Japan: Last News

EXCLUSIVE: In his final project before concluding his headline-snatching, decades-long tenure as creative director at Valentino, Pier Paolo Piccioli dipped back into film production to produce the costumes for Things And Other Things, the latest feature from Italian filmmaker Riccardo Vannuccini. 

Jamie Lang Japanese director Kenji Iwaisawa‘s debut feature “On-Gaku: Our Sound” was a hit at the 2020 Annecy Animation Festival, where it played in the festival’s Contrechamp competition and won best original music. This year, the filmmaker returns to Annecy to present his next film, “Hyakuemu.”, in a dedicated Annecy Work in Progress session. Based on the original manga “Chi: Chikyū no Undō ni Tsuite” by Uoto, the film tells the story of Togashi, a child born to run.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief A ten-episode original series “Suicide Squad Isekai,” produced by Warner Bros. Japan’s Anime Production and WIT Studio, will premiere on HBO GO later this month. The show is an anime (Japanese-style animation) adaptation spawned by the DC Comics universe.

Anna Marie de la Fuente Eurozoom, a leading French distributor for Japanese animation, has forged a strategic partnership with major French animation producer Special Touch Studios, led by founder and CEO Sebastien Onomo. “We both share the same passion for animation and want to tell bold stories with a particular attention to professional diversity,” said Eurozoom’s CEO-Founder Amel Lacombe, who added that they were jointly working on a six-animation feature lineup. Leading the pack is “Melvile,” directed by Romain Renard and Fursy Teyssier.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “Sky Castle,” one of the most iconic Korean TV drama series of recent years, is to be remade by TV Asahi in Japan. The move follows the signing of a cooperation agreement between Korean content powerhouse SLL (previously known as JTBC Studios) and TV Asahi just last month. The two companies say that the Japanese retread is already filming and will begin to air from July.

Queer Planet aims to broaden perspectives about sexuality in the natural world.Narrated by out actor Andrew Rannells, the 90-minute documentary boasts a mostly queer lineup of esteemed scientists who guide the global voyage. Expounding on bighorn bromances in the Rockies, promiscuous pansexual bonobos in the Congo basin, and laidback lesbian macaques in Japan, among others, the show offers an intimate look at a fascinating spectrum of sex and gender, and configurations of family that defy convention.We’ve heard about gay penguins at the zoo — several zoos, in fact, have discovered same-sex couples among their captive colonies.

Tokyo Vice has been cancelled by HBO after two seasons, with some fans questioning whether they should now cancel their Max subscription.The news was confirmed during a Fox Studios panel this week, with the streaming service paying tribute to the show’s creator J.T. Rogers and director Alan Poul.“From Tokyo Vice’s richly written material to the gorgeously composed shots to the lived-in performances, the care and creativity of this enormously talented cast and crew shines in every frame of the show,” said a Max spokesperson (via Deadline).

Pep Guardiola has opened the door for outcast defender Joao Cancelo to return to Manchester City this summer.

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss have shared a new version of Led Zeppelin‘s classic track ‘When The Levee Breaks’.The live cut of the song, which you can listen to below, is their first single since their second collaborative album ‘Raise The Roof’ was released in 2021.This version, which the pair have been performing on their recent North American tour, features guitarist JD McPherson, drummer Jay Bellerose, bassist Dennis Crouch, string player Stuart Duncan and multi-instrumentalist Viktor Krauss.During the tour, the pair have also performed Zeppelin classics ‘The Battle Of Evermore’ and ‘Rock And Roll’, as well as a medley that includes ‘Gallows Pole’.Their tour will continue until September 1 where it wraps up in Vail, Colorado. You can purchase any remaining tickets here.The duo last toured together in 2022, which itself was their first complete tour in 12 years.Meanwhile, it was recently revealed that Led Zeppelin’s long awaited documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin is finally set for a cinema release.The authorised film, which was first announced in 2019, has been acquired for release by Sony Classics Pictures in a number of countries including North America, Latin America, Southeast Asia (except for Japan) and the Middle East.

Jamie Lang France’s Annecy Animation Festival opened on Sunday, and among the event’s first activities was a screening of titles from the Commission Films in Competition Lineup. During the projection, the French music video for Chien Méchant’s “Étoile filante,” produced using generative artificial intelligence software, earned the extraordinary distinction of being booed by the Annecy audience.

Shōgun music duo Atticus Ross and Nick Chuba joined Deadline’s Sound & Screen Television live-music event to discuss reutilizing archaic styles of music for the FX series. 

Ahsoka composer Kevin Kiner discussed his Star Wars influences for the Disney+ series at Deadline’s Sound & Screen Television live-music event. He also revealed an homage to Star Wars composer John Williams in episode 5.

Editor’s note: Shōgun was originally selected for Deadline’s showcase of standout limited or anthology series scripts in 2024 Emmy contention. Following the show’s renewal and subsequent move to drama categories, it is no longer part of that series.

Refresh for latest…: Sony’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die pummeled pre-weekend opening projections, coming in with a $104.6M global bow, including $48.6M from the international box office. While the overseas debut is slightly off 2020’s Bad Boys for Life which did $50.3M in like-for-like offshore markets at today’s exchange rates, that film had strong legs. Either way, Ride or Die‘s start gave some much needed oomph to summer turnstiles. Its launch is 58% bigger than Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Gainax, the iconic but latterly tarnished, Japanese animation producer behind anime series “Neon Genesis Evangelion,” has filed for bankruptcy. It had been in operation for nearly 40 years. The company made the announcement on Friday, via its own website, and said that it had filed its petition with the courts on May 29.

Over a year into Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, she has found ways to keep the show fresh and new for those who have been waiting since she opened in Phoenix, Arizona in March 2023 to see her. Since the tour began in the United States last year, Swift has released two rerecorded albums — Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) and 1989 (Taylor’s Version) in addition to a brand-new double album, The Tortured Poets Department. 

Christina Aguilera is booked and busy, and the singer with Ecuadorian roots looks flawless. The 43-year-old music icon has been on tour and returned to her Las Vegas residency after extending more dates into August.Thankfully for fans who can’t attend shows, the singer has been sharing clips from her performances on social media.

Kaiju No. 8 is one of the breakout anime shows of 2024.Based on the manga by Naoya Matsumoto, the series follows Kafka Hibino who must navigate his ability to turn into kaiju while trying to join The Defense Force who eliminate the giant monsters.The anime adaptation produced by Production I.G.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Viz Media, a leading manga and anime platform, is launching One-Shots, a collection of bite-sized Japanese comic (manga) series that flow from the pens of new creators. Leading the program is former Weekly Shonen Jump editor-in-chief Sasaki Hisashi, who oversaw Japan’s prestigious Weekly Shonen Jump magazine at a time when some of the most iconic and highest-grossing creators of all were being serialized. The first four One-Shots series are: action, sci-fi series “Cinematic Certitude” by Naf; fantasy, action series “Ancient Melody,” by Jonathan Lareva; action adventure “Skin & Bone,” written by Josh Tierney and designed by Valentin Serber; and action, sci-fi “The Stranger,” by Liam Naughton.

Jack Dunn Several Asian American groups gathered in the Chinatown district of Los Angeles Thursday afternoon to call for comedian Shane Gillis to apologize for using “offensive racial remarks” in his stand-up performances. Leaders of the Media Action Network for Asian Americans, Chinese American Citizens Alliance Los Angeles and the Greater Los Angeles Japanese American Citizens League gathered at the Chinese American Citizens Alliance Lodge for a press conference, in which the groups also implored Netflix to cancel Gillis’ new sitcom “Tires” and that Bud Light cut all promotional funding toward his comedy tour unless an apology is issued.

EXCLUSIVE: Bryan Brown and Greta Scacchi are back for more adventures in the Australian outback after Darby and Joan was renewed for a second season by Acorn TV.