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Casting Misa Amane: Actresses Who Have Played Death Note's Misa-Misa

21/5/2016

4 Comments

 
On a global scale, Misa-Misa has been dubbed, played and in some instances sung into life for the delight of Death Note audiences everywhere.

In honour of her monthly event on Death Note News, we have collected together the names of the twenty-one Misa Amane actresses from Death Note adaptations across the world. Who for you, amongst these ladies (and one gent), wore the face or spoke the voice of Misa the Second Kira?

Aya Hirano

Aya Hirano Misa Amane actress Death Note anime Japanese original
Voice Actress
(aka 平野 綾, Hirano Aya)
- Death Note anime Japanese original
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Japanese original
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Japanese original

Shannon Chan-Kent

Shannon Chan-Kent Misa Amane actress Death Note English dub
Voice Actress
- Death Note anime English dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God English dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors English dub

Ana Lúcia Menezes

Ana Lúcia Menezes Misa Amane actress Death Note Brazilian dub, pictured with L voice actor Sérgio Cantú
Voice Actress
(aka Ana Lúcia Grangeiro)
- Death Note anime Brazilian Portuguese dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Brazilian Portuguese dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Brazilian Portuguese dub
Pictured above with Sérgio Cantú, the actor who voiced L

Man Yi Ching

Man Yi Ching Misa Amane actress Death Note Cantonese dub
Voice Actress
(aka 程文意. Wong Zi Haan, Cing4 Man4 Ji3)
- Death Note anime Cantonese dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Cantonese dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Cantonese dub

Núria Trifol

Núria Trifol Misa Amane actress Spanish and Catalan Death Note dubs
Voice Actress
(aka Núria Trifol Segarra)
- Death Note anime Catalan AND Spanish dubs
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Catalan AND Spanish dubs
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Catalan AND Spanish dubs

Adrienne Warren

Singer Adrienne Warren Misa Amane actress Death Note the Musical
Musical Actress
- Death Note the Musical first read-through English Cast
Frank Wildhorn's NYC rehearsal

Margaret Qualley

Margaret Qualley Misa Amane actress Death Note US movie
Film Actress
- Death Note movie US

Charlyne Pestel

Charlyne Pestel Misa Amane actress Death Note French dub
Voice Actress
- Death Note anime French dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God French dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors French dub

Magdalena Turba

Magdalena Turba Misa Amane actress Death Note German dub
Voice Actress
- Death Note anime German dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God German dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors German dub

Borbála Csuha

Borbála Csuha Misa Amane actress Death Note Hungarian dub
Voice Actress
(aka Csuha Borbála, Csuha Bori, Bori Csuha)
- Death Note anime Hungarian dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Hungarian dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Hungarian dub

Germana Savo

Germana Savo Misa Amane actress Death Note Italian dub
Voice Actress
- Death Note anime Italian dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Italian dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Italian dub

Erika Toda

Erika Toda Misa Amane actress Death Note movies
Film Actress
(aka 戸田 恵梨香, Toda Erika)
- Death Note movie
- Death Note: The Last Name movie
- Death Note: Light Up the NEW World movie

Hinako Sano

Hinako Sano Misa Amane actress Death Note Television drama
Television Actress
(aka 佐野 ひなこ, Sano Hinako)
- Death Note TV drama

Fuka Yuzuki

Fuka Yuzuki Misa Amane actress Death Note the Musical Japan
Musical Actress
(aka 唯月 ふうか, Yuzuki Fuka, Fuuka Yuzuki, Yuzuki Fuuka)
- Death Note the Musical Japanese original cast member

Seo-Young Kim

Kim Seo-Young Misa Amane actress Death Note Korean dub
Voice Actress
(aka 김서영, Kim Seo-Young, Kim Seo-Yeong, Seo-Yeong Kim)
- Death Note anime Korean dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Korean dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Korean dub

Seo-Ah Jung

Seo-Ah Jung Misa Amane actress Death Note the Musical Korean dub
Musical Actress
(aka 정선아, Jung Seo-Ah, Seo-Ah Jung, Jung Seo Ah, Seo Ah Jung,
Jung Seon-Ah, Seon-Ah Jung, Jeong Seon Ah, Seon Ah Jeong,
Jeong Sun-Ah,  Sun-Ah Jeong, Jeong Sun Ah, Sun Ah Jeong,
Jung Sun-Ah, Sun-Ah Jung, Jung Sun Ah, Sun Ah Jung)
- Death Note the Musical Korean cast

Xiǎnhuì Lóng

Xiǎnhuì Lóng Misa Amane actress Death Note Mandarin dub
Voice Actress
(aka 龍顯蕙, Lóng Xiǎnhuì, Long Xianhui,
Xianhui Long, Lung4 Hin2 Wai6)
- Death Note anime Mandarin dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Mandarin dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Mandarin dub

Rebeca Gómez

Rebeca Gómez Misa Amane actress Death Note Mexican dub
Voice Actress
- Death Note anime Mexican dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Mexican dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Mexican dub

Radosław Popłonikowski

Radolaw Poplonikoski voiced Misa Amane in Death Note Polish dub
Voice Actor
(aka Popłonikowski Radosław, Radoslaw Poplonikowski)
- Death Note anime Polish dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Polish dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Polish dub
NB Polish dub was read by a single narrator

Catherine Gorokhovskaya

Catherine Gorokhovskaya Misa Amane actress Death Note Russian dub
Voice Actress
(aka Екатерина Гороховская)
- Death Note anime Russian dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Russian dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Russian dub

Hazel Hernan

Hazel Hernan Misa Amane actress Death Note Tagalog dub
Voice Actress
(aka Mary Hazel Hernan)
- Death Note anime Tagalog dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Tagalog dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Tagalog dub

Misa-Misa Actress Birthdays in the Death Note Calendar

We will also be adding the birthdays of all Misa Amane actresses to our On This Day in Death Note calendar.  However the best of our hardened researches have failed to produce the following facts:
  • Man Yi Ching - born June 18th, but where and in what year?
  • Núria Trifol - born in Barcelona, Spain, but when?
  • Magdalena Turba - born in Berlin, Germany during 1983, but on what date?
  • Germana Savo - where and on what date was she born?
  • Kim Seo-Young - born on January 19th 1977, but where?
  • Lóng Xiǎnhuì - born in Taiwan, but when and precisely where?
  • Rebeca Gómez - where and on what date was she born?
If you could make good our omissions, please do contact us with the info. and we'll update their entries forthwith.

Thank you in advance!
Misa Amane actresses compiled by Lua Cruz and Matti

Posted as Part of

Misa Amane Month Death Note News
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On This Day in Death Note: April 25th

25/4/2016

1 Comment

 
April 25th: Death Note Musical Kira actor Andy Kelso born
1 Comment

On This Day in Death Note: April 6th 

6/4/2016

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April 6th 1982: Korean Death Note Musical Kira actor Kwang-Ho Hong born
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Death Note Nets Best Musical at the Korean 2016 eDaily Culture Awards

25/2/2016

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KPop heart-throb Junsu collected the top prize for Death Note the Musical's Korean staging,
at a star-studded awards gala held in Seoul's National Theater this week.
Jun-Su Kim L Death Note Musical Best Musical at eDaily Culture Awards Feb 2016
L actor Kim Jun-su - Death Note Musical - Best Musical at eDaily Culture Awards Feb 19th 2016
Death Note's stage adaptation came first in the 2016 eDaily Culture Awards Best Musical category.  Kim Jun-Su accepted the award on behalf of the whole theatrical team behind Death Note, in his capacity as the actor who played L.

His speech was translated by Rilanna at JYJ3.net:

pic.twitter.com/UHF2rNeI9V

— 두부둡맘 (@DOOB_2) February 19, 2016
Kim Junsu began to speak with, “I would like convey words of thanks on behalf of the performance cast and production crew of 100 people”. Continuing, he also said, “‘Death Note’ had its first cultivation in Korea when it hit the stage last summer; and I am grateful that this award has more meaning, as much as it was C-JeS Culture’s first debut work,” and, “I am thankful to Baek Chang-joo who had helped the work go up, in the one word that I only want to do it, and to have been directed by Japan’s Kuriyama Tamiya who undertook the directing of its Korean version”.

Adding, he completed his thoughts, “Teamwork between the actors was important to proceed as a one-cast with my previous installment of 57 performances. I shall share this pleasure with actors & actresses Hong Kwang-ho, Park Hye-na, Kang Hong-seok, and Jung Sun-ah; who created the stage together with me. I am accepting this award with praise and encouragement for C-JeS Culture and I promise that I shall go forward in creating a better work in the future ahead”.
~ JYJ3.Net, [NEWS] 160219 3rd eDaily Culture Awards: Musical ‘Death Note’ seized top prize in Musical category… Kim Junsu “Will repay you with a better work” by Rilanna (Feb 19th 2016)
This is only the third ever outing for the eDaily Daily Culture Awards - the Korean Oscars, if you will.  At least a glittering, celebrity ridden event aiming to become the premier awards ceremony for performance art in Korea.  Befitting such lofty intentions, big names provided much of the razzmatazz pouring into the gala beneath the flashes and glare of paparazzi, TV cameras and press.
Some of the country's most popular artists - from music, screen and stage - walked the red carpet into the Haeorum Theater, part of Korea's National Theater in Seoul, on February 19th 2016.  They were in attendance then to witness Death Note the Musical grab its highest accolade yet. The top prize for a musical currently available in Korea.

Moreover, in accepting the trophy for Death Note, Kim Jun-Su's position as a theatrical actor - as opposed to a Korean pop idol courtesy of JYJ - is largely viewed as consolidated within the country.  No wonder then that Korean news reports most widely quote Junsu in saying, 'I am honored to be given such a grand prize. I want to share this glory with all the staff members and actors who starred in Death Note.'  It was a big moment for the L actor.  Worthy of cake.
L actor Junsu Death Note Best Musical eDaily Culture Awards Feb 19th 2016 - Photo: @Ac_dog

Photograph courtesy of @Ac_dog
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Golden Ticket Theatrical Award for Kim Jun-su - Korean Musical Death Note's L

19/1/2016

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Junsu with Golden Ticket Award for L Death Note Musical

Junsu with his Golden Ticket Award for his portrayal of Death Note's L
Kim Jun-su's performance as L in the Death Note Musical has netted him an accolade Korean theatrical industry.

Interpark - which represents the ticketing side of live theatre in Korea - named him as its 10th Golden Ticket winner, mostly for his successful run in the role of L.

The Golden Ticket Awards are based on hard statistical data from the box offices. Winners are those who prompted the most ticket sales, in addition to attracting the most votes from theatre goers and critics surveyed at the venue. 

Attendees were asked to highlight those actors delivering the strongest performances on stage.

Just over 90,000 people watched JYJ's Junsu perform as L, in fifty-seven productions of Death Note the Musical, staged at Seongnam Arts Center in Seoul during July and August 2015.

Every show sold out with audience members pretty much unanimous in their praise for the L actor's 'outstanding performance'.  That and hard figures from the box office secured his industry prize.
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Musical Death Note L finds Love Backstage with K-Pop Star

14/1/2016

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When K-Pop singer Hani nipped backstage at the Death Note Musical, she thought it would amount to just a perk of her celebrity.  Meeting the cast as a member of the rags to riches Korean girl band sensation EXID.  It turned out to be much more than that.

After exchanging a significant hello with L actor Kim Jun-su, the couple have just announced that they've been dating ever since.  Roll over Light Yagami!  This time it's L who gets the pop idol girlfriend!
Hani from EXID K-Pop Band

Hani, lead singer and 'face' of K-Pop band EXID
Kim Junsu as Death Note's L (Korea Musical)

Kim Jun-su as L in Korea's Death Note Musical
She may come close to being L's intellectual equal as well.  A recent Korean television programme revealed that Hani classes as genius status, with an IQ of 145.  Though whether that holds true for L actor Junsu too is yet to be divulged.

Hani's mom seems to be quite quick off the mark too.  Having heard on the grapevine that Junsu quite fancied her celebrity daughter, Hani's mother bought tickets for the theatrical production of Death Note, and ensured that the couple met backstage through Hani's connections.  Or as the singer put it,
My Mom knew enough to tell me, '[Junsu] says he's a fan of you.'... I went to see the 'Death Note' musical with my mom. [Junsu] himself got us tickets to the show. My Mom came with me knowing that Junsu had an interest in me.
~ Hani (Hani admits that her mother was also a big fan of Junsu + sings 'If I Ain't Got You', All KPop, January 13th 2016)

And how did Mom know?  Apparently she's a massive Junsu fan in her own right and sings his songs constantly.  Hence keeping up with his press comments.

Korean pop gossip fans are currently ooohing over the news that it's been Junsu doing all the running, hunting her down after that first chance meeting at the Death Note Musical, enamoured of her 'beauty inside'.  Though presumably Hani's beauty outside hasn't hurt her case much either.

As Hani has spent the autumn busy with EXID promoting Hot Pink, Junsu has been turning up at various junctures on the schedule, picking his celebrity girlfriend up in his Aston Martin 007.   The pair would then retire to his house - he's currently bunking up with his manager - where they could get to know each other without the glare of paparazzi and fans in their faces.

Nevertheless, that's not always been a successful policy.  Korean Media Despatch photographers caught the couple shopping in the run up to Christmas, and delighted in revealing the pairing in their January 1st 2016 edition.

Since then, KPop Fighting and other media sources have also run with the story.  Including now us.
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L Actor Junsu Teams Up with Gangnam Style's Psy for New Single Dream

27/11/2015

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Kim Junsu and Psy record DreamDeath NoteL actor Kim Junsu on the cover of Dream with Psy
Remember three years ago, when none of us could get Gangnam Style out of our heads?  Well Death Note fans are in for another bout of that. 

How can we help it upon placing Psy, after hearing that he's bringing Death Note actor Xia in on his long-awaited Gangnam Style follow up Dream.

Xia, aka Kim Junsu, played L in the Korean version of Death Note the Musical. Which is how this collaboration came about.

Psy went to see the Death Note Musical, and decided there and then that Junsu was the man to sing with him on Dream.  As he revealed to fans on Psy Little Television  - an app broadcast by Napper V - on November 25th 2015.

Dream is described as a 'sad song' (so not at all like Gangnam Style really) dedicated to KPop performer, musician, producer and Ghost Nation radio DJ Shin Hae-Chul. He was the man who brought techno music to Korea, and who died in October 2014 due to medical malpractice.

Psy claimed that Xia's 'heartfelt' performances as L, in Death Note's 'heart-breaking scenes', made him the perfect choice to add vocals to Psy's homage to Shin Hae-Chul.  "The song is full of sadness," Psy wrote about Dream. "And I thought long and hard about who could convey that." 

Dream will be released on December 1st 2015.  Psy will debut it at the MNET Asian Music Awards staged the following day, though it's uncertain whether Xia will be joining him.
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Full Showing of Japanese Death Note Musical on YouTube

22/10/2015

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Death Note the Musical televised on WOWOW

Original Japanese cast for Death Note the Musical televised on WOWOW
It was only a matter of time before fan uploaded recordings of a televised Death Note the Musical performance showed up on-line.

Several individuals have done just that on YouTube, though I imagine it won't be long before the copyright holders shoot them down. Especially if DVD sales are a thing in mind for the future.  But first check out the trailer, as shown on WOWOW Channel in Japan, to advertise upcoming theatrical performances of the musical Death Note on TV.
Trailer for WOWOW Channel Death Note the Musical on television October 17th 2015

Watch Death Note the Musical in Full on YouTube

The full versions of Death Note the Musical production shown below were all captured from the Japanese WOWOW TV airing on October 17th 2015.  It stars Kenji Urai as Light Yagami, alongside Teppei Koike (L), Fuuka Yuzuki (Misa Amane),  Ami Maeshima (Sayu Yagami), Megumi Hamada (Rem), Koutaro Yoshida (Ryuk) and Joji Saiga (Soichiro Yagami).

Apologies if you read this at a later date and some/all are removed.
Alternatively:
All that you hoped it would be?  Up for going to see Death Note the Musical in your own theatres, should it be translated into your native language and arrive in your country?

Find more Death Note News articles about the Death Note Musical via our Pinterest board:
Follow Matti's board Death Note the Musical on Pinterest.
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WOWOW Live Presents Death Note the Musical on Television in Autumn 2015

5/10/2015

2 Comments

 
This is more a reminder for those readers with access to Japanese television that two Death Note Musical concerts are going to be screened on Wowow Live.

The first is on October 17th 2015 at 8pm and stars Kenji Urai as Light Yagami. The second will be aired on November 7th 2015 at 8.30pm. This one has alternative lead actor Hayato Kakizawa as Light Yagami.

Both full productions of Death Note the Musical were recorded in April 2015, during the theatrical show's inaugual run at Tokyo's Nissay Theatre.

You already had a heads up about it in August (Original Cast Death Note Musical on TV), but WOWOW have now officially announced it on their website, so that is new.
WOWOW Live advertisement for Death Note Musical 2015

WOWOW write up for two televised Death Note Musical full shows
(screenshot 0ct 5th 2015)
Beyond what I've already mentioned, the WOWOW Live advertisement includes L actor Koike Teppei in the billing for both performances.

After a short trailer for the televised Death Note Musical shows, we are reminded that Broadway composer Frank Wildhorn wrote the music for Death Note's theatrical adaptation.

The director is Tony Award winning Tamiya Kuriyama.

This cross Pacific collaboration between the US Broadway and Japan's Nippon TV makes this a truly international enterprise.

Finally, WOWOW uses this bulletin to advertise another television show, which the company obviously feels will appeal to Death Note fans. Its the TV detective drama Mozu back for another season and, I believe, its own theatrical version too.  So does it appeal to us?  Anybody know?

If you're in Japan, enjoy your Death Note the Musical TV shows, and if anyone finds them recorded and uploaded onto YouTube, please do give us the nod. The whole world is waiting to see this too!
2 Comments

Death Note the Musical Available on DVD?

19/9/2015

0 Comments

 
Death Note News reader Emily Eboudreau has asked us a question:
I would really love to watch Death Note the Musical on DVD.  Do you know if one is available? 

Or if there are any plans for a Death Note Musical DVD in the future?
Insofar as I know, there are currently no plans to release the musical Death Note on DVD.
HOWEVER, there does appear to be much milking of it by HoriPro, so I wouldn't be surprised if that isn't a thing sooner rather than later.  Particularly since two live shows have been recorded and are due to air on Japanese television. 

They will be the ones transferred to DVD, in my humble predictive opinion.  I will certainly blog about it as soon as I know.

In the meantime, go and hunt on YouTube, as there are plenty of official rehearsal videos from both Japan and Korea, plus English language versions from Frank Wildhorn's New York pre-performance sessions.  In addition, there are plenty of amateur videos filmed by folk in the audience. 

You will have some joy checking out the posts in my Death Note Musical category, as I sometimes embed good ones there.

And what do you know?  I've just found a full-length recording of the Korean Death Note Musical Showcase on YouTube - see it embedded below.
Death Note Musical poster from Japan 2015
Anyone else got an answer for Emily, or something to add to mine?  Please do comment with your thoughts/knowledge.

And if any other reader has a question for us all, then just ask!  There are plenty of ways to contact me, or simply leave a comment on any blog entry and I'll pick it up from there.

Thank you for this one, Emily!

Meanwhile to check out the Death Note DVDs which currently do exist, our store is a great place to begin.
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Much Cuteness as Final Curtain Closes on Korea's Death Note Musical Stageshow

4/9/2015

6 Comments

 
The Korean cast of Death Note the Musical were clearly having a fabulous time performing the show. In fact, as the last curtain fell, a handful of actors didn't want to go.

Led by Kwang-Ho Hong, the group didn't exit stage left, as they were supposed to do, once the final bows had been given on August 15th 2015.
Kwang-Ho Hong reaching for Sun-ah Jung in Death Note Musical Korean curtain call
The Kira actor raced to catch up with Sun-ah Jung (Misa), reaching out to pull her back into the limelight.

She'd already left the stage by the time he was able to grab her. Undaunted Hong dragged her back from the wings; grasping the arm of Hong-suk Kang (Ryuk) for good measure too.
Korean Kira drags Misa and Ryuk back on stage (Death Note Musical)
Shinigami and Second Kira secured, Hong then called out across the stage to forestall another actor's exit over there.
Cast of Korean Death Note the Musical at final curtain call
Death Note Musical cast final curtain call
Attention caught, kisses were blown in the direction of Jun-su Kim (aka Xia Junsu, JYJ KPop idol now playing L) - who was taking his own sweet time in leaving the stage; too busy waving to the audience to have yet disappeared into the wings.
Kim Junsu Death Note Musical in Korea final curtain
Naturally his colleagues' kisses were reciprocated...
Xia Junsu kisses at Death Note Musical final curtain
... prompting a fair amount of bouncing and applause from Jung and Hong, as Kang looked on. Kim answered with a much more cursory wave back, albeit grinning like a Cheshire Cat.
Korean Death Note cast members applaud each other at final curtain
Jun-Su Kim waves to fellow Death Note Musical cast members
Jung now patently considered all extra-curricula shenanigans to be over, as she made her way back towards the wings.
Korean Misa Amane Death Note Musical Sun-ah Jung
Before Hong's reaching cry brought her to a jolting stop, half in the wings on tip-toe, her arms flying into the air. She turned quickly about, hand out-stretched towards her on-stage beau. 

The Light Yagami actor had already grasped the forearm of his shinigami pal, lest Kang also entertain ideas about bringing this curtain call to a premature end.
Korea Death Note Musical Misa returns for curtain call

0815 데스노트 총막 홍라이토가 퇴장하려는 미사랑 류크 잡아끌어서 같이 인사 #홍광호 #정선아 #강홍석 pic.twitter.com/ZB4oaypWxS

— 딩봇 (@DINGbot227) August 15, 2015
After all, Junsu was still on-stage, blowing kisses and waving to fans in the audience, who loudly replied with rapturous accolades...
Xiah Junsu as L at Death Note the Musical last curtain call
... growing yet more in volume, as Junsu tearfully took a long, long bow.  His actions emulated on the other side of the stage by Jung, Kang and Hong.
Korean Musical Misa, Ryuk and Light bow to Death Note audience
Junsu Kim bows to Death Note Musical audience
All four eventually standing to issue one last laughing wave at the theatre crowd, before leaving the stage for the last time.

Korean Death Note the Musical Final Curtain

There was more than one fan in the audience with a camera. They captured footage of that prolonged curtain call for Death Note the Musical's final performance in Seoul, with others additionally filming the official ending - and speeches - which preceded it.

Seoul Musical Death Note After-show Party

The celebrations didn't end there.  After fifty-seven performances, it was only right to wind things down with a post-show Death Note party for the cast and their guests.

Pictures have flown around Twitter to give you a taste of how that played out.

At closing party last night with other actors #KwangHoHong #deathnote pic.twitter.com/Wk85leK3cI

— Kwang-Ho Hong Fan (@hkhmusical) August 16, 2015

광호형! 형과 함께여서 정말 행복했습니다. 같이 서로를 바라보며 호흡하고 노래하며 느꼈던 짜릿함과 전율들..평생 잊지못할거예요 우리 또 함께 무대에 설 날을 기약하며..데스노트의 마지막날 pic.twitter.com/L7l9oablXr

— 김준수 (@1215thexiahtic) August 15, 2015
6 Comments

Death Note and Naruto: Forerunners in Global Market Bid for  2.5-D Japanese Entertainment

1/9/2015

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Death Note is being seen as one of two big Japanese anime testing the ground internationally in a potentially lucrative revenue stream for entertainment groups. The other is Naruto.

Both have been recently adapted for live performances - or 2.5-D, as its known in Japan - which might just as easily be transferred across borders, changed to suit audiences in various nations.
Death Note Musical Japan poster

Death Note Musical Japan
Death Note Musical Korea

Death Note Musical Korea
Death Note the Musical has already been staged in South Korea, picking up there before the inaugural Japanese performance had even completed its theatrical run. Its producers - particularly HoriPro, which owns the rights to the Death Note stage-show - hope that other countries will be swift to purchase the script and score, in order to translate both for their own productions.

HoriPro deliberately hired a well-known American Broadway composer - Frank Wildhorn - so that eventual sales to the US might be smoothed. Versions of the show's keynote songs were available on-line in English before they'd even been recorded in Japanese.

HoriPro is part of the 2.5 Dimensional Musical Association - a Japanese entertainment industry conglomerate, formed in 2014 specifically to lead global exportation of anime related live events or stage adaptations.

Another founding member of the group, Nelke, has already seen its theatrical production of Naruto staged in Macau, Malaysia and Singapore.  Both have their eye on the West, where securing Death Note or Naruto 2.5-D deals could prove extremely profitable for the companies involved.
Naruto Musical Poster

Poster for Naruto the Musical
Though we haven't yet been made privy to the takings from those stagings, an idea of the bottom line can be gleaned from reports that Tenimyu (also owned by Nelke) recently sold its 2 millionth ticket for a run of successful 2.5 dimensional performances in Japan alone. This in a country which doesn't promote longevity in theatrical productions, as occurs in London's West End or New York's Broadway.

Promoting interest in either of those locations could ensure riches for the companies involved for years to come.

And to ensure at least some consideration from foreign theatre-goers, Tenimyu productions offered spectacles which provided sub-titles in four different languages - English, French, Chinese and Korean - that the buzz around the show might be conveyed home on the lips of those who watched it.

In addition to the huge bank balances primed to be boosted on the global entertainment market, there's another powerful incentive for Japanese exporters - unlike anime, manga and other material formats, it's difficult for live performances to be conveyed wholesale into the homes of potential customers free of charge.

You can't download on-line a stage production like you could anime episodes, nor scantilate copies of it, as so many do with manga.  For the entertainment moguls of Japan, rights to their musicals feels almost pirate proof.
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Original Cast Death Note Musical Show on TV

27/8/2015

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Did you miss out on the opportunity to see Death Note's theatrical stage-show during its inaugural run live in Japan?

Then dry your tears - HoriPro has just announced that it will be airing its musical on Japanese television this autumn.
Two Kiras and L - original Japanese Death Note Musical stars

Two Kiras and L - stars of the original Death Note Musical cast in Japan
Viewers will be able to watch two live performances of Death Note the Musical from the comfort of their own homes. Featuring the original cast, filmed in Tokyo, during dates which marked the international launch of Death Note as a stage adaptation.

Headed by Kenji Urai and Koike Teppei, as Light and L respectively, the company perform songs composed by Broadway's Frank Wildhorn, and produced by Kuriyama Tamiya.

Your first opportunity to watch the televised show will be on October 17th 2015, at 8pm.

The demanding role of Light Yagami, within a packed performance schedule, meant that it was divided between two actors. Playing Kira on alternative nights was Hayato Kakizawa, who will be in the lead role for the second Musical Death Note to hit Japan's television screens.

This production will be broadcast on November 7th 2015, at 6.30pm.

(NB There's a Tweet circulating, which has the Kira actors switched for these Death Note the Musical televised shows. I guess we find out in due time.)

It's hoped that those televised premier run recordings will gain even more significance over decades to come, as Death Note becomes established in theatres globally. The production has already been staged in South Korea to great critical acclaim.

Death Note Musical Promo with English Songs

In other news, there's a brand new theatrical trailer for this 2.5D Death Note live adaptation. 

The promo features songs from the Death Note Musical in English, no doubt to render it more attractive to theatre companies and executives in the West. (Yes, we're all looking at you, America.)

Enjoy it while you wait for the show - be it on your television screen or on a theatrical stage, if or when it finally turns up in your own country.
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Angel Xiah - Actor Junsu Wings an L Inspired Vogue Cover Shoot , but Hates the Candy

15/8/2015

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Kim Junsu Angel Wings in Vogue

Angelic L: Kim Junsu features in Death Note inspired pictures for Vogue Korea
Whoever thought that the L look would constitute the height of fashion?  Though granted it took a Korean pop idol turned Death Note Musical actor to adapt the detective's scruffy style into something more palatable to Vogue readers.

On August 15th 2015, Kim Junsu gives his final performance as L in Seoul's theatrical staging of Death Note. To honour his role, Vogue shot a series of images based (rather loosely) around a theme of the habitually barefoot investigator.

The L Code dictating the shoot included lots of stark, urban backgrounds, with the actor all in white, staring broodily at the camera. No shoes, of course, but with the occasional addition of (fallen) angel wings.

Sounds a lot like Near or Rem to me!
JYJ's Xiah Vogue photoshoot as L

Detecting hints of L in Junsu's Vogue pose and attire?
In the interview that accompanied his Vogue Death Note photographic spread, Kim Junsu discussed playing L in the Musical.

The actor - who shot to fame as Junsu (aka Xiah) in KPop boy band JYJ - worried that Death Note fans would disdain him as L. "I knew it would be a lot of work." Junsu told the fashionable magazine. "There was a lot of pressure to meet expectations."

He estimated that at least half of the original Death Note fans in the audience disliked how he subtly changed L's clothing and overall look.  Meanwhile his attempt to capture L's iconic canon posture took all his thigh muscle strength to pull off. It certainly wasn't comfortable to hold the position for 40 minutes every night on stage.

Junsu found L's quirky nomming of all things sweet to be a bit of a bind too. "L is a bit difficult because I'm always biting into candy. Each time, I'm eating at least two pieces per scene. Afterwards, I discard them immediately."

This apparently passed muster, as the interviewer didn't ask why.  Teeth? Figure? Diabetes?  Perhaps there's an implicit understanding that it's ok to waste food, as long as its candy, for reasons that only KPopstars and the Vogue readership could know.

As for me, I'm with L. My currently half-licked lollipop is convivially boosting my mental capacity to write this blog.

You may find the full article (entitled 'Xia in the Game') and Death Note L photo shoot in the August 2015 edition of Vogue Korea. Or read their on-line version.
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Official Korean Death Note the Musical Poster

14/8/2015

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Death Note the Musical Poster (Korea)

Death Note Musical poster from Korea
featuring Hong Kwang-ho as Light and Kim Jun-su as L
Did I ever share the above official poster from Korea's Death Note Musical stage production?  I've just found it lurking in my 'things to write about' folder.

It was Tweeted on April 12th 2015 by the official channel for JYJ - the KPop band of which L actor Kim Jun-su makes up one third.
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