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Manga Announces Black Jack and Appleseed on DVD
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Manga Entertainment has sent out two press releases for April DVD releases. The first is Black Jack, the first feature film by Tezuka Productions and the second is for Masamune Shirow's Appleseed.
Excerpts from Press Release:
BLACK JACK
As the first Internationally acclaimed manga comic book and Japanese animation artist, Osamu Tezuka deserves his title as Japan's 'God of Comics.' Tezuka first serialized Astro Boy in newspapers and print in 1963. His beloved creation later became Japan's first animated TV series, and was the first works of Japanese animation to break international boundaries by appearing on North American Television. Now, 50 years later, another famous Tezuka creation appears in his first animated theatrical film Black Jack.
Black Jack triggered the comic paperback boom, which currently rules Japan's publishing world. The paperback versions of Black Jack are amazing
bestsellers. Ten million copies are now in print and the aggregate number of copies published to date is over 35 million. The Black Jack phenomenon first achieved popularity among fans that read the strip as a magazine insert. Later, teenagers and female office clerks who were wild about psycho-thrillers joined the exploding ranks of avid readers.
Tezuka often draws on the theme of life and death, and in Black Jack, it is the central story. Dr. Black Jack, an unlicensed but extremely successful surgeon, is a lone wolf who makes use of his astounding skills, challenges the limits of medical science, and applies his talent against crime. During
the Atlantis Olympics, a new breed of superhumans created by a corrupt scientist, break world records and excel in all disciplines. These genetically engineered superhumans later catch a catastrophic degenerative disease called the 'moira syndrome' and die rapidly.
With the mysterious plague spreading, Dr. Black Jack is called upon by Dr. J. Carole of Brane Pharmaceuticals to discover the cause of this deadly disease. He discovers that superhumans are the product of a new revolutionary drug with deadly side effects called 'Endorph A' which was originally created to be the wonder drug of superiority, but turned into an age advancing virus. Dr. Black Jack himself, contracts the disease and is plunged into a web of "X-Files" type conspiracy, he must race against time to find a cure before it's too late.
Pre-Book Date: April 5, 2001
Running Time: 90 minutes
SRP: $29.95
DVD features include English 5.1 Surround Sound and Stereo audio tracks, as well as a Japanese Stereo audio track with optional English subtitles. The disc will also include Manga Video previews, a Manga DVD catalog, fan club information, Palm Pictures DVD Previews and Weblinks.
APPLESEED
Based on the successful international comic book series by Masamune Shirow, Manga Entertainment presents a high-octane race against time where the future of a civilization hangs in the balance-Appleseed, on DVD April 24, 2001.
After the devastation of World War III, the scattered governments of the world have engineered a modern utopia - a refuge governed by artificially created half-human, half-robot Biodroids. Life in Olympus is carefully controlled and monitored - and some of their human populations have had enough. A dedicated band of terrorists plot to destroy Gaia, the central computer, and restore freedom to mankind. After a daring raid of a high security facility, they have the weapons and information they need to complete their mission - including the key to the end of Gaia. Will they be stopped before they ruin the dream of paradise?
Appleseed takes us into the explosive world of the Extra Special Weapons and Tactics squad of the Olympus police force, as they battle against those who
would destroy their utopia.
Street Date: April 24, 2001
Pre-Book Date: April 5, 2001
Running Time: 70 minutes
SRP: $24.95
DVD features include: English 5.1 Surround and Stereo, Japanese Stereo, English Subtitles, Character Bios, Japanese Production Credits, Manga Video Previews, Fan Club Information, Manga DVD Catalog,
Palm Pictures DVD Previews and Weblinks.
Excerpts from Press Release:
BLACK JACK
As the first Internationally acclaimed manga comic book and Japanese animation artist, Osamu Tezuka deserves his title as Japan's 'God of Comics.' Tezuka first serialized Astro Boy in newspapers and print in 1963. His beloved creation later became Japan's first animated TV series, and was the first works of Japanese animation to break international boundaries by appearing on North American Television. Now, 50 years later, another famous Tezuka creation appears in his first animated theatrical film Black Jack.
Black Jack triggered the comic paperback boom, which currently rules Japan's publishing world. The paperback versions of Black Jack are amazing
bestsellers. Ten million copies are now in print and the aggregate number of copies published to date is over 35 million. The Black Jack phenomenon first achieved popularity among fans that read the strip as a magazine insert. Later, teenagers and female office clerks who were wild about psycho-thrillers joined the exploding ranks of avid readers.
Tezuka often draws on the theme of life and death, and in Black Jack, it is the central story. Dr. Black Jack, an unlicensed but extremely successful surgeon, is a lone wolf who makes use of his astounding skills, challenges the limits of medical science, and applies his talent against crime. During
the Atlantis Olympics, a new breed of superhumans created by a corrupt scientist, break world records and excel in all disciplines. These genetically engineered superhumans later catch a catastrophic degenerative disease called the 'moira syndrome' and die rapidly.
With the mysterious plague spreading, Dr. Black Jack is called upon by Dr. J. Carole of Brane Pharmaceuticals to discover the cause of this deadly disease. He discovers that superhumans are the product of a new revolutionary drug with deadly side effects called 'Endorph A' which was originally created to be the wonder drug of superiority, but turned into an age advancing virus. Dr. Black Jack himself, contracts the disease and is plunged into a web of "X-Files" type conspiracy, he must race against time to find a cure before it's too late.
Pre-Book Date: April 5, 2001
Running Time: 90 minutes
SRP: $29.95
DVD features include English 5.1 Surround Sound and Stereo audio tracks, as well as a Japanese Stereo audio track with optional English subtitles. The disc will also include Manga Video previews, a Manga DVD catalog, fan club information, Palm Pictures DVD Previews and Weblinks.
APPLESEED
Based on the successful international comic book series by Masamune Shirow, Manga Entertainment presents a high-octane race against time where the future of a civilization hangs in the balance-Appleseed, on DVD April 24, 2001.
After the devastation of World War III, the scattered governments of the world have engineered a modern utopia - a refuge governed by artificially created half-human, half-robot Biodroids. Life in Olympus is carefully controlled and monitored - and some of their human populations have had enough. A dedicated band of terrorists plot to destroy Gaia, the central computer, and restore freedom to mankind. After a daring raid of a high security facility, they have the weapons and information they need to complete their mission - including the key to the end of Gaia. Will they be stopped before they ruin the dream of paradise?
Appleseed takes us into the explosive world of the Extra Special Weapons and Tactics squad of the Olympus police force, as they battle against those who
would destroy their utopia.
Street Date: April 24, 2001
Pre-Book Date: April 5, 2001
Running Time: 70 minutes
SRP: $24.95
DVD features include: English 5.1 Surround and Stereo, Japanese Stereo, English Subtitles, Character Bios, Japanese Production Credits, Manga Video Previews, Fan Club Information, Manga DVD Catalog,
Palm Pictures DVD Previews and Weblinks.
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