Review: "The Wicker Man" is Still a Creepy Masterpiece (Remembering Christopher Lee)

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 147 (of 2006) by Leroy Douresseaux (support on Patreon)

The Wicker Man (1973)
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  UK
Running time:  88 minutes (1 hour, 28 minutes)
MPAA – R
DIRECTOR:  Robin Hardy
WRITER:  Anthony Shaffer (based upon the novel, Ritual, by David Pinner)
PRODUCER:  Peter Snell
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Peter Waxman (director of photography)
EDITOR:  Eric Boyd-Perkins
COMPOSER:  Paul Giovanni

HORROR/DRAMA/MYSTERY with elements of a musical

Starring:  Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, Diane Cilento, Britt Ekland, Ingrid Pitt, Lindsay Kemp, Irene Sunter, and Geraldine Cowper

The subject of this review is The Wicker Man, a 1973 British horror and mystery film from director Robin Hardy.  The film was inspired by the 1967 British horror novel, Ritual, by author David Pinner.  The Wicker Man follows a devout Christian police sergeant who goes to a remote Scottish island to search for a missing girl and runs up against pagan islanders.

Police Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) travels to the remote Scottish island of Summerisle where he’s been mysteriously called to investigate the disappearance of a young girl, Rowan Morrison (Geraldine Cowper).  However, he immediately finds the locals uncooperative, and the community is nothing like he expected.

The devout Christian detective finds the islanders openly reveling in wanton lust, often having sex in public.  The pastoral community is led by Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee) in the practice of a religion that recognizes the “old gods” and the islanders also recreate various rituals practiced by the Druids.  Offended by what he believes is pagan blasphemy, Sgt. Howie is blind to how dangerous this secret society actually is to him.

Director Robin Hardy and writer Anthony Shaffer’s The Wicker Man is one of the most popular cult films from Great Britain.  In fact, one of the film’s stars, Christopher Lee, calls it one of the 100 best British films ever made.  Although its shock ending (and it’s a doozy) would mark the film as a horror movie, in many ways, The Wicker Man is a melodrama – one with a highly usually subject matter for a mainstream film, but a melodrama, nevertheless.  Early on, The Wicker Man almost becomes a musical because the first half of the film is filled with the villagers in song (singing tunes written by Paul Giovanni, the film’s composer, and Gary Carpenter).  These Celtic folk song-like ditties (about pagan festivals and with an emphasis on ritual, metaphor, and fertility) add to the movie’s surreal air without making the film seem wholly implausible.

Ultimately, questions about the plausibility of The Wicker Man will decide how viewers receive it.  Granted, there are holes in logic, and some incidents in the movie just don’t make sense (There is also a 100-minute director’s cut that provide more explanations into the various concepts in the film.), but sometimes the movie seems like a weirdo documentary about an actually island of pagan hippies.  While the performances and filmmaking is generally good, it’s this touch of realness that makes the film so eerily… real?  The movie makes the viewer ask:  “Could this happen” or “Is this based on a real story,” and that makes The Wicker Man haunt you long after you watched it.

The film drifts in the middle of the second act and early in the third act.  However, the final ten minutes or so may leave the viewer shivering and feeling a strong sense of dread, fear, and maybe shock and confusion – just like a good horror flick should.

7 of 10
B+

Thursday, July 13, 2006

The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

Review: "The Wicker Man" Remake is Whickety Whickety Whack

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 201 (of 2006) by Leroy Douresseaux (support on Patreon)

The Wicker Man (2006)
Running time:  102 minutes (1 hour, 42 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for disturbing images and violence, language, and thematic issues
DIRECTOR:  Neil LaBute
WRITER:  Neil LaBute (based upon the screenplay by Anthony Shaffer)
PRODUCERS:  Nicolas Cage, Norm Golightly, Avi Lerner, Randall Emmett, John Thompson, and Boaz Davidson
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Paul Sarossy, B.S.C., C.S.C. (director of photography)
EDITOR:  Joel Plotch
COMPOSER:  Angelo Badalamenti

MYSTERY/HORROR/THRILLER with elements of drama

Starring:  Nicolas Cage, Ellen Burstyn, Kate Beahan, Frances Conroy, Molly Parker, Leelee Sobieski, Diane Delano, Michael Wiseman, and Erika-Shaye Gair

The subject of this movie review is The Wicker Man, a 2006 horror film and mystery thriller from director Neil LaBute.  The film is a remake of the 1973 British film, The Wicker Man, and this remake sources both the 1973 screenplay by Anthony Shaffer and the 1967 horror novel, Ritual, that was the source material for the original film.  In the 2006 version of The Wicker Man, a policeman searches a small island for his missing daughter, but meets resistance from the island's secretive neo-pagan community.

After failing to save a little girl from a fiery car crash, California Highway Patrol officer Edward Malus (Nicolas Cage) sinks into months of pill-popping.  He finds his chance at redemption when another opportunity arrives to save a little girl in danger.  He receives a mysterious and desperate letter from his former fiancée, Willow (Kate Beahan): her daughter, Rowan (Erika-Shaye Gair), is missing.  Willow begs Edward to come to her home on a private island in Washington’s Puget Sound, Summerisle.  Edward soon finds himself on a seaplane headed for the islands of the Pacific Northwest.

He finds, however, the community on Summerisle to be exceedingly strange.  The local culture, built around honey harvesting, is dominated by its matriarch, Sister Summerisle (Ellen Burstyn), and the community is in fact a commune and a matriarchy where the women apparently rule over the men who speak nary a word.  Malus finds Willow, now Sister Willow, vague about the disappearance of her daughter, saying only that she believes her fellow islanders have taken Rowan.  The secretive women of Summerisle only ridicule his investigation insisting that Rowan doesn’t exist or that she did but is no longer alive.

Edward also finds the islanders bound by arcane tradition, and they are preparing for a festival to which they refer as “the Day of Death and Rebirth.”  As Edward navigates these bizarre (to him) ancient traditions, he believes that he is getting closer to finding Rowan, but he is also moving towards something unspeakable and perhaps closer to a mysterious figure known as The Wicker Man.

If you’ve ever seen the Robin Hardy-directed British film, The Wicker Man, which stars Edward Woodward as a strongly-devout Christian (and virginal) cop investigating the disappearance of a little girl and Christopher Lee as the leader of a pagan community on an isolated Scottish isle, you’re probably angry that anyone would remake the cult classic.  The original (written by famed playwright Anthony Shaffer who was in turn influenced by actor/writer David Pinner’s novel, Ritual) was genuinely creepy (and occasionally kitschy) with a killer ending.  This film is required viewing for true film fanatics who must experience the pagan villagers swaying like mad trees in their happy, smiling dance of death.

Neil Labute’s remake, also entitled The Wicker Man, is an American “re-imagining” that does have its inventive moments, but is mostly so-so – the kind of thing that seems like a strange CBS television movie.  Some of LaBute’s (an indie director known for such films as In the Company of Men and Your Friends & Neighbors) new touches and ideas are rather sweet.  There is something uncomfortably charming about Summerisle as an old-fashioned agrarian society (this one sustains itself by harvesting honey).  Building the film’s costume and production design around the beehive motif adds for some cool visuals.  The beehives are in a field in which the layout resembles a honeycomb (super cool!).  The villagers are still creepy, but whereas they seemed like clueless Jonestown yokels in the original, they’re more dangerous, like Charles Manson’s followers.

Ellen Burstyn gives a simply delicious performance as Sister Summerisle, her every appearance dominates the screen and she literally eats up a script that cannot contain her performance nor satisfy her fire.  Nicolas Cage is actually pretty good as Edward Malus, but once again I think he would have played better had LaBute written stronger supporting characters to go up against Malus, as well as given some of them more lines.  The implausible aspects of this concept show more here than they did in the original.  Also, like the original, this would work better as a longer film, and like the original, the sight of The Wicker Man and that killer ending still hit hard.

5 of 10
C+

Saturday, September 23, 2006

NOTES:
2007 Razzie Awards:  5 nominations: “Worst Picture,” “Worst Actor” (Nicolas Cage), “Worst Screen Couple” (Nicolas Cage... and his bear suit), “Worst Remake or Rip-Off,” and “Worst Screenplay” (Neil LaBute based on the original screenplay by Anthony Shaffer)


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

"Magic Mike XXL" Soundtrack Drops Trou Tuesday, June 30th

Magic Mike XXL Soundtrack Available June 30

Features Music from the Film, Including Matt Bomer Singing “Heaven” and “(Untitled) How Does It Feel” and Donald Glover Performing “Marry You”

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WaterTower Music today announced the release of the soundtrack to the hotly anticipated sequel “MAGIC MIKE XXL,” in theaters July 1, starring Channing Tatum, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello, Kevin Nash, Adam Rodriguez, Gabriel Iglesias, Amber Heard, Donald Glover, Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss, Michael Strahan, Andie MacDowell, Elizabeth Banks, and Jada Pinkett Smith.

    “Both Matt’s version of the classic ‘Heaven’ and Donald’s ‘Marry You’ contribute to this outstanding soundtrack collection of awesome, timeless songs.”

The soundtrack includes several songs featured in dance sequences from the film, as well as songs performed on screen by Matt Bomer, who sings “Heaven” (originally performed by Bryan Adams) and “(Untitled) How Does It Feel” (originally recorded by D’Angelo); and Donald Glover, who performs “Marry You” (originally recorded by Bruno Mars).

“It’s such a privilege to have multi-dimensional talents like Matt Bomer and Donald Glover exclusively performing songs that take the listener back to amazing and fun musical moments in this film,” commented WaterTower Music Executive Vice President Jason Linn. “Both Matt’s version of the classic ‘Heaven’ and Donald’s ‘Marry You’ contribute to this outstanding soundtrack collection of awesome, timeless songs.”

The Magic Mike XXL soundtrack will be available at all retailers June 30. The CD version contains a special pull out calendar poster. The full track list is as follows:

Pony - Ginuwine
Ain’t There Something Money Can’t Buy - Nick Waterhouse
I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys
Freek’n You - Jodeci
Sex You - Bando Jonez
Give It To The People - The Child of Lov
Untitled (How Does It Feel) - Matt Bomer
Marry You - Donald Glover
Anywhere - 112
All The Time - Jeremih feat. Lil Wayne and Natasha Mosley
Cookie - R. Kelly
Gooey - Glass Animals
Heaven - Matt Bomer
                   

A Special Edition of the soundtrack with bonus songs will be available exclusively at Target and is available here.

“Magic Mike XXL” reunites Channing Tatum, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello, Kevin Nash, Adam Rodriguez and Gabriel Iglesias, stars of the 2012 worldwide hit “Magic Mike.” Picking up the story three years after Mike bowed out of the stripper life at the top of his game, “Magic Mike XXL” finds the remaining Kings of Tampa likewise ready to throw in the towel. But they want to do it their way: burning down the house in one last blow-out performance in Myrtle Beach, and with legendary headliner Magic Mike sharing the spotlight with them. On the road to their final show, with whistle stops in Jacksonville and Savannah to renew old acquaintances and make new friends, Mike and the guys learn some new moves and shake off the past in surprising ways.

“Magic Mike XXL” was directed by Emmy Award winner Gregory Jacobs (“Behind the Candelabra”), from a screenplay by Reid Carolin. It was produced by Nick Wechsler, Gregory Jacobs, Channing Tatum and Reid Carolin, with Steven Soderbergh serving as executive producer. A Warner Bros. Pictures presentation, the film is being distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. www.magicmikemovie.com.

------------------

VIZ Media Announces it 2015 Comic-Con International Plans

Visit VIZ Media at Comic-Con International Booth #2813
VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES AN EXCITING ROSTER OF EVENTS AND SPECIAL CONVENTION EXCLUSIVES FOR 2015 COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL

U.S.’s Largest Anime/Manga Company Hosts ULTRAMAN Manga Creators, Marks The 10th Anniversary of Shojo Beat Imprint And Offers A Dazzling Array Of Exclusive Items For Purchase

San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, announces its return to San Diego, CA for the 2015 Comic-Con International with an impressive roster of manga creator personal appearances, informative panel discussions, interactive activities, promotional giveaways, and a wide selection of special retail products available exclusively at the event.

Attracting more than 125,000 attendees annually, Comic-Con International is one of the nation’s largest comic book, science fiction and pop culture events, and takes place July 9th-12th at the San Diego Convention Center, in San Diego, CA. Complete details on Comic-Con are available at: www.comic-con.org.

Located on the main show floor, VIZ Media’s booth will be a central hub of activity that will be a must-see for anime and manga fans. This year, VIZ Media presents the first international appearance by the creators of the new ULTRAMAN manga series. Stop by to purchase an exclusive advance copy with an exclusive figure from Japan and have it signed by Eiichi Shimizu and Tomohiro Shimoguchi. Check the booth for the daily signing schedule. Also join the creators for an insightful panel discussion on the global ULTRAMAN phenomenon on Friday, July 10th.

VIZ Media commemorates the 10th Anniversary of its Shojo Beat imprint with a beautiful in-booth display of shikishi (special Japanese art boards) featuring original artwork by a host of well-known manga creators that were created specifically for the imprint’s 10-year anniversary. Also spin the Shojo Beat Prize Wheel to win exclusive collectable items from Japan!

Celebrate the return of THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: A LINK TO THE PAST by picking up Link’s Hylian Shield, only at the VIZ Media booth! Copies of THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: A LINK TO THE PAST graphic novel will also be available for purchase (MSRP: $20)

NARUTO fans can try their hand at Bandai Namco's latest NARUTO SHIPPUDEN video game, which debuts this Fall! Or try out a special demo of the NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Deck Building Game from Cryptozoic (copies will be available for purchase, $40 each).

VIZ Media booth visitors can score free Shonen Jump ONE PIECE, ONE-PUNCH MAN or DRAGON BALL Z posters and also pick up a SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL Card, which offers a free trial subscription to Hulu Plus. Take a SAILOR MOON survey and also receive either a SAILOR MOON tiara or poster!

Also don’t miss the following product exclusives and special advance releases available (while supplies last) at the VIZ Media booth:

·         Advance pre-street manga releases for:
o   MY HERO ACADEMIA Vol. 1 ($10)

o   THE DEMON PRINCE OF MOMICHI HOUSE Vol. 1 ($10)

o   MAID-SAMA! 2-In-1 Vol. 1 ($15),

o   TOKYO GHOUL Vol. 2 ($13; Vol. 1 also available),

o   ULTRAMAN Vol. 1 – available with a special collectable Ultraman figure ($30) – get them personally signed by the series creators!

·         ONE PIECE and NARUTO Replica Manga Artwork – Exclusive from Japan! ($15 each)

·         DRAGON BALL Replica Manga Artwork – Full Color & Framed! Exclusive from Japan! ($150)

·         WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Annual Membership – digital subscription to the world’s most popular manga magazine also includes exclusive NARUTO Game Mat, Collectible NARUTO Yearbook (ships October 2015) and Exclusive YU‐GI-OH! Promo Card: Frightfur Tiger! ($25)

·         NARUTO: THE LAST 3D Movie Poster – Exclusively available from VIZ Media! ($25)

·         Exclusive SAILOR MOON R T-shirts – Ladies & Unisex styles; available only from VIZ Media! ($15 each)

·         Exclusive DORAEMON Plush – 2 different cute designs; (Small version $10; Large version $18)

·         2015 Eisner Award nominated manga titles – MONSTER: PERFECT EDITION Vol. 1 ($20), ALL YOU NEED IS KILL ($15), HELLO KITTY, HELLO 40 (Special Edition $50)

A limited edition VIZ Media tote bag featuring iconic characters from celebrated VIZ Media series in 3 designs will be given as free gift with purchase of any item from VIZ Media. Select from SHONEN JUMP (double-sided featuring Luffy and Naruto), SAILOR MOON or THE LEGEND OF ZELDA!

VIZ Media Comic-Con Panels & Special Events:

Thursday July 9th

10:00AM - 11:00AM - SHONEN JUMP: PAST PRESENT & FUTURE
Room 5AB

Hang out with the English-language editors of the world's most popular manga, plus special surprise guests! We've got exciting news about the latest new series, all-time fan favorites, and everything in between. Plus a chance to win amazing prizes by showing off your SJ trivia skills.

11:00AM - ULTRAMAN Creator Signing, VIZ Media Booth #2813

4:00PM - 5:00PM - Official VIZ Media Comic-Con Panel
Room 7AB

Come party with VIZ Media! And by party, we mean sit in a chair and listen to thrilling tales of upcoming releases and other Earth-shattering announcements from North America's largest distributor of manga and anime! VIZ Media has brought fans thousands of acclaimed anime and manga titles including hits like NARUTO, DEATH NOTE, SAILOR MOON, RANMA ½, TOKYO GHOUL and more!

Friday July 10th

3:00PM - 4:00PM - VIZ Media Presents: ULTRAMAN
Room 23ABC

4:30PM - ULTRAMAN Creator Signing VIZ Media Booth #2813

Saturday July 11th

10:00AM - ULTRAMAN Creator Signing VIZ Media Booth #2813

1:30PM – 2:30PM - VIZ Media & Perfect Square Present: THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: A LINK TO THE PAST
Room 5AB

Zelda fans are invited to take up their Master Swords and join VIZ Media staff and special guests for a celebration of one of the most acclaimed video games of all time, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. VIZ Media will provide a special a behind-the-scenes look at the return of the classic graphic novel that was originally featured in Nintendo Power™ magazine in the 90s and will also answer questions and give out a fun array of Zelda prizes.

1:30PM - ULTRAMAN Creator Signing VIZ Media Booth #2813

Sunday July 12th

1:00PM – 2:00PM - VIZ Media Presents Official SAILOR MOON Panel
Room 6A

VIZ Media is releasing the 200 episode classic SAILOR MOON anime series for the first time on Blu-ray and with an all-new completely uncut and uncensored English dub. Join members of the VIZ Animation team for a special presentation on all the ins and outs of the production of this legendary anime series as well as updated news about the all new series, SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL!

Finally, don’t forget to check the 2015 Comic-Con screening schedule for a variety of VIZ Media anime titles including showings of BLEACH, BLOOD LAD, GARGANTIA ON THE VERDUROUS PLANET, INUYASHA, and SAILOR MOON and SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL!

For more information on anime and manga titles licensed, published and distributed by VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.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.

----------------

Webcomics Update: Grumble #2, Page 10

Grumble Chapter Two, Page 10 is here: http://www.comicbookbin.com/grumbletwopage010.html

NOTE:  Last year, I printed some promotional copies of Grumble: Chapter One through a POD printer.  I will sign and number a copy of this "rare" comic book for $5 post paid, which you can purchase here or http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/p/i-reads-shopping.html

I am also on Patreon.

Negromancer's Fave Poli-Reads - June 2015 Edition - Update #6

Posted by Leroy Douresseaux - support on Patreon.

From TheNewYorker:  Dennis Hastert's plea and silence.

From YahooPolitics:  Another Supreme Court for the ACA aka "Obamacare."

From RSN:  Yes, he can, and so can Obamacare.

From YahooNews:  The sister of a man who was abused, as a high school student, by Dennis Hastert gives an exclusive interview to ABC.

From TheIntercept:  For fearmongers, it's always the scariest time.  I 'm looking at you Lindsey Graham.

From ThinkProgress:  What is known about the men who impeached President Clinton.

2015 J-Pop Summit Offers Live Music in "Day 1" Programming

2015 J-POP SUMMIT ANNOUNCES DAY 1 PROGRAMMING OFFERING A CAPTIVATING MIX OF LIVE MUSIC AND COMEDY AND OTHER ACTS

First Day Of S.F’.s Annual Japanese Pop Culture Fest Presents Live Performances By JAM Project, Eir Aoi, Gacharic Spin, JinnyOops!, Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass, Faint★Star, FES★TIVE, Comedy Duo Jaru Jaru, A Cappella Group Little Glee Monster And More

San Francisco, CA – The 2015 J-POP SUMMIT, the Japanese pop culture event held annually in San Francisco, has announced DAY 1 programming. This year’s festival is highlighted by live music from a wide range of pop, ani-pop, electronica, punk/alternative, and a cappella artists, as well as live comedy and other acts to complement an extensive roster of attractions, participants and exhibits, and other live programming.

The 2015 J-POP SUMMIT takes place Saturday and Sunday August 8th & 9th, 2015 at the historic Fort Mason Center in San Francisco’s Marina district. Tickets and V.I.P Passes are available now at: www.J-POP.com. Both types of passes include access to daytime programming as well as the J-POP LIVE NIGHT concert. V.I.P Pass holders will have priority access to a premium viewing area and also will be invited to an exclusive Meet & Greet Event with JAM Project on Saturday, August 8th and Eir Aoi on Sunday, August 9th respectively. Details to be announced soon!

This year’s live performers reflect the diversity and unique creative expression that is burgeoning in Japan and capturing a global following. The first-ever 2-night event J-POP LIVE NIGHT tops off DAY 1 Saturday, August 8th, with an evening concert by anime music super-group – JAM Project – as well as live sets from pop singer, Eir Aoi, frenetic rock band, Gacharic Spin, and returning all-girl punk rock acts, JinnyOops! and the Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass.

During the afternoon of Saturday, attendees also will be treated to the U.S. debut of Little Glee Monster, an extraordinary 6-member female a cappella group that has received wide acclaim in Japan for their unique vocal treatments to a range of popular Japanese and English songs. Also making their debut at J-POP SUMMIT will be FES★TIVE, a unique act built around the concept of Japanese “festivals” that has garnered a global following with their up-tempo, catchy sound. The hilarious antics of the comedy duo, Jaru Jaru, also come to U.S. shores for the first time as does the stylish female pop duo, Faint★Star.

J-POP SUMMIT also introduces attendees to a brand new way to show their love of favorite Japanese idols with the Cheerz App, on which users can upload photos to show support for a wide array of top artists, including ones performing at J-POP SUMMIT. Cheerz users also can receive additional opportunities for visibility and promotion based on their photo’s popularity among other users of the app. Over 300 top Japanese artists are currently active on Cheerz and since its launch in December 2014, fans have cheered on their favorite idols over 40 million times.  More information at: https://cheerz.cz/

Stay tuned for J-POP SUMMIT DAY 2 programming to be announced very soon!

J-POP LIVE NIGHT Artists

J-POP LIVE NIGHT on Saturday begins at 4:30pm on the J-POP SUMMIT Main Stage inside the Fort Mason Pavilion. Specific set times will be posted shortly on www.J-POP.com.

JAM Project (Japan Animation-Song Makers Project)
JAM Project is an anime music super-group founded in 2000. The group is composed of the top vocal artists that are each renowned for their work in the anime industry. The members came together to create and perform powerful theme songs for anime, tokusatsu (SFX movies and TV), and video games. Since their debut, the JAM Project has produced and released hundreds of anime and video game theme songs, including the themes to Super Robot Wars, GARO and Tomica Hero. The group toured internationally in 2008, 2012 and 2015. Current regular members are Hironobu Kageyama (singer of "Dragon Ball Z" opening theme), Masaaki Endoh (singer of “Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s” opening theme), Hiroshi Kitadani (singer of "ONE PIECE" opening theme), Masami Okui (singer of “Revolutionary Girl Utena” opening theme) and Yoshiki Fukuyama (singer of "Macross 7" opening theme), who will all perform in San Francisco! Official website: http://jamjamsite.com/

Eir Aoi
Eir Aoi is a Japanese singer from Sapporo, Hokkaido that is signed to SEM Records (Sony Music Entertainment). She gained wide popularity after several of her songs were used as the opening and ending themes for many popular anime series including Kill la Kill, Sword Art Online II and Season 2 of Aldnoah Zero:. She has built a worldwide fan base and embarks on her first international tour this summer. Official website: www.aoieir.com

Gacharic Spin
Celebrating their 5th anniversary this year, Gacharic Spin is a true force of musical power from Japan! One of their songs is now used as the ending theme for Dragon Ball Kai. Taking their name from the word, “Gacha,” derived from a Japanese word gacha-gacha, meaning clattering, each members’ character and sound clatters and mixes perfectly with singers Hana and Oreoreona’s powerful and melancholic voices, to result in a spectacularly unique sound. The band is signed to the JVCKENWOOD Victor Entertainment Corp. Taking hints from everything from pop to rock and industrial music, their energy-filled live performances and excellent musicianship have made them a very fun band to watch! Official Website: http://gacharicspin.com/; Official YouTube Channel: Gacharic Spin Channel

JinnyOops!
Returning to J-POP SUMMIT for their first time since 2010 is JinnyOops!, the 3 -piece indie punk band from Osaka, Japan. The group, which is composed of Mitsuyo Ishibashi (guitar/vocals), Chihiro Ishida (Bass), and Hitomi Futemma (Drums) are known for their wild and explosive punk sound and have made several appearances in the US. Official Website: http://jinny-oops.com/

Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass
The Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass are a Japanese female punk rock trio from Tokyo. Formed in 2005, the band has Kei Sofue on drums and sisters Yumi and Miki Uchizono on vocals/guitar and bass, respectively. After playing at SXSW 2012 in Austin, Texas, the band embarked on a US tour and headlined the J-Pop Summit Festival in San Francisco. Known for their energetic live performances, the band has played countless shows internationally and have established a loyal fan base in Japan, as well as overseas. Official Website: http://akabane-vulgars.jimdo.com/

DAY 1 Daytime Live Performances

Little Glee Monster
This 6-member group composed of teenage girls has gained wide acclaim for their exceptional vocal skills and harmonies. Little Glee Monster was formed in Tokyo in 2013 by winners of a “Best Young Female Singer Audition” contest. The music video for the group’s first single, Houkago High Five, featured on their major label debut for Sony Music has been viewed more than 500 million times!  Little Glee Monster’s “Gao Gao All-Star” was selected as the ending theme song for the Pokemon XY anime series and their music also will be featured in the upcoming anime feature, Pokemon XY The Movie: The Archdjinni of Rings. Official Website: www.littlegleemonster.com; Official YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/LittleGleeMonsterYT.

Faint★Star
Faint★Star is a Japanese pop-duo consisting of Hina (formerly of Tomato’n Pine) and Yuria that debuted in 2014. The duo gained international popularity after a Tokyo Girls Update article on their 1st music video became the most viewed article on the site. Faint★Star is produced by one of the most famous music agencies, “Agehasprings,” and are known for their live performances that integrate advanced visual technology. Official website: www.faintstar-tokyo.jp/

FES★TIVE
The 8-piece Japanese idol group, “FES★TIVE, is a unique act that builds on the concept of “festivals” and focuses on performing at Japanese festivals all over the world. FES★TIVE made its major label debut on Tokuma Japan in May, and throughout 2015, they will continue to showcase their “FESTIVAL FROM JAPAN” theme to intentional audiences. With their up-tempo and catchy sound, FES★TIVE is a rapidly growing force in the international music scene. Official website: http://festive.rizepro.net/

Jaru Jaru
Jaru Jaru is a Japanese comedy duo made up of Shusuke Fukutoku and Junpei Goto, and managed by the Yoshimoto Creative Agency. The pair is one of the most successful and popular comedy acts in Japan with their brand of Manzai – a traditional style of Japanese comedy consisting a fool and a long-suffering companion. In the twelve years that they have been active, the duo has received countless awards, made many TV appearances, and even starred in several movies. Official Web site: http://jarujaruconte.com/


About J-POP SUMMIT
The J-POP SUMMIT is an annual Japanese Pop Culture celebration held in San Francisco, CA that features live bands and artists from Japan, pop culture panel discussions, film premieres, fashion shows and events, food and spirits, art, and celebrity appearances. In 2014, the two-day event attracted 125,000 attendees. Details on J-POP SUMMIT are available at www.J-POP.com.

-------------------