OMAKASE KICKS OFF OTAKON 2016 REGISTRATION WITH AMAZING BUNDLE FOR ANIME FANS

OMAKASE, the new subscription service that offers bimonthly boxes of curated merchandise, ad-free anime streaming and original digital comics and music, and Otakorp, Inc., the educational non-profit who organizes the massively popular Otakon convention, announced today an amazing bundle that includes a two-month membership to OMAKASE and membership to attend Otakon 2016. “Otakon is the driving force behind anime fandom and Japanese popular culture on the East Coast,” said Rob Pereyda, Chief Executive Officer of Viewster Inc. “We were thrilled to exhibit at Otakon last year, and know that their fans are trendsetters, influencers and the very people who are the bedrock of the anime community.”

Currently, this promotion is the only way to register for Otakon 2016. There will be no better deal after this promotion ends. Fans can receive membership to Otakon 2016 by doing the following:

• Sign-up for OMAKASE at full price ($29.00 plus $6.00 shipping & handling in the USA) between 12:00PM (PST) on January 11, 2016 and 11:59PM (PST) on January 23, 2016
• Receive an email from Viewster on January 26, 2016 with a link to a redemption form to obtain Otakon 2016 membership
• Fill out the redemption form and agree to Otakon’s Terms & Conditions by 11:59PM (PST) February 2, 2016
• Enjoy America’s premier anime merchandise subscription service as well as the East Coast’s premiere anime convention all for one amazing low price!

Eligibility Period: must subscribe to OMAKASE at regular price between January 11, 2016 at 12:00PM PST and January 23, 2016 at 11:59PM PST. Any customers who used coupons or other bundles will be ineligible for this promotion.

Email Delivery: Viewster to email customers at the email address they signed up for OMAKASE with, on January 26, 2016. Email will be sent from Viewster’s SurveyMonkey account via MailChimp. Customers must disable their spam filters and check their spam folders to ensure they receive this email.

Redemption Period: customers must redeem by February 2, 2016 at 11:59PM PST.

The current theme for OMAKASE’s upcoming subscription merchandise box (January 2016) is Naruto Shippuden. Items include an exclusive Gold Naruto Mininja, an exclusive Sasuke Highly Articulated Figure, a mystery Gaara item and more action-packed surprises. Created by Masashi Kishimoto, Naruto debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in Japan in 1999 and quickly became that country’s most popular ninja manga properties. The series spawned multiple anime series, movies, novels, video games and more, and is beloved by millions worldwide. The manga series (rated ‘T’ for Teens) and animated counterpart (Naruto and Naruto Shippuden rated ‘TV-14’) are both published by VIZ Media in North America.

OMAKASE, operated by Viewster, shipped its first merchandise box in November 2015 to universal acclaim with Kill la Kill. Items included a gold foil hardcover manga, a Senketsu scarf, a Mako Mankanshoku towel, a Mittsu Hoshi wristband and a Guts button. All merchandise inside OMAKASE is officially licensed, including OMAKASE’s upcoming use of Naruto Shippuden, which is officially licensed by TV TOKYO and VIZ Media.

Get more information and join OMAKASE at http://www.viewster.com/omakase.

"Forever: The Complete Series" comes to DVD on 1/19 via Warner Archive Collection

Once again, Warner Archive Collection rewards fan loyalty with the release of a much-beloved series – Forever: The Complete Series comes to DVD on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 via WBshop.com and popular online retailers. Fresh off its single-season run on ABC in 2014-2015, Forever: The Complete Series includes all 22 episodes as well as additional never-before-seen deleted scenes from many of the episodes on a 5-disc DVD set. Creator and Executive Producer Matthew Miller (Chuck, Human Target, The 100) is thrilled the series will live on through its DVD release.

“We’re so proud of this series and the way it resonated with fans,” Miller says. “I’m excited for the fans that we’re not only able to release all 22 episodes on DVD, but include previously unseen footage. It’s another chance to breathe new life into the show for both devoted fans and new viewers.”

The series’ premise struck an instant chord with fans: What would you do if you had all the time in the world? The otherworldly drama – from Miller and fellow executive producers Dan Lin (Sherlock Holmes) and Jennifer Gwartz (Veronica Mars) – follows Dr. Henry Morgan (Ioan Gruffudd), a star New York City medical examiner, on his journey to answer that looming question. Henry has a vested interest in studying the dead: He is immortal, and only his best friend and confidant, Abe (Judd Hirsch), full of life at age 75, knows Henry’s secret. Henry hasn’t aged at all since the clock stopped 200 years ago, but he’s managed to be discreet without anyone finding out his affliction. That task becomes increasingly difficult when he meets NYPD detective Jo Martinez (Alana De La Garza), who is fascinated by Henry after learning he was the sole survivor of a horrific train crash — and his knowledge proves extremely helpful to her in solving crimes.

“This series is about a character who is immortal, and to that point the show never ends – it never dies,” Miller says. “Given the incredible fan support we’ve received, I feel like that’s true. The fans have not stopped for a minute. They host live Twitter events and have created fan fiction, online graphic novels, you name it. Social media and the release of the full-series DVD continue to make this show immortal.”

Beyond Gruffudd (Fantastic Four, San Andreas), De La Garza (Law & Order, upcoming Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders) and Emmy® Award winner Hirsh (Taxi, Ordinary People, Independence Day), the main cast of Forever features Lorraine Toussaint (Rosewood, Orange Is The New Black), Joel David Moore (Bones, Avatar, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story) and Donnie Keshawarz (24, The Sopranos, Damages).

The guest cast is filled with award-winning acting talent, most notably Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding Jr. (American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson, Jerry Maguire), two-time Emmy® Award winner Jane Alexander (Warm Springs, All The President’s Men), and Emmy® & Golden Globe Award winner Jane Seymour (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Wedding Crashers, Live And Let Die). Fan favorites populate the guest cast, as well, including John Noble (Fringe, The Lord of the Rings), Emily Kinney (The Walking Dead), Roger Rees (Cheers, The West Wing, M.A.N.T.I.S.), Blair Brown (Fringe, Limitless, Orange Is The New Black), David Krumholtz (Numb3rs, Serenity), James McCaffrey (Rescue Me), Lee Tergesen (Defiance, Longmire, Oz), Don McManus (Justified, Mom), William Baldwin (Backdraft, Flatliners), Mackenzie Mauzy (Into The Woods, The Bold and the Beautiful), Hilarie Burton (One Tree Hill, White Collar), Shamika Cotton (The Wire) and Burn Gorman (Torchwood, Game of Thrones, The Dark Knight Rises).

Warner Archive Collection (WAC) and Warner Archive Instant (WAI) continue to serve as hosts to some of the most treasured films, television series and animated entertainment in history, particularly in the fanboy realm. WAC/WAI runs the gamut from live-action classics like Ladyhawke and Wolfen to beloved TV faire such as Superboy, Wonder Woman (1974) and Shazam! to animated greats like Twice Upon A Time, Atom Ant: The Complete Series, Justice League Unlmited andYoung Justice. WAC offerings can be found via wbshop.com and many of your favorite online retailers, and WAI is located at http://instant.warnerarchive.com. Get a free one-month trial now!

VIZ Media Announces New Digital Anime Content Update For January

VIZ Media gets 2016 underway with a brand new digital update for its free anime content streaming platform for January. Throughout this month, audiences are invited to catch newly-added dubbed and subtitled episodes for several hit anime series including SAILOR MOON and SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL, HUNTER X HUNTER, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN and INUYASHA: THE FINAL ACT.

Newly added anime content for January includes:

HUNTER X HUNTER

• Catch the second-half of Season 1 of the supernatural action adventure with the addition of Episodes 14-26, available to stream with newly updated subtitles.
• In the HUNTER X HUNTER anime series, abundant riches, hidden treasures, fearsome monsters, and exotic creatures are scattered around the world... Gon departs on a journey to become a Pro Hunter who risks his life in search of the unknown. Along the way, he meets other applicants for the Hunter exam: Kurapika, Leorio, and Killua. Can Gon pass the rigorous challenges of the Hunter exam and become the best Hunter in the world!? His wild and epic journey is about to begin!!

INUYASHA: THE FINAL ACT

• Dive into the action of the final climactic season of INUYASHA with Episodes 1-26 (subtitled and dubbed) available to stream now.
• Throughout their quest to restore the shattered Shikon Jewel, the half-demon Inuyasha and modern schoolgirl Kagome have never faced an enemy more deadly or more cunning than the demon mastermind Naraku. With the Shikon Jewel nearly whole, the race to collect the remaining shards intensifies and a battle of epic proportions is brewing on the horizon!

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN

• Weekly simulcasts of the latest action packed NARUTO SHIPPUDEN episodes will take place every Thursday throughout January.
• Catch Episode 444 on January 14^th, followed by Episode 445 on January 21^st, Episode 446 on January 28th^th.

ONE-PUNCH MAN

• Watch the entire action-packed subtitled first season (Episodes 1-12), available now!
• Saitama is a hero who only became a hero for fun. After three years of “special” training, though, he’s become so strong that he’s practically invincible. In fact, he’s too strong – even his mightiest opponents are taken out with a single punch, and it turns out that being devastatingly powerful is actually kind of a bore. With his passion for being a hero lost along with his hair, yet still faced with new enemies every day, how much longer can he keep it going?

SAILOR MOON

• Don’t miss the newly subtitled North American premiere for SAILOR MOON SAILOR STARS (Season 5). Episode 172 opens Season 5, which is the first time the exciting final story arc of the classic SAILOR MOON series has been available legally in the U.S.
• Catch 2 new SAILOR MOON SAILOR STARS episodes every week, beginning with Episodes 172 and 173, which are available to stream now.
• Catch Episodes 174 and 175 on January 11^th, followed by Episodes 176 and 177 on January 18^th and Episodes 178 and 179 on January 25^th.
• This month, SAILOR MOON Season 2 is also added in its entirety and available to stream on-demand.

SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL

• Enjoy all new English dubbed streams of SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL throughout January with a brand new episode every week.
• SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL Season 1 action continues with Episode 8 available to stream now.
• Catch Episode 9 on January 8^th, followed by Episode 10 on January 15^th, Episode 11 on January 22^nd and Episode 12 on January 29^th.

VIZ Media’s consolidated online destination for FREE streaming anime content in the U.S. has over 4,100 subtitled and English dubbed episodes and movies from more than 36 series! VIZ Media’s streaming content also reaches an expansive on-demand U.S.-based audience on Hulu, which enables viewers to watch shows anytime, anywhere across devices including Xbox One, PlayStation^®4,Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and mobile devices. A full list of Hulu -enabled devices can be found at http://www.hulu.com/plus/devices.

Additional information on VIZ Media’s streaming anime is available at: http://www.viz.com/anime/streaming/.

STAR WARS R2-D2 & C-3P0 Light-Up Statues Debut From Beast Kingdom & Bluefin

Bluefin, the leading North American distributor of toys, collectibles, and hobby merchandise from Japan, Hong Kong and more, expands its line of Star Wars products with the release this month of the Egg Attack Star Wars series EA-015 R2-D2 statue and EA-016 C-3PO statue from Beast Kingdom. The statues are the latest to join Beast Kingdom’s line of officially licensed, collectible Egg Attack Star Wars figures that are available now from authorized Bluefin retailers nationwide and also from a variety of leading online outlets. The Egg Attack statues present extremely high quality, super-deformed renditions of several legendary characters from the Star Wars film franchise and can accent an ardent fan’s existing display or become the unique centerpieces of any collection.

Depicted as the legendary droids appeared in the original Star Wars Episodes IV, V and VI film trilogy, the stunning renditions of R2-D2 and C-3PO are officially licensed by Lucasfilm and are constructed with compound materials. Their screen accurate paintjobs fully realize R2-D2’s classic blue and white plating and C-3PO’s gold armor, silver right leg, and his weathered appearance from the time spent stranded on the desert planet of Tatooine.

EA-015 Star Wars R2-D2 Statue

Height: Approx. 5 inches; MSRP: $149.99

This collectible statue is constructed with compound material and painted to reflect R2-D2’s classical blue and white plating. The lighting function of the droid 100% matches the original movie setting. It also has built-in R2-D2 sound effects officially licensed by Lucasfilm. To complete the display, a classic-looking Carbon-Freezing Chamber light-up figure stand is also included.

EA-016 Star Wars C-3PO statue

Height: Approx. 6 inches; MSRP: $164.99

This collectible statue is constructed with compound material and expertly painted to depict C-3PO’s gold armor, silver right leg, and the weathering effects from time spent stranded on the desert planet of Tatooine. It has built-in classic lines officially licensed by Lucasfilm, and also comes with a classic Carbon-Freezing Chamber light-up figure stand for collectors to customize their display.

If poseable action figures are more a fans’ preference, collectors also have the opportunity to purchase Star Wars figures from Beast Kingdom’s Egg Attack Action line. Fans will not want to miss out on other Beast Kingdom Star Wars products available from Bluefin including the EAA-002 Star Wars Darth Vader figure (depicted from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back) and the EAA-005 Star Wars Stormtrooper figure (depicted from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back).

For more information on Bluefin’s line of Egg Attack statues by Beast Kingdom, please visit: http://www.bluefincorp.com/catalog/beast-kingdom/egg-attack.html

Shout! Factory acquired animated feature "Snowtime!"

Shout! Factory, a multi-platform media company, and CarpeDiem Film & TV, Inc. have entered into a film deal to distribute the new animated featureSNOWTIME! in the United States. Produced by Marie-Claude Beauchamp (The Legend of Sarila) and directed by Jean-François Pouliot (La Grande Séduction), this captivating family adventure film will premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. SNOWTIME! features an exceptional English-language voice cast of Angela Gallupo (Being Human), Lucinda Davis (Winx Club), Sonja Ball (The Legend of Sarila), Don Shepherd (Blue Mountain State), Jenna Wheeler, Heidi Lynne Weeks (Heelix), Elisabeth MacRae, Holly Gauthier (Arthur) with Ross Lynch (Disney Channel’s hit series Austin & Ally and pop band R5) and Golden Globe®-winner Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy,Sideways). SNOWTIME! also boasts an enchanting movie soundtrack featuring international singing sensation Céline Dion and popular rock band Simple Plan. The announcement was made today by Shout! Factory’s founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos; and president of CarpeDiem Film & TV Marie-Claude Beauchamp.

Shout! Factory has secured all U.S. distribution rights to SNOWTIME!, including theatrical, broadcast, video-on-demand, digital and home entertainment rights. Shout! Factory plans a strategic rollout of this movie across multiple entertainment platforms, beginning with a theatrical launch in early 2016 through Shout’s kids & family entertainment imprint, Shout! Factory Kids.

“We’re thrilled about this new opportunity with CarpeDiem Film & TV. This beautifully made, highly entertaining feature is a very exciting addition to our library of new family films for 2016. We look forward to bringing Snowtime! to the big screen for movie-goers and across all major distribution platforms,” stated Melissa Boag, Senior Vice President of Kids & Family Entertainment at Shout! Factory.

“Shout! Factory is creating the opportunity for Snowtime! to touch the hearts of children and adults across America. We’re proud of our movie and proud of our association with Shout! Factory,” said Marie-Claude Beauchamp, President of CarpeDiem Film & TV.

“Snowtime! is that all too rare family film that brings together the wonder, mischief, playfulness and poignancy of childhood.  CarpeDiem has produced a film that will entertain generations,” said Shout’s Vice President of Acquisitions, Jordan Fields.

Movie synopsis

Based on the acclaimed live-action film classic La Guerre des Tuques (The Dog Who Stopped the War), SNOWTIME! is a captivating cinematic adventure about hope and friendship. The film explores the sometimes mercurial relations between friends during childhood, and the role that enthusiastic competition and energizing solidarity play in the lives of children.

A romp through childhood full of heart and humor. To amuse themselves during the winter school break, the kids in a small village decide to have a massive snowball fight. Luke and Sophie, both 11 years old, become the leaders of the opposing sides. Sophie and her cohorts defend an elaborate snow fort against the assault of Luke’s horde. Whichever side occupies the fort at the end of the winter break, wins. But what starts out as pure youthful fun and enthusiasm deteriorates into a more serious conflict, where children learn valuable life lessons on friendship, the importance of unity, and the emotional consequences of vicious rivalry. The film’s underlying message – neither side wins in war – is as relevant today as ever.

CAMP MOTION PICTURES ACQUIRES HORROR-COMEDY KILLER RACK

Leading independent home entertainment label Camp Motion Pictures announces the acquisition of director Gregory Lamberson’s newest film, KILLER RACK, written by Paul McGinnis.  The agreement for world-wide distribution of the film in all formats and markets was inked during the 2015 Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival, and commences immediately after KILLER RACK concludes its film festival circuit. KILLER RACK will be the fourth film by Lamberson to hit home entertainment on one of the POP Cinema / Camp Motion Pictures labels, titles currently available include SLIME CITY, NAKED FEAR, UNDYING LOVE and 2014’s dark comedy DRY BONES.  Films produced by Gregory Lamberson currently available in the POP Cinema / Camp Motion Pictures library include SNOW SHARK and THE LEGEND OF SIX FINGERS.

About Camp Motion Pictures A leading independent home entertainment label, Camp Motion Pictures showcases vintage and contemporary films that embody the Do-It-Yourself aesthetic of the 1980s, with an emphasis on storytelling and practical FX.  Notable releases include CALL GIRL OF CTHULHU, SLIME CITY, DRY BONES, ANIMOSITY, VIDEO VIOLENCE and THE CASEBOOK OF EDDIE BREWER.  Films from the Camp Motion Pictures library can be found on iTunes, Hulu, Netflix, Vudu, Shudder, Amazon.com, Redbox and at retail outlets FYE, Suncoast, Hastings and Family Video. For additional information on Camp Motion Pictures

To submit a film to one of the POP Cinema / Camp Motion Pictures home entertainment labels or to license a film for international markets contact Paige Davis at Paige@POPcinema.com

WB Animation Reveals -- LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes – Justice League: Cosmic Clash

It will take all the efforts of the Justice League – and a few of their super pals – to keep Brainiac from adding Earth to his miniaturized collection of planets in the all-new animated feature, LEGO^® DC Comics Super Heroes – Justice League: Cosmic Clash. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, DC Entertainment and the LEGO Group, the film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on March 1, 2016 on Blu-ray^TM Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD. The Blu-ray^TM and DVD releases will include an exclusive Cosmic Boy LEGO^® figurine, while supplies last. LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes – Justice League: Cosmic Clash will be available on Blu-ray^TM Combo Pack for $24.98 SRP and DVD for $19.98 SRP.  The Blu-ray^TM Combo Pack includes a digital version of the movie on Digital HD with UltraViolet. Fans can also own LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes – Justice League: Cosmic Clash on Digital HD on February 9, via purchase from digital retailers.

The brilliant, hyper-obsessive-compulsive, super-computer Brainiac is combing the universe for new additions to his collection of worlds when he stumbles upon a ripe planet for his taking – Earth. But Brainiac quickly discovers Earth has a “firewall” – the Justice League. When Brainiac cleverly displaces several members of the Justice League to other time periods in Earth’s history, Batman, Flash and Cyborg must build and use the Cosmic Treadmill to race across time to retrieve their comrades – while members of the Legion of Super Heroes attempt to hold off Brainiac’s assault. Only time will tell in this battle for the fate of the Earth and the Justice League!

The cast of LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes – Justice League: Cosmic Clash features some of the top voiceover artists in the industry voicing the core Justice League heroes: Troy Baker (Batman), Nolan North (Superman), Grey Griffin (Wonder Woman), Josh Keaton (Green Lantern), Khary Payton (Cyborg) and James Arnold Taylor (The Flash). Phil LaMarr (Futurama, Static Shock, Pulp Fiction) joins the LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes realm as the voice of Brainiac. The Legion of Super-Heroes also assists the Justice League efforts, spotlighting the voices of Jessica DiCicco (Supergirl), Kari Walhgren (Saturn Girl), Yuri Lowenthal (Cosmic Boy) and Andy Milder (Lightning Lad). Also along for the fun is Phil Morris, reprising his Justice League role as Vandal Savage, and Jason Spisak as Captain Fear.

LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes – Justice League: Cosmic Clash is directed by Rick Morales from a script by Jim Krieg. Sam Register, Jill Wilfert and Jason Cosler are executive producers. Benjamin Melniker & Michael Uslan are co-executive producers, and Brandon Vietti is supervising producer.

“Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is excited to release LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes – Justice League: Cosmic Clash,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, WBHE Vice President, Family & Animation Marketing. “Fans of the LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes franchise can expect an action-packed and hilarious film as the Justice League battles to thwart Brainiac’s villainous plans”.

LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes - Justice League: Cosmic Clash Special Features include:

• Featurette - “The Justice League: Caught On Camera” - They may be the world’s greatest crime fighters, but Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, Cyborg and Supergirl test Batman’s patience by flubbing their lines, missing their cues and basically stinking up the screen literally!

DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION ELEMENTS

LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes – Justice League: Cosmic Clash will be available for streaming and download to watch anywhere in high definition and standard definition on their favorite devices from select digital retailers including Amazon, CinemaNow, Flixster, iTunes, PlayStation, Vudu, Xbox and others. Starting February 9, LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes – Justice League: Cosmic Clash will also be available digitally on Video On Demand services from cable and satellite providers, and on select gaming consoles.

Batman, A TellTale Game Series Coming in 2016

Leading developer and publisher of digital entertainment, Telltale Games, with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment, today announced an interactive episodic game series based onDC Comics' iconic Batman™ that is set to premiere in 2016. The official title for the Telltale series is yet to be revealed.

The episodic game series will premiere digitally on home consoles, PC/Mac, and mobile devices. Specific platform details are yet to be announced.

"At Telltale, we've been honored to bring our unique approach to interactive storytelling to some of the biggest entertainment franchises in the world, and we're excited to announce that we'll soon be exploring what it means to be Batman in an all-new series starting next year," said Kevin Bruner, Co-Founder and CEO of Telltale Games. "This iteration of Batman will give fans a first-hand opportunity to dive deeper into the complex life and mind of Bruce Wayne, the duality of his own identity, and the struggle of responsibility in saving a city overcome with corruption and villainy."

 

"Telltale has an established track record of creating award-winning content for some of the best properties in the world," said David Haddad, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.  "We look forward to working with the team as they deliver a new interactive way for fans and gamers to experience the rich narrative world of Batman."

For more information on Telltale Games, visit the official website, Facebook,and follow Telltale Games on twitter.com @TelltaleGames.

Rooster Teeth RWBY: Grimm Eclipse on Steam Early Access Today

RWBY: Grimm Eclipse, the game, is now available for Early Access purchase on Steam for $14.99 bit.ly/RWBY-GE. RWBY: Grimm Eclipse was greenlit after receiving over 70,000 “Yes” votes in only two days. This 4-player co-operative game was inspired by the extremely popular web series from Rooster Teeth, RWBY. Fans rallied around the idea of a game and Rooster Teeth listened. In July 2013 RWBY, the web series, became an instant cult classic, having garnered over 13 million views since its inception. RWBY’s iconic anime style and engaging story has continued to foster an amazing community. The community began to inquire about whether a game would ever be created. After internally debating the idea Rooster Teeth decided to give its fans what they wanted, RWBY: Grimm Eclipse. Employing the same anime style, adopting and expanding on the Remnant world, and bringing in the original voice actors, fans are sure to be entertained.

Michael Hadwin, Game Director, at Rooster Teeth Games had this to say about developing RWBY: Grimm Eclipse, “When you design a game around such a beloved series like RWBY, you really want to stay true to the heart of the story and characters. I'm proud to say we've meticulously crafted an experience very similar to playing an episode of the show and taken it a step further by adding new characters, story-lines and locations. Fans of RWBY will feel right at home, but are in for a treat as theRWBY universe expands into new directions. I hope our amazing community will be pleased as we explore this new adventure together.”

The RWBY: Grimm Eclipse trailer can be watched here. To purchase and learn more about RWBY: Grimm Eclipse head over to Steam today bit.ly/RWBY-GE

Kung Fu Panda Showdown of Legendary Legends Launches on XB1, PS4, 3DS and More Today

Worldwide video game publisher Little Orbit announced today that players can now fight it out alongside PO, Tigress, Monkey, Master Shifu and all of their favorite Kung Fu Panda characters in the epic brawler competition game, Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of Legendary Legends.  The action-packed martial-arts challenge is available on PlayStation 4®, Xbox One™, PlayStation 3®, Xbox 360®, Nintendo 3DS™ and Steam (PC) starting today at both traditional and online retailers. The game will launch on Nintendo Wii U® on Dec. 15, 2015. The game ranges from $29.99 (PC and 3DS) to $39.99 (PS3, 360, Nintendo Wii U) and $49.99 (PS4, Xbox One). Developed by Vicious Cycle, Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of Legendary Legends will bring fans a fresh and fist-pumping way to experience DreamWorks Animation's beloved franchise with explosive, fast-as-lightning action!  Up to four players can play in iconic locations throughout the Valley of Peace and beyond.  With challenging local and online multiplayer levels, fans will team up with dozens of playable Kung Fu Panda characters in the ultimate showdown to compete for pure awesomeness.

At launch, Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of Legendary Legends will star 20 popular heroes and villains from the Kung Fu Panda universe. Following the release of the feature-film, Kung Fu Panda 3, four new unlockable characters will be available along with three brand new Kung Fu Panda unlockable locations!

"This game is full of family fun, with lovable characters to non-stop action it has something for everyone," said Matt Scott, CEO of Little Orbit.  "We're excited to bring this level of gameplay to the franchise and look forward to adding downloadable content at the film release date."

Check out the latest trailer here, https://youtu.be/jBmfDAg16yQ

Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of Legendary Legends has a wide assortment of modes available for both single and multiplayer.  Single player includes Tournament of Legends, Practice and Tutorial modes while multiplayer features VS., Team Play, and Tag-Team. With unique fighting styles, special attacks, cool moves and individual "Awesome Attacks" for each character, there's no end to the mayhem!

For more information on this upcoming release, be sure to follow Little Orbit on Twitter and check out the Little Orbit Homepage.

The Complete Guide to 2016 Movies: Now Available on Amazon

After seeing the Avengers assemble for a second time, Ant-Man’s big screen debut and the triumphant return of the Jurassic Park franchise among many other memorable moments, 2015 quickly became an unforgettable year for many film fans. With this in mind it’s almost hard to believe that 2016 is shaping up to be an even bigger year, particularly for fans of comic-book movies who will find themselves with a wide selection of offerings including Deadpool, Captain America: Civil War, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and X-Men: Apocalypse among others. On top of this there are a bunch of other genre offerings ranging from Pride and Prejudice and Zombies to Independence Day 2, as well as smaller films which perhaps aren’t grabbing the headlines but may well be worth your time nonetheless. With all these releases hitting theatres at an alarmingly fast rate it would be easy to feel overwhelmed with the choices available to you – if you’re thinking “if only there were some kind of guide which could help me to pick which films to go see” then you are in luck! (And if you weren’t thinking that please just go with me here). The Complete Guide to 2016 Movies: Volume 1 is the first book from David Craig, founder of The Entertainment Network – a website about films, comics and other cool things which has been running since 2011. Within its pages, you’ll find details on every single major studio release hitting theatres between January and June 2016 with commentary on which films are likely to be worth your time and which should be approached with caution. But that’s not all: The Complete Guide also offers fascinating insight into the production of some of next year’s biggest films, and their likelihood of box office success. The book is laid out in chronological order, meaning it can easily be your weekly source of information before heading out to see the latest release.

“My goodness, this book must be mine!” I hear the world cry out at the top of their lungs. Fortunately, the book is readily available right now from Amazon in most parts of the world, with all the details and links listed below. Thanks for reading our pitch, and if you do pick up a copy be sure to let us know what you think on Twitter @_thenetwork or on our Facebook page.

The Complete Guide to 2016 Movies: Volume 1 Author: David Craig Format: Paperback Pagecount: 108 Price: £4.99 (GBP), €6.50 (EUR), $7.50 (USD)

Henry Rollins talks about his role in Ian McGinty's WELCOME TO SHOWSIDE animated short

Modern Prometheus production company has released a video interview with icon Henry Rollins about his role in the company’s debut animated short film WELCOME TO SHOWSIDE from Ian McGinty. Rollins plays Frank, a lesser Nexus demon in the WELCOME TO SHOWSIDE short film, which takes viewers along on the adventures of Kit, a lovable kid with a monstrous secret: his dad is the Great Shadow King -- and Frank’s boss -- and he wants Kit to take over the family business of destroying the world. The animated short is based on Ian McGinty’s WELCOME TO SHOWSIDE, the creator owned comic book series by Z2 Comics; the series’ first issue is now available at local comic stores and online. In the newly released interview, Rollins says, “I think Frank has a stressful job...I would not be surprised if Frank was a straight up opera freak.” The Henry Rollins interview about WELCOME TO SHOWSIDE is available on YouTube.

The WELCOME TO SHOWSIDE animated short is widely available on YouTube. Modern Prometheus’ sister company Z2 Comics recently kicked off its new fall periodical line with the first issue of the WELCOME TO SHOWSIDE comic book series, now available at your local comic shop and online.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7i8pWbTKAps

WARNER ARCHIVE COLLECTON PUTS JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED: THE COMPLETE SERIES ON BLU-RAY FOR VERY FIRST TIME!

Warner Archive Collection continues its commitment to fulfilling the wishes of animation fans everywhere with the first-ever Blu-ray™ release of Justice League Unlimited: The Complete Series. The enthralling anthology will be distributed in full 16x9 widescreen presentation starting Tuesday, November 10, 2015 via WBshop.com and popular online retailers. As the follow-up to the popular Justice League animated series, Justice League Unlimited ran from 2004-2006 and featured a huge canon of characters from the DC Comics library. After fighting off an alien invasion in the previous two-season Justice League series, our heroes find their ranks diminished and – with new dangers arising at an ever-increasing pace – the remaining crime fighters realize that protecting the entire world is going to take more technology and more manpower. A lot more. The original seven Justice Leaguers – Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, J'onn J'onzz, Green Lantern and Hawkgirl – are now joined by an unlimited selection of allies including Green Arrow, Supergirl and Black Canary. But some think all this power is too much power and a conspiracy against them grows. After years of foiled plots and repeated beatings, the galaxy's worse villains finally have a plan: strength in numbers! Led by Lex Luthor, the Legion of Doom prepares to dominate the universe. First order of business: destroy the Justice League!

The core cast spotlighted Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series) as Batman, George Newbern (Scandal) as Superman, Susan Eisenberg (Justice League) as Wonder Woman, Michael Rosenbaum (Impastor, Smallville) as Flash, Carl Lumbly (Alias) as J’onn J’onzz, Phil LaMarr (Futurama, Pulp Fiction) as Green Lantern and Maria Canals-Barrera (Wizards of Waverly Place, Cristela) as Hawkgirl.

Justice League Unlimited also featured an all-star guest cast of Oscar, Emmy and Tony award winners and pop culture icons that included (to name but a few): Malcom McDowell, Mark Hamill, Ed Asner, Dana Delany, Neil Patrick Harris, J.K. Simmons, Nathan Fillion, Morena Baccarin, Virginia Madsen, Jeremy Piven, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Powers Boothe, CCH Pounder, Juliet Landau, Clancy Brown, Phil Morris, Brad Garrett, Jerry O’Connell, Dakota Fanning, Jason Bateman, Michael York, Gina Torres, Ron Perlman, Garrett Morris, Wayne Knight, Melissa Joan Hart, Hector Elizondo, John C. McGinley, Eric Roberts, Adam Baldwin, Dennis Haysbert, Gary Cole, Ted McGinley, Michael T. Weiss, Robert Englund, William Katt, Kurtwood Smith, David Paymer, Richard Moll, Xander Berkeley, Bruce McGill, Olivia d’Abo, Kin Shriner, Fred Dryer, Robert Forster, Dennis Farina, Fred Savage, Ioan Gruffudd, Arte Johnson, Bud Cort, Alexis Denisof, Rob Zombie, Bill Duke, Tim Matheson, Lori Loughlin, Shelley Fabares, Seymour Cassel and Lukas Haas.

Special features on Justice League Unlimited: The Complete Series include:

- Creator’s Commentary on the episodes “This Little Piggy” and “The Return”;

- “And Justice for All”: a featurette on the process of revamping the series with new characters and a new creative direction;

- “Cadmus Exposed”: Mark Hamill and series creative personnel discuss this popular series story arc;

- “Justice League Chronicles”: The series’ writers, producers and directors discuss their favorite moments among final season episodes.

MADNESS ENSUES WHEN BATMAN GOES MISSING IN BATMAN: BAD BLOOD

When Batman goes missing, it will take the entire Bat “family” – including new additions Batwoman and Batwing – to keep the peace in Gotham City and unravel the mystery behind the Dark Knight’s disappearance in Batman: Bad Blood.  Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment, the all-new DC Universe Original Movie will be available from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on February 2, 2016 on Blu-Ray™ Deluxe Edition, Blu-Ray™ Combo Pack and DVD. Batman: Bad Blood will be available on Blu-ray^TM Deluxe Edition for $29.96 SRP, Blu-ray^TM Combo Pack for $24.98 SRP and on DVD for $19.98 SRP.  The Blu-ray^TM Combo Pack includes a digital version of the movie on Digital HD with UltraViolet. The Blu-ray™ Deluxe Edition will include the Blu-Ray™ Combo Pack, along with an exclusive Nightwing figurine in a numbered limited edition gift set. Fans can also own Batman: Bad Blood in Digital HD on January 19 via purchase from digital retailers.

The mysterious disappearance of Batman, coupled with the emergence of powerful and malevolent new villains in Gotham City, force Nightwing (voice of Sean Maher) and Robin (Stuart Allan) to take crime-fighting into their own hands – while simultaneously searching for their missing leader. They’re not alone for long. New super heroes Batwoman (Yvonne Strahovski) and Batwing (Gaius Charles) – each armed with her/his own sensibilities, physical abilities and crime-fighting tools – arrive in Gotham to assist in the cause.  As this new “family” strives to find its own dynamic, chilling clues lead the group to suspect the Dark Knight may have gone over to the dark side. It’s up to the entire Bat team to uncover the truth before Gotham City falls prey to its greatest threat yet.

“Batman: Bad Blood is a thrill-ride that will keep every fan on the edge of their seat,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Vice President, Family & Animation Marketing. “Featuring an original story, a top-notch voice cast and dynamic new characters, Batman: Bad Blood is an essential addition to the DC Universe Original Movie collection.”

As the voice of Batman, Jason O’Mara (Complications, Terra Nova) leads a celebrity-laden cast that includes Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck, 24, The Astronauts Wives Club) as Batwoman/Katherine Kane, Morena Baccarin (Homeland, Gotham) as Talia al Ghul, Sean Maher (Firefly, Serenity, Much Ado About Nothing) as Nightwing, Gaius Charles (Grey’s Anatomy, Friday Night Lights, Aquarius) as Batwing, Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters) as Lucius Fox, and Stuart Allan (Batman vs. Robin) as Robin/Damian Wayne. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment, Batman: Bad Blood is directed by Jay Oliva (Man of Steel, Batman vs. Robin) from a script by J.M. DeMatteis (Batman vs. Robin). James Tucker (Justice League: Throne of Atlantis, Batman vs. Robin) is Supervising Producer. Benjamin Melniker & Michael Uslan are Executive Producers. Sam Register is Executive Producer.

Batman: Bad Blood – Enhanced Content

DVD

• An exclusive sneak peek at the next DC Universe Original Movie, Justice League vs. Teen Titans.

Blu-ray™ Combo Pack

• An exclusive sneak peek at the next DC Universe Original Movie, Justice League vs. Teen Titans.
• Featurette – “Putting the Fight in the Gotham” – Batman is the world’s greatest detective, but he is also a formidable fighter.  This documentary reveals the magic and strategy behind some of the best-choreographed fights in the latest animated film offering, Batman: Bad Blood.
• Featurette – “Expanding the Family of Batman” – From the Golden Age to today’s current super heroes, the Batman family has both increased in numbers and, occasionally and dramatically, lost some of its members.  Each family member brings about a new shade to the Batman mythos while providing an exciting new perspective to the storytelling.  This documentary is about the introduction of Batwoman and Batwing into the Batman family in this all-new animated film.
• From the DC Comics Vault– Two 22-minute Episodes
  • Batman: The Brave and the Bold - “The Knights of Tomorrow”
  • Batman: The Animated Series - “Avatar”

Blu-ray™ Deluxe Edition

• Exclusive Limited Edition Nightwing Figurine

• An exclusive sneak peek at the next DC Universe Original Movie, Justice League vs. Teen Titans.
• Featurette – “Putting the Fight in the Gotham” – Batman is the world’s greatest detective, but he is also a formidable fighter.  This documentary reveals the magic and strategy behind some of the best-choreographed fights in the latest animated film offering, Batman: Bad Blood.
• Featurette – “Expanding the Family of Batman” – From the Golden Age to today’s current super heroes, the Batman family has both increased in numbers and, occasionally and dramatically, lost some of its members.  Each family member brings about a new shade to the Batman mythos while providing an exciting new perspective to the storytelling.  This documentary is about the introduction of Batwoman and Batwing into the Batman family in this all-new animated film.
• From the DC Comics Vault– Two 22-minute Episodes
  • Batman: The Brave and the Bold - “The Knights of Tomorrow”
  • Batman: The Animated Series - “Avatar”

DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION ELEMENTS

Batman: Bad Blood will be available for streaming and download to watch anywhere in high definition and standard definition on their favorite devices from select digital retailers including Amazon, CinemaNow, Flixster, iTunes, PlayStation, Vudu, Xbox and others. Starting January 19, Batman: Bad Blood will also be available digitally on Video On Demand services from cable and satellite providers, and on select gaming consoles.

VIZ MEDIA Expands POKÉMON Catalog With JOHTO JOURNEYS DVD Set

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, delivers fun new POKÉMON animated adventures to audiences as it announces the DVD release of POKÉMON: THE JOHTO JOURNEYS on November 10^th. The complete 41-episode series constitutes the third season of the venerable anime adventure property and will be released in its entirety for the very first time in a 4-disc set. POKÉMON: THE JOHTO JOURNEYS is rated ‘TV-Y7,’ for viewers ages 7 and older, and carries an MSRP of $44.82 U.S. / $51.99 CAN.

In POKÉMON: THE JOHTO JOURNEYS, upon returning to Pallet Town, Ash and Misty reunite with Brock and set out on the next stage of their Pokémon journey – the Johto region! Though he still has an errand to run for Professor Oak, Ash jumps with both feet into the Johto League, taking on a couple of Gym Leaders and adding Pokémon like Totodile and Chikorita to his team.

POKÉMON is one of the most successful international entertainment franchises of all time. To-date more than 270 million POKÉMON video game titles and over 21.5 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 publisher for POKÉMON manga graphic novel series including POKÉMON ADVENTURES X & Y, POKÉMON ADVENTURES, POKÉMON ADVENTURES: DIAMOND & PEARL, POKÉMON ADVENTURES: HEART/GOLD SOUL/SILVER, POKÉMON ADVENTURES: BLACK & WHITE and also distributes a wide variety of POKÉMON home media including animated series and feature films.

For more information on other POKÉMON manga and anime titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

VIZ MEDIA Announces New NEON ALLEY Anime Content For November

Don’t Miss The Dub Premiere of SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL, New ONE-PUNCH MAN Episodes, K: RETURN OF KINGS, New SAILOR MOON SUPER S and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Simulcasts and more! VIZ Media serves up hours and hours of fresh anime content to audiences with a brand new digital anime update for Neon Alley to start November.

Don’t miss the exclusive premiere of the SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL anime series featuring an all new English dub on November 20^th with episodes 1 & 2 available that evening. Fans can catch one new dubbed episode every Friday night starting with episode 3 on November 27^th. Based on Naoko Takeuchi’s legendary manga series, the SAILOR MOON CRYSTALanime saga, retells the story of Sailor Moon as she searches for her fellow Sailor Guardians and the Legendary Silver Crystal to stop the dark forces of Queen Beryl. VIZ Media has given the 26-episode series a fresh English dialogue track featuring a cast of some of the most talented voice actors in the business.

The hard-hitting action of ONE-PUNCH MAN continues all month long with first-run, simulcast episodes (subtitled) debuting every Sunday, starting with Episode 5 on November 1^st. In the series about an unlikely crime fighter, Saitama only became a hero for fun, but after three years of “special” training, he finds that he can beat even the mightiest opponents with a single punch. Though he faces new enemies every day, it turns out being devastatingly powerful is actually kind of a bore. Can a hero be too strong? Catch all the action of one of the hottest new anime action series exclusively on Neon Alley and Hulu.

Anime fans also will not want to miss the continuation of K: RETURN OF KINGS, the new season of K and sequel to the movie, K MISSING KINGS, which trace the story of seven kings and their clansmen. With the balance of power between the seven kings shifting once again, Silver King Yashiro Isana finally makes his return to the world, this time to face his destiny head-on. Catch the rousing action as Season 2 plays out with a new episode every Friday, beginning with Episode 6 on November 6^th.

Interstellar magical girl anime adventures are also on tap as SAILOR MOON SUPER S (Season 4) continues with two new subtitled episodes added every Monday. Don’t miss Episodes 154 & 155 on November 2^nd, followed by Episodes 156 & 157 on November 9^th, Episodes 158 & 159 on November 16^th, Episodes 160 & 161 on November 23^rd, and Episodes 162 & 163 on November 30^th.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN simulcasts also take place throughout November with streamed installments of the latest episodes straight from Japan every Thursday all month long. Don’t miss the new simulcasts of Episode 436 on November 5^th, Episode 437 on November 12^th, followed by Episode 438 on November 19^th, and rounded out by Episode 439 on November 26^th.

The November 2015 digital anime update is further highlighted by additions to several other top-rated VIZ Media series including:

HIKARU NO GO

• Catch newly added Season 1 episodes of this gripping anime series based on the smash hit manga! HIKARU NO GO Season 1 Episodes 51-75 (dubbed) join Episodes 1-50 available to stream throughout the month.
• Hikaru Shindo is like any sixth-grader in Japan: a pretty normal kid with a two-tone head of hair and a penchant for antics. His life completely changes when he finds an old bloodstained Go board in his grandfather’s attic. The ghost of an ancient Go master named Fujiwara-no-Sai was trapped in the board and soon becomes a part of Hikaru’s consciousness. Together Hikaru and Sai make an unstoppable Go-playing team!

NARUTO

• The ninja action of Season 4 of the original NARUTO anime series continues throughout November with Episodes 206-220 available to stream now in their entirety with dubbed English dialogue!

SAILOR MOON

• Catch SAILOR MOON R (Season 2) Episodes 24-46 available to stream now in their entirety with dubbed English dialogue!

Neon Alley is VIZ Media’s consolidated online destination for FREE streaming anime content in the U.S. with over 3,800 subtitled and English dubbed episodes and movies from more than 35 series! Neon Alley also reaches an expansive on-demand U.S.-based audience on Hulu, which enables viewers to watch shows anytime, anywhere across devices includingXbox One, PlayStation^®4, Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and mobile devices. A full list of Hulu -enabled devices can be found athttp://www.hulu.com/plus/devices.

Additional information on Neon Alley is available at: www.NeonAlley.com.

“MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM THE ORIGIN II ARTESIA’S SORROW” Worldwide on-demand streaming starts!

Tokyo, Japan, October 30, 2015 Anime Consortium Japan Inc., will stream on-demand the newest “Gundam” series “MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM THE ORIGINIIARTESIA’S SORROW” starting October 31th, 2015 on DAISUKI.net as well as at Google Play, Amazon Instant Video and Play Station Network. “MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM THE ORIGIN” is produced by the Bandai Namco Group Company, SUNRISE Inc., and Bandai Visual Co., Ltd is distributing its Blu-ray Disc. Anime Consortium Japan will deliver “MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM THE ORIGIN” immediately to anime fans worldwide.

Title: MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM THE ORIGIN II ARTESIA’S SORROW Available from: 8am JST (Japan Standard Time), October 31st, 2015 *Except for Japan, area and language will be gradually added on each site. Available sites & Territory:

Rental Price:

DAISUKI.net Streaming area: Worldwide excluding Japan & China Audio: Japanese & English Dub Subtitles: English, French, German, Italian, Korean, traditional & simplified Chinese

Google Play, Amazon Instant Video, Play Station Network *Service may not be available in some territories.

For available territories, please visit http://www.daisuki.net/

DAISUKI.net (Anime Consortium Japan) US$6.99/72 hours *Prices vary at Google Play and Amazon Instant Video depending on the territory.

New Documentary Shows that 'Superman is Real'

The trailer for the new documentary film LOOK TO THE SKY has debuted online. The not-for-profit film features the uplifting true stories of young people who have demonstrated the “Superman spirit” in life-threatening situations, physical challenges, loss and through heroic acts of community service.

The film also explores the cultural meanings of Superman and whether the character has continued relevance in contemporary society.

The official Trailer can be viewed on the film's Indiegogo page at http://igg.me/at/supermanisreal  or on Vimeo:  https://vimeo.com/138808132.

“For many of us, the world seems very dark,” filmmaker Brett Culp said.  “It’s easy to feel that noble heroes like Superman have vanished from the earth.  We want to show that the hope this character embodies still exists, and we believe this heroic spirit is most clearly seen in the hearts of the heroic young people who are shaping the future.  Our goal with LOOK TO THE SKY is to help renew our faith in tomorrow, for ourselves and our communities.”

Culp’s previous film – LEGENDS OF THE KNIGHT – screened in over 100 cities around the world, raising more than $75,000 for charity.  The charitable goals remain the focus of the upcoming film LOOK TO THE SKY, which will be available for charity and educational screenings.

Over the past year, Culp and his team have filmed in 14 cities, capturing the stories of inspirational young people and experts on superhero stories, psychology and literature.

The film is being produced through The Rising Heroes Project, a 501c3 not-for-profit organization founded by Culp and his wife, Tricia Culp.  The organization is focused on creating uplifting and educational films to inspire personal growth, community service and positive engagement in viewers of all ages.

The production team for LOOK TO THE SKY is now raising funds through Indiegogo to finish the film. The campaign gives supporters of the project the opportunity to pre-order copies of the finished film and other incentives as a way of funding this documentary project.

Release date of the film will be Fall 2016.

Viewster to feature exclusive Kill la Kill merchandise in launch box of OMAKASE premium service

Viewster, the worldwide video streaming service, announced today that it is now taking pre-orders for OMAKASE, its premium service featuring merchandise, streaming video, music and comics. The first bimonthly box of merchandise will feature exclusive limited edition goods from the hit anime series Kill la Kill and be available in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. “Kill la Kill is one of the greatest anime series of our generation, and featuring it in OMAKASE is the perfect way to launch our service,” said Rob Pereyda, CEO of Viewster Inc. “We hope that fans find that the experience we have crafted around Kill la Kill is as innovative as the show itself.”

OMAKASE, a new premium service from Viewster, presents a curated journey for anime fans, inspired by the Japanese concept of omakase ("chef's choice”). OMAKASE includes bimonthly boxes of premium merchandise, together with ad-free streaming video and special digital content like original music and comics.

Shipping every other month, the bimonthly box of merchandise from OMAKASE will debut featuring Kill la Kill-themed items, including a limited edition, exclusive gold foil hardcover manga and an exclusive Senketsu “eye” scarf from the anime, with additional items being revealed leading up to launch. Conceived in-house at Viewster, the scarf is part of Viewster’s efforts to create high quality merchandise as part of the anime community, and it is being modeled on social media prior to release by several influencers in the community with the “#dontloseyourscarf” hashtag.

Get more information and join OMAKASE at http://www.viewster.com/omakase

Michael & David Uslan, Huayi Brothers ink deal to create T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents franchise

The sky was clear at New York Comic Con, yet T.H.U.N.D.E.R. dominated the news of the day as Huayi Brothers Media Corporation and Michael Uslan, originator and executive producer of the Batman film franchise, and producer David Uslan announced the first-ever branded super hero franchise to be backed by and developed with a major Chinese media company – T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents. To the delight of a capacity crowd celebrating the 50^th Anniversary T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents panel within New York Comic Con at the Javits Center, the Uslans and Huayi Brothers Media Corporation President James Wang made the announcement to expand the treasured franchise beyond comic books and into films, television, gaming and a host of other entities.

The T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents major motion picture is expected to hit theaters worldwide in 2018. Also present for the announcement was franchise producer David Uslan, who along with Michael Uslan have formed the production company, SHANGHOLLYWOOD, LLC; T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents executive producer David M. Matthews and the film’s screenwriters Ben Lustig & Jake Thornton; and representatives of the CEA Group, a partner in the franchise with a minority stake who arranged the deal between the Uslans and Huayi Brothers.

“The Higher United Nations Defense Enforcement Reserves – aka T.H.U.N.D.E.R. – Agents has a 50-year history of enthralling stories of true international heroes,” said Michael Uslan, executive producer of every Batman film since Tim Burton’s Batman in 1989.

“This franchise has an unending canon of tales that work perfectly in live-action and animated entertainment of every form,” added David Uslan. “These are great stories that need to be told.”

“T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents relates an important, timely message of global unity, understanding and teamwork, told with an action-packed perspective perfect for life beyond comic books, ” said Wang. “We have every intention of expanding the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents universe into film, television, gaming, theme parks and branding in every appropriate medium.”

Uslan, noted builder of branded franchises, has (aside from Batman films) been involved over the years in such projects as The Lego Movie, National Treasure, Constantine, and Emmy Award-winning series Where On Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?. Uslan’s memoir, "The Boy Who Loved Batman," is published by Chronicle Books.

The versatile producer/writer Matthews has had a presence on the entertainment scene since the late 1980s with credits on numerous primetime series, including the Cedric The Entertainer vehicle The Soul Man, For Your Love, The Nanny, Half & Half, Living Single and more. In addition to producing and writing, Matthews has also composed music for several projects, winning a Daytime Emmy Award in 1989 for music direction/competition on The Young and the Restless.

Lustig and Thornton have been charged with elevating T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents’ comic book roots to big screen adventures. The writing duo have been a hot topic in Hollywood circles in 2015 as Sony Pictures has inked them to script a pair of high-profile films – Winter’s Knight, a Viking-mythology-based St. Nick tale, and the H.G. Wells adventure, The Wells Initiative. Lustig and Thornton have already presented a full treatment for T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents’ maiden voyage on film.

The Uslans and Wang paid compliment to the United Nations for its essential role in ensuring the sanctity of the partnership, and the proliferation of this unique franchise. The initial T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents movie will be filmed both domestically and in China, as well as other select international locations. David Uslan alluded to a possible announcement of an A-List director during the American Film Market next month in Santa Monica.

Celebrating its 50^th Anniversary in 2015, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents still stands as the first and only truly international comic book super hero group set up to work for the United Nations. Created in 1965 by the legendary comic book artist, Wally Wood (Mad; EC Comics; designer of Marvel's Daredevil costume), T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents has featured the work of some of the greatest artists in comic book history, including Steve Ditko (co-creator of Spider-Man and Dr. Strange); Gil Kane (co-creator of Green Lantern and The Atom); Mike Sekowsky (original artist of Justice League); Dave Cockrum (co-creator of the new X-Men) and many more. T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents was published by DC Comics for a number of years in a series recognized for its cutting-edge, contemporary, dark graphic story-telling; today, IDW Publishing helms the franchise’s hardback and trade paperback book collections.

For comic book fans growing up in the 1960s, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents was considered to be the new alternative to DC Comics and Marvel super heroes. It combined the darkness of DC with the fun of Marvel within a story of a United Nations secret black ops organization that recruited secret agents from everyday people in ordinary life, assigned them a code-name, and gave each one a device that provided him or her with one super-power. But with each super-power came a grave moral dilemma. Each T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agent represented a different United Nations country, and that offered inherent internal conflicts within the team based on polarizing differences in cultures, religions and politics. But when faced with a greater threat, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents found a way to work together as one family for the benefit of all mankind.