One of late Akira Toriyama’s most interesting Japanese manga series Sand Land might have been fairly underrated or neglected in the past. However, that has changed in the past couple of years. The attempt to celebrate Toriyama’s work includes the release of a movie and an anime that has helped push the series.
Sand Land Manga
Another latest endeavor to further expand the reach of the series is the upcoming video game adaptation. The game adaptation of Sand Land is being developed by Ilca. Interestingly, it is the team that worked on last year’s One Piece Odyssey. The upcoming game will explore how Fiend Prince and his companion’s adventures bring life back to a desolate wasteland.
Makers want Sand Land to reach a larger audience
In an interview with The Gamer, Sand Land‘s producer, Keishu Minami, spilled the tea about adapting and expanding Akira Toriyama’s manga.
Sand Land Manga
Another latest endeavor to further expand the reach of the series is the upcoming video game adaptation. The game adaptation of Sand Land is being developed by Ilca. Interestingly, it is the team that worked on last year’s One Piece Odyssey. The upcoming game will explore how Fiend Prince and his companion’s adventures bring life back to a desolate wasteland.
Makers want Sand Land to reach a larger audience
In an interview with The Gamer, Sand Land‘s producer, Keishu Minami, spilled the tea about adapting and expanding Akira Toriyama’s manga.
- 4/4/2024
- by Amarylisa Gonsalves
- FandomWire
Japanese manga artist and character designer, Akira Toriyama, suddenly passed away earlier last month. After his death, the popular creator will be receiving his first posthumous tribute in the upcoming Sand Land game. The game is based on Toriyama’s manga series of the same name.
Sand Land Manga
The game is developed by Ilca and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It will bring Toriyama’s manga to life on April 25, 2024, on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC.
The original Sand Land story has been expanded
Sand Land being adapted into a game is not surprising since it is the legendary Toriyama’s work. However, when the news of its adaptation first broke out, it raised some eyebrows. This was mainly because Sand Land is relatively short. It is based on a deliberately brief and linear plot with only 14 chapters.
Nonetheless, Ilca has managed to turn...
Sand Land Manga
The game is developed by Ilca and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It will bring Toriyama’s manga to life on April 25, 2024, on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC.
The original Sand Land story has been expanded
Sand Land being adapted into a game is not surprising since it is the legendary Toriyama’s work. However, when the news of its adaptation first broke out, it raised some eyebrows. This was mainly because Sand Land is relatively short. It is based on a deliberately brief and linear plot with only 14 chapters.
Nonetheless, Ilca has managed to turn...
- 4/4/2024
- by Amarylisa Gonsalves
- FandomWire
Sand Land, an upcoming open-world action-adventure game from Bandai Namco, honors the legendary Akira Toriyama by joining a long line of games featuring characters created by the artist. With Toriyama’s recent passing, the game takes on special meaning as it might be the last game to include his one-of-a-kind character designs outside new Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Quest titles.
Toriyama’s characters are famous for their expressive faces, which makes bringing his 2D drawings into 3D a tricky task. The game’s creators recently shed light on what they encountered while taking on the challenge.
The Jump From 2D To 3D Was Laborious
Sand Land is an adaptation of Akira Toriyama’s manga of the same name.
In an interview with Game Rant, Sand Land producer Keishu Minami spoke about his ambitious plans for the franchise, but the meat of the discussion was the challenges of turning Toriyama...
Toriyama’s characters are famous for their expressive faces, which makes bringing his 2D drawings into 3D a tricky task. The game’s creators recently shed light on what they encountered while taking on the challenge.
The Jump From 2D To 3D Was Laborious
Sand Land is an adaptation of Akira Toriyama’s manga of the same name.
In an interview with Game Rant, Sand Land producer Keishu Minami spoke about his ambitious plans for the franchise, but the meat of the discussion was the challenges of turning Toriyama...
- 4/4/2024
- by Viraaj Bhatnagar
- FandomWire
Production for the upcoming Sorairo Utility anime is putting along nicely, as a stage event at AnimeJapan today confirmed that the series adapting the 2021 special of the same name will officially release in 2025 . Teaser Visual Related: Sorairo Utility TV Anime Debuts Teaser Trailer The story of Sorairo Utility follows three young women who explore their love of golf: Minami, a beginner at the game who picks up golf in an effort to distinguish herself with a hobby; Haruka, a gifted golfer who excels at the sport; and Ayaka, a young lady who aims to become an influencer on socal media. Kengo Saito directs and provides character designs at animation studio Yostar Pictures, joined by scriptwriters Yu Sato, Aya Satsuki and Aki Mizuki. Source: Comic Natalie...
- 3/23/2024
- by Liam Dempsey
- Crunchyroll
In need of a new manga to read? If you’re like me, the answer is “yes,” even if you have a hefty pile of manga waiting to be read. That’s okay! There’s always room for more manga, manhwa and whatever else strikes your literary fancy. Related: New Manga to Read for February 2024 Because there’s so many books to choose from, we’ve put together a couple of picks to fill your shelves for March. From new manga volumes of current anime darlings like The Apothecary Diaries to wacky Bl isekai titles (you’ll see when we get there), here are a few picks available at the Crunchyroll Store ! Adults' Picture Book New Edition, Volume 1 Manga | Yen Press | Release date: 3/19/2024 Synopsis: Erotic manga author Kudou's friend Haruki passes away, leaving behind his young daughter Kiki and a note bequeathing her to Kudou. Strange as the situation is,...
- 3/11/2024
- by Briana Lawrence
- Crunchyroll
Adapting the 2021 special of the same name, upcoming anime series Sorairo Utility released a teaser trailer and confirmed more staff members today. Kengo Saito directs and provides character designs at animation studio Yostar Pictures, now joined by scriptwriters Yu Sato, Aya Satsuki and Aki Mizuki. A premiere date is yet to be announced. Related: Girls Golf Animation Sorairo Utility Gets TV Anime Adaptation The story of Sorairo Utility follows three young women who explore their love of golf: Minami, a beginner at the game who picks up golf in an effort to distinguish herself with a hobby; Haruka, a gifted golfer who excels at the sport; and Ayaka, a young lady who aims to become an influencer on socal media. Source: Comic Natalie...
- 3/7/2024
- by Liam Dempsey
- Crunchyroll
Exclusive: Anime streamer Crunchyroll is dropping a doc-series on renowned Japanese animation maker Studio Bones.
The platform has been quietly working on Bones 25: Dreaming Forwards, which will drop tomorrow (February 13), timed with the release of the studio’s latest series, Metallic Rouge, and its 25th anniversary.
Bones 25 will comprise four 24-minute episodes about the studio, which is behind anime titles such as Cowboy Bebop: Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, My Hero Academia and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. The studio currently has more than 30 specials and series on Crunchyroll, including Bungo Stray Dogs, The Case Study of Vanitas, Eureka Seven and SK8 the Infinity.
Sony-owned Crunchyroll and French producer DeltaRocket have teamed for the series. DeltaRocket’s founder Jace, who is behind more than 40 docs for French TV, is the director.
Shot entirely in Japan, Bones 25 will divide into four parts: ‘The History of Bones’, ‘Style and Originality’, ‘Successful Adaptation’ and...
The platform has been quietly working on Bones 25: Dreaming Forwards, which will drop tomorrow (February 13), timed with the release of the studio’s latest series, Metallic Rouge, and its 25th anniversary.
Bones 25 will comprise four 24-minute episodes about the studio, which is behind anime titles such as Cowboy Bebop: Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, My Hero Academia and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. The studio currently has more than 30 specials and series on Crunchyroll, including Bungo Stray Dogs, The Case Study of Vanitas, Eureka Seven and SK8 the Infinity.
Sony-owned Crunchyroll and French producer DeltaRocket have teamed for the series. DeltaRocket’s founder Jace, who is behind more than 40 docs for French TV, is the director.
Shot entirely in Japan, Bones 25 will divide into four parts: ‘The History of Bones’, ‘Style and Originality’, ‘Successful Adaptation’ and...
- 2/12/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Sorairo Utility , a 2021 original short animation about young ladies enjoying the sport of golf, is being adapted into a TV anime. As with the earlier work, Kengo Saito directs and provides character designs at animation studio Yostar Pictures. The main cast will also reprise their roles, including: Minami voiced by Miyu Takagi Minami character visual Haruka voiced by Yurina Amami Haruka character visual Ayaka voiced by Ayasa Goto Ayaka character visual The story of Sorairo Utility follows three young women who explore their love of golf: Minami, a beginner at the game who picks up golf in an effort to distinguish herself with a hobby; Haruka, a gifted golfer who excels at the sport; and Ayaka, a young lady who aims to become an influencer on socal media. Sorairo Utility teaser visual Related: Crunchyroll Adds Sorairo Utility Oav To Catalog The original Sorairo Utility short animation was broadcast on TV Tokyo...
- 2/8/2024
- by Paul Chapman
- Crunchyroll
When Is Oshi No Ko Chapter 135 Coming? Well, the next chapter of the series Oshi no Ko, Chapter 135, is scheduled for release in December 2023 at midnight Jst. However, there has been an announcement of a break for the upcoming week, so fans can anticipate the chapter’s release a week later than expected.
In the previous chapter, it was revealed that Kana started ignoring Ruby completely. Ruby suspected Kana of lying to fit into her role as Nino, but she was certain that Kana held genuine animosity towards her.
This made Ruby reflect on Kana and conclude that her mother, Ai, might have gone through similar emotional struggles.
If you continue reading this article, you’ll find a detailed overview of Chapter 135 of Oshi No Ko, including the release date, a recap of the previous chapter, and hints about what might happen in the upcoming chapter.
When Is Oshi No Ko Chapter 135 Coming?...
In the previous chapter, it was revealed that Kana started ignoring Ruby completely. Ruby suspected Kana of lying to fit into her role as Nino, but she was certain that Kana held genuine animosity towards her.
This made Ruby reflect on Kana and conclude that her mother, Ai, might have gone through similar emotional struggles.
If you continue reading this article, you’ll find a detailed overview of Chapter 135 of Oshi No Ko, including the release date, a recap of the previous chapter, and hints about what might happen in the upcoming chapter.
When Is Oshi No Ko Chapter 135 Coming?...
- 12/12/2023
- by Om Prakash Kaushal
- https://dailyresearchplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/new-sam
One of the most unique anime of the last υears, “Dr Stone” continued with its third season, which signalled a change in its helm, as Shinya Iino gave his stead to Shuhei Matsushita, who did not bring, however, any significant changes in the way the anime unfolds.
on Crunchyroll
by clicking on the image below
Following the events of the special episode, which introduced Shishui, the shipping mogul, and after their balloon flight, Senku reveals to him his plan to construct an oil-powered ship to reach the source of the petrification ray, South America. Their effort to construct it bring the whole team, once more, re-discovering a number of past technologies, in their effort to find where the the still existing Sagara Oil Field lies, where they could grow enough wheat to grow and hunting meat to preserve to last them for the trip, as much as enough trees for their shipbuilding.
on Crunchyroll
by clicking on the image below
Following the events of the special episode, which introduced Shishui, the shipping mogul, and after their balloon flight, Senku reveals to him his plan to construct an oil-powered ship to reach the source of the petrification ray, South America. Their effort to construct it bring the whole team, once more, re-discovering a number of past technologies, in their effort to find where the the still existing Sagara Oil Field lies, where they could grow enough wheat to grow and hunting meat to preserve to last them for the trip, as much as enough trees for their shipbuilding.
- 8/9/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
On Sunday, at the Warner Bros. Panel at Anime Expo 2023, a new trailer for the highly anticipated Record of Ragnarok Season 2 Part 2 was revealed.
The Record of Ragnarok is based on Shinya Umemura and Takumi Fukui’s continuing manga of the same name, which Ajichika draws. It was released for the first time on November 25, 2017.
Also Read: Pluto Anime Release Date Revealed At Anime Expo 2023!
Record of Ragnarok Season 2 Part 2 Official Trailer.
The series follows the war between humanity and the Gods in the “Ragnarok” tournament, which determines the fate of all humanity once and for all.
Record of Ragnarok Season 2 will be coming to Netflix with new episodes later this month, and a new trailer has been released to hype up Part 2’s epic showdown!
Still, plenty of fans are focused on each of the fights between the gods and legendary heroes. However, things will change for the next batch of episodes,...
The Record of Ragnarok is based on Shinya Umemura and Takumi Fukui’s continuing manga of the same name, which Ajichika draws. It was released for the first time on November 25, 2017.
Also Read: Pluto Anime Release Date Revealed At Anime Expo 2023!
Record of Ragnarok Season 2 Part 2 Official Trailer.
The series follows the war between humanity and the Gods in the “Ragnarok” tournament, which determines the fate of all humanity once and for all.
Record of Ragnarok Season 2 will be coming to Netflix with new episodes later this month, and a new trailer has been released to hype up Part 2’s epic showdown!
Still, plenty of fans are focused on each of the fights between the gods and legendary heroes. However, things will change for the next batch of episodes,...
- 7/4/2023
- by Mantisha
- https://dailyresearchplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/new-sam
While there are certainly critiques that can be applied to Japan and its treatment of various LGBTQ+ groups, stories inspired by their lives and struggles have always thrived in the creative medium. The history of these stories can be traced back to the 1920s wherein the work of novelist Yoshiya Nobuko's exploration of female same-sex relationships influenced the development of both shojo and yuri manga in the decades that followed. The genre would continue to grow to what it is today thanks to seminal works like “The Heart of Thomas” and “Claudine“. While titles like these were trailblazers and worthy of note, the growth of the industry in better understanding various relationships still continues.
While there are classics worthy of checking out, from the previously mentioned “The Heart of Thomas” and “Claudine” to Naoko Takeuchi's “Pretty Sailor Moon” favorable portrayal and acceptance of queer characters such as Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune,...
While there are classics worthy of checking out, from the previously mentioned “The Heart of Thomas” and “Claudine” to Naoko Takeuchi's “Pretty Sailor Moon” favorable portrayal and acceptance of queer characters such as Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune,...
- 6/2/2023
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
From the world of idols and movie stars, Oshi No Ko steps into the world of manga writers in the 4th episode. The show gets better with each episode and incorporates another dark secret of the entertainment industry in its narrative. In the beginning, the anime gave the impression of a slice-of-life show about an idol named Ai and her two babies. Soon it is revealed that Ai is, in fact, not the protagonist at all, but her son Aqua and his sister Ruby. Aqua believes he is destined to find Ai’s killer, as he remembers his previous life where he was killed by the same person. Aqua and Ruby are all grown up now and have to pick their respective career paths. How far will Aqua go to find out his mother’s killer?
Spoilers Ahead
What Happens In Episode 4?
Kana Arima used to be the most popular...
Spoilers Ahead
What Happens In Episode 4?
Kana Arima used to be the most popular...
- 5/4/2023
- by Ruchika Bhat
- Film Fugitives
“Drive My Car” star Hidetoshi Nishijima has signed with CAA for representation.
Nishijima starred in the acclaimed 2021 Japanese feature “Drive My Car,” which was nominated for four Academy Awards, and walked away with the Oscar for best international feature film.
He earned several awards for his performance in the Cannes-premiering critical darling, including best actor from the National Society of Film Critics and the Boston Film Critics Circle Awards, as well as the Japan Academy Film Prize for best actor.
Nishijima will next star alongside Rashida Jones in “Sunny,” Apple TV+’s half-hour dark comedy series from A24 and Lucy Tcherniak. He also stars in Kitano Takeshi’s “Kubi,” which will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival next month.
Nishijima’s previous credits include “Shin Ultraman” (2022), Kitano Takeshi’s “Dolls” (2002), and “License to Live” for which he won the best actor award at the Japanese Professional Movie Awards.
Nishijima has also appeared in TV series,...
Nishijima starred in the acclaimed 2021 Japanese feature “Drive My Car,” which was nominated for four Academy Awards, and walked away with the Oscar for best international feature film.
He earned several awards for his performance in the Cannes-premiering critical darling, including best actor from the National Society of Film Critics and the Boston Film Critics Circle Awards, as well as the Japan Academy Film Prize for best actor.
Nishijima will next star alongside Rashida Jones in “Sunny,” Apple TV+’s half-hour dark comedy series from A24 and Lucy Tcherniak. He also stars in Kitano Takeshi’s “Kubi,” which will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival next month.
Nishijima’s previous credits include “Shin Ultraman” (2022), Kitano Takeshi’s “Dolls” (2002), and “License to Live” for which he won the best actor award at the Japanese Professional Movie Awards.
Nishijima has also appeared in TV series,...
- 4/25/2023
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
“Discover a variety of stories about women’s love, starting with Iori: twenty-eight-year-old office worker who sets out to drown her love and job sorrows in booze. When she wakes up next to someone, she can’t believe her partner was Minami, a worker at the bar who doesn’t want to forget what they have!” (Yen Press)
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
Not one to shy away from the complexities of life and dating carrying past trauma, Mikanuji’s “Assorted Entanglements” is a mature josei title that finds a complimentary balance between challenging subject matter and lightheartedness through exploring the strong bonds between Iori and Minami. While told episodically, the series’ greatest appeal lies in painting a broader picture of the tribulations the two face and how their devotion to one another builds a strong foundation that allows them to tackle any adversity.
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
Not one to shy away from the complexities of life and dating carrying past trauma, Mikanuji’s “Assorted Entanglements” is a mature josei title that finds a complimentary balance between challenging subject matter and lightheartedness through exploring the strong bonds between Iori and Minami. While told episodically, the series’ greatest appeal lies in painting a broader picture of the tribulations the two face and how their devotion to one another builds a strong foundation that allows them to tackle any adversity.
- 2/9/2023
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
The beginning of the 1970s marked a critical period for the Japanese film industry, as it finally realized it had to come to terms with a changing audience that was more than willing to switch to foreign productions or the television set if their demands were not met. It was also the start of an incredibly creative period in mainstream cinema, with many directors suddenly concentrating on other genres or finally experiencing a kind of freedom they felt they had been denied before. With Kinji Fukasaku’s highly successful “Battles Without Honor and Humanity”-series becoming a new milestone within the Japanese gangster film, many wanted to have their piece of the success. Having collected experiences in many genres besides chanbara, which he still stayed somewhat faithful to in the coming decade, director Hideo Gosha turned to the yakuza genre too with features such as his 1974 effort “Violent City”, which even stars Bunta Sugawara,...
- 12/27/2022
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
First Love Hatsukoi is a Netflix romantic drama series written and directed by Yuri Kanchiku and starring Hikari Mitsushima and Takeru Satō.
In nine episodes you can follow the stories of Yae and Hurimichi as they reminisce about the time they fell in love.
Premise
Their lives did not turn out to be as wondrous as they had expected when then were young, free and madly in love. Everything was so much easier as teenagers, they had everything they could dream of, especially, love. Now, grown and disenchanted with life they will lean on their memories to make it through the day, one dull day at a time. No amount of lackluster, no harsh reality, will take that away from them, they will always have those beautiful memories.
First Love Season 1. Chapters When the Lilacs Bloom
Yae drives through the streets of Sapporo as a taxi driver. Back in her rural hometown,...
In nine episodes you can follow the stories of Yae and Hurimichi as they reminisce about the time they fell in love.
Premise
Their lives did not turn out to be as wondrous as they had expected when then were young, free and madly in love. Everything was so much easier as teenagers, they had everything they could dream of, especially, love. Now, grown and disenchanted with life they will lean on their memories to make it through the day, one dull day at a time. No amount of lackluster, no harsh reality, will take that away from them, they will always have those beautiful memories.
First Love Season 1. Chapters When the Lilacs Bloom
Yae drives through the streets of Sapporo as a taxi driver. Back in her rural hometown,...
- 11/21/2022
- by Veronica Loop
- Martin Cid - TV
It is amusing to ponder just how stealthily life can imitate art and vice versa, happening right underneath our noses we are blind to its reflection whilst all those around us have grabbed a front row seat just to watch how it unfolds with popcorn in one hand and a beverage in the other. A stark reminder of how blurred the line between fiction and real life can be, one serving as a harbinger for the other, these encounters usually fall into two categories: a devastating disaster of which no one can avert their eyes from, or a heart-warming glimpse into the fairy-tale world we all wish our lives could be. Thankfully for Shuichi Okita’s latest offering, “One Summer Story”, its loveable cast of misfits practically living out their common ground – a tender anime about a magical plasterer – steers its story into the latter and, for the most part,...
- 11/21/2022
- by James Cansdale-Cook
- AsianMoviePulse
Despite the fact that J-horror has been long since dead, particularly in the impact it had during the “Ringu” era, occasionally there are efforts that come out of the Japanese industry that do offer new approaches to the genre, with titles like “Bamy” and “Mimicry Freaks” being the first that come to mind. It is easy to say that Keishi Kondo’s feature debut falls under the same category.
New Religion screened at Warsaw Film Festival
That this film is going to be different is evident from the initial scene, when Miyabi, the protagonist of the movie, realizes that she has not paid attention to her young daughter Aoi for some time. Withοut any kind of drum rolls, both her and the audience realize that the kid has fallen of the balcony and is now dead, with Kondo moving almost immediately to some later time, where Miyabi is living in the same apartment,...
New Religion screened at Warsaw Film Festival
That this film is going to be different is evident from the initial scene, when Miyabi, the protagonist of the movie, realizes that she has not paid attention to her young daughter Aoi for some time. Withοut any kind of drum rolls, both her and the audience realize that the kid has fallen of the balcony and is now dead, with Kondo moving almost immediately to some later time, where Miyabi is living in the same apartment,...
- 10/23/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
No one expected "Cowboy Bebop" to be a major success — especially not the people that were bankrolling the production. The series creators actually stretched their budget so thin that they angered executives and shareholders. The studio was concerned that "Bebop" wouldn't resonate with enough viewers, and even the show's animator and director Shin'ichirô Watanabe didn't expect it to take off. Despite the lack of faith in the project, it would become one of the most globally beloved animes of all time.
"Cowboy Bebop" was born from a meeting between Watanabe and Masahiko Minami, who would later become the show's producer. "[Minami] approached me to ask if I had any good ideas for a new project," Watanabe recalled to Otaquest. "After about 2-3 days of deliberating, something I had thrown together over the course of an hour known only as 'Bebop' surfaced."
The series originally got its funding from an unexpected source — the Japanese toy company,...
"Cowboy Bebop" was born from a meeting between Watanabe and Masahiko Minami, who would later become the show's producer. "[Minami] approached me to ask if I had any good ideas for a new project," Watanabe recalled to Otaquest. "After about 2-3 days of deliberating, something I had thrown together over the course of an hour known only as 'Bebop' surfaced."
The series originally got its funding from an unexpected source — the Japanese toy company,...
- 10/1/2022
- by Shae Sennett
- Slash Film
Part of the tragedy of "Cowboy Bebop" is how the main characters are so weighed down by their pasts that they're unable to live in the present. The creative team behind the classic anime series didn't share this attitude though. When making the series, "Hajime Yatate" (their collective pseudonym) were all focused on the present, not what lay behind or ahead of them.
Series director Shinichirō Watanabe and producer Masahiko Minami discussed their episode-by-episode attitude at a roundtable for the show's 20th anniversary, held at French convention Japan Expo 2018. Watannabe recounted (transcribed by SakuraBlog):
"I had an episodic series in mind from the get-go. I wanted every episode to feel fresh. And all the aforementioned problems we encountered only reinforced that vision of the series I had... But we still needed a thread, albeit thin, common to all episodes for the setting, world elements, characters, etc."
Those thin threads wound up being (a.
Series director Shinichirō Watanabe and producer Masahiko Minami discussed their episode-by-episode attitude at a roundtable for the show's 20th anniversary, held at French convention Japan Expo 2018. Watannabe recounted (transcribed by SakuraBlog):
"I had an episodic series in mind from the get-go. I wanted every episode to feel fresh. And all the aforementioned problems we encountered only reinforced that vision of the series I had... But we still needed a thread, albeit thin, common to all episodes for the setting, world elements, characters, etc."
Those thin threads wound up being (a.
- 9/26/2022
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
There are two very evident characteristics when one deals with Japanese cinema. The first one is the intelligence in the way the story is composed and presented, which frequently extends to the style of humor. The second is that too many local filmmakers do not know where and when to end their films. Juichiro Yamasaki’s “Yamabuki” definitely features both.
“Yamabuki” is screening at InlanDimensions
The script revolves around a series of characters, whose stories end up being interconnected. Chang-su is a former Olympic jockey for the South Korean national team, whose father’s bankruptcy and the subsequent loans he left forced him to move to Japan to get work that would allow to pay back. There, however, he has found some measure of happiness, working in a quarry where he is about to receive a promotion, and caring for Minami and her infant daughter, Uzuki. That is until local...
“Yamabuki” is screening at InlanDimensions
The script revolves around a series of characters, whose stories end up being interconnected. Chang-su is a former Olympic jockey for the South Korean national team, whose father’s bankruptcy and the subsequent loans he left forced him to move to Japan to get work that would allow to pay back. There, however, he has found some measure of happiness, working in a quarry where he is about to receive a promotion, and caring for Minami and her infant daughter, Uzuki. That is until local...
- 9/21/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Quite a different romantic movie than the usual style of the category, “The Tale of Nishino” essentially begins with the death of the protagonist, after hanging out with ex-girlfriend Natsumi and her daughter Minami, and then makes a flash forward ten years later when Nishino returns as a ghost to Minami, with the two attending his funeral. There the girl talks to a friend of his, who shares a rather extensive story about his past, and particularly his relationship with a number of women, all of which, though, ended up dumping him.
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
The unusual story is based on the homonymous novel by Hiromi Kawakami, and for the most part, focuses on the everyday life of Nishino, the fact that many women found themselves attracted to him, and his effort to not say no to anyone, which actually is the...
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
The unusual story is based on the homonymous novel by Hiromi Kawakami, and for the most part, focuses on the everyday life of Nishino, the fact that many women found themselves attracted to him, and his effort to not say no to anyone, which actually is the...
- 9/18/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
New York, NY (8/4/22) – Yen Press, LLC announced the acquisition of five new titles, including three manga (School-Live! Letters; Assorted Entanglements; Sotus) and two novels (Hirano and Kagiura; Bride of the Barrier Master). This highly anticipated lineup of debuts is comprised of a variety of genres. Bride of the Barrier Master is set to release January 2023, while the three others are slated for February 2023.
School-Live! Letters
Story by Norimitsu Kaihou
Art by Sadoru Chiba
Now that the apocalypse is over, the former School Living Club members moved on to new stages in their lives. With each member walking a different path, letters help everyone remember the past, live for the present, and stay connected with each other.
Hirano and Kagiura (novel)
Original Story and Character Design by Shou Harusono
Story by Kotoko Hachijo
It all started when Akira Kagiura moved into the dorms. He was supposed to have a normal roommate relationship with a normal guy,...
School-Live! Letters
Story by Norimitsu Kaihou
Art by Sadoru Chiba
Now that the apocalypse is over, the former School Living Club members moved on to new stages in their lives. With each member walking a different path, letters help everyone remember the past, live for the present, and stay connected with each other.
Hirano and Kagiura (novel)
Original Story and Character Design by Shou Harusono
Story by Kotoko Hachijo
It all started when Akira Kagiura moved into the dorms. He was supposed to have a normal roommate relationship with a normal guy,...
- 8/7/2022
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
Minami and Johnny Depp in Minamata
A celebrated artist known across Europe for his Metalwork Installations®, Andrew Levitas has worked in photography, sculpture and painting, creating his own pigments and exhibiting in numerous prestigious venues, but in recent years he has also taken an interest in film. His second feature, Minamata, takes a coruscating look at the man-made tragedy which struck a small Japanese community in the mid-Fifties, and shows how Life magazine’s war photographer, W Eugene Smith, brought it to international attention. Smith is played by Johnny Depp as you’ve never seen him before, in one of his career best performances, but the soul of the film belongs to its Japanese characters, with equally impressive work from Hiroyuki Sanada.
"He's an avatar for us, right?"
When we meet, Andrew’s passion for the subject is immediately obvious. To him it’s not just a historical story but...
A celebrated artist known across Europe for his Metalwork Installations®, Andrew Levitas has worked in photography, sculpture and painting, creating his own pigments and exhibiting in numerous prestigious venues, but in recent years he has also taken an interest in film. His second feature, Minamata, takes a coruscating look at the man-made tragedy which struck a small Japanese community in the mid-Fifties, and shows how Life magazine’s war photographer, W Eugene Smith, brought it to international attention. Smith is played by Johnny Depp as you’ve never seen him before, in one of his career best performances, but the soul of the film belongs to its Japanese characters, with equally impressive work from Hiroyuki Sanada.
"He's an avatar for us, right?"
When we meet, Andrew’s passion for the subject is immediately obvious. To him it’s not just a historical story but...
- 2/13/2022
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
The greatest power of the photographic image is its function in affecting social change, a phenomenon that only persists and grows with the proliferation of cameras in every hand at all times. But with great power comes great responsibility, they say, a conundrum explored in Andrew Levitas’ “Minamata,” the story of legendary photojournalist W. Eugene Smith and his experiences photographing the effect of toxic mercury poisoning in Japan.
Writers Levitas, David Kessler, Stephen Deuters and Jason Forman fudge the facts just a bit to craft this biopic of Smith, played here by a grizzled Johnny Depp, and the result is something akin to “Erin Brockovich” by way of “A Private War,” with a dash of “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” for flavor. (Depp’s Smith has the same fondness for accessories and methamphetamine that his Hunter S. Thompson did.)
We pick up with Smith in 1971; he’s feuding with...
Writers Levitas, David Kessler, Stephen Deuters and Jason Forman fudge the facts just a bit to craft this biopic of Smith, played here by a grizzled Johnny Depp, and the result is something akin to “Erin Brockovich” by way of “A Private War,” with a dash of “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” for flavor. (Depp’s Smith has the same fondness for accessories and methamphetamine that his Hunter S. Thompson did.)
We pick up with Smith in 1971; he’s feuding with...
- 2/10/2022
- by Katie Walsh
- The Wrap
Even if you don’t know the story of heralded photographer W. Eugene Smith or the Japanese fishing village of Minamata, you are likely familiar with the photograph Tomoko and Mother in the Bath. The 1971 black-and-white photo captures Ryoko Kamimura cradling her severely deformed daughter Tomoko, a victim of Minamata disease, in a Japanese bath. The photograph was one of many featured in a 1972 issue of Life magazine depicting the horrors of the disease, a form of Mercury poisoning that was caused by industrial wastewater from the Chisso Corporation’s chemical factory. Smith and his wife, Aileen Mioko Smith, lived in the town from 1971 to 1973 to document the effects of Minamata disease.
Now the story of the Smiths and Minamata has been brought to the big screen by filmmaker Andrew Levitas, starring Johnny Depp as Smith, Minami as Aileen and Bill Nighy as Smith’s editor Robert Hayes. Smith is portrayed as a challenging artist,...
Now the story of the Smiths and Minamata has been brought to the big screen by filmmaker Andrew Levitas, starring Johnny Depp as Smith, Minami as Aileen and Bill Nighy as Smith’s editor Robert Hayes. Smith is portrayed as a challenging artist,...
- 2/7/2022
- by Jenelle Riley
- Variety Film + TV
Minamata Trailer — Andrew Levitas‘ Minamata (2020) movie trailer has been released by Samuel Goldwyn Films. The Minamata trailer stars Johnny Depp, Bill Nighy, Hiroyuki Sanada, Jun Kunimura, Ryo Kase, Minami, Tadanobu Asano, Katherine Jenkins, and Akiko Iwase. Crew David Kessler, Stephen Deuters, Andrew Levitas, and Jason Forman wrote the screenplay for Minamata. Ryuichi Sakamoto [...]
Continue reading: Minamata (2020) U.S. Movie Trailer: War Photographer Johnny Depp documents the Mercury Poisoning of a Japanese Town...
Continue reading: Minamata (2020) U.S. Movie Trailer: War Photographer Johnny Depp documents the Mercury Poisoning of a Japanese Town...
- 12/12/2021
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
"We need global attention." "With you, we have a better chance." Goldwyn Films has released an official US trailer for the film Minamata, made by filmmaker / artist Andrew Levitas. This originally premiered at the 2020 Berlin Film Festival last year, and has taken all this time to get released. The film tells the story of the final days and final work of famed war photographer W. Eugene Smith, played by Johnny Depp. Smith travels to Japan in the 70s where he embeds himself in a small town and documents the devastating effects of mercury poisoning in communities due to a greedy corporation dumping toxic chemicals and denying it. A powerful story about the impact of photojournalism. Also with Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Katherine Jenkins, Jun Kunimura, Lily Robinson, Ryo Kase, Akiko Iwase, Minami, plus Bill Nighy. I watched this at Berlinale and loved it, writing in my review: "there's something wondrous and yet compellingly authentic.
- 12/10/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Exclusive: Johnny Depp movie Minamata is finally getting a U.S. release, we can reveal, but not from MGM which had previously acquired the film.
Iervolino and Lady Bacardi Entertainment (Ilbe) are now teaming up with Samuel Goldwyn Films to give the movie a North American release in theaters beginning December 15. The platformed release is due to extend across U.S. and Canada into 2022 and the team are looking to position it for awards consideration.
This update comes after the film’s director, Andrew Levitas, complained earlier this year that MGM was “burying” Minamata due to Depp’s well publicized off-screen issues. You can read the filmmaker’s impassioned letter to the studio here. Depp also decried the non-release in an interview in August in which he said the film deserved to be seen but was shelved because he was being “boycotted” by Hollywood.
Minamata charts the true story of...
Iervolino and Lady Bacardi Entertainment (Ilbe) are now teaming up with Samuel Goldwyn Films to give the movie a North American release in theaters beginning December 15. The platformed release is due to extend across U.S. and Canada into 2022 and the team are looking to position it for awards consideration.
This update comes after the film’s director, Andrew Levitas, complained earlier this year that MGM was “burying” Minamata due to Depp’s well publicized off-screen issues. You can read the filmmaker’s impassioned letter to the studio here. Depp also decried the non-release in an interview in August in which he said the film deserved to be seen but was shelved because he was being “boycotted” by Hollywood.
Minamata charts the true story of...
- 12/1/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
New York, NY (8/20/21) – Yen Press, LLC announced a slate of upcoming releases that includes manga (Cross-Dressing Villainess Ceclia Sylvie; Nanami Minami Wants to Shine; The Fiancée Chosen by the Ring; The Wolf Never Sleeps; Run on Your New Legs; Catch These Hands!; Mizuno & Chayama;and Bungo Stray Dogs Woof!), novels, and the second Ttrpg release from Yen On (Goblin Slayer Tabletop Roleplaying Game). All announced titles are scheduled for February 2022 release.
Cross-Dressing Villainess Cecilia Sylvie (manga)
Original Story by Hiroro Akizakura
Art by Shino Akiyama
Character Design by Dangmill
Cecilia has been reincarnated as the villainess of a dating sim who is fated to die no matter the route. If she becomes a Shrine Maiden candidate (only girls are chosen), she’ll absolutely wind up dead. No question about it. To avoid this fate, Cecilia decides to cross-dress as a man…She will do whatever it takes to achieve a peaceful and carefree life,...
Cross-Dressing Villainess Cecilia Sylvie (manga)
Original Story by Hiroro Akizakura
Art by Shino Akiyama
Character Design by Dangmill
Cecilia has been reincarnated as the villainess of a dating sim who is fated to die no matter the route. If she becomes a Shrine Maiden candidate (only girls are chosen), she’ll absolutely wind up dead. No question about it. To avoid this fate, Cecilia decides to cross-dress as a man…She will do whatever it takes to achieve a peaceful and carefree life,...
- 8/23/2021
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
Today we’re pleased to bring you interviews with Johnny Depp, director Andrew Levitas and Hiroyuki Sanada and living legend Bill Nighy for Minamata. The film stars Johnny Depp as celebrated war photographer W. Eugene Smith, alongside Minami, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ryo Kase, Jun Kunimura, Bill Nighy and Katherine Jenkins.
Plot: New York, 1971. Following his celebrated days as one of the most revered photojournalists of World War II, W. Eugene Smith (Johnny Depp) has become a recluse, disconnected from society and his career. But a secret commission from Life magazine editor Robert Hayes (Bill Nighy) sends him to the Japanese coastal city of Minamata, which has been ravaged by mercury poisoning; the result of decades of gross industrial negligence by the country’s Chisso Corporation.
There, Smith immerses himself in the community, documenting their efforts to live with Minamata Disease and their passionate campaign to achieve recognition from Chisso and the Japanese government.
Plot: New York, 1971. Following his celebrated days as one of the most revered photojournalists of World War II, W. Eugene Smith (Johnny Depp) has become a recluse, disconnected from society and his career. But a secret commission from Life magazine editor Robert Hayes (Bill Nighy) sends him to the Japanese coastal city of Minamata, which has been ravaged by mercury poisoning; the result of decades of gross industrial negligence by the country’s Chisso Corporation.
There, Smith immerses himself in the community, documenting their efforts to live with Minamata Disease and their passionate campaign to achieve recognition from Chisso and the Japanese government.
- 8/19/2021
- by Jon Lyus
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The actor and painter explains why the world needs to see Minamata, the new film about the mercury poisoning scandal that W Eugene Smith helped expose
Like Cher or Madonna, Minami is a one-name wonder. “I have my French and Japanese family names,” the 34-year-old actor says over video call from a pink hotel room in Tokyo. “But ‘Minami’ is simpler.” She gives a single, decisive nod. “Just write ‘Minami.’” She chose the mononym at 13 when she featured in her first film, Battle Royale, a gory cult thriller about schoolchildren fighting to the death on an uninhabited island. “When I went back to school, everyone said: ‘Your arms are all bruised, you have scratches, what’s going on?’ They thought my parents were beating me.”
Even when telling a story like this with dark undertones, her manner is insistently perky, as though she doesn’t want the listener to misread her as dour.
Like Cher or Madonna, Minami is a one-name wonder. “I have my French and Japanese family names,” the 34-year-old actor says over video call from a pink hotel room in Tokyo. “But ‘Minami’ is simpler.” She gives a single, decisive nod. “Just write ‘Minami.’” She chose the mononym at 13 when she featured in her first film, Battle Royale, a gory cult thriller about schoolchildren fighting to the death on an uninhabited island. “When I went back to school, everyone said: ‘Your arms are all bruised, you have scratches, what’s going on?’ They thought my parents were beating me.”
Even when telling a story like this with dark undertones, her manner is insistently perky, as though she doesn’t want the listener to misread her as dour.
- 8/13/2021
- by Ryan Gilbey
- The Guardian - Film News
Exclusive: Director Andrew Levitas has sent a letter of complaint to MGM and others to protest what he claims is a decision to “bury” the film Minamata because of the personal baggage of its star, Johnny Depp. The film lays bare the scandalous neglect that the Chisso Corporation displayed in the Japanese coastal city where locals were ravaged by mercury poisoning from chemicals dumped into the waters by a factory, which spread to local population through the ingestion of fish. It was exposed in the 1950s.
In the film, Depp plays Eugene Smith, a famed photojournalist who has disconnected from the world but takes a final assignment from his Life magazine editor (Bill Nighy). He is accompanied by a Japanese translator (Minami) and encouraged by a local villager (Hiroyuki Sanada) as he helps expose decades of gross negligence by the Chisso Corporation. Minamata also stars Jun Kunimura, Ryo Kase, Tadanobu Asano and Akiko Iwase.
In the film, Depp plays Eugene Smith, a famed photojournalist who has disconnected from the world but takes a final assignment from his Life magazine editor (Bill Nighy). He is accompanied by a Japanese translator (Minami) and encouraged by a local villager (Hiroyuki Sanada) as he helps expose decades of gross negligence by the Chisso Corporation. Minamata also stars Jun Kunimura, Ryo Kase, Tadanobu Asano and Akiko Iwase.
- 7/26/2021
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Inside a makeshift cafe set at Hong Kong’s luxurious Rosewood Hotel, local actor-producer Josie Ho sits across from British actor Julian Sands. Both are giving director Mike Figgis their full attention as he explains the scene that they are going to film.
What was said could not be heard from afar, despite the set being unusually quiet. Dolled up multi-racial extras and other crew members who were busy preparing the next shot whispered to each other. Everyone was patiently waiting for the director’s cue.
“I normally have a very quiet set,” Figgis (director of “Leaving Las Vegas” and “Internal Affairs”) told Variety on location with “Mother Tongue,” an arthouse mystery thriller that is among the latest efforts from 852 Films, a production company co-headed by Ho and husband Conroy Chan. “I asked for silence a lot. My whole technique is based on silence, based on talking quietly and intimately to actors.
What was said could not be heard from afar, despite the set being unusually quiet. Dolled up multi-racial extras and other crew members who were busy preparing the next shot whispered to each other. Everyone was patiently waiting for the director’s cue.
“I normally have a very quiet set,” Figgis (director of “Leaving Las Vegas” and “Internal Affairs”) told Variety on location with “Mother Tongue,” an arthouse mystery thriller that is among the latest efforts from 852 Films, a production company co-headed by Ho and husband Conroy Chan. “I asked for silence a lot. My whole technique is based on silence, based on talking quietly and intimately to actors.
- 4/28/2021
- by Vivienne Chow
- Variety Film + TV
Apple has set the cast for Pachinko, its epic international drama series based on Min Jin Lee’s bestselling novel, from studio Media Res. Production is set to begin October 26 on multiple continents on the anticipated series.
Written and executive produced by Soo Hugh (The Terror), who also serves as showrunner and created the vision for the series, Pachinko chronicles the hopes and dreams of four generations of a Korean immigrant family. Epic in scope, intimate in tone, the story begins with a forbidden love and crescendos into a sweeping saga that journeys between Korea, Japan and America to tell the unforgettable story of war and peace, love and loss, triumph and reckoning. The series will be told in three languages: Korean, Japanese and English.
Media Res acquired the rights to the novel for Hugh.
Min Ho Lee will play Hansu, an enigmatic outsider and...
Written and executive produced by Soo Hugh (The Terror), who also serves as showrunner and created the vision for the series, Pachinko chronicles the hopes and dreams of four generations of a Korean immigrant family. Epic in scope, intimate in tone, the story begins with a forbidden love and crescendos into a sweeping saga that journeys between Korea, Japan and America to tell the unforgettable story of war and peace, love and loss, triumph and reckoning. The series will be told in three languages: Korean, Japanese and English.
Media Res acquired the rights to the novel for Hugh.
Min Ho Lee will play Hansu, an enigmatic outsider and...
- 10/22/2020
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Apple has officially announced the cast for its “Pachinko” series, with Korean superstar Lee Min Ho among those starring in the series.
Set to begin production on Oct. 26, “Pachinko” is an adaptation of the Min Jin Lee novel of the same name. It chronicles the hopes and dreams of four generations of a Korean immigrant family. The story begins with a forbidden love and moves into a saga that journeys between Korea, Japan and America to tell the story of war and peace, love and loss, triumph and reckoning. The story will be told in Korean, Japanese, and English.
Lee will play Hansu, described as an enigmatic outsider and merchant with ties to organized crime who embarks on an illicit romance with far-reaching consequences. Lee’s other notable roles include “Boys Over Flowers,” “The Heirs,” “Gangnam Blues,” “Bounty Hunters,” and “The King: Eternal Monarch.” He is repped by Artist International Group,...
Set to begin production on Oct. 26, “Pachinko” is an adaptation of the Min Jin Lee novel of the same name. It chronicles the hopes and dreams of four generations of a Korean immigrant family. The story begins with a forbidden love and moves into a saga that journeys between Korea, Japan and America to tell the story of war and peace, love and loss, triumph and reckoning. The story will be told in Korean, Japanese, and English.
Lee will play Hansu, described as an enigmatic outsider and merchant with ties to organized crime who embarks on an illicit romance with far-reaching consequences. Lee’s other notable roles include “Boys Over Flowers,” “The Heirs,” “Gangnam Blues,” “Bounty Hunters,” and “The King: Eternal Monarch.” He is repped by Artist International Group,...
- 10/22/2020
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Johnny Depp is in Berlin today for the world premiere of Andrew Levitas’ Minamata. A Berlin Film Festival Special Gala Screening, the drama also stars Hiroyuki Sanada, Minami and Bill Nighy. Depp plays celebrated U.S. photographer W Eugene Smith in the true-story thriller that pits Smith against a powerful corporation responsible for poisoning the people in Minamata, Japan in 1971. It’s based on the book by the photographer and his wife Aileen Mioko Smith, and adapted by David K Kessler.
Depp is also a producer on the film and Levitas today credited the star with being the driver on the project. “Johnny is too humble to say it; this came from him. All the passion and what we were able to do in terms of pulling it together came out of Johnny’s heart and built from there, it mattered.”
For Depp, “it was almost impossible to believe” what had happened in Minamata,...
Depp is also a producer on the film and Levitas today credited the star with being the driver on the project. “Johnny is too humble to say it; this came from him. All the passion and what we were able to do in terms of pulling it together came out of Johnny’s heart and built from there, it mattered.”
For Depp, “it was almost impossible to believe” what had happened in Minamata,...
- 2/21/2020
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
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