Friday, March 27, 2015
Negromancer News Bits and Bites for the Week of March 22nd to 28th, 2015 - Update #19
NEWS:
From BleedingCool: The show is called "Fear The Walking Dead."
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From TheVerge: A connected universe of multiple Transformers movies... No, it's not April Fool's Day yet...
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From Indiewire: Bradley Cooper is now reportedly set to direct that A Star is Born remake that Clint Eastwood abandoned.
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From Deadline: Those darned Negroes, taking jobs from Caucasian actors!
From Vulture: Then, scorn followed that Deadline article.
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From YahooMovies: Steven Spielberg signs to direct sci-fi novel to film for Warner Bros.
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From YahooMovies: Who can get $20 million a film.
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From YahooMovies: Born in New Zealand, Russell Crowe still can't get Australian citizen, although he has lived in the country since he was four.
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From THR: The winner of the March 20th to 22nd, 2015 weekend box office is Insurgent with an estimated take of $54 million dollars in its debut weekend.
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From SoundonSight: Chris Rock is working on to a follow-up to the well-received Top Five (of which I will post a review soon). Producer Scott Rudin wants some of the cast of Top Five back for the new film, which will not be a sequel.
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From YahooCelebrity: Michelle Rodriguez talks about her grief over the death of her "Fast & Furious" franchise costar.
COMICS: Titles and Movies:
From YahooGames: Ryan Reynolds tweets first image of his Deadpool costume for next year's "Deadpool" film.
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From Comicvine: Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor - first look.
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From TheVerge: The Avengers comic book has a new look and a new team.
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From CinemaBlend: Tyrese Gibson hints that his is the new Green Lantern.
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From YahooGames: New "Fantastic Four" movie poster is revealed.
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From CinemaBlend: In the upcoming Ant-Man, Scott Lang may be depicted as a straight-up criminal, something that Marvel had recently played down.
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From Vulture: The Russo Brothers, the directors of Captain America: Winter Soldier and its sequel, Civil War, will reportedly director the two Avengers: Infinity Wars films.
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From YahooTV: Jennifer Lawrence says that her stint as Mystique in the X-Men is coming to an end.
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From CinemaBlend: The movie Spider-Man may indeed by Peter Parker... sadly.
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From YahooTech: The plot of "Captain America 3?"
Spike TV Launches "Spike UK"
Spike Bursts onto UK Television with Breaking Bad, Big-Name Talent and British Commissions
Stephen Merchant, Vinnie Jones to feature from 15th April launch
Breaking Bad to air in its entirety for 1st time on British TV and new seasons of The Walking Dead
US pop culture phenomenon, Lip Sync Battle joins lineup for new channel
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new free-to-view TV channel will launch with a bang in millions of UK homes on 15th April, when Spike goes on air offering a mix of British commissions and big-name talent alongside a range of acclaimed drama and entertainment.
“Spike is a driven, high-energy channel offering a point of view and programme mix I think is different from anything else on British TV right now. I can’t wait to see our viewers embrace this exhilarating new channel.”
Original commissions will feature prominently on Spike from launch. Police Interceptors Unleashed marks a return to British TV screens for actor and former professional footballer, Vinnie Jones, who will front the series, following the work of the high-speed police interception unit. Another new series, Tattoo Disasters UK, will seek out some of the most painful examples of British body art and the individuals having to learn to live with their inky mistakes.
Spike’s launch line-up will also feature some of the most acclaimed and talked about TV drama of recent times, including Breaking Bad, which will be broadcast from start to finish for the first time on British TV. The latest and fifth series of The Walking Dead will also be available on Spike, the first time it will be accessible free-to-air to British TV viewers.
Other acquired dramas that will broadcast on Spike from launch include the British TV premiere of mythological blockbuster, Olympus, Emmy nominated Justified and crime thriller Sons of Anarchy.
Lip Sync Battle, hosted by two-time Grammy Award-winner LL COOL J, will be the entertainment flagship of Spike’s launch schedule. The highly-anticipated half-hour original series – based on the cultural phenomenon of lip sync battling seen by millions on television and online – has been created by Jimmy Fallon and his Eight Million Plus Productions, Stephen Merchant (Hello Ladies, Extras, The Ricky Gervais Show), John Krasinski (The Office, Promised Land, It’s Complicated), Matador (Banksy Does New York) and Casey Patterson. Merchant also features on-screen as one of the many A-list musical combatants in the series.
Social media comedy phenomenon, Fail Army, has also been reworked for television and will be introduced to UK TV audiences by Spike.
Spike will also be the UK TV home of mixed martial arts. The channel will televise Bellator MMA, the emerging sports franchise featuring many of the world’s greatest fighters including British champion, Liam McGeary, and Paul Daley. Spike has also signed an exclusive deal with the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts (BAMMA) for its tournaments, which will feature in a Saturday 'Fight Night.'
The channel will also offer a range of reality series from Spike in the US, including Catch a Contractor and Frankenfood, as well as repeats of some of Channel 5's most popular factual output.
The 24-hour network will be available from launch on the majority of the UK’s digital TV platforms, including Sky TV, Freesat and Freeview, on which it will occupy channel slot 31.
Ben Frow, Channel 5’s Programme Director, whose editorial team will oversee commissioning, scheduling and acquisitions for the new channel, said: “Spike is a driven, high-energy channel offering a point of view and programme mix I think is different from anything else on British TV right now. I can’t wait to see our viewers embrace this exhilarating new channel.”
About Spike UK
Spike UK is the latest general entertainment channel from the Channel 5 stable, bringing its portfolio of free-to-air UK networks to nine. The channel will be available from launch on 15th April via the main digital TV platforms in the UK, including Sky TV, Freesat and Freeview on which it will occupy channel slot 31. Spike UK offers a mix of original commissions, smash hit acquired drama and blockbuster films, factual library content and adrenalin-fuelled sports blended with a range of reality series from Spike in the U.S., which is consistently amongst the highest rating basic cable networks. Both Spike in the U.S. and Channel 5 are owned and operated by Viacom International Media Networks, a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Live It Like Spike by accessing www.spiketv.co.uk and following the channel on social media – twitter.com/spiketvuk and www.facebook.com/SpikeTVUK.
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Stephen Merchant, Vinnie Jones to feature from 15th April launch
Breaking Bad to air in its entirety for 1st time on British TV and new seasons of The Walking Dead
US pop culture phenomenon, Lip Sync Battle joins lineup for new channel
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new free-to-view TV channel will launch with a bang in millions of UK homes on 15th April, when Spike goes on air offering a mix of British commissions and big-name talent alongside a range of acclaimed drama and entertainment.
“Spike is a driven, high-energy channel offering a point of view and programme mix I think is different from anything else on British TV right now. I can’t wait to see our viewers embrace this exhilarating new channel.”
Original commissions will feature prominently on Spike from launch. Police Interceptors Unleashed marks a return to British TV screens for actor and former professional footballer, Vinnie Jones, who will front the series, following the work of the high-speed police interception unit. Another new series, Tattoo Disasters UK, will seek out some of the most painful examples of British body art and the individuals having to learn to live with their inky mistakes.
Spike’s launch line-up will also feature some of the most acclaimed and talked about TV drama of recent times, including Breaking Bad, which will be broadcast from start to finish for the first time on British TV. The latest and fifth series of The Walking Dead will also be available on Spike, the first time it will be accessible free-to-air to British TV viewers.
Other acquired dramas that will broadcast on Spike from launch include the British TV premiere of mythological blockbuster, Olympus, Emmy nominated Justified and crime thriller Sons of Anarchy.
Lip Sync Battle, hosted by two-time Grammy Award-winner LL COOL J, will be the entertainment flagship of Spike’s launch schedule. The highly-anticipated half-hour original series – based on the cultural phenomenon of lip sync battling seen by millions on television and online – has been created by Jimmy Fallon and his Eight Million Plus Productions, Stephen Merchant (Hello Ladies, Extras, The Ricky Gervais Show), John Krasinski (The Office, Promised Land, It’s Complicated), Matador (Banksy Does New York) and Casey Patterson. Merchant also features on-screen as one of the many A-list musical combatants in the series.
Social media comedy phenomenon, Fail Army, has also been reworked for television and will be introduced to UK TV audiences by Spike.
Spike will also be the UK TV home of mixed martial arts. The channel will televise Bellator MMA, the emerging sports franchise featuring many of the world’s greatest fighters including British champion, Liam McGeary, and Paul Daley. Spike has also signed an exclusive deal with the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts (BAMMA) for its tournaments, which will feature in a Saturday 'Fight Night.'
The channel will also offer a range of reality series from Spike in the US, including Catch a Contractor and Frankenfood, as well as repeats of some of Channel 5's most popular factual output.
The 24-hour network will be available from launch on the majority of the UK’s digital TV platforms, including Sky TV, Freesat and Freeview, on which it will occupy channel slot 31.
Ben Frow, Channel 5’s Programme Director, whose editorial team will oversee commissioning, scheduling and acquisitions for the new channel, said: “Spike is a driven, high-energy channel offering a point of view and programme mix I think is different from anything else on British TV right now. I can’t wait to see our viewers embrace this exhilarating new channel.”
About Spike UK
Spike UK is the latest general entertainment channel from the Channel 5 stable, bringing its portfolio of free-to-air UK networks to nine. The channel will be available from launch on 15th April via the main digital TV platforms in the UK, including Sky TV, Freesat and Freeview on which it will occupy channel slot 31. Spike UK offers a mix of original commissions, smash hit acquired drama and blockbuster films, factual library content and adrenalin-fuelled sports blended with a range of reality series from Spike in the U.S., which is consistently amongst the highest rating basic cable networks. Both Spike in the U.S. and Channel 5 are owned and operated by Viacom International Media Networks, a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Live It Like Spike by accessing www.spiketv.co.uk and following the channel on social media – twitter.com/spiketvuk and www.facebook.com/SpikeTVUK.
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Season 6 is the End of "Downton Abbey"
Carnival Films and MASTERPIECE on PBS Announce Upcoming Season 6 to Be Final Season of “Downton Abbey”
Series Is Most-Watched Drama in PBS History
Season 5 Seen by 25.5 Million Viewers; Episodes Streamed More Than 12.6 Million Times
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Carnival Films and MASTERPIECE on PBS announced that Season 6 will be the final season of the hit drama series “Downton Abbey.”
“We are indebted to our UK partners for making a show which will go down in television history, not just for its impeccable writing, acting and production values, but most importantly, for its enormously warm-hearted audience appeal.”
Carnival’s Managing Director and Executive Producer of “Downton Abbey,” Gareth Neame said, “Millions of people around the world have followed the journey of the Crawley family and those who serve them for the last five years. Inevitably there comes a time when all shows should end and ‘Downton’ is no exception. We wanted to close the doors of ‘Downton Abbey’ when it felt right and natural for the storylines to come together and when the show was still being enjoyed so much by its fans. We can promise a final season full of all the usual drama and intrigue, but with the added excitement of discovering how and where they all end up…”
A runaway hit since it debuted on PBS in 2011, “Downton Abbey”—a Carnival/MASTERPIECE co-production—is widely credited with reigniting American viewers’ passion for British drama. It is the top PBS drama of all time, the most popular series in MASTERPIECE’s 44-year history, and one of the most-watched dramas on American television, frequently beating the competition in its Sunday night time slot. MASTERPIECE is presented on PBS by WGBH Boston.
“PBS and our member stations have been so proud to be the home of ‘Downton Abbey’ on MASTERPIECE in the United States," said Paula Kerger, President and CEO, PBS. “We, like the fans, simply cannot wait to see what will happen to the Crawley family and their beloved staff as this incredible series culminates in Season 6. The series has enjoyed such success over the past five seasons and we'll certainly be working alongside Carnival, MASTERPIECE and PBS member stations to make Season 6 the biggest yet. Until then, Sunday nights on PBS continue to offer fans a full slate of 'must view' British and, soon, American historical drama."
With 51 Emmy® nominations, more than any other British show in Emmy® history, “Downton Abbey” is one of the most honored series on television. It has won 11 Emmys®, three Golden Globes®, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Producers Guild Award, and three BAFTAs.
“‘Downton Abbey’ has been a television executive's dream come true: a beautifully-made, returning series that captures a nation's attention and becomes a household name. It's been a game-changer for MASTERPIECE,” said MASTERPIECE Executive Producer Rebecca Eaton. “We are indebted to our UK partners for making a show which will go down in television history, not just for its impeccable writing, acting and production values, but most importantly, for its enormously warm-hearted audience appeal.”
Season 5, which concluded on March 1, was seen by 25.5 million people. The season had a weekly average audience of 12.9 million viewers over its nine-week run, an audience nearly even with that for Season 4 (13.3 million) (Source: Nielsen Live+7 data). “Downton Abbey, Season 5” had impressive online streaming numbers as well, with over 12.6 million streams of full episodes across all PBS and station digital platforms, 13 percent more streams compared to Season 4 (Source: Google Analytics, 1/5-3/15/15). A huge presence on social media, “Downton Abbey” set records for tweets of a PBS show, with Season 5 generating more than 190,000 total tweets and more than 24 million total impressions (Source: Nielsen, 1/4/15 to 3/1/15, live/new). During its nine-week run, “Downton Abbey” placed in Nielsen Social’s Daily Top 5 for series and specials seven times (Source: Nielsen, 1/4/15 to 3/1/15).
“Downton Abbey” has become an indelible part of the popular culture, parodied by Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert, and on “Sesame Street” and “Saturday Night Live.” It has been the topic of countless discussions on Twitter and Facebook, and has garnered as much publicity as any series on television, with the acclaimed cast gracing the covers of Entertainment Weekly and TV Guide and appearing on “TODAY,” “Good Morning America,” “The View” and other popular TV shows.
Julian Fellowes, writer and creator of “Downton Abbey,” said, “The ‘Downton’ journey has been amazing for everyone aboard. People ask if we knew what was going to happen when we started to make the first series and the answer is that, of course we had no idea. Exactly why the series had such an impact and reached so many people around the world, all nationalities, all ages, all types, I cannot begin to explain. But I do know how grateful we are to have been allowed this unique experience. I suspect the show will always be a principal marker in most of our careers as we set out from here, and if so, I consider that a blessing and a compliment.”
“Downton Abbey” is a Carnival Films/MASTERPIECE Co-Production written and created by Julian Fellowes. It is Executive Produced by Gareth Neame, Julian Fellowes, Liz Trubridge and Nigel Marchant. Chris Croucher is the Producer. The Executive Producer for MASTERPIECE is Rebecca Eaton.
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Series Is Most-Watched Drama in PBS History
Season 5 Seen by 25.5 Million Viewers; Episodes Streamed More Than 12.6 Million Times
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Carnival Films and MASTERPIECE on PBS announced that Season 6 will be the final season of the hit drama series “Downton Abbey.”
“We are indebted to our UK partners for making a show which will go down in television history, not just for its impeccable writing, acting and production values, but most importantly, for its enormously warm-hearted audience appeal.”
Carnival’s Managing Director and Executive Producer of “Downton Abbey,” Gareth Neame said, “Millions of people around the world have followed the journey of the Crawley family and those who serve them for the last five years. Inevitably there comes a time when all shows should end and ‘Downton’ is no exception. We wanted to close the doors of ‘Downton Abbey’ when it felt right and natural for the storylines to come together and when the show was still being enjoyed so much by its fans. We can promise a final season full of all the usual drama and intrigue, but with the added excitement of discovering how and where they all end up…”
A runaway hit since it debuted on PBS in 2011, “Downton Abbey”—a Carnival/MASTERPIECE co-production—is widely credited with reigniting American viewers’ passion for British drama. It is the top PBS drama of all time, the most popular series in MASTERPIECE’s 44-year history, and one of the most-watched dramas on American television, frequently beating the competition in its Sunday night time slot. MASTERPIECE is presented on PBS by WGBH Boston.
“PBS and our member stations have been so proud to be the home of ‘Downton Abbey’ on MASTERPIECE in the United States," said Paula Kerger, President and CEO, PBS. “We, like the fans, simply cannot wait to see what will happen to the Crawley family and their beloved staff as this incredible series culminates in Season 6. The series has enjoyed such success over the past five seasons and we'll certainly be working alongside Carnival, MASTERPIECE and PBS member stations to make Season 6 the biggest yet. Until then, Sunday nights on PBS continue to offer fans a full slate of 'must view' British and, soon, American historical drama."
With 51 Emmy® nominations, more than any other British show in Emmy® history, “Downton Abbey” is one of the most honored series on television. It has won 11 Emmys®, three Golden Globes®, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Producers Guild Award, and three BAFTAs.
“‘Downton Abbey’ has been a television executive's dream come true: a beautifully-made, returning series that captures a nation's attention and becomes a household name. It's been a game-changer for MASTERPIECE,” said MASTERPIECE Executive Producer Rebecca Eaton. “We are indebted to our UK partners for making a show which will go down in television history, not just for its impeccable writing, acting and production values, but most importantly, for its enormously warm-hearted audience appeal.”
Season 5, which concluded on March 1, was seen by 25.5 million people. The season had a weekly average audience of 12.9 million viewers over its nine-week run, an audience nearly even with that for Season 4 (13.3 million) (Source: Nielsen Live+7 data). “Downton Abbey, Season 5” had impressive online streaming numbers as well, with over 12.6 million streams of full episodes across all PBS and station digital platforms, 13 percent more streams compared to Season 4 (Source: Google Analytics, 1/5-3/15/15). A huge presence on social media, “Downton Abbey” set records for tweets of a PBS show, with Season 5 generating more than 190,000 total tweets and more than 24 million total impressions (Source: Nielsen, 1/4/15 to 3/1/15, live/new). During its nine-week run, “Downton Abbey” placed in Nielsen Social’s Daily Top 5 for series and specials seven times (Source: Nielsen, 1/4/15 to 3/1/15).
“Downton Abbey” has become an indelible part of the popular culture, parodied by Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert, and on “Sesame Street” and “Saturday Night Live.” It has been the topic of countless discussions on Twitter and Facebook, and has garnered as much publicity as any series on television, with the acclaimed cast gracing the covers of Entertainment Weekly and TV Guide and appearing on “TODAY,” “Good Morning America,” “The View” and other popular TV shows.
Julian Fellowes, writer and creator of “Downton Abbey,” said, “The ‘Downton’ journey has been amazing for everyone aboard. People ask if we knew what was going to happen when we started to make the first series and the answer is that, of course we had no idea. Exactly why the series had such an impact and reached so many people around the world, all nationalities, all ages, all types, I cannot begin to explain. But I do know how grateful we are to have been allowed this unique experience. I suspect the show will always be a principal marker in most of our careers as we set out from here, and if so, I consider that a blessing and a compliment.”
“Downton Abbey” is a Carnival Films/MASTERPIECE Co-Production written and created by Julian Fellowes. It is Executive Produced by Gareth Neame, Julian Fellowes, Liz Trubridge and Nigel Marchant. Chris Croucher is the Producer. The Executive Producer for MASTERPIECE is Rebecca Eaton.
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Thursday, March 26, 2015
StarWars.com Sneaks Marvel Comics' "Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Shattered Empire #1 from Marvel – Sneak Peek!
This is the first image from Marvel's highly-anticipated event series.
StarWars.com presented the debut image from Marvel’s first entry in Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens: the cover to Shattered Empire #1, with the art drawn by comics artist, Phil Noto. The series is scheduled to debut in September 2015.
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Haikasoru Announces Publication of "Red Girls: The Legend of the Akakuchibas"
An Aimless Girl Finds Direction As She Uncovers The Strange Legends And Shocking History Of Her Extraordinary Family
VIZ Media’s Haikasoru literary imprint has announced the release of its newest book with the publication of RED GIRLS: THE LEGEND OF THE AKAKUCHIBAS on April 21st, 2015.
Author Kazuki Sakuraba delivers a textured, multi-generational mystery that follows an aimless girl’s quest to find meaning and direction in her life as she uncovers the history, secrets and strange legends of her unique family.
RED GIRLS: THE LEGEND OF THE AKAKUCHIBAS will be available in print in an English edition from Haikasoru for $15.99 U.S. / $18.99 CAN. An eBook edition also will debut on April 21st for $9.99 (U.S. / CAN) for the Amazon Kindle, Apple’s iBooks Store, Barnes & Noble’s Nook Book Store, the Kobo eBooks Store, and the Google Play store.
When the outlanders abandoned a baby girl on the outskirts of a village, few imagined that she would grow up to marry into the illustrious Akakuchiba family, much less that she would develop clairvoyant abilities and become matriarch of the illustrious ironworking clan. Her daughter shocks the village further by joining a motorcycle gang and becoming a famous manga artist. The outlander’s granddaughter Toko—well, she’s nobody at all. A nobody worth entrusting with the secret that her grandmother was a murderer. This is Toko’s story.
“Toko Akakuchiba is an ordinary woman, from an extraordinary family. When Toko sits to write her family history, she uncovers the truth about her grandmother’s past, and the woman’s clairvoyant powers,” says Nick Mamatas, Editor. “Author Kazuki Sakuraba skillfully creates an atmospheric multi-generational saga set amidst the turmoil of Japan’s postwar era. Readers will be swept up in the engrossing story of this legendary clan!"
Author Kazuki Sakuraba was born in 1971 and began publishing while still in college. Her early Gosick light novels were bestsellers and her adult fiction is also popular and acclaimed throughout Japan. RED GIRLS: THE LEGEND OF THE AKAKUCHIBAS won the Mystery Writers of Japan Award in 2007 and Watashi no otoko, a suspense novel about an incestuous relationship, won the Naoki Prize for popular fiction in 2008.
For more information on RED GIRLS: THE LEGEND OF THE AKAKUCHIBAS and the Haikasoru imprint, please visit the dedicated website at www.haikasoru.com.
About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan. Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and ONE PIECE, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages. VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products. Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.
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Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Manga Creator Aya Kanno Announced for Toronto Comics Art Festival 2015
Announcing Featured Guest Aya Kanno!
Author of the hit manga Requiem of the Rose King and Otomen
TCAF 2015
@ Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street
Saturday May 9, 9am-5pm
Sunday May 10, 11am-5pm
Free to attend
www.torontocomics.com
TORONTO, CANADA—The Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF) proudly announces that international manga superstar Aya Kanno will attend the 2015 Festival as a Featured Guest! Aya Kanno is the author of the Blank Slate, the New York Times bestselling series Otomen, and the newly-released Requiem of the Rose King, all published in English by VIZ Media. Kanno will participate in a variety of programs at the Festival including a feature interview, panel discussion, and book signing sessions. Aya Kanno will attend TCAF 2015 with her editor Yuri Yamamoto of Akita Shoten, and with the support of VIZ Media.
“We’re so happy to be able to welcome Aya Kanno to North America for the first time,” enthused Festival Director Christopher Butcher. “To my mind Kanno’s work really reinforces what TCAF is all about: unique, diverse voices and great comics! Shoujo manga, or ‘girls’ manga, doesn’t really get the respect it deserves in general, and Kanno’s work is specifically great, smartly interrogating the medium and its approach to gender, sexuality, and storytelling.”
Aya Kanno’s best-known work in North America is the romantic comedy series Otomen, which ran for 18 volumes, frequently appearing on the New York Times bestseller list. The romantic comedy series explores a wide variety of characters that rebel against traditional gender roles in Japanese society, starting with the titular character who is an Otomen (“otome,” Japanese for young girl, combined with the English word “men”). Kanno’s newest work is the just-released Requiem of the Rose King, a dark fantasy retelling of Shakespeare’s Richard III and Henry VI, which continues the manga creator’s exploration of gender, sexuality, and identity, but this time in the context of historical and literary fiction.
Aya Kanno will join a very diverse array of Japanese manga creators already announced for TCAF 2015, including the cartooning duo Gurihiru (Avatar: The Last Airbender), gay manga originator Gengoroh Tagame (The Passion of…), and indy manga creator Ken Niimura (Henshin, I Kill Giants).
A full schedule of Aya Kanno’s appearances at TCAF 2015 will be announced in April, 2015.
The Toronto Comic Arts Festival 2015, Saturday May 9, 9am-5pm, and Sunday May 10, 11am-5pm, @ Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street. Attendance is FREE to the public. Select guest bios and images are available upon request. Please send all inquiries to media@torontocomics.com.
SPONSORS:
The Toronto Comic Arts Festival would not be possible without the assistance of our sponsors and partners, including presenting sponsor Toronto Public Library and primary sponsor The Beguiling Books & Art.
TCAF is produced with the support of the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council.
We would also like to acknowledge funding support from the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario.
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, which last year invested $157 million to bring the arts to Canadians throughout the country. Nous remercions le Conseil des arts du Canada de son soutien. L’an dernier, le Conseil a investi 157 millions de dollars pour mettre de l’art dans la vie des Canadiennes et des Canadiens de tout le pays.
TCAF would like to recognize VIZ Media LLC for their support of the Festival. For more information on VIZ Media’s publications, please visit viz.com.
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