If you can't imagine an ape taking the lead role in a Chinese Opera , then you can't have heard about the new project from the masterminds of virtual alternative music act, The Gorillaz. Their new CD is based on the 21st century production of a Mandarin Opera reinterpreted by Gorillaz creators Damon Albarn )music( and artist Jamie Hewlett )visuals(. In celebration of simian-starring project "Monkey: Journey to the West",

Like you, we're continually surprised, moved, and entertained by the videos people post on YouTube. And, like you, we're occasionally dismayed when people use YouTube for less positive purposes. That's why we count on you to know our Community Guidelines and flag videos you believe don't belong on the site. We've recently made a change to our flagging menu we think you should know about: We replaced the category "minors fighting" with "youth violence.

Today we are pleased to announce that Japan will be hosting its own YouTube Live event on Sunday, November 23, in Tokyo, with the show available to view on the site for an audience across the globe. After the curtain falls on YouTube Live in San Francisco, YouTube Live TOKYO feat. iQ will kick into gear, featuring a mix of the best that Japan's user community has to offer and performances from topline Asian talent, including a star turn from pop sensation BoA .

We've heard lots of suggestions ever since we launched our new personalized homepage a few months ago. We just launched three of those suggestions to make your personalized homepage even more useful and customizable: You can now customize the number of videos shown within each section, as well as switch the layout between grid & list views. Want to see more subscription videos or friend actions each time you load your homepage?

Patti Smith, Madonna, Chrissie Hynde, Sleater-Kinney: they're fun, they're female and they definitely rock â€" but first they had to be found, which is where you come in' Because while the talent listed above has inspired legions of women to pick up a guitar, a microphone or a set of drum sticks to make their own music, now it's your turn to help kick-start the career of one of 10 semi finalists in CosmoStarLaunch's search for a superstar.

For months you've heard very little on the news but the latest twists and turns of this thrilling - though everlasting - presidential race. By now you've seen the debates , watched the campaign commercials , and hashed out the issues with friends. You've had celebrities , athletes , not to mention your mom , telling you about the importance of voting. Finally, the time to cast your ballot has arrived! In a number of states, like Ohio, Iowa, and North Carolina,

We've heard some of your concerns around trying to get the assistance you need when having an issue on the site. Our ultimate goal is to keep improving the product so you essentially won't need any help at all. We try our best to keep our Help Resources up to date with information about all of our features and policies, in addition to any current product issues or quirks. Most often,

Wayne Wang has solidified his reputation as one of the world's pre-eminent Asian-American filmmakers over the past three decades, directing features such as The Joy Luck Club , Smoke and Maid in Manhattan . So it is with great pleasure that we announce today, in partnership with Cinetic Media and Magnolia Pictures, the world premiere of his new film, The Princess of Nebraska , in the YouTube Screening Room . Along with its recently theatrically-released companion film,

Less than four weeks from today, one of the most exciting presidential campaigns in history will come to head, and millions of voters from every state in the nation will set out for the polls to cast their ballots. On November 4, we invite you to document your experiences on Election Day and share them with the world here on YouTube. Today, in partnership with PBS , YouTube presents Video Your Vote ,

The Spring Fashion Weeks may have ended but for some the desire to see inspiring style still lingers. Top designer Isaac Mizrahi always has fashion on the brain and is looking for creative style here on YouTube. He wants to see if our community can turn a fashion basic into something jaw dropping. So take out an old pair of jeans and a white t-shirt and create a look that shows off your skills no matter what they are.

We are starting to test full-length programming on YouTube, beginning with some fan favorites requested by you. Let's see if you know your full-length TV ... You asked to be beamed up with Scotty, to devise a world-saving weapon using only gum and paperclips, and to get your grub on at "The Peach Pit". So we're giving you full-length episodes of these shows and many others. These shows will be available in the new Theater View style we rolled out earlier this week,

James Nachtwey has spent his life documenting some of the most pressing conflicts, wars and critical social issues of our time , but today takes on the comparatively safe task of guest editing the YouTube homepage. Since his first assignment covering the troubles in Northern Ireland in 1981 â€" at the height of the IRA hunger strikes - he has traveled from the West Bank to Rwanda and from Bosnia to Afghanistan,

We have worked out the kinks and are now happy to announce the relaunch of the YourMoney channel, in association with Bank of America. With the economy foremost in the minds of almost everyone from Wall Street to Main Street, the YourMoney channel is YouTube's one-stop destination for expert financial insight. Whether you are looking for a high-level perspective on the state of today's financial system, investing tips,

When you view a YouTube video with a great soundtrack, you often see comments from YouTube users asking about the name of the song and where they can download it. Or when users watch the trailer for an upcoming video game, they want to know when it will be released and where they can buy it. Today, we're taking our first steps to providing YouTube users with this kind of instant gratification,

Two weeks ago, we announced Lionsgate's sponsorship of the YouTube Screening Room - our platform for premium film content from around the world - with a line-up of religious satires in honor of Bill Maher and Larry Charles' "Religulous" , which opened in theaters today. Now it's our great pleasure to bring you a round of films that examine the real lives of real people in conjunction with Oliver Stone's highly anticipated "W." ,

The U.S. presidential election is just over a month away, but you won't be able to exercise your right to vote on November 4 unless you've first registered to vote. And those deadlines are approaching fast - in many states, the deadline is next Monday, October 6. How do you find out where to register? Google has created a great maps platform into which you can type in your home address and get information on where to register in your state - you can find it at maps.google.

Today we announced YouTube Live, a celebration of the vibrant communities that exist on the site, to be held on November 22 in San Francisco and streamed for a potential worldwide audience of millions. YouTube users have been gathering informally for years, but this is the first time that YouTube is officially leaping off screens for an event unlike any other. With live performances, celebrity guests, original videos, surprise collaborations and much more,

Get a better handle on your finances with a collection of smart, sound videos on the Your Money channel, which launches today. With the markets in the headlines every day, people are seeking out more information on every subject from financial markets to personal finance and tips on debt management. Presented with Bank of America ,

YouTube Insight has helped you learn more about your YouTube videos, enabling you to establish when and where your videos prove popular. But what if you could learn not just which of your videos are hot on the site, but which specific parts of those videos are hotter than others? What if you could know exactly when viewers tend to leave your videos, or which scenes within a video they watch again and again? Happily,

In response to our call for aspiring journalists with untold stories to tell, reporters from around the globe have been sharing profiles of interesting, compelling individuals in their communities. Already, we've heard about a former truck driver who lost his job and found himself on the streets, a World War II veteran who served his country heroically on D-Day, and an 11-year-old baseball player diagnosed as deaf at the age of one.