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Posts filed under ‘Death Note’
May 3rd, 2008 by PCSbot No Comments » Light fans, rejoice–VIZ Pictures will be screening the live-action adaptation of Death Note at a theater near you on May 20th and May 21st. You can purchase advance tickets by visiting www.FathomEvents.com. For more information about the movie, check out Senior Ninja Consultant Erin F.’s review of Death Note and its sequel, Death Note: The Last Name, both of which were screened at last year’s New York Asian Film Festival. Still need convincing? Then here’s the trailer:
April 22nd, 2008 by PCSbot 1 Comment » If you just can’t get enough Death Note, you’ll be happy to learn that VIZ Media will be bringing the live action Death Note films to a movie theater near you on May 20th and 21st. Still on the fence about going? Then check out Ninja Consultant Erin F.’s review of the two Death Note films, which she saw at last year’s New York Asian Film Festival. Read on for the official press release. (Continued) 
March 10th, 2008 by Carlos Alexandre No Comments » Anime Review: Death Note, Vol. 3Distributed by VIZ Media
That’s just the tip of the iceberg, really; it’s the best I can do to compress the premise of the story into a few simple sentences. But there’s far more to this story than just a smart, somewhat immature kid finding a magical killing book. In fact, if you haven’t been watching since the beginning, you probably will be completely lost. Actually, let me rephrase that: you WILL be completely lost, period. Death Note is not the sort of show that you can just jump into, which is a bad thing in this day and age of waning attention spans and increasingly one-shot storytelling. However, in Death Note’s defense, it probably would not have worked any other way. Death Note has been a series defined by thoughtful interaction and well-written, if not sometimes corny, dialog. Action is rare, making way for drama and mystery, as Light Yagami and his pursuer L seek to stop one another, without even knowing who the other truly is. One would think that having the two meet face-to-face would ruin some of the suspense, but that is not the case at all. The excellent “cold war” between the two characters only intensifies as Light finds himself in an unlikely position; a member of the task force created for the sole purpose of stopping Kira. Plans within plans aplenty as the uncertain but crafty L attempts to force Light to reveal his hand. Death Note also stands as a great example of a story where the antagonists are actually the heroes of the story while the protagonist is the villain. Speaking of the protagonist, Brad Swaile is one hell of a voice actor. He manages to encapsulate everything about Light, this clearly disturbed and disturbing character, from the veil of faux sincerity he puts up in front of his father, L, and other investigators, to his very chilling megalomaniacal cackle whenever he renews his murderous resolve. VIZ Media’s voice actors are pretty good overall, but Brad’s interpretation of Light stands out. And while we’re on the topic of presentation, that’s something Death Note does very well, from a delightfully mythical introduction filled with religious imagery and engaging music, to the general ambiance of the environments, to the facial expressions of the main players, Light and L. I wouldn’t call the animation the best quality stuff I’ve seen on television, but it is very well done nonetheless. Death Note still has some hurdles to overcome, though. With the character L, it is as if the writers created a character that is “too smart” for them. I won’t go into specifics, but some careful listening and application of critical thinking will make apparent the holes in L’s supposedly superhuman logic, holes that simply, given L’s character, should not be there. Another questionable element is the introduction of another character with a Death Note. This “second Kira” may have been inevitable given the underlying supernatural element present in the show, but it feels like an attempt to inject depth into a plot that should, by all rights, have enough depth of its own merits. And why is it that we see very little of Kira’s impact outside of Japan, anyway? Governments the world over are sending agents to Japan to stop Kira… yet there are no glimpses into how the world outside of Japan has changed due to Light’s influence. It’s a puzzling omission, one that I would have preferred to see included over a “second Kira.” Death Note remains an enticing series, though I truly hope it doesn’t become weighed down by its own complexity. That would be a real shame. However, it remains a solid show. I just hope it stays that way for its remainder. Volume three of Death Note is available now. 
January 24th, 2008 by Ken Haley 3 Comments Death Note, Vol. 2Distributed by Viz Media
Not everyone views the random killings of people, criminals or not, as a good thing, and his activities quickly come under the investigation of the world’s greatest detective, a man known only as L. Now the two are engaged in a deadly game of cat and mouse as each attempts to ferret out the other’s identity. The four episodes on disc two cover Light’s attempts to evade detection as L narrows down the list of suspects until only two remain. Storytelling/Characters But overall, it’s the intellectual dual between L and Light that dominates the story, and missing a single episode could result in you being quite lost and confused. Animation/Visuals The animation is good enough and I didn’t notice any major problems with it. Then again, this series isn’t exactly a fast-paced action story; most of it consists of talking heads or walking scenes. Voices/Music The opening theme is a damn catchy tune that’s been stuck in my head for the last few days and shows no sign of leaving. Thankfully it’s a pretty decent metal-y song that does a good job at setting the tone for the series and even for Light’s ultimate goal. The rest of the music varies, but it always serves to enhance the mood, ranging from slightly odd and creepy to bombastic orchestra pieces that really gets you into… well… into watching Light write in a note book. Who knew that watching someone writing down names could be so gripping or dramatic? Overall 
January 22nd, 2008 by Katherine Dacey No Comments » San Francisco, CA, January 22, 2008 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has provided details on an array of hot animated properties it plans to showcase at the 2008 National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) Conference and Exhibition, taking place January 28-31 in Las Vegas, NV. VIZ Media will operate from Suites 7904 and 7906 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel, where the conference will be held. The company will offer several new properties available for license, including NANA, BUSO RENKIN, HUNTER X HUNTER, NAOKI URUSAWA’s MONSTER, HONEY AND CLOVER, BLUE DRAGON as well as series such as DEATH NOTE, NARUTO, BLEACH, and DEKO BOKO FRIENDS, which have already established strong domestic followings. NATPE is a global, non-profit organization dedicated to the creation, development and distribution of televised programming in all forms across all mature as well as emerging media platforms. The NATPE conference develops and nurtures opportunities, both commercial and educational, for the buying, selling and sharing of content and ideas. “Japanese animation fulfills a variety of critical programming needs and VIZ Media continues to be a major force in licensing compelling content designed for every viewer demographic,” says William Germain, Director, Animation Production, VIZ Media. “This year’s NATPE Conference will present the opportunity to showcase new action properties aimed at tweens, adolescents and young adults with properties such as BUSO RENKIN, HUNTER X HUNTER, BLUE DRAGON, and NAOKI URUSAWA’s MONSTER, and will also feature also more romantically-themed titles like NANA and HONEY AND CLOVER, which will extend the popularity of shojo manga, or comics for girls, to the broadcast arena. The interest in Japanese animation continues to be strong from broadcasters both domestically and abroad, as witnessed by the popularity of shows like NARUTO, DEATH NOTE and BLEACH, and we look forward to welcoming a global audience of key buyers and executives at this year’s conference.” NANA Twenty-year-old Nana Komatsu has endured an unending string of boyfriend problems. Moving to Tokyo, she’s hoping to take control of her life and put her capricious love life behind her. Singer Nana Osaki arrives in Tokyo at the same time, with plans to kick down the doors to Tokyo’s rock ’n’ roll scene. Though from completely different backgrounds, the two Nanas meet and become best friends in a whirlwind world of love, music, fashion, gossip, and all-night parties! BUSO RENKIN Alchemist Warrior Tokiko Tsumura comes to Ginsei City and uses herself as bait for the homunculi, artificial life forms that lurk in the darkness to devour unsuspecting humans. Unaware of Tokiko’s intentions, high school student Kazuki Muto tries to save her and is killed in the process. Tokiko restores Kazuki’s life with an alchemic talisman called a “kakugane,” and now he fights at Tokiko’s side to save his friends. HUNTER X HUNTER Being a “Hunter” is a profession. A person who tracks down people, searches for treasure and explores lands of mystery. A person that protects the order of mankind and nature is called a “hunter.” HUNTER X HUNTER depicts the fantastic adventures of Gon, the son of a famous Hunter. Wanting to follow in his father’s footsteps, young Gon works hard to learn how to seek treasure and master Nen, a mysterious power. But in order to truly become like his father and a licensed Hunter, Gon must pass the arduous and dangerous Hunter Exam. It is said that only one in hundreds of thousands can pass the test. Now Gon sets out on a dangerous and exciting adventure to become a great Hunter like his father. HUNTER X HUNTER is based on a popular manga comic, (rated T+ for Older Teens) by Yoshihiro Togashi, which is also published domestically by VIZ Media. The HUNTER X HUNTER series has developed a fanatical following in Japan, selling more than 44 million copies, and spawned several original video features and an array of video games and trading cards in addition to the animated series. NAOKI URUSAWA’S MONSTER Brilliant doctor Kenzo Tenma risks his reputation and promising career to save the life of a critically wounded young boy instead of a politician’s. Nine years later, the child has grown into a serial killer… Can Kenzo stop him? Or will he make another fatal decision? Conspiracies, serial murders, and a scathing depiction of the underbelly of hospital politics are all masterfully woven together in this compelling thriller! HONEY AND CLOVER Based on the bestselling shôjo manga comic by Chica Umino, HONEY AND CLOVER is a romantic comedy that focuses on five college students and the art school they attend. When talented painter Hagumi Hanamoto enrolls in the program, her presence and unique approach to art affects the entire school and her new friends. The plot thickens as Hagumi becomes embroiled in a complicated love triangle as she struggles to find her artistic voice. HONEY AND CLOVER showcases the journey that everyone must take to transform from adolescence into adulthood and the long and challenging road these five young people must navigate to balance the demands of school, work, and love. The English version of the HONEY AND CLOVER manga graphic novel is currently serialized in VIZ Media’s SHOJO BEAT magazine. VIZ Media is also set to publish the title as a self-contained comic in March 2008. BLUE DRAGON BLUE DRAGON features characters designed by Akira Toriyama, the creator of the best-selling DRAGON BALL series of manga (which is published in North America by VIZ Media and featured in SHONEN JUMP Magazine). The anime series is produced by Studio Pierrot, which is well known for its work on NARUTO and BLEACH, also licensed by VIZ Media. The Xbox 360 video game “BLUE DRAGON” was developed by Hironobu Sakaguchi (the creator of Final Fantasy) has already established itself in Japan as one of Microsoft’s hottest releases in the RPG category. The BLUE DRAGON animated series is a classic adventure story of magical Shadow powers, flying air fortresses, and unbounded heroism. Brought together by fate, Seven Soldiers of Light must awaken the Shadow within themselves in time to overcome a despotic power and bring peace to their land. Their ensuing journey through a rich fantasy world is also an internal journey to awaken the great power within each of them. Journey with them into the world of BLUE DRAGON! DEATH NOTE DEATH NOTE is based on the Shueisha graphic novel series of the same name (rated T+ for Older Teens and published in North America by VIZ Media) and is currently one of the hottest animated titles in Japan. The series follows the adventures of Light Yagami, an ace student with great prospects but who is bored out of his mind. All of that changes when he finds the Death Note, a strange notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god named Ryuk. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals mysteriously begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer. With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight of his noble goal - or his life? NARUTO The NARUTO series depicts the adventures of a young boy named Naruto Uzumaki who trains to become a ninja. Naruto, cursed with the spirit of The Nine-Tailed Fox sealed within his body, is forced to live a bullied life discriminated against by his fellow villagers. But Naruto is resilient and undaunted and his determination often inspires those around him. Through the adventures, the young ninja learns the importance of friendship, teamwork, loyalty, hard work, creativity, ingenuity and right vs. wrong. Today, NARUTO is considered one of the most popular animated series in Japan and has also drawn millions of fans in North America. It continues to achieve immense international success not only as a graphic novel and TV title, but also in the realm of licensed categories such as toys, trading cards and video games. BLEACH Ichigo Kurosaki is an ordinary 15-year-old boy who happens to be able to see ghosts. His fate takes an extraordinary turn when he meets Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper who shows up at Ichigo’s house on the trail of a Hollow, a malevolent lost soul. Drawn to Ichigo’s high level of spiritual energy, the Hollow attacks Ichigo and his family, and Rukia steps in to help but is injured and unable to fight. As a last resort, Rukia decides to transfer part of her Soul Reaper powers to Ichigo. Ichigo, now a full-fledged Soul Reaper, and Rukia, minus her powers, join together to face the challenges that lie ahead. BLEACH is based on a popular graphic novel comic (rated T+ for Older Teens) by Tite Kubo which is also published domestically by VIZ Media. DEKO BOKO FRIENDS DEKO BOKO FRIENDS is positioned as an educational and fun animated series for preschoolers and consists of 30-second animated shorts that feature 12 unique characters that help teach children about diversity and tolerance. The characters and messages are heartwarming and positive and have been embraced by parents and children alike. About VIZ Media, LLC 
October 21st, 2007 by Jon Haehnle 1 Comment » An amusing typo from a Death Note article in the new Wizard Anime Insider (#50, out this week): “L wants to stop a man he believes to be wrong, but there’s growing pubic support for Kira”. As this is a Wizard magazine, I’m not entirely sure if the editors did this on purpose or not…
October 12th, 2007 by PCSbot 3 Comments PopCultureShock & A!PoN team up to talk to director Shusuke Kaneko about the making of the live-action Death Note films.
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Be sure to visit our friends at Animepodcast.net for more anime and animation news and interviews! 
October 8th, 2007 by Katherine Dacey No Comments » San Francisco, CA, October 5, 2007 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, announced a preview of highly anticipated upcoming anime releases set for the approaching 2007 holiday season. NARUTO, DEATH NOTE and BLEACH continue to draw legions of fans of all ages and VIZ Media will offer special DVD releases for each title in time for the holidays. The long-awaited DVD debut of DEATH NOTE will feature a Limited Edition Collector’s Figurine with the first 15,000 units of each volume at an initial suggested retail price of $39.98. The first season of the popular supernatural action series BLEACH will also be available in a 5-disc Box Set with an exclusive Chain of Fate Wallet Chain limited to just 15,000 copies. The first NARUTO feature, NARUTO THE MOVIE: NINJA CLASH IN THE LAND OF SNOW, will be offered in a 3-disc Deluxe edition with premium packaging, extra content, the complete CD soundtrack, exclusive art prints, and a movie program guide booklet. Other upcoming releases include the latest episodic box sets for PRINCE OF TENNIS, POKÉMON and RANMA ½. Anime makes a unique gift for fans, family and friends and these new releases from VIZ Media present a range of choices to captivate tastes and interests from kids to teens to adults. NARUTO THE MOVIE: NINJA CLASH IN THE LAND OF SNOW DELUXE EDITION The long anticipated DVD release of the first NARUTO feature film is a must-have for any fan of the manga or anime series. NARUTO is now one of the most popular and successful manga and anime properties in North America. The series is the top-rated show among boys 6-17 on Cartoon Network’s Toonami and also streams online on Toonami Jetstream. NARUTO THE MOVIE: NINJA CLASH IN THE LAND OF SNOW is a theatrical side story based on the continuity of the animated TV series and was a box office hit upon its initial release in Japan. This unedited version of the feature comes in a gorgeously illustrated collector’s tin containing 3 discs, including the film, a disc of bonus features, a CD of the feature soundtrack, bonus collector’s NARUTO THE MOVIE: NINJA CLASH IN THE LAND OF SNOW art prints and a movie program guide. The movie premiered earlier this summer as a one-night only event to sold out theatres across the country, and follows Naruto and his team as they are sent on a mission to guard Yukie Fujikaze, a popular actress starring in the hit movie “The Adventures of Princess Gale.” The crew is heading toward the Land of Snow to shoot the final scenes of the film, and when Yukie refuses to go and escapes from the set, she is brought back by force by Naruto and his teammates. Little do they know there are three rogue Snow Ninja lying in wait with a sinister purpose that forces Yukie to make a crucial decision and face her hidden past. New and existing fans will not want to miss this exciting latest chapter in the ongoing NARUTO saga. THE PRINCE OF TENNIS DVD Box Set Volume 3 The latest box set installment of the hit series about middle school dramas on and off the tennis court is based on the smash hit manga series by Takeshi Konomi, which has sold more than 30 million copies to-date in Japan and is also published exclusively in North America by VIZ Media. In this collection, tennis prodigy Ryoma Echizen and the Seigaku tennis team have reached the Metropolitan Tournament, the pinnacle of youth tennis. First up, the “golden pair” doubles team of Oishi and Kikumaru are forced to resort to the unusual Australian formation to throw off their opponents. Then Ryoma faces the “Lefty-Killer,” who uses a dangerous and devastating twist spin. To fight back, the Prince of Tennis must resort to amazing acrobatics and outrageous innovation! A unique series about an adolescent’s quest to find meaning and purpose both on and off the court, THE PRINCE OF TENNIS will delight tennis and sports fans but will also captivate non-sports fans with engrossing stories and dynamic characters. POKÉMON Season One Box Set, Part II POKÉMON remains one of the most popular and best loved anime series for kids – and has a dedicated adult fan base as well. More than a decade after its debut, POKÉMON continues to set benchmarks. The 10th season of the POKÉMON animated series – Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl – debuted on June 4 on Cartoon Network as the most-watched show of the day with 6-11 year olds and the number one show for 6-11 year old boys across all channels for the entire day. Capture the action from the exciting first season of POKÉMON with the second 3-disc DVD box set which follows Ash, Brock and Misty on their continuing quest to collect POKÉMON, make friends, and battle their way to the Indigo League! DEATH NOTE DEATH NOTE is one of the most anticipated anime releases for 2007. Inspired by the 12-volume manga series (published in North America by VIZ Media), the suspenseful mystery follows Light Yagami, an ace student with great prospects who is bored out of his mind. All that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer. With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight of his noble goal - or his life? The first 15,000 units of the first volume of the DVD will contain a Ryuk Limited Edition Collector’s Figurine for an initial suggested retail price of $39.98. Later volumes will include Limited Edition Collector’s Figurines of Light, L, Misa, and other popular characters. BLEACH BOX SET 1: THE SUBSTITUTE BLEACH follows Ichigo Kurosaki, who is just like any other ordinary 15-year-old high school student – except for his special ability to see ghosts. So when a teenage girl materializes through his bedroom wall, it should be no call for alarm. The girl is a shinigami death spirit named Rukia, who is hunting a Hollow (an evil spirit that consumes souls). The Hollow proceeds to attack Ichigo’s family and Rukia is badly wounded. In order to defeat the evil spirit, Rukia must let Ichigo temporarily become a Soul Reaper by absorbing some of her energy. However, Ichigo inadvertently ends up with all of Rukia’s powers and must now take on all the responsibilities of a Soul Reaper until she can figure out how to get her powers back. Now this 15-year-old high school student begins a brand new vocation as a hyperkinetic, all-purpose ghost buster. With enough attitude to make a grown demon blush, Ichigo and crew are cleaning up the afterlife. See all the action of the entire first season in this 5-disc BLEACH Special Edition – limited to only 15,000 copies – that also includes an exclusive BLEACH Chain Of Fate wallet chain as a bonus. RANMA ½ Season 4 Box Set The latest installment of the epic anime series (which has over 150 episodes) based on Rumiko Takahashi’s (INUYASHA, MAISON IKKOKU) popular manga series (also published by VIZ Media). It’s not easy being teenage martial artist Ranma Saotome, but it’s even worse when your martial artist father Genma takes you from home at an early age to embark on a decade long training mission in China. He doesn’t speak a word of Chinese but insists upon bringing his son to a cursed training ground called Jusenkyo, where falling into one of the many natural springs instantly turns the hapless victim into whoever or whatever drowned there last. From now on, a splash of cold water turns Genma into a giant panda and poor Ranma turns into a red-haired (and problematically well-built) female counterpart. Hot water reverses the effects but that is just the beginning of the comedic zaniness that has made this anime series a favorite for almost two decades! About VIZ Media, LLC Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com. 
September 26th, 2007 by Katherine Dacey 1 Comment » San Francisco, CA, September 26, 2007 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has licensed the Shonen Jump DEATH NOTE anime series to Adult Swim for domestic broadcast beginning Saturday, October 20 at midnight (EST) on the popular block of programming. New episodes will follow each week thereafter. Shonen Jump DEATH NOTE is a suspenseful mystery, inspired by a 12-volume manga counterpart (published in North America by VIZ Media), and follows the adventures of Light Yagami, an ace student with great prospects but who is bored out of his mind. All of that changes when he finds the Death Note, a strange notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god named Ryuk. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals mysteriously begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer. With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight of his noble goal - or his life? The unique storyline and complex characters, combined with visually stunning animation by Madhouse, made Shonen Jump DEATH NOTE one of the most popular anime series in Japan and anticipation for the North American release has built steadily since VIZ Media first began publishing the manga series. Shonen Jump DEATH NOTE also spawned two successful live-action films, set for domestic distribution this year by VIZ Pictures, and a plethora of related posters, toys and action figures. VIZ Media will further release Volume 1 of DEATH NOTE, containing 4-episodes, on DVD on November 20. “The domestic broadcast debut of DEATH NOTE has been patiently awaited by fans across the country and we are pleased to team with Adult Swim to facilitate it,” states William Germain, Director, Animation Production, VIZ Media., “The mix of drama, mystery and action has already made the Shonen Jump DEATH NOTE manga a hit and the anime series takes the characters and plot to the next level with a captivating visual style. We look forward to fans tuning in each week for the latest adventures of L and Light as they struggle to outwit each other and demonstrate conflicting ideas about right and wrong.” About Adult Swim About VIZ Media, LLC Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com. 
September 18th, 2007 by Katherine Dacey 4 Comments
With apologies to Erik Jansen and The Onion… VIZ Pictures just announced that they’ve acquired the distribution rights to the two live-action Death Note films:
Shinigami, evil teenagers with perfect hair, killer notebooks, and Chairman Kaga… now that’s some classy entertainment! No word on what the theme ingredient is for either film. For further reading: | |
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For those of you just joining us, here’s the recap: Light Yagami, a Japanese teenager troubled by the grief and suffering in the world, finds, completely by chance, a mysterious notebook. Dubbed the Death Note, Light soon learns that the book has the power to kill anybody whose name is written within. It isn’t long before Light starts using the book to mete out divine justice in the hopes of creating a utopia, and it isn’t much longer after that when people start to realize that there’s someone behind the deaths. Dubbed “Kira” by the general populace, Light continues his mad crusade in secret, confident that he is doing the right thing.
Synopsis
Erin F., our own fujoshi-in-residence, caught both flicks at this year’s New York Asian Film Festival; you can read her take on live Death Note by