Pokémon Celebrates 25th Anniversary in 2021 with Katy Perry

Pokémon Celebrates 25 Years With Massive Music Program and Activations Across the Franchise

Katy Perry Headlines P25 Music, a Year of Surprise Music Events and Superstar Collaborations

BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Pokémon Company International officially launches celebrations for Pokémon’s landmark 25th anniversary. As an iconic video game and entertainment franchise beloved by millions of fans of all ages around the world, Pokémon has been bringing people together since its launch in 1996.

In 2021, Pokémon will continue that tradition by aligning with another universal unifying force — music. Headlined by pop icon Katy Perry, the star-studded program created in partnership with Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, accompanies fan-focused activations celebrating 25 years of Pokémon across the franchise’s portfolio of video games, mobile apps, animation, merchandise and more. To help fans kick off this celebration, a live-action video, uniquely highlighting moments in the brand’s 25-year history and a journey through the Pokémon world’s many regions, can be viewed beginning today on the official Pokémon YouTube channel here or https://youtu.be/l_ZHajviuAY/

    “In Katy Perry, we see a kindred spirit to Pokémon, whose world is bright, fun and uplifting”

Global Music Celebration: P25 Music:

Every party needs a great playlist. To celebrate 25 years, The Pokémon Company International is teaming up with UMG through their brands strategies division, Universal Music Group for Brands, to make 2021 the biggest Pokémon party in history — and everyone is invited. Pokémon is working with some of the biggest names in music, from rising artists to award-winning global superstars, for the program, titled P25 Music. Pop icon Katy Perry was revealed today as a premier collaborator in the massive, yearlong music campaign.

“Pokémon has been a constant in my life from playing the original video games on my Game Boy, to trading Pokémon TCG cards at lunch, to the adventures of catching Pokémon on the street with Pokémon GO. I’ve even visited the Pokémon Café in Japan while on tour! It is an honor to be chosen to help celebrate a franchise that has given me so much joy in the last 25 years, and to be able to watch it evolve in the ways it’s provided that kind of electric joy for the kids in my life and around the world,” said Katy Perry.

“In Katy Perry, we see a kindred spirit to Pokémon, whose world is bright, fun and uplifting,” said Colin Palmer, vice president of marketing at The Pokémon Company International. “Katy is a wonderful ambassador to help us celebrate 25 years of Pokémon, and we can’t wait for music fans everywhere to experience the exciting collaborations we have planned.”

“We are honored to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Pokémon and the significant cultural impact this beloved franchise continues to have around the world. Working together, we have developed dynamic year-round programming involving artists from across UMG’s labels — because what better way to create a global celebration than through the power of music,” said LJ Gutierrez, General Manager, UMGB.

Details about Katy Perry’s participation, additional artist surprises and more about the P25 Music program will be announced throughout the year.

25 Years of Adventures: A Journey Through the Pokémon World:

Since the first video games launched in 1996, the franchise has explored a new region in the Pokémon world with the introduction of each core series game. In 2021, The Pokémon Company International will invite fans to relive their journeys through each of these regions in a yearlong program, beginning with the most recently discovered Galar region from Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield and ending with the classic Kanto region from the original Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue games. Beginning today, fans can visit a new website that will serve as the hub for this and all fan celebration activities as they are announced throughout the year, located here: https://pokemon.com/25

Anniversary Partners: Celebratory Programs and Merchandise:

Pokémon adventures are always better with friends, so The Pokémon Company International is teaming up with other iconic brands to help fans celebrate the journey throughout the year with unique promotions and merchandise. Collaborations in the brand’s 25th anniversary year include programs from Build-A-Bear Workshop®, General Mills, Levi’s, McDonald’s and more. Fans can also look forward to even more special merchandise tied to the anniversary celebrations from licensees including Jazwares, Scholastic, Mattel, Funko, PowerA, and The Wand Company. Additional partners and the ways they will celebrate the anniversary will be announced throughout the year.

Special Collections: The Pokémon Trading Card Game & Pokémon Center:

The Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) is a cornerstone of the brand, and fans can look forward to special 25th anniversary-themed collections of the Pokémon TCG later in 2021. In the meantime, fans will soon be able to collect oversize cards featuring Pikachu and beloved first partner Pokémon from the various regions featured in the franchise-spanning retrospective. Fans can also expect 25th anniversary-themed products from Pokémon Center, the premier destination for official, high-quality Pokémon merchandise in the U.S. and Canada. To kick off the celebrations on Pokémon Center, fans will be able to preorder the limited-edition 25th anniversary-themed skateboard by industry craftsman Bear Walker starting Jan. 19.

More Celebrations Across the World of Pokémon:

The details revealed today are a glimpse into what the world can expect from Pokémon in 2021. With 25th anniversary-related activations planned for Pokémon animation, Pokémon video games, mobile games including Pokémon GO and Pokémon Masters EX, and more big announcements from the franchise, fans have a year full of new journeys ahead.


About Pokémon:
The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing and marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, visit www.pokemon.com.

About Katy Perry:
Since Katy Perry’s Capitol Records debut in 2008 with One of the Boys, she has racked up a cumulative 50 billion streams alongside worldwide sales of over 48 million adjusted albums and 135 million tracks with her albums One of the Boys, Teenage Dream, PRISM and Witness. Her summer 2019 single, “Never Really Over,” off her latest album SMILE, is certified GOLD and was the biggest streaming launch of Katy’s musical career. 2020’s SMILE release has sold over 1.25 million adjusted albums, with nearly 2 billion combined streams to date. Views of her 2013 video “Roar” recently surpassed three billion views – making Katy the first female artist to reach this milestone, while “Dark Horse” is close behind with over 2.9 billion views. Katy was also the first female artist to have four videos surpass a billion views each. Her videos for “Firework” and “Last Friday Night” have over one billion views. Katy’s 2015 Super Bowl performance is the highest-rated in the event’s history. She is one of only five artists in history to have topped 100 million certified units with their digital singles – and the first-ever Capitol Records recording artist to join the elite RIAA 100 Million Certified Songs club.

Aside from being one of the best-selling musical artists of all time, Katy is an active advocate of many philanthropic causes. In 2013, Katy was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador as a result of her commitment to improving the lives of children worldwide. Katy has used her powerful voice to advocate for children and support UNICEF’s mission to ensure every child’s right to health, education, equality, and protection. She was awarded with the Audrey Hepburn Humanitarian Award in 2016.

Katy has also been a champion for LGBTQ+ equality. She has received numerous awards for her work, including the Trevor Project's Hero Award in 2012, the Human Rights Campaign's National Equality Award in 2017, and amfAR’s Award of Courage in 2018. She has also performed at various events to raise funds for the fight against HIV/AIDS, including 2009's Life Ball and 2016's amfAR Cannes Gala.

About Universal Music Group:
Universal Music Group (UMG) is the world leader in music-based entertainment, with a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising and audiovisual content in more than 60 countries. Featuring the most comprehensive catalog of recordings and songs across every musical genre, UMG identifies and develops artists and produces and distributes the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music in the world. Committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship, UMG fosters the development of services, platforms and business models in order to broaden artistic and commercial opportunities for our artists and create new experiences for fans. Universal Music Group is a Vivendi company.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from January 17th to 23rd, 2021 - Update #23

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

TELEVISION - From Variety:  HBO is in early development of a prequel series to its Emmy-winning "Game of Thrones."  It would be based on "Tales of Dunk and Egg," a series of novellas from author George R.R. Martin, whose books are the source material for "Game of Thrones."

BIDEN! - From USAToday:   7 moments you shouldn't miss from the inaugural concert: From Justin Timberlake to Katy Perry's epic finale.

From BET:  Black Women Across The Globe Honor VP Kamala Harris With Their Chuck Taylor Sneakers And Strands Of Pearls.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Oscar-nominee Michelle Pfeiffer former first lady, Betty Ford, in the Showtime anthology series, "The First Lady."  Emmy Award winner Susanne Bier will direct the series.

BIDEN! - From YahooNews:   Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Kamala Harris made history as the first woman, Black woman and Asian woman to be sworn in as vice president.

From HuffPost:  People Can’t Believe Donald Trump’s Latest Public Schedule Isn’t A Parody

POLITICS-RACE - From YahooFinance:   The uncomfortable truth: Why more white women didn’t rally behind the Biden-Harris campaign

COVID-19 - From Truthout:  US Reaches Grim Milestone of 400K COVID Deaths Days Before Trump Leaves Office

DISNEY - From Deadline:  McG will direct the pilot episode of the Disney+ reboot of the dog-cop movie, "Turner & Hooch."

POLITICS - From Truthout:   The final two races of the 2020 federal election cycle were officially certified on Tuesday, with Democrats Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff declared the official winners of their respective U.S. Senate races against Republican incumbents Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue in Georgia.

SCANDAL-POLITICS - From Deadline:   The actors union, SAG-AFTRA, finds "probably cause" to expel one of its more infamous and hilarious members, former President Donald.

STREAMING - From BleedingCool:  In March, the streaming service, "CBS All Acess," becomes "Paramount+."  A new line-up of series has also been announced.

BIDEN! - From YahooSports:   The story of Joe Biden, high school football star.

AWARDS - From Deadline:  The winners of the International Documentary Association's "IDA Awards" have been announced.  Netflix's "Crip Camp," about a unique summer camp for disabled kids and its role propelling the disability rights movement, won "Best Feature."

STREAMING - From OneRing:   There is now an official synopsis for Amazon's "Lord of the Rings" series.

BOX OFFICE - From Deadline:   "The Marksman," starring Liam Neeson, will apparently win the MLK 4-day holiday weekend (1/15 to 1/19/21) with an estimated take of 3.7 million dollars.

MOVIES - From YahooEntertainment:  How 'One Night in Miami' meeting with Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown and Sam Cooke shows 'complicated relationship' between Black men and America

BLM - From YahooNews:   Black Americans react to the pro-Trump riot at the U.S. Capitol

INSURRECTION - From TheAtlantic: The Boogaloo Bois prepare for civil war.

OBITS:

From Deadline:   Television and radio host and TV spokesman, Larry King, has died at the age of 87, Saturday, January 23, 2021.  He first gained prominence with his radio show, "The Larry King Show" (1978-94).  Many will remember him for his long-running CNN talk show, "Larry King Live" (1985-2010). In 1999, King won a "News & Documentary" Emmy Award for "Larry King Live" and in 2011, he won a "News & Documentary" Emmy "Lifetime Achievement Award." King won to "Peabody Awards," one for radio (1982) and one for television (1992).

From APNews: Hall of Fame Major League Baseball player, Hank Aaron, has died at the age of 86, Friday, January 22, 2021.  Known for decades as the home run king,  Aaron endured so many racist threats as he pursued Babe Ruth's then career home run record of 714.  He surpassed Ruth when he hit number 715 on April 8, 1974, and ended his career with 755.  Aaron on the Milwaukee Braves 1957 World Series champions, the year he also won the National League MVP Award.  A 25-time All-Star, Aaron was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.

From Deadline:  Veteran television comedy writer-producer, David Richardson, has died at the age of 65, Monday, January 18, 2021.  He wrote and produced for such series as "8 Simple Rules" and "Malcolm in the Middle."  He wrote episodes of "The Simpsons" and "Two and a Half Men."  He had just finished working on the fifth and final season of Netflix's animated series, "F Is For Family."

From Deadline:  Legendary music producer and convicted murderer, Phil Spector, has died at the age of 81, Saturday, January 16, 2021 from COVID-19 complications.  Spector was known for the "Wall of Sound," an approach to pop music that hit the listener with a dense symphonic array.  He wrote, co-wrote, and produced hits for "the Crystals," "the Ronettes," and Ike and Tina Turner.  He later produced the Beatles album, "Let It Be" (1970).  He also produced or co-produced several solo albums for Beatles members, John Lennon and George Harrison.  In 2009, he was convicted for the 2003 killing of actress Lana Clarkson.

ASSAULT ON THE CAPITOL:

From RollingStone:  "American Unity Is a Fantasy" - National harmony is impossible without true accountability, especially when a major political party enables sedition and white-supremacist terrorism

From Buzzfeed:   BuzzFeed News spoke to two Black officers who described a harrowing day in which they were forced to endure racist abuse — including repeatedly being called the n-word — as they tried to do their job of protecting the Capitol building...

From NBCNews:   Some Democrats in Congress are worried their colleagues might kill them

From Truthout:   At least 28 law enforcement officers from 12 states have been identified as attendees of the so-called “Save America” rally in support of Donald Trump that sparked the storming of the U.S. Capitol building on January 6

From RSNWashPost:   President Donald watched TV while the U.S. Capitol Building was under siege.

From YahooSports:   A so-called "Olympic hero" was part of the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6th.  Swimmer Klete Keller won silver and bronze medals at the 2000 Sydney Games; gold and bronze at the 2004 Athens Games; and gold at the 2008 Beijing Games.  Now, he has won Nazi gold for appearing at the white supremacist games.

From RSNNewYorker:  What Should We Call the Sixth of January 2021?

From Truthout:  The Right Is Planning More Armed Coup Attempts, According to the FBI

From NBC2:  Police found a pickup truck full of bombs and guns near Capitol, feds say

From YahooNews:  Arnold Schwarzenegger invokes Nazi Germany in powerful video denouncing Capitol Hill riot

From Fox5DC:  A second police officer who responded to the Wednesday, Jan. 6th Trump-incited riot at the U.S Capitol building.  Some media outlets are reporting the death of Howard Liebengood, 51-years-old, as an "off-duty" death.  The local Fox affiliate, "Fox 5" TV station, is among those reporting Liebengood's death as a suicide connected to the riot.

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Tyler Perry and the MPTF to Receive the "Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award" from the Academy Awards

THE ACADEMY TO HONOR TYLER PERRY AND THE MOTION PICTURE & TELEVISION FUND WITH JEAN HERSHOLT HUMANITARIAN AWARDS

The Academy announced that its Board of Governors voted to present Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Awards to filmmaker Tyler Perry and to the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF).  The Oscar® statuettes will be presented at the 93rd Oscars®, which airs live on ABC and broadcast outlets worldwide on Sunday, April 25, 2021.

“There has been such widespread generosity in our industry that limiting the Hersholt Humanitarian Award to one recipient, this year in particular, was impossible. So, we are breaking with tradition and giving two awards to honor that spirit,” said Academy President David Rubin.  “Tyler’s cultural influence extends far beyond his work as a filmmaker.  He has quietly and steadily focused on humanitarian and social justice causes from the beginning of his career, caring for people who are most often ignored. The work of the MPTF is more vital than ever, and the organization has gone above and beyond to help our community.  The sheer number of individuals and families—from every corner of our industry’s workforce—aided during the pandemic and over the last 100 years is nothing short of extraordinary.”

Perry is a prolific producer, director, actor, writer, entrepreneur and philanthropist, whose commitment to a wide spectrum of charitable and social justice causes has been particularly impactful during the challenges of the past year, addressing economic distress caused by the pandemic, racial reckoning and homelessness in his community.  In 2019, he opened his privately owned motion picture studio on the site of a former Confederate Army base in Atlanta, Georgia.  Tyler Perry Studios now occupies more than 330 acres and is home to a state-of-the-art production facility with 12 soundstages that provides hundreds of job opportunities in film and television production in the local area. Perry was instrumental in quickly creating a safe way to return to production during the worldwide health crisis.  His credits as writer, director and/or producer include “A Fall from Grace,” “Acrimony,” “Madea Goes to Jail,” “Madea’s Family Reunion” and “Diary of a Mad Black Woman.”  His television credits include such series as “Sistas,” “The Haves and the Have Nots,” “The Oval” and “House of Payne,” and he has written numerous stage plays.

Now in its 100th year, the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) offers a variety of services to provide emotional and financial relief to entertainment industry members and their families during times of need, including case management, financial assistance for basic living expenses, palliative care, and senior and childcare services.  The organization’s contribution during the pandemic has made a significant impact on the entertainment community, providing social services support to nearly 9,000 industry members in 2020.  MPTF also offers a wide range of housing accommodations from independent and assisted living to nursing and memory care.  Jean Hersholt, for whom the Academy’s humanitarian award is named, served as president of the Fund for 18 years, from 1938 until his death in 1956.

The Board of Governors voted to amend the rules for the Governors Awards: “For this year only, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award may be given not just to an individual, but also to a group of individuals or an organization in the motion picture arts and sciences whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry.  The Board may bestow up to two Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Awards.”

The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award is an Oscar statuette.  This is the first time an organization will be recognized with this award.

The awards will be presented during the Oscars in lieu of the Academy’s Governors Awards, an annual ceremony in the fall, where the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award is customarily presented.

The 93rd Oscars will be held on Sunday, April 25, 2021, and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

# # #


ABOUT THE ACADEMY
:
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a global community of more than 10,000 of the most accomplished artists, filmmakers and executives working in film. In addition to celebrating and recognizing excellence in filmmaking through the Oscars, the Academy supports a wide range of initiatives to promote the art and science of the movies, including public programming, educational outreach and the upcoming Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.


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Review: "Halloween" 2018 is a Crazy Film

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 2 of 2021 (No. 1740) by Leroy Douresseaux

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

Halloween (2018)
Running time:  106 minutes (1 hour 46 minutes)
MPAA – R for horror violence and bloody images, language, brief drug use and nudity
DIRECTOR:  David Gordon Green
WRITERS:  David Gordon Green, Danny McBride, and Jeff Fradley (based on the characters created by John Carpenter and Debra Hill
PRODUCERS:  Malek Akkad, Bill Block, and Jason Blum
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Michael Simmonds
EDITOR:  Timothy Alverson
COMPOSERS:  Cody Carpenter, John Carpenter, and Daniel A. Davies

HORROR

Starring:  Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, James Jude Courtney, Nick Castle, Haluk Bilginer, Will Patton, Rhian Rees, Jefferson Hall, Toby Huss, Virginia Gardner, Dylan Arnold, Miles Robbins, Drew Scheid, Jibrail Nantambu, and Omar Dorsey

Halloween is a 2018 slasher-horror film from director David Gordon Green.  It is the eleventh installment in the Halloween film series and is a direct sequel to Halloween, the 1978 film that was the first in the series.  Halloween 2018 follows a post-traumatic woman as she plots the final showdown with the masked killer who has haunted her ever since he killed her friends and almost killed her forty years ago on Halloween night.

Halloween opens on October 29, 2018.  Michael Myers (Nick Castle) has been institutionalized at Smith's Grove Psychiatric Hospital for 40 years following his killing spree in Haddonfield on October 31, 1978.  Myers is being prepared for transfer to a maximum security prison, but the following day, as he is being transferred, Michael manages to escape and returns to Haddonfield.

In Haddonfield, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) is still living in fear of Michael Myers 40 years later.  She is drinking heavily and rarely leaves her fortified house deep in the woods.  Laurie is estranged from her adult daughter, Karen Nelson (Judy Greer), whom the state took away from Laurie when Karen was 12.  Karen's husband, Ray Nelson (Toby Huss), does not want Laurie around, but their daughter, Allyson (Andi Matichak), does keep in touch with her grandmother, Laurie.

When Laurie discovers that Michael has escape, she springs into action.  Deputy Frank Hawkins (Will Patton), who arrested Michael in 1978, seems to be the only other person who truly understands how dangerous Michael Myers is.  As they try to convince Laurie's family and the rest of Haddonfield that Michael (James Jude Courtney) is back, Laurie prepares for her final confrontation with Michael.

Halloween 2018 is called a “direct sequel” to the 1978 original, although I think the 2018 film is a hybrid that is a combination sequel, remake, reboot, and re-imagining of various elements of the Halloween film franchise.  If anything Halloween 2018 is inspired by Halloween 1978 and by the fables and culture surrounding it.

That would explain why Halloween 2018 seems incomplete in many ways.  Initially, the film presents Michael Myers as a man.  When he dons the mask, Michael becomes “The Shape,” which was how the original film's screenplay referred to him.  Ultimately, however, Myers is a slasher film villain and when he starts dispatching the denizens of Haddonfield, he becomes what he must be – a killing machine.  He kills so many other characters in this film that it just becomes pointless.  Apparently, Myers really wants to kill Laurie Strode, but while he strolls on over to his inevitable showdown with her, he must think why not kill a person or two … or three … or four.

What is this movie about, really?  I will freely admit that it is one of the most intensely scary movies that I have seen in recent years.  So is it about the post-traumatic woman that Laurie Strode is?  Is it about the multi-generational affects of violence?  Is it about Laurie vs. Michael, and if it is, why is Laurie vs. Michael a thing?  After all, Halloween 2018 “retcons” out the fact that Laurie Strode and Michael Myers are siblings, as movie audiences learned in 1981's underrated Halloween II.

The problem is that the original Halloween was a film that director John Carpenter wanted to make, while Halloween 2018 is something birthed by Halloween the cash cow film franchise.  Although, Halloween 2018 is very well directed by David Gordon Green, it is not cinematic art; it is simply film as entertainment product.

Halloween 2018 sells a familiar product to audiences, and this product is a scary movie that is supposed to deliver scares, which, once again, I will admit that it does indeed deliver.  The writers and director really deliver the horror movie wheelhouse tropes, but do so with the cost being truncated character drama and story development.  This film has some quality actors, led by Jamie Lee Curtis, and some quality acting, for instance Haluk Bilginer as Dr. Ranbir Sartain (an underutilized character).  But the actors' efforts with these characters feels abbreviated … because the film has to focus on Michael killing lots of characters in the most gruesome fashion.  Only child actor, Jibrail Nantambu, as the babysat kid, Julian Morrisey, makes the most of his character, and that is because his character has too little screen time to infer with Michael's killing spree.

However, I must state that if you, dear readers, want to be scared, Halloween 2018 will scare you.  It is a genuinely chilling, creepy, and scary film.  But I also want to make sure that I emphasize that the true “direct sequel” to Halloween 1978 is 1981's Halloween II.  Halloween 2018 was meant to be and is an effective cash cow, and if it were more that that, I would give it an even higher grade.

B+
7 of 10

Tuesday, December 1, 2020


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint syndication rights and fees.

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Nat Geo Premieres "North Korea: Inside the Mind of a Dictator"

National Geographic Announces New Two-hour Inside Access Special NORTH KOREA: INSIDE THE MIND OF A DICTATOR

INSIDE ACCESS SERIES CONTINUES TO EXAMINE THE TURBULENT RULE AND COMPLEX PSYCHOLOGY OF KIM JONG UN IN A TWO-HOUR SPECIAL

Special Features First-Hand Exclusive Interviews With Kim Jong Un’s Former Childhood Classmates and One of the Women Tricked Into Killing his Half Brother, Who Speaks on Television for the First Time to Shed New Light on the Multifaceted Supreme Leader

From 72 Films, NORTH KOREA: INSIDE THE MIND OF A DICTATOR Premieres on National Geographic on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021 at 8/7c

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kim Jong Un has a decision to make: maintain his brutal family legacy or become a legitimate leader, a dilemma that could ultimately destroy the Kim dynasty. As North Korea faces a critical crossroads, NORTH KOREA: INSIDE THE MIND OF A DICTATOR chronicles the life and reign of Kim Jong Un as the young and unpredictable leader attempts to turn around his nation’s fortunes. NORTH KOREA: INSIDE THE MIND OF A DICTATOR premieres Monday, Jan. 18, 2021 at 8/7c on National Geographic in the U.S. before rolling out globally in 172 countries and 43 languages.

From 72 Films (“Inside North Korea’s Dynasty,” “Elizabeth I’s Secret Agents,” “Trump: An American Dream”) NORTH KOREA: INSIDE THE MIND OF A DICTATOR features never-before-seen interviews that shed new light on the duality of Kim Jong Un, both his capacity for ruthlessness and a softer side nostalgic for his youth. For the first time on television, one of the assassins of Kim Jong Un’s half-brother, Siti Aisyah, tells her extraordinary full story. Also, in a world exclusive, João Micaelo, Kim’s former childhood classmate, speaks publicly, for the first time, about visiting Kim in North Korea. NORTH KOREA: INSIDE THE MIND OF A DICTATOR also tracks the game-changing rise of Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jung, to his right-hand woman and voice of the regime, maintaining order using fear and violence while her brother reinvents himself as a modern leader.

First-hand testimonies, intimate archival footage and rare interviews paint an in-depth portrait of a fractured country. Key moments that give a fresh perspective on the notorious dictator and his family’s dynasty also include the following:

•     a rare interview with Kim Dong Chul, the longest-held American in North Korea, who was imprisoned for spying for the CIA;
•     the story of Kim Jong Un’s aunt and uncle who cared for him as a teenager before escaping to the United States;
•     Ambassador John Bolton’s critiques of Trump’s negotiations with North Korea at the summit in Hanoi, insight on the breakdown in peace talks and Kim’s subsequent wrath;
•     and an interview with Lee Young Guk, a bodyguard to Kim Jong Un’s father, Kim Jong Il, who spent significant time with Kim Jong Un as a child.

To understand Kim Jong Un’s leadership decisions over the past three years, including his encounters with President Donald Trump and his plans for the “hermit kingdom,” experts, journalists and government officials unravel the inner workings of Kim’s mind and his tumultuous past as he works to determine his legacy. The two-hour special delves into the complex family dynamics of the Kim dynasty at the heart of North Korea’s history and operations and offers key insight on his school days in Europe, the failed Hanoi summit and North Korea’s growing arsenal of nuclear weapons.

The special also takes a deep dive into the psychology and history of the elusive Supreme Leader in order to better understand his all-encompassing dynastic power and struggle to keep a grip on control while navigating an uncertain future. From his isolated childhood to the fleeting freedom he experienced in his teenage years to his attempts at diplomacy under the pressure of crippling sanctions, the series pulls back the curtain on a dictator torn between the old ways he grew up with and the encroaching modern world.

NORTH KOREA: INSIDE THE MIND OF A DICTATOR takes viewers on a journey through Kim Jong Un’s past and present to understand the man and the myth who holds North Korea’s uncertain future in his hands.

For more information, visit www.natgeotvpressroom.com.

About National Geographic Partners:
National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between the National Geographic Society and Disney, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic’s media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children’s media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 132 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers … and reaching millions of people around the world in 172 countries and 43 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

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BOOM! Studios Shipping from Diamond Distributors for January 20, 2021

BOOM! STUDIOS

NOV200879    ABBOTT 1973 #1 (OF 5) CVR A MAIN    $3.99
NOV200880    ABBOTT 1973 #1 (OF 5) CVR B ALLEN    $3.99
NOV200920    EXPANSE #2 (OF 4) CVR A MAIN    $4.99
NOV200921    EXPANSE #2 (OF 4) CVR B WALKER    $4.99
SEP200969    GUNNERKRIGG COURT HC VOL 08 CATALYSIS    $26.99
OCT209240    ONCE & FUTURE #10 2ND PTG    $3.99
NOV200943    ONCE & FUTURE #15 10 COPY MORA INCV    $3.99
NOV200944    ONCE & FUTURE #15 25 COPY BERGARA INCV    $3.99
NOV200942    ONCE & FUTURE #15 CVR A MAIN    $3.99
NOV200905    POWER RANGERS #3 CVR A SCALERA    $3.99
NOV200906    POWER RANGERS #3 CVR B DI NICUOLO    $3.99
NOV200907    POWER RANGERS #3 CVR C BLACK BLANK SKETCH    $3.99

Dark Horse Comics Shipping from Diamond Distributors for January 20, 2021

DARK HORSE COMICS

NOV200231    BARBALIEN RED PLANET #3 (OF 5) CVR A WALTA    $3.99
NOV200232    BARBALIEN RED PLANET #3 (OF 5) CVR B KOCH    $3.99
NOV208001    CRIMSON FLOWER #1 (OF 4) CVR C FOC VAR THOMPSON    $3.99
NOV200184    CRIMSON FLOWER #1 CVR A LESNIEWSKI    $3.99
NOV200185    CRIMSON FLOWER #1 CVR B WARD    $3.99
SEP200313    DISNEY PRINCESS MAKE WAY FOR FUN TP    $10.99
MAR200278    UMBRELLA ACADEMY PROP FIGURE #1 LUTHER    $29.99
MAR200279    UMBRELLA ACADEMY PROP FIGURE #2 DIEGO    $29.99
MAR200280    UMBRELLA ACADEMY PROP FIGURE #3 ALLISON    $29.99
MAR200281    UMBRELLA ACADEMY PROP FIGURE #4 KLAUS    $29.99
MAR200282    UMBRELLA ACADEMY PROP FIGURE #5    $29.99
MAR200283    UMBRELLA ACADEMY PROP FIGURE #6 BEN    $29.99
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