shinsuke sato

ALICE IN BORDERLAND: Netflix Debuts New Stills From The Upcoming Second Season Of The Hit Survival Series

Netflix is further entrenching itself with some of Japan’s top creatives to bring stories to life with TBS Holdings Inc.’s live-action production brand, THE SEVEN, whose roster includes none other than Akira Morii who is a key name behind the production of several upcoming shows. Such title would be Alice In Borderland, which debuted a trio of first look stills over the summer and now has some new photos to share which you can view in the gallery above. Kento Yamazaki stars in the film along with Tao Tsuchiya in the series which is based on Haro Aso’s hit manga, and centers on a slacker who gets trapped in a death game dimension with no direct way out, except to play and survive each game. You can read my review of season one by clicking here ahead of the season two premiere which is dated for December 22. The show […]

KINGDOM 2 Continues The Sweeping Warring States Action Saga In The New Official Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Call it obligatory, call it obsessive, I don’t care. Any day a trailer gets launched for a Shinsuke Sato flick is a good day, much like Thursday over here in the west as Japan is just now waking up to Friday in their time zone with a brand-spanking new trailer for Warring States-set epic, Kingdom 2, and that’s all I’m gonna call it until it gets a proper title translated so that I don’t end up butchering it. The sequel is based on Yasuhisa Hara’s 2006 manga which evidently led to Shueisha producing a live-action short ten years later, which in turn, paved the way for the amazing 2019 feature film adaptation from Toho, and you can read about that film here. Kento Yamazaki, who is running high on momentum this year as he is also set to reprise his role for a second season of Sato’s hit survival series, […]

The Sweeping, Epic Journey Continues In The First Official Trailer For Shinsuke Sato’s KINGDOM Sequel!

Lee B. Golden III

Fans eager to follow-up with Shinsuke Sato’s long-celebrated 2019 period epic, Kingdom, can take a seat for the new official sequel trailer which launched on Sunday, early Monday in Japan, featuring the film’s theme song, “Live” by Mr. Children. A short version of the above trailer can be viewed here. You can also catch an earlier teaser here, in addition to a second promo back in January featuring a character fave now portrayed by actress Nana Seino, as based on Yasuhisa Hara’s 2006 manga series. Seino is one of the newest additions to the cast led by returning star Kento Yamazaki, back to reprise his role next to Kanna Hashimoto and Ryo Yoshizawa, and actor Takao Ozawa. Amane Okayama (Samurai Shifters), Takahiro Miura (The Great Yokai War: Guardians), Takayuki Hamatsu (One Cut Of The Dead), Etsushi Toyokawa (Samurai Marathon), Tsutomu Takahashi (New Interpretation Records of the Three Kingdoms) and Kiyohiko […]

Shinsuke Sato’s KINGDOM Sequel Campaign Kicks Off 2022 With New Teaser Announcement And Artwork Goods!

Lee B. Golden III

We now have our first look at new teaser and poster art for the brand new Kingdom sequel from Toho, thanks to the film’s campaign announcing a Summer 2022 release. Filmmaker Shinsuke Sato (Bleach, Alice In Borderland) is back in the director’s chair with a mix of new and returning cast members headlining, including Kento Yamazaki, Kanna Hashimoto, Ryo Yoshizawa and Takao Ozawa all reprising their roles. Kingdom was released in 2019, based on Yasuhisa Hara’s 2006 Weekly Young Jump publication. The story for the inaugural epic is set against the backdrop of Qin – one of the seven major territories in 255 B.C. during the Warring States period – where a young war orphan named Shin (Yamazaki) bans together with a tribal drifter, and an exiled king with a keen likeness to Shin’s departed best friend, to help unify China by defeating the king’s evil younger half-brother who’s usurped […]

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MY HERO ACADEMIA: Shinsuke Sato Announced To Direct Live Action Adaptation For Legendary

Edward Orndorff

As reported by The Wrap, the director for the upcoming Legendary Films adaption of the My Hero Academia franchise has been named. Japanese director Shinsuke Sato will be heading up the film that was announced in 2018. One of the most well known filmmakers from Japan, Sato is experienced with handling shonen anime adaptions. having previously handled the well received adaption of Tite Kubo’s Bleach manga series. He was most recently praised for the film “Kingdom” which was released in 2019, and 2020’s “Alice in Borderland” from Netflix. My Hero Academia is a manga series that currently runs in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in Japan, published by Shueisha. Written by Horikoshi Kohei, since it’s 2014 debut My Hero Academia has become an international hit. The manga has over 50 million volumes in circulation and has won numerous awards and high popularity poll rankings, movies, video games, and a wealth of […]

Now On Netflix: Shinsuke Sato’s ALICE IN BORDERLAND Delivers Exhilirating Action Sci-Fi With Chilling Effect

Lee B. Golden III

Standing at eight episodes in total with close to an hour for each, it’s difficult to get past the need for a more brisk pace in dialogue and story delivery when it comes to episodic dramas. With Shinsuke Sato’s Alice In Borderland, it certainly helps that this one is an action-packed stimulant from a filmmaker credited for some of the most ample, worthwhile successes in action direction. From the first episode onward, manga author Haro Aso’s own titular work is the basis for this story as we meet Ryohei Arisu, (Kento Yamazaki), a gaming addict and overall slacker. When he’s not wasting away at the controls to the chagrin of his much more successful, albeit judgemental brother and father, he escapes from under their microscope to hang out with friends Karube and Chota. After getting chewed out by his family and thrown out, Arisu convenes with his friends at the […]

Live-Action BLEACH Director On Sequel Hopes: “I Am Looking Forward To It.”

Lee B. Golden III

The one other film sequel that’s been on the hopeful end of my mind has been a follow-up to the hit Warner Bros. Japan 2018 anime adaptation, Bleach, from director Shinsuke Sato, and not much has been said about any sequel prospects since the film landed in theaters and on Netflix that year. That all changed with a few words by Sato to The Diva Velez in a republished interview at Screen Anarchy where the two sat down to discuss the director’s latest series, Alice In Borderland, which is currently streaming all eight episodes on Netflix and starring Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya. At the tail end of the interview following mentions of the director’s thoughts on a second season of the series, as well as a second chapter to last year’s epic live-action Kingdom adaptation which also stars Yamazaki, The Diva Velez jokingly alludes to one other bit of […]

WATER MARGIN: Shinsuke Sato Boards Futuristic Take On Ancient Chinese Epic For Netflix

Lee B. Golden III

Director Shinsuke Sato just boarded his first Netflix movie deal in an exclusive report for Water Margin, via Deadline. He’ll be partnering with Screen Arcade whose Eric Newman and Bryan Unkeless are producing with Scott Morgan as exec producer. The film will steer away from the period setting ofn Shi Nai’an’s 14th century novel – about a band of 108 outlaws granted amnesty by the government and sent on campaigns to stave off foreign invaders. As Deadline’s Justin Kroll tells it: The film is a futuristic take on one of the great classical novels of Chinese literature, The Water Margin is an epic action-adventure saga filled with glory, romance, and intrigue. The story explores timely questions about loyalty, leadership, and our duty to take on society’s problems no matter the personal cost. Deepwater Horizon scribe Matt Sand is penning the script. Sato’s never left my radar in the last eighteen years since […]

ALICE IN BORDERLAND: The Death Games Begin In The Official Series Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

If you take away nothing else from the work of Bleach helmer Shinsuke Sato, take the fact that he nearly never disappoints when it comes to storytelling. His latest work, Alice in Borderland, looks to continue that legacy heading toward its December 10 stream date at 3:00 a.m. EST on Netflix, and we finally have an official trailer to show for it. Arisu—a listless, jobless and video-game-obsessed young man—suddenly finds himself in a strange, emptied-out version of Tokyo in which he and his friends must compete in dangerous games in order to survive. In this strange world, Arisu meets Usagi, a young woman who’s navigating the games alone. Together, they set out to unravel one mystery after another as they risk their lives and confront what it means to live. Sato ran point for all eight episodes, based on Haro Aso’s Shogakukan man publication. The film marks a reunion for […]

ALICE IN BORDERLAND: ‘Kingdom’ Star And Director Reunite For New 2020 Netflix Original Series, 14 More Added To The Cast

Lee B. Golden III

Some of the best news that arose this year was the development of a sequel to Shinsuke Sato’s festive manga adaptation, Kingdom, though I can’t speak for whether or not we’ll get more Bleach, which is what I was also hoping for. That doesn’t undercut Sato’s efforts by any measure, and by all means, his latest push with Netflix original series, Alice In Borderland, is entirely welcome, as are the new cast led by Sato cohorts, Kento Yamazaki (Kingdom, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K) Tao Tsuchiya (Library Wars: Book Of Memories, Mare). Based on Haro Aso’s Shogakukan publication, Sato is directing the eight-episode series he’s written with Yoshiki Watabe and Yasuko Kuramitsu, in which Yamazaki plays Ryohei Arisu, a listless, jobless video gamer who suddenly finds himself in a strange, emptied-out version of Tokyo in which he and his friends must compete in dangerous games in order to survive. […]

Shinsuke Sato Inherits A KINGDOM Sequel!

Lee B. Golden III

Buried in all the terrible goings-on of news in the world in the last few weeks, at least one gem came to pass and just recently made my way with word that a sequel has been greenlit to follow-up Bleach helmer Shinsuke Sato’s hit manga adaptation, Kingdom. The official website presented an illustration from Kingdom creator, mangaka Yasuhisa Hara, to signal the sequel, formalizing the return of actors Kento Yamazaki and Ryō Yoshizawa, and actress Kanna Hashimoto to reprise their roles. Indeed, Sato himself, whose work I’ve enjoyed since The Princess Blade with Yumiko Shaku years ago, will return to the helm. Sequel details are pending, although those who are more apt to the franchise may have an idea for what may come after Sato’s intricate and sweeping Warring States Period story, about a young war orphan destined to become a hero following the death of his best friend. Designed […]

ALICE IN BORDERLAND: ‘Kingdom’ Star And Director Tackle New Netflix Survival Thriller Series

Lee B. Golden III

Netflix is announcing an all-new original series with Alice In Borderland, based on Haro Aso’s popular manga reteaming Kingdom star and director, actor Kento Yamazaki and celebrated director Shinsuke Sato. Also starring is actress Tao Tsuchiya who last paired with Sato for 2015’s Library Wars: The Last Mission. Yamazaki will play Alice, an aimless, jobless videogame addict who finds himself swept into a desolate version of Tokyo with his two best friends when a strange light appears. They soon discover they must fight for their lives, competing in one dangerous game after another in order to survive with the help of extraordinary climber, Usagi, played by Tsuchiya. Aso’s thrilling life-or-death game manga originally published in 2010 and onward from Shonen Sunday Super/Weekly Shonen Sunday. Sato is best known for hits like The Princess Blade, The Library Wars trilogy, Gantz, Bleach and Inuyashiki and now takes to a limited U.S. theatrical […]

Fantasia Review: Shinsuke Sato’s KINGDOM Is A Soaring, Sweeping Epic That Dares You To Dream

Lee B. Golden III

Following the success of Bleach, I least expected Shinsuke Sato to have directed his latest rags-to-renown action adventure epic, Kingdom – a title in what would be a series of thrilling back-to-back films from a director who first landed on my radar around 2004 with a DVD copy of The Princess Blade from A.D. Vision. Actress Yumiko Shaku starred in that one and showcased key action direction by Donnie Yen, and it aptly invoked Sato in his early growth as a filmmaker who knows action. I still have yet to see all his films, but to date, he’s never let me down; I toiled through the Bleach anime before the film and save for what you can read for yourself, I can easily say it is one of the best films I’ve ever seen, and I’m proud to say I’m not alone in that opinion. Instantaneously, upon seeing the teasers […]

[UPDATED] KINGDOM: ‘Bleach’, ‘Inuyashiki’ Director’s Latest Arrives In North America August 16

Lee B. Golden III

Three years since actor Kento Yamazaki took the spotlight for a ceremonial three-minute short celebrating the hit manga franchise, Kingdom, the JoJo’s Bizzare Adventure star is finally poised for a North American event screening on August 16. Niche distro banner Funimation Films acquired North American theatrical rights a few months ago to the Shinsuke Sato-directed action adventure epic which stars Yamazaki with actor Ryo Yoshizawa, and garnered upward of ¥5 billion after releasing in Japan back in April. Orphaned by war, a young boy and his friend dream of changing their fate and becoming the world’s greatest generals. And after his friend sacrifices himself to protect the future emperor, the young boy’s path to greatness is set in motion. Helping the King reclaim the throne puts the boy’s blade to the ultimate test as they go against deadly assassins, large armies, and the dangerous mountain clan. In a country torn […]