Funimation have announced the US DVD release of 'Dragon Ball: Season One' for the 15th September 2009. The 5-disc set includes the first 31 episodes of the classic anime series, which tells the tale of an unusual boy and a blue haired girl who join forces to track down the seven magic Dragon Balls.

The first teaser has arrived for Mamoru Oshii‘s ('The Sky Crawlers') upcoming sci-fi action film, 'Assault Girls'. The project is a follow-up to his previous short films 'Assault Girl: Kentucky no Hinako' and 'Assault Girl 2', both of which were included as part of omnibus action movies.

Actor Hiroyuki Sanada ('The Twilight Samurai') has been cast in a new American noir-crime drama entitled 'Fallen Moon'. The film is being directed by Peter Medak ('The Krays') and tells the tale of a Japanese-born New York City detective who must investigate the murder of his estranged daughter.

CineAsia have announced the UK DVD and Blu-Ray releases of 'Ip Man' for the 26th October 2009. Directed by Wilson Yip ('SPL') and starring Donnie Yen, the film is a wartime period action-drama that brings the fascinating life of the legendary Wing Chun master, Yip Man to the big screen.

Japanese actress Miho Kanno will return to the big screen for director Daihachi Yoshida's 'Permanent Nobara'. The film is adapted from a manga by Rieko Saibara and will mark the first time that Kanno has appeared in a major movie role since the 2002 Takeshi Kitano film, 'Dolls'.

Kyo Hatsuki's risque romantic comedy manga, 'Inu-Neko' has been adapted into a live-action film. Tomomi Miyauchi, a 34-year-old actress who starred in the high brow 'Miniskirt Police' series, stars in the leading role alongside photo idol Charlotte Yabuki and Masato Uchiyama ('Kamen Rider Decade').

The Japanese horror movie 'Grotesque' has been refused a rating by the British Board of Film Classification. The UK DVD was due to be released by 4Digital Asia this month but the BBFC have stated that it features sexual sadism for its own sake and may involve a ''risk of harm'' to those viewing it.

Revolver Entertainment have announced the UK DVD release of 'Big Man Japan' for the 21st September 2009. The movie marks the feature film directorial debut of comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto and is a the satirical mockumentary that has been hailed as an "instant cult masterpiece".

During a recent interview, producer Northrop Davis announced that he has sold a pitch based on Yukito Kishiro's 'Battle Angel Alita' (GUNNM) science-fiction manga to 20th Century Fox. Davis also revealed that he has been pitching the 'Berserk', 'Baki The Grappler', and 'Barefoot Gen' manga to studios in Hollywood.

Maggie Q ('Naked Weapon') will co-star with Paul Bettany ('Gangster No. 1') in the upcoming live-action adaptation of the Korean comic, 'Priest'.  The original story followed an expert in ancient languages who accidentally resurrects an angel from Hell and must sell his soul to the devil to correct his mistake.