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Death Note

A psychological thriller about a high school student who gains the power to kill anyone by writing their name in a supernatural notebook.

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IP Overview & Key Facts

IP Key Facts

Essential information and quick stats.

Full Name

Death Note

Also Known As

DN, Death Note Series

Format

Manga/Anime Series

Release Year

2003

Current Status

Completed

Country of Origin

Japan

Region

Japan

Creator

Tsugumi Ohba (Writer), Takeshi Obata (Artist)

Publisher

Shogakukan (Manga), Madhouse (Anime)

Original Work

Manga

Genre

Psychological Thriller, Supernatural, Crime, Drama

Where to Start & Recommended Order

A beginner-friendly guide for starting Death Note without spoilers.

Best starting point

Start with the earliest core Manga (around 2003), then expand to other official releases as needed.

Recommended order

If multiple formats exist (anime, manga, films, games), follow the official release order within each format to avoid spoilers and missing context.

Fast-track option

To catch up faster, focus on the main canon storyline first, then return to side content later.

Story, World & Core Themes

Explore the narrative, setting, and ideas that shape Death Note.

Story

High-level synopsis and narrative focus.

Light Yagami, a brilliant high school student, finds a supernatural notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it, leading to a deadly game of cat and mouse with the detective L.

World

Setting, cultures, and distinctive elements.

Modern Japan, with global implicationsThe series juxtaposes modern Japanese society with the decaying Shinigami Realm. It is defined by the strict, logical rules of the Death Note, the cat-and-mouse d...

Themes

Core ideas and recurring motifs.

Justice vs. morality, power corruption, good vs. evil, surveillance state

Cultural Impact Timeline

High-level milestones showing Death Note's global influence.

2003

Death Note manga begins serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump

2006

Anime adaptation airs, live-action films released

2007

Manga concludes after 4 years

2008

L: Change the World spin-off film

2015

Death Note: Light Up the New World sequel film

2017

Netflix live-action adaptation released

Sales

Over 30 million manga copies sold worldwide

Revenue

Multi-million dollar franchise

Awards

Seiun Award for Best Science Fiction Comic

Key Characters

Meet representative characters from Death Note.

Light Yagami/Kira

“I am the God of the new world!”

A brilliant high school student who finds a supernatural notebook and attempts to become the god of a new world by executing criminals.

L Lawliet

“If you use your head, you won't get fat even if you eat sweets.”

An eccentric, reclusive genius detective who views the Kira case as a game and is the only one capable of challenging Light.

Misa Amane

A popular idol and "Second Kira" who possesses the Shinigami Eyes and is devoted to Light.

Ryuk

“Apples are juicy.”

A boredom-prone Shinigami who dropped the Death Note into the human world to see what would happen.

Near

L's calm, analytical successor who treats the investigation as a puzzle to be solved.

Mello

L's emotional, chocolate-loving successor who competes with Near and uses aggressive tactics to catch Kira.

Explore all Death Note characters

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Death Note about?▼

Light Yagami, a brilliant high school student, finds a supernatural notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it, leading to a deadly game of cat and mouse with the detective L.

Why is Death Note popular?▼

Themes include: Justice vs. morality, power corruption, good vs. evil, surveillance state. Genres / tags: psychological thriller, supernatural, crime, moral dilemma, cat and mouse. Category: Anime/Manga.

What is the best starting point for beginners?▼

Start with the earliest core Manga (around 2003), then expand to other official releases as needed.

In what order should I experience Death Note?▼

If multiple formats exist (anime, manga, films, games), follow the official release order within each format to avoid spoilers and missing context.

How can I catch up faster without getting lost?▼

To catch up faster, focus on the main canon storyline first, then return to side content later.

Who are the main characters in Death Note?▼

Some of the most recognizable characters include: Light Yagami/Kira, L Lawliet, Misa Amane, Ryuk, Near, Mello.