NYCC '17: Batman Ninja Anime film coming in 2018

Holy Rising Sun, Batfans! Looks like the Caped Crusader is getting the Japanese Anime treatment for home video next year, as Warner Bros. Japan and DC Entertainment have revealed that a new Japanese produced Batman anime film called "Batman Ninja" will be coming in 2018 - with Jumpei Mizusaki of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure fame directing and Afro Samurai's Takashi Okazaki handling character design. If Bleeding Cool's report gives us a glimpse of anything - it's The Dark Knight and his fellow heroes and villains travelling through time and doing battle from the present to the past in the middle ages of Japan. These are not Japanese versions of the characters - it's Batman with western and eastern sensibilities all rolled into one action packed anime package. That sounds EXCITING.

Batman Ninja will be released sometime in 2018.

ICYMI: Olympics 2020 Teased with Japan PM Shinzo Abe as Mario!

At the Closing Ceremony of the 2016 Olympics at Rio, things were already prepped up and ready to be teased for the next time the world's athletes gather in 2020 in Tokyo, as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe participated in a teaser segment that saw Nintendo's own Super Mario piping down from Japan and coming out in Rio w/ Abe dressed as the iconic plumber!


Tokyo 2020 ft. Doraemon and Super Mario
Definitely, fun times are ahead for the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020!

Sadako: The Ring 3D promotion literally prepares you for the new sequel

Ever wondered how it would feel to be served up a cool drink with a terrifying face? Wonder no more.

Happening in Japan and in an effort to promote this month's release of the new Ring sequel film "Sadako: The Ring 3D 2", the Lotteria in Ikebukuro, Tokyo has "Sadako" serving up a cool and refreshing special drink... In unique and typical fashion too. Take a look from this GIF (and image above) via Kotaku and My Navi.

Cool creepy stuff indeed. Sadako: The Ring 3D 2 comes out this August 30 in Japan.

Metal Gear 25th Anniversary Event confirms Movie plans, Social Ops and Ground Zero announced

New updates and news on the future of Metal Gear Solid were laid out today, as Konami revealed plans for a live action film (again) and a brand new social game! During the Metal Gear 25th Anniversary Event in Tokyo with series' creator Hideo Kojima present on the stage, an announcement by the Tactical Espionage Action guru that Metal Gear Solid is getting the Hollywood treatment, with Columbia Pictures partnering up with Konami and Avi Arad producing. More can be read up on what transpired during the event itself (as well as Kojima naming his favorite Hollywood films and actors) by visiting the source post at Kotaku.

Also announced during the event was a new Social Game, aptly titled "Metal Gear Solid: Social Ops". It's coming for Japan's GREE platform, and has graphics that look much like MGS Peace Walker. More on the game can be read up in Kotaku as well.

UPDATE (8/31): Here's another one from yesterday, the unveiling of the name of the Next-Gen Kojima Productions game that uses the "Fox Engine" - Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zero! Read up more on it on Kotaku.

First review of Rurouni Kenshin Live Action now online

Following its release in theaters in Japan last weekend, the live-action film adaptation of Nobuhiro Watsuki's epic Samurai manga/ anime series Rurouni Kenshin has finally gotten reviews online. Kotaku has one of the first reviews up, and reviewer Richard Elsenbels highlights his review by calling the movie a "nearly perfect film adaptation". It has yet to be scheduled for an international release, but outpouring support and demand from the fanbase around the world have pushed for it to come sooner than later. Until such time an announcement is made, we can only hope and pray than Kenshin comes to a theater near you outside Japan.

Rurouni Kenshin Live Action Trailer w/ English Subs
Rurouni Kenshin was released by Warner Bros, is currently playing in Japanese theaters.

Unconfirmed: First poster for The Wolverine leaked online?

Screen Rant and Comic Book Movie have posted up what looks to be the first teaser poster for Hugh Jackman's next outing as the mutant Wolverine in his latest X-Men spin-off movie directed by James Mangold which is entitled "The Wolverine"! The poster, reportedly taken in the director's office and posted online via Instagram, has Logan's trademark claws slashing the Japanese flag, which confirms reports of the setting of the movie in that country and confronting the Silver Samurai. It's unconfirmed at this point and no official word has come from 20th Century Fox, but it looks like the internet never stays quiet when it comes to Wolverine movie news. For more info, visit the source post at Screen Rant and CBM!

Hugh Jackman returns to theaters at The Wolverine on 2013!

Japan's Life-Sized RX-78-2 Gundam returns in April 19!

Mobile Suit Gundam has endured for many years since its introduction to Japan and the world with the original series in April of 1979. Since then the universe that began with Universal Century has expanded immensely, and several other spin-off titles have been created, garnering countless fans across the globe who admire the military science fiction drama and action the series possesses.

A couple of years ago, a life-sized model of the original Gundam, the RX-78-2 found in Mobile Suit Gundam and piloted by Newtype Amuro Ray, was first erected in Odaiba, Japan in July 2009. It moved to Shizuoka the following year, and some disassembled parts were donated to a charity drive following the great earthquake in Japan in 2011. Now, the large model of the original Gundam is set to return, with a grand opening on April 19 this year. Since it's already up, some time lapse videos have been released by one darwinfish105.

Here's one of the time lapse videos, showing the Gundam being constructed from scratch! For the other  clip plus more info on the life sized Gundam, check the source post at Anime News Network!

Rurouni Kenshin Live-Action Official Pics Released!

Following up on a first-look scan released a few days ago and via a post at Anime News Network, the staff and makers of next year's upcoming live action adaptation of "Rurouni Kenshin". Also known as "Samurai X" in the US and based on the manga and anime series of the same name created by Nobuhiro Watsuki, the movie will premiere on August, and will star Takeru Satoh of Kamen Rider Den-O fame as the legendary slasher Kenshin Himura himself, with Emi Takei playing his love interest Kamiya Kaoru, who is pictured below.

More pics can be seen via the source post at ANN, so be sure to check that out as well!

The live-action movie adaptation of Rurouni Kenshin is slated for release in Japan on August 25, 2012!

A Special Post from Capcom's Street Fighter team to Japan!

The folks over at Capcom-Unity have posted this great looking Street Fighter wallpaper, which was created and inscribed with a special message by the Street Fighter team in Japan, dedicated to the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami that has affected those living in the land of the rising sun. The message reads as follows and translated by Capcom-Unity:

"We express our deepest condolences to all those struck by the great earthquake off the Pacific Coast of Northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011"

It follows with a main message at the center of the wallpaper:

"Ganbare Japan! From the whole Street Fighter team"

A heartfelt message indeed, and everyone affected by the tragic disaster needs all the luck and help they can get. Support the cause and download this honorable wallpaper tribute from the source post at Capcom-Unity!

A moment of silence for Japan this day...

I wasn't in the mood to write anything after learning of the devastating quake and tsunami that hit Japan earlier, and all I can do at this moment is offer my prayers and best wishes for the victims affected by this tragedy. The story continues to break out all over the news channels such as Yahoo and CNN as of this posting. If there was any time to be aware and concerned for others, now is the moment to do so. All we can do now is hope for the best...

Awesome Fanvid gets Eye of the Tiger to Street Fighter!

This video I caught off Kotaku shows how diverse and beautiful the fighting game circuit can be... and how it'll take a man places as he builds himself up and primes himself for the nasty fight ahead. In this fan video by Geek, this guy in a track suit wanders the streets of Japan to muster up the courage and determination to go over to Shibuya Kaikan Monaco, one of definite arcade's in the world, to prove himself in Street Fighter IV. It's a pretty creative project if you ask me, and the theme they used, a remixed version of Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger", is just awesome to hear. Check it out in the embedded player below.

Man, I do love fighting games. Anything can happen. ANYTHING.

Check Out The First X-men Anime Trailer!

Marvel has unveiled the next part of their four part Marvel Anime series initiative that's coming to Japan! After giving Iron Man and Wolverine the Anime treatment, their taking it a step further by bringing together a collection of heroes... and it's none other than those band of merry mutant heroes, the Uncanny X-men! That's right, there's an X-men Anime series on the way, and that means aside from Wolverine returning, you get the rest of his teammates, including Cyclops, Storm, Beast, and their leader Professor X! The team reunites after the death of a teammate, and battle the U-men, who seek to harvest mutant organs for their own evil intentions! Check out the first teaser trailer to this new Japanese series below!

X-Men Japanese Teaser Trailer

Like what you see? For more info, visit the source post at Marvel.com!

Marvel Vs Capcom 3 Update: One Cool Japanese Ad Released!

In anticipation of next week's long awaited release, Capcom has released a new Japanese Television Ad for their newest fighting game brawler, Marvel Vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, featuring a young girl who has doubts about heroes existing in this world, plus the official Japanese song to the game "Fact"! Check it out below, courtesy of the guys at Capcom and Shoryuken!

Marvel Vs Capcom 3: Fate Of Two Worlds Japanese TV Spot

Like it? And yeah girl, you better believe heroes do exist in the world!

Marvel Vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds is scheduled for release next week on February 15!

Space Battleship Yamato The Movie Opens Today in Japan

Today is December 1st... a day that many sci-fi fans have been waiting for. Why? Well, it's the premiere of Space Battleship Yamato, that's why, and a lot of fans of the franchise have been waiting for this day! If you haven't heard about this yet, you're missing out on an epic piece of Japanese popculture. Check out the trailer if you haven't seen it yet to see what I mean.

Space Battleship Yamato The Movie Trailer

I wish I was in Japan right now to be among the many lucky fans and viewers who will bear witness to the opening of this long awaited live action film adaptation of the classic manga and anime series that was co-created by the late Yoshinobu Nishizaki and renowned writer Leiji Matsumoto. Known as Star Blazers in the US, Space Battleship Yamato is set in the year 2199 and tells the story of a diverse crew of men of women, who take on desperate mission of survival aboard the last space battleship of Earth, Yamato, as it sets out on a journey to recover a device from an alien planet known as Iscander in order to heal their own world, which was besieged and irradiated by invaders known as the Gamilas. It's truly the stuff of action and drama that Sci-Fi fans like myself would go for, and it's showing today in theaters in Japan. Website I09 has a post featuring a detailed documentary on the film, so it's worth checking out via this link. Heck, even Aerosmith's Steven Tyler wrote and performed a song for the movie - "Love Lives". Here's to seeing good reviews on this baby soon, and hopefully a translated or subtitled version early next year!

The Return Of The Life-Sized Gundam!

Something is back in Japan. Something HUGE. And I wish I was there to actually see it!

Gaming news site Kotaku reports that the big and life sized "Real Grade Gundam" is making a comeback! The large 1:1 model of the mobile suit was originally erected on Odaiba in Tokyo at September last year to commemorate the 35th Anniversary of Gundam, and now it's set to make its debut once again today in front of JR Higashi Shizuoka Station, where it will stand in display until sometime in January 2011. The grounds were even blessed by Shinto priests, making it quite the landmark to visit! Any mecha or Gundam fan would definitely not want to miss this spectacular sight, and if your plans to visit the land of the Rising Sun fall within anytime this year, this would make a perfect location to note on your map and take a quick detour to!