Death Note 3: L, Change the WorldMedia Release -- San Francisco, CA, July 31, 2009 – VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced the DVD release of DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd live-action film. 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 event at their brand-new VIZ Cinema in San Francisco. Enjoy the L movie screening and an exclusive L gift-box including the newly released DVD, poster and more. Visit www.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 written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. This spin-off follows a new original storyline. DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd was directed by Hideo Nakata, who also directed the U.S. #1 hit horror movie The Ring 2, which was remade from his own smash hit Japanese horror trilogy, Ringu.

Inspired by the best-selling manga DEATH NOTE, DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd reveals how L spends the last 23 days of his life. For his final case he takes on a bio-terrorist group and must also save the lives of two children who have no one else to turn to.

"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."

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: L, change the WorLd live action films and other VIZ Pictures films, please visit www.viz-pictures.com or www.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, California, 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 www.viz-pictures.com or www.newpeopleworld.com Phone: (415) 345-1975 © 2009 VIZ Pictures, Inc.