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Funimation Gets Live-Action Kamui, RoboGeisha Films
posted on by Egan Loo
The North American video distributor Funimation has announced on Tuesday that it is releasing the live-action action films Kamui and RoboGeisha in 2010. Yōichi Sai's Kamui film adapted Sanpei Shirato's Kamui Gaiden manga about a rogue ninja on the run from his own clan. Ken'ichi Matsuyama (Death Note movies' L, Detroit Metal City's Sōichi/Krauser II) starred in the film's title role, and Kankurō Kudō (Ping Pong, Ikebukuro West Gate Park) wrote the screenplay.
Viz Media published the original manga under the name The Legend of Kamui. The film just opened in Japan on September 19, and Manga Entertainment announced on New Year's Day that it will release the film in the United Kingdom this summer. Yahoo! Japan is streaming several videos for the film.
Noboru Iguchi wrote and directed RoboGeisha as his latest over-the-top action comedy in the vein of The Machine Girl, his 2007 film which has amassed a cult following in Japan and overseas. Photo idol Aya Kiguchi starred as Yoshie Kasuga, a clumsy geisha's attendant who is kidnapped with her sister KIKUE, and both are transformed into killing machines.
The film opened in Japan on October 3. The Japanese website for RoboGeisha is streaming two trailers, and Spotted Productions has posted a two-minute trailer and five unaired television commercials on the YouTube website. Media Blasters released The Machine Girl in North America on DVD.
Images © 2009 Kamui Gaiden Film Partners
© RoboGeisha Film Partners 2009
Update: More background information and links added.
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