman as Sienna & Nick Stahl as Cassius. According to the film’s IMDB page, the film is set to be a live-action remake of the 1986 anime adaptation.

Knight of The Zodiac Live Action Teaser Trailer

Knight of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya Origins

The film is based on the Saint Seiya Anime series, which is adapted from Masami Kurumada’s manga series of the same name. Saint Seiya was published in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine from 1986 to 1990,and according to comipress.com, the manga series has sold well over 25 million copies in Japan as of 2007 and has over 50 million copies in circulation as of 2022, according to Animate Times.

The series was adapted into an anime series in 1986, three months before the first manga volume was published. The anime series was produced more quickly than the manga; therefore, Toei Animation created original stories to fill in the gaps between story arcs. These original stories were not featured in the original manga.

Kurumada’s Highly Influential Series

The Seiya series is considered to be one of the most highly influential anime of the 80s, inspiring other works such as Mobile Suit Gundam Wing and Mobile Fighter G Gundam. According to Jonathan Clements and Helen McCarthy in their published work, The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917, Saint Seiya also inspired Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato, Ronin Warriors, and Wild Knights Gulkeeva, all released between the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The series was highly influential that, according to an article by Mark McHarry; Matthew Thorn, a cultural anthropologist and an Associate Professor at the Department of Manga Production at Kyoto Seika University, stated that at the peak of the Seiya popularity, the yaoi genre was also making its way to the top at the same time. The Seiya boom, alongside Captain Tsubasa, largely contributed to popularizing the term “Yaoi” in the late 1980s.

The Saint Seiya Media Franchise

The Saint Seiya manga is composed of three sagas Sanctuary, Poseidon, and Hades. All three sagas were then divided into different story arcs. As previously stated, the original 1986 anime series featured original stories that were not featured in the manga and were only made specifically for the anime series.

The Seiya manga series spawned several spin-offs, including Saint Seiya Episode G by Kurumada, The Lost Canvas by Shiori Teshirogi, Saintia Shō by Chimaki Kuori, and most recently, Dark Wing by Kenji Saito and Shinshu Ueda.

The 1986 anime also spawned a few spin-offs which included three original video animations released from 2002 to 2008. A fifth film, Saint Seiya: Heaven Chapter – Overture was released in 2004, followed by Saint Seiya: Legend of Sanctuary in 2014. Novels based on the series were also written between 1988 and 2002. Other media featured video games, musical productions and drama audio CDs. Netflix released an original net animation titled Knight of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya, which premiered in 2019.

The First Attempt at an American Adaptation

Sometime in the 1990s, an American adaptation/remake of the series was set to be produced by Renaissance-Atlantic Entertainment and retitled as Guardians of the Cosmos; apparently Guardians of the Galaxy was already taken. Unfortunately, or fortunately, the show was never aired and was eventually lost to time until Youtuber Ray Mona discovered the pilot in early December 2022.

With all this rich history, the only question in the mind of long-time Seiya fans is, will Hollywood get it right this time? Only time will tell. Film Director Tomasz Baginski is known for his work on The Witcher series, having worked on both the game and the 2019 TV series serving as exclusive producer. Lead star Mackenyu rose to fame with the Chihayafuru: Kami no Ku trilogy and is known in the anime community for portraying Enishi Yukishiro in the Rurouni Kenshin live-action film. Baginski’s Knight of the Zodiac is set to be released in 2023.

For more information and updates on the film, ahead on over to their official YouTube channel.

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Loundraw Interview: SUMMER GHOST – Animation is Film 2022

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Popular illustrator, Loundraw had his debut film premiere during this year’s Anime Expo 2022, & recently during this year’s Animation Is Film festival, we had the opportunity to interview Loundrawabout his debut film, Summer Ghost

The film is produced by Loundraw’s company Flat Studio, with scripts written by Hirotaka Adachi, and music composed by Akira Kosemura, Itoko Toma, Guiano, and Hideya Kojima.

Summer Ghost was released in Japanese theaters on November 12, 2021, by its distributor Avex Pictures. GKIDS and Shout! Factory is set to release the film in North America on November 1, 2022, on Blu-ray and digital platforms. The film is available to preorder via Prime Video.

Loundraw is an Illustrator who made his professional debut in his teens with a cover illustration for Gara Nagata’s Hoshi no Nemuru Mizuumi e -Ai wo Sagashi ni-. He also worked on the covers of various novels, such as Keigo Higashino’s Koi no Gondola and Yoru Sumino’s Kimi no Suizou wo Tabetai.

You can preorder Loundraw’s newest English-translated work Vivy Prototype a light novel by Tappei Nagatsuki & Eiji Umehara, HERE.

Summer Ghost is now available by GKids Films on Blu-ray and Prime Video

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 Teaser Trailer Premiere | Illumination and Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. Film

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New York Comic Con has announced the premiere of the upcoming Super Marios Bros film produced by Illumination and Nintendo.

The film an ensemble voice cast including Chris Pratt (Mario), Anya Taylor-Joy (Peach), Charlie Day (Luigi), Jack Black (Bowser), Keegan-Michael Key (Toad), Seth Rogen (Donkey Kong), Fred Armisen (Cranky Kong), Kevin Michael Richardson (Kamek), Sebastian Maniscalco (Spike), and Charles Martinet (undisclosed role).

This is the third film adaptation of the game franchise following the 1986 Japanese animated adventure comedy film Super Mario Bros.: Peach-Hime Kyushutsu Dai Sakusen! and the terrible but cult classic film, 1993 live-action film Super Mario Bros. The new film began its concept development as early as 2015, after Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto met Illumination CEO, Chris Meledandri through Universal Japan’s venture in Super Mario Bro attractions.

Source: Nan Palmero
Source: 令和元年度　文化功労者：文部科学省,

By 2020, production was already underway with Chris Pratt as Mario and Directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, who both worked on Teen Titans Go! To the Movies as director and writer, respectively. As of September 22, 2022, not much is known about the film’s plot, however there is an IMDB description that describes the film as follows,

” A plumber named Mario travels through an underground labyrinth with his brother, Luigi, trying to save a captured princess. Feature film adaptation of the popular video game.”

Via IMDB

The film is set to be released by Universal Pictures on April 7, 2023 in the United States, followed by a Japan release on April 28, It will be available to stream on Peacock 45 days afterwards. Universal pictures and New York Comic-Con have announced the world premiere teaser trailer of the film on October 6th at 4pm ET.

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EVANGELION:3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME – IN US THEATERS FOR THE FIRST TIME

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GKIDS is collaborating with Fathom for Exclusive Event Showings of the Finale of the Historic “EVANGELION” Property. GKIDS will bring the highly anticipated fourth and final installment of the new theatrical “Rebuild” editions of the EVANGELION franchise to theaters nationwide. In partnership with Fathom Events, screenings will only be on December 6th, 8th, and 11th.

Tickets will be available beginning November 2nd at FathomEvents.com, GKIDS.com/EVANGELION and participating theater box offices.

EVANGELION:3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME was released in Japanese theaters in 2021, where it was a critical and box office success becoming the highest-grossing film of the year with ¥10.28 billion (~$85 million) at the local box office. The release marks the first time the film will be available in theaters in North America since its domestic release in Japan. The film has won numerous awards, including, The 45th Japan Academy Film Prize, Tokyo Anime Awards, and Best Original Screenplay and Director (Hideaki Anno) categories at the Tokyo Anime Film Festival.

Created by Hideaki Anno, the NEON GENESIS EVANGELION franchise is considered one of the most influential animated sagas of all time. Since the 1995 premiere of the original television series, the story of teenager Shinji Ikari has remained one of the most iconic titles in animation history and a global pop culture phenomenon.

Last year, GKIDS released the original twenty-six-episode television series, NEON GENESIS EVANGELION, as well as the films EVANGELION: DEATH (TRUE)2 and THE END OF EVANGELION on Blu-ray and digital download-to-own for the first time in North America. GKIDS also handles North American distribution for creator Hideaki Anno’s prior series, NADIA: The Secret of Blue Water.

Film Synopsis

From legendary director Hideaki Anno, EVANGELION:3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME is the fourth and final installment of the REBUILD OF EVANGELION films, bringing an epic conclusion to the story of Shinji and his fellow Eva pilots, with the stunning visuals and thought-provoking storytelling that has made EVANGELION a global pop culture phenomenon.

Misato and her anti-NERV group Wille arrive at Paris, a city now red from core-ization. Crew from the flagship Wunder land on a containment tower. They only have 720 seconds to restore the city. When a horde of NERV Evas appear, Mari’s improved Eva Unit 8 must intercept. Meanwhile, Shinji, Asuka, and Rei (Provisional Name) wander about Japan.

During an interview by Moshi Moshi Nippon in July 2021, Evangelion creator and director Hideaki Anno, gave a message for the film’s international release on Amazon Prime Video,

Photo: Moshi Moshi Nippon | https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/479515

“Not only Evangelion, but my work basically deal with themes unique to Japan, aimed at people who grew up in Japan. I am really grateful and honoured that such works are seen and loved by people all over the world. Thank you so much for supporting Evangelion, and I hope you enjoy the film”

– Hideaki Anno via Moshi Moshi Nippon | July 2021

Tickets will be available beginning November 2nd at FathomEvents.com, GKIDS.com/EVANGELION and participating theater box offices.

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‘A SILENT VOICE’ Celebrates 5th Anniv – AX Cinema Nights

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A SILENT VOICE is celebrating its 5th anniversary with limited engagement screenings beginning on Wednesday, October 12th, at nearly 300 theatres, as part of AX Cinema Nights. Brought to you by Anime Expo, Iconic events & distributed by Eleven Arts, this partnership marks the next installment of AX Cinema Nights.

Based on the best-selling manga series by Yoshitoki Ōima, A SILENT VOICE is the poignant and moving story of Shōya Ishida, a school bully, and Shōko Nishimiya, a young girl with a hearing disability. Their story begins in sixth grade when Shōko transfers to Shōya’s elementary school and quickly finds herself bullied and isolated. Years later, the tables turn, and Shōya finds himself isolated and alone. A SILENT VOICE depicts the struggles and challenges of adolescence alongside coming of age outside the norm.

The film was produced by the acclaimed studio Kyoto Animation, directed by Naoko Yamada (K-On!, Tamako Market, ) and written by Reiko Yoshida, featuring music by Kensuke Ushio. The film grossed over $31.6 million worldwide and received a Best Animated Film nomination from the Japanese Film Academy upon its initial release in 2017.

The English dub cast includes renowned voice actors including Robbie Daymond (as Shoya Ishida), Lexi Marman Cowden (as Shoko Nishimiya), Kristen Sullivan (as Yuzuru Nishimiya), Graham Halstead (as Tomohiro Nagatsuka), Kira Buckland (as Naoka Ueno), Melissa Hope (as Miyoko Sahara), Amber Lee Connors (as Miki Kawai), Max Mittelman (as Satoshi Mashiba), Michael Sinterniklaas (as Kazuki Shimada), and Sara Cravens (as Miyoko Ishida).

AX Cinema Nights is an in-person movie event series celebrating the best new and classic anime films by bringing them to theaters across North America. Leveraging the brand power of Anime Expo, the largest Japanese culture event in North America, AX Cinema Nights brings passionate fans together for immersive and unforgettable community experiences.

Relive the experience by purchasing your tickets here.

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Nahoko Uehashi’s ‘THE DEER KING’ | NOW IN THEATERS

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From acclaimed studio Production I.G, and directors Masashi Ando and Masayuki Miyaji comes THE DEER KING.

In the aftermath of a brutal war, former soldier Van toils in a mine controlled by the ruling empire. One day, his solitary existence is upended when a pack of wild dogs carrying a deadly and incurable disease attack, leaving only Van and a young girl named Yuna as survivors. Finally free, the pair seek out a simple existence in the countryside but are pursued by nefarious forces. Intent on protecting Yuna at all costs, Van must uncover the true cause of the plague ravaging the kingdom—and its possible cure.

The Deer King is a sweeping fantasy epic that marks the directorial debut of acclaimed animator, Masashi Ando who worked with famed Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke) and with directors Satoshi Kon (Paprika, “Paranoia Agent”) and Makoto Shinkai (your name.). The film is also co-directed by Masayuki Miyaji who is best known for directing the 2009 series “Xam’s: Lost Memories” and work on Studio Ghibli films such as “My Neighbors The Yamadas”.

Masashi Ando
Masayuki Miyaji

The film is based on the original book series, by author Nahoko Uehashi. The book series has printed 2.2 million copies in Japan to date. Uehashi is one of Japan’s most well-known and popular children’s writers, and has won numerous awards, including the 2014 Hans Christian Andersen Award. She’s an associate professor at a Japanese university, and has a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology and studies indigenous peoples in Australia.

Uehashi’s other works, Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit and The Beast Player have had anime adaptations in 2007 and 2009, with The Beast Player getting a manga adaptation as well.

Author, Nahoko Uehashi

Currently, Uehashi’s most popular, English-translated work is The Beast Player and be purchased on Amazon.

Distributed by Gkids Films, watch THE DEER KING now playing in select theaters nationwide, find the closest theater near you, by visiting the film’s official website www.THEDEERKING.com