Animania has been running since 2002 and it's on again, kicking off in Sydney on the 20th of March at Australian Technology Park.

There will be heaps of stuff running all day - video games, karaoke, workshops and the Australian heat of the World Cosplay Summit. There's also a screening room which will be showcasing some of our anime titles over the past twelve months.

Tickets are on sale now - remember that they're 20% cheaper when you buy 'em before the day...and don't forget to drop by the Siren Visual booth and say hi!

On the eve his Australian tour, Richard Dawkins has spoken with ABC Radio's Mark Colvin. You can listen in here.

Richard Dawkins' Australian tour begins tonight (March 4) at the Brisbane Concert Hall.

Tune into ABC TV at 9:30 pm, Thursday March 11 and catch the Australian television debut of Bastardy.

Watch a preview and read about the screening here at the ABC site.

In a medieval era where the merciless and cruel reign of the ruling  Ancient Kingdom is in league with a demonic monarchy (demonarchy?) with a thirst for human sacrifice. On the fictional island of Erin, the Ancient Kingdom hold power - with the strength of their rebelion resting on the human sacrifice of priestess Riannon.

Presented in a collector's slipcase, TEARS TO TIARA is a return to the sword and sorcery tale of old, rebelious good versus accepted evil in a classic narrative style. 26 episodes unfolding an alchemical fantasy epic. View the opening sequence here.

The summer of 1965 saw Koichi Ose tour Australia with his hugely popular Samurai stage show. Thousands of children flocked to greet the Japanese star, waving their Samurai swap-cards (see below) and dodgy tin-can shuriken.

We've had a flood of emails from nostalgic Samurai fans, with a few having dug deep into their archives to unearth press-clippings, swap cards and memorabilia. Below we have Koichi Ose signing an autograph for one lucky lil' ninja (thanks to Greg Newman www.newmedia.com.au). I wonder what their exchange was??

The best caption to this image will win a copy of The Samurai - Season One: Spy Swordsman! Email your entries to info [at] sirenvisual.com.au (entries close this Friday, February 26 at 5pm). Good luck!

Coming soon from Siren Visual...Ghost Hound.

Written by Masamune Shirow (Ghost in the Shell, Appleseed) and directed by Ryutaro Nakamura (Lain, Rec).

Ghost Hound is the story of seemingly mismatched children struggling to find the truth that has been absent from their lives - from the remnants of their damaged past, to overcoming rural isolation, the ennui of adolescence and the mysteries of their seemingly paranormal childhood. If you're into surreal anime with an eerie, paranormal bent...read on...

News just in is that Bastardy has picked up the Prix Special Du Jury at the Pacific International Documentary Film Festival (Festival International du Film Documentaire Oceanien -  FIFO) which was held in Tahiti last week. There's also an interview with Amiel on the FIFO site (translated). Congratulations, Amiel!

Bastardy screens on ABC TV, 9:30pm Thursday March 11.

We've got three copies of Jack Charles' 7" vinyl single to give away to the next three orders for Bastardy via our webstore.

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There are new restrictions on how material for an R18+ film is displayed in South Australia. Basically, if a store is selling or renting R18+ material (doesn't matter whether it's CLERKS, CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST or CONSENTING ADULTERY) it has to be displayed in a different aisle, a different shelving case, a different stand or different table. Not only that, but the restricted material may "bear no images or markings other than the name of the film in letters of 10 millimetres or less". So...uh...hmmm....

These new laws take hold as of Sunday January 10. Don't worry guys - you can still...