The Chinese animation studio Light Chaser Animation is bringing its latest entry in the “New Gods” film franchise titled ‘New Gods: Yang Jian’ to North American audiences through a special deal GKids. The release is planned for January 20, 2023, with both the original Chinese and an English dub coming to cinemas.
“GKIDS, the acclaimed producer and distributor of animation for adult and family audiences, announced today it will bring NEW GODS: YANG JIAN, the latest feature from the powerhouse Chinese animation studio Light Chaser Animation (White Snake, New Gods: Nezha Reborn) to cinemas nationwide starting January 20, 2023. Directed by Ji Zhao (White Snake, New Gods: Nezha Reborn),” they said on their website.
“NEW GODS: YANG JIAN is the second installment of the studio’s “New Gods” series of animated action-fantasy epics inspired by Chinese mythological figures, following the 2021 feature New Gods: Nezha Reborn,” they added.
GKids also revealed the English dub cast:
Yang Jian – Nicholas Andrew Louie
Wanluo – Christine Lin
Master Yuding – Parry Shen
Chenxiang – Luke Naphat Sath
Shen Gongbao – James Sie
You can watch the trailer below:
GKids describes the synopsis as follows,
“Thirteen years after Yang Jian (known to some as Erlang Shen) imprisoned his sister beneath a mountain, the once powerful god now scrapes by as a penniless bounty hunter. When a mysterious woman hires him for a new job, Yang Jian soon finds himself chasing down a familiar figure. He must stop Chenxiang, his long-lost nephew, who is in search of the magical lotus lantern that will free his mother, even if it will bring catastrophe. As Yang Jian confronts the actions of his past, he must face a host of dangerous vigilantes seeking the same treasure with the power to alter the balance of their worlds.”
The original cast includes Chinese movie stars WANG Kai, JI Guanlin, LI Lihong, and LI Lanling.
Discotek Media is bringing back an anime from the 90s with the release of the first season of ‘Digimon: Adventures,’ also known as ‘Digimon: Digital Monsters’ in North America. They are bringing all fifty-four episodes to a brand new DVD box set.
The release will include the original Japanese audio as well as the English dubbed version of the fan-favorite anime.
Digimon Adventure!
All 54 episodes, newly upscaled with AstroRes to look better than ever!
Extras TBA! Producer @marcfbr & translator @onkeikun are seeing what can be included!
Produced by Toei Animation, this season was directed by Hiroyuki Kakudō and Satoru Nishizono. It would go on to have a trading card game, numerous sequels, several films, video games, manga, and even a comic book from Dark Horse Comics.
Wikipedia says of the development, “In 1999, a short film based on the virtual pets called Digimon Adventure was released. However, shortly after the film’s storyboard was completed in 1998, producers at Toei Animation were requested to turn it into a television series.”
“The DigiDestined’s character designs were created by Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru. The staff had decided to name the characters based on kanji that related to luck,” they added.
The set is available for pre-order on Right Stuf Anime, which describe the synopsis:
“When seven young kids go to camp for the summer, they never expect to find themselves whisked away to a world populated by Digital Monsters! In this strange Digital World, the kids must unlock the power within themselves if they hope to Digivolve their Digimon friends into new, more powerful forms and defeat the evil that threatens both worlds! From the dreaded Devimon and his Black Gears on File Island, to back in Tokyo to battle the vampire lord Myotismon from locating the Eighth DigiDestined child, then a face-off against the menace of the Dark Masters – all in this complete collection of the first season of Digimon: Digital Monsters, the hit series that defined the childhoods of anime fans around the world!”
The first season originally ran from March 7, 1999 to March 26, 2000.
Forty-five years ago, Jim Henson introduced us to one of the most heartfelt Christmas specials of all time: Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas. Based on a story by The Mouse and His Child author Russell Hoban, the Muppet TV special has long been a staple of holiday viewing alongside the Rankin/Bass collection. Sadly, merchandise based on the film has been scarce for some time, but Plastic Meatball has a few things coming up to remedy that issue.
First up, we have Emmet and Ma Otter action figures! Well, as much action as the kind Otter family can muster. These made-to-order toys stand 5.5″ and 4.5″ tall. The $60 set also comes with several accessories, including Christmas Branch, Pa Otter’s toolbox, a saw, a hammer, a laundry basket, and a washtub bass.
Pre-orders for Emmet and Ma will be open until December 31st. The figures will not ship until sometime during the fourth quarter 2023.
Plastic Meatball
Plastic Meatball
Plastic Meatball
The toys aren’t the Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas thing available for Emmet Otter fans. Plastic Meatball also has two limited gig posters. The first is a $65 wood veneer poster of the Frogtown Hollow Jubilee Jug Band. The 18″x24″ screen-printed poster features art by Dave Perillo. The artwork is printed on wood veneer and is limited to only 77 pieces.
The standard version of the gig poster goes for $50, but only 125 are available.
Plastic Meatball
If you were more of a fan of Nightmare Band, Plastic Meatball has re-released the poster we covered earlier this year. Well, it isn’t precisely a re-release of this Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas-inspired artwork. The description says that the available stock is due to some customers canceling their orders. So, it’s unclear how many 18″x24″ screen-printed pieces are available.
Plastic Meatball
The blacklight version of this band’s poster is also available on a t-shirt. The garment is made from 100% 30/1 ring-spun cotton, a super soft shirt. It can be ordered in sizes small through XXL. Regardless of the size, the shirts are $30.
Plastic Meatball
Let us know what your favorite memory from Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas is below.
Do you have loads of money you don’t know what to do with? Feel like building an army of Reptilians from Thundercats to the tune of $55 per soldier? Then Super7 has just what you need. While we wait for the next wave of ThunderCatsUltimates to be announced, a collection of three Reptilian figures was announced this week.
So far, the series of premium action figures has only seen one Reptilian, Slithe. This latest set gives us three non-descript creatures from the same species but with different clothing, armor, and weapons. Each Reptilian comes with two pairs of interchangeable hands, an alternate head, and a unique weapon. In addition, each Brute, Warrior, and Guard has that distinctive look that Pacific Animation Corporation was known for regarding Rankin/Bass productions.
The trio can be picked up as one set for $165, but they’ll not ship out until sometime during the third quarter of next year. Pre-orders are open now and will run until January 3rd, 2023. If you’re interested in what you can expect from a Ultimates figure, check out our review of the Toxic Crusaders’ Toxie figure here.
Super7
To fight Lion-O and the rest of the ThunderCats, Slithe needs his army of loyal Reptilian Mutants to help carry out his evil plans! This wave of ThunderCats ULTIMATES! Figures include Plun-Darr’s Reptilian Warrior, Brute, and Guard, each looking ready to unleash mayhem on the good guys!
Super7
Super7
Super7
Super7
ThunderCats Ultimates is currently in the seventh wave of action figures. Nearly every memorable character has been converted to this premium format. So, where else is there to go from here? We’re finally getting Willa and Snarf, but how far can this property be pushed before the above-mentioned army builder thing becomes more common between waves? We’re already seeing various re-themes of Lion-O and Jaga used as filler, not to mention LJN-themed re-releases. Maybe it’s time to move on to the newer ThunderCats series from 2011.
The Super Smash Bros. community has been caught up in a whirlwind of controversy after the cancelation of the Smash World Tour. Numerous conversations between Nintendo and the organizers of the Smash World Tour fell through, with Nintendo denying a license to host events with their game. Many within the community were upset, directing their ire towards Panda Global, the company that Nintendo was partnering up with for tournaments in the upcoming 2023 season. The blame was put onto Panda Global CEO Alan Bunney, who was accused of badmouthing the Smash World Tour and said to be responsible for its cancelation. But the fallout of everything appears to be even more drastic and impactful than just angry reactions on the internet.
Late Sunday night (early Monday morning), Alan announced that he was stepping down as CEO of Panda Global in a post on his Twitter account. This was followed up shortly after by an official statement from the Panda Global official account confirming Alan’s removal as CEO, effective immediately. Panda’s statement highlights their willingness to listen to the Smash Bros. community while stressing concern for their employees’ safety against doxing and harassment from fans.
I've stepped down as CEO of Panda to protect the safety and wellbeing of the team.
The company also stated that their top priorities were to help employees who were looking to resign, as well as give assistance to those affected by recent events because of contractual obligations and displacement. A temporary interim management committee is also being formed within the company after Alan’s removal as CEO to address other concerns and responsibilities in the aftermath of everything going on. And finally, the Panda Cup Finale is postponed over concerns about safety for staff and contractors. The committee will also work with anyone who registered for the event in recent weeks to get a full refund.
The response to everything has been mixed. While most Smash Bros. fans are happy with the actions being taken, others feel indifferent. Panda Global’s response and the statement came after days of various pro players and large community members voicing their anger at the whole situation. Some players were open about boycotting Panda Global events, while various staff for Panda Global stated how they would be resigning from the company.
Many other Smash Bros. personalities and community figureheads were vocal about not covering future Panda events and not recommending people to attend or support them as well. A lot of people also continued to question the motivation behind Panda Global’s actions since their original statement was very different before removing Alan as CEO of the company. Other eSports commentators and players also chimed into the conversation as well.
As for Alan himself? His Twitter post alleges that organizers for the Smash World Tour lied about him and leadership for Beyond the Summit put the Smash Bros. community in jeopardy. Alan promised to reveal more details in the coming days, but responses to his tweet from the community were hostile. Many were quick to point out Alan’s silence for days after news about the Smash World Tour cancelation broke, as well as stories related to his behavior leading up to what happened. Whether his upcoming statements or the evidence he promised will reveal more insight into the truth is anybody’s guess.
What do you think about what is happening within the Super Smash Bros. Community? Do you think things will get better or worse for everyone involved? Post a comment down below and let your thoughts be known!
There’s a certain vibe and feel with classic NES games that are instantly recognizable among those who grew up playing Nintendo games back in the late 80s and early 90s. Recapturing that same vibe is a challenge in itself because any sort of deviation from it will be noticeable. Luckily the people at Mega Cat Studios know retro gaming well enough to understand the nuance and charm of classic NES games. Their newest game release Roniu’s Tale brings together the nostalgia of playing on a Nintendo Entertainment System with the contemporary challenge of puzzle games. It looks and feels like a game that could’ve been released on the NES, but is it just as fun to play?
Everything from the visuals to the sounds of Roniu’s Tale feels like it could’ve fit right into the NES library. The 8-bit aesthetic has seen a revitalization in recent years, with many new indie games choosing to render their visuals with pixels as an artistic choice. With Roniu’s Tale, the visuals exude a charming yet devious tone that matches up with the challenging gameplay throughout. There’s a wide range of colors that make things pop out, much in the same way the original Legend of Zelda did with its varying stages. All of the characters look and sound great here, which is a step in the right direction for anyone that loves 8-bit style games.
The gameplay is where some people will be divided on Roniu’s Tale. As a puzzle game, there are 43 stages spread across 9 sections of the cave that Roniu needs to traverse. The story involves Roniu falling into a cavern and coming across a ghost that tries to help him escape. Each level is a puzzle where you need to find a key and reach the exit, while also picking up gems placed in different areas. Things start off pretty simple with each stage but become increasingly more difficult as you get deeper into the game. Roniu can use powers to get around obstacles and reach his goal, with new powers opening up to you with each new section you enter. At some point, combining powers becomes a necessity to get around obstacles, which can get pretty tedious.
While the level of challenge is pretty good overall, little things about the game will become increasingly annoying. Movement on a stage has platforms that break once you move away from them, which can close off pathways and trap you in some spots. If you’re not aware of the layout of the level, you can end up repeating the stage over again or getting a game over the screen. Luckily Roniu’s Tale has a password system you can use to continue onward, but you’re only given three lives per run.
Without saving your password, expect to go all the way back to the start. This can be a frequent occurrence if you’re not careful when moving around the edge of a stage since you aren’t blocked from walking right off the end. It would be helpful to have your movement stopped right at the edge in the early stages, as opposed to accidentally walking off a platform. Anyone can accidentally hit a direction and fall off, costing you a precious life and possible redo of the whole stage.
Something else that can be tediously annoying is the lack of explanation of the powers. While you do see a quick visual guide of how powers are used, you’re not given full details about how they work. In some cases, you’ll discover how power can interact with certain objects or barriers by accident, rather than the game detailing how that can be. This becomes an issue when completing a stage requires you to know that beforehand and apply it. The same can also be said with how enemies can affect obstacles and objects within a level, which can also be required to reach a goal. Granted this might be an aspect of older games not always giving every important detail, but this could easily be solved by having some info text within the main menu. It wouldn’t need to be super detailed, but enough to make it clear that instances like this can occur while playing.
Boss battles you encounter are handled the same way as every other stage. You’ll have to use your powers to hit them while dodging hazards on the stage, but it’s not always a straightforward battle. Picking up icons to refill your powers and moving in the right way are the keys to success. There’s little variation in the boss encounters until the very end, where you face something different. It would’ve been nice to have different kinds of boss battles with different solutions to defeating them, as opposed to having the same up until the final sections of the game.
Overall, Roniu’s Tale is a good puzzle game with a lot of nostalgia driving it. It might not be for everybody, especially if you don’t play many puzzle games, but it’s successful in what it tries to accomplish. The 8-bit visuals and sounds will resonate with those who remember a time playing on their NES growing up, while others may enjoy the challenge of the puzzles to solve within it. If you’re into indie games with a unique twist, Roniu’s Tale might be right up your alley.
Are you a fan of indie games? Do you remember growing up with the NES and playing lots of different games? Leave us a comment below and tell us about all of it!
Bruce Lee is coming back to cinemas, this time in a biopic directed by Ang Lee. According to Variety, Ang has been tapped to direct Sony’s adaptation of the late martial arts expert and movie star’s life as part of the company’s 3000 Pictures division. Ang Lee’s son will star as the man himself. While talking to Variety, Ang Lee felt that he had to be the one to make this film saying, “I feel compelled to tell the story of this brilliant, unique human being who yearned for belonging, possessed tremendous power in a 135-pound-frame, and who, through tireless hard work, made impossible dreams into reality.”
Ang’s son, Mason Lee, does not look much like Bruce, but that will make little difference if The Hangover Part II actor can pull off the mannerisms and voice of the late Enter the Dragon star. However, those are some big shoes to fill. Lee’s legacy has lived on since his untimely death in 1973. He became an icon and introduced martial arts to millions of Americans when the US was coming to terms with racial equality. Although the Chinese American’s time on this earth was short-lived, his presence is still felt today in media, fashion, and pop culture.
Recently, HBO produced a show called Warrior, based on a script treatment by Bruce Lee, but it never saw the light of day.
The last Bruce Lee bio I remember watching was Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, directed by Rob Cohen. It starred Jason Scott Lee as the legend and was mostly good. However, the film did fail to balance reality with hero worship, with the latter taking precedence over Lee’s actual life and struggles. Seeing that Ang Lee is directing this one, it’s hard to say if style will balance with substance.
What worries me the most about the biography picture is that it is written by Dan Futterman, who adapted the events leading up to the murder at Foxcatcher Farm. Foxcatcher is a damn good film. However, the movie feels like a missed opportunity if you’re familiar with the history of John du Pont and his family. The fictional drama was more of a focus than the crucial dynamics at play during the events that led to the murder of Dave Schultz. Do we need to fictionalize parts of Bruce Lee’s life to have an entertaining film?
Just when I thought the Marvel Legends line was getting stale, Hasbro announced that we’re getting some classic X-MEN characters bundled together. Entertainment Earth is currently taking pre-orders for a three-pack of figures from the off-shoot comic that started in 1987. Hasbro picked three characters for this set: Captain Britain, Shadowcat (Kitty Pryde), and Meggan.
Meggan and Shadowcat’s powers are hard to show off in figure form, so there are no effects pieces to speak of. However, each figure does come with an alternate pair of hands. In addition, Captain Britain comes with his sword, and an alternate bearded head sculpt. Oh, and Lockheed the dragon is included, too.
The set is priced at $66.99 and should ship next month!
Hasbro
Using his super strength, flying ability and courage, Captain Britain fights for justice throughout the world and in other dimensions as well. Meggan is a mystical mutant metamorph, able to change her shape at will. Shadowcat possesses the mutant ability to “phase” her molecules, letting her pass through walls, walk on air, and allowing things she touches to do the same.
Hasbro
Hasbro
Aside from being Excalibur, the best part about this set is that this isn’t one of Hasbro’s plastic-free boxes. All three characters, along with their accessories, are clearly visible and look fantastic. The back of the box also has a welcome surprise. Rather than being an ad for other Marvel Legends figures, we get recreations of the X-MEN trading cards showing off the history, powers, and stats of the Meggan, Captain Britain, and Shadowcat.
I hope Hasbro realizes how damaging the windowless boxes are to the collectibles market. We buy these things to display, not to play. If nothing else, find a way to show off the product we’re buying without clear plastic. Hasbro already does this with several Transformers figures, so why not apply that to Marvel Legends and the Star Wars Black Series?
What do you think would help improve Hasbro’s path with the Marvel Legends line of action figures? For example, does having windowless boxes make you less likely to collect specific figures? Is there an alternative way Hasbro could box the figures but also cut down on plastic? Let us know in the comments section below.
Super7 has announced a line of Willow ReAction figures just in time for the new Disney+ series! Right out of the gate, this wave of figures includes nearly every main character, giving fans both heroes and villains. Sadly, the Brownies were not included in this wave, nor were any trolls.
These ReAction figures look more detailed in the face sculpt than we typically see in Super7’s retro-inspired toy line. Usually, the faces look generally OK, but here most of the characters look like the actors who played them thirty-four years ago. Regardless, these toys are a massive improvement over the Tonka miniature toys that accompanied the movie’s initial theatrical release. For more info about that series, check out our story at Pirates and Princesses.
I noticed a change was made from earlier photos of the figures. Willow was supposed to come with the wand and baby Elora Danan. Now he comes with a sword. After digging, I found that the version I initially saw was only available at ShopDisney. The two-figure pack is $19.99 but is currently on backorder.
Super7
Super7
An aspiring Nelwyn wizard, Willow’s quest to return baby Elora Danan to her fellow Daikini soon turns into an epic adventure with the fate of the kingdom hanging in the balance!
The film’s titular character comes with a sword taller than him and a fabric cape.
Super7
If roguish disgraced knight Madmartigan can manage to stay out of his own way, he may yet be enough of a hero to keep Willow and Elora Danan from the clutches of Queen Bavmorda!
The greatest swordsman in the land! Madmartigan comes with a sword, but you’ll have to add your own yelling sound effects.
Super7
As warrior princess, Sorsha is tasked with finding and returning Elora Danan to Queen Bavmorda to prevent the evil sorceress’ prophesied downfall, but her loyalty will soon be tested!
Sorsha is the character who comes with the most accessories. She has a removable helmet to show off her striking red hair. Also included with the figure are her backpack quiver, bow, and sword.
Super7
As the leader of Queen Bavmorda’s army, General Kael’s most important task is finding baby Elora Danan™ and delivering her to the queen.
General Kael comes with his vast signature serrated sword and a fabric cape. He and Madmartigan were the action figures we wanted most as kids. He was our late-’80s stand-in for Darth Vader.
Super7
Evil Nockmaar Queen Bavmorda will stop at nothing to find and eliminate Elora Danan, the baby girl who has been prophesied to be her downfall!
The nasty Bavmorda does not come with an accessory, but her right hand is molded to hold something.
Willow was a dark fantasy film released in 1988 that starred Warwick Davis in the title role. It followed the story of the young Nelwyn rescuing a child of destiny with a special birthmark, while also trying to become a great sorcerer to stand against evil. The film was not a blockbuster hit during its theatrical run but managed to find a cult following with home video releases afterward. Now after 30 years, Lucasfilm returns to the world of Willow with a series that acts as a sequel to the original film. But does Willow the series on Disney Plus echo the same resonance that its predecessor once did? The two-episode premiere of the show gives everyone a look into what to expect going forward, but it might not be everything fans were hoping for.
The series takes place many years after the events of the movie. Queen Bavmorda was defeated and Willow became the High Aldwin of his village. At the same time, Sorsha became queen and married Madmartigan after their victory over her mother, leading to the birth of twins. During this long time of peace, Sorsha and Willow decide to hide the young child he once found until the day comes when she must train in magic to stand against a new evil, the Gales. It’s here where the series truly begins, following a new group of heroes that embark on a quest to new lands and new dangers in preparation for battle against the Gales.
The first two episodes of the series pack a lot of information, trying to explain what led up to the present day after the original movie and set up the plot for the series. The new cast of characters seems likable at first but quickly becomes uninteresting by the end of both episodes. There’s a growing love between Princess Kit and her childhood friend Jade, who wants to be a knight in service to the crown.
Their romance comes off a bit heavy-handed in the first episode to make their relationship obvious, followed by predictable bickering towards an outcome the show wants them to go. It feels like some moments take up way too much time away from the larger plot being set up in favor of showing Kit and Jade interact on screen. Whether this will have a satisfying payoff by the time the season ends is anybody’s guess, but it’s a rocky start.
But what about Willow himself? The titular sorcerer doesn’t show up till the very end of the first episode and then finally has a stronger presence in the second. There’s a lot of exposition about what happened to him between the time of the original film and the series. Warwick Davis does a solid job reprising his role, but there are moments where the monologues he has sound awkwardly delivered. It’s to a point where he should’ve had another take to deliver his dialogue with more seriousness. But outside those few moments, he does get to shine in others where Willow’s wisdom and age are on full display. The character has gone through a lot since we last saw him. Unfortunately, we don’t get a lot of magical displays from Willow in the first two episodes, which hopefully isn’t an indication of what will happen for most of the series.
The rest of the cast has their ups and downs, with the standout being Amar Chadha-Patel as Boorman. He’s more of the comic relief of the group with an underlying seriousness and history that will hopefully unfold as the plot progresses. Not all of his jokes land, but there are a few funny moments he manages to pull off. On the flip side of this, Erin Kellyman as Jade and Tony Revolori as Prince Graydon is more one-note in comparison. Jade is headstrong towards being a loyal and disciplined knight, while Graydon comes off as a cowardly prince who isn’t all that he seems. The two of them get a lot of screen time in the first two episodes but haven’t really gotten to display the interesting depth to them as Boorman does when in a scene. Hopefully, the action that comes in subsequent episodes will make up for this and give each of them better displays of their characters.
To its credit, the presentation of Willow as a series looks pretty good. The landscapes that the party travels through a great tone of adventure that any fantasy quest should have. While at the same time the enemies who appear briefly in the first two episodes have a dark and foreboding presence to them. It might not feel as threatening as it could possibly be, but as more about the Gales is uncovered the dark forces could take on a more twisted appearance.
The first two episodes of Willow the series are an okay start. It’s not quite hitting the ground running as much as it is stumbling forward, especially with how many things outside the main plot are given attention. The full series is set to have eight episodes in total for the first season. With another six to be released, hopefully, more interesting parts of the larger plot will unfold and expand upon the world of Willow for fans who have waited a long time to see what happens next.
Have you gotten a chance to watch the Willow series on Disney Plus? Have you wanted to see more Willow all these years? Post a comment down below and let us know your thoughts!
