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Death Note news articles

You're Such a Matsuda! You Idiot! - Death Note Memes Starring Touta Matsuda

29/3/2016

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Death Note's Touta Matsuda
Did you know that Death Note's Touta Matsuda has made it into the urban dictionary?  I didn't. 

A right Matsuda apparently is someone 'endearing inept' at their job, who 'tries too hard' yet only makes things worse.  This according to the on-line listing of items in the common lexicon that most official dictionaries leave out.  The example given by Urban Dictionary being:

Person A:  How's the new guy doing?
Person B:  I dunno, man, he's a real Matsuda.
 

All inspired by Death Note's youngest, most eager yet inexperienced police officer, who comes good in the end.  (Assuming, of course, that you agree with his disdain of Light's claim to divinity, and can condone the multiple shooting of a preternaturally armed man with avowed intent to kill.  On both sides.)
However, it's this very Matsuda who carries the final judgement against Kira in the tides decreed by Near; and the 'inept' officer's impetuous daring with the Yotsuba Group gave L the breakthrough there that he needed; not to mention another swift bit of Touta sharp shooting in the Mafia den saw Soichiro's life prolonged (albeit briefly) with Mello fleeing bereft of his Death Note and all alone; plus all the random, workaday instances of bravery, loyalty, duty and query against the will and supposed wisdom of his peers (always a more courageous path than running with the herd).

Given all that - do you think the enduring impression left in Urban Dictionary's mark against Matsuda is fair?

In fact, was it even enduring?  That entry was written in 2010.  Did it last?

Matsuda Bakayarou! - Death Note Matsuda Meme

Much more famous than Matsuda's Urban Dictionary entry is the Matsuda, You Idiot! Meme.  This one spread across the world and caused lawsuits in the process.

It all began with the airing of that final confrontation scene in Japan.  As Kira and Near faced off across the floor of the Yellow Box warehouse, things turned angry, then violent.  Next thing you know, Matsuda's firing a bullethole into Light's hand and that infamous cry comes within a twisting, contorted expression of pain, 'Matsuda Bakayarou!' 

That's variously translated into English as 'Matsuda, you fool!', 'idiot', or else something much stronger in its expletive.  As soon as it was heard in Japan, the meme began.  That was June 26th 2007, when Matsuda shot Light and the like of this took the world by storm:


Shooting Down the Matsuda Bakayaloid on NND

However, all these edits using segments of the Death Note anime did not go unnoticed by VAP - a subsidiary of Nippon - who owned the copyright on it at the time.

In June 2009, a cease and desist notice served on Niconico (NND) - Japan's biggest video hosting service - lead to thousands of 'Matsuda, bakayarou!' meme clips being taken down.  Some of those had been top ranking videos for some time, not merely within the genre, but across the whole site.  VAP has continued to closely monitor and act upon violations to this day.

But NND did fight back.  Suddenly the meme was renamed Bakayaloid, formed of a conjunction between 'bakayarou' and 'vocaloid'.  The latter being the computer software most were using to make the edits in the first place.

Unfortunately, VAP staff weren't that daft.  Despite a renewed surge in Matsuda, you idiot! videos, they were soon all gone again under the auspices of legal notices, and the company still keenly shoots down any Bakayaloid which has seen the light of cyber day since.  The momentum of the meme ceased amidst the Japanese.

Not in the rest of the world though, where YouTube continues to blithely host any Bakayaloid you care to upload.
Matsuda Bakayarou by Raka Lee

Still Matsuda Bakayarou by Raka Lee

Posted as Part of

Month of Matsuda Death  Note News
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Ohio Schoolgirl Cosplayer Suspended After Attending School Fandom Costume Fundraiser Dressed as Light Yagami with Death Note Prop

23/3/2016

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Lakewood Middle School, Hebron, Ohio
I've seen some nonsensical school Death Note replica over-reactions in my time, but this one truly takes the biscuit.  Or should that be the cookie? As needless to say, this is the USA.

An anime loving girl - aged 12-14 - has been given a three day suspension from Lakewood Middle School in Hebron, Licking County, Ohio, for turning up clutching a reproduction Death Note.

Inside were listed the names of some of her friends.  Unlike many previous cases, this wasn't a lashing out silently at bullies situation.  This was a bit of fun, attempting to freak out her buddies.

Because here's the rub:  it was a 'spirit day'.  A fund-raising event for the school, whereby pupils could don the costume of their favourite fandom character.  She arrived cosplaying Light Yagami.

She'd spent the weekend creating the notebook as a prop.  It was part of the outfit.
Half the friends listed in it admitted that they also owned replica Death Notes.  They were fans too.  Though reports have been careful to add that none of them had written each other's names in it.

The girl in question didn't anticipate any hassle.  Probably because she saw no danger, only fun.  On account of the fact that a shinigami's notebook of death is a fictitious thing; and anyway, she didn't own one.  She'd crafted it herself in her bedroom.  No Ryuk in attendance.

No-one was ever going to die.

The fund-raiser occurred on March 14th 2016. During the morning, the girl had misplaced her Death Note - which is described as little more than a booklet or pamphlet - and a teacher found it.  Flicked through, discovered the names and raised the alarm.  All they needed to do then was identify who owned the prop.

They evidently knew enough about Death Note to link the item with the student in Light Yagami cosplay.

She got in trouble over coming as Kira (well, as Kira WITH notebook) and was told not to mention the forthcoming discipline to anyone.  However, being a pre-teen and probably chaffing under the absurdity of the situation, she 'vented' to a male schoolmate - whose name was also on the list.

He freaked out and phoned his parents, one of whom came to the school to 'voice their concerns'.

Next thing you know, a local sheriff had also arrived at the school - possibly called in by the parent - to investigate the threat.  One report says she was charged with 'inducing panic'; another says no charges were filed at all.

Nevertheless a three day suspension from school it was, and the rest of the world rolls its eyes with utter incredulity.
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Anime Fan Soulja Boy Names Death Note as his Favourite

18/3/2016

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Self-styled legend - and otherwise styled Father of Modern Rap Music - Soulja Boy has come out as an anime fan in an interview today with magazine Complex UK.

The US singer is known for classic hip-hop hits like Crank That (Soulja Boy) and Turn my Swag On; platinum selling albums such as Souljaboytellem.com; as well as films about his life Soulja Boy: The Movie, and television documentaries concerning the same, as in the current Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood.

He was in Complex UK discussing his new album Stacks on Deck, which came out on March 15th 2016.  Yet somehow the conversation turned to anime in general, and Death Note in particular.
“You ain’t ready for this,” Soulja Boy tells me. He’s wrapped in a tight white t-shirt, elegantly ripped Robin’s Jeans, and a small, tasteful chain. His blunt, thick and taut, resembles a pterodactyl’s leg in a land before man, modernity, and swag. We’re sitting in a Burbank studio, a few blocks from the Disney and Warner Brothers lots. I tell him I was born ready.

“We gon’ start it off like this. Bam!” he says, and begins rattling off his favorite anime films. “Naruto. Cowboy Bebop. Death Note. Full Metal Alchemist. Akira.” In Japan, there’s a word for rabid anime fans: otaku. I am not even a tenth the otaku that Soulja Boy is. “Death Note, that’s my favorite one. You ever seen it?”

“No,” I say, meekly. I’m certain that Soulja Boy is about to be upset with me pretending I was born ready for this. I was in no way, shape, or form ready to talk about anime with Soulja Boy. I have failed myself. More gallingly, I have failed Soulja Boy.
~ Soulja Boy is the Father of Modern Rap Music by Drew Millard (Complex UK March 18th 2016)

Soulja Boy Complex UK March 18th 2016

Soulja Boy is the Father of Modern Rap Music
- Interview by Drew Millard
(Screenshot March 18th 2016)
He actually sounds a little Kira-esque too in the back-story provided by the magazine feature.

There's talk of him starting out at seventeen and appearing Christlike to his followers.  Changing the world of hip-hop and rap forever. Writing his own Fate, at least on-line, via Wikipedia with his lines of destiny coming true as Soulja Boy hustled himself into mega-stardom through careful hacks and self-penned publicity.

Not quite a Death Note wielding God of this New World, but you can't help wondering who inspired him at 17 back in 2006.
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Thank you to Everyone Who Made the Month of Light Yagami so Epic

3/3/2016

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Orangepunch does the honours here at close of play, in this Month of our Lord Kira
Death Note Month of Light Yagami
Wow.

That was freaking amazing. Thank you all so much for making the Month of Light unforgettable.

We had hoped this Death Note News Month of... feature would be received well, and hoped even more that the Death Note, and Light Yagami, communities would contribute...

I have to admit, I never expected anything quite this huge. The event absolutely exploded, and we wanted to take the time to thank everyone who contributed something to the Kira Month.

All Due Thanks to All Involved with the Awaited Kira Voice Actor Interviews

As a part of our Month of Light Yagami, three of his anime voice actors agreed to answer questions from fans. Our thanks are duly owed to Brad Swaile, Sergio Zamora, and Kim Hasper for agreeing to the interviews.

Also to Nia for designing the banner used to announce their participation.

The questions so many of you submitted have been collated. Our undying thanks are owed to Jojo, who translated questions and content into German, and to Lua, Silvia and Madelyn, who translated questions into Spanish for Sergio.

The voice actors have been passed (or are in the progress of receiving) the questions you submitted, and we will post the interviews when we receive their responses.  This may take a short amount of time, as there were quite a few of them - well over 100 for each of the three - and two sets have to be twice translated by our saintly volunteers.

Thanks Owed to Those Who Contributed This Month

Our applause and acclaim are directed to:

Cayanna Carma, who prepared a cosplay just to help launch the event, and then later submitted advice on cosplaying Light.

All who joined (previously or during this Month of Kira) the Light Yagami Death Note News Pinterest Community, and who continue to pin all manner of related finds to our board.

Nathaniel Brown, who had his Light Yagami Month musing in - as part of his regular Philosophical Overthinking Death Note column - before anything else had been written by anyone.  The first bit of content, in a hitherto hectic community Kira event, ready weeks in advance of being needful.

Tate Forkel, who contributed a striking Kira illustration - an artist's love letter to the anime. Tate gave the site owner, Matti, the confidence to keep working to get the word out about the event. He was the first reader to submit content for i (though he didn't know that at the time!) something we're additionally thankful for.

The Squad Six Cosplayers, who sent updates on their activities at conventions and gave Kira cosplaying advice.  Then, behind the scenes, their founder and leader Lara has been an absolute rock in support, getting the word out and sourcing random content.
Picture
Amaryllis, who submitted a guest post on Light's name and was always on hand to translate various bits of Japanese writing (along with Ethereality, Renchan and Chiroptera).

Maru-Light, who penned a Focus on a Fan feature piece, and also participated in the event with gusto over three separate contributions:  a piece on cosplaying Light; a guest post on the Death Note fan-fiction Redeemer Series; and finally a unique guest post on making Death Note dolls.  Plus she said that we could raid her gallery of Light Yagami cosplay photography, whenever we needed to illustrate a page.  Seems rude not to.  (See below.)

Renchan, who not only wrote a guest post on why Light was called Kira, but also quietly covered many of the actual Death Note news updates for a period in the middle there.

Lua, whose contemplations led to a guest post on the philosophies behind the deification of Light (as a break from writing her Philosophy dissertation); whose research found the Russian Light Yagami voice actor, the identity of whom had eluded three EHC members; and who still found time to step up to the plate as a translator for Sergio Zamora, and a bit for Kim Hasper's profile, and random Spanish, Portuguese, German, French...

Lucas King, a composer and musician who interpreted and played Light's theme on Piano, and sent in a video so we might listen and enjoy.

Light Yagami, who submitted a guest post on cosplaying Light Yagami.  You are Kira, aren't you?

Riconius, who read all so far, became enthused, stayed up all night musing, recording and otherwise creating a guest vlog and submitted it next day.
Maru-Light Steampunk Light Yagami cosplay

Death Note Steampunk: Light
cosplay featuring Maru-Light
Jennifer Fu, for opening up the archives of her academic Death Note website and giving us carte blanche to reproduce relevant excerpts, then liaising with each essay's author on our behalf.

Andrew Capuano, via Jennifer Fu, for placing Kira's ethics in a Kantian context, then giving us an excerpt to publish here.

Lhinnor Kuro, who contributed tips on cosplaying Light.

LaymanIX, for his comic genius in sending Light Yagami in to play SuperMario and Silent Hill.

Nell Fallcard, not only for letting us feature her quite famous Light fan-art, but also being the first to complete the artist questionnaire - effectively beta-ing it for us on behalf of all once and future Death Note fan-artists.

Richard Mak, for being a mathematician and illuminating us regarding the Kira actors' shared birthday problem.

Leila Lawliet M, who voiced her opinion concerning Onision's theorising vis-a-vis the fatal mistake of Light Yagami.

Lei K, who not only allowed us to republish her popular Kira fan-art, but also answered questions on drawing Light in the medium of graphic pencil.

Fausto the Endless, who opened up all her galleries of intricate Kira cosplay and permitted us to plunder as we will.  I think we nearly got it all.

ProcerdeCrepusulum, shared his Light Yagami fan-art.

PresaBranca, who gave his Yagami Raito fan-art.
(Matti ninjas in to thank) Orangepunch, for exploring the astrological cosmos; writing all other thank you notices; getting us caught up with the Miyano Mamoru news; translating much Spanish for Sergio's profile page; helping create the Kira gift store; general admin., coding, contacting, researching and proof-reading; putting up with becoming a Month of Kira widow while I'm editing it, plus - most importantly of all - bringing copious refills in cups of tea; and finally, for compiling the world's most difficult Light Yagami crossword puzzle for Death Note News.  In the words of Leila Lawliet M, that was brutal!  (Matti ninjas out again.)

Serria, via Jennifer Fu, who let us include an excerpt from her Psychology essay discussing why Light Yagami is not a sociopath.

blAIRbender, who finally handed in her cosplay advice and gave us a good laugh (we happily trolled right back).

Samuel Ruiz, for voice acting Light Yagami in an audio version of Matti's drabble, and making her day in the process.

Tarot Mikami, for knowing when and how to play the Joker in this overview of Light's great story.

Finally - Thank You to Matti for Making This All Possible

There is one more thanks owed here. Matti, the creator of Death Note News, who made the Month of Light possible.

A few years ago, Matti started this blog for teh lulz. And then it grew into something more.

Regular readers had started appearing; a few here, a few there. Then more.

Matti, the adorable person that she is, freaked out a bit over it. Her sense of Celtic hospitality kicked in... if readers were going to be visiting a place of hers, then it had better be nice! Matti wanted to create a site that was a visual equivalent to being offered a nice cup of tea offered as soon as you entered her domain. A proper welcome.

Over the past year she has put in countless hours of work into creating a site she deemed presentable to her readers. She mithered over shades of red, and font and spacing, and cried that she was a writer not an artist. And then put more work into the site.  

As 2015 came to a close, after months of grappling with design and countless hours devoted to tatting with code to make the site as accessible and accommodating as possible, Death Note News readership had grown higher than ever.

The staff at Death Note News had also grown. From one blogger amusing herself whenever the whim took, to a whole suite of regular columnists.

Now backed by a team of brilliant writers, the new Death Note News site was ready, all shiny and nice.
Death Note News Matti (Editor)

Matti like Tsugumi Ohba
Artwork by AquaCola
All that remained was to properly invite the Death Note community to join in. Thus the idea for a community feature was born: Death Note Month of... The Month of Light Yagami was introduced on Death Note News by Matti in the hopes that readers here would contribute some things throughout the month. She waited, anxiously, to see how the idea might be received. She really, really wanted this to be a thing.

Then it happened, artist Tate Forkel appeared from the wild, and from thereon, there was no stopping the rest of you.

Thank you Matti, for bringing us together with such a fun event.


                So.

Are you all getting ready?

Death Note Month of Touta Matsuda
Contribute Touta Matsuda Content
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Veteran Death Note Cosplayer blAIRbender Advises on Creating Kira in Costume

29/2/2016

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Brillant Mail Jeevas cosplayer blAIRbender

blAIRbender passed over Mail Jeevas to
cosplay a mere God of the New World

For Month of Light Yagami, we're corralling all the Kira cosplayers into Death Note News to share their tips on being God.
(Remember when blAIRbender sold out Matt and started cosplaying that Yagami bloke instead?

We do.  The entire Mello and Matt fandom haven't stopped crying yet. The sadness. The horror. The betrayal in loss of all comfort and hope. The opportunities to troll during Gami-given moments like this - when the threat of a Force10 tempest couldn't give us pause to resist.

Which is probably why Blair wrote her own introduction, instead of leaving me notes to compile one for her, like everyone else.)

Here now to shed light on costuming Death Note's protagonist is blAIRbender - a cosplayer who has long-since had Kira all sewn up.
blAIRbender cosplaying Kira Death Note

Human of the Year - Light
blAIRbender cosplays Kira
I've been a cosplayer since the summer of 2008. I started as a Death Note cosplayer, mostly cosplaying as Matt and L. Then I made a Mello and a Light cosplay. I did the four of them for a few years, then started branching out into other series like Fullmetal Alchemist, Red Garden, and Venture Bros.

A few years ago, I made a Cersei Lannister cosplay from the show Game of Thrones. Nowadays I mostly just wear that and traipse around conventions with a group of Game of Thrones cosplayers called the Throne Bros. Oh, and I've also started cosplaying as Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games.

Matt makes an appearance every now and again, but for the most part, I don't do Death Note cosplay anymore.

Aside from cosplay things, I've been attending a university in PA where I'm studying costuming. In the fall, I was the assistant costume designer for the production of Ibsen's Ghosts that we did, which was an amazing experience. This semester we are doing Shakespeare's The Tempest and I have the honor of being one of three costume designers for it (thank God because there are a TON of characters in it). It's a lot of work, but I love it.

blAIRbender on How to Make a Light Yagami Costume with Goodwill Alone

Do you/have you cosplayed Kira now or in the past?
Yes - in the past

Any anecdotes about your experiences cosplaying Light?
Heh, Light was always fun to do. I would usually cosplay him while with Maru-Light and Anda-chan. Any time the three of us get together, some kind of hilarity ensues.

Light was never someone I would act necessarily in character as while wearing. I mean, I would more or less act like a caricature of his personality.

Especially when with Maru and Anda, we would make a lot of references to Patrick Bateman from American Psycho and a bunch of jokes surrounding that. The more bullshitting and banter, the better.

How would you go about creating a costume for Light Yagami?
I actually bought almost my entire Light cosplay from a Goodwill. He wears normal clothes, unlike the people I cosplay as nowadays. I was still in high school when I first cosplayed as him, so I had a very tight budget. Somehow I got lucky and found some pretty nice quality stuff that cost next to nothing.
Kira cosplay by blAIRbender - Light Lights Up Light Light

blAIRbender stars as Light Lights Up Light Light - Kira cosplay at its finest
(Oh!  Hold on! That's also Matt trolling by cosplaying as Kira in a lampshade being light Light.  OMG! blAIRbender never sold out! She subverted from the inside.  HaX0R3d teh God of teh nub world! Gf! How could we ever have doubted her?  Matt Jeevas cosplayer supreme, inside AND out!)
What's Up People?  Death Note cosplayers

What's Up, People? blAIRbender Light Yagami cosplayer,
with L (Maru-Light), Mello (Anda-Chan) and Matt (KitsuneCowgirl)
What clothing and/or props do you feel are essential Light Yagami costume items?
A Death Note, red contacts, and a beautiful wig.

Is there more to cosplaying Kira than the outfit? (Look/behaviour etc.)
Well, I mean I would always act like an narcissistic asshole as Light. It's so much more fun that way. More opportunities for hilarious bullshitting.

What's your professional opinion about ready-made Light Yagami outfits, such as those in the Death Note News Cosplay Store? Any other pieces in there decent enough for a Kira cosplay? (Be honest!)
Never ever ever buy ready-made Light cosplays online. His clothes aren't unique. He just wears normal clothes that you could easily find in any store. It doesn't make sense to break the bank trying to cosplay as Light.

Where would YOU source items to cosplay Light Yagami?
Honestly, just go to a Goodwill or some cheap clothing store. It's so cheap and easy and you can find really nice looking stuff without spending a bunch of money.

Any last tips for anyone reading, who wishes to create their Kira cosplay from scratch?
Make-up, friends. It's crazy how much of a difference a little bit of contouring can make.

More from blAIRbender

blAIRbender Matt Death Note cosplay
blAIRbender previously popped up in an older article about the things that can go wrong whilst in costume as a Death Note character:

It Surely Must Happen to Mello Too - Death Note Secrets
Gleaned from Cosplay

Cosplayers!

Would you like to have a go at answering these questions yourself? 

A different Death Note character forms the focus each month.

If you cosplay Death Note - or indeed a cosplayer of any tale - and you're willing to share your tips, thoughts and advice with the fandom, then visit our cosplayer's questionnaire page to fill in the form.

Thank you in advance!

Posted as part of

Kira Month on Death Note News
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Gallery of Kira Cosplay by Fausto the Endless, and Also of L

27/2/2016

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One of Russia's most remarkable anime cosplayers has allowed Death Note News to republish
stunning photographs from her Death Note cosplay gallery.

We've already glimpsed Fausto the Endless once, illustrating the introductory header in our mid-event round up for Month of Kira art and articles.  Here's another image from that same shoot.  There will soon be a whole lot more from her portfolio, which make this one look quite prosaic in comparison.

Fausto-the-Endless Cosplays Kira - Wing of Death

Kira - Wing of Death (Note) Cosplay by Fausto-the-Endless
(Photograph courtesy of Fausto-The-Endless, DeviantART)
Poor Fausto the Endless really wanted to join in further by filling in the questionnaire prepared for Light Yagami cosplayers. But time wasn't on our side.

Hopefully we'll get the chance to grab her again for advice on costuming as Kira. Not to mention sharing cosplay staging tips, given those elaborate recreations of famous Death Note scenes that adorn her environment.

The God of the New World
- Fausto the Endless Kira Cosplay

Fausto-the-Endless - The God of the New World Death Note Light Yagami cosplay
(Photograph courtesy of FaustoTheEndless, WorldCosplay.net)
There will be plenty of opportunity forthcoming in one of our later Death Note Month of... events.  It would be particularly appropriate, to invite further input from Fausto the Endless, when we get around to hosting Month of L.

Take a good, hard look at these amazing pictures from her cosplayed Death Note scenes. Captured here in handcuffs, depicting Death Note during L's bout of demonstrating dodgy detention techniques and a wanton disregard for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But how many separate cosplayers do you count?

FaustotheEndless Cosplays
Death Note - Antagonism

Fausto-the-Endless Light Yagami and L cosplay
(Photograph courtesy of FaustoTheEndless, WorldCosplay.net)
Just the one. But that one is brilliant.  The wonder of modern technology allowing us to see Fausto the Endless in costume as BOTH Light Yagami and L simultaneously. Be honest here, even knowing that, can YOU tell that the Death Note characters are cosplayed by the same talented lady?

Death Note - The Mightiness of Kira
Cosplay by FaustotheEndless

Light Yagami cosplay FaustoTheEndless Death Note The Mightiness of Kira
(Photograph courtesy of FaustoTheEndless, WorldCosplay.net)
Though granted she elicited some help from her friends for this reproduction of Death Note manga cover art in cosplay.  The red-shrouded figures of death are played by Milana Tepesh, Yuna Kairi and Luka - members of Russia's WTF Cosband, which is headed by Fausto the Endless herself.

You can read more about how they pulled off such intricately cosplayed Death Note images, in a September 2014 report on DeviantART about their photoshoot.

Otherwise, catch up with Fausto and her WTF Cosband on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Ask; or, if you speak Russian, Fausto The Endless on VK and WTF Cosband's Official Page there too.  All of those locations show more Death Note cosplay pictures from the collective not shown above, in addition to those from all their other costumed endeavours. 

Colour us impressed.

Posted as part of

Death Note Kira Month on Death Note News
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Depicting the Darker Shades of Light Yagami with Graphite Pencil Artist Lei K 

26/2/2016

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Lei K draws upon her own experience to outline - via the Month of Kira artist questionnaire - how budding Death Note fan-artists might tackle a portrait of Light Yagami. Just like her own, reproduced below.
Lei K - Light art on Death Note News Month of Kira
Lei K's Light is just one of the many pieces of artwork on display in her gallery on DeviantART.  She's an artist from Nānākuli, on the Island of O'ahu, Hawaii, who specialises in graphite pencil art.  Her Light Yagami portrait was completed in May 2014, using graphite, charcoal and colour pencils.

To see more of her most up-to-date artwork, including another showing of her pencil drawn Kira, you really need to visit her website - La808Lei. 
Wherein you can view Lei K's works in progress; completed art in varying media; and, oh bless you!, a link back to Death Note News!  Not to mention social media links to keep up with all that's new from this talented lady's studio, and opportunities to purchase selected artwork from her gallery.

Low-Down on Drawing Light Yagami with Nānākuli Graphite Pencil Artist Lei K

Do you/have you created Kira art now or in the past?
Yes - in the past

Any anecdotes about your experiences as a Light Yagami artist?
I developed a strong appetite for potato chips, preferably Sour Cream and Onions.

How would you go about creating a Kira drawing/sculpture?
Find good references of Light. What I like to do is use the anime itself as a good reference for a Light. Also it's good to know what mood you want to give off in the drawing. It'll make it more visually appealing.

What attributes, clothing and/or scenarios, do you feel are essential to include in Light Yagami artwork?
His red eyes. I normally work with graphite pencils, but this time I added charcoal pencils into the mix. I wanted darker tones, so those red eyes could stand out. I also wanted the tone dark to give the drawing a dark vibe. Of course I had to have the smirk smile of his and the Death Note.

Is there more to recreating Kira visually than the outfit? (Expression/stance/slogan etc.)
Yes there is. I don't really want to quote another artist, but in this case it's the best answer I can give. Get his personality. It has to come across no matter what. Also get Kira expression right...either it's him writing names in the Death Note, doing the evil laugh or even eating a bag of potato chips. Having his expression right helps recreating Kira visually.

What, in your professional opinion, are fundamental tips/advice in producing art that's recognisably Kira?
Use good references and have them at a decent size. The larger the better, so you could zoom in on certain details. Also get all the references you might need beforehand. It's better to have references before you start, so they are ready for you to use while you are drawing. It’s a huge time saver.

What are the common noob errors made in drawing/modelling Light Yagami?
Not getting the details of Light right...like his eyes, hair, clothes, expression, etc. Having a reference from the anime, manga or even action figure is a great way to make sure you have the right details of Light.
Detail from 'Light Yagami' by Lei K - Death Note News
Any last tips for anyone reading, who wishes to start creating Kira artwork?
Draw what moves you. If it's a certain scene, emotion or you have a feeling to just draw Light...than draw him. When that creative mood hits act upon it. If you don't...it'll nag you until you do. Also you don't have to draw exactly how Light looks in the anime. As long you have his details right, you can do your own style of Light. That would make your artwork stand out more, because it’ll have your own personal touch to it.

Creating something is better than creating nothing.

Artists!

Would you like to have a go at answering these questions on your own behalf?

If you are a Death Note artist - or indeed an artist per se - and you're willing to share your tips, thoughts and advice with the fandom, then visit our fan-artist's questionnaire page to fill in the form.

Thank you in advance!

Posted as part of

Death Note Month of Kira Death Note News
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Award-winning Mexican Artist Nell Fallcard Tells All About Drawing Light Yagami

21/2/2016

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Professional artist Nell Fallcard is the first to complete our Death Note Month of... questionnaire - aimed at advising Kira artists on perfecting their craft.
Death Note News: Light Yagami by Nell Fallcard
Nell knows what she's talking about. She makes a living from her art in her native Mexico.  Her portrait of Light Yagami (above) was lifted from her DeviantART portfolio.  Later (non-Death Note related) portraits netted first place prizes art competitions like the Photoshop User Awards (2008) - Illustration category and Royal Flush magazine's Portrait Illustration Contest (2008). More recently, Nell was short-listed for the Share One Planet Worldwide Illustration Contest Award.

You can find more of her art on her website. Be prepared to sit there going, 'Wow!' for the next few minutes, as you peruse its gallery.  We did.

Nell Fallcard on Portraying Light Yagami in Traditional Art

Detail from Nell Fallcard's Light Yagami portrait
Have you created Kira art now or in the past?
Yes - in the past.

Any anecdotes about your experiences as a Light Yagami artist?
I used a reference of a guy I found attractive back in the day for the piece, he stumbled upon it and now we are good friends! Going to massacre his sassy ass in Smash Bros this Sunday. :D

How would you go about creating a Kira drawing?
Find references, get a basic sketch for composition and values, then render out!

What attributes, clothing and/or scenarios, do you feel are essential to include in Light Yagami artwork?
The K-pop boy band member hair and the red eyes are a must.

Is there more to recreating Kira visually than the outfit?
(Expression/stance/slogan etc.)

His personality has to come across, so get a pose / body language that fits it!

What, in your professional opinion, are fundamental tips/advice in producing art that's recognisably Kira?
Using references is an absolute must in order not to get lost.

What are the common noob errors made in drawing Light Yagami?
Not using references! :'D  The general public tend to think anything that comes from your head has more value than anything you copy, and they are right to an extent. But if you are in your early stages as an artist, your mission is to be able to get your fundamentals right before jumping into relying entirely on the contents of your mind.

Professional artists usually do a mixture of both: they look for references and they change them in their head to come up with their own creations.

Any last tips for anyone reading, who wishes to start creating Kira artwork?
Nowadays there are tutorials for everything (what a beautiful time to be alive!), you just need to put the hours of work. So get yourself into training everyday and you will eventually be able to create anything you imagine!

Artists!

Would you like to have a go at answering these questions on your own behalf?

If you are a Death Note artist - or indeed an artist per se - and you're willing to share your tips, thoughts and advice with the fandom, then visit our fan-artist's questionnaire page to fill in the form.

Thank you in advance!

Posted as part of

Month of Kira on Death Note News
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Asked Kira Yet?

Three Light Yagami voice actors are waiting to take your questions in interviews for Kira Month on Death Note News.

ASK BRAD SWAILE
(English question form)


PREGUNTA SERGIO ZAMORA
(Forma de pregunta
Español)


STELLEN SIE KIM HASPER
(Deutsch Frage Form)


The deadline is closing in!
FEBRUARY 23RD 2016

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Kira Cosplayer Lhinnor Kuro on How to Get into Costume as Light Yagami

19/2/2016

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Lhinnor Kuro cosplays Light Yagami
As part of a series for Death Note Month of Kira, we're delving into the nitty-gritty of cosplaying Light Yagami.

To tell us how to get into costume and character as Light Yagami is someone doing just that in her native Netherlands.

Take it away Lhinnor Kuro!
Lhinnor Kuro is part of the costuming collective Special Snowflakes Cosplay. You can view her character transformations at Lhinnor Cosplay on Facebook.

She writes, "Hello! I am a cosplayer from the Netherlands and go by the name of Lhinnor Kuro. I recently started cosplaying Light Yagami. Death Note is one of my favourite anime, and I really enjoy cosplaying Light :D I only cosplayed him once at a convention so far, so I am kind of a beginner Light cosplayer."

Lhinnor Kuro Lets Us In on the Secret of Cosplaying Light Yagami

Do you/have you cosplayed Kira now or in the past?
Yes - currently

Any anecdotes about your experiences cosplaying Light?
When people introduce themselves I usually also ask their last name. Sometimes they know what I am up to but usually they don't. Or they say I know what you just did there :p

How would you go about creating a costume for Light Yagami?
I bought all my clothing from a second hand store.

What clothing and/or props do you feel are essential Light Yagami costume items?
I think it is nice to have a Death Note with me. And I also bought a plastic apple, which is great as a prop for pictures.

Is there more to cosplaying Kira than the outfit? (Look/behaviour etc.)
I think the most important thing is that you have fun while cosplaying Kira.

It is also a lot of fun if friends cosplay Death Note characters with you :D I was lucky that friends of mine decided to cosplay L and Misa with me ^^

What's your professional opinion about ready-made Light Yagami outfits, such as those in the Death Note News Cosplay Store? Any other pieces in there decent enough for a Kira cosplay? (Be honest!)
I don't like most of the ready-made Light Yagami outfits to be honest.

The quality of the outfits looks bad in my opinion. And the stores charge way too much for the outfit. (I am talking about the cosplay online stores that I visit).

I think second-hand stores give you higher quality items within a reasonable price.

Or you could make the clothes yourself ^^

Any last tips for anyone reading, who wishes to create their Kira cosplay from scratch?
Have fun with making your costume :D
Light Yagami cosplayer Lhinnor Kuro - Death Note News
Lhinnor Kuro Kira cosplayer on Death Note News
Cosplayers!

Would you like to have a go at answering these questions on your own behalf?

If you are a Death Note cosplayer - or indeed a cosplayer per se - and you're willing to share your tips, thoughts and advice with the fandom, then visit our cosplayer's questionnaire page to fill in the form.

Thank you in advance!

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Has There Been a Death Note Irish Gaelic Translation?

18/2/2016

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Nóta Báis - Irish Death Note Gaelic
This is a quick question emerging from out in the wild. A Death Note News reader wishes to pick your collective brains and whistle down your networks with this query - has Death Note ever been translated into Irish Gaelic?

I know it's never been done officially, but there may be fan-made dubs of the anime or scanlations of the manga by Irish Death Note fans somewhere.  We've both had a look on-line (she much more thoroughly than I), yet to no avail.

Does such a thing as Death Note Irish versions exist?  If so, could you please point her in the right direction.

Thanks in advance!  My apologies...

Go raibh míle maith agat roimh ré, mo bhráithre álainn na hÉireann.
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Light Yagami - Hero or Villain? Analysis and Discussion (Guest Video by Riconius)

18/2/2016

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We know Ricardo Arechiga as the erstwhile director of the movie Lawliet.  But in another life, he has a YouTube presence too - hosting a Channel discussing cartoons and other points of popular culture - under the moniker Riconius. 

Created for - and inspired by - Month of Light Yagami on Death Note News, here is Riconius vlogging his thoughts in analysis of whether Kira should be considered a hero or villain.

Watching Riconius at Work - How Editor Matti Glimpsed it Happening

Riconius Channel on YouTube talking about Light Yagami for Death Note News' Month  of Kira
YouTube Channel - Riconius: Cartoons and Stuff.
We've had a great deal of wonderful contributions to Death Note News during our Kira-centric inaugural Month of... event.  So many people have jumped on board, leaving us quite stunned and extraordinarily delighted back here.

From the least to the highest effort - in terms of talent, research or sheer hard work - there's nothing to choose between them all. We have no favouritism. They are equally amazing; on a par in eliciting thankfulness from all writers, translators and organisers here.

However, I have to admit that it was truly exciting to receive content from this latest participant in Month of Light Yagami. Thrilling to behold the process unravelling.

For no better reason than was there, peeping in over his cyber shoulder from the sidelines of Skype, as he researched, recorded, edited and mixed.

Yesterday, Lawliet director Ricardo Arechiga heard about our event for the first time. He was happy for us and wandered away to look at the archived collection of articles so far.  Heads up given, job done, I returned to work preparing for publication the next raft of content coming your way, thinking nothing more about it.  But then Rico was back. He was inspired. Really inspired. He was going to join in.

Through occasional comments passed back and forth via Skype, I witnessed that spark turn into ideas; whittled down into a plan. Then stayed on throughout a (coincidentally) joint all-nighter, wherein his Light Yagami: Hero or Villain vlog gradually came together.  A truly fascinating thing to watch appear piecemeal in cryptic messages - 'just laying down the audio', 'doing the visuals', 'rendering' - when its not a process with which I'm familiar.

The buzz was infectious. When the link came in, I settled back with snacks and deep anticipation to play it.  Like my computer chair and desk were transformed now into front row seats at a theatrical première.  It was indeed fabulous to view completed; one long night after first hearing a musing notion that it might come.

I do hope I haven't over-hyped it.  But I doubt that.   If you haven't already seen it, above is Riconius's opinion driven vlog - analysing Kira's culpability, morality and how we might perceive his actions overall.  Enjoy it.  I did immensely.

Created as part of

Death Note Month of Light Yagami
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Are You Enjoying This Month of Kira on Death Note News?

16/2/2016

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It's been an exciting month so far, with much more to follow.  Let's recap!

Light Yagami - The God of the New World cosplay by FaustotheEndless

Fausto the Endless cosplays Kira: The God of the New World
(Reproduced with permission - FaustoTheEndless at WorldCosplay)

Kira Seiyū Interviewed by You!

Anime actors Brad Swaile, Sergio Zamora and Kim Hasper are answering your questions backstage as we speak.  They ALL played Light Yagami, providing the voice for him in the English, Spanish (European) and German dubs of the Death Note anime respectively.

Each actor has a new profile page - which will later transform into their individual interviews conducted by all who sent in queries to be asked.  The buttons beneath their pictures below will take you to that seiyū's profile too.

To make life easier on all, we even translated the question form into English, Spanish and German.  Though any of those languages may be used to ask what you will of all three Light Yagami voice actors.
Sergio Zamora interview Death Note News
Preguntar en Español
Brad Swaile interview Death Note News
Ask in English
Kim Hasper interview Death Note News
Fragen in Deutsch

All about Raito: Kira Profiles, Light Yagami Analyses, Papers, Discussions & More

Death Note News writers and readers alike have been sharing their thoughts and research expertise on all things Yagami. Thus far, we've read profiles penned by us:
  • Death Note Profile: Who is Light Yagami?
  • Casting Kira: Light Yagami Actors Across the Globe

Philosophy:
  • Nathaniel Overthinks Death Note #04: The Utilitarianism of Light Yagami
  • The Concept of Kira: Can you Really say Light Yagami is the God of the New World? (Guest Post by Lua)

and Linguistics:
  • Why is Light Yagami's Name Read as Yagami Tsuki? (Guest Post by Amaryllis)
  • What's in a Name? The Reason Why Light Yagami is Called Kira in Death Note (Guest Post by Renchan)
Then Death Note News columnist Lucas King was here to discuss and play us his piano version of Light's Theme from the anime. Whilst also ninja-ing in an appeal on behalf of a friend.

Meanwhile, an old friend of all who once haunted MangaBullet - the very epitome there of a Light Yagami fan - took centre-stage in a (not coincidentally) very relevant Focus on a Fan for this Month of Kira. 

Who better than Maru-Light for that?

Got anything more to add?  A paper, insight, opinion, commentary, review or general Thing About Raito to Share lying about your hard-drive or bouncing about your mind?  Then let us have it!
Kira Month Submissions

Where the Kira Fans Meet

In our aim to uncover the communities, forums, groups and other places where Light Yagami fans hang out - and to give such areas a little boost of publicity too - we had ComicVine's Light Yagami Forum respond, while also bigging up our own Pinterest Community Board for Kira fans.

Let us know if there are more out there!

Light Yagami Cosplayers Unite!

We've had Kira cosplay galore!  In addition to the fabulous God of the New World above by Fausto the Endless (of whom more later in the month), the whole thing kicked off with Cayanna Carma as Light Yagami welcoming us to this event.

She returned later to answer questions about cosplaying Kira, as did Squad Six Cosplayers and Light Yagami.  We're still to hear from Maru-Light, whose insight is already in and queued waiting to be published.
Kira Cosplayer Questionnaire

Paging the Writers of Light Yagami Fan-Fiction

There's been slightly less of a response from those penning Kira fan-fiction.  Matti gave it a go with Mu Amongst Fools; while the ubiquitous Maru-Light came clean on whatever happened to her co-authored Death Note novels The Redeemer Series.  Fascinating, even if you never read the books!

However, there may be more interest now that we've finally got our Death Note fan-fiction author questions up and running.  Will you be sharing your writing secrets there?
Kira Fan-Fiction Writers Questionnaire

Drawing in the Kira Fan Artists

The lovely Tate Forkel started us off with the fan drawn Light Yagami artwork.  Arrowchild added her own to the Redeemer piece already mentioned above. But then nothing more.

Come on Kira artists!  We're all dying to see what you have created.  To a given value of 'dying' obviously; thought we'd better mention that, given the subject and circumstances.  You may be interested to note that you have also now got a series of questions aimed at uncovering your artistic know-how!
Kira Artist Questionnaire

Did We Miss Anything?

There's much more to come from whence all of this derived, so keep reading and don't forget that everything Light Yagami related this month is being archived for a permanent display: The C0llected Archives of Death Note News Month of Light Yagami.

And next month, Matsuda.  Are you ready?

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

15/2/2016

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Redeemer Cover Art by Arrowchild (DeviantART)

The Redeemer Series was a nearly 5-book long, epic tome of a Death Note fanfic series written by Maru-Light and Andariel (under the combined avatar cocoacoveredgods).

It focused on the premise that the Yellowbox Warehouse was essentially the pinnacle of L's 6-year long offensive against Kira, who believed L to be dead, when he really wasn’t.

Over the course of thousands of pages, the drama of Death Note’s protagonists (including Mello and Matt, Misa, Near, etc.) post-canon rolled out in a sordid tale replete with angst, erotica, violence, and horror.

It spanned at least five years of solid writing and regular posting, from the first book Redeemer, through its sequels: To Be or Not to Be, Our Time is Running Out, Sins of the Father and I’m Not Okay.

It gained a loyal audience on Adult Fanfiction.net, and an equally loyal audience on DeviantArt where its authors also cosplayed and promoted it. It seemed to be endeavoring to continue through two more solidly planned novels: End of Days and Chasing the Dragon.

But then suddenly, there was a twist.

And now all the books of the series, save the first (Redeemer)—are gone.

So what happened?

As one of its two authors, please allow me to tell you the story of Redeemer’s creation and subsequent disappearance.
Image: Redeemer cover art by Arrowchild

Success of the Redeemer Series - Death Note Fan-Fic by Maru-Light & Andariel

The Redeemer Series began as a private passion project between myself and Andariel (Anda-Chan on DA) as we were entering into our own romantic relationship back in 2008. (We’re now engaged, living together and wedding planning).

We were cosplaying often as Light and Mello back then (and later L, B and Matt) and writing together became part of our raison d'etre. It was a full package deal, the writing feeding the cosplay and vise versa. We had a habit of telling our fellow DN friends about this huge fic we were working on, and they began asking us to read it, so after some thought we eventually relented and put Redeemer up on AFF.

From there the series seemed to generate an audience on its own. We rarely promoted The Redeemer Series much outside of our own DeviantArt accounts, and later, our own forum; but on the rare occasion I sought it out online to see if it had some presence, I often came across it on various Death Note fic rec lists, and even a listing on TV Tropes.com. (LOL)

It was fantastic to suddenly have an audience that didn’t just invest in reading our story, but reviewed and even joined our forum to chat all things Redeemer Series. We had fabulous artists doing fan art, we had an active Character Ask section, we were embroiled in discussion every day about the Death Note of our fic world, and we made some truly great and supportive friends (several of whom are still with us.)

So really, what happened?

Writing on The Redeemer Series Begins to Break Down

Later on we had some of our nearest and dearest readers tell us that they could pinpoint just where the series started to fall apart. At some point in the fourth book, Sins of the Father, around the quarter mark, long after we reached what we felt was an apex in the finale of To Be or Not to Be and then cruised through a very alternative continuation supported largely by OCs in Our Time is Running Out, we started to lose momentum. 

We’d been writing about Death Note for five years. However, we were two writers (in my case a life-long writer) who sought to have real-world careers in writing, but were beginning to realize that we were spending all of our time writing about someone else’s work. It was fun, it was engaging, we loved it while it lasted, but we were beginning to long for something more and we weren’t getting any younger.

It wasn’t an immediate revelation. It came slowly as we pounded the keyboard to push through Sins of the Father. After all, we had two more huge books planned. We had enormous story arcs to cover! The nature of Kira’s God-ness was going to be explored in epic proportions! We were heading toward the End of Days!

Instead, what we were actually heading toward was the end of the Redeemer Series.

The Restrictions of Redeemer

As co-authors, our method of writing was to often volley paragraphs back and forth at each other to propel the story along, and then before upload, I would comb through chapters, as the principle editor, to make sure everything was fluid and had a cohesive voice.

I started noticing, that in scenes involving more canon contexts, the writing began to get painfully repetitive, plots were stalling, we were echoing literal sentences back and forth at each other. I remember distinctly, one sex scene we were working on sounded so painfully done before, that we literally tore it out and fought to write it with entirely new dynamics so it wasn’t boring.

And that was it. We’d grown bored.

The only things that seemed to pique our interests were no longer the sex scenes, or the drama between the Death Note characters, but the original concepts we’d steadily been bringing in over time.  Stories of madness and asylums and insane serial killers.

We whisked L off at one point and set him on a modern Sherlock Holmesian plotline by himself in Edinburgh, and it was the most enjoyable part of the book for me to write (and has since been reworked as the opening chapters of the original series.) I had inspiration again, I had drive, I didn’t want to return to the previous Death Note arcs.

I wanted to be free.

I wasn’t the only one. Anda had tired of everything. Getting her to pitch in on the books was like pulling teeth, when previously it had been so exciting and so fun.

It was time for a change.

But neither of us wanted to accept that the series had come to its natural end. Too much work had gone into it. Too much love and sweat and tears. Too many years and hours. Hours and hours and hours. So we came to a compromise.
Redeemer Fan Art: '...le beau petit garcon...' by Arrowchild (DeviantART)

'...le beau petit garcon...' Redeemer Series
fan-art by Arrowchild,
featuring Beyond Birthday and Mello
We were going to write a spinoff called I’m Not Okay (we were having a love affair with My Chemical Romance at the time). The spinoff centered on one of our OCs (his name was Adonais back then) with the Death Note characters as a peripheral presence. The idea was to tell Adonais’ origin story as a flashback novel, and lead into Sins, where he’d been coexisting as a Wammy’s student with the likes of L and Light. It was supposed to be a break for us, a way to get out and play with something new, and hopefully return to the Redeemer Series with renewed vigor. That was our plan.

But what happened was not according to plan.

Backlash of Death Note Redeemer Series Readers

Not long ago, we came across a blog post somewhere, belaboring our ‘underhandedness’ of ‘tricking’ our readers to read a book about an OC with promises of Death Note and then not delivering. “If they wanted to stop writing Death Note, just come clean and tell us, don’t trick us into reading about your OC.” That was the complaint, or something to that effect.

Let me say, it wasn’t that simple. If it was, we could have saved ourselves a lot of angst. After all, we weren’t lying to our readers; we were lying to ourselves.

Frankly, we weren’t ready to let go. It was a lesson we learned the hard way, writing I’m Not Okay. The more we wrote, the more that book began to do what it wanted apart from Death Note, but we kept trying to force the enduring intent that we were going to bring it all back around to the Redeemer Series. Slowly, our audience started to drop off, frustration began to show in reviews. The longer names like Kira and L and Mello were absent from the text, the less people stayed with us, and the more that happened, the more we began to wonder at what point did we have to accept the truth: that we’d moved on.

The readers that remained and invested honestly in our burgeoning original tale, weathered our indecisiveness, but started to agree that we needed to break it off. Not Okay was becoming its own thing, and to proceed without letting the book organically grow as itself, was proving a hindrance to the work and to our efforts. And clearly it was pissing off the people still holding out for L and Light to make an appearance.

So we decided to call it, and we removed I’m Not Okay from AFF and put the Redeemer Series on indefinite hiatus.

The Redeemer Series Transforms into The Breaking Across Devotion Series

Breaking Across Devotion - CocoaCoveredGods forum
We squirrelled our new work off to our private forum where some of our long-term readers were keen to beta. From there, Pandora’s box syndrome kicked in and we realized there was a huge untapped OC cast with untapped potential just waiting to move in on our little story and blow it wide open.

Because all of this siphoned down from The Redeemer Series, there were initially some similarities between concepts we'd been exploring beyond canon when it came to characters like Beyond and L particularly. Those similarities eventually diluted until we can really just shout out to their original incarnates like a sentimental homage. 

However, as we planned the world of our new original universe, we realized there were still elements we'd incorporated in To Be and its compatriots that we wanted to explore and adapt. We began to pull some of these concepts back in, revisiting ideas we had for the Redeemer Series with new eyes as we constructed a world, while removed from Death Note, was not necessarily removed from our signature subjects.

Our explorations of madness and the asylum culture, our crazed characters who often speak in sing-song~ Our off-beat, anarchist, angst-ridden, pretty boys. That’s who we are as writers, and that’s what we have been building into our new work--The Breaking Across Devotion Series. Literally a tale about rock stars and serial killers. I’m not even kidding.

We made every attempt to spread the word about why the Redeemer books were coming down, but our reach is none too wide these days, and I know there are a great many readers out there who are angry and disappointed. Trust me, I get it and I’m sorry.

The Redeemer Series had a great long run. We had a lot of fun writing it, we had an amazing experience with the audience it garnered. We’re grateful and we thank you guys who latched on to it and enjoyed it so much. Redeemer itself is still public on AFF and won’t be going anywhere. It is undeniably, a Death Note fanfic.

However, I am going to echo what I’ve said repeatedly in statements about the series’ removal: that if you so happen to have downloaded copies of the novels, you are free to keep them for you own reading pleasure. Just please do not share them online, or post them for download, and please do not plagiarize them (have some humanity, I beg you).

Anda and I are hard at work on The Breaking Across Devotion Series (BAD for short) and are very active on our new forum, CocoaCoveredGods.

Anyone is free to join if they want to get in touch with us, want to ask us anything about Redeemer, or want to check out what still exists of the Redeemer Series content regarding the removed books, Character Asks, fan art, etc. And yes, there’s even a thread where we speak to the unsolved mysteries of the series and where future plans were heading, so what was left unfinished can at least have some closure. (Was Matt ever going to die as predicted? Short answer: no.)

We’re also open to betas of the new series. Since we’re planning to publish, it’s not open membership, but if you're interested, come over and let us get to know you, get to know us, and we’ll be more than happy to consider you as a beta. Chances are, if you enjoyed the Redeemer Series, what we’re doing now will be right up your alley. It’s just as dark, and twisted and saturated in atmosphere as books like To Be, Our Time and Sins were.

Death Note: Redeemer Kira cosplay by Maru-Light
Interview Kira Voice Actors
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Light Yagami Answers Questions on Cosplaying, Well, Light Yagami

13/2/2016

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Japanese cosplayer Light Yagami cosplaying Light Yagami
Light Yagami is a cosplayer from Japan, whose true identity will never be discovered. However some clues might be gleaned from checking out Light's Instagram profile!

Do you/have you cosplayed Kira now or in the past?

Yes - currently

If yes, any anecdotes about your experiences cosplaying Light?
It's fun... Just giving the people evil looks and eating potato chips

Regardless of whether you have done this, how would you go about creating a costume for Light Yagami?
I just used my closet clothes

What clothing and/or props do you feel are essential Light Yagami costume items?
Death note; apple; potatoes

Is there more to cosplaying Kira than the outfit? (Look/behaviour etc.)
I act like Light when I am cosplaying as Light...

What's your professional opinion about ready-made Light Yagami outfits, such as those in the Death Note News Cosplay Store? Any other pieces in there decent enough for a Kira cosplay? (Be honest!)
Nope

If not anything there, where would YOU source items to cosplay Light Yagami?
My closet?

Any last tips for anyone reading, who wishes to create their Kira cosplay from scratch?
Don't be too friendly to everyone

Cosplayers!


Would you like to have a go at answering these questions on your own behalf?

If you are a Death Note cosplayer - or indeed a cosplayer per se - and you're willing to share your tips, thoughts and advice with the fandom, then visit our cosplayer's questionnaire page
to fill in the form.

Thank you in advance!

For more Kira Cosplay tips:
Death Note cosplay Squad Six Cosplayers

Squad Six Cosplayers
Cayanna Carma Light Yagami cosplay

Cayanna Carma

Ask Kira!

Three Light Yagami actors
interviewed by YOU!


Read more, and check out
each Kira voice actor's
profile page:

Kim Hasper
(German dub anime)
Brad Swaile
(Emglish dub anime)
Sergio Zamora
(Spanish dub anime)

Don't forget to get
your questions in!

Posted as part of

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

8/2/2016

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Welcome to our Focus on a Fan feature - this time coming as we launch a new monthly fandom focus upon characters in our favourite manga.  So who could we hunt down to do justice to this Death Note Month of Light Yagami?  Only one contender really.

The rest of this post is given over to the Goddess of our Old World, the inimitable Maru-Light!


Hello all~ So I was Maru-Light for a brief stint on MangaBullet (but an ongoing stint on DeviantArt).

The lovely Matilda hunted me down recently after a 5-year absence from the Death Note world, to inform me that it’s Kira month on Death Note News and could I please contribute to the Focus on a Fan, to which I couldn’t say no.

So about me, (which admittedly is kind of weird, but here it goes).

I devotedly cosplayed Light/Kira (in addition to L, B, Mello & Matt) between the years 2008 – 2011, and featured my pix both on MangaBullet (briefly) and DA, where most of it still is.

I founded the Kira Worshippers Group there, (which could probably use some new activity).

I actually wasn’t aware MangaBullet had a demise, and I haven’t been very active on DA either lately. When I am, it’s mostly through my Ball Joint Doll face-up work, and no longer my cosplay.

These days I mostly haunt a forum for an original novel series Anda-Chan and I have been working on. I have really limited my involvement in fandoms outside my own thing.

I lost the cosplay bug a few cycles after we stopped cosplaying Death Note (really was my biggest passion, and since then being inspired to cosplay has never been as strong.) My “bros” (MB’s Anda-Chan & Blairbender) and I went through a brief stint cosplaying My Chemical Romance (I was Gerard, that was an odd experience) and flirted with doing Hannibal but never got there.

Anda and I segued into a bit of Joker & Harley (so.much.make-up) and then Star Wars (even.more.make-up), before moving into an apartment together, which suddenly featured a new round of rent and a depleted source of cosplay funds. That, and getting to cons lately, has been a tall order.

So while it was a good run and fun while it lasted, we’ve since moved on to stranger pastures.
Maru Light Kira Cosplay
We entered into the bizarre, but Zenful world of urbexing for a bit (that’s urban exploring for laymen), which roughly translated into avoiding-getting-arrested-while-exploring-abandoned-asylums-and-taking-photographs-of-urban-decay.

On one such excursion, while covered in roof soot at an abandoned Victorian Mental Institution in upstate New York, Anda whipped out a ring and popped the question—so we’re engaged now.
Maru Light and Anda-Chan. Photography by A.C. Santos
I guess you can say we’re flirting with wedding plans, which usually goes from “I want an awesome VICTORIAN wedding in a mansion” to “meh, lets just do pizza and call it a day.”

Think maybe we’ll do a court ceremony and blow the money on a trip to the Caribbean instead (which admittedly is one of our addictions and seems like a more responsible investment of funds, unless the wedding becomes the best Halloween Party Ever, in which case we can justify the expense.)

And besides, I have my heart set on a replica of Mina Harker’s red dress from Dracula as my wedding scrubs, so maybe I’ll get the dress, do a court ceremony, eat the pizza and then go to the Caribbean. Sounds like a plan.
Cosplay L and Mello - Maru-Light and Anda--Chan

When Maru-Light and Anda-Chan were L and Mello. *little tear* The Good Old Days.
ANYWAY, so we’re living together and still writing together. We used to pour all of our efforts into a Death Note fanfic tome called The Redeemer Series, but I just sent Matti an article longer than anyone wants to read about why we don’t write that anymore.

[Coming soon to a Death Note News near you - Matti]

Instead, we’ve been hard at work on an original series called Breaking Across Devotion, which we’re adamant we're going to publish; otherwise my purpose on this planet is pretty moot.  Write or bust, basically.

The “B-A-D” series is literally about rock stars and serial killers, and - to prove life weirdly imitates art - as of the last year+, Anda and I have been working in the music business, as a concert photographer and copywriter respectively.

It’s been a pretty incredible experience. We go to at least 4 shows a month, sometimes more, sometimes less. Anda shoots rock stars in the photo pit [Still Mello! - Matti]; I get to watch and sometimes write about it. Along the way we’ve met some of our hero bands including Black Veil Brides, Nothing More and Like a Storm. It’s nuts. We’ve covered bands like Slash and Myles Kennedy, Frank Iero & the Cellabration, Six A.M., Marilyn Manson, The Pretty Reckless, Breaking Benjamin, Motionless in White, and a ridiculous amount of others for Music Existence.

We’re hoping to expand our careers deeper into the industry, and maybe actually get paid for this stuff (imagine that, not working for free.)
Anda and Maru at work

Anda and Maru at work

Meanwhile, I was featured as the face of an album for New Jersey band A Midnight Tragedy, as well as in one of their music videos - where I definitely proved to myself that I can’t act for nothing, but I still enjoy getting covered in make-up and blood. So it was a lot of fun.  (See pic below right from the video shoot.)
Maru-Light tattoos
Let’s see, I also fell down the tattoo rabbit hole.

Someone once warned me that if I started with ink, it would become an addiction and I’d throw away all my money.

I didn’t believe them. I should have.

I’ve been steadily getting inked for a few years now.

Last spring I began what’s turning out to be almost a full back/side/eventually leg piece, which is nuts because I never planned that, but it’s happening.

I got a raven inked on my ribs over the summer, and it was seriously the worst pain of my life, but somehow a proving grounds.

In the end, I think I’m just a masochist because I can’t wait to go back and keep getting work done.
A Midnight Tragedy/Maru-Light
Right now Anda and I are planning our first trip to London in the spring. Gonna hit up all the Jack the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes haunts, because we’re morbid, and maybe even track Matti down for some tea. [Kettle's on - Matti] Definitely looking forward to it, since we’ve been writing about it forever, but have yet to get the full experience.

As for Death Note, every now and then I really miss it. I itch to cosplay Kira and L again, but then I realize my wigs have gone the way of the dodo and I’m just not in the mood to duct tape my boobs down anymore. I still miss writing about them too, but my heart’s moved into another creative universe and I’m committed to seeing it through.

For now, Anda’s in the kitchen cutting onions for soup and has managed to burn even my eyes here in the next room. So I’m going to cut this short, and when my ability to see comes back, I’m going to binge some episodes of Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Maru-Light Star Wars cosplay


If you’re so inclined, you can find me here:
  • The Breaking Across Devotion Forum
  • DeviantArt
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Flickr
  • The Redeemer Series
  • Kira Worshippers DA Club

Posted as part of the

Death Note News Month of Light Yagami
Read More
Maru-Light
Maru-Light cosplay The Joker
Maru-Light's tips on cosplaying Kira will be coming along later in the month; as will her article explaining in detail what happened to her and Anda-Chan's The Redeemer Series.
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