Right Stuf has started a new sale and released a list of brand new deals.  You can see their new Weekly Specials Here.  This week some of the highlights include the Azumanga Daioh DVD Box Set (Thinpak) for $37.99 (regularly $69.98) and Dragon Ball Z Season 6 Uncut DVD Set (Hyb) for $29.99 (regularly $49.98).

Right Stuf's sale this week is the Radical Savings sale, offering at least 40% off all DVD's and 33% off of all CDs and Merchandise from Bandai Entertainment. The coupon code is "radical" and the sale runs from now until Nov. 9th.

Bandai Entertainment has posted a dubbed trailer for Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 on it's official website.  The first episode of the series will premiere on Adult Swim on Sunday morning at 5 AM.  The series just ended it's run in Japan last month.

Funimation Productions is suing a group of related companies in Southern California for allegedly selling counterfeit DVDs of its licensed anime.  Funimation is accusing Hae Yong Ro and four businesses, N Trading, Inc, Discount Anime DVD, BuyDVD.com, and DOES, for infringing on it's and the licensers' copyrights by selling unauthorized copies of Fruits Basket, Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT and Fullmetal Alchemist.  Some of the DVDs are said to even include English dubbing.

Funimation sent a cease and desist letter to the defendants in February of this year, however the defendants "failed and refused to repsond or to cease the advertising and distribution of the works".  Funimation then informed the website hosting company, who suspended the defendants' website in April.  The defendants then promised to remove the content in exchange for having their website restored, but continued to sell the products.  The hosting company shut down the site again, but the defendants website reappeared on a Korean website host within 36 hours, still selling the counterfeit products.

The lawsuit, which was filed in August, is requesting the seizure or destruction of all DVD copies as well as "all plates, molds, matrices, masters, tapes, film negatives, or other articles" used in the copying under United States copyright law.  The suit also asserts damages in the range of $23.7 million US, not including legal fees.  Funimation is further requesting that the defendants "notify all customers who purchased [an infringing] DVD" . . . "that said DVD is an unlawful copy, and may be returned for a full refund, including shipping" which will be paid by the defendants as well as $5,005,000 US and legal fees.

ICv2 has reported 12 Japanese live action cult titles that ADV Films will be localizing and distributing for Switchblade Pictures.

Horror:
Cruel Restaurant - Dec 2nd for $29.99
Attack Girls Swim Team vs. the Undead - Dec 9th for $29.99
Killer Bees - Jan. 27th for $19.98

Action:
Twin Blades of the Ninja - November 11th for $19.98
Ninjaken - The Naked Sword - November 18th for $19.98
Female Prisoner Sigma - November 25th for $19.98
Death Row Girls - Dec. 16th for $19.98
Chain Gang Girls - Dec. 23rd for $19.98

Comedy:
Gluttonous - Jan. 6th for $19.98
Maid's Secret - Jan. 13th for $24.98
Maid's Secret - Welcome Home - Jan. 20th for $24.98
New Manager of the Sumo Club - Feb. 17th for $19.98

Crunchyroll and Toei Animation have announced that four titles will be made available on the site for streaming, subscription and downloading.  They are Digimon Adventure 02, Fist of the North Star, Pretty Cure, and Slam Dunk.  The first episodes of all titles except Pretty Cure are available.

We received a press release from JapanFiles.com announcing their release of girugamesh's new album "MUSIC"

"Hot on the heels of the recent release of girugamesh's
self-titled 2007 CD "Girugamesh," JapanFiles.com has partnered with Hot
Topic to bring USA fans the new album "MUSIC" in November 2008.

The full album will be available for legal download on JapanFiles.com on
November 5, the same day as the Japanese CD release. Hard copy versions of
the CD will be available at Hot Topic stores nationwide on Nov. 25, hitting
the shelves on the same day as the MUCC's second USA release "SHION."

The USA release of "MUSIC" contains 12 songs and the exact same cover art
and 24-page booklet as the Japanese standard release. Hot Topic stores will
make this CD available to American fans for under $15.00.

girugamesh will return to the USA in April, 2009 for Sakura-Con 2009 in
Seattle, WA."

Variety has reported that Warner Brothers and Appian Way (owned by Leonardo DiCaprio) have acquired the rights to adapt Ninja Scroll as a live action film.  DiCaprio has said he is not planning on acting in the film.  Jennifer Davisson Killoran and Mike Ireland from Appian Way will work directly with Madhouse on the movie.  Madhouse created the original animated version of the story.

The title of the fifth television series based on the Slayers light novels will be Slayers Evolution-R.  This was revealed during an autograph session with Hajime Kanazaka and Rui Araizumi, the creators of the novels.  The news was later confirmed by the site for Slayers Revolution.  In a video played during the session, Megumi Hayashibara said she is working on many things before the new series which includes new music.

Right Stuf has started a new sale and released a list of brand new deals.  You can see their new Weekly Specials Here.  This week some of the highlights include the Chance Pop Session DVD Complete Collection (Thinpak) for $19.99 (regularly $44.98) and Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid DVD Box Set (Hyb) for $34.99 (regularly $59.98).

Right Stuf's sale this week is the Fall Into Big Savings sale, offering at least 40% off all DVD's and 33% off of all Books from Viz Media. The coupon code is "bigsavings" and the sale runs from now until Oct. 26th.

Sojitz Corporation has announced that it will dissolve ARM, the subsidiary that promoted anime licensing and distribution in North America.  Sojitz said that it does not expect earnings to grow in the marketplace like expected when ARM was established in 2006.  ARM originally was formed to manage licensing with ADV Films in 2006.  When Sojitz and ADV broke up, ARM transfered the rights to 30 titles to Funimation.

Funimatino has said that the dissolution of ARM will not affect their titles.  Jackie Smith said, "Funimation no longer deals with ARM or Sojitz regarding titles we acquired over the summer.  Each title was transferred to us and we have been in direct contact with the licensers."

Funimation has confirmed that it has acquired Shikabane Hime: Aka and will be streaming all 13 episodes within weeks of their airing on Japanese TV.  The first English subbed episode will stream for free on YouTube, Joost.com, Hulu.com and Funimation.com on Friday October 24th.  There will also be an option to download the episode for $1.99 US from funimation.com

The first Bleach film, Bleach the Movie: Memories of Nobody, will be screened by the DC Anime Club in Washington DC this Friday at 6:30 PM at the Japan Information and Culture Center in the Embassy of Japan.

ICvw has reported that ADV Films will localize and distribute titles for the licensing company Sentai Filmworks.  This new partnership has brought about ADV's already scheduled release of Clannad, Indian Summer, Mahoromatic, Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful, Tsukihime, Pet Shop of Horrors, and Jewel BEM Hunter Lime. 

ADV Films has announced that it is now streaming some titles on Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch through the free vSNAX Videos application.  The Anime! channel in vSNAX Video currently has clips of Azumanga Daioh, Mythical Detective Loki, and Saiyuki. 

Right Stuf has started a new sale and released a list of brand new deals.  You can see their new Weekly Specials Here.  This week some of the highlights include the Daphne in the Brilliant Blue DVD Box Set (Hyb) for $69.99 (regularly $149.98) and Cowboy Bebop Remix DVD Collection (Hyb) for $49.99 (regularly $49.98).

Right Stuf's sale this week is the Fall Into Big Savings sale, offering at least 40% off all DVD's and 33% off of all Books from Viz Media. The coupon code is "bigsavings" and the sale runs from now until Oct. 26th.

Yen Press will present Haruhi Day at the Kinokuniya Bookstore in New York City on October 18th from 3 - 6 PM.  The event will mark the release of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya manga.  The event will consist of a screening of the series, giveaways, raffles, and a panel with Yen Press' editorial team. 

Funimation's YouTube channel is listing the first episode of Shikabane Hime for next week.  Masahiko Murata and Gainax have been working on a series called Shikabane Hime: Aka which premiered in Japan on October 2nd.

Right Stuf and Nozomi Entertainment have announced that they will release the first of two DVD sets for Aria the Natural on January 27th, 2009.  The series is a continuation of Kozue Amano's series and each set will contain 13 episodes.  Right Stuf shipped the first Aria series, Aria the Animation, in September.

Funimation has announced that it is offering Witchblade on the iTunes Store.  As a special promotion, the first episode is free until October 26th.

Amazon.com has listed new titles from Tokyopop for next summer.  They are:

Remember - June 16th, 2009
Summoner Girl - August 4th, 2009
Zone-00 - August 4th, 2009
Bloody Kiss - August 11th, 2009
Momogumi Plus Senki - August 11th, 2009

Digital Manga Publishing has announced release windows for all the titles that Diamond Comic Distributors recently removed from it's schedule.  None of the removed titles were cancelled, just delayed.  They are:

All You Need is Love - Late 2009
Knights Volume 2 - Late 2009
Our Kingdome Volume 5 - Late 2009
Physical Attraction - Late 2009
Dry Heat - Late 2009/2010
Enchanter Volume 10 - Postponed
Vampire Hunter D Volume 3 - May 2009
Temperature Rising - Late 2009
Intriguing Secrets - Late 2009
Kabuki Volume 2 - Late 2009
Love!! - Late 2009/2010
Right Here, Right Now - Late 2009

Toonami Jetstream has begun streaming Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel for free.  The film is broken up into 16 parts with some commercials.  It will be available until November 10th.

Video Games Live announced today that it will be performing at Blizzcon 2008 which takes place October 10th and 11th at the Anaheim Convention Center.  The performance will be held in the evening on Saturday the 11th and will consist of music only featured in Blizzard Entertainment games.  The performance will also be shown as part of DIRECTV's BlizzCon Pay-Per-View special.

Funimation has posted a trailer and the first three English-dubbed episodes of Darker than BLACK.  To see them you will need to enter the code name of Hei, BK201, to see them.  The first DVD will ship on November 25th.

Funimation has announced that Red Garden and Welcome to the NHK will both ship in December in two DVD box sets each.  Both were originally released by ADV Films as single DVDs and had released five of the 6 planned DVDs for both.  Now the only way to get the final episodes are in FUnimations Red Garden Complete Collection Part 2 box for $49.98 and Welcome to the NHK Season 1 Part 2 for $59.98.

The same is true for Pumpkin Scissors which will be released by Funimation on November 25th in two box sets for $59.98 each.

Anime Supercon has announced that Carey Means, the voice of Frylock in Aqua Teen Hunger Force, will be joining Dave Willis, Dana Snyder, and Jay Edwards as a guest at their convention.  This will be a rare appearance for the group.

You can view the full guest list for the convention in the press release.  The convention will take place October 31st - November 2nd at the The Downtown Miami Hilton in Miami Fl.

The Anime Kaiju Experience has announced a Mini-Manga/Doujinshi Contest.  They are giving anyone interested in participating until November 8th to create an 8 to 12 page, including front and back cover, original manga.  The winner of the contest will have their entry posted as part of the Anime Kaiju Experience collectible program.  All entries will be displayed at the Art Show.

All the rules and other important information can be found in the press release

Viz Media has announced that Bleach the Movie: Memories of Nobody will be screened in Cineplex Entertainment and Empire Theatres locations on October 20th.

The DVD release of the movie will hit North American stores on October 14th.

Go! Comi has announced 2 new boys-love titles from Ryo Takagi.  Bran Doll will be released on June 2009 and Get the Moon will be released on October 2009.

Right Stuf has started a new sale and released a list of brand new deals.  You can see their new Weekly Specials Here.  This week some of the highlights include the Ranma 1/2: Season 4 DVD Box Set (Hyb): Outta Control for $32.99 (regularly $49.98) and Slayers Season 3 DVD Set (Hyb) Uncut (Slayers Try) for $17.99 (regularly $29.98).

Right Stuf's sale this week is the A Banquet of Bargains sale, offering at least 33% off of All Titles from Tokyopop. The coupon code is "banquet" and the sale runs from now until Oct. 12th.

Digital Manga has announced the following titles to be printed under their 801 Media imprint:

On Bended Knee by Ruri Fujikawa (June 2009)
LOVE SKIT by Rie Honjyo (October 2009)
Kiss Your Hair by Duo Brand (December 2009)

Under it's June imprint, they announced:

Tricky Prince by Yukari Hashida (January 2009)
Exotic and Delicious Fate by Ryoku Tsunoda (August 2009)
Unsophisticated and Rude by Momoko Tenzen (August 2009)
Ludwig II by You Higuri (June 2009)
La Satanica by Momoko Tenzen (Sept. 2009)
Boys Love by Kaimu Tachibana (Sept. 2009)
Ciao Ciao Bambino by Momoko Tenzen (Oct. 2009)
How to Capture A Martini by Makoto Tateno (Dec. 2009)

Under their Doki Doki imprint, they announced:

The Devil Within by Rico Fukiyama (Oct. 2009)
Electric Hands by Taishi Zaou (Nov. 2009)

Deux Press, a boys-love imprint of Aurora Publishing, has announced that they will be releasing:

Take Me to Heaven by Nase Yamato in January 2009
Love Round!! by Hinako Takanaga in February 2009
Noodle Shop Affair by CJ Michalski in March 2009
Naughty But Nice by Naduki Koujima in March 2009

DRMASTER has announced the release of Nephylym vol. 1 by Rei Kusakabe, Mamoru the Shadow Protector vol. 2 by Sai Madara, and The Four Constables-Secret of the Delirium Dagger vol. 2 by Andy Seto and Tony Wong.  All three are now available, Nephylym vol. 1 and Mamoru the Shadow Protector vol. 2 are each
priced at $9.95 while The Four Constables-Secret of the Delirium Dagger vol. 2 is fully-colored and priced at $13.95.

Funimation has announced that three of it's anime DVD releases were nominated, along with one of Anchor Bay's releases, for the Fifth Annual TV DVD Awards.  Dragon Ball Z Season 5, Hell Girl Vol. 5, One Piece Season 1 First Voyage were nominated by judges in the Best International TV DVD category.  Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig was nominated for Best Animated TV DVD against Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest, Futurama: The Beast With a Billion Backs, and Robot Chicken: Star Wars.

You can vote here for the final winners.

Erica Friedman, President of Yuricon, has announced that Rica Takashima (Rica'tte Kanji!?) will appear at MangaNEXT this year.  The convention will take place Oct. 31st to Nov. 2nd in Somerset, NJ.

IFC has debuted the first Hell Girl series on it's linear channel.  It showed last night at 8 PM.  The 26 episode series had already appeared on IFC's on demand channel.