DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd on Region 1 DVD

: 03 August 2009

Concluding Chapter Of Edgy DEATH NOTE Psychological Crime Drama Available August 18 Source: VIZ Pictures, MediaLab press releases Official Movie Site: Death Note Films: L Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen

VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced the DVD release of the feature film DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd. The DVD will be distributed by VIZ Media, available on August 18th and will carry a MSRP of $24.92 US/$35.99 Canada. To celebrate this release, VIZ Pictures will have a special DVD Release Event at their brand-new VIZ Cinema in San Francisco on Tuesday, August 25th. The admission price includes a L movie screening (in Japanese with English Subtitles) and an exclusive L gift-box with the newly released DVD, a limited edition poster, and more. Visit vizcinema.com for ticket info and more details. DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd is inspired by the immensely popular DEATH NOTE feature films, which are based on the best-selling supernatural action manga series Death Note written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd was directed by Hideo Nakata who also directed the U.S. #1 hit horror movie THE RING TWO (2005), which was remade from his own smash hit Japanese horror film series RING (Ringu). This spin-off follows a new original storyline and introduces the unwritten chapter of DEATH NOTE to reveal how the legendary detective L spends the final days of his life. The story begins as L takes on the “Kira” case, in which countless criminals are dying under mysterious circumstances. L successfully solves the case and stops Kira, but only after sacrificing his life, leaving himself with only 23 days left to live. For his final case L faces down a bio-terrorist group trying to wipe out humanity with a deadly virus ten times more potent than Ebola. As L tries to formulate an antidote with a scientist, he must also save the lives of two children who have no one else to turn to. DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd features what happened before and after the two earlier DEATH NOTE events and shows DEATH NOTE fans the more human side of L that could not be seen previously.

“DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd stars Kenichi Matsuyama, an up-and-coming Japanese actor who has also appeared in acclaimed films such as DEATH NOTE, LINDA LINDA LINDA, NANA and DETROIT METAL CITY,” says Seiji Horibuchi, president and CEO of VIZ Pictures. “He reprises his role as the ace detective L and audiences will be riveted to their seats as his character once again works to save society from a monstrous new threat.” VIZ`s DVD of DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd features the 129 minute long film in 16:9 anamorphic widescreen with both Japanese and English language audio tracks. For the dubbed version, L’s voice is played by Alessandro Juliani from the DEATH NOTE anime series. The Death Note manga (rated ‘T+’ for older teens) and animated series (rated ‘T+’ for older teens) have become extremely popular domestically. The 37-episode animated series is seen by millions each week on cable broadcast and the series is also distributed on DVD by VIZ Media. On the print side, the Death Note manga series and Death Note 13: how to read, a companion volume to the successful manga series, is published domestically by VIZ Media and has been ranked in USA Today`s Top 150 list of America`s best-selling books. For more information on the DEATH NOTE live action events and other VIZ Pictures films please visit viz-pictures.com or deathnotefilms.com. For more information on the Death Note manga and animation, please visit deathnote.viz.com.

About VIZ Pictures, Inc.

Based in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Pictures, Inc. licenses and distributes selective Japanese live-action films and DVDs, with focus on Japanese "kawaii (cute) and cool" pop culture. VIZ Pictures strives to offer the most entertaining motion pictures straight from the "Kingdom of Pop" for audiences of all ages, especially the manga and anime generation, in North America. Some titles include DEATH NOTE, 20TH CENTURY BOYS, and TRAIN MAN: DENSHA OTOKO. VIZ Pictures is also the producer of NEW PEOPLE, a part of the J-Pop Center Project, a unique entertainment destination bringing Japanese pop culture through film, art, fashion, and retail products. For more information please visit viz-pictures.com or newpeopleworld.com.

For more information on the DEATH NOTE series please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: