Updates, discussion, events and news about Death Note.
Death Note News
  • News
  • Death Note Month of...
    • Kira Month
    • Matsuda Month
    • Misa Month
    • Naomi Misora Month
    • Wammy Month
  • Death Note Interviews
    • Drew Nelson Interview
    • No Need to Stay Interview
  • Death Note Gifts
    • Death Note Books
    • Death Note Cosplay
    • Death Note DVDs
    • Death Note Music
    • Death Note Accessories
    • Death Note Mugs and Water Bottles
    • Death Note Christmas Gifts >
      • It Matters Death Note Christmas Gifts
    • Character Stores >
      • Death Note Light Yagami Gifts
      • Death Note Matt Gifts
      • Death Note Mello Gifts
      • Death Note Teru Mikami Gifts
      • Death Note Misa Gifts
      • Death Note Naomi Misora Gifts
      • Death Note Wammy Gifts
  • News Summary
    • On This Day in Death Note
  • About
  • Contact
  • News
  • Death Note Month of...
    • Kira Month
    • Matsuda Month
    • Misa Month
    • Naomi Misora Month
    • Wammy Month
  • Death Note Interviews
    • Drew Nelson Interview
    • No Need to Stay Interview
  • Death Note Gifts
    • Death Note Books
    • Death Note Cosplay
    • Death Note DVDs
    • Death Note Music
    • Death Note Accessories
    • Death Note Mugs and Water Bottles
    • Death Note Christmas Gifts >
      • It Matters Death Note Christmas Gifts
    • Character Stores >
      • Death Note Light Yagami Gifts
      • Death Note Matt Gifts
      • Death Note Mello Gifts
      • Death Note Teru Mikami Gifts
      • Death Note Misa Gifts
      • Death Note Naomi Misora Gifts
      • Death Note Wammy Gifts
  • News Summary
    • On This Day in Death Note
  • About
  • Contact

All the latest information about Death Note: reports, gossip, releases, analyses, speculation and discussion.

Death Note news articles

Robbuz is Not Kira.  Crime Scene - Death Note Misa Misa Digital Portrait Art

7/6/2016

134 Comments

 
Italian portrait artist Robbuz is Not Kira.  Nevertheless, she's responsible for this beautifully colourful, Gothic dark Crime Art starring Death Note's Second Kira Misa Amane, with skull and chequerboard floor.
Misa Amane portrait art - Crime Scene by Robbuz is Not Kira.
Misa Misa portrait artist Robbuz (is not Kira) but is the founder of DeathNoteFansClub on DeviantART.  She's been at its helm for seven years, welcoming fans with a global interest in Death Note and watching the group attract nearly 4,000 active members - including Death Note News, circa two seconds ago, if our request to join is approved - with another 3,000+ passively observing from the sidelines. Their page views are running into the hundreds of thousands.  Busy place and vibrant community.

While back to the plot, Robbuz is the fantastically detailed digital artist behind the Misa Amane art reproduced with permission above. Called Crime Scene, it took  her three hours to even begin.  Much careful decision-making went into selecting the perfect outfit to be depicted in the portrait.

This Italian talent likes to work with colour, yet fittingly her Misa Misa portrait was part of a Death Note artwork series experimenting with darker tones and hues.  Writing about Misa and the picture Crime Scene in particular, Robbuz wrote, 'I like how she's cheerful and lively, when she's definitely dead inside. Consider it, she sacrificed all her morality, her conscience, herself to be loved by someone who clearly just used her."

Posted as Part of

Misa Death Note event
Read More
134 Comments

Watch Limited Edition English Blanc et Noir by Takeshi Obata Unpacked

29/5/2016

4 Comments

 

Takeshi Obata Blanc et Noir: Unpacking the English Language Ltd Edition Version
from Death Note News on Vimeo.

This eagerly anticipated collector's book of Takeshi Obata's artwork is out and Death Note News has one!

Takeshi Obata's glorious artbook Blanc et Noir has long been available in Japan.  But only since May 2016 has an 0fficial English translation been published in the West.

Viz Media have produced a limited edition 10,000 copies of this beautifully printed tome containing highly detailed drawings by Death Note's artistic creator. 

We first heard about it last August, but have had to wait until May 3rd 2016 before getting our hands on 132 pages of exquisitely rendered Takeshi Obata artwork.  And by 'we', we really do mean that, as you can see our copy being unpacked in the video above.

The overall verdict for those who don't want to sit through 25 mins worth of inarticulate gushing?

It's surprisingly good.  Much better than anyone without any art knowledge at all expected to unpack.  Whilst being the first to cry foul on any old tacky tat foisted upon Death Note fans, Obata's Blanc et Noir made the grade. It was enchantingly impressive.

It would have to be given a price tag like that.

Blanc et Noir English language copies are limited edition and bound to become collectors' items.  We're definitely going to be handling ours with care, while also taking a long hard look at the hitherto unsuspected detail in utterly familiar Death Note art.

There are some links (right) for anyone considering grabbing one for themselves.  Or else keep an eye on our Death Note book and manga store for further ways to find and buy it.
Blanc et Noir by Takesh Obata
Buy your own collectors' copy of Blanc et Noir in English at: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Alibris UK | Barnes & Noble US | Waterstones UK | WHSmith UK
4 Comments

Honolulu Artist Lei K Shares her Misa Amane Art in Graphite Pencil

12/5/2016

1 Comment

 
Lei K, a professional graphite pencil artist from Nānākuli, Honolulu, has created this fabulous drawing especially for Month of Misa Amane.  Death Note actress, idol and Second Kira in pencil art.
Death Note's Misa Amane by Lei K
You heard it here first that Lei K will soon be joining Death Note News as a regular contributor.  She practically is already, having pencilled artwork for three out of the four Month of... events thus far - with apologies on the fourth, as she was busy with actual paid commission work.  Fair enough!  Check out more from Lei K at her own on-line gallery.

Artists!

Display your Death Note artwork here and/or answer our questionnaire about creating Death Note fan-art in any medium.

Check out the Death Note News fan-artist contribution page.

Posted as Part of

Misa Amane Month on Death Note News
Read More
1 Comment

New Trailer for Death Note: Light Up the New World!

27/4/2016

11 Comments

 
Warner Bros Japan have released a thirty-second teaser for its upcoming movie -the erstwhile Death Note 2016 trailer, now officially renamed Death Note: Light Up the New World.

The segment depicts one of the new - and purportedly worse ever - Death Note owner Sakura Aoi (Rina Kawaei) in the midst of a mass killing spree.  She has no ideological background, just the will to kill.  She tells Ryuk, "I will show more interesting things than Kira did."   He finally answers, "After all, humans are so interesting!"

Death Note: Light Up the World Trailer


Sensu Death Bonus Gift with Advance Ticket Sales in Japan

Early bird purchasers of tickets to see Death Note: Light Up the New World can look forward to receiving a limited edition sensu in thanks.

The Death Note sensu is not apparently mooted for general release.  It will just be available for advance movie ticket holders in Japan.

A sensu is a folding fan, one of Japan's traditional crafts.  This version - pictured in the Warner Bros advertisement (right) - has been labelled Sensu Death. Each panel replicates the cover of a shinigami notebook.

Death Note: Light Up the World is the fourth in the live-action movie series. Directed by Shinsuke Sato, it goes on general release in Japan on October 29th 2016.

In addition, Indonesian cinema chain CGV Blitz announced on Facebook (see below) that it too will be showing the movie.  Though no date was given for the Death Note movie opening night in Indonesia.
Death Note Sensu - early bird free gift for Death Note: Light Up the World ticket buyers in Japan
Facebook: CGV Blitz to show Death Note movie in Indonesia
11 Comments

Otaku Death Note Fan-Artist Georgina Aguilar Gives Advice on Drawing Watari

6/4/2016

0 Comments

 
US hobby artist Georgina Aquilar likes to create digital art.  For Month of Wammy, she turns
her attention to her favourite characters from Death Note - Watari and L.
Death Note News Watari and L artwork by Lacie BunCat

Watari and L by Lacie BunCat
Originally published on DeviantART
Reproduced here with permission
Georgina Aguilar describes herself as a hobbyist artist from El Paso, Texas, USA.  Her digital art is collected in her gallery on DeviantART, where she is known as Lacie BunCat.

Georgina writes, 'I love anime, I been drawing since five years old. Practice towards the years. I love art, so I use different techniques, mostly on Photoshop. And also I'm an Otaku. And I have a lot of my personal comics and fan made ones including one for Death Note.'

Lacie-BunCat Tackles Our Artist Questionnaire About Drawing Mr Wammy

Detail from Watari and L by Lacie-BunCat

Have you created Quillsh Wammy art now or in the past?
Yes - currently.

Any anecdotes about your experiences as a Watari artist?
Well I've only drawn him twice - once holding L as a kid and in sketch.

How would you go about creating a Watari drawing/sculpture?
It'll be an amusing experience if I do that.

What attributes, clothing and/or scenarios, do you feel are essential to include in Mr Wammy artwork?
He's like a babysitter/body-guard of L.

Is there more to recreating Watari visually than the outfit? (Expression/stance/slogan etc.)
I won't change a thing, leave him as he is - a person, who loves L and carries him.
What, in your professional opinion, are fundamental tips/advice in producing art that's recognisably Watari? Any thoughts regarding secrets lifted from Takeshi Obata's artwork too?
I've never drawn Obata's artwork. I only like Watari and L.

What are the common noob errors made in drawing/modelling Quillsh Wammy?
Mostly likely his old detail on his face, like adding the wrinkles and all - best wishes to all!  No one is expert but you can practice towards time.

Any last tips for anyone reading, who wishes to start creating Mr Wammy artwork?
Just good luck to anyone and try your best. No-one is an expert, but practicing will make you better.

Posted as Part of

Death Note Watari Month
Read More
0 Comments

Thank You All Who Contributed to Month of Matsuda on Death Note News!

5/4/2016

0 Comments

 
Another epic monthly event! Redeemed after a shaky start by all who flooded in with their submissions to make this a focus worthy of the character himself.

The archives will show that Death Note Month of Touta Matsuda was an unparalleled success!

Good fight all.

So what went wrong at the beginning (and most of the middle) to make this event move so slowly?  Then in true Matsuda style speed up unfathomably towards the end, and in the nick of time to save the day.

While Death Note News has a plethora of writers, columnists, researchers and the occasional guest penning articles too, it only has one person to actually press the button to publish their considerable output.

If she gets carted off to hospital in the back of an ambulance, then everything grinds to an ignoble halt.

We've spotted the obvious flaw in our administrative set up; and Matti is completely fine now.  Once back at her desk, the contributions for Matsuda Month could flow once more and fabulousness ensued.
Touta Matsuda Death Note month

Thanks are Owed to All Who Participated in Our Matsui Month Event

All due applause and accolades are directed towards:

Sakiko Rau - who kicked us off with an essay on why she (and we) should like Matsuda from Death Note. She will also be jumping on board as a regular columnist writing from a Japanese perspective.  You heard it here first.

Lua
- who did so much in the background to keep the home fires burning, as well as penning a philosophical analysis of Touta Matsuda's importance within the Death Note narrative.

Aerial Skye - who gave us cosplay advice for Matsuda costume creation.

All on the Death Note News Community Touta Matsuda Pinterest Board, for maintaining a steady flow of interesting images and links whatever the month.

Lei K - who turned her considerable talent to Touta Matsuda artwork especially for this event.

Silent Reaper - who allowed us to share her classic comic strip Matsuda's Rant.

Deacon (and the Tuxedo Team), especially Beyond Infinity/Jin - who let us publish their photographs of an amazing Matsui cosplayer.

Ziferonan - who gave us full rein to plunder an extensive collection of Matsuda fan-art, fan-fiction and cosplay too.

Stella Meyer - who not only sent in her Matsuda artwork, but answered questions providing insight and tips on creating the same.

Liam Dodd - who brought an air of the academe to proceedings with a scientific examination of Death Note's infamous Matsuda rescue with a mattress.

Emerald-Moonlight - who let us loose on her gallery and permitted the republication of three pieces of her Matsuda art.

MRSJeevas - who wrote Matsu fan-fiction for this event, though that's not nearly all, considering that in another guise, she is Matti - who researched, edited, proof-read, wrote and caused a backlog on much else that was published this month.

Tarot Mikami - who took us once again into the depths of the tarot's secrets, this time with a distinctly Matsuda Death Note flavour in regard for his monthly focus.

And, of course, all who read and commented, shared links and discussed these articles elsewhere. 

All Added to our Permanent Collection

Matsuda Month Archives
Read More
And prepare to do it all again, this time with the focus on Wammy.
0 Comments

The Matsu Art of Emerald-Moonlight: Drawings of Death Note's Matsuda

4/4/2016

0 Comments

 
Australian student artist Gabrielle V. is a Matsuda Death Note fan of some long time standing.   Here she shares
three of her amazing portraits of Touta Matsuda; artwork utilizing her favourite, trusty mechanical pen.

Death Note: Matsuda

Emerald-Moonlight - Death Note: Matsuda - Death Note News

Originally posted in her digital gallery - Emerald-Moonlight/DeviantART
Republished here with permission
Gabrielle (aka Emerald-Moonlight) writes that these are older pieces, dating back several years ago.  She still draws Matsuda from Death Note, but none of her latest artwork featuring him is digitally accessible.  Much shame right there! 

Nevertheless, she gave us the pick of her DeviantART Matsu pictures to feature here for Month of Matsuda.  These are the ones we chose from a great array right there.

New Beginning

Emerald-Moonlight - New Beginning Death Note Matsuda artwork

Originally posted in her digital gallery - Emerald-Moonlight/DeviantART
Republished here with permission

Hate You

Emerald-Moonlight - Hate You: Death Note Near and Matsuda fan-art

Originally posted in her digital gallery - Emerald-Moonlight/DeviantART
Republished here with permission

Posted as Part of

Month Matsuda Death Note News
Read More
0 Comments

Death Note Matsuda by Stella Meyer, with Advice on Creating Matsuda Artwork

3/4/2016

0 Comments

 
Death Note Matsuda by Stella Meyer - Death Note News
Stella Meyer, a student and traditional artist from the United States, works mostly in pencil, though she employed pen too for part of her recent Death Note drawing featuring Touta Matsuda.   As a fan, there's plenty more where that came from in her gallery as JetDragon1656 on DeviantART.  You may also commission this talented artist in the creation of bespoke artwork.
Meyer additionally took the time to answer a few questions, providing tips on drawing Death Note's Matsuda.

Do you/have you created Matsuda art now or in the past?
Yes - currently.

How would you go about creating a Matsuda drawing/sculpture?
I personally started with drawing his face structure and then went about everything else from that.

What attributes, clothing and/or scenarios, do you feel are essential to include in Touta Matsuda artwork?
I think that the expression is essential to making Matsuda look and feel like the actual character.

Detail from Death Note Matsuda by Stella Meyer

Posted as Part of

Death Note Month of Matsuda
Read More
0 Comments

Exploring Ziferonan's Matsuda of the Imagination in Cosplay, Art and Fics

1/4/2016

0 Comments

 
Prepare to rifle through the zany gallery of Ziferonan, a Russian Touta Matsuda fan with an all-rounder's
talent in expression for his Death Note idol.  He said we could take what we wanted. So we did.

Matsuda on a Rainbow

Matsuda on a Rainbow by Ziferonan - Death Note News

Originally published on DeviantART
Reproduced with permission from Ziferonan

Jedi-Matsuda

Jedi-Matsuda by Ziferonan - Death Note News

Originally published on DeviantART
Reproduced with permission from Ziferonan

Dark City

Dark City - Death Note Matsuda art by Ziferonan - Death Note News

Originally published on DeviantART
Reproduced with permission from Ziferonan

There's plenty more where that came from.

In fact, it was hard work to whittle down which pieces of Matsuda fan-art we wanted to nick from Ziferonan's extensive collection.

Particularly when so many of them were very imaginative and unique in their aspect. The sort of Death Note art you don't tend to find anywhere else in the fandom, and we like that in a gallery!

To discover more Death Note Matsuda art from the mind and vision of Ziferonan, divert yourself onto DeviantART, where gems like these await.

Death Note Matsuda art Gloomy Day by Ziferonan - Death Note News

Originally published on DeviantART
Reproduced with permission from Ziferonan
Matsuda-Momo by Ziferonan - Death Note News

Originally published on DeviantART
Reproduced with permission from Ziferonan

Puppet - Death Note Matsuda Fan-Fiction by Ziferonan

Death Note Matsuda art Puppet on a Rose by Ziferonan - Death Note News
Not all of Ziferonan's Matsuda artwork stands alone. Some support his Death Note fan-fiction featuring Touta Matsuda too.

Part one of Puppet starts here with Sleepwalker, and continues on into a four part tale.

What you're seeing alongside here is the cover art to Ziferonan's Puppet Matsuda fan-fiction, with the picture alternatively titled Puppet on a Rose, when it was posted to DeviantART.

In Ziferonan's story Matsui is beset by the demands of Ryuzaki and Watari, leaving the sanctuary of the Kira investigation headquarters in search of cake.  Yet outside presents itself as a most surreal world, given Matsuda's sleepless state and the ever-present worry and trauma of seeing colleagues killed, while knowing himself to be upon a suicide mission, probably.

Not the quest for cake.  The Kira case.

But what catches his eye at four am isn't a bakery, nor a lead on the hunt for a serial killer.  Richly glowing, bright within the dreary early morning air is a toy shop, and Matsuda enters.

... Touta felt himself falling somewhere very very deep away from reality...

Puppet is Ziferonan's first fan-fiction story in English.  It was originally written in his native Russian and translated so the English-speaking fandom might enjoy it too.

Read it from the Puppet: Sleepwalker link given above, then on to:

Puppet 2: Missing
Puppet 3: Spring Dream
and concluding with Puppet 4: Care

A Kira-ish Matsuda Cosplay by Ziferonan

And if all of that wasn't enough, then Ziferonan also cosplays Touta Matsuda from Death Note.
Albeit apparently accidentally.  He was aiming for Mikami at the time.

Death Note Kira Matsuda cosplayer Ziferonan - Death Note News

Kira-ish Matsuda with a Note
Originally published on DeviantART
Reproduced with permission from Ziferonan
What do you reckon?  The scariest Matsuda ever envisaged?   Or much scope for thoughtful contemplation about what the Death Note world would have looked like, if it HAD been Touta Matsuda who picked up a shinigami's notebook?   Way more fan-fiction in the plot bunny right there!

~ Thank you for the pick of your gallery, Ziferonan.  Didn't use nearly all that we would have liked to!

Posted as Part of

Death Note Matsuda Month
Read More
0 Comments

Silent Reaper Shares Matsuda's Rant: Gender - Death Note Comic Strip

29/3/2016

0 Comments

 
Silent Reaper fabulously exploits Touta Matsuda's avowed overview of events by the end of Death Note
in her famous fan-made Death Note comic strip Matsuda's Rant.  Here reproduced with permission.
Silent Reaper Death Note Matsuda's Rant Gender 1
Silent Reaper Death Note Matsuda's Rant Gender 2
Silent Reaper Death Note Matsuda's Rant Gender 3
Silent Reaper Death Note Matsuda's Rant Gender 4
There are few Death Note fans who need an introduction to the comic art of Silent Reaper.  But just in case you haven't yet been exposed to the utter genius of her work, we're pleased to get you started.

Silent Reaper is the DeviantART pseudonym of Emily Chan, which is where she keeps her repository of Death Note related fan-art.  The US artist is better known these days - well, outside the Death Note fandom anyway - for her comic strip Stupid Fox.

Artists!

Display your Death Note artwork here and/or answer our questionnaire about creating Death Note fan-art in any medium.

Check out the Death Note News fan-artist contribution page.

Posted as Part of

Month of Matsuda Death Note
Read More
0 Comments

Amazing Matsuda Artwork in Graphite Pencil by Nānākuli Artist Lei K

21/3/2016

0 Comments

 
Back for Month of Matsuda on Death Note News is professional artist Lei K with this incredible graphite pencil drawing of Touta Matsuda in happiness and in sorrow.  The Fool and the Hero: two faces of the same man.
Death Note Matsuda Artwork by Lei K on Death Note News
From her studio on the Isle of O'Ahu, Hawaii, USA, artist Lei K works primarily in graphite pencil, though she has been known to stray into other materials and media from time to time. Her Matsuda from Death Note art was created especially for our focus upon him this month, hence constitutes her most recent work.

Lei K was here last month too, bringing us her vision of Light Yagami and sharing insights into drawing Death Note characters.  You can view a whole lot more of her work on her website La808Lei, where some artwork from her gallery may also be bought.

Artists!

Display your Death Note artwork here and/or answer our questionnaire about creating Death Note fan-art in any medium.

Check out the Death Note News fan-artist contribution page.

Posted as Part of

Matsuda Death Note Month of...
Read More
0 Comments

Viz Media Talks Death Note Omega Blu-Ray Edition at Chicago Con C2E2 2016

21/3/2016

0 Comments

 
Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo has just finished over in the Windy City.  It ran from March 18th-20th and Techaeris's Kyle Funk was there to catch what Viz Media had in store for fans of Death Note.

Turns out there's not much that we didn't already know or could guess.

In his piece VizMedia At C2E2 2016 #C2E22016, Funk confirmed that no add on to the Death Note manga is planned now or in the future.  That should answer the regular search terms leading people to this site, asking 'when will there be a new Death Note manga?' or 'is there a sequel to Death Note?'  Nope.  Sorry.

Mostly it seemed that Viz were in Chicago bigging up the Blu-Ray Death Note Omega Edition, which was recently released.  They showed a trailer demonstrating the difference in quality between the old bog standard anime and Blu-Ray.  Which is also on their YouTube Channel, so you may see it too, alongside an extended marketing clip unboxing the Death Note Blu-Ray Omega Edition, also by Viz Media.

Death Note Omega Edition Blu-Ray Official Trailer

Unboxing Death Note Complete Series Omega Edition Blu-Ray (Viz Media)

Blu-Ray Death Note Omega Edition

For those tl;dw people: it's the entire Death Note anime in high definition Blu-Ray, all 37 episodes plus both Relights.

The Relight films have commentaries from the makers, explaining what decisions and processes had to be completed to compress the whole story into two shorter movies.

There's also a booklet, which looks like a Death Note, containing the pilot manga one-shot story featuring Taro Kigami.  The content is pretty much copied from How to Read, but the cover looks fabulous.

Talking about covers, the box containing the Blu-Ray Death Note anime discs itself has a reversible cover. You can opt for Misa adorning your collection instead of Light and L.

Those are the highlights.

Death Note Omega Edition on Blu-Ray was released on March 1st 2016. 

There's more about it in our anime and movie gift section.

0 Comments

Light Yagami, King of the Resin People - Guest Written by Death Note Doll-maker Maru-Light

29/2/2016

0 Comments

 
When I first saw the Death Note anime, I fell hardcore—like mad hardcore—for Light.

(Like absolutely-devastated-at-the-ending hardcore for Light.) There wasn’t truly another Death Note character that mattered to me that initial time around (later on I fell for L too) but I’m such a Light fan it’s scary.

Feeling rather castrated, for lack of a better word, once Kira fell from grace at Yellowbox, I sought in vain for a creative outlet to vent my love and frustrations, so I got involved in my ball joint doll community with a Death Note photo-story series.
 
Wait. What?
 
To those unfamiliar with the niche hobby that has been rapidly gaining popularity these past few years (enough to garner a rather destructive recast market), a ball joint doll is not a mass-produced item. It's not like Barbie, endlessly chugging off an assembly line of infinite dolls to be packaged and shelved in stores.

A ball joint doll, start to finish is—essentially—a work of art.
(No offense, Babs.)
Death Note's L and Kira Ball Joint Dolls by Maru-light

Death Note L and Light Yagami ball joint dolls
crafted by Maru-Light
I'm not saying that to sound pretentious, I'm being sort of literal. The life of a “BJD” begins and ends as a piece of artwork that passes through the hands of a variety of artists before it is "complete" (though honestly, are they ever really complete? I don't really think so...) 
 
The fabulous thing about BJDs that makes them so attractive (imo) is their customizability. A BJD is a blank canvas with which to shell a character of your choosing. Heads, bodies, eyes, hair, face ups—all of it can be changed and customized at will to create the being you want.

This is a major piece of the hobby. There are those who spend years crafting the perfect doll detail by detail—making or commissioning other artisans to produce aesthetics, wardrobes, accessories, anything under the sun. Then there are those who are sort of addicted to making character after character after character (I don't know anyone like that... >.>; )
A BJD is first designed and sculpted by its original artist, who may be working on their own, creating dolls as a passion or hobby or employed by one of the increasing number of doll companies (who at best have maybe 10 - 30 employees? At least, have one. We're not talking major corporations here folks.)
 
The sculptor painstakingly crafts the doll, maybe just the head, maybe the whole body (which is a laborious effort that requires not only skill with anatomy, but engineering as well since these are "ball-joint" dolls and are many pieces strung together with elastic). Then the sculptor casts the head/body in resin and puts it up for order.

A blank doll is the result of this process. In order to bring it further to life, the doll then proceeds to the next artist on the totem—the face-up artist. The face-up artist is what it sounds like: the person who paints the doll’s face (and often the rest of it too.)
 
I am a BJD face-up artist. I don’t sculpt the doll, but I paint it, style it, photograph it and basically sell my internal organs on the black market to support its expensive demands. (It’s worth noting, that I only buy original BJD dolls, and do not support the recast market, which is stealing from artists.)

The face-up is something that takes practice of course. It's a lot of fun and can be both rewarding and frustrating depending on the degree of perceived success on the artist's behalf. It's sort of like putting on make-up; the color goes down in layers with sealer in between. The materials to accomplish this are usually a blend of chalk pastel, colored pencils and acrylic paint both hand-applied and airbrush (I don't use airbrush.)

My method is the chalk pastel x hand-painted acrylic method. I layer on the pastels with Q-Tips and paint in the details. This process averages about 5+ hours (for me) depending on my ADD and the weather. (Humid weather & cold weather adversely affect the sealer spray and have been known to wreck face-ups and sanity. I can vouch for this personally, so can my therapist.)
Maru Light BJD Death Note Kira  doll
So let’s bring this back around. A bunch of fellow BJD-collectors were collaborating on a Death Note photo-story with their dolls. They had an L and a Mello—they didn’t have a Light.

However, I just happened to have a bored, blank, doll head sitting in a box on the shelf for about a year with no purpose. (We call that sort of thing an impulse-buy.) He was a bit of a happy-smiley mold, but he was the only proper head I had access to immediately, so I dug him out, painted him up and introduced him to the storyline as the Kira they’d been needing.

Considering the doll photo-story was sort of like a role-play done in still pictures (with dolls), it required me to dig in to the mentality of my new fave and start understanding what made Kira tick. How was I going to portray him, and all of his illustrious motivations, dynamics and ideals in the doll world? I didn’t want my resin child to just be an avatar of Light Yagami, I wanted him to actually be the character. I worked to try and achieve that. A little too hard.
 
The little monster went above and beyond.
Death Note doll - God of this New World Maru-Light
What began as a creative jaunt, became something of an obsession, and despite my growing collection of resin crew, Light was the King of the Crop, the Bratling Resin Prince. He got spoiled. He got all the fancy clothes he wanted; he got bodies—oh so many bodies.

Bodies are not often an easy thing. For one, they’re not cheap, and you can’t just try them on like clothes (considering it sometimes takes months to get BJD dolls and parts from their original artists)
 
Finding a body for a head requires research to see if the head will match in both resin color and proportion. And sometimes, if you’re not lucky enough to score a body on the second-hand market (for quicker shipping, not necessarily lower prices), you have to buy a full doll for the body alone, or go in on a “split” where one person takes the head and the other the body.

I did all of these things for Light. He cycled through about 4 different bodies before finally settling on a svelte 68” cm body with jointed hands.
 
And once he did that… he decided he wanted a new face.
 
The bastard.
Little Kira doll made by Maru-Light
By that point I was several years into the hobby and I’d built up my skills to a point where I was confident that I could go in and do drastic things to what was my most treasured doll. I “wiped” his face (read: removed the paint with a paint cleaner) and then I modded (modified) his sculpt.
 
A lot of the Kira-effect in Light’s doll photos came from creative camera angles. You know the ones, head down, eyes up, looking all sinister-egomaniacal. I wanted him to have that look naturally.

So with the use of a dremel (omg the horro!) I had to first drill his eyes open (this was as painful to accomplish as it sounds, considering he was my fave) and then sculpt a new eye shape with a resin modelling compound called Amazing Sculpt.

Then there was the filing, the sanding, the nervous breakdowns (because, yeah.) When those hurdles were cleared (and I got talked off the ledge), I repainted him, this time with a less manga-minimal approach.
And at last. He was satisfied.
 
The bastard.
Death Note Light Yagami ball joint doll by Maru-Light
Unfortunately, time and other interests have rendered Light less and less the prima donna of the household.

Nevertheless, there really is not another doll in my entire hoard who can equal the sort of attention that Light got. So he still has that to his name, along with all of his spoilings… and his own personal L. And Mello. And Matt. And Beyond Birthday. Did I mention spoiled?
 
These days I still paint bjds when time allows, and you can check out my more current portfolio of work on my Flickr account.

Lately my aesthetic preference is less God of the New World and more, red-eyed, junky rock-star, but whaddya gonna do? Times they are a-changing.
Maru-Light's Death Note ball joint dolls
Links:
  • Flickr
  • Death Note Galleries

Posted as part of

Month of Kira
Read More

See more from Maru-Light

Maru Light Focus on a Fan Thumb
Focus on a Fan: Maru-Light -
Kira Dollmaker, Light Yagami Costumer and More

Maru Light Kira cosplay thumb
Goddess of the Killer Kira Cosplay - Maru-Light on Making
Light Yagami Gleam

Maru Light Redeemer thumb
What Happened to
The Redeemer Series?
(Guest Post by Maru-Light)

0 Comments

Light Yagami: Descent of a Saviour - Kira Fan Art by ProcerDeCrepusculum

28/2/2016

0 Comments

 
ProcerdeCrephsculum - Light Yagami: Descent of a Savior - Month of Kira on Death Note News
An older painting, since retouched by its creator Malcolm Scot Newton
- a professional artist, working with a variety of media in his native USA.


Discover Newton's Light Yagami - Descent of a Savior and the rest of his Death Note inspired fan-art on DeviantART.
Updates therein to his Death Note gallery - and so much more! - found under his artistic pseudonym Procer de Crephsculum.

Month of Kira Artists

Nell Fallcard Kira art thumb
Award-winning Mexican Artist
Nell Fallcard Tells All About
Drawing Light Yagami

Lei K Kira art thumb
Depicting the Darker
Shades of Light Yagami with
Graphite Pencil Artist Lei K

Posted as part of

Picture
Discover More
To participate yourself, email
and/or upload your Death Note artwork
via our content submission area;
and please do consider completing
our related Month of... questionnaires
for Death Note fan-artists

Month of Kira Art

Tate Forkel Kira art thumb
Death Note Kira
- Fan Art by Tate Forkel

Detail from PresaBranca's Yagami Raito on Death Note News
Yagami Raito -
Death Note Fan-Art by PresaBranca for
Month of Kira


0 Comments

Yagami Raito - Death Note Fan-Art by PresaBranca for Month of Kira

28/2/2016

0 Comments

 
Yagami Raito by PresaBranca - Light Yagami fan-art on Death Note News
"Art keeps me alive," declares Bruno Abreu, visual artist and art student based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  He adds sadly, "I have no money, so I can't be a real artist. But I do like to read about it!"  And the whole world weeps.
He is the immense talent behind the artwork reproduced with permission above.  Entitled Yagami Raito, his Death Note art was originally uploaded to DeviantART, where Abreu holds an account under the moniker PresaBranca.  He works with a variety of materials and media, creating quite a distinctive style for himself, as exhibited in this fan-art depiction of Raito Yagami.

It seems a crying shame that only Rio's rich seem to be able to making a living professionally as artists. When skill like Bruno Abreu's lies wasted behind a lesser, dead-end job.  For it must be lesser, if he cannot draw.  And dead-end by default, when art keeps him alive. 

Cheer him on - and help him breath life through paint on the page - by following him at the aforementioned DA account, or onto his website. Wherein you'll discover there's art left free there for you to download.  Epic artist!  Let's keep him.

Month of Yagami Raito Artists

Nell Fallcard Light Yagami art thumb
Award-winning Mexican Artist Nell Fallcard Tells All About Drawing Light Yagami
Lei K Light Yagami art thumb
Depicting the Darker
Shades of Light Yagami with
Graphite Pencil Artist Lei K

Posted as
part of

Month of Light Yagami Death Note News
VIEW MORE
To participate yourself, email
and/or upload your Death Note artwork
via our content submission area;
and please do consider completing
our related Month of... questionnaires
for Death Note fan-artists

Month of Yagami
Raito Art

Tate Forkel Raito Yagami artwork thumb
Death Note Kira
- Fan Art by Tate Forkel

ProcerDeCrepusculum Yagami Raito art on Death Note News
Light Yagami: Descent of a Savior - Kira Fan Art by ProcerDeCrepusculum
0 Comments
<<Previous
    Death Note spoiler disclaimer
    Never miss an update - subscribe to Death Note News feed and/or check out an extended list of the latest Death Note news headlines.
    Death Note News categories banner

    Death Note News Categories

    All
    10th Anniversary
    10th Anniversary Website
    Academia
    Actors And Acting
    Adam Wingard (Dir.)
    Aiber
    Akiko-himura
    Ami-hamazaki
    Another-note
    Another-note-novel
    Anthony-rester
    Art And Fan Art
    Astrology
    Bakuman
    Beyond Birthday
    Blood Type
    Business And Marketing
    Calendar Death Note
    Columnists For Death Note News
    Cosplay
    Death Note (2003-6 Manga)
    Death Note (2006-7 Anime)
    Death Note (2006 Movie)
    Death Note (2008 Manga One Shot Special)
    Death Note (2015 Musical)
    Death Note (2015 TV)
    Death Note (2016 Movie AMG)
    Death Note (2017 US Movie)
    Death Note: Light Up The NEW World (2016 Movie)
    Death Note Month Of...
    Death Note News Digest
    Death Note Relight (2007-2008)
    Death Note Relight (2007-8)
    Death Note Relight (2007-8 Anime)
    Death Note Tarot Tales
    Death Note: The Last Name (2006 Movie)
    Death Note: Year One (Movie)
    Demegawa (Hitoshi) (Char.)
    Dr.
    Eriko Aizawa
    Events
    Fan Fiction
    Fans And Fandom
    Focus On A Fan
    Food And Drink
    Franchise
    Games And Gaming
    Gifts And Merchandising
    Gus Van Sant
    Hal-lidner
    Hirokaku-ukita-char
    Horipro
    It Matters Series
    Jump-comics
    Kanzo-mogi
    Kenichi Mikuriya
    Kimiko-kujo
    Kira Worshipper
    Kiyomi Takada
    Koji-yoshida
    L
    Lawliet-movie
    L-change-the-world-2008-movie
    L-change-the-world-novel
    Lei-k-columnist
    Light Yagami
    Linda
    Lucas-king-music-columnist
    Madhouse
    Maki-nikaido
    Manga Entertainment
    Matt
    Mello
    Misa Amane
    Morality-and-ethics
    Movies And Films
    Mrs-mikami
    Music And Soundtracks
    Naomi-misora
    Nathaniel-overthinks-death-note
    Near
    Netflix
    Nippon-television-ntv
    NisiOisiN
    Nori
    Panini-comics
    Philosophy And Theology
    Platinum-end
    Podcast
    Psychology
    Quillsh-wammy
    Real-world-death-notes
    Real World Influence
    Rem
    Rod-ross
    Roger Ruvie
    Ryuk
    Ryūzaki
    Sachiko Yagami
    Sakura Aoi (Char.)
    Sayu Yagami
    Science And Mathematics
    Selecta Visión
    Shane Black
    Shinsuke Sato (Dir.)
    Shiori Akino
    Shō Nanase
    Shō Nanase
    Shonen Jump
    Shueisha
    Shuichi Aizawa
    Site News
    Sociology
    Soichiro Yagami
    Spin-Off Matsuda (2008 Movie)
    SPK
    Squad Six Cosplayers
    Takeshi Obata (Artist)
    Takeshi Ooi (Char.)
    Teru Mikami
    Tetsuro Araki (Dir.)
    The Cosplayer Chronicles
    Toko
    Touta Matsuda
    Tsugumi Ohba (Author)
    Tsukuru Mishima
    Viz Media
    Wammy's House
    Warner Bros
    Wedy
    Yotsuba
    YouTube And Videos
    Yūgi Shion
    Yumi Aizawa
    Yuri

    Visit Death Note News's profile on Pinterest.

    Monthly Archives

    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014

    Disclosure: This page generates income for the author based on affiliate relationships with her partners, including Amazon and VigLink.
    Site Claim and Authorship Verification: All that follows is for me to prove my authorship of Death Note News in various places. Hoop jumping stuff for me; boring for everyone else.
    Google+
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.