Death Note, the manga and the Japanese anime series share the same name, which was written by Tsugumi Ohba and very well illustrated by the manga artist and illustrator Takeshi Obata. The anime was produced by Madhouse and aired from 2006 to 2007.
It contains thirty-seven episodes, twenty minutes each, more than 700 minutes worth of content, and has gained a massive fan base over the years. It is a dark and psychological thriller. The complex themes and well-developed characters make the series a must-watch for fans of the genre.
- Anime Name – Death Note
- Directed By – Tetsuro Arak
- Written By – Tashiki Inoue
- Original Run – October 4, 2006 – June 27, 2007
- Episodes – 37
- Where to Watch – Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu
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Death Note Plot
Death Note is a dark, psychological thriller that keeps the audience engaged and constantly questioning the actions of the characters. It also explores complex themes such as justice, morality, power, and human nature. The series is well-known for its intelligent plot, complex characters, and intense psychological battles between Light and L.
The story centers around Light Yagami, a brilliant high school student who discovers a mysterious and powerful notebook known as the Death Note. The Death Note grants Light the power to eliminate any criminal whose name he writes in it, and he takes on the name of “Kira” to do so.
The battle of wits between the enigmatic ‘L’ and the suspected “Kira” is a thrilling game of constant chasing as each of their brilliant minds continually outmaneuvers the other.
The plot of this story is quite complex, but it’s laid out in a way that’s easy to understand. The story itself is really smart and creative, which makes it even more enjoyable. It is certainly worthwhile to invest the time to become familiar with the characters and the storyline, as it is sure to keep you captivated and entertained.
The series is full of twists and turns, and the audience is constantly kept on their toes, trying to figure out what will happen next. The plot is also very intelligent, as it requires the audience to think critically and analyze the characters’ actions and motivations.
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We must appreciate the fact that the story of “Death Note” is exceptionally well-constructed and keeps you captivated till the end. It follows the thrilling journey of the life of Light Yagami, a high schooler with an extraordinary level of intelligence and his own sense of justice. One day he stumbled across Death Note by chance.
Death Note is basically a notebook that allows the owner to kill whoever he or she likes as long as they write the victim’s name down while picturing their face. So Light, being the virtuous genius that he is, decides to use it for the good of mankind, so he starts killing a bunch of criminals around the world.
Light’s actions quickly draw the attention of the police, and an enigmatic detective known only as “L.” L is determined to catch the person responsible for the sudden and mysterious deaths of criminals all over the world. Light begins to see L as a threat to his plan and decides to find a way to eliminate him.
L emerges from the mix, and he’s the only person Light sees as equal because they’re almost equally as smart. However, L thinks what Light is doing is wrong, so this insane and exciting canon mouse chase ensues between these two geniuses, with one always trying to outsmart.
As the series progresses, Light becomes more ruthless and manipulative in his quest to create a perfect world. He uses his intelligence and the power of the Death Note to manipulate others and stay one step ahead of the police and L. The series is full of twists and turns, with both Light and L trying to outsmart each other in a psychological battle that keeps the audience on their toes.
The series also explores themes such as justice, morality, power, and human nature. Light believes that he is doing the right thing by ridding the world of criminals, but as he becomes more powerful and begins to take on the role of a god, the audience is forced to question whether his actions are truly just. L is also a complex character who is willing to go to extreme lengths to catch criminals, but his methods are not always ethical.
Throughout the series, Light and L engage in a cat-and-mouse game as they try to outsmart each other. The tension builds as Light’s actions become more desperate and L’s determination to catch him becomes more intense. The series reaches a climax in the final episodes, with a twist that leaves the audience shocked and questioning everything they thought they knew about the characters.
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Death Note Review
Death Note explores the idea of morality, whether our protagonist is doing the right thing even for the right cost. This is the show that consistently burns the line between what’s moral and what’s not, how much a person in power is willing to sacrifice to achieve in his role, the perfect universe, and also, it is justified to try to stop it.
Our protagonists and antagonists both have a particular scale of justice, and both are on two extreme ends. If you like shows with great music, mundane acts executed with over-the-top animation, and engaging, tightly written stories, then we can’t recommend this show enough.
You could probably binge it all in a weekend. A lot of people have already seen the show, and everybody who’s seen it loves it; people have been talking about the show for years. The characters in Death Note are a major strength of the series.
Throughout the show, Light’s arc consists of being utterly fed up with the degradation of society, so when he discovers the power to kill people with a literal flick of the wrist, he takes up the name Kira, a title given to him by his followers and starts murdering all the bad people in his attempt to create a perfect world.
Light is motivated by his drive to change the world for the better but is slowly corrupted by the death note and the power it gives him. The animation in Death Note is also very well-done.
The series has a dark and brooding atmosphere, and the animation helps to create this mood. The character designs are also unique and memorable. The Death Gods, who are supernatural beings that are associated with the Death Note, are particularly well-designed.
Some of the characters are underdeveloped. For example, Light’s girlfriend, Misa Amane, is a one-dimensional character who is primarily used as a plot device. Another weakness of Death Note is that the series can be very dark and violent.
The series deals with themes such as murder, suicide, and mental illness, and it may not be suitable for all audiences. The show explores human nature, the idea of what justice really is, and how people can be easily corrupted by insane amounts of power like the kind Light gets.
It’s also good to mention that Light and L aren’t the only good characters on the show; there are a number of great characters that provide fun, interesting dynamics and draw out the real meat of the show.
The show has incredible music ranging from the intense orchestral chorus, chanting to get your heart pumping, and two incredibly melancholic and atmospheric tracks for when the show really wants to get you emotional.
Also Read: My Hero Academia Anime Review
Final Verdict
This is great stuff, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who might be looking for a change of pace in anime. It’s not for everyone, of course, since it’s more of an intellectual thriller and not so much an action fantasy, but anyone who can appreciate the mental challenge of following along with this suspenseful battle of wits will be in heaven with Death Note.
The animation is spectacular, with detailed backgrounds and exciting fight scenes. The characters are all extremely well-developed, and the dialogue is clever and gripping. The show has a great soundtrack, too, with hauntingly beautiful music that perfectly fits each scene. Overall, “Death Note” is an excellent series that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s one of the best anime series out there and is definitely worth watching.
Overall, Death Note is a gripping and suspenseful anime that delves into the darker side of human nature and the consequences of taking justice into one’s own hands.
We would recommend Death Note, and it’s not a bad show at all. It started off really well, has interesting mind games, L and Light Yagami pit against each other, and explores morals and ethics.
Our Rating: ⭐ (4/5).
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