Martial arts action fantasy Bunraku to screen at West Coast anime convention |

Writer and director Guy Moshe’s Bunraku – which stars Josh Hartnett, Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson, Ron Perlman, Gackt, Kevin McKidd, Shun Sugata, Jordi Mollà, Emily Kaiho, Mike Patton, Neil D’Monte, Fernando Chien and Maxim Esterkin – will be screening at AM2 on Sunday, July 3rd, 2011 at 3:00 pm, in Video Room 1.

AM2 is a highly anticipated anime, manga and music convention that’s happening on 4th of July weekend. The event will host the Bunraku screening in advance of the martial arts action fantasy’s U.S. release, featuring Josh Hartnett (Sin City, Lost In Translation, Black Hawk Down), Demi Moore (Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, Austin Powers in Goldmember, Ghost), Woody Harrelson (Zombieland, No Country For Old Men, Cheers), Ron Perlman (Scorpion King: Book of the Dead, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Hellboy), along with international Japanese rocker Gackt.

Based on a 400-year-old form of Japanese puppet theatre, Bunraku is a classic tale re-imagined into an entirely fresh visual context, set in a unique world that mixes skewed reality with shadow-play fantasy. Set in a place where even the landscape can betray you, heroes triumph only because the force of their transforms and transcends both space and time. The world of Bunraku is past and present, fantasy and reality, Samurai and Western all combined. Like Sin City and 300, Bunraku gives classic conflict a whole new graphically supercharged dynamic. Resonating through a wide range of cultures and showcasing a mind-blowing array of martial arts disciplines, Bunraku is a fresh arena for breathtaking fight action.

A mysterious drifter (Josh Hartnett) and an ardent young Japanese warrior Yoshi (Gackt) both arrive in a town that has been terrorized by outrageous and virulent criminals. Each is obsessed with his separate mission, and guided by the wisdom of The Bartender (Woody Harrelson) at the Horseless Horseman Saloon, the two eventually join forces to bring down the corrupt and contemptuous reign of Nicola (Ron Perlman), the awesomely evil “woodcutter” and his lady Alexandra (Demi Moore), a femme fatale with a secret past.

Entrance to AM2 is free, but attendees can avoid the anticipated huge lines at autographs, premiere screenings, workshops, main events, concerts and panels by obtaining a Passport fast pass for the event. The Passport fast pass will also provide holders with premier seating options at Main Events and at Concert events as well as major discounts with theme parks, retailers and local restaurants.

Current Guests of Honors include Scandal, Sadie, Kanon Wakeshima, kanon x kanon, heidi., Gashicon, IBI and MINT, with more to be announced.

AM2’s current activities include an Exhibit Hall, AMV’s, Arcade, Summer Festival, World Cosplay Summit, Behind the Voice Actors Studio, Rum Party Pirates, Masquerade, Cosplay Chess, Dances, Fashion Shows, Table Top, Console Gaming, AniMaid Café, AniMaid Café Host Club, Workshops, Panels, Concerts and more.

Check out two images from Bunraku below (click for full-size).