Synopsis: In the POKÉMON ADVANCED CHALLENGE COMPLETE COLLECTION, a shadow hovers over Ash, May, and friends as they continue their journey through the Hoenn region, and it’s not just that of Mt. Chimney—both Team Magma and Team Aqua put plans into action with our heroes caught in the middle! When not foiling evil schemes, Ash and May chase their personal goals, with Ash battling for three more Gym badges and May winning her first three contest ribbons. The group also gains new Pokémon like Torkoal and Bulbasaur, but could they be too much to handle?

Continuing their release of full seasons, Viz media puts out yet another great full season of Pokémon. Following Ash, Pikachu, Brock, May, and Max through the Hoenn region, Pokémon: Advanced Challenge spans 52 episodes (Episodes 41-92) of the Advanced Generation series. Originally airing in 2004, the season has come out before on 10 different DVD’s, but this will be the complete collection that is out in a box set of 6 DVDs. The box is a standard DVD, plastic, case in a sleeve that matches. Personally, I prefer the book style cases that fold out into a longer piece. They seem to be more sturdy, and I just like the feel. I am slightly surprised they did not do something like that, or individual small cases in a larger box, with the amount of DVD’s that was involved with this particular collection.

Personally, this is one of my favorite regions in the Pokémon franchise. Hoenn has beautiful artwork and well designed Pokémon while keeping balance with the older, more classic, Pokémon. Also, the theme song is pretty awesome. Viz still holds onto the classic 4:3 aspect ratio, despite the non-widescreen viewing, I found it’s still easy to watch. The black bars on the side don’t bother me much and bring me back to the days of waking up early to pop on the TV and watch my favorite Pokémon trainer. Although this is a little bit more of a nostalgic, personal, preference than anything. The colors and animation are par for the course; always bright and entertaining. The voice acting hasn’t changed much, even from the original series, so any old time fans will recall the voices quickly and new fans can expect a lot of enjoyment out of it as well.

For about $50 USD, you get your money’s worth of content. However, with the back of the box stating the collection having 23 hours of content, the total content is actually about 19 hours. Again though, you still get great value for the box set and just in time for a holiday gift for any Pokémon fan! You can find this box set online and in stores such as Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target.

About Pokémon and Viz Media
POKÉMON is one of the most successful international entertainment franchises of all time. More than 290 million POKÉMON video games and over 23.6 billion Pokémon Trading Cards have been sold in more than 74 countries in addition to substantial publishing and merchandise sales. VIZ Media is the official North American distributor for a wide variety of Pokémon home media releases including animated series and films and also publishes a variety of POKÉMON manga graphic novel series including POKÉMON ADVENTURES, POKÉMON ADVENTURES: FireRed & LeafGreen, POKÉMON ADVENTURES: EMERALD, POKÉMON ADVENTURES: DIAMOND AND PEARL/PLATINUM, POKÉMON ADVENTURES: HeartGold & SoulSilver, POKÉMON ADVENTURES: BLACK & WHITE, POKÉMON X•Y, and POKÉMON OMEGA RUBY • ALPHA SAPPHIRE.
For additional information on POKÉMON titles as well as other anime and manga titles distributed and published by VIZ Media, please visit viz.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC
Established in 1986, VIZ Media is the premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing. Along with its popular digital magazine WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, DRAGON BALL, SAILOR MOON, and POKÉMON, VIZ Media offers an extensive library of titles and original content in a wide variety of book and video formats, as well as through official licensed merchandise. Owned by three of Japan’s largest publishing and entertainment companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is dedicated to bringing the best titles for English-speaking audiences worldwide.

Learn more about VIZ Media and its properties at viz.com.

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VIZ Media Launches New Shoujo Manga Series The Young Master’s Revenge as of March 6th.

Immediately upon first glance, I recognized Meca Tanaka’s (田中メカ Tanaka Meka) art style as I flipped through the pages of The Young Master’s Revenge (Kimi no Koto nado Zettai ni). She is famous overseas for Faster than a Kiss (another great Shoujo Manga Series.) Viz Media has also happened to license one of her other manga series Meteor Prince.

This series originally had it’s run from Aug 23, 2014, in the magazine Lala and is ongoing. Viz Media has licensed the series and is accepting pre-orders as of Feb 27, 2018.

So what is the hype surrounding this series? Recently “Revenge”, or sadistic Shoujo Manga series have been picking up in popularity. A good example would be Takane to Hana, where a young woman is in an unlikely relationship with a sadistic rich man. These series are following a couple that pick-on each other or have bad intentions before falling in love. These series tend to highlight what an unhealthy relationship looks like while being humorous, the key is that they obviously aren’t taking themselves seriously.

In The Young Master’s Revenge, we are introduced to the main character Tachibana Leo who has been away from Japan for ten years. Upon his return, he only has one goal in mind, seek revenge on his childhood friend(Tsuwabuki Tenma) for humiliating him as a young kid.

Upon reading the 1st Volume, it’s clear that this is a lighthearted comedy and the reasons for Tachibana Leo’s revenge is presented as completely ridiculous. The main reason for the silly disposition is that Tsuwabuki Tenma isn’t what you would respect considering the hatred of the main character. The side character that Leo hates so much is airheaded and naive. I personally enjoy Tenma’s “naive” personality, it contrasts nicely with Leo’s ulterior motives.

In the press release, Nancy Thistlethwaite(Senior Editor) is quoted saying, “What begins as Leo’s revenge becomes a voyage of self-discovery and endearing love.”

Which leads me to believe that we will see a positive character change from the young main character. With the positive feedback and unique storyline, it looks like The Young Master’s Revenge is already on it’s way to becoming another hit from Meca Tanaka.

One thing that the manga does a great job of is making fun of the usual Shoujo stereotypes. Although we often see girls attempting to get revenge for rejection, in this case, Leo is the one who is spiteful. It’s a fun change from the usual “makeover” manga that is prominent in the Shoujo genre. The manga doesn’t skip a beat and quickly gets its summary over so that you can watch the characters interact. I get the impression that the reason for the story isn’t as important as the journey. Finally as usual Meca Tanaka’s art is visually charming with it’s wide-eyed, and long framed elegance.

If you’re a fan of Shoujo Manga, then you’ll certainly want to check out VIZ Media’s Launch of The Young Master’s Revenge.

The post VIZ Media Launches New Shoujo Manga Series THE YOUNG MASTER’S REVENGE appeared first on Geek News Network.

With the New Year comes the start of con season. One of the best ways to start the New Year is by taking a visit to the lovely Los Angeles to catch ALA (Anime Los Angeles). Held at the LAX Marriott, its location was not only convenient, but impressive. It has a reputation, and even a nickname of being the “pool con.” The gorgeous pool has a river where you can take pictures of some of the best cosplayers in the scene.

Anime Los Angeles is a convention where you feel at home. The con takes every effort in listening to attendees’ ideas and even criticisms to add/remove items that will make the con more enjoyable for you. As you walk into the convention there are several largely printed signs accompanied with humor to help you navigate around the hotel. If layout gets a bit confusing, there are volunteers to help you find your way.

Beanbag chairs line the walls of the halls where you can relax. You are encouraged to hang out while talking to new people you have never met. Even the con chair Chaz sets up a couch near the information booth where you can chat with him about your experience at the convention. He loves listening to new ideas and even answers any questions you may have.

ALA definitely had the regular programming you would expect such as the Masquerade, Maid Cafes, game rooms, Manga room, panels and even more. They really catered to attendees of all ages, even creating a parent’s lounge for parents of attendees 14 or younger to come and hang out in when their children are at the con. This encourages them to be more involved and let them meet other parents who may share the same interests or may have been dragged into the convention life. There are snacks provided to help hold them over when their kids just don’t want to leave a tournament quite yet. There is a con suite for all the attendees to help make sure they stay nourished. The con suite is opened from early in the morning to very late at night, giving you a place to grab a small helping of various foods. There were an array of sandwiches all the way to chips and soda. The staff kept you entertained leading in singalongs to give you a show.

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One of the top things that made this convention a bit different is ribbons. You can receive ribbons that hang off of your badge to symbolize your status in the convention, all the way to showing you are a specific fan. So many attendees became involved in ribbon collecting that they were searching for more time to collect them even in the last hours of the convention. At the end, there were some attendees who had 20 ribbons all the way to over 100 ribbons that were rolled and banded to keep them together. Some ribbons were earned by just answering trivia in the gamer room while others had you try something like a new card game that you may have never tried before. By handing out these ribbons, it gave attendees who may need a little incentive to remind them of why they got into conventions in the first place. When was the last time you really took time to check out the manga room and take a breather for just a few minutes? Not to mention some of the silly ones where you had to walk down the hall and pretend you were a zombie. It served as incentive to make people interact, to trade and really talk to someone you might have never talked to before. Creating friendships and even discovering people who share the same interest as you just by looking at your ribbons. This alone added an additional layer of depth and interest to the convention, ensuring that there was never a dull moment.

So if you are looking for a convention that makes you feel at home and brings back that magic that really made you want to attend conventions in the first place, then check out ALA. Capping at 4000 attendees, they are dedicated to keeping the convention small enough to make you feel like you are a family. There is something to do at all times of day, with panels going as late as 2am, which really helps keep everyone involved. Don’t forget to pre-register, because passes will not be available at the door. It is only thirty dollars until May 1st, and it is definitely worth the investment.

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It is often said that you won’t get much done with your head in the clouds. But when you dream about creating airplanes for a living, it may just be a good place to start.

In The Wind Rises, director Hayao Miyazaki’s final feature film, a boy named Jiro Horikoshi (Zach Callison, Joseph Gordon Levitt), dreams of one day designing planes. His eyesight prevents him from being a pilot, but his lofty ambitions are encouraged, through these dreams, by an Italian plane designer named Caproni (Stanley Tucci). This film is a tale based on the history of Japanese aviation leading up to World War II.

As he grows older, Jiro travels to Tokyo, which is almost completely demolished by an earthquake. It is here he first meets Naoko Satomi (Emily Blunt) and her mother, who’s suffered a leg injury. He assists them to their destination and heads on his way without giving his name. At the factory Jiro is hired, his boss Mr. Kurokawa (Martin Short) sees nothing special in him, but over time is very impressed with his attention to the smallest of details. His colleague Honjo (John Krasinki) accompanies him on this journey of many failed attempts to build a faster, stronger airplane, which will someday be used for war.

Jiro meets Naoko once again in the countryside at a hotel owned by her parents.  They spend time together which later blossoms into romance.  Romance soon interrupted by the realization that Naoko is suffering from a serious illness and must remain at the hotel while he goes back to Tokyo to resume his work. Jiro struggles between fulfilling his lifelong dream and being with the love of his life who may not have much time.

The film balances these two stories very well. We continue to see Jiro’s work improve over time, the painstaking calculations he makes and the flaws he envisions in his dreams as they meet their fiery end, while also seeing his love story with Naoko become more pronounced.  An emotional sincerity most times reserved for live action films and not animation.

What is most interesting about The Wind Rises is not only the terrific storytelling, but also the philosophical motivations the movie raises. You are destined to develop planes, but in the back of your mind you know ultimately they will be used as weapons.  In spite of this, and for the sake of that hopeful, yet uncertain, future, you continue on cause you know that flight is a dream that should cannot be denied to the world.

The story is very straightforward and favors a realistic approach as opposed to the fantasy elements and magical creatures you would normally see in Hayao Miyazaki’s other works (Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away). The imagery is as brilliant as ever breathing life into the most inanimate objects.  The wind especially plays a significant character with its presence in several scenes pronounced by the blowing of an umbrella or the dance of a paper airplane.

The actual history laced within this fictional film is enhanced by the contemporary atmosphere and you begin to share that acute sense of enthusiastic progress the aviation engineers feel when their efforts are finally rewarded. In fact the character Jiro Horikoshi is named after an an actual chief engineer during World War II.

A strong story, beautiful visuals, and a brilliant voice cast which also includes Mae Whitman, William H. Macy and Elijah Wood as well as several others. I recommend this movie for all these reasons, and perhaps to relive your own childhood dreams of flying. It teaches us that we may endure many failures and setbacks to realize our dream, but every one of them is an important lesson to be appreciated.  The Wind Rises is another wonderful work of art that Hayao Miyazaki can hang his hat on.

11 out of 11

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*Photos by Andrea Agosto [http://www.andreaagosto.com/]. All rights reserved.

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The post A Look At Sakura Con 2014 appeared first on Geek News Network.

Ah, I remember it like it was only yesterday.

Initiate dreamy recollection. (Possibly in black and white, because why not.)

Getting off the school bus and running home as fast as we could, dumping our stuff in a pile by the front door and plopping down in front of the television. Toonami was on Cartoon Network, and Dragon Ball Z was bringing the late 90’s anime awesomeness. Going Super Saiyan on my younger siblings and getting yelled at by my parents, ah yes, those were the days…

Whoa, okay. No more nostalgic flashbacks, I promise. Let’s talk about that DBZ movie! For those of you who were out of the loop, or maybe training in a hyperbolic time chamber or something, Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ got a limited theatrical release here in the States. Funimation handled the English dub and distribution for North America, with screenings initially planned from August 4th to the 12th, but with an encore run extended through the 17th in some locations.

This time around, arguably the most iconic villain in the franchise is resurrected with the help of the Dragon Balls and some fancy regeneration tech. Frieza is back!

Warning: Spoilers Ahead

I must say, the depiction of Earth’s hell is truly chilling. The movie opens on Frieza being tormented by adorable creatures of unspeakable cuteness in a world that is just so… pleasant… Oh, I shudder thinking about it!

Lucky for Frieza, former lieutenant Sorbet is bent on returning the Frieza Force to its former glory, and he starts by reviving its former leader. I thought it was a little odd that Shenron couldn’t bring fully restore Frieza, but just go with it.

At this point, the anticipation was building and the tension was palpable. The build-up for the epic showdown is the bread and butter of the franchise. Frieza in a regeneration chamber with Maximum the Hormone’s “F” rocking in the background. (Any Death Note fans in the house?) I couldn’t have been the only one head-banging in the theater.

There were a ton of guest appearances from characters throughout the DBZ universe here. Almost to the point where it felt like they were just checking boxes of appearing characters. Over the years the cast of characters has grown absolutely immense, so it’s understandably difficult to choose cameos that would benefit the story and who would be superfluous. That is except for Android 18, because I would have been SO disappointed if she wasn’t in the movie. What 18 and I had was special. Um, I mean. Never mind. No, I don’t want to talk about it.

I really appreciate the fact that the characters felt genuine to the way I remember them. Goku, lighthearted and merciful to a fault. Vegeta, the lovable a-hole. The two Saiyans bickering over who’s turn it was to punch Frieza in the face. And there is plenty of face-punching to be had, it is a DBZ movie after all, but for me that wasn’t the real draw. Where this movie really shines is in capturing the essence of those characters we came to know and love on that old standard-definition TV screen.

“But Jory,” you say, “I don’t have the nostalgic feelz for DBZ. Will I still enjoy this movie?”

I’d say, most emphatically, definitely, maybe. Even if you’ve never seen an episode of Dragon Ball Z, there’s still plenty of good laughs, fast-hitting action, and sufficient character explanation to enable anyone to understand what’s going on and enjoy the ride. Not that you’ve ever needed a Ph.D to understand what’s going on in the Dragon Ball universe.

My wife was quick to point out that the ending felt anticlimactic and abrupt. As we’ve seen before so many times, most of the top tier Z fighters and villains have destroyed a planet or two when fighting, but the way that Whis so casually rewound time didn’t feel that satisfying. But this isn’t her review. And what does she know anyway? She married me, so clearly her decision-making is questionable at best. (Love you hun.)

The “limited release” strategy by Funimation was a very conservative move. I’m honestly not surprised that the release was extended in some theaters. The figures floating around say the film brought in around $8 million in the US. That places it near the bottom of the top ten highest-grossing anime films to date, but when compared to any of the Pokémon movies it doesn’t quite match up. However, it is still impressive when you take into account the relatively small number of theaters that screened the film.

What did you think? Was it a light-hearted dip into the nostalgia pool that was easily forgotten? Did it reignite that love for the Z fighters that you had long ago? Or are you new to the genre and cultivating your new-found passion for animated martial arts (and face punching)?

Tell us! We want to know!

The post Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ Goes Super Saiyan God at the Box Office appeared first on Geek News Network.

You know that feeling when you finish watching the first episode of a series on Netflix and you’re like, “Welp, there goes the next 6 hours of my life. I’ll see the rest of you humans later.”

Honestly, how did we ever procrastinate before Netflix?

I’m referring to a series titled The Seven Deadly Sins, of which Netflix recently acquired the exclusive streaming rights. I feel like the distribution of Knights of Sidonia worked out pretty well, so I’m glad to see them continuing the trend by picking up another anime title. I hope to see the company continue to support and distribute anime series in the future. This manga adaptation is produced by the Aniplex subsidiary A-1 Pictures Inc., the same studio that brought us Fairy Tail and Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic. That should give you an idea of the animation style and feel you can expect.

The series takes place in a time before the magical and non-magical works had been separated. It’s a time of magical warriors and holy knights and vile demons. A good starting point, right?

Our unlikely heroes are a now disbanded team of ex-knights know as, you’ll never guess, the Seven Deadly Sins. Okay, I’ll start by saying get the Fullmetal Alchemist sins out of your head immediately. Yes, there is a sin of Wrath, Envy, etc. Not similar in any way. Erase all memory of the homunculi from your mind. There, now that that’s out of the way, you can enjoy the series for what it is. It’s a tale of good versus evil, of justice versus tyranny, of order versus chaos. And it’s excellent.

The characters are well-developed, and you really begin to empathize with them. Each one has a compelling back story and brings a unique flavor to the table. The point being that in the medieval / knights / magic fantasy genre, it’s all too easy to fall back on clichés and under-developed character molds that leave you uninterested in the story. It’s so refreshing to get a genuine, character driven story that gives you “the feelz”. Honestly, I was ready to pick up a sword and take on the entire Order of Holy Knights for Princess Elizabeth. I did, actually. Granted it was a cosplay sword my wife left by the couch.

I really am an adult, I promise.

While that might sound like an anime geared for the younger audience, the adult language and tasteful sprinkling of adult content let you know it has the more mature viewers tastes at heart. They don’t skimp on the blood either, which always makes me smile.

And to those who don’t like subtitles, you’ll be happy to hear that it is streaming in an English dub as well. In fact, it’s a pretty good one too.

All 24 episodes are streaming now on Netflix. So go add it to your friend’s or parent’s Netflix queue that you’re currently using. It’s okay, we won’t judge you (out loud).

The post The Seven Deadly Sins: Netflix Exclusive Anime appeared first on Geek News Network.

Geek News Network interviews Yuu Asakawa at Taiyou Con 2016. Yuu Asakawa is a voice actress most known for Crypton Future Media’s Vocaloid, Megurine Luka. She has also played the part of numerous anime characters from Akame ga Kil, Love Hina and much more. She discusses her experience at Taiyou and finding new ways to contribute to the community.

Director of Filmography: Chris Campbell
Reporter: Jory Blaine
Camera Operator: Paul Ling
Video Edit: Paul Ling

The post Interview: Yuu Asakawa | Taiyou Con 2016 appeared first on Geek News Network.

Every year, heavy rains plague Tokyo with severe flooding.  While in real life, underground infrastructures for flood control divert the water to avoid damage, in Makoto Shinkai’s latest film, Weathering with You (2019), power over Tokyo’s weather lies within one teenage heroine.

Director Makoto Shinkai has a history of stunning anime films such as Your Name (2016) and Garden of Words (2013.)  His animation work spans for nearly two decades, in which he has released six award-winning films.  For instance, Your Name became the highest grossing anime film of all time with its visuals and remarkable score by RADWIMPS. Weathering with You comes after as another one of Shinkai’s most thrilling works.    

Weathering with You begins with the careful details of Tokyo city life.  From iconic and colorful signs that make up the neon jungle of Shibuya down to the gritty and cluttered walls outside of nightclubs, this film immerses viewers in the Tokyo streets from the beginning.  We follow Hodaka Morishima, a 16-year old who desired escape from his isolated island home and ferries to Tokyo. Rain continuously resounds in the background as he struggles to survive in the city. Eventually, he finds his place with an occult magazine agency researching the elusive sunshine girl.  By chance, Hodaka meets Hina Amano, a “100% sunshine girl” with the ability to control the weather.

Makoto Shinkai films tend to combine realistic worlds with a touch of fantasy, and Weathering with You follows suit.  The attention to detail sets the viewer in the dilapidated city life of Tokyo.  The streets of Shibuya bustle with vibrancy and a level of authenticity that makes even ancient and grimy buildings appear captivating.  The setting works to describe the characters further such as the child-like adornments of Hina’s home to the clutter of books and papers of the magazine agency.          

The aspect of weather in this film ties the characters together, establishing a connection that impacts them physically and emotionally.  Binding the characters to one central element proves essential as this film introduces a diverse range of characters, such as an elementary school boy who is popular with girls and an occult magazine editor that does not believe in the supernatural. By having the power to change the weather, Hina appears to affect these characters directly, a tremendous responsibility for an adolescent.  She struggles alongside Hodaka through the stormy weather.      

Various music montages by RADWIMPS play throughout the film which provide moments of fantastic visual storytelling alongside a remarkable score.  From soft piano melodies to uplifting songs, the music matches the film’s atmosphere almost perfectly. Listening to RADWIMPS vocalist Yojiro Noda singing with Toko Miura is an absolute pleasure.     

In comparison with Makoto Shinkai’s other films, the lack of character development causes this film to not be as powerful as some of his previous works, notably Your Name.  Weathering with You is driven by fate in a similar way to Your Name, the characters do not grow as much as they do in the latter.  Though considering the strong character traits Hodaka and Hina possess especially in their desire to just live, this does not discount it from being worth watching.

The beautiful animation and enchanting score add Weathering with You to Makoto Shinkai’s repertoire of fantastical films showcasing the wonders of nature and how it brings us all together.     

You can find tickets for the fan screening here as well as the wide release this weekend here.

About Weathering with You

Synopsis: GKIDS proudly presents the highly-anticipated new film from director Makoto Shinkai and producer Genki Kawamura, the creative team behind the critically-acclaimed, global smash hit Your Name. The summer of his high school freshman year, Hodaka runs away from his remote island home to Tokyo, and quickly finds himself pushed to his financial and personal limits. The weather is unusually gloomy and rainy every day, as if to suggest his future. He lives his days in isolation, but finally finds work as a writer for a mysterious occult magazine. Then one day, Hodaka meets Hina on a busy street corner. This bright and strong-willed girl possesses a strange and wonderful ability: the power to stop the rain and clear the sky…

Original Story / Screenplay / Director: Makoto Shinkai

Music: RADWIMPS

Cast: Kotaro Daigo (Hodaka Morishima), Nana Mori (Hina Amano), Tsubasa Honda (Natsumi), Sakura Kiryu (Nagisa Amano), Sei Hiraizmi (Yasui), Yuki Kaji (Takai), Chieko Baisho (Tomi), Shun Oguri (Keisuke Suga)

Production: TOHO CO., LTD. / CoMix Wave Films Inc. / STORY inc. / KADOKAWA CORPORATION / East Japan Marketing & Communications, Inc. / voque ting co., ltd. / Lawson Entertainment, Inc.

Runtime: 111 mins

The post Weathering with You | Shinkai Sunshine on a Rainy Day appeared first on Geek News Network.