For those who have never heard of Death Note, know that it is one of the most popular anime in the world. And if you don't know it yet, I can assume that you are entering the world of anime and manga for a short time.
Bearing in mind that there will be big and heavy spoilers in this text. But it's like I always say, spoilers can be good or bad depending on the point of view. But even so, I don't advise picking up all the spoilers here. Anyway, let's get to it. To help avoid spoilers, we'll leave a summary below:
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Death note – Technical Information
Death Note is a Japanese manga series written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. It was first published in Shueisha's manga magazine Weekly Shonen Jump from December 2003 to May 2006. The 108 chapters were published in 12 tankōbon volumes between April 2004 and July 2006.
It received an anime adaptation in Japan on October 3, 2006 and consisted of 37 episodes. The anime was developed by Madhouse and directed by Tetsuro Araki. A novel based on the series, written by Nisio Isin, was also released in 2006. Additionally, video games were published by Konami for the Nintendo DS.
In addition, it won an adaptation into three live-action films released in Japan on June 17, 2006, November 3, 2006, and February 2, 2008. Another television drama adaptation in 2015.
A miniseries entitled Death Note: Nova Geração and a fourth film were released in 2016. And more recently, an American film adaptation, which was released on Netflix, August 25, 2017. Media is licensed and released in North America by Viz Media, excluding video games and soundtracks.
Death Note History and Synopsis
A shinigami, a god of death, can kill anyone. That's as long as they see the victim's face and write the victim's name in a notebook called the Death Note. One day, Ryuki, bored with his shinigami routine, becomes interested in humans. So he wonders, how would a human use a Death Note.
Thus, high school student and prodigy Light Yagami stumbles upon the Death Note that was dropped by ryuki. And since he deplores the state of the world, he decides to test the deadly notebook. To do this, write the name of a criminal on it.
When the criminal dies after his experiment, Light is very surprised and quickly recognizes the power that has fallen into his hands. With this divine power, Light decides to cleanse this world of criminals to build a new world. And in this world he would be worshiped by the people as a god.
However, the police quickly discover that a serial killer is killing criminals and set out to find the culprit. For this, Japanese investigators receive the help of the best detective in the world. An eccentric man known only by the name of L.
Spoilers for Death Note
After verifying that the notebook works, he ends up killing countless dangerous criminals. Soon, Light is visited by Ryuki, the Shinigami, the Death Note's previous owner. Ryuki, revels in Light's sight and serves as Light's companion.
And as the murders occur, the global media dubs the mysterious figure responsible for the "Kira" murders. After deducing that Kira is in Japan, L stages a TV broadcast and tricks Light into revealing that he is in the Kanto region of Japan.
Thus, Light vows to eliminate L.L. L deduces that Kira has inside knowledge of the Japanese police investigation, led by Soichiro Yagami, Light's father. Soon the FBI sends agents to monitor the families of those involved in the investigation, but Light kills them all.
However, L gathers enough clues to place Light as the prime suspect. Around this time, Light graduates from high school and goes to college. L recruits Light to help with the investigation, both trying to get the other to reveal crucial information.
At the same time, a famous model and actress named Misa Amane gains a second Death Note from Rem, another Shinigami. Misa makes a deal with Rem, trading half of her life for the Shinigami's eyes, which allows her to kill knowing only the face.
Misa discovers Light's identity as the original Kira. Enchanted with Light, she demands that he become her boyfriend. Light agrees, intending to use Misa's Shinigami eyes. However, L deduces that Misa is the likely second Kira and apprehends her. Rem threatens to kill Light if he does not find a way to save Misa.
Light hatches a plan in which he and Misa temporarily lose their memories of the Death Note, and Rem passes the notebook to another individual, Kyosuke Higuchi of the Yotsuba Group.
Second arc of the anime
Now unbeknownst to the Death Note, Light faithfully joins the investigation. Together, Light and L discover Higuchi's identity, arrest him, and discover the existence of the Death Notes and Shinigami.
When they play the Death Note, Light and Misa regain their memories. Soon, Light kills Higuchi, and regains ownership of the book. However, L is suspicious of Misa, forcing Rem to murder L to save her. Rem dies as well, as it is forbidden for Shinigami to protect human subjects.
Four years later, two smart young men, created as potential successors to L, are revealed: Near and Mello. Both are aware that L has died and consider Light, the current L, to be a prime suspect.
Mello, with the assistance of the mafia, kidnaps Light's sister. This results in the death of Light's father during the rescue mission. As suspicion begins to fall on Misa again, Light passes Misa's Death Note to a fervent supporter of Kira, Teru Mikami.
He also appointed a well-known presenter, Kiyomi Takada, as Kira's public spokesperson. Realizing that Takada is linked to Kira, Mello kidnaps him. Takada kills Mello with the Death Note, but is killed by Light in order to allay suspicions.
Shortly afterward, Near deduces Mikami's connection to Kira and arranges a meeting between Light and the current Kira Task Force members. Light jumps at the chance to have Mikami kill Near and all the members of the task force. However, Mikami's Death Note does not work.
It is revealed that Near replaced Mikami's Death Note with a decoy. Examining the names Mikami wrote down, only Light's was missing, which proves Light as Kira. A riot breaks out during which Light is seriously injured. Ryuki then writes Light down in his notebook.
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Death Note facts
Below we will list some interesting facts about Death Note:
- Interestingly, the manga has 108 chapters, which makes a reference to the 108 chimes of sins and worldly desires that take place in Japan's new year. Is it coincidence?
- People have been arrested or lost their jobs because of a Death Note. Some students, police officers and other high-ranking employees got into trouble only to be found with a replica of the notebook with the names of colleagues written on it;
- In the pilot chapter, there is an eraser called the Death Eraser to erase the names of people written in the notebook to revive them;
- The name of the Yagami in reverse can be I'm a gay in English. The reason for ignoring Misa is explained so much..;
- The time to describe the details of death (6:40) makes biblical reference to the sixth day of creation and the 40 days and years of the flood and the wilderness;
- Originally Shinigami would be attractive, sexy, something typical of numerous recent anime;
- Originally Mello and Near were supposed to be L's children;
Are there any possibilities of continuation?
The Death Note manga and anime is now completely over and with an ending. Despite this, the films that were released in Japan feature a rather lame sequel that showcases Kira's successors in the Japanese Death Note New Generation and Death Note Illuminating a New World films and series.
They are just TV works aimed at squeezing more money out of the existing original work. The author Tsugumi Ohba, who is probably a pseudonym, has already left the work to focus on other successful works such as Bakuman and Platinum End, which have an interesting premise mixing angels and a story similar to Mirai Nikki.
The Death Note work is very famous, so it is possible that someone will still try to make another remake, reboot, continuation, spin off or any other adaptation and animation related to Death Note in the coming years. So we cannot rule out any possibility of adaptation for this great work.
What do you think of Death Note?
And I have nothing to complain about this work. It breaks many clichés and the plot is very well developed. I didn't particularly notice any errors in the story. But a very good issue was the extremely bewildering ending.
I think a lot of people know, but it's always good to give information to the less informed and curious. And if you have any questions, suggestions, criticisms or extra information, just leave your comment. Anyway, thank you for reading this article this far.
