For those who have never heard of Death Note, know that it is one of the most popular animes in the world. And if you don’t know it yet, I can assume that you are entering the world of animes and mangas recently.
Remember that this text will contain heavy and significant spoilers. But as I always say, spoilers can be good or bad depending on the point of view. Even so, I do not advise taking all the spoilers here. Anyway, let’s get to the point. To avoid spoilers, we will leave a summary below:
Table of Contents
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, consisting 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.
Furthermore, it received an adaptation into three live-action films released in Japan on June 17, 2006, November 3, 2006, and February 2, 2008. Another adaptation into a television drama in 2015.
A miniseries titled Death Note: New Generation and a fourth film were released in 2016. More recently, an American film adaptation was released on Netflix on August 25, 2017. The media is licensed and released in North America by Viz Media, except for the video games and soundtracks.
Story and Synopsis of Death Note
A shinigami, a god of death, can kill anyone. This is as long as they see the victim’s face and write the victim’s name in a notebook called Death Note. One day, Ryuki, bored with his shinigami routine, becomes interested in humans. Thus, he wonders how a human would 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 despairs over the state of the world, he decides to test the deadly notebook. To do this, he writes the name of a criminal in 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. In this world, he would be worshipped by people as a god.
However, the police quickly discover that a serial killer is killing criminals and set out to find the culprit. To do this, the Japanese investigators receive help from the best detective in the world. An eccentric man known only by the name of L.
Spoilers about Death Note
After verifying that the notebook works, he ends up killing numerous dangerous criminals. Soon, Light is visited by Ryuki, the Shinigami, the previous owner of the Death Note. Ryuki enjoys seeing Light and serves as Light’s companion.
As the murders occur, the global media nicknames the mysterious figure responsible for the murders “Kira.” After deducing that Kira is in Japan, L stages a TV broadcast and tricks Light by revealing that he is in the Kanto region of Japan.
Thus, Light promises to eliminate L. L deduces that Kira has insider 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 all of them.
However, L gathers enough clues to place Light as the main suspect. At this time, Light graduates from high school and goes to college. L recruits Light to help with the investigations, both trying to make the other reveal crucial information.
Meanwhile, a famous model and actress named Misa Amane receives a second Death Note from Rem, another Shinigami. Misa makes a deal with Rem, trading half of her life for the Shinigami eyes, which allow her to kill just by knowing the face.
Misa discovers Light’s identity as the original Kira. Enchanted with Light, she demands that he be her boyfriend. Thus, Light agrees, intending to use Misa’s Shinigami eyes. However, L deduces that Misa is the likely second Kira and detains her. Rem threatens to kill Light if he does not find a way to save Misa.
Light devises 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 from the Yotsuba Group.
Second Arc of the anime
Now without the knowledge of the Death Note, Light faithfully joins the investigation. Together, Light and L discover Higuchi’s identity, arrest him, and uncover the existence of the Death Notes and the Shinigamis.
When they touch the Death Note, Light and Misa regain their memories. Soon, Light kills Higuchi and regains ownership of the book. However, L suspects Misa, forcing Rem to assassinate L to save her. Rem dies as well, as it is forbidden for Shinigami to protect human individuals.
Four years later, two intelligent young people, raised as potential successors to L, are revealed: Near and Mello. Both are aware that L has died and consider Light, the current L, one of the main suspects.
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 again on Misa, Light passes Misa’s Death Note to a fervent Kira supporter, Teru Mikami.
He also appoints a well-known presenter, Kiyomi Takada, as Kira’s public spokesperson. Realizing that Takada is connected to Kira, Mello kidnaps her. Takada kills Mello with the Death Note but is killed by Light to dissipate suspicions.
Shortly after, Near deduces Mikami’s connection to Kira and organizes a meeting between Light and the current members of the Kira Task Force. Light seizes the chance to have Mikami kill Near and all the task force members. 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, only Light’s was missing, which proves Light is Kira. A commotion breaks out during which Light is severely injured. Ryuki then writes Light’s name in his notebook.
Curiosities about Death Note
Below we will list some interesting curiosities about Death Note:
- Interestingly, the manga has 108 chapters, which references the 108 tolls of sins and worldly desires that occur in the new year in Japan. Is it a coincidence?
- People have been arrested or lost their jobs because of a Death Note. Some students, police officers, and other high-ranking employees have had problems just for being found with a replica of the notebook with the names of colleagues written in it;
- In the pilot chapter, there is an eraser called Death Eraser to erase the names of people written in the notebook to revive them;
- The name Yagami spelled backward can be I’m a Gay in English. This explains the reason for ignoring Misa so much..;
- The time to describe the details of death (6:40) makes a biblical reference to the sixth day of creation and the 40 days and years of the flood and the wilderness;
- Originally, the Shinigamis were supposed to be attractive, sexy, something typical of numerous recent animes;
- Originally, Mello and Near were supposed to be L’s children;
Are there possibilities for a continuation?
The Death Note manga and anime have completely ended with a conclusion. Despite this, the films released in Japan present a somewhat ridiculous continuation that shows successors of Kira in the Japanese films and series Death Note New Generation and Death Note: Light Up a New World.
These are just television works aimed at extracting more money from the existing original work. The author Tsugumi Ohba, who is probably a pseudonym, has already left the work to focus on other successful works like Bakuman and Platinum End, which has an interesting premise mixing angels and a story similar to Mirai Nikki.
The work of Death Note 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 personally did not notice any errors in the story. But a very good point was the extremely disorienting ending.
I believe many people know it, but it is always good to provide information for the less informed and curious. And if you have any questions, suggestions, criticisms, or extra information, just leave your comment. Thank you for reading this article up to this point.
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