San Francisco, CA, October 1, 2008 – VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced that it will again partner with music and pop culture retailer Hot Topic Inc. to promote the North American premiere of the live-action film DEATH NOTE II: THE LAST NAME.
VIZ Pictures has partnered with NCM FATHOM, the entertainment division of National CineMedia, to present DEATH NOTE II: THE LAST NAME for a special two-night, multi-city event at approximately 400 theatres across the United States on October 15th and 16th. Tickets, prices and participating theatre locations are available at presenting theatre box offices and at www.FathomEvents.com (theatres are subject to change). As part of a special promotion, customers who purchase a DEATH NOTE t-shirt or DVD in select Hot Topic stores starting on October 1, 2008 will receive a free ticket to attend the film event, while supplies last.
Hot Topic will support the event in nearly 400 stores with in-store signage and special areas in each location offering a variety of DEATH NOTE apparel and related merchandise, including the DEATH NOTE live action DVD from VIZ Pictures released on September 16. VIZ Media’s SHONEN JUMP magazine will lend additional support with a promo ad in the November issue, which hit stores on October 7th, while Hot Topic will also highlight the DEATH NOTE film in an article set to appear on its web site at http://community.hottopic.com/buzz/.
DEATH NOTE II: THE LAST NAME (English dubbed) is the sequel to, and immediate continuation of the original DEATH NOTE Japanese live-action film, which was based on the smash hit manga (graphic novel) series by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. DEATH NOTE II: THE LAST NAME resumes the cat-and-mouse crime drama as Light Yagami joins the investigation team in pursuit of the serial killer known only as “Kira.” While L still strongly suspects that Light is actually “Kira,” he has no real proof. Meanwhile, Light Yagami secretly continues to seek out the real name of L so he can kill him with his Death Note. The stakes rise even higher as a new rash of murders attributed to the Death Note occur all over the world and are attributed to “the Second Kira.” This Kira is even more deadly and unpredictable as they also have the “Eyes of Death,” which give the owner the power to know the true identity and lifespan of any person by merely looking at them. Light Yagami learns the identity of the other Kira and wants to join forces to get rid of L. But will L be able to catch “Kira” before he gets killed? Who will be the last name written in the Death Note book?
“We’re very excited to again partner with Hot Topic to promote the U.S. premiere of DEATH NOTE II: THE LAST NAME,” says Lauren Rozek, Director, Retail Development, VIZ Media. “Our earlier promotion with the retailer to support the premiere of the first DEATH NOTE feature film was very successful and the DEATH NOTE property resonates with many Hot Topic customers though a variety of unique products. We encourage fans to take advantage of this special offer to see the film for free with purchase of a DEATH NOTE DVD or T-shirt.”
The DEATH NOTE manga and animated series 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 12-volume manga series, also published domestically by VIZ Media, continues to be a must-read among legions of ardent fans while DEATH NOTE: HOW TO READ 13, a companion volume to the successful manga series, was recently ranked in USA Today's Top 150 list of America's best-selling books. The DEATH NOTE animation DVDs and manga are rated T+ for older teens.
For more information on the DEATH NOTE II: THE LAST NAME event please visit www.FathomEvents.com or www.deathnotefilms.com. For more information on DEATH NOTE visit www.shonenjump.com or http://deathnote.viz.com/.
About Hot Topic
Hot Topic, Inc. is a shopping mall-based specialty retailer. Hot Topic offers music/pop culture licensed and influenced apparel, accessories, music and gift items to young men and women principally between the ages of 12 and 22. As of August 30, 2008 the company operated 684 Hot Topic stores in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, as well as an internet store www.hottopic.com.
About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages. 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.
