Death Note Relight 1: Visions of a God

Death Note Relight 1: Visions of a God is the first of a double feature length film series, and encapsulates the first half of the Death Note TV series. Although the North American release was named "relight", the Japanese version was named "rewrite".

The film was aired on Nippon Television in Japan on August 31, 2007, but in the USA it was only released on DVD on June 23, 2009.

There were director’s cut versions with new footage released eventually for each of the films in Japan and North America. The theoretical copies were never released in Europe because Europe only ever received the director’s cut versions. However, on the European DVD covers, it was never stated that they were the director’s cut versions.

Plot
The film begins in the Shinigami realm with an unnamed Shinigami seeking out Ryuk, complaining that the Shinigami realm is boring and is in search of a good story. In return for the story, he brings him a Shinigami apple. Ryuk accepts a Shinigami apple for his tale, which turns out to be the first half of the Death Note Anime series. After Ryuk is done telling the story, he tells himself (and reminiscing to Light) that Light wasn't a god back then. He then realizes that the Shinigami left and tells him "Go ahead, why not? Maybe you'll meet an incredible guy and see something you'll never forget for the rest of your life. Wouldn't you agree... Light?"

Trivia

 * There is a new scene involving Light Yagami gloating over L's grave.
 * Many fans believe that the unnamed Shinigami may in fact be Light Yagami due to many similar characteristics it has to him.