Live-Action Fullmetal Alchemist Film's 2nd Teaser Shows Ed, Al as Children

Warner Bros. Japan began streaming a second teaser trailer the live-action film of Hiromu Arakawa's Fullmetal Alchemist manga on Friday. The trailer shows young Edward and Alphonse's attempt to bring their mother back to life with alchemy, and then previews action scenes with the brothers as adults.

Live-Action Gintama Film's 1st Teaser Trailer Streamed

The official website for the live-action film of Hideaki Sorachi's Gintama manga began streaming a teaser trailer on Thursday.

Live-Action Gintama Film Posters Reveal Main Cast in Costume

The official Twitter account for the live-action film of Hideaki Sorachi's Gintama manga revealed posters showing the main three cast members in costume on Monday. The posters reveal that the film is slated to open in summer 2017 in Japan.

Shun Oguri as Gintoki Sakata, the protagonist who runs the Yorozuya shop

Masaki Suda as Shinpachi Shimura, who works at Yorozuya

Kanna Hashimoto as Kagura, another Yorozuya employee

Other cast members include:

Fullmetal Alchemist Live Action Trailer

 

The official website for the live-action film of Hiromu Arakawa's Fullmetal Alchemist manga began streaming a teaser video for the film on Wednesday. The video teases iconic scenes from the story, and shows Ryōsuke Yamada in costume as the alchemist Edward Elric, as well as his little brother Al in full CG.

http://wwws.warnerbros.co.jp/hagarenmovie/

Text: The time has come.
Text: Original work: Hiromu Arakawa
Text: Director: Fumihiko Sori (Ping Pong)
Text: Two brothers' great journey.
Text: The legend...
Text: Finally begins.
Title Logo: Fullmetal Alchemist
Edward: I promise I'll get our bodies back.
Text: 2017, winter.

The movie's filming began in Italy in early June, and wrapped up in Japan in the second half of August. The film will open in Japan in winter 2017. Fumihiko Sori (live-action Ping Pong) is directing the film, and it stars Ryōsuke Yamada (Hey! Say! JUMP member and live-action Assassination Classroom's Nagisa) as Edward Elric. 

The film tells the story in one complete film. Edward is being aged up to 20 years old; he was originally 15 in the manga. 

via ANN

Rurouni Kenshin Live-Action Movie Review

Rurouni Kenshin Live-Action Movie Review by Ko Ransom

Synopsis:
Ten years after entering the Meiji period following the restoration of the imperial house, Japan has rapidly gone from a land of war and turmoil to one of burgeoning peace and modernity. One day, Himura Kenshin, a wandering swordsman with a disarming charm and an unusual sword with a reversed blade, comes across Kamiya Kaoru, a young woman who succeeded her father's school of sword fighting. 

However, while growing modernity gives the new age a veneer of order, troubles both new and old plague Japan: Kaoru's school has recently lost its followers after a string of murders by an individual claiming to use techniques from the school, while the industrialist Takeda Kanryū plots to amass arms through profits brought in by a highly-addictive preparation of opium. Kenshin's dark past also continues to follow him, and he is forced to confront it when a chain of events beginning with an assault on Kaoru's dojo suddenly takes place one day.


Review:

Nobuhiro Watsuki's Rurouni Kenshin manga occupies an interesting place in Shonen Jump's history, beginning its run during the magazine's "golden age" of peak circulation, then soon after becoming one of its flagship series during a relatively difficult period after the end of a number of major titles and a subsequent crash in sales. Ending a little over a decade ago, the Kenshin franchise seems to have been judged as just aged enough to revive across a number of mediums, the centerpiece of this revival being a blockbuster action movie backed by Warner Bros. and directed by Keishi Ōtomo, fresh off a successful stint on the samurai TV drama Ryomaden. Nearly everything about the movie, from the staff to its advertising copy ("Blazing a trail into the future of Japanese cinema," boasts one line), indicates that it is meant to be a blockbuster, and for the most part, it succeeds in this goal. The film's crew and cast have turned out a polished and entertaining action movie while staying reasonably faithful to Watsuki's manga.

We see these blockbuster intentions from the first moments of the film, as it opens by throwing viewers into a chaotic, crowded battle set on the eve of the Meiji Restoration. Though the scene is mostly a prelude to the rest of the film, it does immediately establish its overall big-budget yet refreshingly CG-light feel. Fight scenes are a major part of the film, which features alternating drama-based and fight-scenes throughout a good part of its hefty over two-hour runtime. The fluid, exciting fights are put together by action director Kenji Tanigaki, the only Japanese member of the Hong Kong Stuntmen Association, making good use of the various weapons and techniques used by the film's characters. However, what may be the film's attempt at a blockbuster action style, with the occasional overly rapid cuts and mobile, unsteady camera, do serve to distract your attention more than anything else. Additionally, perhaps due to Tanigaki's background getting the best of him, the film does feature a few awkward moments of wire work, with characters making exaggerated, unnatural, and quite honestly silly-looking leaps that, while they may work in anime or manga, jolt the viewer out of whatever enjoyment they were getting from the scene up to that point. Though the film's visual style outside of these fight scenes is for the most part unremarkable, it does feature a number of scenes shot in memorable locations, including lush forests and preserved towns in rural Japan.

Kenshin's narrative structure blends together different arcs and enemies of the original in a fairly seamless way, though the abundance of well-known characters as enemies does lead to a bit of a game-like midboss-final boss-true final boss layout toward the movie's conclusion. While the film's unifying theme of how people react to rapidly encroaching modernity is by no means a novel one to the world of samurai or western films, Kenshin's atonement-seeking character, physically manifested in the reverse-blade sword he carries, makes for a good romantic hero. Unfortunately, the large size of the film's cast of characters means that while many characters and their motivations are introduced, most of them are off the screen before the movie gets a chance to flesh out their personalities. The romantic triangle briefly set up between Kenshin, Kaoru, and Megumi is similarly thin, mostly acting to set up plot points later in the film, while the film's attempt at dramatic moments fall quite short of emotionally touching, though in an inoffensive way that is typical of blockbusters. The soundtrack has a similarly blockbuster-like feel, making heavy use of chorus and strings for a primarily orchestral, vaguely world music score, though pieces using traditional Japanese instruments do make the occasional appearance, generally in lighter-hearted scenes. As for the film's pop-punk theme song that jars the audience back to reality as it plays over the ending credits, it could be charitably described as "out of place."

Despite some issues with weak characterization, the movie's cast is another one of its high points, bringing the original's characters to life in a faithful but convincing way. This applies to everyone from the top of the cast, such as Takeru Sato's endearing and boyishly handsome Kenshin, sporting the character's trademark scar and red hair in a noticeable but not ridiculous way, Emi Takei's spunky-yet-tough Kaoru, and Teruyuki Kagawa's evil and utterly annoying Kanryu Takeda, to its fun to watch supporting members, such as Munetaka Aoki's Sanosuke, with his brash, tough-guy attitude, to the multi-talented, inimitable Genki Sudo's devoutly Christian Inui Banjin. Of course, not everything comes through perfectly in adaptation—Kenshin's trademark "de gozaru"s when speaking take a bit of getting used to, while hearing Sato repeatedly say "oro" can start to feel downright embarrassing.

Rurouni Kenshin sets out to be an accessible, crowd-pleasing hit for the end of summer, and it certainly has managed to do that. Its action scenes are fun but not too intense, its characters are appealing, and it presents a very polished product overall. While it won't let down most fans looking for a recreation of their beloved characters and scenes, it still works as a standalone movie, though it does do plenty to set up a likely sequel. While it's hard to believe that Kenshin will be the trailblazer its advertising makes it out to be, it's certainly a good way to spend a hot summer afternoon.












Source: ANN

Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Previewed in Behind the Scenes Video

The official YouTube channel for the live-action Rurouni Kenshin film began streaming the "'Kenshin' ni Nikutai ga Yadotta Hi ~Eiga Kantoku Ōtomo Keishi no Sekai~" (The Day "Kenshin" Was Given a Body: The World of Film Director Keishi Ōtomo) video on Tuesday. The video profiles Ōtomo's work through behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the cast and crew.

Not only did Ōtomo direct Takeru Satoh (Kamen Rider Den-O, Rookies, Beck) in the film's titular role, but the two also worked together in another live-action historical period piece, Ryōmaden.

Emi Takei (Kyō, Koi o Hajimemasu, For Love's Sake/Ai to Makoto) plays the heroine Kaoru Kamiya. Keishi Ōtomo is directing this period drama film after working with Satoh on Ryōmaden. Yuu Aoi (Hana and Alice, Honey and Clover) plays Megumi Takani, Munetaka Aoki (The Last Message Umizaru, live-action The Girl Who Leapt Through Time) plays Sanosuke Sagara, and Taketo Tanaka plays Yahiko Myōjin. Hajime Saitō (Shonan Bakusozoku and Tokyo Love Story's Yosuke Eguchi), Kouji Kikkawa (Let's Dance With Papa) as Jine Udō, and Teruyuki Kagawa (From Up On Poppy Hill, 20th Century Boys) as Kanryū Takeda round out the cast.

Sources: ANN, Rurouni Kenshin Movie Channel

Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin's Behind-the-Scenes Video

Takeru Satoh shows off his moves as title samurai in August 25 film

---

Almost five minutes of behind-the-scenes footage from the live-action film adaptation of Nobuhiro Watsuki's Rurouni Kenshin manga ran on Japanese television. The video features 22-year-old actor Takeru Satoh (Kamen Rider Den-O, Rookies, Beck, Ryōmaden) practicing his moves as the titular samurai. 17-year-old actress Emi Takei also appears the heroine Kaoru Kamiya.

Yuu Aoi (Hana and Alice, Honey and Clover) plays Megumi Takani, Munetaka Aoki (The Last Message Umizaru, live-action The Girl Who Leapt Through Time) plays Sanosuke Sagara, and Taketo Tanaka plays Yahiko Myōjin. Kouji Kikkawa (Let's Dance With Papa) as Jine Udō, Yosuke Eguchi (Shonan Bakusozoku, Tokyo Love Story) as Hajime Saitō, and Teruyuki Kagawa (From Up On Poppy Hill, 20th Century Boys) as Kanryū Takeda round out the cast.

The film will open in Japan on August 25.

Source: Comic Book Movie 

Originally posted by ANN

Live-Action Movie Rurouni Kenshin (Samurai X) 2nd Teaser

Takeru Satoh stars as title samurai in Keishi Ōtomo, Warner's August 25 film

---

The Japanese website Cinema Today began streaming the second teaser trailer for the live-action film adaptation of Nobuhiro Watsuki's Rurouni Kenshin manga on Tuesday. 

The same footage was previewed on the ZIP! morning television program last Wednesday. According to one of the ZIP! hosts and Cinema Today, production on four versions of this newest trailer with English, Chinese, French, and Spanish subtitles has been approved. 



The same footage was previewed on the ZIP! morning television program last Wednesday. According to one of the ZIP! hosts and Cinema Today, production on four versions of this newest trailer with English, Chinese, French, and Spanish subtitles has been approved.
Keishi Ōtomo is directing this samurai film with 22-year-old actor Takeru Satoh (Kamen Rider Den-O, Rookies, Beck, Ryōmaden) as the titular character. 17-year-old actress Emi Takei plays the heroine Kaoru Kamiya. Yuu Aoi (Hana and Alice, Honey and Clover) plays Megumi Takani, Munetaka Aoki (The Last Message Umizaru, live-action The Girl Who Leapt Through Time) plays Sanosuke Sagara, and Taketo Tanaka plays Yahiko Myōjin. Kouji Kikkawa (Let's Dance With Papa) as Jine Udō, Yosuke Eguchi (Shonan Bakusozoku, Tokyo Love Story) as Hajime Saitō, and Teruyuki Kagawa (From Up On Poppy Hill, 20th Century Boys) as Kanryū Takeda round out the cast.
The film will open in Japan on August 25. Warner Brothers Japan streamed a previous teaser trailer for the film last December. That earlier teaser received hits from 136 different countries on the film's official site.












Source: cinematoday via ANN

Poster for “Rurouni Kenshin” Live-Action Movie Revealed

The poster for the live-action film, “Rurouni Kenshin“, has finally been revealed!

The black-and-white photo was taken by Kurigami Kazumi, a renowned photographer who has won many awards. It was taken to convey the ‘hidden madness’ of the protagonist ‘Kenshin’, a former assassin who vows not to kill anyone after experiencing a personal trauma.

“Rurouni Kenshin” will open in theaters on August 25th. It stars a gorgeous line-up of actors and actresses including Sato Takeru, Takei Emi, Aoi Yu, and Kikkawa Koji.

Additionally, the new series of “Rurouni Kenshin -Meiji Kenyaku Romantan-” will start its serialization in the June issue of manga magazine, “Jump Square“.

Source & Image: natalie via tokyohive

More Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Film Photos Posted

On-set photos show Kenshin, Jin'e in pivotal face-off from August 25 film

---

The Eiga.com and Oricon websites posted four more photographs from the live-action film adaptation of Nobuhiro Watsuki's Rurouni Kenshin samurai manga on Wednesday. 

Eiga.com's photograph shows musician/actor Kouji Kikkawa (Let's Dance With Papa) as Jin'e Udō, a vagrant hitokiri (manslayer) with an impulsive thirst for blood. Oricon's three photographs (right and below) show Takeru Satoh (Kamen Rider Den-O, Rookies, Beck, Ryōmaden) as the title character Kenshin Himura in a pivotal face-off scene with Jin'e Udō. The scene was filmed on location at the Anraku-Ritsu Temple in Otsu City in Shiga Prefecture.

The photographs can be seen in higher resolution on the two websites.

Keishi Ōtomo is directing this samurai film with actress Emi Takei playing the heroine Kaoru Kamiya. Yuu Aoi (Hana and Alice, Honey and Clover) plays Megumi Takani, Munetaka Aoki (The Last Message Umizaru, live-action The Girl Who Leapt Through Time) plays Sanosuke Sagara, and Taketo Tanaka plays Yahiko Myōjin. Yosuke Eguchi (Shonan Bakusozoku, Tokyo Love Story) as Hajime Saitō, and Teruyuki Kagawa (From Up On Poppy Hill, 20th Century Boys) as Kanryū Takeda round out the cast.

The film will open in Japan on August 25, 2012.

Source: ANN

More Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Film Images Released

The staff for the live-action Rurouni Kenshin film released more images from the film on Friday. The film stars Takeru Satoh as Kenshin Himura and Emi Takei as Kaoru Kamiya. The film will open throughout Japan on August 25.

Sources: Eiga.com, Oricon, MSN Entertainment via ANN

Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Film Image Published

The January 2012 issue of Jump Square magazine is publishing an image of actor Takeru Satoh as the title character in the live-action Rurouni Kenshin film on Saturday. 

The film will open throughout Japan on August 25 2012. 

Source : Manga News via ANN

Live-Action Ranma 1/2 TV Special's 1st Ad Aired

30-second ad for December 9 special based on Rumiko Takhahashi's manga

---

The 30-second version of the first television commercial for the live-action Ranma ½ television special began airing in Japan.



The special will air during NTV's 7:00 p.m. Friday Super Prime timeslot on December 9. The original manga ran in Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine from 1987 to 1996, and Shogakukan printed 53 million copies of the compiled book volumes.

















[Source : Hachima Kikō Via ANN]

More Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Castmembers Announced

Three new castmembers for the 2012 live-action adaptation of Nobuhiro Watsuki's Rurouni Kenshin Samurai manga were announced on Tuesday. Keishi Ōtomo is directing the samurai film starring 22-year-old actor Takeru Sato (Kamen Rider Den-O, Rookies, Beck, Ryōmaden) as the titular character.

Takeru Sato as "Kenshin Himura"

The new cast members are:

• Yosuke Eguchi (Shonan Bakusozoku, Tokyo Love Story) will be “Saito Hajime” who is a rival of Kenshin. This character is based on the real-life personage who was the captain of the third unit of the Shinsengumi, and he is written as a dark hero in the manga. Eguchi commented, “I hope that the audience would be able to feel some kind of roots of Japanese through ‘Rurouni Kenshin’.” This will be the first time for Eguchi to work with the director, Otomo Keishi.

Yosuke Eguchi as "Hajime Saitō"

• A musician and actor, Kikkawa Koji  (Let's Dance With Papa, Kamen Rider W) will be playing “Udo Jin-e” who has a strong desire for killing people. He has his own aesthetic on killing, and is willing to do anything to achieve his end.

Kikkawa Koji as “Udo Jin-e"

• Lastly, Kagawa Teruyuki (From Up on Poppy Hill, 20th Century Boys) will be “Takeda Kanryu” who is a cold-blooded industrialist. One of the most memorable scenes of this character would be where Takeda shoots the Gadling gun at his mansion, and it will be shown in the movie.

Kagawa Teruyuki as “Takeda Kanryu”

The 17-year-old actress Emi Takei will play the heroine Kaoru Kamiya in next year's film. 

Emi Takei as "Kaoru Kamiya"

In August, the The October issue of Shueisha's Jump Square magazine announced Yuu Aoi (Hana and Alice, Honey and Clover) as Megumi Takani, Munetaka Aoki (The Last Message Umizaru, live-actionThe Girl Who Leapt Through Time) as Sanosuke Sagara, and Taketo Tanaka as Yahiko Myōjin. The film's staff held an open casting call for volunteer extras in the film last July.

Yuu Aoi as "Megumi Takani"

Munetaka Aoki as "Sanosuke Sagara"

Taketo Tanaka as "Yahiko Myōjin"

The Sankei Sports newspaper reported that the staff aims to release the film internationally and eventually make a series. This will be the first live-action adaptation of the manga. Warner Brothers Pictures Japan is producing the film with its president William Ireton, and shooting began in July. Studio Swan (Paradise Kiss) is in charge of the actual film production. Hisashi Sasaki, deputy director ofShueisha's Shonen Manga group, posted four photographs from the set of the film in August.

Watsuki's original 1994-1999 manga ran in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine and the resulting 28 compiled books volumes have 50 million copies in print. The manga inspired a television anime series that is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. Viz Media published the manga in North America, and Media Blasters'AnimeWorks label released the television anime.

ADV Films released two later original video anime projects and a film on DVD, and Aniplex is releasing these three titles on Blu-ray Disc this year. in April, Shueisha announced that a new Rurouni Kenshin anime project has been green-lit.

Live-action movie “Rurouni Kenshin” is scheduled to be released in summer 2012!

Source:  ANN & tokyohive

Ranma 1/2 Manga Gets Live-Action Special

A live-action television adaptation of Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma ½ martial arts comedy manga will air this December as a two-hour special on Japan's NTV network.

Yui Aragaki (Digimon: Data Squad, Koizora) will play Akane Tendō, and Kento Kaku (Paradise Kiss, Gokusen) and Natsuna (Gantz) will play the dual male/female sides of the title character Ranma Saotome.

Viz published the manga in North America, and it also released the television anime series adaptation and the various anime spinoffs.

 On Tuesday, the Mainichi Shimbun paper's Mantan Web and Oricon sites provided more information about the upcoming live-action television special based on Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma 1/2 martial arts comedy manga. As a revival of the manga, the special tells an original story centering around Akane Tendō (played by Yui Aragaki). Kenta Kaku and Natsuna play the dual male/female roles of the title character.

As the third daughter of the Tendō family, Akane is determined to protect the family's legacy, its dōjō. However, her father Soun suddenly and arbitrarily announced one day that "only men can be heirs." Unfortunately, this puts Ranma in a bind, since he turns female when splashed with cold water. To return himself to a "full man," Ranma searches for the "secret hot spring" and gets caught up in a battle with a mysterious enemy. Now Akane holds the key to the story.

Kyōko Hasegawa (Angel Bank: Dragon Zakura Gaiden, Dragon Zakura) plays the oldest Tendō sister, Kasumi. Tōfū Ono, the man who has a crush on Kasumi even as Akane has a crush on him, is played by Shosuke Tanihara (Gekijōban Pocket Monster Best Wishes! Victini to Kuroki Eiyū Zekrom/Victini to Shiroki Eiyū Reshiram, The Sky Crawlers, Vexille - 2077 Isolation of Japan). Genma — Ranma's father who transforms into a panda when splashed with cold water — appears in the form of actor Arata Furuta (20th Century Boys, Ping Pong, Air Doll). Katsuhisa Namase plays Akane and Kasumi's father Soun Tendō.

Yoshihiro Izumi scripted this first live-action version of the manga after having written the live-action television and film versions of the Rookies baseball manga. Takahashi herself said that she was surprised at first when she heard about the live-action adaptation — but with the interesting story scenario and all-star lineup, she added that she now thinks it is very amusing.

The special will air during NTV's 7:00 p.m. Friday Super Prime timeslot in December. The original manga ran in Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine from 1987 to 1996, and Shogakukan printed 53 million copies of the compiled book volumes.

Via ANN & Yaraon!

Live-Action Higanjima Horror Film's English Trailer Posted

Funimation to ship Kōji Matsumoto's manga-based film in BD/DVD combo in October

---

The North American distributor Funimation began streaming a 75-second trailer for Tae-Gyun Kim's live-action film adaptation of Kōji Matsumoto's Higanjima supernatural horror manga on Thursday.

The manga is named after a fictional island where the brother (Dai Watanabe) of the main character Akira Miyamoto (Hideo Ishiguro) went missing two years ago. Miyamoto leads a search party of friends to the island and discovers that there are vampires and other creatures lurking on it.

Tetsuya Oishi, the screenwriter for the live-action Death Note films, scripted this film for Kim, who directed Volcano High. The film opened in Japan last year, after premiering at the Pusan International Film Festival in 2009.

Funimation will release the film in a Blu-ray Disc/DVD combo set on October 4. Manga Entertainment released the film in the United Kingdom last year.

Source : ANN

"Akira" Live Action Movie Status Update!

Producers hope to start filming later this year or next year...


AKIRA
STATUS: Late 2011
PRODUCER: Andrew Lazar - Jon Jashni - Leonardo DiCaprio - Jennifer Davisson Killoran
DIRECTOR: Jaume Collet-Serra
LP: Ralph Winter 
WRITER: Albert Torres - Steve Kloves

1019 ENTERTAINMENT
MAD CHANCE
APPIAN WAY
LEGENDARY PICTURES
WARNER BROS. PICTURES

When a young man's telekinesis is discovered by the military, he is taken in to be turned into a super-weapon and his brother nuts race to save him before Manhattan is destroyed by his powers. Kaneda is a bar owner in Neo-Manhattan who is stunned when his brother, Tetsuo, is abducted by government agents led by The Colonel. Desperate to get his brother back, Kaneda agrees to join with Ky Reed and her underground movement who are intent on revealing to the world what truly happened to New York City thirty years ago when it was destroyed. Kaneda believes their theories to be ludicrous but after finding his brother again, is shocked when he displays telekinetic powers. Ky believes Tetsuo is headed to release a young boy, Akira, who has taken control of Tetsuo's mind. Kaneda clashes with the Colonel's troops on his way to stop Tetsuo from releasing Akira but arrives too late. Akira soon emerges from his prison courtesy of Tetsuo as Kaneda races in to save his brother bfore Akira once again destroys Manhattan island, as he did thirty years ago. Live action adaptation of anime artist Katsuhiro Otomo’s 6-volume graphic novel Akira.



Source: Twitlonger

Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Film's Set Photos Posted

Kamiya Dojo, Kenshin's Sakaba-sword & Sanosuke's Zanba-sword, creator photographed on set

---

Hisashi Sasaki, deputy directorof Shueisha's Shonen Manga group, posted four photographs from the set of the live-action Rurouni Kenshin film on Wednesday. He posted photographs of the Kamiya Dojo (outsideand inside), Kenshin's Sakaba-sword and Sanosuke's Zanba-sword on the set, andRurouni Kenshin manga creator Nobuhiro Watsuki himself watching the set.

The film will open in Japan next year. 

Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Movie Adds Yuu Aoi, Munetaka Aoki

Also: Taketo Tanaka (Yahiko Myōjin) joins Takeru Satoh (Kenshin), Emi Takei (Kaoru)

---

This year's 39th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine is announcing on Monday that Yuu Aoi (pictured right), Munetaka Aoki (pictured below), and Taketo Tanaka have joined next year's live-action film adaptation of Nobuhiro Watsuki's Rurouni Kenshin samurai manga. Aoi (Hana and Alice, Honey and Clover) will play Megumi Takani, while Aoki (The Last Message Umizaru, live-action The Girl Who Leapt Through Time) will play Sanosuke Sagara. 11-year-old Tanaka will take on the role of Yahiko Myōjin.

22-year-old actor Takeru Sato (Kamen Rider Den-O, Rookies, Beck, Ryōmaden) has already been cast as the title samurai himself, and 17-year-old actress Emi Takei will play the heroine Kaoru Kamiya. Keishi Ōtomo will direct Satoh, Aoi, and Aoki on this new film, just as he did in last year's NHK historical television series Ryōmaden. Warner Brothers Pictures Japan is producing the film, and filming began last month.

[Via ANN & Manga News]

Hollywood Shows Interest in re-making “Nintama” Live Action Movie?

It’s been reported that the film “Nintama Rantaro“, which starred child actor Kato Seishiro, is in talks of receiving a Hollywood remake!

Written by Amako Soubee, the original manga was first serialized 25 years ago and it’s been 18 years since NHK started its broadcast of the anime series. The recent live-action film adaptation has been receiving screening offers from 70 countries all over the world. Hollywood has also been showing interest in re-making the movie, and negotiations are currently underway.

Hearing this piece of news, Kato showed his anticipation by saying, “To have Japan’s Nintama become the world’s Nintama — it’s like a dream!”

The film was presented at the New York Asian Film Festival, which was held from July 1st to the 14th. A report on “Nintama Rantaro” was published on a variety magazine by a Wall Street journalist, which drew interest from Hollywood. The movie was released on August 23rd, and officials have been receiving nonstop inquiries from other countries.

Regarding the possibilities of the Hollywood remake, director Miike commented, “It came, just as I thought. The charm of ‘Hagumi’ is that it lies with the world’s standards. If possible, I want them to leave the poop jokes.”

Source: tokyohive, Oricon