Death Note

This anime took me a while to really get around to and I do regret not watching it earlier.....somewhat. This anime started off very slow for me to a certain degree due to the fact that I did not understand how the story would expand on the context of the deathnote. However, once i got through a few episodes I simply could not let go of it. It got really emotional at points where i had not anticipated, and the overall feelings i had towards the characters were raw and very real. I found myself pulled into the story itself which made me feel like i was in the world where my name could be added to that worrisome Deathnote. I sometimes find my mind wondering when watching television and start doodling about with stuff around me, but this show basically took hold of my brain and forced me to watch it seriously and I thoroughly enjoyed myself, though sometimes my emotions and energy were taxed heavily, it felt like running a marathon and winning it. You tire from the running and need to pace yourself but once you cross that finish line you feel quite satisfied with yourself. In terms of characters I found that I got really attached to them, especially Light and L, be it in a good or bad way, and they evoked very genuine feelings in me,especially some of the more human explorations by them which did not necessarily relate to the action of the show, quite surprising and funny at times. The secondary characters all have such big personalities and their interaction really gives this show some of its most epic and compelling moments. The visuals are very dark and dreary which is quite perfect for the premise and action of the show, which also makes for very complementary and juxtaposed situations involving the characters whose actions are highlighted by it. Overall, I loved Deathnote as it provided such an immersing experience and such great characters and story. However, I would advise watching it in a paced manner, when it gets too much for you just stop for a bit and watch teletubbies or something, and then get back on the horse, its really worth finishing that race!!!!

Death Note. One of the most well-known animes in existence with its unique storyline, unique characters and overall plot. ...I hate this series. Story (8/10): For those of you who DON'T know, Death note is basically an anime featuring a crazy man that self-proclaims himself as god and a detective that can make Sherlock Holmes his bitch, chasing around each other with overly complicated plans with insane amounts of resources, trying to find out each other's identities so they can bring the other person to justice. While for the most part this anime does do well with its concept of its cat and mouse chase, it falls very flat with its final 8 episodes by changing one of the key characters and making it drag out in the most BORING way possible. While there is fairly good pacing, the anime does stretch itself too much sometimes. Characters (8/10): First is Light Yagami. As the "protagonist" of the series, (I use protagonist lightly), he starts out as a very bored character. Until one day, a magical notebook with the ability to kill people by simply writing their name down falls from the sky, his life changes forever. With the mindset to be god and bring all evil villains to justice, (oh, the irony), his personality drastically changes to a more chaotic evil. And finally, we have L. As the "antagonist" of the series, (Again, lightly.) L always has a calm way of approaching any situation, and does not hesitate when he finds a potential clue. With an addiction to sweets, L is a rather interesting character with the uniqueness that he holds. Beyond these 2 main characters, the rest of the cast is filled with generally well-done supporting cast that mainly play a role as the 'toys' for the main 2 characters to use and play around with, so that they can succeed in their goal. Overall, the quality of the characters are more well done then what I have seen in previous animes that I have watched. Art and Sound (8/10): As many people may know, the art style in Death note is a very high point. With a more, 'realistic' feel and a very dark scheme of colors in the very detailed background, death note becomes a more standout anime from an art point. Next, sound. For sound, Death note has a very interesting soundtrack from it's energetic first opening to its somewhat softer first ending, and its taken by surprise second opening. Personal Enjoyment (3/10): Now, just by the rating for personal enjoyment alone, I know for a fact that I will get a lot of hate. If you must, post a comment. As I had said in the beginning of the review, I don't like this series. The main reason? My brain CANNOT understand what the hell the characters were saying. For the most part, Death note is mostly dialogue and in order to understand what exactly the characters were saying one MUST read or listen to every part of the plan as the characters are explaining it, in order to fully comprehend what they are precisely explaining. If you're an idiot like me, it basically means that you have to listen to them talk and just watch on to see their plan in execution. For me, this series was really boring and I was painfully watching every second of it to finish it. I would recommend this to people who want a unique experience with a completely original anime or, to people who have a higher IQ then I do. (That really shouldn't be hard to achieve.)

This may not be my first review, but this is my favorite. Why? Well because it is my favorite anime series of all time. Death Note is a beautiful blood bath of death and suspense. This anime has kept me a fan since I started watching till I burned out on it 3 years later, and it only took a week away before I was back watching the epic tug-of-war storyline that keeps twisting and pulling you back in. This anime is the best suspense anime I have ever seen. The characters are so well made that you start to truly pick sides in the conflicts just from their ideals alone. The Art work is amazing at conveying the intensity of this anime. From the insane laughter and craze of Light, to the calm and collected thoughts of L. You will love the characters, even the idiots. Death Note's music boosts the intensity of every single moment and it holds true on that statement even after you've finished it. L's theme gives you this instant feeling of drawn out suspense coupled with this deep thought provoking sensation. Also this anime holds the record for having my favorite OP or ED and that is Zetsubou Billy by Maximum The Hormone, this song is my favorite for it's metalcore and heavy metal sounds. The concepts and story of this anime are so crazy that the best way to describe them is a roller coaster without breaks. Everything is creative and suspenseful, and by any characters death, you will feel for the character. I highly recommend this anime to ANYONE. This anime is a gem in the anime world, and anyone who hasn't seen it, I feel sorry for you. You are sorely missing out on a wonderful experience. -Farewell readers. Love Darkness_Knight

[WARNING][slight potential spoilers below, nothing to crazy] I am definitely in the minority with my opinion/review of this show it seems but let me try to justify why i disliked this show so much. Deathnote was an anime that could have been one of the greatest ever made yet it made incredibly poor decisions regarding key plot points (killing off certain characters) and had an ending that was extremely dissatisfying. The first season was magnificent all the way up until how it ended. The ending was horrifying as what happened should have been part of the conclusion of the series as a whole, not a first season imo. The events that happened (in particular a certain character being killed off) would have been acceptable if it had a bigger consequence on the plot. This particular character dying would have been acceptable if it was in conclusion of the story/show. Moving on to season two i was very skeptical how they would keep the show together and my worst fears were realized when the new characters introduced were extremely unlikable and out of place. The conclusion to the show was the final nail in the coffin, it felt like a big 'FU' to anyone watching the show. Overall Deathnote disappoints me so much. When i first started watching this show i was mesmerized by it but after finishing it i am disgusted by it :\

Well... my friend introduced this to me a while back. She said it was fun and really well-made, but with all the L and Light shipping by fans, I thought, "Another piece of yaoi crud. Joy." I mean... To those of you who like yaoi, good for you! But it's just... Not my type. I'm sorry. Finally, out of my utter boredom, I got desperate. "I'll watch it just so I can make fun of it, and point out to all the fans out there that this show is awful!" ...And then, I watched episode 1. Story~ This is my favorite of all time. I have to admit. I know that in my Higurashi review, I really praised it, but Death Note is my number one. I know, it's not the best thing, so it's my guilty pleasure, I guess. I lost count of the times I've seen this. Um, 10? Maybe 9. Basically, I watch it when I'm bored or I want a good thrill. After I finished it the first time, I IMMEDIATELY started it over (literally, immediately) just so I could pick out the plot holes. I found a couple, but then I realized they were quickly resolved after and/or explained. In my third time through I found some holes that weren't really resolved, but they are so small that it's almost impossible to notice-- and they really don't even matter or even hurt the story. Overall, it's great, and every little fine detail is so important to the overall show that I swear-- your mind might explode at some point in Death Note. Yes, some people think it's stupid, but my opinion does not change on my favorite anime. Sorry! Anyway, it's THE best mystery/fantasy/cat-and-mouse game ever. The second arc which takes place after episode 25 (I won't spoil anything) is sort of less exciting, but is still very good and enthralling. Art~ Oh, the gorgeous art! Honestly, like 80 percent of Death Note is pretty much them talking to find out the mystery, but the art style itself is PERFECTLY dark, modernly gothic, and gorgeously realistic. And when they do move around, or an action scene comes on? They go all out, and never skimp on anything. It almost seems like they have eternal budget to make each scene amazing. Hehe. Anyway, all in all the art is amazing. One of my friend's hated anime, saying that "it's for children and the art is stupid". I forever converted her using this show, Death Note. It's just awesome. Character~ Amazing. They're all unique in their own ways, but the most enthralling and notable characters for me (WARNING-- this will sound cliche) are L and Light. Ugh, you've heard that a trillion times... but is it my fault that the creators made such unique, such interesting characters? They're just genius! L seems like the cool, smart type, but he's not strong in some areas, and has more weaknesses than you might think. He isn't rude, but he does show a softer side later on nonetheless. He's a really hard character to sum up. Light, on the other hand, is immature. An image of your little brother just popped up in your head, didn't it? Stupid, annoying, cries when he doesn't get something he wants, everyone has to give him everything, and he's such a baby. NO. Light is immature in a different way-- yes, he's a freaking genius. He is a master of logical reasoning. He acts mature in public and always has a trick up his sleeve. But he's immature in his mind, I guess-- his idea of justice isn't the most mature, and killing people doesn't make you God, Light. Just thought you ought to know!~ Anyway, it's sooooooooo entertaining to see him change. I can't remember the person who said this, and I can't really even remember the saying-- I just remember this. "Power doesn't change a man but unmasks what's been there all along." (Yeah I can't remember it really, sorry, but you get the idea.) Yeah, it's fun watching him go from genuis, well-mannered high school kid to psychotic mass murderer who thinks that killing people will make him God. All the other characters are good, and it doesn't really have too many characters but not too little either. And each has their own personality. They're all interesting. A certain character in the second arc seems like a wannabe of a certain character in the first arc, but overall they're fun. Soundtrack~ ...Wow. I mean wow. Some of the orchestral music is just rearragements of slightly older pieces, but does that ruin the mood? LOL. No. I have never laughed so psychotically at someone's death in my whole life. Not even in Higurashi. That astonishing music along with the perfect animation is just... Woooooowwww. The tracks that aren't orchestral are good, but not super noticed. The more I watched the show the more it stood out, but my first time round, only the choir chanting along ominously with the perfect set of instruments really stood out. And I mean REALLY. The first opening and ending were good, but not super memorable. The animation that went with them was epic though. The second opening and ending... Erm, I'm not a death metal fan. Let's leave it at that. All in all, Death Note is my top anime, no matter how much you make fun of me. It's just genius, and when I finished watching it I was delighted. It's pretty much everything I ever wanted in an anime, or anything for that matter. Fantasy, SLIGHT horror, mystery, psychotic characters, an... interesting ending. Gorgeous! I'd recommend this anime to ANYONE... Um, unless you're a raving romance-loving person, there is no romance in this. Protest all you want, but Light doesn't love Misa. He's only using her and that's all he ever did. So if you like bright, happy, lovey-dovey anime, this may not be for you. But truly, this is art and genius. You just may want to try it.

The Suspense Is "Killing" Me ~ Can you sign my Death Note? Death Note was the first anime that I have watched and from the first episode, I was enticed to watch more. The anime starts off with Yagami Light, A 17 year old student that picks up a notebook named the "Death Note". At first he thinks the Death Note's power to kill people is fake, but later finds out that it works. With this new acquisition Yagami Light has the power of god in his grasp, and uses it to kill criminals to make a perfect world without any crime. Killing criminals is ok right? Well L Lawliet doesn't think so. L is like a Sherlock Holmes to me, when nobody else can solve the case you go to him to solve it. As the anime progresses L takes on the case and tries to reveal who the killer is while Light tries to find what L's real name is. (in order for Light to kill L he has to know his real name) The scenery for Death Note was really impressing because it sets a mood of what the characters are going through and feeling. Speaking of the characters, they were also drawn impressively and according to their personalities. All-in-All the art was good, and gave more sustenance to the anime. What's up people? I just had to say that. No joke this is one of the songs from Death Note. The opening and closing songs was another thing that dragged me in and kept me watching more and more. The first opening and closing songs were made by Nightmare, which put a lot of passion into the anime. The second opening and closing songs were more intense, and you ask yourself why the makers of Death Note would switch the music up so drastically. It is a big change but it fits Yagami Light's pursue of making a perfect world and it also gives the anime a darker feeling. Where would Death Note be without the soundtrack? The soundtrack was very important in adding suspense and making the moment just right. Yagami Light and L Lawliet or L however both intelligent are different individuals. Light the protagonist is under serious pressure. If he gets caught and is found out that he is the killer behind all this the penalty will be execution. Light shows different personalities because of this. When by L he is really calm. If he's not calm he will get caught instantly. When writing criminal's names in the Death Note he shows the psychopathic side of himself. Both of his personalities draw "you" the watcher in because you don't know if he will crack under pressure or if he will achieve the status of god in his new world without crime. L is a very lovable character because he has a sweet tooth and sits differently than anybody else but all at the same time he wants justice. His personality differs from Light's because of the actions he takes. Light kills and L does not. Light wants justice by killing and L wants justice by finding the killer. Light is more psychotic and L is more pure of heart. These differences bring them together for a battle of wits. The characters of Death Note although I have only explained 2 of them are all well based and planned out. Overall I give Death Note a 10/10, it’s one of my favorite animes because it has great suspense and it keeps the watchers on the edge of their seat wondering what is going to happen next. One of the best things about Death Note is that it can be a good starting anime for beginners or it can be for experienced anime watchers. I recommend this anime for any anime watcher out there, Death Note is truly great!

Synopsis: Yagami Light is as perfect a hero as you could imagine--perfect grades, perfect public record, perfect looks--in every facet, his image is squeaky clean. This all ends one fateful day when the Shinigami known as Ryuk drops his Death Note out of the realm of the afterlife, into Light's schoolyard. Light stumbles across it and reads the directions: write the name of the person you want dead in the Death Note--with their image in your mind--and they will die in the manner you have specified in this supernatural journal. Otherwise, if the circumstance is not specified in writing, the victim will, within minutes, suffer a fatal heart attack. Thinking it a stupid prank initially, Light puts it to the test when saving an innocent woman from being assaulted. To his horror, it works. Could ridding the world of criminals be this easy? Inspired with a new renewed sense of justice, Light indulges himself completely in his newfound power, self-righteously declaring himself the bringer of a new, utopian future-- --one name at a time. Review: Probably the most anticipated anime of the 2006/2007 Winter season, and perhaps of the new year (Nodame Cantabile, maybe?) Death Note carries story elements and an intellectual integrity that is more commonly seen in your collegeate literary classics than your usual Shounen Jump title. First we have the Platonic "Gyges' Ring" scenario--in a discourse in Plato's Republic, the integrity of mortal justice is questions and sequentially deemed fundamentally flawed by sinful, finite capacity of man and their deeply ruooted sense of pride and self-righteousness. The lead character Light is the incarnation of this discourse, a once seemingly flawless character driven to obsession over the notion of becoming like a god. At first his intentions are decent--rapists, child molesters, serial killers--deserve to die, right? The world would be better without them, right? But putting such power into the hands of a mortal--as perfect as Light might be--corrupts, as history proves time and again. Accompanying the Death Note is its original owner, the Shinigami Ryuk. Rather than being morally bound to Light or serving as a conscience or guide, Ryuk hangs around simply to be a spectator--proclaiming humans to be "interesting." While this itself makes for an interesting plot, what really makes Death Note a top caliber series are the characters who cause an obstruction to Light's mission. Topping the cast is the fan-favorite L, whose character is just beyond description. A shady, mysterious, but somewhat eccentric genius, L is probably the only mind that could match the scheming Light. The cat-and-mouse power-play between the two young men is enticing and riveting, making you laugh (not for comedy's sake) and keeps you fixed on every frame, soaking in all the details and anticipating the next move. The adorable, yet tragic Misa is another owner of a Death Note, and becomes pathetically infatuated with Light and obediently does his bidding, while at the same time threatening his immunity to the task force tracking him down. This is just within the first ten episodes or so. This series is simple enough for anyone to understand, but at the same time deep enough and clever enough for those looking for something really meaty to sink their teeth into. Additionally, this series offers something that not many other series do--a moral conundrum. What if we had a Death Note? Would we use it? How would we use it? Is it possible to use it without turning into what Light becomes? Its production values leave me with nothing to complain about. A top-selling series like Death Note, like Nana and other popular manga titles, have an obligation to its fans to give them something that is quality work. The animation is smooth, the character designs are loyal and really bring life to the characters. The music is fantastic, and some of anime's top seiyuu are among the cast, including Miyano Mamoru (Tamaki from Ouran High School Host Club) as Light, Yamaguchi Kappei (Inuyasha from Inuyasha) as L, and Hirano Aya (Haruhi from The Meloncholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) as Misa. You really cannot go wrong with this series. And this is coming from a Christian--I am not at all offended by this series, it is a fantastic philosophical and theological scenario. How about looking at this series as social commentary? Any side of the political spectrum or anyone with any kind of religious affiliation can find hot topic issues that make for excellent discussion. This is a series that will make you think. It's more than just passive entertainment, though it is just what you make it. That's the beauty of Death Note. And fortunately, it shines bright through the ugliness that is undoubtedly to come to its characters.

Why did I give 7 to Death note and placed it under my favorite anime? Simple... episodes 1-25 = rate 10, episode 25-37 = rate 6, average = 8, but due to extreme rate failure, extremely boring and unimaginative episode, it doesn't deserve 8. Therefore, its 7. Story Its great, really. Anyone watching this anime can clearly see it has one great story with lots of upsets and wonderfully made events. Its never boring to watch it, because something happens all the time. And episodes 5-24, and constant "conflicts" between L and Light are so good I couldn't stop watching those episodes. Art Nothing much to say. Nothing special, not bad, not awesome. Death scenes are somehow repetitive. Not too much blood, I like it, its heart attack as #1 death reason in here after all. Sound To be honest, I didn't pay that much attention to sound. I did like the soundtrack for first 20 episodes, at least the intro song, didn't like the later song at all. Character (possible spoiler) This is where it gets really fun. L is one of the greatest characters ever, and even though I hated him for his methods, I really missed him in later episodes. It simply wasn't as fun without him. Misa is standard woman in love, kinda confusing, but nicely done overall. Light is my favorite character in this anime, and for many reasons: 1. He is smart 2. He understand that sacrifices are required sometimes 3. Did I say he is really smart? Enjoyment I will not comment this one. Every person has its own sense of enjoyment. As I said in the beginning, I loved episode 1-25, and really didn't like 25-37. Overall It is a great tv show. Definitively a must see. Some late episodes just ruined it for me, it just wasn't it in the end, it was boring and it didn't keep me begging for more like first episodes. Once again, it is important to know this is my own opinion, so many people will disagree with this, that's normal. If this was split into 2 parts instead of one with 1-25 being first season, and 25-37 second season, it would be great original with bad sequel, this way it is just another great anime ruined by late episodes.

Death Note is by far the best anime I'v seen. The story line is simply superb. Characters are very well developed and their Voice acting is so good that you can feel their emotions. The animation, sound and music are all at their best. This anime has some of the best moments I've ever seen. Episode 25 (you know), episode 36 and a lot more. The story is a game. It is a battle of two great minds. Light, the criminal and L, a very well known detective. Light gets his hands on a Shinigami's death book and whoever's name is written in the book dies. L wants to find the identity of the person who is behind this all, i.e. Light. But Light is much smarter than this and catching him is not easy. It's a story that will definitely keep you entertained as you can never predict what Light's and L's next move shall be.

Death Note is one of the most popular anime in the mainstream anime community and is usually the first anime people recommend to friends who want to get into the genre. However, I feel like it’s a bit overrated. It’s good for beginners, but it doesn’t hold up as well for regular anime watchers. Story (6/10) The story isn’t anything particularly special, but it’s still decent. It relies heavily on fancy, thrilling moments and the intense feud between Light and L, which is genuinely entertaining. However, after around episode 15, I started to feel bored. I couldn’t connect with the characters. Character development is a crucial part of any good story, and this is where Death Note falls short the most. In short, it feels more like a cat-and-mouse game than a deep crime story with supernatural elements. Art (9/10) Death Note features excellent direction and beautiful backgrounds. The studio did a fantastic job. While the animation quality isn’t on the level of something like the Fate series, it’s still one of the best-directed anime out there. Sound (10/10) This is where Death Note truly shines. Thanks to its strong direction, it has some of the best sound design and music in anime. The first opening is one of my all-time favorite anime themes. Characters (5/10) This is my personal opinion, but even if a story has flaws and plot holes, strong character development and impactful characters can make up for it. Unfortunately, Death Note really struggles here. Other than Light Yagami, the rest of the cast is quite weak. Many people will bring up L, who ranks very high in popularity. Yes, I like L, but he’s essentially just a super genius. There’s almost no character development. He simply chases after Light, and we learn almost nothing about him as a person. While many characters are mysterious, the best ones usually have weaknesses, inspirations, personality, and backstories that help the audience connect with them. As a protagonist, you should admire or love them. As an antagonist, you should feel hatred or strong emotions toward them (and Light definitely delivers on that — he’s a real son of a bitch). But I couldn’t feel anything for L throughout the entire series. He just felt like a plot device for Light, which was really disappointing. There are several supporting characters who had potential, but Light carries the whole show. I only finished the anime because of him. Enjoyment (7/10) I genuinely enjoyed the first 15 episodes. It’s a decent show and works well as a binge-watch. Overall (7/10) As I said, it’s a bit overrated and feels incomplete in some areas, but it’s still a solid recommendation for beginners because it’s simple, engaging, and has amazing direction and animation. Recommendation For beginners: High Overall: Medium

One of the most interesting manga titles to come around for some time, Deathnote presents the reader with some very heady subjects you might not expect, such as morality, the nature of good and evil and some great social commentary. From the pages of the manga to the silver screen and then to the small screen. Manga = breathtaking, Film = groundbreaking, Anime = phenomenal. Death Note the anime is one of the best animes to come out for a very long time. The storyline is amazing but not complicated or cliché. Like the film and manga, it depicts the cat and mouse hunt between L and Light on who will uncover one another's identity. Death Note is a cake; everything good about a cake; and therefore people should see this landmark. Overall, Death Note will remain a classic forever...

Death Note is one of the best anime's ever to have aired and it is correctly rated as one of the top 50 anime's of all time. It is an anime that you simply should not miss. It sent me on a craze for it. Though I have watched it after all this time, I realize that I shouldn't have waited this long. The characters have been represented incredibly and the storyline is what I would call "The Plot Of The Decade". Don't miss watching this.

And the chorus SINGS!! Pros: - Gothic atmosphere, ^ ~ ^ ooohhh how i love it - Intense rivalry, There can be only one!! - Shinigami nuff said - Brilliant writing and artistic visuals - Suspense all day everyday - Intriguing characters, my fav iz L O u O - Soundtrack tis orgasmic!! - Rules make it that more intense - Dub tis awesome -thumbs up- - Mundane things turn EPIC!! Cons: - Some characters are not well developed and useless - The third act turns dull, like super dull > _ > - The ending, i found it funny but yhh needs a better ending . . . maybe a season 2 O u O plzz Summary: I was so close to giving this a 10/10 rating but i just couldn't do it. The third act just drops it down a point for losing that flame it had, you know. I thought a lot about 'what if it just ended two thirds in the anime, would it had been better??' I came to this conclusion, no this anime needs a better third act and as much as the first two acts where masterfully crafted it wouldn't be enough on its own. Other than that this is by far one of the best anime ever created ( in my opinion ) Just the amount of moments it had me glued to the screen at the edge of my seat, captivated by what might happen next is enough for me to recommend this anime to nearly anyone. I am also pleased to say I felt like a God writing this review cuz I had the soundtrack play in the background, what O .O the music makes you feel like a badass with what ever you're doing . . .

Okay, I'll try this again. The last time my review got deleted but I will try it again this time. Leave a comment if you know WHY I like this anime. ;) Story 10/10 Death Note is a fun anime, that's one thing for sure. I liked the plot a lot, just because the idea that such a notebook would excist, is awesome as hell. The pace was perfectly done as well, and every episode ended just where it should end. Art 9/10 The most of the characters have a great design that fits them well. The background is dark and sort of depressing, and that fits the series great as well. I still give 9 points, because it was not completely perfect but still great. Sound 7/10 This is for the Japanese dub, although I watched the English dub. and if I am honest, the Engelish dub would get 10 points. The Japanese dub had just too less emotions, and the voices didn't fit the characters well. L's voice in the English dub was just perfect. I loved the music, and that's why I still give 7 out of 10. Character 10/10 I will be short abou this. I JUST LOVE FRIGGIN L AND LIGHT AND RYUK AND ALL THE OTHER CHARACTERS BECAUSE THEIR DESIGN IS SO PERFECT AND THEIR ACTIONS ARE SO UNPREDICTABLE BUT STILL SO SUITABLE! Their actions are suitable with their designs, let I say it like that xD. Enjoyment 10/10 I had fun the whole time with this anime. And all the jokes are timed so well. Just enjoyed the fact of the notebook with the rules that come by. It's so exciting! Overall 10/10 Death Note is a anime worth your time, that's for sure. :)

So my previous review for this was in short, shit. Time to give it an actual review after rewatching the show. Note: I will have * with a number placed inside which mean there will be some text at the very bottom that contains spoilers. So if you don't mind the spoilers you should check that. Story: Deathnote is about the best character of all time, Light Yagami. He finds a notebook and inside, it states "The human whose name is written in this note shall die." Deathnote is one of a kind really. Very few stories I have seen come close to it, not even FMA: Brotherhood. It has great pacing thanks to the 37 episodes giving it the chance to be a true adaptation of the manga. Nothing feels rushed. Originally I had read a bit of the first manga volume and had the ending spoiled by my friends. This did not ruin anything. The story has great build up in every moment to that final point. The writing of it is superb and the concept is amazing. The show has lots of exactly as planned moments.*1 Ending thoughts*2 Art: Art is done by Madhouse who have made quite a few anime. The show looks good for 2006 and looks like the manga. I would like to give special mention to the Second Ending which contains the best animation Madhouse have ever made. It's top quality in short. Sound: I am one of those people who prefers the dub of this to the sub. It feels more natural to the characters appearances. As for music Nightmare provide the first Op and Ed which are wonderful to listen to. The second Op and Ed is made by Maximum the Hormone. The second Op is a mystery to me. As for the second Ed it is beyond perfect.*3 As for soundtrack music there are quite a few repeats but these are mainly L's and Light's themes. Character: Light Yagami is the perfect model student. As the world’s greatest serial killer known as Kira. L is the mysterious detective hell-bent on arresting Kira. The character development is excellent. You start to understand Light's thoughts. You will start to support him or root for his downfall.*4 You go inside of both L and Light's thoughts as they think their plans through. *1 Enjoyment: Despite having the ending spoiled for me I didn't see what happened/how it happened. The build up to the point was what was important. *1 *2 If you had this show spoiled or not it will not affect your enjoyment. Overall: Deathnote is my favourite anime and I doubt that will change. It changed something inside of me yet I don't know what. My life felt empty when I finished it.*2 Deathnote is a near perfect anime with stellar art, sound and story. It is one that will go down as a great with the likes of Neon Genesis, FMA and Code Geass. Overall I would give Deathnote a 10/10. I would recommend it as a person’s first anime. For legal streaming you go can go to Netflix for the UK. I can not confirm but I believe you can stream it on Hulu for the US. Alternatively you could buy the DVD or the Blu Ray that is been released (I believe). In addition I would recommend getting the Death Note Manga which can be bought in volumes of 1 or Death Note Black Edition which includes 2 volumes totalling 6 books for £10 each. Anything on from this point will contain spoilers for the show and my personal thoughts and feelings of the show. ______________________________________________________________ *1 Exactly as planned: These moments occur quite a bit. The most memorable being Just According to Keikaku. This is when Light has regained the Deathnote and tricked L into thinking he is innocent. During this point character development takes place between L and Light. Before this happens Light does not explain his plan other than that he wants to get rid of the Notebook. He then flashes back and explains how he will prove his innocence. The main one is the ending showdown. In short Light tried to trick Near into thinking Mikami had the real notebook but it was actually a fake. He explains this in the final episode after proclaiming "looks like I win." It was working until Mikami made a fatal error in revealing the location of the real notebook. There are other plans in the show as well. *3 Ending 2 "Symbolism": I have interpreted the 2nd Ed as Light's rise to being a God with the literal Stairway to Heaven. The elevator scene has great build-up and shows his rise to the heavens as God of the new world. But only for him to fall to the ground. Side note: The flipping of the notebook, writing the name and seeing Light in the watch is beyond amazing. *4 Kira: Kira is the "mass murderer" in Deathnote. His real name is Light Yagami. My normal thoughts on him would be that I would disagree with him because I don't think we should have a death penalty. But I didn't. I supported for Light because I realised this is the only way to clean the world. *2 The End of Kira: So the ending happened. I watched it just last night. Yes as the title says, The End of Kira, his downfall, his death. Well firstly I should say the only change I can recall from the manga to anime is the ending being changed slightly. In the manga Light gets shot and begs Ryuk to write the SPK and Taskforce's names down. (Just got the book at so I can quote it.) So yes. Light gets shot and is now crawling on the floor away from Taskforce. He is begging Misa, Mikami and Takada to write their names down. He eventually reaches the feet of Ryuk where he says "Sure... I'll write it." And then reveals he was talking about Light. Here Light insanely shouts "I DON'T WANT TO DIE!"and has a flashback to when he first met Ryuk. Subsequently Light dies of a heart attack 40 seconds later. This is different to the Anime ending which you should have seen. Light peaces out and dies on some stairs. When I first watched I will admit I felt sick. It was a pathetic end for an amazing character. I assume you would have been disappointed if you didn't know beforehand. But was this foreshadowed? Ryuk told Light he would write his name in the Deathnote. Although I prefer the manga ending this one was complete and well done. The performance by Brad Swaile in this episode was excellent. Deathnote is a masterpiece. Nothing will come close for a long time.

~ Evil deeds will be punished, this is something that should be. ~ Death Note. It's a cult classic, widely beloved show, that holds a large sway in the otaku community. It is in essence, an extremely vivid and well thought out story that redefines the meaning of the word "justice"... Spawning from the simple, supernatural/fantasy themed idea that by writing down somebody's name that you could cause them to die, comes an extremely intricate and entangled story that documents almost faultlessly, a psychological showdown that can be remarked as nothing less than epic. It's quite common for people to have imbued preconceptions of Death Note due to its prominent media showcasing. Myself included entered this 37 episode series with relatively low expectations, and needless to say from my overall mark, that i was completely wrong... Death Note. It's anything BUT simple. While the premise of having a human wield that fateful notebook, and therefore wield a responsibility equal to the mass to Earth itself may seem quite straightforward... This show is simply genius in the way that it NEVER runs out of new revelations, discoveries, countless, countless, countless deaths, and countless, countless, countless plot twists to leave you breathless. (kind of like the breather you're taking now after reading that long sentence) Death Note is a great example of a show that is easy to underestimate. While it seems obvious that from such a responsibility-oriented premise, a theme of chaos and corruption should emerge, Death Note instead takes a more unique approach, and puts YOU in the front seat. It couldn't possibly use any more dramatic irony to empower you. To familiarize yourself with the rules of a God of Death. To familiarize yourself with with your friends, your enemies - You become death itself. And therefore particularly during Death Notes early phases, the complexities of baring such a power begin to envelop you. While on the one hand justice is to be fought for, on the other is the moral obligation to never kill a human being. Death Note thrives on the concept of conflicting morals. The endless friction between two mastermind forces fills the show's atmosphere with unending frustration and tension that genuinely can be felt, and related to. This is an psychological war. So expect ample plot twists... "Who's the good guy?" That is a question that will likely baffle you even after seeing everything, so does it really empower you at all? As i mentioned earlier, it's the sheer amount of interesting, thought-provoking content, as a result of a premise that could be summarized in a sentence that really stood out for me. The seamless integration of all of the perspectives and information down to the tiniest detail fit together perfectly - like in a beautifully intricate mystery. This brings the far fetched story down to Earth, down to a much more relatable and appreciable, realistic level that can easy resonate with a wide audience, anywhere from the technical grounds of super-weapons, to much grayer areas of morality itself. It's the game of chess between two geniuses, of arguably equal levels - and so one of the best aspects of Death Note is its complete unpredictability, which coexists with the twists of fate, to make it a level and heated battleground that always keeps you on edge. Despite its repetitive nature it fortunately strays far from being bland, and like a crescendo, it always seems to be trying to reach some form of climax - which never seems to fully emerge - and so the escalation in tension and complexities continue. Even more deviously deceitful and obscure techniques become part of the tribulations, and one minute it may seem that the world is with you, the next, you're lying unconscious underneath it. And so Death Note really does possess an overriding "GENIUS" aspect to die for. The story is as i say, really well thought out, whereas the characters is perhaps where i come to see one flaw... And this is kind of light how Shingeki no Kyojin is one-dimensional in the way that it puts an entertaining plot through the gears of production - covering the main progression non-stop. While i'm obviously not promoting the use of tangents here, that fact is that Death Note never seems to take a break from the suspenseful mystery solving. This is why i really enjoyed the very first phase best for it being the most down-to-Earth, "everyday life" styled. Whereas towards its conclusion, the heavy atmosphere is quite relentless, and leaves little space for non-professional character development. Nor for the viewer to catch their breath. Obviously this is the most common war of them all in a lot of media mediums - that of Story vs Characters, and it's impossible to get the perfect blend - so for the most part, Death Note is still something of a masterpiece in my eyes. Eyes? Ears? Sure they're good elements to consider for a review too, though i like to stay away from formulaic, rigid technical summaries... You'll be pleased to know that Death Note has some respectable audiovisuals. While strictly "new anime" viewers may take an episode or two to appreciate the art style, and while metal/death metal haters may not agree with the OPs. The presentation is colourful - where needed, and bleak, dark... where needed. Its main strength is the Story by far! I found Death Note thoroughly enjoyable, as it's one of the single most vivid, betrayal and deception infused, psychological wars out there, to which only one can emerge. Which one? See for yourself... ~ Checkmate, i have your King surrounded. That WOULD be a shame... If it were actually a King to start with. *knocks the piece on the hard table surface, small fragments fall off of it, revealing a spherical "head"* Checkmate ~

Death note review (9.5/10) (This aims to be a spoiler-free review. However, if included, any explicit spoilers will be in a marked off section at the bottom of the review.) Story: Death note has a quite original concept behind it; a book in which you can write peoples' names to kill them. Death note is a mature, intelligent anime which displays a battle of wits between the main characters. You get thrown straight into the story with in 5 minutes and the action really does not let up for at least 10-15 episodes. The engaging battle between Light and L dominates most of this period, starting with an epic opening encounter. This conflict is made so good by the detail and logical approach with which each of the two make their plans and how their thoughts are conveyed to the audience. There are some great tense moments with unpredictable and clever uses of their resources as well. It is clear that both are geniuses to be reckoned with and both have the same goal, to find out the other's true identity. Furthermore, both characters are made to be likeable (some people would disagree for Light) so that you are not really sure which side you are supporting, especially as the main character, Light, is technically the evil side. The story takes some interesting twists, coupled with introductions of new ideas and characters. Most of my favourite episodes were the ending episodes of each arc which were made to feel really intense. The first 25 episodes almost equal my favourite anime series I have watched so far. The story has a near perfect pacing, not becoming repetitive at any point and it brings together a lot of interesting concepts. The last 11-12 episodes were weaker. The pacing was slower and less detail was given into the plans and logic of the main characters. And the dynamics between the characters was less enjoyable. It was still a good run though just wasn't as perfect as the start. The ending was a bit disappointing and was probably the worst execution of a battle between the main characters in the series, which had so much potential in the circumstances. Characters: The main characters are well written with their motivations well set out and their weaknesses subtly shown at different points in the series. Light with his superiority complex, seeing as himself as a worthy God, fit well with his goals to judge the world. Ultimately most of the time he had the intelligence to back up his arrogance and his central goal stays quite consistent. L presents himself as one who has a strong sense of moral justice, which spurs him on to try to solve the case. However, his methods of investigating perhaps show a different side of him and at times it does seem as if he is a detective to get a feeling of fulfilment by solving cases. Even though Light and L are very different there are clear parallels between them, which is most evident during the middle few episodes. The secondary characters are focused on less but you still feel emotionally connected to them and understand their feelings and most of them play important parts in the series, each contributing to at least one major plot event. There is not much character development in the series but different aspects of each character are explored in more detail in different arcs. Overall Light and L are two of my favourite anime characters. Soundtrack and art: The soundtrack is spectacular and fits in very well with the setting and events of the series. L's and Light's theme have multiple remixes, all of which set the scene well and kyrie and low of solipsism are a few more of my favourites. The art style is nice and the variation of the drawing of Light at different times and circumstances in the series is great. L's character is a great presence to have in any scene and you always understand the emotions of the characters. Enjoyment and conclusion: As much as I consider the other categories in my rating, the most important thing for me is my subjective enjoyment of the series (which does somewhat depend on the above sections). During both my first run and my rewatch I wanted to continue to the next episode straight away almost every time.The cliffhangers and plans which span out over at least a few episodes makes it easy to rewatch, allowing further analysis and appreciation of how well written said plans are. For this reason, I believe death note is a true masterpiece and deserves a 9.5, even if its last episode run is a bit weaker. Anyone who enjoys a thriller with supernatural plot points or an epic adventure with psychological aspects will enjoy this anime!

When you watch a masterpiece such as Deathnote, the review isn't such as a question. How good was it? Should i watch this? No the review is only in question for the morals of its contents, shades and slashes of dark gray and malice rains over this anime. What in gods watchful eyes did i just watch,"Did god blink" ladiies and gentleman you just watched a evil yes, and sinning yes masterpiece among very few animes. Anthony R Latimore

“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” - Aristotle. In Death Note's case, much, much greater. On the first day, Billy learned to ride his bike. On the second day, he learned to ride it with only one hand on the handle. On the third day, he could ride it without any hands. After that, riding without any hands is all he wanted to do. The thrill and excitement was overwhelming and he could not go back. Hailed as one of the best anime of all time, Death Note deserves to be on a list of "Anime That Nostalgically Blind Us". For many people, it's their first exposure to the wonder of anime or at least the first one to take them on a high-octane, wild ride. Just like Billy, many viewers become enthralled by Death Note because it showed them the joy of riding a bicycle with no hands. It's one of the most well-crafted anime in history, but like every show or movie, it isn't without its flaws. STORY - 13/15 Death Note's plot is deceptively simple: "The human whose name is written in this note shall die."...and a genius highschooler happens upon this notebook and decides to take God's judgment into his own hands by killing off criminals. Throw in equally genius detectives, dozens of additional Death Note rules, and lots of dramatic flair and you have a bona fide cat-and-mouse game wrapped up in an engrossing psychological thriller. The writing is over-the-top but fits the adrenalized tone perfectly, aside from a few questionable lines (e.g. potato chips) that might have gone a bit overboard. Careful pacing from start to finish of each episode and melodramatic dialogue make for a rapidly accelerating rollercoaster. The latter half of the ride gets a bit bumpy with certain plot points, but the writing stays on point from beginning to end. Often times, people talk about how large a show's cast of characters is or how much death there is as if that alone serves to improve the story. As one might imagine, Death Note has quite a bit of death in it. The problem with death in stories is that it typically serves to create emotional turbulence within the viewer's heart, but it's very difficult to achieve this without taking the time to develop the character before killing him/her/it. The bulk of the journey, Death Note hits the spot, creating very interesting and volatile dynamics between characters. It falters towards the end by introducing far too many pivotal characters for one to digest so quickly. By the final episode, the show does pick up the pieces to construct a fairly satisfying conclusion, but perhaps not upon the same solid foundation it began with. VISUALS - 10/10 From a technical standpoint, Death Note stood in the top tier of animation when it aired. In terms of the fluidity of things happening on screen (i.e. FPS), it's still better than many anime airing at the time of this review. To reiterate, not in terms of resolution since it isn't natively in 720p or 1080p, but just talking about pure animation in the same way that Cowboy Bebop still trumps many modern anime in fluidity and detail. Studio Madhouse is well-known for their skill in creating very intense and suspenseful scenes through simple changes in camera angles and light distortion effects, both of which Death Note is a prime example of. Some people may criticize the liberal use of color filters and the tweaking of characters' hair and eye colors, but this was purposefully done to create the exuberant drama and suspense that are cornerstones of the show. SOUNDS - 10/10 The soundtrack crackles and pops with the twists and tension of each episode. It knows when to come in loud and boisterous and when to simply flow along with a quiet or somber scene. There's a variety of electronic and orchestral tracks with multiple versions of many of them depending on the tone and pace at certain points in the show. It's hard to talk about the music without mentioning the voice acting that compliments it greatly. Everyone from the main to the supporting characters have been cast very well. In such a tumultuous and suddenly evolving anime, the voice actors succeed in expressing an array of emotions that produce meaningful, thought-provoking moments of silence in between all the dialogue. FINAL THOUGHTS: Here is an anime that takes a simple premise and expands upon it tenfold and in multiple dimensions of thought. Aside from the mind games it thrives on, it poses some real questions about morality and power. Complete with superbly consistent and fitting animation and a soundtrack that compliments it with its boldness and subtlety. One might almost be able to look past the few rushed and questionable plot points and lapses in characterization, but they must be taken into consideration. Certain parts of the show, namely the first half or so, do have a clearer sense of direction and tend to stand out more than the others, but it's important to weigh the entirety of the show on the same scale. TOTAL - 33/35 NOTE: Point systems are far from perfect and shouldn't be taken at face value or compared between anime alone. To get the full picture, the review should be read since it contains the reasoning behind the score and that reasoning may not resonate with everyone. For more details on how the final score is calculated and the method of reviewing, check the About No_BiaS_Reviewer section.

Death Note is perhaps one of the most popular anime ever created. It holds the top place right now on this website as the most popular show. For a large number of people, Death Note was the gateway series that led to them becoming a fan of anime. Generally, the only people who watch anime and have not seen Death Note yet are people who just haven't got around to watching it. So the question is, what makes this series so special, if can indeed be considered special at all? The premise is perhaps the most attractive feature of the show; the power to kill without being detected. While this alone could be a central concept to be explored throughout the show, Death Note takes a different route. In the first episode it is established that the protagonist, Light Yagami, will be using the book to initiate his own version of justice upon the world. However, in the second episode the real story begins; a detective named "L" arrives to foil Light's plans. Thus begins one of the most intense and entertaining, back and forth, cat and mouse chases as Light tries to get rid of L while L does everything he can to find Kira (the name the people give to the invisible murderer; aka Light). If you've ever read a Goosebumps book, an Agatha Christie novel or a similar kind of "page-turner" book, Death Note would be the anime equivalent. The ending of each episode feels like a cliffhanger and it will compel you to keep watching until you find yourself marathoning the series. There are twists and turns in every episode and due to how convoluted and complex Light's and L's plans are, each episode feels unpredictable. With the show being presented mostly from Light's point of view, there is no real good or bad guy. Instead, Death Note aims to entertain its audience by showing the methods Light uses and his thought processes during his attempts to defeat L. The themes of the show take a backseat to the mind games between L and Light. The technical aspects of Death Note really enhance the show. Even the most simple events are portrayed in the most intense and dramatic manner. For example, writing names in the death note is depicted similar to striking with a sword. There is plenty of imagery used to depict the mind games between Light and L; most of which are accompanied by an internal monologue from Light. This gives an epic feel to what is essentially a guy thinking to himself. As for the sound, the voice acting is spot on and the soundtrack is appropriate; especially the use of the choir during Light's scenes. One minor issue Death Note has is its supporting cast. While they do enough to be interesting, at times they bend too easily to Light's or L's will or are too naive to question either character's motives. The biggest issues in the show come in the last ten episodes. There are new characters introduced that are weak copies of L (eccentric detectives), the pacing is a mess and some of the better characters of the first two thirds of the show are almost forgotten; the most notable being Ryuk. This does not mean these episodes are not worth watching or that the show is ruined. It is just a drop in quality that is quite unexpected. The final conclusion to Death Note is still just as memorable and as high quality as the first two acts. Death Note is one of the most accessible anime created. It is not deep and it never tries to be. It doesn't try to answer any questions about justice and it won't force you to support either of the main characters. The series manages to create a story that is gripping and suspenseful from beginning to end. For anyone who wants something entertaining and straightforward, or simply wants to watch something to get into anime, this is one of the best shows to watch. Will this be the best anime ever? For most people, no. But, it is almost guaranteed to be satisfying as a crime thriller and that is all that it was ever meant to be.