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California's AM2 to Host U.S. Premiere of Live-Action Kaibutsu-Kun Film

The AM2 convention announced on Wednesday that the event will host the American premiere of Eiga Kaibutsu-kun, the 3D live-action film adaptation of Fujiko Fujio A's Kaibutsu-kun supernatural action manga starring 30-year-old Arashi band member Satoshi Ohno. The event will host two screenings of the film — the first will be exclusively for "Passport" ticket holders, and the second will be open to all attendees, with preferential seating for "Passport" ticket holders.

In its second year, AM2 will take place on June 15-17 at the Anaheim Convention Center and Anaheim Hilton in Anaheim, California. There is no charge for regular attendees.

Eiga Kaibutsu-kun opened in Japanese theaters in November 2011. Ohno previously starred in a live-action television series version and a spinoff television special of the Kaibutsu-kun manga in 2010.

Eiga Kaibutsu-kun's story follows Prince Taro (Kaibutsu-kun), the young prince of Kaibutsu Land. In the previous television series and spinoff, Kaibutsu-kun and his three companions Dracula, Wolfman, and Franken traveled to the human world to learn what it takes to become a ruler. In the film, at the ceremony for his succession to the throne, Kaibutsu-kun is booed by the crowd for being selfish. As a result, Kaibutsu-kun and his companions run away to the human world, but end up in the Curry Kingdom instead of Japan.

AM2 will also screen the live-action films Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (Gyakuten Saiban) and Kaiji 2 as well as the anime film Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos.

Image © Fujiko Studio, Shogakukan / 2011 Kaibutsu-kun: The Movie Production Committee