Geek of Oz

Ask Madman is BACK and yet again we've got some awesome questions answered by the Madman crew. One question in particular is quite a doozey and I've gotta say, Madman handle it really well.  Ask Madman answers the questions that you'd usually only get to ask at a convention and this volume is a cracker! With questions on anime, manga, J-Pop and cinema, this volume has got something for everyone! Got a question of your own? Make sure you head over to our Ask Madman form and submit your question for the next volume.  You've got a little something on your face... Adam: When do you plan to release The Raid 2 on Blu-ray? Also, if possible can you please release a version with a slipcover which matches the JB Hi-Fi exclusive version of the first film? As a major fan of both (loved the second in cinemas) this one deserves a special release! Cheers! Madman: We’ll be releasing it on August 6. There will be heaps of killer bonus content for both DVD ...

There's not all that much to be said about the latest Evangelion film to hit Australian shores apart from "wow". Reviews are generally written in order to influence the audiences decision making as to whether or not a film is worth their time and money. Realistically, Evangelion already has such a gigantic and rabid fan base that will flock to cinemas regardless of what the reviews say but, hey, it's worth a look. Be forewarned, not much can be said about this film without a certain amount of spoilers, however, they will be kept to a minimum.

Sydney's premiere anime convention, SMASH, has made yet ANOTHER massive announcement for this years con. Following the success of Japan Foundation's Evangelion expo and announcement of Evangelion 3.0 at Madman's REEL ANIME festival, SMASH announce the inclusion of Matsubara Hidenori! UPDATE: SMASH have confirmed that Hidenori-san will be holding art workshops at SMASH! Masakazu Morita , Haruko Momoi and now Matsubara Hidenori? Why isn't August here yet? Full details after the jump.

Currently touring Australia is the incredibly exciting Evangelion Art Exhibition. After wowing audiences on the Gold Coast, Shinji and friends will be heading to Sydney where the good folks at the Japan Foundation will be holding a very special Q&A with Japanese voice actress Yuko Miyamura, the voice of Asuka!  To add some icing to that already tasty cake, the Q&A will be facilitated by yours truly! Looking forward to seeing you there. Follow on after the jump for all of the details and don't forget to book ahead of time, seats are strictly limited!

Madman are bucking the trend this year by holding their biennial anime film festival only 1 year after the last! Are we complaining? No. And neither should you. Last year saw the release of From Up on Poppy Hill , Children Who Chase Lost Voices , Wolf Children and Berserk: The Egg of the King . This years line up is looking to be a MASSIVE one with the first announcement knocking everyone's socks off.  Check out the full press release after the jump!

It's nearly here! One of our most anticipated events of the year! The 2013 Evangelion Art Exhibition is only a couple of months away so put it in your diary. Not only will there be a whole bunch of art on display, but you will also be able to stock up on exclusive merchandise which will be available at each stop. So don't just put it in your diary, also START SAVING!  Evangelion has been a fan favourite since its release and was an introduction to anime for many an anime geek so needless to say, this exhibition is kind of a big deal. Follow on for more information.

Massive news for Evangelion fans and anime fans in general. Madman, Australia's premier anime distributor, are bringing an Evangelion Exhibition to our shores in 2013. Although there has been no information to suggest this fact, it could be speculated that the exhibitions release may coincide with a local release of Evangelion 3.0. Check out all the detail after the jump.

The Sydney Manga and Anime Show (SMASH!) is Sydney's ultimate day of Japanese pop culture and otaku lunacy. The most obvious and endearing factors into the success of SMASH is that it is a con for fans, by fans - which is probably why it is so much fun!  Today I had the pleasure of speaking to Thomas Munro, the President of SMASH about his geeky habits as well as the past, present and future of SMASH!

Back in March Australia's number 1 anime distributor, Madman, started taking votes for Australia's top 20 anime series of all time. Well Australia, your votes have been counted and the results are in.  As a thank you, Madman have also announced that all of the top 20 titles will be on sale so there's no reason to see what all the fuss if about! Check out the official press release after the jump!

Photo by Kerry Beyer While I was at Supanova Pop Culture Expo a few weeks ago I had the pleasure of speaking with Tiffany Grant! Best known for her portrayal of Asuka in the Evangelion franchise she has also racked up an astonishing career of voice over work. I specifically need to thank the good people at Supanova for organising my chat with Ms Grant, the always obliging and wonderful people at Madman and of course Tiffany Grant herself.

Before we proceed any further, you can read my review of Evangelion 1.11  here. "In the earliest battles against the monstrous Angels, young Eva pilots Shinji and Rei were forced to carry humanity's hopes on their shoulders. Now, with the deadly onslaught of the Angels escalating and the apocalyptic Third Impact looming, Shinji and Rei find their burden shared by two new Eva pilots, the fiery Asuka and the mysterious Mari. Manoeuvring their enormous Eva machines into combat, the four young souls fight desperately to save mankind from the heavens - but will they be able to save themselves?"

Nausicaa of the Valley of theWind, just one of Studio Ghibli's numerous masterpieces has bee released here in Australia on stunning BluRay HiDef by the good folks over at Madman. Follow on after the jump for my rundown of the film and BluRay features.

Madman, Australia's leading distributor of anime has released a dual language version of Evangelion 1.11: You are [not] Alone on DVD and Blu Ray. Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the best known and most successful Japanese animation franchises of all time. The original series was was released in 1995 followed by a number of additional movies, manga and an absolute swathe of merchandise including everything from action figures to gambling machines and cigarette lighters to cans of premixed coffee. When aired on SBS in Australia it quickly gained a strong following. Surrounded by shows such as Aeon Flux, MTV's Liquid Television and Eat Carpet it soon became the flagship title of the eclectic bunch.