Organic Hobby, Inc in conjunction with Beagles proudly introduces its three new products for the U.S. market, Shining Tears “Seena, Houmei & Maple.”

Organic Hobby, Inc in conjunction with Beagles proudly introduces its three new products for the U.S. market, Shining Tears “Seena, Houmei & Maple.”

"Seena, Houmei & Maple" are the heroines from the PlayStation 2 game, "Shining Tears X Wind," developed by Nextech and Sega. “Shining Tears X Wind” presents us an adapted version of the Shining Wind's story, seen through Souma's perspective. It is directed by Hiroshi Watanabe and produced by Studio Deen the PlayStation 2 game, "Shining Tears."

The following three figures set to be released in August are:

- Seena is the leader of the Luminous Knights (an independent mercenary group) and one of the heroines from Shining Tears X Wind. The crystal doll eyes "Seena" is an 8" tall PVC figure fully painted and comes in a window box. She is being introduced in her mercenary costume. SRP: $120.00.

- Houmei is the Priestess of Seiran's Tower of Rain Water and one of the heroines from Shining Tears X Wind. The crystal doll eyes "Houmei" is an 8" tall PVC figure fully painted and comes in a window box. She is being introduced in her removable kimono. SRP: $120.00.

- Maple is one of the heroines from Shining Tears X Wind. The crystal doll eyes "Maple" is a 13" tall PVC figure fully painted and comes in a window box. She is being introduced in her fairy costume with translucent and transparent feathers. SRP: $240.00.

Organic Hobby is one of the largest Hobby and Toys makers/manufacturers in Japan and is also very popular for its specialty in "Anime & Manga" industry. Organic Hobby, Inc (U.S Office) is introducing these and other unique products based on J-POP culture to U.S. markets and customers. All of our company's product can be found throughout our official distributors such as AAA Anime, Diamond, 88 Dragon Trading, Entertainment Earth, BBCW, Yes Anime, etc...

Join CollectionDX's own Joshua Bernard and other panelists for a lively talk on Korean toys and their fascinating origins in the interplay between Korean, Japanese and American pop cultures. Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 6:30 PM at the The Korea Society, NYC

Cross-Cultural Traffic: Toying with Brands, Borders and Bootlegs

Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 6:30 PM
The Korea Society
950 Third Avenue @ 57th Street, Eighth Floor

http://www.koreasociety.org/arts/gallery/cross-cultural_traffic_toying_with_brands_borders_and_bootlegs.html

Please join us for a lively talk on Korean toys and their fascinating origins in the interplay between Korean, Japanese and American pop cultures. This panel is presented in conjunction with our current traveling exhibition, Toy Stories: Souvenirs from Korean Childhood.

Panelists:

• Joshua Bernard, editor, CollectionDX.com
• Eric Nakamura, publisher, Giant Robot Magazine
• Joanne Rudis, design director, Fisher Price/Mattel
• Seho Kim, creative director, The Korea Society

$10 (members) and $15 (non-members)
RSVP to (212)759-7525, ext. 355 or heewon.ny@koreasociety.org or
register online at www.koreasociety.org.

QUEEN BE@RBRICK 100% ? 400% SET

QUEEN BE@RBRICK 100% ? 400% SET from Medicom Toy. You get one small and one large Be@rbrick, both with the Queen crest printed on the chest.

Preorder open until May 23, one set per address. Will ship in August 2008. 6,090 yen.

Can't afford the insanely expensive Brave Gokin Dancouga? CM's has an affordable alternative.

CM's corporation announces the Mecha Action Series Dancouga Nova. This ABS / PVC figure stands 200mm tall (about 8 inches) and will run you 8,820 yen. Due June 2008

Organic Hobby, Inc in conjunction with Happinet proudly introduces its new product for the U.S. market, “Space Adventure Cobra Collection Figure.”

Organic Hobby, Inc in conjunction with Happinet proudly introduces its new product for the U.S. market, “Space Adventure Cobra Collection Figure.”

"Space Adventure Cobra Collection Figure" is based on a sci-fi manga created by Buichi Terasawa, later turned into an anime movie and a TV series. The series features the infamous space-pirate Cobra who was once forced to hide from enemies by surgically altering his face and erasing his own memory. "Space Adventure Cobra Collection Figure" is a ten piece assortment (full color and rare color) of 5" scale trading figures and includes three secret items. Each figure comes in a closed box along with a handy ten piece counter display case.

- "Space Adventure Cobra Collection Figure" is set to be released this July with a SRP of $14.50.

Organic Hobby is one of the largest Hobby and Toys makers/manufacturers in Japan and is also very popular for its specialty in "Anime & Manga" industry. Organic Hobby, Inc (U.S Office) is introducing these and other unique products based on J-POP culture to U.S. markets and customers. All of our company's product can be found throughout our official distributors such as AAA Anime, Diamond, Double Dragon, Entertainment Earth, BBCW, Yes Anime, etc...

Amok Time partners with MGM to produce all new collectibles - "Killer Klowns from Outer Space", "IT! The Terror From Beyond Space", and "Blacula"

1) Killer Klowns from Outer Space "In Space No One Can Eat Ice-Cream!"
The first non-zombie 7in scale action figure line will feature all new designs sure to "knock your block off!" As with our other Day of the Dead action figures they are in scale with Movie Maniacs, Cult Classics and Now Playing figures. Our first, in a series of Killer Klowns action figures, will be shown exclusively in Horrorhound Magazine issue # 12. Get a first look at the prototype in person at the Pittsburgh Horrorhound Weekend Convention June 20-22nd. Come to the show and check it out!

2) IT! The Terror From Beyond Space "IT Breathes, IT Hunts, IT Kills!"
Before Alien there was "IT"! The classic 50's sci-fi shocker will be a 1/6th scale collectors figure. As with our other collectors figures they are in scale with Sideshow, Hot Toys and Dragon figures. This amazing collectible will be approx 13.5in tall!

3) Blacula "His Bite Was Outta Site"
The Soul Cinema classic will be a 1/6th scale collectors figure. As with our other 1/6th collectors figures they are in scale with Sideshow, Hot Toys and Dragon figures. This figure features William Marshall as Blackula with interchangeable expression heads!

PLEASE NOTE: Products will not be available till late 2008.
All products will be available for pre-order (wholesale and retail) starting June 2nd.

Collector Favorite Gets A Heroic Upgrade

Not The Same Bat: RLC™ 1966 TV Series BATMOBILE™!
Collector Favorite Gets A Heroic Upgrade

Released as a Hot Wheels® 2007 New Models edition, the 1966 TV Series Batmobile™ was an instant sensation with collectors -- but harder to find than the elusive Batcave™. We got the message like a Bat Signal™ on a dark night… and POW! BAM! WHOMP! Here’s a special Red Line Club™ edition of the Dynamic Duo’s heroic ride!

The one-week Priority Window for RLC™ members only begins Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 9:00 AM PT and will end at 11:00 AM PT on Monday, May 19. Note that this edition will be made to order, meaning if you want one, this is the bat time – the only bat time – you’ll be able to order one.

This edition appears as it would have if we’d manufactured it back in 1968 with the original batch of Hot Wheels cars. It features a Spectraflame® finish, Neo-Classics™ Redline® wheels, and a full-metal chassis -- all for the first time on this casting! This is just the vehicle you need when you’re running down all the criminals in Gotham City™, and you still want to do it in high style:

• Spectraflame® true black finish
• Red pinstripes and Batman™ logo tampo
• Neo-Classics™ Redline® wheels
• Full-metal chassis
• Clear windshield
• Black interior
  

Each package features brand new artwork of the car by Otto Kuhni, an individually numbered holographic sticker and ships in a Hot Wheels® Kar Keepers® case. Priced at $14.99 each plus S&P, the RLC™ 1966 TV Series Batmobile™ will be produced ONLY in the quantity of the orders we receive during the one-week Priority Window.

Don’t forget: Club members earn an RLC™ Rewards Point for each car purchased (purchase limit of four per membership).

Additional details of a Red Line Club membership can be found here:

http://www.hotwheelsshop.com/store/hwprodc.php?p_page_id=122313&p_display_group_id=494You

Offer opens to RLC™ members only for a one-week Priority Window: 5/13/08, 9:00 AM PT

This movie reduced me to a 7 year old, and I loved every minute of it.

Let me preface this by saying that I love a lot of crappy movies. I am no means qualified to review any movie, due to the fact that I love films like Xanadu.

My first memory of anime (not that I knew it at the time) was Speed Racer. It was the first show that my parents remember me being insane over. I must have been 2 or 3 years old, and I have a vague memory of being in footie pajamas and watching it on a black and white TV.

It was probably the exposure to this show at that early of an age that imprinted my fondness for Japanese animation.

So naturally, when I heard that the Wachowski's (the creators of the Matrix trilogy) were making a live-action Speed Racer movie, I was thrilled. I love the Matrix movies (yes, ALL of them) and I could only wonder what they were going to do with my childhood hero.

What they did do was bring Speed Racer to life in a way that I never could have imagined. This movie is a fast-paced action-packed kids movie. That is not to say that adults won't like it too, but they have to be the kind of adult that has a bit of kid in them. Those going into this movie expecting high art will be disappointed. Those expecting a visual spectacle like they have dropped acid on the Shinkansen will be delighted.

For those of you not familiar, Speed Racer was the US version of Japan's Mach Go Go Go!, a story about a boy who could drive like a demon on wheels. The US version was campy and good-natured, but the car races and the gadgets and the fantastic visuals what really sold the show. The Wachowski brothers must have been huge fans, because there are so many good tributes in here that any fan of Speed Racer will be going "ooh OOH!" throughout the picture.

For me to talk about the plot here is not necessary. Speed Racer likes to drive fast. It's in his blood. His brother dies during his childhood, and now Speed is coming into his own as a legendary racer. Team Speed gets an offer from a major corporation to sponsor the team, and Speed gets a lesson in corporate evil. Oh yeah, there are also Ninjas, Monkeys, Piranhas, candy, milk, flinging poo, and heart attack-inducing racing.

What really did it for me with Speed Racer is just how fun the whole thing was. All the colors are saturated to the point of being like a world seen through a Jolly Rancher candy. This is not reality. This is a world of fancy cars and futuristic cities. There are loads of great details all over the place, but there were a few things that the Wachowski brothers did that no other comic book/anime has managed to do so far:

Dont f*ck with the Mach 5. Or the costumes.

The Mach 5, like you knew it from the show, is there. Exactly. It's not made "extreme", nor does it have flames on it. It is EXACTLY as it should look in real life. And it gets a LOT of screen time. Sure, there is a Mach 4 and a Mach 6, but those were made for a different purpose. And the same goes for the character designs and costumes. Speed, Trixie, Pops, Spridle, Chim-Chim - all look like they just stepped out of the show. And they all ACT like they came from the show. Hell, Speed jumps out of the car at the end and does this pose that only fans of the show would really get. Even the bad guys have bad 60s anime hairstyles. It's just awesome.

No corporate sponsorship

You watch movies today, and its likely you are bombarded by obvious product placement throughout the movie. This annoys me to no end. In the world of Speed Racer, billboards are everywhere, the cities are lit up like Neo Tokyo. You would think that the producers would have sold this thing to every company that wanted their soda on a billboard. Fortunately, there is none of this. There is No McDonalds. No Pepsi. No Doritos. In fact, I couldn't find a single product placement in the entire movie. Considering one of the main plot points is about how Corporations are the Devil, this shouldn't be a huge surprise, but STILL it is a welcome change from the status quo.

It should go without saying that the visual effects in Speed Racer are amazing. But you don't get a good idea really until you see it on the big screen. Yes, the movie is mostly digital, and has a very cartoony look, but that was the idea. When people get into fights, the screen slows down and motion lines fill the screen, just like in anime. The cars defy the laws of physics in tracks that just could not ever exist. The details are sharp and each race is treated with respect - each has a story with it to advance the plot. While it is eye candy, it is not JUST eye candy.

Readers of CollectionDX will probably love this movie. Kids will love this movie. People who are prone to seizures will not.

Oh yeah, and Christina Ricci is smokin' hot in it.

Go see it and have fun, and then let us know what you think!

Figures and vehicles from Gonzo's 2008 anime Blassreiter

These figures are from the new Blassreiter anime, done by famous animation house GONZO.

BR-01 is 140mm tall and is due in July for 3,990

Blassreiter Cycle, as part of the Perfect Piece line:

350cm long, Due September for 10,290 yen

Two limited releases of popular brave series characters, done in metallic finishes.

CM's is releasing two HK exclusive Metallic finish Sunrise Mecha Action Series PVC toys. Both are due May 2008.