news via the The Hollywood Reporter

The Box Office Mojo website reported that Hiromasa Yonebayashi and Studio Ghibli’s anime film The Secret World of Arrietty (Karigurashi no Arrietty) earned an estimated US $8,102,000 over the four-day President’s Day holiday weekend in the United States. With the fourth day’s tally included, the film now rises to #8 for the extended weekend.

The film had earned an estimated US $6.4 million under the three-day, Friday-Sunday tally to initially land at #9. Even with just the three-day tally, the film earned the highest opening-weekend box office take of any Ghibli film in the United States.

From ICv2′s ‘Internal Correspondence’ #78

Published: 02/20/2012 04:48am

This chart of the ICv2 “Top 25 Manga Properties” reflects sales in all channels for 2011.  The “Top 25″ chart is based on interviews with retailers, distributors, and manufacturers.

Flower Mound, TX – February 19, 2012 – FUNimation Entertainment announced today at Katsucon that it has acquired the broadcast, home entertainment, mobile, and streaming rights to the anime movie, Sengoku BASARA – Samurai Kings: The Movie.  FUNimation plans to release the movie on home video in the 4^th quarter of 2012.

Movie synopsis:

Flower Mound, TX – February 19, 2012 – FUNimation Entertainment announced today at Katsucon that it has acquired the broadcast, home entertainment, and streaming rights to the complete anime series, Level E.  The series was created by Yoshihiro Togashi, best known for writing and illustrating the Yu Yu Hakusho and Hunter × Hunter series.  Studio Pierrot and David Production co-produced the project directed by Toshiyuki Kato.

Full episodes will begin streaming on www.funimation.com  in March of 2012.

Series synopsis:

HOUSTON, February 20, 2012— Sentai Filmworks is delighted to announce the licensing of K-ON! Season 2, the continuing exploits of the Light Music Club of Sakuragaoka Girl’s High.  The creative staff from K-ON! returns for another 26 episodes plus an OVA of a rocking good time, featuring character designs by Yukiko Horiguchi (Lucky Star) and music by Hajime Hyakkoku (Ichigo 100%).  On top of their proven performance, Sentai Filmworks’ release will feature an electric dub by Bang Zoom! Entertainment.

brought to by our friends at TokyoPop

Lunch just got a whole lot cuter

To paraphrase Justin Timberlake, charabens are “a gift real special / so take off the top / take a look inside / it’s my lunch in a box.” Say hello to the brightly colored, delicious world of charaben (short for “character bento”), a style of elaborately arranged Japanese bento box featuring food that looks like characters from popular anime, manga and more. Finally, you can have your Pokemon and eat them too.

HOUSTON, February16, 2012— Sentai Filmworks cordially invites you to enter a world where magic lives and sorcerers duel for the right to survive in FATE/STAY NIGHT: UNLIMITED BLADE WORKS.  TV series director Yuji Yamaguchi (Strawberry Eggs) returns to helm this theatrical endeavor with screenplay by Takuya Sato (Inu X Boku SS).  Original character designs are by Takashi Takeuchi (Canaan, Garden of Sinners) and music is by veteran Kenji Kawai (Ghost in the Shell, Eden of the East).  Sentai Filmworks’ release will feature an English dub produced by Bang Zoom! Entertainment.

PLANZET Available on May 22nd

HOUSTON, February 14, 2012 – Home video distributor Section23 Films today announced its May slate of releases; including PLANZET, a science fiction tale of invasion, human struggle and survival. PLANZET will be released on both DVD & Blu-Ray by Section23 client, Sentai Filmworks.

Product details follow, in order of release

Coming May 2012

Title:                 PSYCHIC SQUAD COLLECTION 1

Published by:    Sentai Filmworks

Distributed by:  Section23 Films

Run Time:         325 min.

Street Date:      5/1/2012

Format:             DVD

More Than 50 Fun Rhythm Games Challenge Players to Stay in the Groove

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Starting today, video game fans and music lovers across the United States can use the Wii^™ system to keep the beat in dozens of entertaining new ways. The Rhythm Heaven^™ Fever game is now available, inviting players to enjoy a fresh lineup of more than 50 unique rhythm games. Easy to pick up and play but challenging to master, each minigame tasks players to tap buttons on the Wii Remote^™ controller in time to catchy musical themes while completing a variety of quirky tasks. Rhythm Heaven Fever carries a suggested retail price of $29.99 in the United States.

Tickets Available now Available

Tokyo, February 10th, 2012 – Dwango Co. announced that its video-sharing website Nico Nico Douga will be streaming live the concerts “HATSUNE MIKU Live Party 2012” and “HATSUNE MIKU Concert Final 39’s Giving Day” held in Japan on March 8th and 9th. These performances will be held by the worldwide sensation, Hatsune Miku.

This is Pay-Per-View live streaming and it would only be viewable from the account which has paid for the ticket. With bundled online tickets, you will be able to easily watch both of the Miku concerts. Nico Nico Douga and its English website “niconico.com” provide both single day and bundled tickets.

news source ANN

The El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood will be hosting six screenings of Studio Ghibli’s The Secret World of Arrietty anime film in Japanese with no subtitles. When asked for the reason behind the non-English screenings, a representative told ANN that the theatre hoped to serve the local Japanese population, who might find unnecessary subtitles distracting.

The theatre will screen the film’s standard-release English dubbed version between February 17 and March 8. The Japanese-only screenings will run at 10:00 a.m. on February 22, February 29 and March 7; and at 7:00 p.m. on February 19, February 24 and March 4. The theater will also host an exhibit of Studio Ghibli artwork for all attendees.

15 New Shonen Jump Series Now Available For Barnes & Noble’s 7-Inch NOOK^© Devices, Including BAKUMAN?, BLEACH, DEATH NOTE, NARUTO, ONE PIECE And More!

The digital manga convergence continues across North America as VIZ Media, LLC, largest distributor and publisher of anime and manga in North America, announces the launch of 15 additional manga (graphic novel) series for the Barnes & Noble NOOK Tablet and NOOK Color. Beginning today, the company expands its library of digital manga titles offered in the NOOK Store™ to include a variety of popular manga series published under the Shonen Jump and Shonen Jump Advanced imprints.

Sunday March 4, 2012 show caters to “Comic” & “Anime” fans, many of whom will attend dressed as their favorite Comic Book, and Anime characters. Special guests include Richard Steven Horvitz, who played roles in “INVADER ZIM”, “POWER RANGERS”, and “POWER RANGERS ZEO”, Vince Locke, the writer and artist on “DEAD WORLD”, Dan Brereton, the comic book artist on “THE NOCTURNALS”. Along with dozens of talented artists and publishers showcasing their latest work.

Santa Ana, CA (February 7, 2012) – NIS America proudly announced today that Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge Premium Edition, which contains all of season 2, is now shipping to retailers across North America! The second season sports even crazier, more hilarious characters and events under the bridge. Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge Premium Edition will be packaged with 13 episodes on 2 Blu-ray discs and 2 DVDs, along with a hardcover art book in a collectible sturdy slip case. Available at select online retailers: Right Stuf, The Anime Corner Store, Anime Pavilion, Anime Castle, and NIS America’s Online Store.

HOUSTON, February 9, 2012— Sentai Filmworks once again returns to the world of the strangest samurai odd jobs ever with the company’s announcement of their licensing of  GINTAMA – THE MOVIE, the latest installment in the hugely successful GINTAMA animated series based on the GIN TAMA manga series by Hideaki Sorachi.  Following the wise, ancient and possibly Japanese adage of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” the 95 minute feature film reunites most of the key staff of the TV series.  Director, Shinji Takamatsu (SCHOOL RUMBLE) and writer Akatsuki Yamatoya (To LOVE RU, SOUL EATER) handle the story components of the film, while animation director Shinji Takeuchi (SAMURAI CHAMPLOO) once again takes up the task of adapting Sorachi’s original character designs for film.

An Outspoken Outsider With Amazing Singing Talent Tries To Fit In And Still Maintain Her Hard Edge In The Latest Manga Series From VIZ Media’s Shojo Beat Imprint

San Francisco, CA, February 8, 2012 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, debuts the poignant shojo manga (graphic novel) series, A DEVIL AND HER LOVE SONG, now available. The new title, published under the company’s Shojo Beat imprint, is rated ‘T’ for Teens and carries an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

Join Other Players At The Bay Area’s J-Pop Culture Venue To Solve Puzzles And Collect Clues To Escape A Mysterious Village Before Werewolves Attack!

San Francisco, CA, February 6, 2012 – NEW PEOPLE, the dynamic San Francisco entertainment destination showcasing the latest examples of Japanese popular culture, brings the newest Japanese live game sensation to the United states for the first time ever with a special installment of “The Real Escape Game: The Escape From The Werewolf Village,” beginning Friday, March 23^rd thru Sunday March, 25^th.

HOUSTON, February 6, 2012 — Sentai Filmworks is pleased to announce its license of PLANZET, a science fiction tale of invasion and human struggle and survival.  The creation of writer, director and character designer Jun Awazu, the movie is presented by industry innovator CoMix Wave (5CM Per Second, Hoshizora Kiseki) and has been featured at festivals such as the 14^th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival and SIGGRAPH Asia 2010.  CGI is directed by Shin Miyahara (Karas: The Prophecy) and music is by Shingo Terasawa with the main theme being sung by Chitose Hajime (Blood+).

news provided by ANN

Robert’s Anime Corner Store reported in its weekly e-mail newsletter on Friday that Media Blasters has put two forthcoming releases on indefinite hold.

The two titles include Bakuman. (Second Draft) DVD Collection #2, and Ikki Tousen: Great Guardians Complete DVD Boxed Set (containing episodes 1-12). The Bakuman. release was to have included episodes 8-13 on two discs, and had an original release date of February 29. The Ikki Tousen box was originally slated to be released on March 31. No new release dates for the two series have been set.

Santa Ana, CA (February 3, 2012) – NIS America is excited to announce today that the horror comedy Occult Academy Complete Series Premium Edition will be available in North America this May. In Occult Academy, a group of high school students and faculty will tackle spirits, mysterious creatures, ancient prophecies, and even the myth of the Mayan calendar! These odd but intriguing characters will pursue the twists and turns of the world’s greatest mysteries and bring to light hidden stories of untold truths. Occult Academy Complete Series Premium Edition comes packed on 2 Blu-ray discs in NIS’s highly praised collectible packaging, along with a hardcover art book. Preorder at select online retailers: Right Stuf, The Anime Corner Store, Anime Pavilion, Anime Castle, and NIS America’s Online Store.