When you think 3D TV, the possibilities are limitless. That game-winning touchdown pass spiraling out of your flat screen, alien invaders flying ships through the screen ... and yes, even naked women strutting their stuff in your living room.

It's this latter and controversial content that is fueling the 3D business in Japan right now, where a pair of porn stars are leading the charge in developing three-dimensional entertainment that is compatible with Sony (SNE) and Panasonic (PC) televisions.

I guess there are a lot of guys who will be buying Playboy (PLA) in order to read the articles in the third dimension ...

Friday's June edition of Hugh Hefner's periodical will come with its own pair of 3-D glasses. In fact, Hugh Hefner asked, "What would people most like to see in 3-D ... probably a naked lady."

Back in 2005, Disney (DIS) released a 3D movie called Chicken Little. It was definitely a key moment in the film business.

Since then, Hollywood has introduced 27 movies in the 3D format. Of course, the game-changer is Avatar, which generated $2.7 billion in worldwide receipts. As for 2010, there are 21 3D movies planned for release.

With the popularity of the movie Avatar, the 3D craze is going worldwide.

Sharp Corp. (SHCAY) plans to make small, 3D liquid crystal displays that don't require special glasses. Spokesman for Sharp, Yoshisuke Hasigawa, said, "just like black and white TVs turned color, all displays will eventually be 3D capable."

Sharp has already been approached by mobile phone makers about supplying small 3D displays, Hasigawa said.

Last week, video game icon Nintendo Co. Ltd. (NTDOY) let the world know of its plans for a 3D-capable portable gaming device. And despite all the hullabaloo over 3D technology in the flat screen TV market, this could very well be the first real connection between 3D entertainment and a viable consumer market.

Avatar saw big success in the box office due to its 3D experience, and related companies like producer/distributor News Corp. (NWS) and theater operator IMAX (IMAX) got a lift. Many companies are hoping they can provide a similar experience in the home and cash in off expensive new hardware for home theaters.

Regardless of how Time Warner's (TWX) movie division fairs overall this summer, The Man of Steel has been a boon for Imax (IMAX). Choose your metaphor: "Superman Returns" either soared with, flew away with, or as Sandy Brown of TheStreet.com says, "lifted" Imax this week when the movie took in $6.83 million during its first seven days as an "Imax 3D Experience." This special 3D-enhanced version of the film is currently showing on over 70 Imax screens in the US.

In recent summers movie-goers have shown themselves to be more the up to the challenge of craning their necks for recent Hollywood blockbusters such as "Batman Begins" and whatever they called the last Matrix movie, as opposed to just the forty-five minute glacier, coral reef, or mountain adventure odysseys that still dominate the big big big screen.

 A little 3D Imax buzz can only help Time Warner, which has seen the decent revenue taken in by this lynchpin film in its summer schedule overshadowed amidst repeated reminders in the media that, yes, other superhero movies have opened stronger -- and that is without even mentioning the decidedly mixed reception the movie got from critics.

[Disclosure: I have seen "Superman Returns" once, on the regular-sized big screen, liked it, and will probably see it again.]

(You can read more about Superman breaking a box office record from Christopher Campbell at Cinematical).