Как пишется death note

Death Note
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Light Yagami (front) and Ryuk (back)
Genre	Mystery[1] Psychological thriller[2][3] Supernatural thriller[1][4]
Manga
Written by	Tsugumi Ohba
Illustrated by	Takeshi Obata
Published by	Shueisha
English publisher	AUS Madman Entertainment NA Viz Media
Imprint	Jump Comics
Magazine	Weekly Shōnen Jump
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	December 1, 2003 – May 15, 2006
Volumes	12 (List of volumes)
Novel
Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases
Written by	Nisio Isin
Published by	Shueisha
English publisher	NA Viz Media
Published	August 1, 2006
Anime television series
Directed by	Tetsurō Araki
Produced by	Toshio Nakatani Manabu Tamura Masao Maruyama
Written by	Toshiki Inoue
Music by	Yoshihisa Hirano Hideki Taniuchi
Studio	Madhouse
Licensed by	Crunchyroll[a] NA Viz Media
Original network	Nippon TV
English network	CA YTV NA Neon Alley US Adult Swim
Original run	October 4, 2006 – June 27, 2007
Episodes	37 (List of episodes)
Anime television film
Death Note: Relight — Visions of a God
Directed by	Tetsurō Araki
Produced by	Toshio Nakatani Manabu Tamura Masao Maruyama
Written by	Toshiki Inoue
Music by	Yoshihisa Hirano Hideki Taniuchi
Studio	Madhouse
Licensed by	Crunchyroll[a] NA Viz Media
Original network	Nippon TV
Released	August 31, 2007
Runtime	130 minutes
Novel
Death Note: L — Change the World
Written by	M
Published by	Shueisha
English publisher	NA Viz Media
Published	December 25, 2007
Manga
Death Note: C-Kira Story
Written by	Tsugumi Ohba
Illustrated by	Takeshi Obata
Published by	Shueisha
English publisher	NA Viz Media
Magazine	Weekly Shōnen Jump
Demographic	Shōnen
Published	February 9, 2008
Anime television film
Death Note: Relight 2 – L’s Successors
Directed by	Tetsurō Araki
Produced by	Toshio Nakatani Manabu Tamura Masao Maruyama
Written by	Toshiki Inoue
Music by	Yoshihisa Hirano Hideki Taniuchi
Studio	Madhouse
Licensed by	Crunchyroll[a] NA Viz Media
Original network	Nippon TV
Released	August 22, 2008
Runtime	100 minutes
Manga
Death Note: a-Kira Story
Written by	Tsugumi Ohba
Illustrated by	Takeshi Obata
Published by	Shueisha
English publisher	NA Viz Media
Magazine	Jump Square
Demographic	Shōnen
Published	February 4, 2020
Live-action
Death Note (2006 film) Death Note 2: The Last Name (2006 film) L: Change the World (2008 film) Death Note (2015 TV drama) Death Note: The Musical (2015 musical) Death Note: New Generation (2016 miniseries) Death Note: Light Up the New World (2016 film) Death Note (2017 film)
Video games
Death Note: Kira Game (2007) Death Note: Successors to L (2007) L the Prologue to Death Note -Spiraling Trap- (2008)

Death Note (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese manga series written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. It was serialized in Shueisha’s shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from December 2003 to May 2006, with its chapters collected in 12 tankōbon volumes. The story follows Light Yagami, a genius who discovers a mysterious notebook: the «Death Note», which belonged to the shinigami Ryuk, and grants the user the supernatural ability to kill anyone whose name is written in its pages. The series centers around Light’s subsequent attempts to use the Death Note to carry out a worldwide massacre of individuals whom he deems immoral and to create a crime-free society, using the alias of a god-like vigilante named «Kira», and the subsequent efforts of an elite Japanese police task force, led by enigmatic detective L, to apprehend him.

A 37-episode anime television series adaptation, produced by Madhouse and directed by Tetsurō Araki, was broadcast on Nippon Television from October 2006 to June 2007. A light novel based on the series, written by Nisio Isin, was also released in 2006. Additionally, various video games have been published by Konami for the Nintendo DS. The series was adapted into three live-action films released in Japan in June, November 2006, and February 2008, and a television drama in 2015. A miniseries titled Death Note: New Generation and a fourth film were released in 2016. An American film adaptation was released exclusively on Netflix in August 2017, and a series is reportedly in the works.

Death Note media, except for video games and soundtracks, is licensed and released in North America by Viz Media. The episodes from the anime first appeared in North America as downloadable from IGN before Viz Media licensed it. The series was aired on YTV’s Bionix programming block in Canada and on Adult Swim in the United States with a DVD release following. The live-action films briefly played in certain North American theaters, in 2008, before receiving home video releases. As of April 2015, the Death Note manga had over 30 million copies in circulation, making it one of the best-selling manga series.

Plot[edit]

In Tokyo, a disaffected high school student named Light Yagami finds the «Death Note», a mysterious black notebook that can kill anyone as long as the user knows both the target’s name and face. Initially terrified of its god-like power, Light considers the possibilities of the Death Note’s abilities and kills high-profile Japanese criminals, then targets international criminals. Five days after discovering the notebook, Light is visited by Ryuk, a «shinigami» and the Death Note’s previous owner. Ryuk, invisible to anyone who has not touched the notebook, reveals that he dropped the notebook into the human world out of boredom and is amused by Light’s actions.^[5]

As criminals around the world die from inexplicable accidents and heart attacks, the global media suggest that a single mastermind is responsible for the mysterious murders and name them «Kira» (キラ, the Japanese transliteration of the word «killer»). Hoping to apprehend Kira, Interpol requests the assistance of an enigmatic consulting detective, known as L, to assist their investigation. Deducing that Kira is based in Japan, L tricks Light into revealing that he is in the Kanto region of Japan by manipulating him to kill a decoy. Furious, Light vows to kill L, whom he views as obstructing his plans. L deduces that Kira has inside knowledge of the Japanese police investigation, being led by Light’s father, Soichiro Yagami. Under the suspicion that «Kira» could have family ties with members of the «Kira» investigation, L assigns a team of FBI agents to monitor the families of those connected with the investigation and L learns enough to designate Light as the prime suspect. Around this time, Light graduates from high school to college. L recruits Light into the Kira Task Force, with each trying to get the other to reveal crucial information.

Actress-model Misa Amane, having obtained a second Death Note from a shinigami named Rem, makes a deal with Rem for shinigami eyes, which reveal the names of anyone whose face she sees, at the cost of half her lifespan. Seeking to have Light become her boyfriend, Misa uncovers Light’s identity as the original Kira, but Light has another motive: he intends to use Misa’s shinigami eyes to discern L’s true name. L deduces that Misa is likely the second Kira and detains her. Rem threatens to kill Light if he does not find a way to save Misa. Light arranges a scheme in which he and Misa temporarily lose their memories of the Death Note, and has Rem pass the Death Note to a less morally driven individual, Kyosuke Higuchi of the Yotsuba Group. With memories of the Death Note erased, Light joins the investigation and, together with L, deduce Higuchi’s identity and arrest him. Light regains his memories and uses the Death Note to kill Higuchi, regaining possession of the book. After restoring Misa’s memories, Light instructs her to begin killing as Kira, causing L to cast suspicion on Misa. With Light insinuating the investigation would lead to Misa’s capture and execution, Rem realizes Light’s plan all along was to have her sacrifice herself to kill L, as a shinigami may not kill others to prevent a human’s death. After Rem kills L, she disintegrates and Light obtains her Death Note. The task force does not announce L’s death and agrees to have Light operate as the new L. With Light working as both L and Kira, the investigation stalls but crime rates continue to drop as he no longer has a threat of capture.

Four years later, cults that worship Kira have risen. Two young men, raised as potential successors to L, are revealed: Near and Mello. Mello joins the mafia whilst Near joins forces with the US government. Mello kidnaps Director Takimura, who Light then kills, so Mello, kidnaps Light’s sister and exchanges her for the Death Note, using it to kill almost all of Near’s team. A Shinigami named Sidoh goes to Earth to reclaim his notebook and ends up meeting and helping Mello. Light uses the notebook to find Mello’s hideout, but Soichiro is killed in the mission. Mello and Near exchange information and Mello kidnaps Mogi and gives him to Near. Kira supporters attack Near’s group, but they escape. Aizawa becomes suspicious in Light and meets with Near. As suspicion falls again on Misa, Light passes Misa’s Death Note to a fervent supporter of Kira, Teru Mikami. He also appoints newscaster Kiyomi Takada as Kira’s public spokesperson. Near has Mikami followed whilst Aizawa’s suspicions are confirmed. Realizing that Takada is connected to Kira, Mello kidnaps her. Takada kills Mello but is killed by Light. Near arranges a meeting between Light and the current Kira Task Force members. Light tries to have Mikami kill Near as well as all the task force members, but Mikami’s Death Note fails to work, having been replaced with a decoy. Perusing the names Mikami had written down, only Light’s is missing, which proves Light is Kira. Light is grievously wounded in a scuffle and begs Ryuk to write the names of everyone present. Ryuk instead writes down Light’s name in his Death Note, as he had promised to do the day they met, and Light dies.

One year later, the world has returned to normal and the Kira Taskforce Members are conflicted over whether they made the right decision. Meanwhile, cults worshipping Kira have risen, led by a woman resembling Misa. Three years later, Near, now functioning as the new L, receives word that a new Kira has appeared. Hearing that the new Kira is randomly killing people, Near concludes that the new Kira is an attention-seeker and denounces the new Kira as «boring» and not worth catching. A shinigami named Midora approaches Ryuk and gives him an apple from the human realm, in a bet to see if a random human could become the new Kira, but Midora loses the bet when the human writes his own name in the Death Note after hearing Near’s announcement. Ryuk tells Midora that no human would ever surpass Light as the new Kira.

Production[edit]

Development[edit]

The Death Note concept derived from a rather general concept involving Shinigami and «specific rules».^[6] Author Tsugumi Ohba wanted to create a suspense series because the genre had few suspense series available to the public. After publication of the pilot chapter, the series was not expected to receive approval as a serialized comic. Learning that Death Note had in fact received approval and that Takeshi Obata would create the artwork, Ohba said, he «couldn’t even believe it».^[7] Due to positive reactions, Death Note became a serialized manga series.^[8]

«Thumbnails» incorporating dialogue, panel layout and basic drawings were created, reviewed by an editor and sent to Takeshi Obata, the illustrator, with the script finalized and the panel layout «mostly done». Obata then determined the expressions and «camera angles» and created the final artwork. Ohba concentrated on the tempo and the amount of dialogue, making the text as concise as possible. Ohba commented that «reading too much exposition» would be tiring and would negatively affect the atmosphere and «air of suspense». The illustrator had significant artistic licence to interpret basic descriptions, such as «abandoned building»,^[9] as well as the design of the Death Notes themselves.

When Ohba was deciding on the plot, he said, he visualized the panels while relaxing on his bed, drinking tea, or walking around his house. Often the original draft was too long and needed to be refined in order to finalize the desired «tempo» and «flow». The writer remarked on his preference for reading the previous «two or four» chapters carefully to ensure consistency in the story.^[6]

The typical weekly production schedule consisted of five days of creating and thinking and one day using a pencil to insert dialogue into rough drafts; after this point, the writer faxed any initial drafts to the editor. The illustrator’s weekly production schedule involved one day with the thumbnails, layout, and pencils and one day with additional penciling and inking. Obata’s assistants usually worked for four days and Obata spent one day to finish the artwork. Obata said that when he took a few extra days to color the pages, this «messed with the schedule». In contrast, the writer took three or four days to create a chapter on some occasions, while on others he took a month. Obata said that his schedule remained consistent except when he had to create color pages.^[10]

Ohba and Obata rarely met in person during the creation of the serialized manga; instead, the two met with the editor. The first time they met in person was at an editorial party in January 2004. Obata said that, despite the intrigue, he did not ask his editor about Ohba’s plot developments as he anticipated the new thumbnails every week.^[7] The two did not discuss the final chapters with one another and continued talking only with the editor. Ohba said that when he asked the editor if Obata had «said anything» about the story and plot, the editor responded: «No, nothing».^[9]

Ohba claims that the series ended more or less in the manner that he intended for it to end; he considered the idea of L defeating Light Yagami with Light dying, but instead chose to use the «Yellow Box Warehouse» ending. According to Ohba, the details had been set «from the beginning».^[8] The writer wanted an ongoing plot line instead of an episodic series because Death Note was serialized and its focus was intended to be on a cast with a series of events triggered by the Death Note.^[11] 13: How to Read states that the humorous aspects of Death Note originated from Ohba’s «enjoyment of humorous stories».^[12]

When Ohba was asked, during an interview, whether the series was meant to be about enjoying the plot twists and psychological warfare, Ohba responded by saying that this concept was the reason why he was «very happy» to place the story in Weekly Shōnen Jump.^[10]

Concepts[edit]

The notebooks[edit]

The core plot device of the story is the «Death Note» itself, a black notebook with instructions (known as «Rules of the Death Note») written on the inside. When used correctly, it allows anyone to commit a murder, knowing only the victim’s name and face. According to the director of the live-action films, Shusuke Kaneko, «The idea of spirits living in words is an ancient Japanese concept…. In a way, it’s a very Japanese story».^[13]

Artist Takeshi Obata originally thought of the books as «Something you would automatically think was a Death Note». Deciding that this design would be cumbersome, he instead opted for a more accessible college notebook. Death Notes were originally conceived as changing based on time and location, resembling scrolls in ancient Japan, or the Old Testament in medieval Europe. However, this idea was never used.^[14]

Themes[edit]

Writer Tsugumi Ohba had no particular themes in mind for Death Note. When pushed, he suggested: «Humans will all eventually die, so let’s give it our all while we’re alive».^[15] In a 2012 paper, author Jolyon Baraka Thomas characterised Death Note as a psychological thriller released in the wake of the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack, saying that it examines the human tendency to express itself through «horrific» cults.^[16]

Pilot chapter[edit]

The Death Note process began when Ohba brought thumbnails for two concept ideas to Shueisha; Ohba said that the Death Note pilot, one of the concepts, was «received well» by editors and attained positive reactions by readers.^[8] Ohba described keeping the story of the pilot to one chapter as «very difficult», declaring that it took over a month to begin writing the chapter. He added that the story had to revive the killed characters with the Death Eraser and that he «didn’t really care» for that plot device.^[17]

Obata said that he wanted to draw the story after he heard of a «horror story featuring shinigami«.^[7] According to Obata, when he first received the rough draft created by Ohba, he «didn’t really get it» at first, and he wanted to work on the project due to the presence of shinigami and because the work «was dark».^[17] He also said he wondered about the progression of the plot as he read the thumbnails, and if Jump readers would enjoy reading the comic. Obata said that while there is little action and the main character «doesn’t really drive the plot», he enjoyed the atmosphere of the story. He stated that he drew the pilot chapter so that it would appeal to himself.^[17]

Ohba brought the rough draft of the pilot chapter to the editorial department. Obata came into the picture at a later point to create the artwork. They did not meet in person while creating the pilot chapter. Ohba said that the editor told him he did not need to meet with Obata to discuss the pilot; Ohba said «I think it worked out all right».^[7]

Anime adaptation[edit]

Tetsurō Araki, the director, said that he wished to convey aspects that «made the series interesting» instead of simply «focusing on morals or the concept of justice». Toshiki Inoue, the series organizer, agreed with Araki and added that, in anime adaptations, there is a lot of importance in highlighting the aspects that are «interesting in the original». He concluded that Light’s presence was «the most compelling» aspect; therefore the adaptation chronicles Light’s «thoughts and actions as much as possible». Inoue noted that to best incorporate the manga’s plot into the anime, he «tweak[ed] the chronology a bit» and incorporated flashbacks that appear after the openings of the episodes; he said this revealed the desired tensions. Araki said that, because in an anime the viewer cannot «turn back pages» in the manner that a manga reader can, the anime staff ensured that the show clarified details. Inoue added that the staff did not want to get involved with every single detail, so the staff selected elements to emphasize. Due to the complexity of the original manga, he described the process as «definitely delicate and a great challenge». Inoue admitted that he placed more instructions and notes in the script than usual. Araki added that because of the importance of otherwise trivial details, this commentary became crucial to the development of the series.^[18]

Araki said that when he discovered the Death Note anime project, he «literally begged» to join the production team; when he joined he insisted that Inoue should write the scripts. Inoue added that, because he enjoyed reading the manga, he wished to use his effort.^[18]

Media[edit]

Manga[edit]

Death Note, written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata, was serialized in Shueisha’s shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from December 1, 2003,^[19] to May 15, 2006.^[20][21] The series’ 108 chapters were collected into twelve tankōbon volumes by Shueisha, released from April 2, 2004,^[22] to July 4, 2006.^[23] A one-shot chapter, titled «C-Kira Story» (Cキラ編, C-Kira-hen), was published in Weekly Shōnen Jump on February 9, 2008. Set two years after the manga’s epilogue, it sees the introduction of a new Kira and the reactions of the main characters in response to the copycat’s appearance.^[24] Several Death Note yonkoma (four-panel comics) appeared in Akamaru Jump. The yonkoma were written to be humorous. The Akamaru Jump issues that printed the comics include 2004 Spring, 2004 Summer, 2005 Winter, and 2005 Spring. In addition Weekly Shōnen Jump Gag Special 2005 included some Death Note yonkoma in a Jump Heroes Super 4-Panel Competition.^[17] Shueisha re-released the series in seven bunkoban volumes from March 18 to August 19, 2014.^[25][26] On October 4, 2016, all 12 original manga volumes and the February 2008 one-shot were released in a single All-in-One Edition, consisting of 2,400 pages in a single book.^[27][28]

In April 2005, Viz Media announced that they had licensed the series for English release in North America.^[29] The twelve volumes were released from October 10, 2005 to July 3, 2007.^[30][31] The manga was re-released in a six-volume omnibus edition, dubbed «Black Edition».^[32][33] The volumes were released from December 28, 2010 to November 1, 2011.^[34][35] The All-in-One Edition was released in English on September 6, 2017, resulting in the February 2008 one-shot being released in English for the first time.^[36]

In addition, a guidebook for the manga was also released on October 13, 2006. It was named Death Note 13: How to Read and contained data relating to the series, including character profiles of almost every character that is named, creator interviews, behind the scenes info for the series and the pilot chapter that preceded Death Note. It also reprinted all of the yonkoma serialized in Akamaru Jump and the Weekly Shōnen Jump Gag Special 2005.^[37][38] Its first edition could be purchased with a Death Note-themed diorama which includes five finger puppets inspired by Near’s toys. The five finger puppets are Kira, L, Misa, Mello, and Near. In North America, 13: How to Read was released on February 19, 2008.^[39]

In the June 2019 issue of Shueisha’s Jump Square it was announced that a new one-shot chapter of Death Note would be published. Part of the complete manuscript debuted at the «30th Work Anniversary Takeshi Obata Exhibition: Never Complete» event which ran in Tokyo from July 13 to August 12, 2019.^[40] Titled «Death Note: Special One-Shot», the entire 87-page chapter was published in the March issue of Jump Square on February 4, 2020 and on Viz’s website.^[41][42] A collected volume titled Death Note: Short Stories (DEATH NOTE短編集, Desu Nōto Tanpenshū), which includes the February 2008 one-shot chapter, the «Special One-Shot» (re-titled «a-Kira Story» (aキラ編, a-Kira-hen), the series’ pilot chapter and the «L: The Wammy’s House»/»L: One Day» one-shot chapters and more, was released on February 4, 2021.^[43][44][45]

Light novels[edit]

A light novel adaptation of the series has been written by Nisio Isin, called Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases. The novel was released by Shueisha on August 1, 2006.^[46][47] It serves as a prequel to the manga series, with Mello narrating the story of L’s first encounter with Naomi Misora during the Los Angeles «BB Serial Murder Case» mentioned in volume 2 of the manga. Beside Naomi’s character, the novel focuses on how L works and one of the criminals L has to chase down. Insight was given into Watari’s orphanage and how the whole system of geniuses such as L, Mello, Beyond Birthday, Matt and Near were put to work. Viz released the novel in English on February 19, 2008.^[48] The film L: Change the World was also adapted into a light novel with the same name on December 25, 2007, by «M»,^[49] While the novel is similar to the film, there are many significant changes to the plot (for example, Near is not a Thai boy, but the same Near that appears in the manga). It also reveals more information about L and his past. Viz released it on October 20, 2009.^[50]

Anime[edit]

The Death Note anime, directed by Tetsurō Araki and animated by Madhouse, began airing on Nippon TV on October 4, 2006, and finished its run on June 27, 2007, totaling 37 episodes.^[51] The series aired on the network «every Tuesday at 0:56», which is effectively Wednesday.^[52] The series was co-produced by Madhouse, Nippon Television, Shueisha, D.N. Dream Partners and VAP.^[53] In North America, the series was licensed by Viz for residents in the United States to use «Download-to-Own» and «Download-to-Rent» services while it was still airing in Japan. This move was seen as «significant because it marked the first time a well known Japanese anime property was made legally available in the
United States for domestic audiences to download while the title was still airing on Japanese television».^[54] The downloadable episodes contained the original Japanese audio track and English subtitles,^[55] and were made available through IGN’s Windows-only Direct2Drive service.^[56] DVDs of the series have also been released,^[55] containing both an English dubbed audio track, produced by Ocean Productions, and the original Japanese audio track with optional English subtitles.^[57] Viz announced at Anime Expo 2007 that the first DVD was officially released on November 20, 2007, in both regular and special editions,^[58] and also confirmed at Comic-Con International 2007 that the first 15,000 copies of each DVD contains collectible figures.^[59]

Death Note was slated to make its North American television premiere in Canada, as part of YTV’s Bionix programming block, on September 7, 2007.^[60] However, the show was removed from the schedule at the last minute^[61] and the Canadian premiere was pushed back to October 26, 2007, at 10:00 p.m. The series premiered in the U.S. on October 20, 2007, at 12:00 a.m. on Adult Swim^[62] and ran until January 10, 2010, when its contract expired.^[63] The last episode aired on YTV, July 4, 2008, and would later air on Adult Swim two days later. The show was removed from YTV’s schedule on July 5, 2008, with its last airing being a rerun of the final episode at 1:30 a.m. ET. Soon after, Bionix became a 2-hour block on Saturday nights.^[64] The show also streamed online free on Adult Swim Video, with a new episode available every Saturday afternoon, on the day of its broadcast premiere.^[65] On July 26, 2017, Starz announced that they would be offering episodes of the series for their Video on Demand service starting August 1, 2017.^[66]

A two-hour animated Death Note Relight: Visions of a God (DEATH NOTE リライト·幻視する神, Desu Nōto Riraito: Genshisuru kami) TV special aired on Nippon Television in Japan on August 31, 2007, at 8:00 p.m. It is a recap which takes place after the series end, where a shinigami approaches Ryuk in the shinigami realm in order to learn more about the human world. Instead, Ryuk tells him of all the events leading up to the last story arc, about Light Yagami and his rival L. Originally, this special was advertised as a retelling told from Ryuk’s point of view, but it does not give a different point of view from what was originally told. However, it contains updated dialog, as well as a few new scenes.^[67]

The Japanese broadcaster NTV aired the Death Note: Relight: L’s Successors (DEATH NOTE リライト2 Lを継ぐ者, Desu Nōto Riraito 2: L o Tsugu Mono) special on August 22, 2008. Like the first special, this new compilation summarized a part of the 2006–2007 anime television series. Specifically, it recounted the final half of the suspenseful supernatural story, including the investigators Near and Mello’s confrontations with the vigilante Kira.^[68] This version features more updates than the previous one, most notably omission of the mafia plot.

Soundtracks[edit]

Several soundtracks for the series have been released. The music from the anime was composed by Yoshihisa Hirano and Hideki Taniuchi, while the CDs were also published by VAP. The first one was Death Note Original Soundtrack, which was released in Japan on December 21, 2006. It contains music from the series with the first opening and ending themes are sung by the Japanese band Nightmare in the TV size format.^[69] Death Note Original Soundtrack II was first released in Japan on March 21, 2007. It features the new opening and closing themes by Maximum the Hormone in the TV size format.^[70] The third CD, Death Note Original Soundtrack III was released on June 27, 2007. The tracks 1–21 were composed and arranged by Taniuchi, while the tracks 22–28 were composed and arranged by Hirano. The album features one track sung by Aya Hirano, who was also the Japanese voice actress of Misa Amane in the anime series. Also appearing on this soundtrack is the ending theme Coda〜Death Note, which can be heard at the end of the final episode of the anime as the credits are shown.^[71]

Several soundtracks have also been released for the live action films. Sound of Death Note is a soundtrack featuring music from the first Death Note film composed and arranged by Kenji Kawai. It was released on June 17, 2006, by VAP.^[72] Sound of Death Note the Last name is the soundtrack from the second Death Note film, Death Note the Last name. It was released on November 2, 2006.^[73] Death Note Tribute is a tribute album dedicated to the live action film Death Note. Published by BMG Japan on June 21, 2006, Japan, it contains 15 tracks performed by various artists, such as Shikao Suga, M-Flo, Buck-Tick, and Aya Matsuura. The soundtrack came with a cosplay Death Note notebook.^[74] Another tribute album is The Songs for Death Note the movie〜the Last name Tribute dedicated to the second film. Published by Sony Music Entertainment Japan on December 20, 2006, it contains 14 tracks performed by various artists, such as Orange Range, Abingdon Boys School, High and Mighty Color, Doping Panda, and Galneryus.^[75]

Live-action films[edit]

Death Note was adapted into a series of live-action films in 2006. The first two films were directed by Shusuke Kaneko and the third was directed by Hideo Nakata and produced by Nippon Television, CG production of all three films were done by Digital Frontier and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. The first film, simply titled Death Note, premiered in Japan on June 17, 2006, and topped the Japanese box office for two weeks, pushing The Da Vinci Code into second place.^[76] The first film briefly played in certain North American theaters on May 20–21, 2008.^[77] The film was broadcast in Canadian theaters for one night only on September 15, 2008. The DVD was released on September 16, 2008, one day after the Canadian showing.^[78] The sequel, Death Note 2: The Last Name, premiered in Japan on November 3, 2006.^[79] It was featured in U.S. theaters in October 2008.^[80]

A spin-off from the films named L: Change the World was released in Japan on February 9, 2008. It is focused on the final 23 days of L’s life, as he solves one final case involving a bio-terrorist group.^[81] Two dubbed versions of the film were shown in the United States on April 29 and 30, 2009.^[82] In August 2016, a three-part miniseries entitled Death Note: New Generation was announced as a part of the Death Note live-action film series and aired in September. It bridges the 10-year gap between the previous films and the then-upcoming 2016 film.^[83][84] A fourth Japanese Death Note film was released in 2016^[85] and featured a cyber-terrorism setting with the inclusion of six Death Notes brought into the human world.^[86] An American adaptation was released on Netflix on August 25, 2017.^[87] The film was directed by Adam Wingard and was written by Charles Parlapanides, Vlas Parlapanides, and Jeremy Slater. It starred Nat Wolff, Lakeith Stanfield, Margaret Qualley, Shea Whigham, Paul Nakauchi, Jason Liles, and Willem Dafoe. It was rated by many negatively after its release, and ranked low on Rotten Tomatoes. A sequel film is reportedly in the works.^[88]

Live-action series[edit]

In April 2015, it was announced that a live-action television series based on Death Note manga would begin airing from July 2015 on NTV.^[89] Masataka Kubota stars as Light Yagami and Kento Yamazaki as L in the series.^[90]

In July 2022, it was announced that the Duffer Brothers are producing a new live-action series adaptation for Netflix.^[91] In October 2022, it was announced that Halia Abdel-Meguid would write and executive produce the series.^[92][93]

Video games[edit]

A Death Note video game developed and published by Konami for the Nintendo DS, titled Death Note: Kira Game (デスノート キラゲーム, Desu Nōto Kira Gēmu), was released on February 15, 2007.^[94] Kira Game is a strategy game where the player takes on the role of Kira or L. These are just titles, as any character can be Kira or L. The player will attempt to deduce who their enemy is (Kira will try to uncover L’s identity and vice versa). This will play out in three phases: investigation, where the player will discuss the case and clues with other characters; voting, where each member of the investigation team casts a vote on who they suspect is L or Kira based on the player’s performance in the previous phase; L/Kira, where the player can either focus their investigation on one member to see if they are Kira (L part), or force a member off of the team (Kira part).^[95] A sequel to the game, Death Note: Successors to L (デスノート Lを継ぐ者, Desu Nōto Eru o Tsugu Mono), was released in Japan on July 12, 2007. The storyline is based on the second part of the manga, featuring characters such as Mello and Near.^[95]

A third game, L the Prologue to Death Note -Spiraling Trap- (L the proLogue to DEATH NOTE -螺旋の罠-, L the proLogue to DEATH NOTE -Rasen no Wana-), was released for the Nintendo DS in Japan on February 7, 2008.^[95][96] The player assumes the role of a rookie FBI agent who awakens in a strange hotel and attempts to escape with the help of L, who provides assistance via an in-game PDA. The story is set before the Kira investigation in the original series.^[96] Several characters from Death Note appear in Jump Super Stars and Jump Ultimate Stars, a fighting game featuring multiple characters from Weekly Shōnen Jump titles. Light, Ryuk, and L appear in Jump Super Stars as support characters. Misa, Near, and Mello are added as support characters in Jump Ultimate Stars as well.^[97][98] The 2019 video game Jump Force features Light and Ryuk as non-playable characters, playing a key role in the game’s story mode.^[99]

Musical[edit]

In 2015, a musical adaptation of the manga called Death Note: The Musical ran in both Japan and South Korea. It was originally composed in English by Broadway composer Frank Wildhorn, with lyrics by Jack Murphy and book by Ivan Menchell, though no English-language production has been announced as of September 2017.^[100] The original Japanese production, produced by Japanese talent agency HoriPro [ja], ran from 6 to April 29, 2015, and stars Kenji Urai and Hayato Kakizawa [ja] double-cast as Light Yagami, and Teppei Koike as L.^[101] A Korean production of the same musical ran from June 11 to August 11, 2015, in South Korea, starring musical actor Hong Kwang-ho and JYJ member and musical actor Kim Junsu.^[102][103]

Reception[edit]

Manga[edit]

As of April 2015, the Death Note manga had over 30 million copies in circulation.^[104] On ICv2’s «Top 10 Shonen Properties Q2 2009», Death Note was the third best-selling manga property in North America.^[105] The series ranked second on Takarajimasha’s Kono Manga ga Sugoi! list of best manga of 2006 and 2007 for male readers.^[106] It was nominated for the 38th Seiun Awards in the Best Comic category in 2007.^[107] The manga received the Grand Prize of Best Manga and Best Screenplay at the Japan Expo Awards 2007.^[108] The series won the 2008 Eagle Award for Favourite Manga as voted by UK fans.^[109] According to a survey conducted in 2007 by the Ministry of culture of Japan, occupies the 10th place among the best manga of all time.^[110] It also received several nominations such as Best Manga at the 2006 American Anime Awards,^[111][112] the 2007 Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize,^[113] an Official Selection at Angoulême International Comics Festival 2008,^[114] and Obata was nominated for Best Penciller/Inker at the 2008 Eisner Awards.^[115] In 2007, the first three volumes of Death Note were on the American Library Association’s 2007 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten list.^[116]

Douglas Wolk of Salon said that a rumor circulated stating that the creators intended to create Death Note to last half as long as its actual run and Ohba and Obata had been persuaded to lengthen the storyline when Death Note‘s popularity increased, noting that the rumor «makes sense, since about halfway through the series, there’s a point that seems like a natural ending». In addition, he said that fans wrote «thousands» of Death Note fan fiction stories and posted them on the internet.^[117] In 2006, Japanese fans pointed out the similarities between Death Note and the 1973 one-shot manga The Miraculous Notebook (不思議な手帖) by Shigeru Mizuki. Comipress reported that the only difference between the story and Death Note is that there are no shinigamis.^[118]

Anime News Network writer Zac Bertschy called Death Note a «surprisingly gripping and original suspense tale that raises a handful of interesting questions about morality». He noted that the difference between the series and other manga from the same demographic was very big due to the murders the main character commits as well as how he hides his identity of Kira. Although Bertschy mentioned some manga readers will be surprised with the dark themes of Death Note, he praised the series for its «great art, great story, [and] compelling characters».^[119] Briana Lawrence from the same website stated that what makes Death Note so interesting is that there is no villain, «instead it had two opposing sides that both believe in the same thing: justice». She felt that once vital characters fading into the background, the ending brings back what the fans loved about the first volume and the supporting cast are «given a chance to shine». She also mentioned that the epilogue made no mention of what happens with Misa Amane and how Near and Mello were still treated like parts of L.^[120] Julie Rosato from Mania Entertainment found the story to be very entertaining, having liked Light’s development in the story and L’s introduction as well as how the latter starts suspecting the former’s identity. Additionally, she praised the story as it is «building a climax» with each detail introduced in the first chapter, making the reader look forward to upcoming chapters.^[121] Jolyon Baraka Thomas, in a Japanese Journal of Religious Studies article, describes the manga as having a «somber narrative» with a «dark cast». Obata’s art is «[rendered] in stark strokes characterized—fittingly—by a complex interplay of light and shadow».^[16]

Anime[edit]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the show holds an approval rating of 100%, based on 14 reviews, with an average rating of 8.5/10. The website’s critical consensus reads: «Death Note is an exceptional anime that poses profound questions about justice and murder, all while delivering a supremely satisfying tale of tactical one-upmanship between a detective and killer.»^[122] The Death Note anime was one of the series to win Best TV Anime at the 2007 Tokyo International Anime Fair.^[123] The anime was commended with Tom S. Pepirium of IGN saying that Death Note‘s «heavy serialized nature» is what «makes the show so engaging and discussion worthy».^[124] Pepirium, saying that translating Death Note is «no small task», stated that Stephen Hedley created an English dub with «nothing clunky». He added that Karl Willems, director of the dub, assembled a «stunning voice cast of professionals» with a «solid tone minus some of the cheesy yelling and screaming of other dubs».^[125] On the NPR show Fresh Air, John Powers said that Death Note is «at least as addictive as a show like Lost«.^[126] It was also listed as the 51st best animated show in IGN’s Top 100 Animated Series.^[127] Hyper wrote:

Running over thirty-seven 20 minutes episodes, the anime sticks much closer to the manga so takes a far more languid approach to storytelling, better fleshing out the fantastic characters of Light and his nemesis, L. Light in particular is one of the most layered characters to appear in anime in a long time.^[128]

Jacob Hope Chapman from Anime News Network praised Teru Mikami’s role as bloody and flashy as ever better than that of Near, Mello, and Misa.^[129]

Light novels[edit]

A.E. Sparrow of IGN reviewed the novel Another Note and gave it a 9.5 out of 10. Sparrow said that the author understood «what made these characters click so well» and «captures everything that made the manga the compelling read that it is». Sparrow said that fans of Death Note who read Another Note will «find a welcome home» in Nisio Isin’s work which «adds a few more fun layers» to the Death Note franchise.^[130] The novelization of L: Change the World became the second top-selling light novel in Japan during 2008.^[131]

Legacy and controversies[edit]

The series release outside Japan was met with a wave of copycat crimes. According to Wired magazine, Death Note «[turned] Japan’s most-popular print medium into an internationally controversial topic that has parents wondering whether they should prohibit their kids from reading manga entirely». Live-action director Shusuke Kaneko commented in response, «If preventing them from seeing this movie is going to make kids better, then why not prevent them from watching all bad news?».^[13]

In regards to the 2019 The Twilight Zone episode «The Comedian», Rosie Knight of The Hollywood Reporter stated that «Samir’s story appears to take a large influence from … Death Note.»^[132] The Simpsons has parodied Death Note in both comic books and animation with the 2008 comic book story «Murder, He Wrote» in The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror #14,^[133][134] where Bart receives the notebook from the Ryuk-ified ghost of Krusty the Clown, and the «Death Tome» segment of the 2022 television episode «Treehouse of Horror XXXIII», with Lisa receiving the titular book.^[135]

Bans and attempted bans[edit]

Early in 2005, school officials in Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning (People’s Republic of China), banned Death Note.^[136] The immediate cause was that students had been altering notebooks to resemble Death Notes and then writing the names of acquaintances, enemies, and teachers in the books.^[137][138] The ban was designed to protect the «physical and mental health»^[139] of students from horror material that «misleads innocent children and distorts their mind and spirit».^[140] Jonathan Clements has suggested that the Chinese authorities acted partly against «superstition», but also against illegal, pirate publishers of Death Note.^[141] The ban has been extended to other Chinese cities including Beijing,^[142][143] Shanghai and Lanzhou in Gansu Province.^[144] Legally published Chinese-language versions of Death Note are published in Hong Kong.^[141] On June 12, 2015, the Chinese Ministry of Culture listed Death Note among 38 anime and manga titles banned in China.^[145]

In 2007, the education bureau in Pingtung County, Taiwan asked teachers to pay attention to any negative influence on elementary school students reading the manga.^[146] In May 2010, the Albuquerque Public Schools in New Mexico held a hearing to ban the Death Note manga from their district’s schools; it was unanimously voted down.^[147] After volumes of Death Note were found at the February 2013 suicide of a 15-year-old girl in Yekaterinburg, Russia, a local parents’ group began campaigning to regulate all media based on the series, saying that it had an adverse effect on the minds of children.^[148] In March 2014, investigators concluded that the manga did not cause the girl to commit suicide.^[149]

Imitations of the series[edit]

There have been various imitations around the world of the premise of Death Note. At least one instance was linked to a crime — on September 28, 2007, two notes written with Latin characters stating «Watashi wa Kira dess» [sic], a mis-transliteration of «I am Kira» (私はキラです, Watashi wa Kira desu),^[150] were found near the partial remains of a Caucasian male in Belgium. The case has been called the «Mangamoord» (Dutch for Manga Murder) in Belgian media.^[151] It was not until 2010 that four people were arrested in connection to the murder.^[152] A senior at the Franklin Military Academy in Richmond, Virginia, United States was suspended in 2007 after being caught possessing a replica «Death Note» notebook with the names of fellow students. The school’s principal wrote a letter to the student’s parents linking to an unofficial website where visitors can write names and circumstances of death for people they want to die.^[153]

In South Carolina in March 2008, school officials seized a «Death Note» notebook from a Hartsville Middle School student. District officials linked the notebook to the anime/manga. The notebook listed seven students’ names. The school planned a disciplinary hearing and contacted the seven students’ parents.^[154] In Gadsden, Alabama in April 2008, two sixth-grade boys were arrested for possession of a «Death Note» that listed names of several staff members and fellow students. According to Etowah County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Lanny Handy, the notebook was discovered the previous afternoon by a staffer. The students were suspended from the county’s schools, pending a juvenile court hearing. The students, their parents, and school officials had met with Handy and a junior probation officer.^[155] In Gig Harbor, Washington, one middle school student was expelled and three were suspended on May 14, 2008, for having 50 names in their own «Death Note» book, including President George W. Bush.^[156]

It was reported in September 2009, that a Year Eight boy in Sydney, Australia, created a «Death Note» that along with names contained a «battle plan» detailing where bombs could be placed inside his school.^[157] In December 2009, two students at an elementary school in Oklahoma were disciplined for a «Death Note» with the names and descriptions of deaths of two girls that had angered them.^[158] A Michigan middle school student was suspended indefinitely in March 2010 for a «Death Note».^[159] In May 2010, a middle school student in Avonworth School District in Pennsylvania was suspended for a «Death Note» with names of fellow students and pop singer Justin Bieber.^[147] In February 2015, a fifth-grade student of an elementary school near Pittsburgh was suspended for owning a «Death Note» and writing other students’ names in it.^[160]

See also[edit]

• Now: Zero — A short story by J. G. Ballard with a similar premise to Death Note.

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Official website (in Japanese)
• Viz Media’s Death Note website
• Madman Entertainment’s Death Note website
• Death Note (manga) at Anime News Network’s encyclopedia

Death Note
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Light Yagami (front) and Ryuk (back)
Genre	Mystery[1] Psychological thriller[2][3] Supernatural thriller[1][4]
Manga
Written by	Tsugumi Ohba
Illustrated by	Takeshi Obata
Published by	Shueisha
English publisher	AUS Madman Entertainment NA Viz Media
Imprint	Jump Comics
Magazine	Weekly Shōnen Jump
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	December 1, 2003 – May 15, 2006
Volumes	12 (List of volumes)
Novel
Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases
Written by	Nisio Isin
Published by	Shueisha
English publisher	NA Viz Media
Published	August 1, 2006
Anime television series
Directed by	Tetsurō Araki
Produced by	Toshio Nakatani Manabu Tamura Masao Maruyama
Written by	Toshiki Inoue
Music by	Yoshihisa Hirano Hideki Taniuchi
Studio	Madhouse
Licensed by	Crunchyroll[a] NA Viz Media
Original network	Nippon TV
English network	CA YTV NA Neon Alley US Adult Swim
Original run	October 4, 2006 – June 27, 2007
Episodes	37 (List of episodes)
Anime television film
Death Note: Relight — Visions of a God
Directed by	Tetsurō Araki
Produced by	Toshio Nakatani Manabu Tamura Masao Maruyama
Written by	Toshiki Inoue
Music by	Yoshihisa Hirano Hideki Taniuchi
Studio	Madhouse
Licensed by	Crunchyroll[a] NA Viz Media
Original network	Nippon TV
Released	August 31, 2007
Runtime	130 minutes
Novel
Death Note: L — Change the World
Written by	M
Published by	Shueisha
English publisher	NA Viz Media
Published	December 25, 2007
Manga
Death Note: C-Kira Story
Written by	Tsugumi Ohba
Illustrated by	Takeshi Obata
Published by	Shueisha
English publisher	NA Viz Media
Magazine	Weekly Shōnen Jump
Demographic	Shōnen
Published	February 9, 2008
Anime television film
Death Note: Relight 2 – L’s Successors
Directed by	Tetsurō Araki
Produced by	Toshio Nakatani Manabu Tamura Masao Maruyama
Written by	Toshiki Inoue
Music by	Yoshihisa Hirano Hideki Taniuchi
Studio	Madhouse
Licensed by	Crunchyroll[a] NA Viz Media
Original network	Nippon TV
Released	August 22, 2008
Runtime	100 minutes
Manga
Death Note: a-Kira Story
Written by	Tsugumi Ohba
Illustrated by	Takeshi Obata
Published by	Shueisha
English publisher	NA Viz Media
Magazine	Jump Square
Demographic	Shōnen
Published	February 4, 2020
Live-action
Death Note (2006 film) Death Note 2: The Last Name (2006 film) L: Change the World (2008 film) Death Note (2015 TV drama) Death Note: The Musical (2015 musical) Death Note: New Generation (2016 miniseries) Death Note: Light Up the New World (2016 film) Death Note (2017 film)
Video games
Death Note: Kira Game (2007) Death Note: Successors to L (2007) L the Prologue to Death Note -Spiraling Trap- (2008)

Death Note (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese manga series written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. It was serialized in Shueisha’s shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from December 2003 to May 2006, with its chapters collected in 12 tankōbon volumes. The story follows Light Yagami, a genius who discovers a mysterious notebook: the «Death Note», which belonged to the shinigami Ryuk, and grants the user the supernatural ability to kill anyone whose name is written in its pages. The series centers around Light’s subsequent attempts to use the Death Note to carry out a worldwide massacre of individuals whom he deems immoral and to create a crime-free society, using the alias of a god-like vigilante named «Kira», and the subsequent efforts of an elite Japanese police task force, led by enigmatic detective L, to apprehend him.

A 37-episode anime television series adaptation, produced by Madhouse and directed by Tetsurō Araki, was broadcast on Nippon Television from October 2006 to June 2007. A light novel based on the series, written by Nisio Isin, was also released in 2006. Additionally, various video games have been published by Konami for the Nintendo DS. The series was adapted into three live-action films released in Japan in June, November 2006, and February 2008, and a television drama in 2015. A miniseries titled Death Note: New Generation and a fourth film were released in 2016. An American film adaptation was released exclusively on Netflix in August 2017, and a series is reportedly in the works.

Death Note media, except for video games and soundtracks, is licensed and released in North America by Viz Media. The episodes from the anime first appeared in North America as downloadable from IGN before Viz Media licensed it. The series was aired on YTV’s Bionix programming block in Canada and on Adult Swim in the United States with a DVD release following. The live-action films briefly played in certain North American theaters, in 2008, before receiving home video releases. As of April 2015, the Death Note manga had over 30 million copies in circulation, making it one of the best-selling manga series.

Plot[edit]

In Tokyo, a disaffected high school student named Light Yagami finds the «Death Note», a mysterious black notebook that can kill anyone as long as the user knows both the target’s name and face. Initially terrified of its god-like power, Light considers the possibilities of the Death Note’s abilities and kills high-profile Japanese criminals, then targets international criminals. Five days after discovering the notebook, Light is visited by Ryuk, a «shinigami» and the Death Note’s previous owner. Ryuk, invisible to anyone who has not touched the notebook, reveals that he dropped the notebook into the human world out of boredom and is amused by Light’s actions.^[5]

As criminals around the world die from inexplicable accidents and heart attacks, the global media suggest that a single mastermind is responsible for the mysterious murders and name them «Kira» (キラ, the Japanese transliteration of the word «killer»). Hoping to apprehend Kira, Interpol requests the assistance of an enigmatic consulting detective, known as L, to assist their investigation. Deducing that Kira is based in Japan, L tricks Light into revealing that he is in the Kanto region of Japan by manipulating him to kill a decoy. Furious, Light vows to kill L, whom he views as obstructing his plans. L deduces that Kira has inside knowledge of the Japanese police investigation, being led by Light’s father, Soichiro Yagami. Under the suspicion that «Kira» could have family ties with members of the «Kira» investigation, L assigns a team of FBI agents to monitor the families of those connected with the investigation and L learns enough to designate Light as the prime suspect. Around this time, Light graduates from high school to college. L recruits Light into the Kira Task Force, with each trying to get the other to reveal crucial information.

Actress-model Misa Amane, having obtained a second Death Note from a shinigami named Rem, makes a deal with Rem for shinigami eyes, which reveal the names of anyone whose face she sees, at the cost of half her lifespan. Seeking to have Light become her boyfriend, Misa uncovers Light’s identity as the original Kira, but Light has another motive: he intends to use Misa’s shinigami eyes to discern L’s true name. L deduces that Misa is likely the second Kira and detains her. Rem threatens to kill Light if he does not find a way to save Misa. Light arranges a scheme in which he and Misa temporarily lose their memories of the Death Note, and has Rem pass the Death Note to a less morally driven individual, Kyosuke Higuchi of the Yotsuba Group. With memories of the Death Note erased, Light joins the investigation and, together with L, deduce Higuchi’s identity and arrest him. Light regains his memories and uses the Death Note to kill Higuchi, regaining possession of the book. After restoring Misa’s memories, Light instructs her to begin killing as Kira, causing L to cast suspicion on Misa. With Light insinuating the investigation would lead to Misa’s capture and execution, Rem realizes Light’s plan all along was to have her sacrifice herself to kill L, as a shinigami may not kill others to prevent a human’s death. After Rem kills L, she disintegrates and Light obtains her Death Note. The task force does not announce L’s death and agrees to have Light operate as the new L. With Light working as both L and Kira, the investigation stalls but crime rates continue to drop as he no longer has a threat of capture.

Four years later, cults that worship Kira have risen. Two young men, raised as potential successors to L, are revealed: Near and Mello. Mello joins the mafia whilst Near joins forces with the US government. Mello kidnaps Director Takimura, who Light then kills, so Mello, kidnaps Light’s sister and exchanges her for the Death Note, using it to kill almost all of Near’s team. A Shinigami named Sidoh goes to Earth to reclaim his notebook and ends up meeting and helping Mello. Light uses the notebook to find Mello’s hideout, but Soichiro is killed in the mission. Mello and Near exchange information and Mello kidnaps Mogi and gives him to Near. Kira supporters attack Near’s group, but they escape. Aizawa becomes suspicious in Light and meets with Near. As suspicion falls again on Misa, Light passes Misa’s Death Note to a fervent supporter of Kira, Teru Mikami. He also appoints newscaster Kiyomi Takada as Kira’s public spokesperson. Near has Mikami followed whilst Aizawa’s suspicions are confirmed. Realizing that Takada is connected to Kira, Mello kidnaps her. Takada kills Mello but is killed by Light. Near arranges a meeting between Light and the current Kira Task Force members. Light tries to have Mikami kill Near as well as all the task force members, but Mikami’s Death Note fails to work, having been replaced with a decoy. Perusing the names Mikami had written down, only Light’s is missing, which proves Light is Kira. Light is grievously wounded in a scuffle and begs Ryuk to write the names of everyone present. Ryuk instead writes down Light’s name in his Death Note, as he had promised to do the day they met, and Light dies.

One year later, the world has returned to normal and the Kira Taskforce Members are conflicted over whether they made the right decision. Meanwhile, cults worshipping Kira have risen, led by a woman resembling Misa. Three years later, Near, now functioning as the new L, receives word that a new Kira has appeared. Hearing that the new Kira is randomly killing people, Near concludes that the new Kira is an attention-seeker and denounces the new Kira as «boring» and not worth catching. A shinigami named Midora approaches Ryuk and gives him an apple from the human realm, in a bet to see if a random human could become the new Kira, but Midora loses the bet when the human writes his own name in the Death Note after hearing Near’s announcement. Ryuk tells Midora that no human would ever surpass Light as the new Kira.

Production[edit]

Development[edit]

The Death Note concept derived from a rather general concept involving Shinigami and «specific rules».^[6] Author Tsugumi Ohba wanted to create a suspense series because the genre had few suspense series available to the public. After publication of the pilot chapter, the series was not expected to receive approval as a serialized comic. Learning that Death Note had in fact received approval and that Takeshi Obata would create the artwork, Ohba said, he «couldn’t even believe it».^[7] Due to positive reactions, Death Note became a serialized manga series.^[8]

«Thumbnails» incorporating dialogue, panel layout and basic drawings were created, reviewed by an editor and sent to Takeshi Obata, the illustrator, with the script finalized and the panel layout «mostly done». Obata then determined the expressions and «camera angles» and created the final artwork. Ohba concentrated on the tempo and the amount of dialogue, making the text as concise as possible. Ohba commented that «reading too much exposition» would be tiring and would negatively affect the atmosphere and «air of suspense». The illustrator had significant artistic licence to interpret basic descriptions, such as «abandoned building»,^[9] as well as the design of the Death Notes themselves.

When Ohba was deciding on the plot, he said, he visualized the panels while relaxing on his bed, drinking tea, or walking around his house. Often the original draft was too long and needed to be refined in order to finalize the desired «tempo» and «flow». The writer remarked on his preference for reading the previous «two or four» chapters carefully to ensure consistency in the story.^[6]

The typical weekly production schedule consisted of five days of creating and thinking and one day using a pencil to insert dialogue into rough drafts; after this point, the writer faxed any initial drafts to the editor. The illustrator’s weekly production schedule involved one day with the thumbnails, layout, and pencils and one day with additional penciling and inking. Obata’s assistants usually worked for four days and Obata spent one day to finish the artwork. Obata said that when he took a few extra days to color the pages, this «messed with the schedule». In contrast, the writer took three or four days to create a chapter on some occasions, while on others he took a month. Obata said that his schedule remained consistent except when he had to create color pages.^[10]

Ohba and Obata rarely met in person during the creation of the serialized manga; instead, the two met with the editor. The first time they met in person was at an editorial party in January 2004. Obata said that, despite the intrigue, he did not ask his editor about Ohba’s plot developments as he anticipated the new thumbnails every week.^[7] The two did not discuss the final chapters with one another and continued talking only with the editor. Ohba said that when he asked the editor if Obata had «said anything» about the story and plot, the editor responded: «No, nothing».^[9]

Ohba claims that the series ended more or less in the manner that he intended for it to end; he considered the idea of L defeating Light Yagami with Light dying, but instead chose to use the «Yellow Box Warehouse» ending. According to Ohba, the details had been set «from the beginning».^[8] The writer wanted an ongoing plot line instead of an episodic series because Death Note was serialized and its focus was intended to be on a cast with a series of events triggered by the Death Note.^[11] 13: How to Read states that the humorous aspects of Death Note originated from Ohba’s «enjoyment of humorous stories».^[12]

When Ohba was asked, during an interview, whether the series was meant to be about enjoying the plot twists and psychological warfare, Ohba responded by saying that this concept was the reason why he was «very happy» to place the story in Weekly Shōnen Jump.^[10]

Concepts[edit]

The notebooks[edit]

The core plot device of the story is the «Death Note» itself, a black notebook with instructions (known as «Rules of the Death Note») written on the inside. When used correctly, it allows anyone to commit a murder, knowing only the victim’s name and face. According to the director of the live-action films, Shusuke Kaneko, «The idea of spirits living in words is an ancient Japanese concept…. In a way, it’s a very Japanese story».^[13]

Artist Takeshi Obata originally thought of the books as «Something you would automatically think was a Death Note». Deciding that this design would be cumbersome, he instead opted for a more accessible college notebook. Death Notes were originally conceived as changing based on time and location, resembling scrolls in ancient Japan, or the Old Testament in medieval Europe. However, this idea was never used.^[14]

Themes[edit]

Writer Tsugumi Ohba had no particular themes in mind for Death Note. When pushed, he suggested: «Humans will all eventually die, so let’s give it our all while we’re alive».^[15] In a 2012 paper, author Jolyon Baraka Thomas characterised Death Note as a psychological thriller released in the wake of the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack, saying that it examines the human tendency to express itself through «horrific» cults.^[16]

Pilot chapter[edit]

The Death Note process began when Ohba brought thumbnails for two concept ideas to Shueisha; Ohba said that the Death Note pilot, one of the concepts, was «received well» by editors and attained positive reactions by readers.^[8] Ohba described keeping the story of the pilot to one chapter as «very difficult», declaring that it took over a month to begin writing the chapter. He added that the story had to revive the killed characters with the Death Eraser and that he «didn’t really care» for that plot device.^[17]

Obata said that he wanted to draw the story after he heard of a «horror story featuring shinigami«.^[7] According to Obata, when he first received the rough draft created by Ohba, he «didn’t really get it» at first, and he wanted to work on the project due to the presence of shinigami and because the work «was dark».^[17] He also said he wondered about the progression of the plot as he read the thumbnails, and if Jump readers would enjoy reading the comic. Obata said that while there is little action and the main character «doesn’t really drive the plot», he enjoyed the atmosphere of the story. He stated that he drew the pilot chapter so that it would appeal to himself.^[17]

Ohba brought the rough draft of the pilot chapter to the editorial department. Obata came into the picture at a later point to create the artwork. They did not meet in person while creating the pilot chapter. Ohba said that the editor told him he did not need to meet with Obata to discuss the pilot; Ohba said «I think it worked out all right».^[7]

Anime adaptation[edit]

Tetsurō Araki, the director, said that he wished to convey aspects that «made the series interesting» instead of simply «focusing on morals or the concept of justice». Toshiki Inoue, the series organizer, agreed with Araki and added that, in anime adaptations, there is a lot of importance in highlighting the aspects that are «interesting in the original». He concluded that Light’s presence was «the most compelling» aspect; therefore the adaptation chronicles Light’s «thoughts and actions as much as possible». Inoue noted that to best incorporate the manga’s plot into the anime, he «tweak[ed] the chronology a bit» and incorporated flashbacks that appear after the openings of the episodes; he said this revealed the desired tensions. Araki said that, because in an anime the viewer cannot «turn back pages» in the manner that a manga reader can, the anime staff ensured that the show clarified details. Inoue added that the staff did not want to get involved with every single detail, so the staff selected elements to emphasize. Due to the complexity of the original manga, he described the process as «definitely delicate and a great challenge». Inoue admitted that he placed more instructions and notes in the script than usual. Araki added that because of the importance of otherwise trivial details, this commentary became crucial to the development of the series.^[18]

Araki said that when he discovered the Death Note anime project, he «literally begged» to join the production team; when he joined he insisted that Inoue should write the scripts. Inoue added that, because he enjoyed reading the manga, he wished to use his effort.^[18]

Media[edit]

Manga[edit]

Death Note, written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata, was serialized in Shueisha’s shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from December 1, 2003,^[19] to May 15, 2006.^[20][21] The series’ 108 chapters were collected into twelve tankōbon volumes by Shueisha, released from April 2, 2004,^[22] to July 4, 2006.^[23] A one-shot chapter, titled «C-Kira Story» (Cキラ編, C-Kira-hen), was published in Weekly Shōnen Jump on February 9, 2008. Set two years after the manga’s epilogue, it sees the introduction of a new Kira and the reactions of the main characters in response to the copycat’s appearance.^[24] Several Death Note yonkoma (four-panel comics) appeared in Akamaru Jump. The yonkoma were written to be humorous. The Akamaru Jump issues that printed the comics include 2004 Spring, 2004 Summer, 2005 Winter, and 2005 Spring. In addition Weekly Shōnen Jump Gag Special 2005 included some Death Note yonkoma in a Jump Heroes Super 4-Panel Competition.^[17] Shueisha re-released the series in seven bunkoban volumes from March 18 to August 19, 2014.^[25][26] On October 4, 2016, all 12 original manga volumes and the February 2008 one-shot were released in a single All-in-One Edition, consisting of 2,400 pages in a single book.^[27][28]

In April 2005, Viz Media announced that they had licensed the series for English release in North America.^[29] The twelve volumes were released from October 10, 2005 to July 3, 2007.^[30][31] The manga was re-released in a six-volume omnibus edition, dubbed «Black Edition».^[32][33] The volumes were released from December 28, 2010 to November 1, 2011.^[34][35] The All-in-One Edition was released in English on September 6, 2017, resulting in the February 2008 one-shot being released in English for the first time.^[36]

In addition, a guidebook for the manga was also released on October 13, 2006. It was named Death Note 13: How to Read and contained data relating to the series, including character profiles of almost every character that is named, creator interviews, behind the scenes info for the series and the pilot chapter that preceded Death Note. It also reprinted all of the yonkoma serialized in Akamaru Jump and the Weekly Shōnen Jump Gag Special 2005.^[37][38] Its first edition could be purchased with a Death Note-themed diorama which includes five finger puppets inspired by Near’s toys. The five finger puppets are Kira, L, Misa, Mello, and Near. In North America, 13: How to Read was released on February 19, 2008.^[39]

In the June 2019 issue of Shueisha’s Jump Square it was announced that a new one-shot chapter of Death Note would be published. Part of the complete manuscript debuted at the «30th Work Anniversary Takeshi Obata Exhibition: Never Complete» event which ran in Tokyo from July 13 to August 12, 2019.^[40] Titled «Death Note: Special One-Shot», the entire 87-page chapter was published in the March issue of Jump Square on February 4, 2020 and on Viz’s website.^[41][42] A collected volume titled Death Note: Short Stories (DEATH NOTE短編集, Desu Nōto Tanpenshū), which includes the February 2008 one-shot chapter, the «Special One-Shot» (re-titled «a-Kira Story» (aキラ編, a-Kira-hen), the series’ pilot chapter and the «L: The Wammy’s House»/»L: One Day» one-shot chapters and more, was released on February 4, 2021.^[43][44][45]

Light novels[edit]

A light novel adaptation of the series has been written by Nisio Isin, called Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases. The novel was released by Shueisha on August 1, 2006.^[46][47] It serves as a prequel to the manga series, with Mello narrating the story of L’s first encounter with Naomi Misora during the Los Angeles «BB Serial Murder Case» mentioned in volume 2 of the manga. Beside Naomi’s character, the novel focuses on how L works and one of the criminals L has to chase down. Insight was given into Watari’s orphanage and how the whole system of geniuses such as L, Mello, Beyond Birthday, Matt and Near were put to work. Viz released the novel in English on February 19, 2008.^[48] The film L: Change the World was also adapted into a light novel with the same name on December 25, 2007, by «M»,^[49] While the novel is similar to the film, there are many significant changes to the plot (for example, Near is not a Thai boy, but the same Near that appears in the manga). It also reveals more information about L and his past. Viz released it on October 20, 2009.^[50]

Anime[edit]

The Death Note anime, directed by Tetsurō Araki and animated by Madhouse, began airing on Nippon TV on October 4, 2006, and finished its run on June 27, 2007, totaling 37 episodes.^[51] The series aired on the network «every Tuesday at 0:56», which is effectively Wednesday.^[52] The series was co-produced by Madhouse, Nippon Television, Shueisha, D.N. Dream Partners and VAP.^[53] In North America, the series was licensed by Viz for residents in the United States to use «Download-to-Own» and «Download-to-Rent» services while it was still airing in Japan. This move was seen as «significant because it marked the first time a well known Japanese anime property was made legally available in the
United States for domestic audiences to download while the title was still airing on Japanese television».^[54] The downloadable episodes contained the original Japanese audio track and English subtitles,^[55] and were made available through IGN’s Windows-only Direct2Drive service.^[56] DVDs of the series have also been released,^[55] containing both an English dubbed audio track, produced by Ocean Productions, and the original Japanese audio track with optional English subtitles.^[57] Viz announced at Anime Expo 2007 that the first DVD was officially released on November 20, 2007, in both regular and special editions,^[58] and also confirmed at Comic-Con International 2007 that the first 15,000 copies of each DVD contains collectible figures.^[59]

Death Note was slated to make its North American television premiere in Canada, as part of YTV’s Bionix programming block, on September 7, 2007.^[60] However, the show was removed from the schedule at the last minute^[61] and the Canadian premiere was pushed back to October 26, 2007, at 10:00 p.m. The series premiered in the U.S. on October 20, 2007, at 12:00 a.m. on Adult Swim^[62] and ran until January 10, 2010, when its contract expired.^[63] The last episode aired on YTV, July 4, 2008, and would later air on Adult Swim two days later. The show was removed from YTV’s schedule on July 5, 2008, with its last airing being a rerun of the final episode at 1:30 a.m. ET. Soon after, Bionix became a 2-hour block on Saturday nights.^[64] The show also streamed online free on Adult Swim Video, with a new episode available every Saturday afternoon, on the day of its broadcast premiere.^[65] On July 26, 2017, Starz announced that they would be offering episodes of the series for their Video on Demand service starting August 1, 2017.^[66]

A two-hour animated Death Note Relight: Visions of a God (DEATH NOTE リライト·幻視する神, Desu Nōto Riraito: Genshisuru kami) TV special aired on Nippon Television in Japan on August 31, 2007, at 8:00 p.m. It is a recap which takes place after the series end, where a shinigami approaches Ryuk in the shinigami realm in order to learn more about the human world. Instead, Ryuk tells him of all the events leading up to the last story arc, about Light Yagami and his rival L. Originally, this special was advertised as a retelling told from Ryuk’s point of view, but it does not give a different point of view from what was originally told. However, it contains updated dialog, as well as a few new scenes.^[67]

The Japanese broadcaster NTV aired the Death Note: Relight: L’s Successors (DEATH NOTE リライト2 Lを継ぐ者, Desu Nōto Riraito 2: L o Tsugu Mono) special on August 22, 2008. Like the first special, this new compilation summarized a part of the 2006–2007 anime television series. Specifically, it recounted the final half of the suspenseful supernatural story, including the investigators Near and Mello’s confrontations with the vigilante Kira.^[68] This version features more updates than the previous one, most notably omission of the mafia plot.

Soundtracks[edit]

Several soundtracks for the series have been released. The music from the anime was composed by Yoshihisa Hirano and Hideki Taniuchi, while the CDs were also published by VAP. The first one was Death Note Original Soundtrack, which was released in Japan on December 21, 2006. It contains music from the series with the first opening and ending themes are sung by the Japanese band Nightmare in the TV size format.^[69] Death Note Original Soundtrack II was first released in Japan on March 21, 2007. It features the new opening and closing themes by Maximum the Hormone in the TV size format.^[70] The third CD, Death Note Original Soundtrack III was released on June 27, 2007. The tracks 1–21 were composed and arranged by Taniuchi, while the tracks 22–28 were composed and arranged by Hirano. The album features one track sung by Aya Hirano, who was also the Japanese voice actress of Misa Amane in the anime series. Also appearing on this soundtrack is the ending theme Coda〜Death Note, which can be heard at the end of the final episode of the anime as the credits are shown.^[71]

Several soundtracks have also been released for the live action films. Sound of Death Note is a soundtrack featuring music from the first Death Note film composed and arranged by Kenji Kawai. It was released on June 17, 2006, by VAP.^[72] Sound of Death Note the Last name is the soundtrack from the second Death Note film, Death Note the Last name. It was released on November 2, 2006.^[73] Death Note Tribute is a tribute album dedicated to the live action film Death Note. Published by BMG Japan on June 21, 2006, Japan, it contains 15 tracks performed by various artists, such as Shikao Suga, M-Flo, Buck-Tick, and Aya Matsuura. The soundtrack came with a cosplay Death Note notebook.^[74] Another tribute album is The Songs for Death Note the movie〜the Last name Tribute dedicated to the second film. Published by Sony Music Entertainment Japan on December 20, 2006, it contains 14 tracks performed by various artists, such as Orange Range, Abingdon Boys School, High and Mighty Color, Doping Panda, and Galneryus.^[75]

Live-action films[edit]

Death Note was adapted into a series of live-action films in 2006. The first two films were directed by Shusuke Kaneko and the third was directed by Hideo Nakata and produced by Nippon Television, CG production of all three films were done by Digital Frontier and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. The first film, simply titled Death Note, premiered in Japan on June 17, 2006, and topped the Japanese box office for two weeks, pushing The Da Vinci Code into second place.^[76] The first film briefly played in certain North American theaters on May 20–21, 2008.^[77] The film was broadcast in Canadian theaters for one night only on September 15, 2008. The DVD was released on September 16, 2008, one day after the Canadian showing.^[78] The sequel, Death Note 2: The Last Name, premiered in Japan on November 3, 2006.^[79] It was featured in U.S. theaters in October 2008.^[80]

A spin-off from the films named L: Change the World was released in Japan on February 9, 2008. It is focused on the final 23 days of L’s life, as he solves one final case involving a bio-terrorist group.^[81] Two dubbed versions of the film were shown in the United States on April 29 and 30, 2009.^[82] In August 2016, a three-part miniseries entitled Death Note: New Generation was announced as a part of the Death Note live-action film series and aired in September. It bridges the 10-year gap between the previous films and the then-upcoming 2016 film.^[83][84] A fourth Japanese Death Note film was released in 2016^[85] and featured a cyber-terrorism setting with the inclusion of six Death Notes brought into the human world.^[86] An American adaptation was released on Netflix on August 25, 2017.^[87] The film was directed by Adam Wingard and was written by Charles Parlapanides, Vlas Parlapanides, and Jeremy Slater. It starred Nat Wolff, Lakeith Stanfield, Margaret Qualley, Shea Whigham, Paul Nakauchi, Jason Liles, and Willem Dafoe. It was rated by many negatively after its release, and ranked low on Rotten Tomatoes. A sequel film is reportedly in the works.^[88]

Live-action series[edit]

In April 2015, it was announced that a live-action television series based on Death Note manga would begin airing from July 2015 on NTV.^[89] Masataka Kubota stars as Light Yagami and Kento Yamazaki as L in the series.^[90]

In July 2022, it was announced that the Duffer Brothers are producing a new live-action series adaptation for Netflix.^[91] In October 2022, it was announced that Halia Abdel-Meguid would write and executive produce the series.^[92][93]

Video games[edit]

A Death Note video game developed and published by Konami for the Nintendo DS, titled Death Note: Kira Game (デスノート キラゲーム, Desu Nōto Kira Gēmu), was released on February 15, 2007.^[94] Kira Game is a strategy game where the player takes on the role of Kira or L. These are just titles, as any character can be Kira or L. The player will attempt to deduce who their enemy is (Kira will try to uncover L’s identity and vice versa). This will play out in three phases: investigation, where the player will discuss the case and clues with other characters; voting, where each member of the investigation team casts a vote on who they suspect is L or Kira based on the player’s performance in the previous phase; L/Kira, where the player can either focus their investigation on one member to see if they are Kira (L part), or force a member off of the team (Kira part).^[95] A sequel to the game, Death Note: Successors to L (デスノート Lを継ぐ者, Desu Nōto Eru o Tsugu Mono), was released in Japan on July 12, 2007. The storyline is based on the second part of the manga, featuring characters such as Mello and Near.^[95]

A third game, L the Prologue to Death Note -Spiraling Trap- (L the proLogue to DEATH NOTE -螺旋の罠-, L the proLogue to DEATH NOTE -Rasen no Wana-), was released for the Nintendo DS in Japan on February 7, 2008.^[95][96] The player assumes the role of a rookie FBI agent who awakens in a strange hotel and attempts to escape with the help of L, who provides assistance via an in-game PDA. The story is set before the Kira investigation in the original series.^[96] Several characters from Death Note appear in Jump Super Stars and Jump Ultimate Stars, a fighting game featuring multiple characters from Weekly Shōnen Jump titles. Light, Ryuk, and L appear in Jump Super Stars as support characters. Misa, Near, and Mello are added as support characters in Jump Ultimate Stars as well.^[97][98] The 2019 video game Jump Force features Light and Ryuk as non-playable characters, playing a key role in the game’s story mode.^[99]

Musical[edit]

In 2015, a musical adaptation of the manga called Death Note: The Musical ran in both Japan and South Korea. It was originally composed in English by Broadway composer Frank Wildhorn, with lyrics by Jack Murphy and book by Ivan Menchell, though no English-language production has been announced as of September 2017.^[100] The original Japanese production, produced by Japanese talent agency HoriPro [ja], ran from 6 to April 29, 2015, and stars Kenji Urai and Hayato Kakizawa [ja] double-cast as Light Yagami, and Teppei Koike as L.^[101] A Korean production of the same musical ran from June 11 to August 11, 2015, in South Korea, starring musical actor Hong Kwang-ho and JYJ member and musical actor Kim Junsu.^[102][103]

Reception[edit]

Manga[edit]

As of April 2015, the Death Note manga had over 30 million copies in circulation.^[104] On ICv2’s «Top 10 Shonen Properties Q2 2009», Death Note was the third best-selling manga property in North America.^[105] The series ranked second on Takarajimasha’s Kono Manga ga Sugoi! list of best manga of 2006 and 2007 for male readers.^[106] It was nominated for the 38th Seiun Awards in the Best Comic category in 2007.^[107] The manga received the Grand Prize of Best Manga and Best Screenplay at the Japan Expo Awards 2007.^[108] The series won the 2008 Eagle Award for Favourite Manga as voted by UK fans.^[109] According to a survey conducted in 2007 by the Ministry of culture of Japan, occupies the 10th place among the best manga of all time.^[110] It also received several nominations such as Best Manga at the 2006 American Anime Awards,^[111][112] the 2007 Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize,^[113] an Official Selection at Angoulême International Comics Festival 2008,^[114] and Obata was nominated for Best Penciller/Inker at the 2008 Eisner Awards.^[115] In 2007, the first three volumes of Death Note were on the American Library Association’s 2007 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten list.^[116]

Douglas Wolk of Salon said that a rumor circulated stating that the creators intended to create Death Note to last half as long as its actual run and Ohba and Obata had been persuaded to lengthen the storyline when Death Note‘s popularity increased, noting that the rumor «makes sense, since about halfway through the series, there’s a point that seems like a natural ending». In addition, he said that fans wrote «thousands» of Death Note fan fiction stories and posted them on the internet.^[117] In 2006, Japanese fans pointed out the similarities between Death Note and the 1973 one-shot manga The Miraculous Notebook (不思議な手帖) by Shigeru Mizuki. Comipress reported that the only difference between the story and Death Note is that there are no shinigamis.^[118]

Anime News Network writer Zac Bertschy called Death Note a «surprisingly gripping and original suspense tale that raises a handful of interesting questions about morality». He noted that the difference between the series and other manga from the same demographic was very big due to the murders the main character commits as well as how he hides his identity of Kira. Although Bertschy mentioned some manga readers will be surprised with the dark themes of Death Note, he praised the series for its «great art, great story, [and] compelling characters».^[119] Briana Lawrence from the same website stated that what makes Death Note so interesting is that there is no villain, «instead it had two opposing sides that both believe in the same thing: justice». She felt that once vital characters fading into the background, the ending brings back what the fans loved about the first volume and the supporting cast are «given a chance to shine». She also mentioned that the epilogue made no mention of what happens with Misa Amane and how Near and Mello were still treated like parts of L.^[120] Julie Rosato from Mania Entertainment found the story to be very entertaining, having liked Light’s development in the story and L’s introduction as well as how the latter starts suspecting the former’s identity. Additionally, she praised the story as it is «building a climax» with each detail introduced in the first chapter, making the reader look forward to upcoming chapters.^[121] Jolyon Baraka Thomas, in a Japanese Journal of Religious Studies article, describes the manga as having a «somber narrative» with a «dark cast». Obata’s art is «[rendered] in stark strokes characterized—fittingly—by a complex interplay of light and shadow».^[16]

Anime[edit]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the show holds an approval rating of 100%, based on 14 reviews, with an average rating of 8.5/10. The website’s critical consensus reads: «Death Note is an exceptional anime that poses profound questions about justice and murder, all while delivering a supremely satisfying tale of tactical one-upmanship between a detective and killer.»^[122] The Death Note anime was one of the series to win Best TV Anime at the 2007 Tokyo International Anime Fair.^[123] The anime was commended with Tom S. Pepirium of IGN saying that Death Note‘s «heavy serialized nature» is what «makes the show so engaging and discussion worthy».^[124] Pepirium, saying that translating Death Note is «no small task», stated that Stephen Hedley created an English dub with «nothing clunky». He added that Karl Willems, director of the dub, assembled a «stunning voice cast of professionals» with a «solid tone minus some of the cheesy yelling and screaming of other dubs».^[125] On the NPR show Fresh Air, John Powers said that Death Note is «at least as addictive as a show like Lost«.^[126] It was also listed as the 51st best animated show in IGN’s Top 100 Animated Series.^[127] Hyper wrote:

Running over thirty-seven 20 minutes episodes, the anime sticks much closer to the manga so takes a far more languid approach to storytelling, better fleshing out the fantastic characters of Light and his nemesis, L. Light in particular is one of the most layered characters to appear in anime in a long time.^[128]

Jacob Hope Chapman from Anime News Network praised Teru Mikami’s role as bloody and flashy as ever better than that of Near, Mello, and Misa.^[129]

Light novels[edit]

A.E. Sparrow of IGN reviewed the novel Another Note and gave it a 9.5 out of 10. Sparrow said that the author understood «what made these characters click so well» and «captures everything that made the manga the compelling read that it is». Sparrow said that fans of Death Note who read Another Note will «find a welcome home» in Nisio Isin’s work which «adds a few more fun layers» to the Death Note franchise.^[130] The novelization of L: Change the World became the second top-selling light novel in Japan during 2008.^[131]

Legacy and controversies[edit]

The series release outside Japan was met with a wave of copycat crimes. According to Wired magazine, Death Note «[turned] Japan’s most-popular print medium into an internationally controversial topic that has parents wondering whether they should prohibit their kids from reading manga entirely». Live-action director Shusuke Kaneko commented in response, «If preventing them from seeing this movie is going to make kids better, then why not prevent them from watching all bad news?».^[13]

In regards to the 2019 The Twilight Zone episode «The Comedian», Rosie Knight of The Hollywood Reporter stated that «Samir’s story appears to take a large influence from … Death Note.»^[132] The Simpsons has parodied Death Note in both comic books and animation with the 2008 comic book story «Murder, He Wrote» in The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror #14,^[133][134] where Bart receives the notebook from the Ryuk-ified ghost of Krusty the Clown, and the «Death Tome» segment of the 2022 television episode «Treehouse of Horror XXXIII», with Lisa receiving the titular book.^[135]

Bans and attempted bans[edit]

Early in 2005, school officials in Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning (People’s Republic of China), banned Death Note.^[136] The immediate cause was that students had been altering notebooks to resemble Death Notes and then writing the names of acquaintances, enemies, and teachers in the books.^[137][138] The ban was designed to protect the «physical and mental health»^[139] of students from horror material that «misleads innocent children and distorts their mind and spirit».^[140] Jonathan Clements has suggested that the Chinese authorities acted partly against «superstition», but also against illegal, pirate publishers of Death Note.^[141] The ban has been extended to other Chinese cities including Beijing,^[142][143] Shanghai and Lanzhou in Gansu Province.^[144] Legally published Chinese-language versions of Death Note are published in Hong Kong.^[141] On June 12, 2015, the Chinese Ministry of Culture listed Death Note among 38 anime and manga titles banned in China.^[145]

In 2007, the education bureau in Pingtung County, Taiwan asked teachers to pay attention to any negative influence on elementary school students reading the manga.^[146] In May 2010, the Albuquerque Public Schools in New Mexico held a hearing to ban the Death Note manga from their district’s schools; it was unanimously voted down.^[147] After volumes of Death Note were found at the February 2013 suicide of a 15-year-old girl in Yekaterinburg, Russia, a local parents’ group began campaigning to regulate all media based on the series, saying that it had an adverse effect on the minds of children.^[148] In March 2014, investigators concluded that the manga did not cause the girl to commit suicide.^[149]

Imitations of the series[edit]

There have been various imitations around the world of the premise of Death Note. At least one instance was linked to a crime — on September 28, 2007, two notes written with Latin characters stating «Watashi wa Kira dess» [sic], a mis-transliteration of «I am Kira» (私はキラです, Watashi wa Kira desu),^[150] were found near the partial remains of a Caucasian male in Belgium. The case has been called the «Mangamoord» (Dutch for Manga Murder) in Belgian media.^[151] It was not until 2010 that four people were arrested in connection to the murder.^[152] A senior at the Franklin Military Academy in Richmond, Virginia, United States was suspended in 2007 after being caught possessing a replica «Death Note» notebook with the names of fellow students. The school’s principal wrote a letter to the student’s parents linking to an unofficial website where visitors can write names and circumstances of death for people they want to die.^[153]

In South Carolina in March 2008, school officials seized a «Death Note» notebook from a Hartsville Middle School student. District officials linked the notebook to the anime/manga. The notebook listed seven students’ names. The school planned a disciplinary hearing and contacted the seven students’ parents.^[154] In Gadsden, Alabama in April 2008, two sixth-grade boys were arrested for possession of a «Death Note» that listed names of several staff members and fellow students. According to Etowah County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Lanny Handy, the notebook was discovered the previous afternoon by a staffer. The students were suspended from the county’s schools, pending a juvenile court hearing. The students, their parents, and school officials had met with Handy and a junior probation officer.^[155] In Gig Harbor, Washington, one middle school student was expelled and three were suspended on May 14, 2008, for having 50 names in their own «Death Note» book, including President George W. Bush.^[156]

It was reported in September 2009, that a Year Eight boy in Sydney, Australia, created a «Death Note» that along with names contained a «battle plan» detailing where bombs could be placed inside his school.^[157] In December 2009, two students at an elementary school in Oklahoma were disciplined for a «Death Note» with the names and descriptions of deaths of two girls that had angered them.^[158] A Michigan middle school student was suspended indefinitely in March 2010 for a «Death Note».^[159] In May 2010, a middle school student in Avonworth School District in Pennsylvania was suspended for a «Death Note» with names of fellow students and pop singer Justin Bieber.^[147] In February 2015, a fifth-grade student of an elementary school near Pittsburgh was suspended for owning a «Death Note» and writing other students’ names in it.^[160]

See also[edit]

• Now: Zero — A short story by J. G. Ballard with a similar premise to Death Note.

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Official website (in Japanese)
• Viz Media’s Death Note website
• Madman Entertainment’s Death Note website
• Death Note (manga) at Anime News Network’s encyclopedia

Death Note (デスノート Дэсу Но:то, рус. Тетрадь смерти) — ставшая культовой японская манга, придуманная Цугуми Обой и нарисованная Такэси Обатой, а также выпущенные на её основе анимационные сериал и фильмы, игровые фильмы, лайт-новел и видеоигры.

В основу сюжета легла философская идея: «Можно ли добиться блага для одних людей путем убийств других?». Автор придумал оригинальную историю, в которой отражается суть того, что бы могло быть с миром, если бы человек мог безнаказанно убивать одних людей, чтобы сделать лучше жизнь других. Цугуми Ооба рассматривает реакцию как самого убийцы, его мотивы и желания, так и реакцию общества на действия убийцы.

Впервые «Тетрадь смерти» появилась перед читателями в виде манги в декабре 2003 года в виде пилотного тома и в феврале 2004 в качестве начала основного сюжета в журнале Weekly Shonen Jump. Манга продолжала выходить вплоть до мая 2006 года и содержала 108 глав, позднее вышедших в 12 томах (танкобонах) в Японии. Позднее вышел 13 том, своебразная энциклопедия по миру «Тетради смерти» от авторов. Идея манги легла в основу двух парных игровых фильмов, вышедших в кинотеатрах Японии в июне («Тетрадь смерти») и ноябре 2006 года («Тетрадь смерти: Последнее имя»). Оба фильма частично используют сюжет манги, и в большинстве своём — самостоятельные произведения. В феврале 2008 года вышел ещё один игровой фильм «L: Изменить Мир», являющийся спин-оффом первых двух фильмов. В августе 2006 года по мотивам манги вышла книга авторства Исина Нисио — «Тетрадь смерт — Другая тетрадь: Лос-Анджелесские убийства BB». С октября 2006 по июнь 2007 года на телеканале Nippon TV прошла трансляция 37-серийного аниме-сериала. 31 августа 2007 года на том же телеканале Nippon TV показали «Тетрадь смерти. Перезапись 1: Видение бога» — специальную полнометражную версия аниме-сериала, представляющая собой компиляцию 1-25 серий, дополненную новыми сценами. А 22 августа 2008 года вышла ещё одна специальная полнометражная версия аниме-сериала «Тетрадь смерти. Перезапись 2: Преемники L», представляющая собой компиляцию 26-37 серий, с несколькими новыми сценами.

10 января 2007 года аниме и манга «Тетрадь смерти» были лицензированы для издания на территории США компанией VIZ Media. Из-за огромной популярности «Тетради смерти» этот факт не остановил многих фансаберов.
12 октября 2007 компания «Мега-Аниме» объявила о приобретении лицензии на российское издание аниме-сериала «Death Note». Трансляция прошла с 20 октября по 29 декабря на канале 2×2.

В июне 2008 года компания «Комикс-Арт» объявила о приобретении лицензии на российское издание манги «Death Note». Первый том «Скука» вышел в начале 2009 года. По состоянию на сентябрь 2012 года на русском языке выпущены все 12 томов.

Сюжет[]

Лайт Ягами — лучший ученик Японии, сын полицейского, который с детства хотел пойти по стопам отца, чтобы искоренить преступность не только в Японии, но и во всём мире. Однажды, когда одному из синигами (богов смерти) Рюку стало скучно, он подкинул Тетрадь смерти — совершенное орудие убийства — на Землю. Лайту, нашедшему тетрадь, выпал случай изменить мир быстро и безнаказанно. Он стал вершить своё правосудие: убивать преступников.

Торжество Лайта над преступностью было недолгим, ибо совсем скоро странными смертями преступников заинтересовался Интерпол и начал расследование, подключив к нему не только весь мир, но и самого востребованного детектива, всегда скрывающегося под псевдонимом L (Эл). L начинает настоящую войну с Лайтом, которому в это время уже дали прозвище Кира (латиницей キラ, Kira — убийца). Противостояние гениев — лучшего ученика Японии с одной стороны и лучшего детектива в мире с другой — начинает историю «Тетради смерти».

Лайт не может совершать ошибки, потому что если его поймают, он не сможет вершить своё правосудие и получит смертный приговор. Его оппонент тоже не может сделать ни одной ошибки, потому что в противном случае Кира убьёт его. В это противостояние, к тому же, вмешиваются сверхъестественные силы в лице богов смерти, а также другие последователи Киры и сторонники L.

Персонажи[]

Основная статья: Персонажи

Персонажем, вокруг которого разворачивается действие манги, аниме и фильмов «Тетрадь смерти», является Ягами Лайт. Не менее важными действующими лицами являются те, кто активно помогают ему: второй Кира Аманэ Миса, девушка, а позже невеста Ягами Лайта; ярый сторонник, а позднее и правая рука Киры, Миками Тэру; однокурсница Лайта, а позднее телеведущая и глашатай Киры, Такада Киёми — и те, кто ему противостоят: детектив L; Ватари, помощник детектива; его преемник Ниа; соперник Ниа, решивший поймать Киру своими силами, Мэлло; Мэтт, друг Мэлло ещё со времён приюта Вамми; японская полиция, во главе с отцом Лайта — Ягами Соитиро, занимающиеся расследованием дела Киры.

Тетрадь Смерти[]

Основная статья: Тетрадь смерти (предмет)

Тетрадь смерти — это вещь, с помощью которой боги смерти продлевают себе жизнь. Тетрадь станет частью реального мира, когда коснётся земли. Если бог смерти не подберёт тетрадь быстрее, чем человек, то тетрадь станет собственностью этого человека до тех пор, пока он не умрёт, или же не откажется от тетради. Человек также может передать эту тетрадь любому другому человеку, но тогда бог смерти стирает у него воспоминания об этой тетради и сопутствующих её владению событиях. Тетрадь смерти содержит множество правил, которые могут интерпретироваться по-разному: боги смерти, которым тетради нужны только для продления своей жизни, даже не подозревают о некоторых её (тетради) возможностях. (Правила, указанные ниже, написаны Рюком в качестве инструкции.)

Правила Тетради смерти[]

• Человек, чьё имя будет записано в тетради смерти, умрёт.
• Тетрадь не подействует, если пишущий имя не будет знать лица того, кто должен умереть. Таким образом, людям с одинаковыми именами ничего не грозит.
• Если причина смерти написана в течение 40 секунд после записи имени, то так оно и случится.
• Если причина смерти не указана, через 40 секунд указанный человек умрёт от сердечного приступа.
• После написания причины смерти, есть ещё 6 минут и 40 секунд (всего 400 секунд) для написания обстоятельства смерти.
• После отказа от тетради человек забывает все связанное с ней.

Примечание: В Японии числительное 4 считается несчастливым и связанным со смертью, из-за созвучия со словом «си» — «смерть».

Медиа[]

Манга[]

Основная статья: Тетрадь смерти (манга)

Мангу можно разделить на две части, между которыми авторы сделали семинедельный перерыв (почти два месяца). Манга стартовала 1 декабря 2003 года в журнале Weekly Shonen Jump, новые главы появлялись каждую неделю, в каждой главе около 20 страниц.

Первая часть манги состоит из 59 глав — в них читатель ближе знакомится с главным героем, его принципами, а также с его главным противником. Первая часть в основном посвящена сражению Лайта и L, а также обстоятельствам, предшествующим ему. На сторону Лайта встаёт Миса — влюбившаяся в Лайта девушка, заполучившая вторую Тетрадь Смерти. На сторону же L встаёт ФБР и японская полиция, преследующая те же цели — поймать загадочного убийцу Киру. Лайту приходится противостоять не только L, но и даже собственному отцу, который является главой полиции. Тем не менее Лайт не останавливается ни перед чем, он виртуозно использует Тетрадь смерти и манипулирует синигами, в результате чего в конце концов одерживает победу — L погибает.

Вторая часть манги появилась после некоторого перерыва, за который авторы манги дали большое количество интервью и рассказали вкратце о том, что же ждёт читателя, хотя так и не ответили на вопрос: «Поймают ли Киру?». Вторая часть вбирает в себя противостояние Лайта и наследников L. Как оказалось, L был не единственным, кто обладал незаурядными умственными способностями. Однако, второго L не существует и не может существовать, он единственный и неповторимый, поэтому у L не один, а два наследника, которые только действуя в паре могут сравниться с L. Однако судьба поворачивается таким образом, что между двумя наследниками L «пробегает чёрная кошка». Никто из них не хочет делить славу L с другим, и поэтому их пути расходятся. Они оба начинают войну с Кирой, но каждый со своей стороны. Авторы не стали параллельно в каждой главе описывать действия одного и второго. Во второй части можно увидеть разделение — первая половина осталась за Мэлло, вторая за Ниа. Каждый из них хочет поймать Киру, и каждого из них хочет убить Кира.

Путеводитель[]

Тетрадь Смерти: Как Читать — официальный путеводитель по всем главам манги. Он является также тринадцатым томом манги, хотя в нём нет никакого нового повествования, а рассказ ведётся об уже свершившихся событиях, дополняя их, объясняя и рассматривая с другой точки зрения. Из путеводителя можно узнать новые интересные факты, в частности, настоящее имя L (от Lawliet — беззаконный), которое ни в манге, ни в аниме, не упоминалось. Также раскрыты дальнейшие судьбы героев, детали мира богов смерти и многие другие моменты, такие как данные персонажей: даты рождения и смерти, рост и вес, группу крови и что персонаж любит и что не любит. Включены комментарии авторов о процессе создания манги и их отношении к персонажам и событиям в сюжете. Путеводитель — это только дополнение манги, вышедшее, в большинстве своём, только для фанатов.

Пилотный выпуск[]

Пилотный выпуск вышел в составе 36 номера журнала Weekly Shonen Jump 2003 год. Также он вошёл в состав Путеводителя. В единственной главе этой манги показаны первоначальные задумки авторов (вроде Ластика смерти, который мог оживлять убитых) не вошедшие в официальные тома манги. Главным героем был не лучший ученик Японии — семнадцатилетний Лайт Ягами, а двенадцатилетний мальчик Таро Кагами, над которым издеваются школьные хулиганы и который мстит им с помощью Тетради смерти. Позже черты характера Кагами перешли к Миками Теру. Также бог смерти Рюк показан в нём очень глупым и рассеянным, что идёт вразрез с его привычным образом.

Post Series — One Shot[]

«Post Series — One Shot» — официальное продолжение манги. В единственной главе ведется повествование о возобновлении загадочных преступлений, связанных с Тетрадью смерти. Новый Кира убивает лишь больных стариков, просящих о смерти, за что получает от Ниа прозвище «Дешёвый Кира». В данной ситуации Ниа пытается повести себя как L, в манге раскрывается часть прошлого Мэлло и Ниа в Доме Вамми.

L FILE No. 15[]

В 2008 году вышел артбук по фильму «L: Change the World» под названием «L FILE No. 15». Кроме материалов по кинофильму, в книгу вошли две главы манги, которые являются частью оригинального сюжета манги. Они называются «The Wammy’s House» и «One Day» и созданы Цугуми Обой и Такеси Обатой. В них раскрываются некоторые моменты жизни L: в первой показывается как он в 8 лет попал в приют для одарённых детей «Дом Вамми», во второй — один обычный день из жизни великого детектива.

Аниме[]

Основная статья: Тетрадь смерти (аниме)

Сюжет аниме практически полностью соответствует манге, за исключением того, что некоторые побочные сюжетные линии опущены, а некоторые эпизоды, наоборот, добавлены. Также конец аниме сильно отличается от версии в манге, кроме того, не показаны события эпилога, в котором показаны оставшиеся в живых персонажи спустя год.

Выход DVD в Японии

1. 21 декабря 2006 (эпизоды 1-3).
2. 24 января 2007 (эпизоды 4-6).
3. 21 февраля 2007 (эпизоды 7-9).
4. 21 марта 2007 (эпизоды 10-13).

Тетрадь Смерти — Переписывание: Глазами Бога[]

Основная статья: Тетрадь смерти. Перезапись 1: Видения бога

Death Note Director’s Cut Final Conclusion (Тетрадь смерти: Режиссёрская версия — Финальное заключение) больше известная как Тетрадь Смерти — Переписывание: Глазами Бога — снятая Араки Тэцуро специальная версия аниме-сериала, представляющая собой компиляцию первых 25 серий дополненную несколькими новыми сценами. Фильм начинается и заканчивается сценами из мира богов смерти, где Рюк рассказывает другому богу смерти историю Киры. Из длительных новых сцен также можно отметить похороны L и другую версию первой встречи Лайта и L. Кроме того, фильм раскрывает некоторые новые аспекты существования богов смерти.

Тетрадь Смерти. Перезапись 2: Преемники L[]

Основная статья: Тетрадь смерти. Перезапись 2: Преемники L

Тетрадь смерти — Переписывание: Наследники L — вторая специальная версия аниме сериала Death Note, представляющая собой компиляцию последних 12 серий с дополнением нескольких сцен. Этот фильм начинается с 10-минутного монолога L, в котором он рассказывает всё, что знает о Кире. В этом фильме некоторые сюжетные линии опущены или изменены.

Фильмы[]

На момент выхода первого фильма, манга «Тетрадь Смерти» имела огромную популярность в Японии, поэтому кассовые сборы от первого игрового фильма в Японии, перекрыли (в рамках weekend’а премьеры) кассовые сборы от знаменитого во всём мире фильма «Код да Винчи», который был показан в кинотеатрах в то же время. В России же фильмы попали в категорию артхауса и доступны на данный момент только заинтересованной публике.

Оба фильма вышли на DVD 14 марта 2007 года в 2-х вариантах: каждый из фильмов на отдельном DVD или «полный комплект» (complete set).

• Фильм первый «Тетрадь смерти».
• Фильм второй «Последнее имя».
• «Полный комплект».

В «полный комплект» входят 3 DVD и 1 CD. На первых 2-х DVD — каждый из фильмов, на 3-м — материалы о создании фильмов, на CD — эксклюзивные записи. Так же прилагается буклет.

На всех дисках озвучка только на японском языке и только японские субтитры.

Фильм первый[]

Основная статья: Тетрадь Смерти (фильм)

Через два месяца после выхода последней 108-ой главы манги на экранах Японии появился первый фильм по мотивам манги, из заявленных двух. Фильм не получил никакого особого названия (в отличие от второго фильма), поэтому и был назван лишь «Тетрадь смерти». Над фильмом работали совместно японские, корейские и американские компании, среди которых такая крупная кинокомпания Голливуда, как Warner Bros. Сюжет фильма был достаточно сильно изменён по сравнению с мангой.

В 2013 году компания DVMedia.TV занялась дублированием первого фильма на русский язык. Релиз ожидается в Новогодние праздники.

Тетрадь Смерти: Последнее Имя[]

Основная статья: Тетрадь Смерти: Последнее Имя

Второй фильм был показан в кинотеатрах Японии в том же году, что и первый. Сюжет разворачивается сразу после действий первого фильма, но, как и первый фильм, второй лишь частично снят по манге.

Трейлер ко второму фильму начинается со строк: «Последнее имя — это Лайт; Последнее имя — это L; Последнее имя — это Миса; Последнее имя — это …».

L: Изменить Мир[]

Основная статья: L: Изменить Мир

У L есть 23 дня на то, чтобы отыскать источник опасности и ликвидировать его, и на этот раз ему придётся действовать самому. Также в фильме появляется Ниа, который тут изображён как тёмноволосый тайский мальчик, чудом спасшийся из деревни, зараженной вирусом.

Книги[]

Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases[]

Основная статья: Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases

Книга, написанная Исином Нисио и названная «Тетрадь смерти: Другая тетрадь» (ISBN 4-08-780439-9), представляет собой приквел к оригинальной манге, историю, которая разворачивается до событий основного сюжета. В книге Мэлло выступает рассказчиком и повествует о первой встрече L c Мисорой Наоми в Лос-Анджелесе при раскрытии дела «Серийного убийцы BB», о котором упоминается во втором томе манги и седьмой серии.

L: Change the World[]

Книга является новеллизацией третьего фильма о Тетради смерти «L: Change the World» и вышла в свет за 6 недель до выхода фильма. Некий известный писатель был нанят, чтобы сочинить совершенно оригинальную историю о последних 23 днях гениального детектива L.

Под псевдонимом «M» анонимный автор раскроет некоторые детали сюжета фильма. Псевдоним «M» означает «место, куда попадают люди, использовавшие Тетрадь смерти: бездна (MU)». Несмотря на то, что книга основана на сценарии фильма, сюжет большей частью альтернативен событиям фильма.

• Релиз книги: 25 декабря 2008.

Видеоигры[]

Death Note: Kira’s Game (Игра Киры, デスノート- キラゲーム)

• Жанр: стратегия
• Платформа: Nintendo DS
• Дата выпуска: 15 февраля 2007
• Стратегическая игра, где игрок должен примерить на себя роль одного из двух героев: L или Киры.

Death Note — L’s Successors (Наследники L, デスノート- Lを継ぐ者)

• Платформа: Nintendo DS
• Дата выпуска: 12 июля 2007

L the Prologue to Death Note: Spiraling Trap

• Платформа: Nintendo DS
• Дата выпуска: 7 февраля 2008
• События происходят прямо перед событиями основного сюжета. Некий агент ФБР просыпается в запертом отеле, он должен выбраться из него с помощью L, который связывается с ним по рации.

Также некоторые персонажи «Тетради смерти» были задействованы в играх Jump Super Stars и Jump Ultimate Stars. Обе игры представители жанра файтинг, персонажи для которых взяты из разных манг журнала Shonen Jump.

Музыка[]

Основная статья: Музыка

Начальные песни:

1. «the WORLD» Nightmare (эпизоды 1-19),
2. «What’s up, people?!» Maximum the Hormone (эпизоды 20-37).

Заключительные песни:

1. «Alumina» Nightmare (эпизоды 1-19),
2. «Zetsubou Billy» Maximum the Hormone (эпизоды 20-37).

Ограничения на распространение[]

Китай[]

В начале 2005 года администрация школы в Шэньяне, столице провинции Ляонин (в Китайской Народной Республике), запретила Тетрадь смерти. Непосредственной причиной было то, что студенты были замечены в изготовлении подобных «Тетрадей смерти», куда потом записывали имена знакомых, врагов и учителей. Запрет был разработан для защиты «физического и психического здоровья» студентов от материала, который «вводит в заблуждение невинных детей и искажает их разум и дух.». Джонатан Клементс, журналист NEO Magazine, предположил, что китайские власти действовали частично против «суеверий», но также против незаконных, пиратских изданий Death Note. Запрет был распространен на другие города Китая, включая Пекин, Шанхай и Ланьчжоу в провинции Ганьсу. На китайском языке «Тетрадь смерти» публикуется в Гонконге и на Тайване.

Россия[]

В конце апреля 2013 года активисты общественного фонда «Уральский родительский комитет» обратились к президенту России с требованием запретить мангу и аниме на территории страны, так как по их мнению эти произведения негативно сказываются на нравственном и психологическом состоянии детей.

По результатам исследования, проведённого по просьбе фонда, педагоги-психологи пришли к выводу, что манга содержит «негативную информацию, которая может спровоцировать неадекватные поступки и действия со стороны подрастающего поколения, при условии нахождения их в состоянии депрессии, подавленности, изоляции».

Поводом для обращения послужило самоубийство 15-летней жительницы Екатеринбурга в феврале этого года. В её комнате были обнаружены 4 тома манги «Тетрадь смерти». Следствие назначило экспертизу, которая должна установить, связано ли самоубийство девочки с этой мангой.

Ранее активисты уже обращались к детскому омбудсмену Павлу Астахову с аналогичными требованиями. Он выразил уверенность, что «что мы всё-таки найдём юридическую форму и докажем, что в «Тетрадях смерти» содержится противозаконная информация» и надежду, что «издатели сами изымут из продажи эти книги и не будут дожидаться, когда придёт государство и начнет действовать огнём и мечом».

Через некоторое время в Интернете появилась петиция «О недопустимости запрета литературных произведений», обращенная к уполномоченному по правам ребёнка РФ Павлу Астахову. Активисты выступают против запрета манги и заявляют, что уральский фонд ввёл омбудсмена в заблуждение.

Интересные факты[]

В аниме часто фигурирует число «19».

• В 6 серии (на 06:48) L произнес, что 19 декабря Кира, то есть Лайт, начал проводить опыты над заключенными
• В 9 серии (на 11:37) можно наблюдать число 19 на вывеске висящей над сценой. В этом эпизоде Лайт и L произносят речь как поступившие с лучшими результатами.
• В 12 серии (на 10:55) в правилах тетрадки написано: «Вы можете написать причины или обстоятельства смерти до того как напишите имя. Убедитесь, что имя написано напротив причины смерти. У Вас есть 19 дней (по человеческому календарю), чтобы написать имя».
• В 19 серии (на 06:14) Мацуда видит, как сотрудники Ёцубы едут на лифте на девятнадцатый этаж для «тайного собрания».
• После 19 серии меняются музыкальные темы.
• Миками Теру работает на 19 канале.
• Шкафчик Миками Теру в тренажерном зале, также под 19 номером.
• В 31 серии (на 20:40) на груди Тэру Миками можно наблюдать бэйджик с числом 19.
• Интересно, что и в манге есть ссылка на число 19. В конце некоторых глав написаны правила Тетради смерти, выпуски этих правил пронумерованы римскими цифрами и число 19 — единственное число записанное в полном виде (XVIV), а не сокращённом способом (XIX), которым написаны остальные цифры.

Название[]

• Японское название «дэсу ното» (デスノート) — это всего лишь запись английского Death Note знаками катаканы и не более того. Это название вообще не переводится с японского на русский. При этом Death Note можно перевести с английского языка на русский как «Тетрадь смерти», однако если «Тетрадь смерти» перевести на японский, то получится «си-но ното» (死のノート).
• В начале второй заставки к аниме идут названия Death Note на разных языках, на русском авторы называют сериал «Записка Ангела Смерти».
• В связи с неоднозначным трактованием в английском языке слова Note, которое чаще употребляется как «записка», многие англоязычные фанаты называют саму тетрадь как «Notebook of Death». В данном контексте слово Notebook означает в точности «тетрадь», а всё название дословно переводится как Тетрадь смерти.

Параллели с реальным миром[]

• В 1-й серии можно заметить, что в классе один из учеников играет в портативную консоль, очень похожую на Nintendo DS.
• В 1-й и 26-й сериях можно видеть большой уличный экран под маркой Fanasonic, что очень похоже на Panasonic. В 26-й серии можно заметить большой уличный экран под маркой METUBISHI, что очень похоже на Mitsubishi.
• В 14-й серии, когда Лайт просматривал Интернет, он пользовался некой поисковой системой под названием Gentle, дизайн главной страницы которой очень напоминает дизайн поисковой системы Google. В поле поиска Лайт вбивает アマネミサ (Аманэ Миса), после чего попадает на страницу поиска картинок, которая также похожа на аналог от Google.
• Ягами Лайт в 18-й серии аниме и его отец в 6-й главе манги пользуются программой, похожей на Microsoft Excel, запущенной под операционной системой, похожей на Mac OS X. Можно даже различить фирменный логотип Excel и яблоко — символ компании Apple, создателя Mac OS X. Также систему Mac OS X можно увидеть в начале 27-й серии.
• В 13-й серии в квартире у Мисы можно заметить куклу, похожую на духа-хранителя Чаки из аниме «Shaman King».
• Миса, Лайт и L появляются в 6-ой серии сериала «Стальная тревога! Новое задание» на 9 мин 40 сек.
• В 34-й серии на рождественской елке в штабе SPK висит портативная приставка очень похожая на Sony PSP и робот похожий на персонажей аниме-сериала «Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam».
• Некоторые герои, в частности L, пользовались сотовыми телефонами очень похожими по очертанию на смартфон Nokia 6630.
• В 26-й серии, в самом конце можно увидеть панораму города Нью-Йорк, на которой видны «башни-близнецы». Примечательно то, что первый эпизод вышел в октябре 2006, а события аниме начинаются в 2007, хотя башни были разрушены в результате теракта 11 сентября 2001 года.
• В первом опенинге есть две отсылки на работы Микеланджело Буонарроти: фреску «Сотворение Адама» и скульптуру «Пьета». На фреске вместо Адама — Лайт, вместо Бога — Рюк, и Лайт передаёт Рюку яблоко. Христа и Деву Марию со скульптуры представляют Рэй Пенбер и его невеста Наоми Мисора.
• На протяжении всего фильма незамысловато мелькают автомобильные бренды вроде Toyota Crown, Porsche 911, Mercedes.
• Ниа в различных сериях играл с куклами в виде персонажей, очень напоминающих LEGO, и куклами, напоминающими трансформеров.
• Во 2-й серии имена международных представителей на заседании заимствованы у известных футболистов, относящихся к определённому государству. Если присмотреться к табличкам, то можно заметить таких дипломатов, как Хуан Карлос Эскобар (Колумбия), Йосси Бенаюн (Израиль), Ян Коллер (Чехия), Мартин Петров (Болгария), Нико Ковач (Хорватия), Эдвин ван дер Сар (Нидерланды) и т. д.
• В фильме «L: Change the World» есть момент, когда Наоми Мисора выполняет очередное задание L. На стене соседнего магазина можно увидеть плакат игры «Теос: Желания Богини» (он появляется в первых же кадрах фильма, когда камера смотрит через лобовое стекло машины Наоми).
• В 10 серии на 20-й минуте режиссёр телеканала стряхивает пепел в банку из-под воды с названием Fanto, в дизайне которой угадывается логотип и фирменный стиль напитка Fanta.

Особенности тетради[]

• В конце некоторых глав мангака пишет правила Тетради смерти. Они все пронумерованы римскими цифрами. В 19-ой главе правила пронумерованы римской цифрой XVIV — это правильное классическое написание числа 19, хотя и более распространена «сокращённая запись» — XIX. В других подобных случаях мангака использует сокращённый вариант (например, девятое правило именуется IX, а не VIV или даже VIIII, что соответствовало бы классическим правилам).
• В пилотном выпуске манги, было сказано, что в Тетради смерти 60 страниц по 38 строк. В нём так же было сказано, что если Тетрадь смерти закончится, то можно в любой момент попросить у бога смерти другую. Но в правилах тетради, в главе 43 сказано, что страницы в Тетради смерти никогда не заканчиваются.
• В пилотном выпуске манги Рюк дал главному герою Таро Кагами Ластик смерти, с помощью которого можно стирать записи в тетради. Тогда, в случае, если умерший человек не был кремирован, или он еще не разложился, человек оживает.
• Если человек, владеющий тетрадью, ценой половины оставшейся жизни обменяется глазами с богом смерти, то сможет видеть имя и дату смерти над головой у всех людей, кроме владельцев тетради, включая себя (поскольку человек, поднявший тетрадь, уже не попадет ни в рай, ни в ад). Имена богов смерти также не видны. Однако сами боги смерти могут видеть продолжительность жизни владельца Тетради смерти.

Отличия и особенности манги, аниме и фильмов[]

• События фильмов и аниме происходят «со сдвигом» на год и 3 года, соответственно, относительно событий манги. В частности, в манге действие начинается в 2003 году, в фильме в 2005, а в аниме — в 2006. По манге, день рождения Лайта — 28 февраля 1986 года, в фильмах — 28 февраля 1988 года а по аниме — 28 февраля 1989 года.
• В аниме и манге Лайт играл в теннис, в фильмах — в баскетбол.
• В манге Аманэ Миса умерла спустя год после гибели Лайта, из-за того, что у неё закончился срок жизни: она дважды укорачивала продолжительность жизни наполовину, меняясь глазами с богом смерти. В аниме намекается, что она покончила жизнь самоубийством, так как после смерти Рэм (Бога смерти), по законам оставшиеся годы Рэм перешли Мисе.
• Рея Пенбера в фильмах звали Рей Ивамацу.
• В конце первого эндинга на секунду мелькает лицо Аманэ Мисы. Её можно увидеть на рекламном экране на здании во время облета камеры вокруг Лайта (когда он подбрасывал яблоко). Она одета в костюм ангела с крыльями, как в 19-й серии. В первом фильме лицо Мисы впервые можно увидеть на автобусе, в котором Лайт узнал имя Рея Пенбера.
• Между аниме-сериалом и полнометражными аниме-фильмами (являющиеся пересказом событий сериала) есть некоторые несоответствия. Так, различаются сцены первой встречи Лайта и L.
• Звонок на одном из трёх мобильных телефонов Аманэ Мисы — песня «Alumina» группы Nightmare, которая звучит в первом эндинге. Такой же звонок на телефоне полицейского, изображавшего роль менеджера Мисы — Мацуды Тоты.
• В аниме добавили сцену, в которой L говорит «Звон колоколов… Да, колокола сегодня звонят особенно сильно… Они сегодня особенно отчетливо звонят: непрерывный звон, как будто свадьба… или…», а потом вытирает ноги Лайту .
• Миками Теру согласно манге умирает в тюрьме, однако в аниме он совершает самоубийство при помощи ручки-пера, когда его схватили.
• В отличие от манги и аниме, в фильме L всё же смог остановить Лайта, хотя и ценой собственной жизни.

Шрифт Old English Text MT[]

Файл:L Old London.svg

L заменял изображение своей внешности на экране литерой L ,написанной шрифтом Old English Text MT, чтобы скрыть свою личность от общественности. Также этим шрифтом, но только буквой W пользовался Ватари, тоже скрывая свою внешность. L присвоил своим помощникам такие же буквы — Айберу букву A, а Уэдди досталась w, ведь заглавная была занята Ватари. Позже этим же шрифтом пользовалась Аманэ Миса, отправляя свои сообщения Первому Кире на телевидение. После смерти L этой же надписью «Кира» стал пользоваться и Лайт. Ниа и Мэлло считая себя наследниками L, тоже заменяли свои изображения буквами N и M соответственно. Команда по расследованию дела Киры в Японии тоже пользовалась буквами, написанными этим шрифтом, каждому из её членов присваивалось прозвище по первой букве (или буквам) имени согласно английскому написанию.
Ватари использовал букву W шрифтом Cloister Black, а не Old English Text.
Ниа позже поменял Old English Text MT на другой готический шрифт.

Ссылки[]

• Официальный сайт
• Официальная страница манги
• Официальный сайт игрового фильма
• Официальный сайт аниме
• Официальный сайт игры

В базе данных

• Манга «Death Note» на сайте Anime News Network
• Манга «Death Note» на сайте World Art

• Аниме «Death Note» в базе данных Internet Movie Database
• Аниме «Death Note» на сайте Anime News Network
• Аниме «Death Note» на сайте World Art

Другие вики

Death Note Wiki (Английская) Death Note Wiki (Французкая) Death Note Wiki (Немецкая) Death Note Wiki (Польская) Death Note Wiki (Финская)

Death Note Wiki (Итальянская) Death Note Wiki (Испанская) Death Note Wiki (Каталонская) Death Note Wiki (Португальская) Death Note Wiki (Бразильская)

Death Note Wiki (Японская)

Примечания[]

Тетрадь смерти
Обложка первого тома манги
デスノート (дэсу но:то) Death Note
Жанр	триллер, психология, мистика, детектив
Манга «Тетрадь смерти»
Автор	Цугуми Оба (сюжет), Такэси Обата (графика)
Издатель	Shueisha Viz Media
На русском языке	Комикс-Арт
Публикуется в	Weekly Shonen Jump
Аудитория	сёнэн
Публикация	февраль 2004 года — октябрь 2006 года
Томов	12 основных томов + дополнительный том «How to Read»
Глав	118 основных + пилотная + специальная + 2 дополнительных главы
Аниме-сериал «Тетрадь смерти»
Режиссёр	Тэцуро Араки
Студия	Madhouse
Лицензиат	Мега-Аниме
Телесеть	Nippon TV 2×2, AXN Sci-Fi, Sony Turbo
Премьерный показ	3 октября 2006 года — 26 июня 2007 года
Длительность	22 мин.
Серий	37
Игровой фильм «Тетрадь смерти» Death Note
Режиссёр	Сюсукэ Канэко
Студия	Warner Bros
Премьера	17 июня 2006 года
Продолжительность	126 мин.
Игровой фильм «Тетрадь смерти: Последнее имя» Death Note: The Last Name
Режиссёр	Сюсукэ Канэко
Студия	Warner Bros.
Премьера	3 октября 2006 года
Продолжительность	141 мин.
Игровой фильм «L: Изменить мир» L: Change the WorLd
Режиссёр	Хидэо Наката
Студия	Warner Bros.
Премьера	2008 год
Продолжительность	128 мин.
Анимационный фильм «Тетрадь смерти — Переписывание: Глазами бога» Death Note Rewrite: The Visualizing God
Режиссёр	Тэцуро Араки
Сценарист	Тосики Иноуэ
Премьера	31 августа 2007 года
Продолжительность	130 мин.
Анимационный фильм «Тетрадь смерти — Переписывание: Преемники L» Death Note Rewrite: L’s Successors
Режиссёр	Тэцуро Араки
Сценарист	Тосики Иноуэ
Премьера	22 августа 2008 года
Продолжительность	100 мин.
Роман «Тетрадь смерти — Другая тетрадь: Лос-Анджелесские убийства BB» Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases
Автор	Нисио Исин
Издатель	Shueisha
Томов	{{{volumes}}}
ISBN	ISBN 4-08-780439-9
Роман «L: Изменить мир» L: Change the WorLd
Автор	M
Издатель	Shueisha
Жанр	детектив, триллер
Томов	{{{volumes}}}
ISBN	ISBN 978-1-4215-3225-7
Игра : «Тетрадь смерти: Игра Киры» Death Note: Kira’s Game
Разработчик	Konami
Издатель	Konami
Жанр	стратегия
Рейтинг	CERO: A
Платформа	Nintendo DS
Дата	15 февраля 2007
Игра : «Тетрадь смерти — Преёмник L» Death Note: Successor to L
Разработчик	Konami
Издатель	Konami
Жанр	Action
Рейтинг	CERO: A
Платформа	Nintendo DS
Дата	12 июля 2007
Игра : «Тетрадь Смерти пролог L» L the Prologue to Death Note: Spiraling Trap
Разработчик	Konami
Издатель	Konami
Жанр	Action
Рейтинг	CERO: A
Платформа	Nintendo DS
Дата	7 февраля 2008

Тетрадь смерти (яп. デスノート Дэсу Но:то^?, Death Note) — ставшая культовой японская манга, придуманная Цугуми Обой и нарисованная Такэси Обатой, а также выпущенные на её основе анимационные сериал и фильмы, игровые фильмы, лайт-новел и видеоигры.

В основу сюжета легла философская идея: «Можно ли добиться блага для одних людей путем убийств других?». Автор придумал оригинальную историю, в которой отражается суть того, что бы могло быть с миром, если бы человек мог безнаказанно убивать одних людей, чтобы сделать лучше жизнь других. Цугуми Ооба рассматривает реакцию как самого убийцы, его мотивы и желания, так и реакцию общества на действия убийцы.

Впервые «Тетрадь смерти» появилась перед читателями в виде манги в декабре 2003 года в виде пилотного тома и в феврале 2004 в качестве начала основного сюжета в журнале «Weekly Shonen Jump». Манга продолжала выходить вплоть до мая 2006 года и содержала 108 глав, позднее вышедших в 12 томах (танкобонах) в Японии. Позднее вышел 13 том, своебразная энциклопедия по миру «Тетради смерти» от авторов. Идея манги легла в основу двух парных игровых фильмов, вышедших в кинотеатрах Японии в июне («Тетрадь смерти») и ноябре 2006 года («Тетрадь смерти: Последнее имя»). Оба фильма лишь частично используют сюжет манги, и в большинстве своём — самостоятельные произведения. В феврале 2008 года вышел ещё один игровой фильм «L: Изменить мир», являющийся спин-оффом первых двух фильмов. В августе 2006 года по мотивам манги вышла книга авторства Исина Нисио — «Тетрадь смерти — Другая тетрадь: Лос-Анджелесские убийства BB». С октября 2006 по июнь 2007 года на телеканале Nippon TV прошла трансляция 37-серийного аниме-сериала. 31 августа 2007 года на том же телеканале Nippon TV показали «Тетрадь смерти — Переписывание: Глазами бога» — специальную полнометражную версия аниме-сериала, представляющая собой компиляцию 1-25 серий, дополненную новыми сценами. А 22 августа 2008 года вышла ещё одна специальная полнометражная версия аниме-сериала «Тетрадь смерти — Переписывание: Преемники L», представляющая собой компиляцию 26-37 серий, с несколькими новыми сценами.

10 января 2007 года аниме и манга «Тетрадь смерти» были лицензированы для издания на территории США компанией VIZ Media. Из-за огромной популярности «Тетради смерти» этот факт не остановил многих фансаберов. 12 октября 2007 компания «Мега-Аниме» объявила о приобретении лицензии на российское издание аниме-сериала «Death Note». Трансляция прошла с 20 октября по 29 декабря на канале 2×2.

В июне 2008 года компания «Комикс-Арт» объявила о приобретении лицензии на российское издание манги «Death Note». Первый том «Скука» вышел в начале 2009 года. По состоянию на сентябрь 2012 года на русском языке выпущены все 12 томов.^[1]

Сюжет

Лайт Ягами — лучший ученик Японии, сын полицейского, который с детства хотел пойти по стопам отца, чтобы искоренить преступность не только в Японии, но и во всём мире. Однажды, когда одному из синигами (богов смерти) Рюку стало скучно, он подкинул Тетрадь смерти — совершенное орудие убийства — на Землю. Лайту, нашедшему тетрадь, выпал случай изменить мир быстро и безнаказанно. Он стал вершить своё правосудие: убивать преступников.

Торжество Лайта над преступностью было недолгим, ибо совсем скоро странными смертями преступников заинтересовался Интерпол и начал расследование, подключив к нему не только весь мир, но и самого востребованного детектива, всегда скрывающегося под псевдонимом L (Эл). L начинает настоящую войну с Лайтом, которому в это время уже дали прозвище Кира (латиницей яп. キラー, Kirā — убийца). Противостояние гениев — лучшего ученика Японии с одной стороны и лучшего детектива в мире с другой — начинает историю «Тетради смерти».

Лайт не может совершать ошибки, потому что если его поймают, он не сможет вершить своё правосудие и получит смертный приговор. Его оппонент тоже не может сделать ни одной ошибки, потому что в противном случае Кира убьёт его. В это противостояние, к тому же, вмешиваются сверхъестественные силы в лице богов смерти, а также другие последователи Киры и сторонники L.

Тетрадь смерти

Тетрадь смерти — это вещь, с помощью которой боги смерти продлевают себе жизнь. Тетрадь станет частью реального мира, когда коснётся земли. Если бог смерти не подберёт тетрадь быстрее, чем человек, то тетрадь станет собственностью этого человека до тех пор, пока он не умрёт, или же не откажется от тетради. Человек также может передать эту тетрадь любому другому человеку, но тогда бог смерти стирает у него воспоминания об этой тетради и сопутствующих её владению событиях. Тетрадь смерти содержит множество правил, которые могут интерпретироваться по-разному: боги смерти, которым тетради нужны только для продления своей жизни, даже не подозревают о некоторых её (тетради) возможностях. (Правила, указанные ниже, написаны Рюком в качестве инструкции.)

Правила Тетради смерти

• Человек, чьё имя будет записано в тетради смерти, умрёт.
• Тетрадь не подействует, если пишущий имя не будет знать лица того, кто должен умереть. Таким образом, людям с одинаковыми именами ничего не грозит.
• Если причина смерти написана в течение 40 секунд после записи имени, то так оно и случится.
• Если причина смерти не указана, через 40 секунд указанный человек умрёт от сердечного приступа.
• После написания причины смерти, есть ещё 6 минут и 40 секунд (всего 400 секунд) для написания обстоятельства смерти.
• После отказа от тетради человек забывает все связанное с ней.

Примечание: В Японии числительное 4 считается несчастливым и связанным со смертью, из-за созвучия со словом «си» — «смерть».

Манга

Основная статья: Тетрадь Смерти (манга)

Мангу можно разделить на две части, между которыми авторы сделали семинедельный перерыв (почти два месяца). Манга стартовала 1 декабря 2003 года в журнале Weekly Shonen Jump, новые главы появлялись каждую неделю, в каждой главе около 20 страниц.

Часть первая (главы 1-59)

Первая часть манги состоит из 59 глав — в них читатель ближе знакомится с главным героем, его принципами, а также с его главным противником. Первая часть в основном посвящена сражению Лайта и L, а также обстоятельствам, предшествующим ему. На сторону Лайта встаёт Миса — влюбившаяся в Лайта девушка, заполучившая вторую Тетрадь Смерти. На сторону же L встаёт ФБР и японская полиция, преследующая те же цели — поймать загадочного убийцу Киру. Лайту приходится противостоять не только L, но и даже собственному отцу, который является главой полиции. Тем не менее Лайт не останавливается ни перед чем, он виртуозно использует Тетрадь смерти и манипулирует синигами, в результате чего в конце концов одерживает победу — L погибает.

Часть вторая (главы 60-108)

Вторая часть манги появилась после некоторого перерыва, за который авторы манги дали большое количество интервью и рассказали вкратце о том, что же ждёт читателя, хотя так и не ответили на вопрос: «Поймают ли Киру?». Вторая часть вбирает в себя противостояние Лайта и наследников L. Как оказалось, L был не единственным, кто обладал незаурядными умственными способностями. Однако, второго L не существует и не может существовать, он единственный и неповторимый, поэтому у L не один, а два наследника, которые только действуя в паре могут сравниться с L. Однако судьба поворачивается таким образом, что между двумя наследниками L «пробегает чёрная кошка». Никто из них не хочет делить славу L с другим, и поэтому их пути расходятся. Они оба начинают войну с Кирой, но каждый со своей стороны. Авторы не стали параллельно в каждой главе описывать действия одного и второго. Во второй части можно увидеть разделение — первая половина осталась за Мэлло, вторая за Ниа. Каждый из них хочет поймать Киру, и каждого из них хочет убить Кира.

Путеводитель

«Тетрадь смерти: Как Читать» — официальный путеводитель по всем главам манги. Он является также тринадцатым томом манги, хотя в нём нет никакого нового повествования, а рассказ ведётся об уже свершившихся событиях, дополняя их, объясняя и рассматривая с другой точки зрения. Из путеводителя можно узнать новые интересные факты, в частности, настоящее имя L (от англ. Lawliet — беззаконный), которое ни в манге, ни в аниме, не упоминалось. Также раскрыты дальнейшие судьбы героев, детали мира богов смерти и многие другие моменты, такие как данные персонажей: даты рождения и смерти, рост и вес, группу крови и что персонаж любит и что не любит. Включены комментарии авторов о процессе создания манги и их отношении к персонажам и событиям в сюжете. Путеводитель — это только дополнение манги, вышедшее, в большинстве своём, только для фанатов.

Пилотный выпуск

Пилотный выпуск вышел в составе 36 номера журнала «Weekly Shonen Jump» 2003 год. Также он вошёл в состав Путеводителя. В единственной главе этой манги показаны первоначальные задумки авторов (вроде Ластика смерти, который мог оживлять убитых) не вошедшие в официальные тома манги. Главным героем был не лучший ученик Японии — семнадцатилетний Лайт Ягами, а двенадцатилетний мальчик Таро Кагами, над которым издеваются школьные хулиганы и который мстит им с помощью Тетради смерти. Позже черты характера Кагами перешли к Миками Теру. Также бог смерти Рюк показан в нём очень глупым и рассеянным, что идёт вразрез с его привычным образом.

Post Series — One Shot

«Post Series — One Shot» — официальное продолжение манги. В единственной главе ведется повествование о возобновлении загадочных преступлений, связанных с Тетрадью смерти. Новый Кира убивает лишь больных стариков, просящих о смерти, за что получает от Ниа прозвище «Дешёвый Кира». В данной ситуации Ниа пытается повести себя как L, в манге раскрывается часть прошлого Мэлло и Ниа в Доме Вамми.

L FILE No. 15

В 2008 году вышел артбук по фильму «L: Change the World» под названием «L FILE No. 15». Кроме материалов по кинофильму в книгу вошли две главы манги, которые являются частью оригинального сюжета манге. Они называются «The Wammy’s House» и «One Day» и созданны Цугуми Обой и Такеси Обатой. В них раскрываются некоторые моменты жизни L: в первой показывается как он в 8 лет попал в приют для одарённых детей «Дом Вамми», во втором — один обычный день из жизни великого детектива.

Фильмы

На момент выхода первого фильма, манга «Тетрадь Смерти» имела огромную популярность в Японии, поэтому кассовые сборы от первого игрового фильма в Японии, перекрыли (в рамках weekend’а премьеры) кассовые сборы от знаменитого во всём мире фильма «Код да Винчи», который был показан в кинотеатрах в то же время. В России же фильмы попали в категорию артхауса и доступны на данный момент только заинтересованной публике.

Фильм первый

В этой статье не хватает ссылок на источники информации. Информация должна быть проверяема, иначе она может быть поставлена под сомнение и удалена. Вы можете отредактировать эту статью, добавив ссылки на авторитетные источники. Эта отметка установлена 15 мая 2011.

Через два месяца после выхода последней 108-ой главы манги на экранах Японии появился первый фильм по мотивам манги, из заявленных двух. Фильм не получил никакого особого названия (в отличие от второго фильма), поэтому и был назван лишь «Тетрадь смерти». Над фильмом работали совместно японские и американские компании, среди которых такая крупная кинокомпания Голливуда, как Warner Bros. Присутствие гиганта киноиндустрии сыграло отрицательную роль: сюжет фильма был изменён по сравнению с мангой для того, чтобы подогнать его под «голливудский стандарт». Это сразу бросается в глаза с самых первых минут, потому как у главного героя Лайта теперь есть девушка (по имени Сиори), и как бы не старался японский режиссёр Сюсукэ Канэко вести сюжет около основной истории, тема девушки Лайта всё время возвращается на экран. Доходит даже до абсурда: в конце Лайт, не зная, как подобраться к L, решает использовать свою девушку (её убивает Мисора Наоми, невеста Рэя Пенбера). Также в фильме сумели загубить персонажа Мисору Наоми: весь накал первого прокола Киры ушёл в сторону.^{[стиль!]} Заметно, что весь сюжет сильно переделан и достаточно быстро показана главная мысль. Рядовому зрителю, не читавшему мангу, весьма проблематично оценить оригинальность сюжета, потому как снят фильм для самого нетребовательного зрителя.

Фильм второй «Последнее имя»

Второй фильм был показан в кинотеатрах Японии в том же году, что и первый, но ажиотажа вокруг него уже не наблюдалось. Сюжет разворачивается сразу после действий первого фильма, но, как и первый фильм, второй лишь частично снят по манге. В фильме даже не пытались приблизиться ко второй части манги: зрителю показали торжество L. Опять заметна нелогичность действий главных героев. Детективы, которые вместе с отцом Лайта расследовали дело Киры в манге, вообще отошли на второй план, и их роли даже тяжело назвать эпизодическими. В фильме также присутствуют крупные сюжетные неточности — например, Лайт, коснувшись поддельной Тетради смерти, увидел бога смерти Рюка, хотя, он мог это сделать только коснувшись своей старой, настоящей, Тетради смерти, которую забрал себе L.

Трейлер ко второму фильму начинается со строк: «Последнее имя — это Лайт; Последнее имя — это L; Последнее имя — это Миса; Последнее имя — это …».

Фильм третий «L: Изменить мир»

Основная статья: L: Change the World

У L есть 23 дня на то, чтобы отыскать источник опасности и ликвидировать его, и на этот раз ему придётся действовать самому. Также в фильме появляется Ниа, который тут изображён как тёмноволосый тайский мальчик, чудом спасшийся из деревни, зараженной вирусом.

Аниме

Сюжет аниме практически полностью соответствует манге, за исключением того, что некоторые побочные сюжетные линии опущены, а некоторые эпизоды, наоборот, добавлены. Также конец аниме сильно отличается от версии в манге, кроме того, не показаны события эпилога, в котором показаны оставшиеся в живых персонажи спустя год.

Death Note Rewrite: The Visualizing God

Death Note Director’s Cut Final Conclusion (Тетрадь смерти: Режиссёрская версия — Финальное заключение) больше известная как Death Note Rewrite: The Visualizing God (Тетрадь смерти — Переписывание: Глазами Бога) — снятая Араки Тэцуро специальная версия аниме-сериала, представляющая собой компиляцию первых 25 серий дополненную несколькими новыми сценами. Фильм начинается и заканчивается сценами из мира богов смерти, где Рюк рассказывает другому богу смерти историю Киры. Из длительных новых сцен также можно отметить похороны L и другую версию первой встречи Лайта и L. Кроме того, фильм раскрывает некоторые новые аспекты существования богов смерти.

Death Note Rewrite: L’s Successors

Death Note Rewrite: L’s Successors (Тетрадь смерти — Переписывание: Наследники L) — вторая специальная версия аниме сериала Death Note, представляющая собой компиляцию последних 12 серий с дополнением нескольких сцен. Этот фильм начинается с 10-минутного монолога L, в котором он рассказывает всё, что знает о Кире. В этом фильме некоторые сюжетные линии опущены или изменены.

Книги

Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases

Книга, написанная Исином Нисио и названная «Тетрадь смерти: Другая тетрадь» (ISBN 4-08-780439-9), представляет собой приквел к оригинальной манге, историю, которая разворачиваться до событий основного сюжета. В книге Мэлло выступает рассказчиком и повествует о первой встрече L c Мисорой Наоми в Лос-Анджелесе при раскрытии дела «Серийного убийцы BB», о котором упоминается во втором томе манги и седьмой серии.

L: Change the World

Релиз книги: 25 декабря 2008. Книга является новеллизацией третьего фильма о Тетради смерти «L: Change the World» и вышла в свет за 6 недель до выхода фильма. Некий известный писатель был нанят, чтобы сочинить совершенно оригинальную историю о последних 23 днях гениального детектива L. Под псевдонимом «M» анонимный автор раскроет некоторые детали сюжета фильма. Псевдоним «M» означает «место, куда попадают люди, использовавшие Тетрадь смерти: бездна (MU)». Несмотря на то, что книга основана на сценарии фильма, сюжет большей частью альтернативен событиям фильма.

Видеоигры

Death Note: Kira’s Game (Игра Киры, デスノート- キラゲーム)

• Жанр: стратегия
• Платформа: Nintendo DS
• Дата выпуска: 15 февраля 2007
• Стратегическая игра, где игрок должен примерить на себя роль одного из двух героев: L или Киры.

Death Note — L’s Successors (Наследники L, デスノート- Lを継ぐ者)

• Платформа: Nintendo DS
• Дата выпуска: 12 июля 2007

L the Prologue to Death Note: Spiraling Trap

• Платформа: Nintendo DS
• Дата выпуска: 7 февраля 2008
• События происходят прямо перед событиями основного сюжета. Некий агент ФБР просыпается в запертом отеле, он должен выбраться из него с помощью L, который связывается с ним по рации.

Также некоторые персонажи «Тетради смерти» были задействованы в играх Jump Super Stars и Jump Ultimate Stars. Обе игры представители жанра файтинг, персонажи для которых взяты из разных манг журнала Shonen Jump.

Персонажи

Персонажем, вокруг которого разворачивается действие манги, аниме и фильмов «Тетрадь смерти», является Ягами Лайт. Не менее важными действующими лицами являются те, кто активно помогают ему: второй Кира Аманэ Миса, влюблённая в Ягами Лайта; ярый сторонник, а позднее и правая рука Киры, Миками Тэру; однокурсница Лайта, а позднее телеведущая и глашатай Киры, Такада Киёми — и те, кто ему противостоят: детектив L; Ватари, помощник детектива; его преемник Ниа; соперник Ниа, решивший поймать Киру своими силами, Мэлло; Мэтт, друг Мэлло ещё со времён приюта Вамми; японская полиция, во главе с отцом Лайта — Ягами Соитиро, занимающаеся расследованием дела Киры.

Медиа

Выход томов оригинальной манги в Японии

Первые оригинальные 12 томов (танкобонов):

1. Скука (яп. 退屈 Тайкуцу^?) — Апрель 2004 (ISBN 4-08-873621-4）
2. Слияние (яп. 合流 Го:рю:^?) — Июль 2004 (ISBN 4-08-873631-1）
3. Тяжёлая гонка (яп. 激走 Гэкисо:^?) — Сентябрь 2004 (ISBN 4-08-873652-4）
4. Любовь (яп. 恋心 Койгокоро^?) — Ноябрь 2004 (ISBN 4-08-873671-0）
5. Заново (яп. 白紙 Хакуси^?) — Февраль 2005 (ISBN 4-08-873774-1）
6. Обмен (яп. 交換 Ко:кан^?) — Апрель 2005 (ISBN 4-08-873795-4）
7. Зеро (Ноль) (яп. 零 Рэй^?) — Июль 2005 (ISBN 4-08-873830-6）
8. Отметина (яп. 的 Тэки^?) — Сентябрь 2005 (ISBN 4-08-873852-7）
9. Контакт (яп. 接触 Сэссёку^?) — Декабрь 2005 (ISBN 4-08-873887-X）
10. Удаление (яп. 削除 Сакудзё^?) — Февраль 2006 (ISBN 4-08-874018-1）
11. Родственный дух (яп. 同心 До:син^?) — Май 2006 (ISBN 4-08-874041-6）
12. Финиш (яп. 完 Кан^?) — Июль 2006 (ISBN 4-08-874131-5）

Путеводитель «Тетрадь Смерти: Как читать»:
Том 13: Правда (яп. 真相 Синсо:^?) — Октябрь 2006
(Нормальная версия: ISBN 4-08-874095-5 Ограниченное издание ISBN 4-08-908053-3)

Выход DVD в Японии

1. 21 декабря 2006 (эпизоды 1-3).
2. 24 января 2007 (эпизоды 4-6).
3. 21 февраля 2007 (эпизоды 7-9).
4. 21 марта 2007 (эпизоды 10-13).

Фильмы

Оба фильма вышли на DVD 14 марта 2007 года в 2-х вариантах: каждый из фильмов на отдельном DVD или «полный комплект» (англ. complete set).

• Фильм первый «Тетрадь смерти».
• Фильм второй «Последнее имя».
• «Полный комплект».

В «полный комплект» входят 3 DVD и 1 CD. На первых 2-х DVD — каждый из фильмов, на 3-м — материалы о создании фильмов, на CD — эксклюзивные записи. Так же прилагается буклет.

На всех дисках озвучка только на японском языке и только японские субтитры.

Саундтреки аниме

Основная статья: Тетрадь Смерти (саундтреки)

Начальные песни:

1. «the WORLD» Nightmare (эпизоды 1-19),
2. «What’s Up People?!» Maximum the Hormone (эпизоды 20-37).

Заключительные песни:

1. «Alumina» Nightmare (эпизоды 1-19),
2. «Zetsubou Billy» Maximum the Hormone (эпизоды 20-37).

Интересные факты

В аниме часто фигурирует число «19».

• В 6 серии (на 06:48) L произнес, что 19 декабря Кира, то есть Лайт, начал проводить опыты над заключенными
• В 9 серии (на 11:37) можно наблюдать число 19 на вывеске висящей над сценой. В этом эпизоде Лайт и L произносят речь как поступившие с лучшими результатами.
• В 12 серии (на 10:55) в правилах тетрадки написано: «Вы можете написать причины или обстоятельства смерти до того как напишите имя. Убедитесь, что имя написано напротив причины смерти. У Вас есть 19 дней (по человеческому календарю), чтобы написать имя».
• В 19 серии (на 06:14) Мацуда видит, как сотрудники Ёцубы едут на лифте на девятнадцатый этаж для «тайного собрания».
• После 19 серии меняются музыкальные темы.
• Миками Теру работает на 19 канале.
• Шкафчик Миками Теру в тренажерном зале, также под 19 номером.
• В 31 серии (на 20:40) на груди Тэру Миками можно наблюдать бэйджик с числом 19.
• Интересно, что и в манге есть ссылка на число 19. В конце некоторых глав написаны правила Тетради смерти, выпуски этих правил пронумерованы римскими цифрами и число 19 — единственное число записанное в полном виде (XVIV), а не сокращённом способом (XIX), которым написаны остальные цифры.

Название

• Японское название «дэсу ното» (яп. デスノート) — это всего лишь запись английского Death Note знаками катаканы и не более того. Это название вообще не переводится с японского на русский. При этом Death Note можно перевести с английского языка на русский как «Тетрадь смерти», однако если «Тетрадь смерти» перевести на японский, то получится «си но ното» (яп. 死のノート).
• В начале второй заставки к аниме идут названия Death Note на разных языках, на русском авторы называют сериал «Записка Ангела Смерти».^[2].
• В связи с неоднозначным трактованием в английском языке слова Note, которое чаще употребляется как «записка», многие англоязычные фанаты называют саму тетрадь как «Notebook of Death». В данном контексте слово Notebook означает в точности «тетрадь», а всё название дословно переводится как Тетрадь смерти.

Параллели с реальным миром

• В 1-й серии можно заметить, что в классе один из учеников играет в портативную консоль, очень похожую на Nintendo DS.
• В 1-й и 26-й сериях можно видеть большой уличный экран под маркой Fanasonic, что очень похоже на Panasonic.^[2] В 26-й серии можно заметить большой уличный экран под маркой METUBISHI, что очень похоже на Mitsubishi.
• В 14-й серии, когда Лайт просматривал Интернет, он пользовался некой поисковой системой под названием Gentle, дизайн главной страницы которой очень напоминает дизайн поисковой системы Google.^[2] В поле поиска Лайт вбивает アマネミサ (Аманэ Миса), после чего попадает на страницу поиска картинок, которая также похожа на аналог от Google.
• Ягами Лайт в 18-й серии аниме и его отец в 6-й главе манги пользуются программой, похожей на Microsoft Excel, запущенной под операционной системой, похожей на Mac OS X.^[2] Можно даже различить фирменный логотип Excel и яблоко — символ компании Apple, создателя Mac OS X. Также систему Mac OS X можно увидеть в начале 27-й серии.
• В 13-й серии в квартире у Мисы можно заметить куклу, похожую на духа-хранителя Чаки из аниме «Король-шаман».^[2]
• Миса, Лайт и L появляются в 6-ой серии сериала «Стальная тревога! Новое задание» на 9 мин 40 сек.^[2]
• В 34-й серии на рождественской елке в штабе SPK висит портативная приставка очень похожая на Sony PSP и робот похожий на персонажей аниме-сериала «Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam».
• Некоторые герои, в частности L, пользовались сотовыми телефонами очень похожими по очертанию на смартфон Nokia 6630.
• В 26-й серии, в самом конце можно увидеть панораму города Нью-Йорк на которой видны «башни-близнецы». Примечательно то, что первый эпизод вышел в октябре 2006, а события аниме начинаются в 2007, хотя башни были разрушены в результате теракта 11 сентября 2001 года.
• В первом опенинге есть две отсылки на работы Микеланджело Буонарроти: фреску «Сотворение Адама» и скульптуру «Пьета». На фреске вместо Адама — Лайт, вместо Бога — Рюк, и Лайт передаёт Рюку яблоко. Христа и Деву Марию со скульптуры представляют Рэй Пенбер и его невеста Наоми Мисора.
• На протяжении всего фильма незамысловато мелькают автомобильные бренды вроде Toyota Crown, Porsche 911, Mercedes.
• Ниа в различных сериях играл с куклами в виде персонажей, очень напоминающих LEGO, и куклами, напоминающими трансформеров.
• Во 2-й серии имена международных представителей на заседании заимствованы у известных футболистов, относящихся к определенному государству.^[2] Если присмотреться к табличкам, то можно заметить таких дипломатов как Хуан Карлос Эскобар (Колумбия), Йосси Бенаюн (Израиль), Ян Коллер (Чехия), Мартин Петров (Болгария), Нико Ковач (Хорватия), Эдвин ван дер Сар (Нидерланды) и т. д.
• В фильме «L: Change the World» есть момент, когда Наоми Мисора выполняет очередное задание L. На стене соседнего магазина можно увидеть плакат игры «Теос: Желания Богини» (он появляется в первых же кадрах фильма, когда камера смотрит через лобовое стекло машины Наоми).
• В 10 серии на 20-й минуте режиссёр телеканала стряхивает пепел в банку из-под воды с названием Fanto, в дизайне которой угадывается логотип и фирменный стиль напитка Fanta.

Особенности тетради

• В конце некоторых глав мангака пишет правила Тетради смерти. Они все пронумерованы римскими цифрами. В 19-ой главе правила пронумерованы римской цифрой XVIV — это правильное классическое написание числа 19, хотя и более распространена «сокращённая запись» — XIX. В других подобных случаях мангака использует сокращённый вариант (например, девятое правило именуется IX, а не VIV или даже VIIII, что соответствовало бы классическим правилам).
• В пилотном выпуске манги, было сказано, что в Тетради смерти 60 страниц по 38 строк. В нём так же было сказано, что если Тетрадь смерти закончится, то можно в любой момент попросить у бога смерти другую. Но в правилах тетради, в главе 43 сказано, что страницы в Тетради смерти никогда не заканчиваются.
• В пилотном выпуске манги Рюк дал главному герою Таро Кагами Ластик смерти, с помощью которого можно стирать записи в тетради. Тогда, в случае если умерший человек не был кремирован, или он ещё не разложился, человек оживает.
• Если человек, владеющий тетрадью, ценой половины оставшейся жизни обменяется глазами с богом смерти, то сможет видеть имя и дату смерти над головой у всех людей, кроме владельцев тетради, включая себя (поскольку человек, поднявший тетрадь, уже не попадет ни в рай, ни в ад). Имена богов смерти также не видны. Однако сами боги смерти могут видеть продолжительность жизни владельца Тетради смерти.

Отличия и особенности манги, аниме и фильмов

• События фильмов и аниме происходят «со сдвигом» на год и 3 года, соответственно, относительно событий манги. В частности, в манге действие начинается в 2003 году, в фильме в 2005, а в аниме — в 2006. По манге, день рождения Лайта — 28 февраля 1986 года, в фильмах — 28 февраля 1988 года а по аниме — 28 февраля 1989 года.^[2]
• В аниме и манге Лайт играл в теннис, в фильмах — в баскетбол.^[2]
• В манге Аманэ Миса умерла спустя год после гибели Лайта, из-за того, что у неё закончился срок жизни: она дважды укорачивала продолжительность жизни наполовину, меняясь глазами с богом смерти. В аниме намекается, что она покончила жизнь самоубийством, так как после смерти Рэм (Бога смерти), по-законам оставшиеся годы Рэм перешли Мисе.
• Рея Пенбера в фильмах звали Рей Ивамацу.
• В конце первого эндинга на секунду мелькает лицо Аманэ Мисы. Её можно увидеть на рекламном экране на здании во время облета камеры вокруг Лайта (когда он подбрасывал яблоко). Она одета в костюм ангела с крыльями, как в 19-й серии. В первом фильме лицо Мисы впервые можно увидеть на автобусе, в котором Лайт узнал имя Рея Пенбера.
• Между аниме-сериалом и полнометражными аниме-фильмами (являющиеся пересказом событий сериала) есть некоторые несоответствия. Так различаются сцены первой встречи Лайта и L.
• Звонок на одном из трёх мобильных телефонов Аманэ Мисы — песня «Alumina» группы Nightmare, которая звучит в первом эндинге. Такой же звонок на телефоне полицейского, изображавшего роль менеджера Мисы — Мацуды Тоты.
• В аниме добавили сцену, в которой L говорит «Звон колоколов… Да, колокола сегодня звонят особенно сильно… Они сегодня особенно отчетливо звонят: непрерывный звон, как будто свадьба… или…», а потом вытирает ноги Лайту .
• Миками Теру согласно манге умирает в тюрьме, однако в аниме он совершает самоубийство при помощи ручки-пера, когда его схватили.
• В аниме во второй серии члены секретариата Интерпола названы в честь известных футболистов. Например, Хуан Карлос Эскобар (Колумбия), Дэвид Гонзалес (Колумбия), Йосси Бенаюн (Израиль), Ян Коллер (Чехия), Мартин Петров (Болгария), Нико Ковач (Хорватия), Эдвин ван дер Сар (Нидерланды).

Шрифт Old English Text MT

L заменял изображение своей внешности на экране литерой L написанной шрифтом Old English Text MT,^[2] чтобы скрыть свою личность от общественности. Также этим шрифтом, но только буквой W пользовался Ватари, тоже скрывая свою внешность. L присвоил своим помощникам такие же буквы — Айберу букву A, а Уэдди досталась w, ведь заглавная была занята Ватари. Позже этим же шрифтом пользовалась Аманэ Миса, отправляя свои сообщения Первому Кире на телевидение. После смерти L этой же надписью «Кира» стал пользоваться и Лайт. Ниа и Мэлло считая себя наследниками L, тоже заменяли свои изображения буквами N и M, соответственно. Команда по расследованию дела Киры в Японии тоже пользовалась буквами, написанными этим шрифтом, каждому из её членов присваивалось прозвище по первой букве (или буквам) имени согласно английскому написанию. Ватари использовал букву W шрифтом Cloister Black, а не Old English Text. Ниа позже поменял Old English Text MT на другой готический шрифт.

См. также

	Тетрадь смерти в Викицитатнике?
	Тетрадь смерти на Викискладе?

• Персонажи Тетради смерти
• Список серий аниме «Тетрадь смерти»
• Список глав манги «Тетрадь смерти»
• Тетрадь смерти (предмет)

Примечания

Ссылки

Официальные

• Официальный сайт манги  (яп.)
• Официальный сайт игрового фильма  (яп.)
• Официальный сайт аниме  (яп.)
• Официальный сайт игры  (яп.)

В базах данных

• Аниме «Тетрадь смерти» (англ.) в энциклопедии сайта Anime News Network
• Аниме «Тетрадь смерти» на сайте World Art

• Манга «Тетрадь смерти» (англ.) в энциклопедии сайта Anime News Network
• Манга «Тетрадь смерти» (рус.) на сайте World Art

«Тетрадь смерти»
Тетрадь · Главы манги · Серии аниме · Саундтреки
Создатели	Цугуми Оба · Такэси Обата
Персонажи	Лайт Ягами · L · Миса Аманэ · Мэлло · Ниа · Боги смерти · Рюк · Кира
Фильмы	Тетрадь смерти · Тетрадь смерти: Последнее имя · L: Change the World
Книги	Blanc et noir  · Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases  · Death Note A Animation Official Analysis Guide  · L: Change the WorLd  · L FILE No. 15
Игры	Death Note: Kira’s Game  · Death Note: Successor to L  · L the Prologue to Death Note: Spiraling Trap

Weekly Shonen Jump: 2000—2009 гг.
2000	Buraidan Bremen • Sand Land • Black Cat • Pyu to Fuku! Jaguar • Lilim Kiss
2001	Gun Blaze West • Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo • Mr. Fullswing • Блич
2002	Strawberry 100% • Pretty Face • Eyeshield 21
2003	Buso Renkin
2004	Тетрадь смерти • Gintama • Steel Ball Run • Reborn! • D.Gray-man • Waqwaq • Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation
2005	Нейро Ногами: детектив из Ада • Mieru Hito
2006	Shinsetsu Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo • To Love-Ru • M×0 • P2! -let’s Play Pingpong!-
2007	Ral Grad • Samurai Usagi • Hatsukoi Limited • Sket Dance
2008	Psyren • Nurarihyon no Mago • Toriko • Bakuman • Kuroko no Basuke
2009	Beelzebub • Super Dog Rilienthal • Medaka Box • Anedoki
1968—1979 • 1980—1989 • 1990—1999 • 2000—2009

Аниме студии Madhouse
1970—1980-е	Ace wo Nerae! · Босоногий Гэн  · Demon City Shinjuku · Haguregumo · Goku Midnight Eye · Unico · Wicked City
1990-е	Azuki-chan · Bio Hunter · Birdy the Mighty · Clover · Cardcaptor Sakura · Кибер-город Эдо · Devil Hunter Yohko · Di Gi Charat · Doomed Megalopolis · Манускрипт ниндзя · Master Keaton · Идеальная грусть · Record of Lodoss War · Reign: The Conqueror · Todd McFarlane’s Spawn · Tokyo Babylon · Триган · A Wind Named Amnesia · Последняя фантазия: Легенда кристаллов
2000-е	2000—2002 Boogiepop Phantom · Carried by the Wind: Tsukikage Ran · Hajime no Ippo · Метрополис · D: Жажда крови · Бейблэйд · Chance Pop Session · Galaxy Angel · Актриса тысячелетия · WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3 · X · Aquarian Age: Sign for Evolution · Чобиты · Dragon Drive 2003—2005 Аниматрица · Школа убийц · Lament of the Lamb · Nasu: Summer in Andalusia · Texhnolyze · Однажды в Токио · Uninhabited Planet Survive! · BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad · Gokusen · Monster · Агент Паранойи · Sweet Valerian · Tenjho Tenge · Tsuki no Warutsu · Ichigo 100 % · Last Order: Final Fantasy VII · Otogi-Juushi Akazukin · Paradise Kiss 2006—2007 Akagi · Пираты «Чёрной лагуны» · Тетрадь смерти · Девочка, покорившая время · Hellboy: Sword of Storms · Hellsing Ultimate · Kemonozume · Kiba · Nana · Paprika · Strawberry Panic! · Yume Tsukai · Клеймор · Dennou Coil · Devil May Cry · Hellboy: Blood and Iron · Горец: В поисках мести · Школьные войны · Princess Resurrection · Kaiji · Нейро Ногами: детектив из Ада · MapleStory · Mokke · Oh! Edo Rocket · Shigurui 2008—2010 Aoi Bungaku · Allison & Lillia · Бэтмэн: рыцарь Готэма · Casshern Sins · Chaos;Head · Chi’s Sweet Home · Kaiba · Kamen no Maid Guy · Kurozuka · Needless · Moryo no Hako · One Outs · Stitch! · Ultraviolet: Code 044  · Kobato · Yona Yona Penguin · Summer Wars · The Tatami Galaxy · Redline

SCI-FI
Основные программы канала	4400 • Андромеда • Блич • Вавилон 5 • Визитёры • Внешние пределы • Герои • Говорящая с призраками • Дневники вампира • Жнец • Звёздные врата • Звёздные врата: Атлантида • Звёздный крейсер Галактика • Звёздный путь: Следующее поколение • Звёздный путь: Энтерпрайз • Зена — королева воинов • Кайл XY • Капитан Скарлет • Красная роза • Королевский госпиталь • Крепкий орешек Джейн • Мастера фантастики • Медиум • Мерлин • Мёртвая зона • Мутанты X • На краю Вселенной • Остаться в живых • Откровения • Поверхность • Полтергейст: Наследие • Пси Фактор: Хроники паранормальных явлений • Сверхъестественное • Собиратель душ • Тайны Смолвиля • Тетрадь смерти • Узы крови • Человек-невидимка • Чёрная лагуна • Эврика
Мультсериалы	Охотники за привидениями
Передачи	Страшно интересно (российского производства) • Фактор страха

Изнывающий от скуки Синигами Рюк бросает одну из своих Тетрадей смерти в мир людей. Просто так, потехи ради, посмотреть, что из этого выйдет.
Между тем, в Японии на школьной лужайке эту самую тетрадь находит Лайт Ягами — лучший ученик школы, сын полицейского. Заинтригованный инструкцией на обложке, он забирает тетрадь домой и пробует её в деле, вписав туда имя преступника. А вдруг сработает?
Вскоре весь мир замечает странные массовые смерти преступников, а в сети загадочного убийцу окрещают Кирой.
Для поимки Киры Интерпол привлекает легендарного детектива L, в одиночку раскрывавшего наиболее сложные и запутанные преступления. Кто такой L на самом деле — не знает никто.
Отныне в противостоянии Киры и L предстоит победить тому, кто первым раскроет истинную личность противника и раньше оппонента нанесёт удар.

Death Note (デスノート, Desu Nōto) is a manga series created by writer Tsugumi Ohba and illustrator Takeshi Obata. The series centers around a high school student who discovers a supernatural notebook that allows him to kill anyone by writing the victim’s name while picturing their face. The plot follows his attempt to create and lead a world cleansed of evil using the book, and the complex conflict between himself and those assailing him that results.

Publication

For a list of manga chapters, see List of Death Note chapters.

Death Note was first serialized by Shueisha in the Japanese manga magazine Weekly Shonen Jump from December 2003 to May 2006, with 108 chapters in total. The series has been published in its entirety in twelve volumes in Japan. Death Note was licensed for North American publication by Viz Media, and the first English-language volume was released on October 4, 2005. The manga has since been published in several different languages including English, German, Chinese, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish. Viz has released all twelve volumes of Death Note in English, as well as the How To Read 13 guidebook.

To date, Death Note has sold around twenty million copies in Japan and was nominated for Best Manga at the 2006 American Anime Awards.

On October 13, 2006, shortly after the release of the final volume, a guidebook titled Death Note 13: How to Read was published. The guidebook served as a series encyclopedia, including character files, a timeline, interviews and the like.

In January 2008, the booklet L FILE No. 15 was published with two additional one-shot chapters: L: The Wammy’s House and L: One Day. L: The Wammy’s House begins when Watari first brings L to the orphanage as a child, and L: One Day is about L as an adult.

In February 2008, a one-shot epilogue chapter was published in Weekly Shounen Jump. Set two years after the manga’s epilogue, it sees the introduction of a new Kira and the reactions of the main characters in response to the copycat’s appearance.

From 2010 to 2011, a set of six omnibus volumes with updated translations, titled the Black Edition, were released in English. Publication of said volumes began December 28, 2010 and ended November 1, 2011.

In 2012, fully colorized, digital volumes of the entire manga series were released online. In addition to the coloring, there are minor tweaks to some of the drawings.

On October 2, 2016, the Death Note All-in-One Edition was released. It is a reprint of the manga series compiled in a single omnibus volume.

Sometime in April 2019, it was announced that a new one-shot chapter would be released.^[2] It was physically released on February 4, 2020, in the March edition of Jump Square magazine. It was later announced December 2020 that a new compilation volume containing this chapter and various other self-contained one-shots would release February 4, 2021 in Japan. The volume is titled Death Note: Short Stories and is set to be released in English by Viz May 10, 2022.

Development and creation

Ohba said that he decided to create a suspense series because he did not feel that he could have created a «normal fight-style» series and that the genre had few suspense series. Ohba said that he did not derive the Death Note concept from any single source. He said that one day he thought of a concept involving Shinigami and «specific rules.»

After publication of the pilot chapter Ohba said that he did not expect for the series to be approved as a serialized comic as he thought it did not «fit with Jump.» Ohba said that when he learned Death Note received approval and that Obata would create the artwork he couldn’t even believe it. Due to positive reactions to the series Death Note became a serialized manga series.

Ohba created «thumbnails,» consisting of dialog, panel layout, and basic drawings, to be sent to Obata; the editor reviewed the thumbnails and sent them to Obata with the script set in stone and the panel layout «mostly done.» Obata determined the expressions and «camera angles» and created the final artwork. According to Ohba he concentrated on the «tempo» and the amount of dialog; he added that he had difficulty in keeping the text from being too long. Ohba said that he tried to make the story concise and did not want too much text as he believed that «reading too much exposition» would be «tiring» and that it would negatively affect the atmosphere and «air of suspense». Ohba set the basic characteristics of his characters while he allowed for Obata to influence the actual character designs. According to Ohba he did not derive the actual plot idea from one particular source. Regarding the backgrounds and props Ohba said that he put descriptions such as «abandoned building» and let Obata wield most of the creative power regarding the backgrounds and props.

Ohba said that when he decided on the plot he internally visualized the panels while «rolling around in bed,» drinking tea, or walking around his house; Ohba said that he needed to feel relaxed while visualizing the panels. After that he drew the panels on white paper in a «very simple manner.» The writer added that on many occasions the draft consisted of too many pages and he had to write drafts two or three times to find the desired «tempo» and «flow» for the chapter. Ohba added that he liked to read the previous two or four chapters very carefully to ensure consistency in the story.

Ohba said that his general weekly schedule consisted of five days to create and think about the creation and then use one day pencil and insert dialog into the rough drafts; according to Ohba, after this point he faxed the drafts to the editor. Obata also described his weekly schedule. He said that he usually took one day with the thumbnails, layout, and pencils and one day with additional penciling and inking. His assistants usually worked for four days and Obata used one day to add «final touches.» Obata said that sometimes he took an extra day or two to color pages and that this «messed with the schedule.» Ohba said that on some occasions he took three or four days to create a chapter while on other occasions he took a month to create a chapter. Obata said that his schedule remained consistent except when he had to create color pages.

Ohba and Obata rarely met in person during the creation of the serialized manga—they met with their editor, instead. The first time they met in person was at an editorial party in January 2004. Obata said that, despite the intrigue, he did not ask his editor about Ohba’s plot developments as he anticipated the new thumbnails every week. The two did not discuss the final chapters with one another and they continued to talk with the editor. Ohba said that when he asked the editor if Obata had said anything about the story and plot the editor responded «No, nothing».

Ohba said that the series ended more or less in the manner that he intended for it to end; Ohba considered the idea of L defeating Light Yagami with Light dying; he instead chose to use the «Yellow Box warehouse» ending. According to Ohba he had the details set from the beginning. Ohba wanted an ongoing plot line instead of an episodic series because Death Note was serialized and that Ohba wanted a series focused on a cast with a series of events triggered by the Death Note. Ohba used the Internet for research and did not go on any research trips.

Death Note 13: How to Read states that the humorous aspects of Death Note originated from Ohba’s enjoyment of comedy.

General creative process

For each chapter the creative process began with Ohba and moved to Obata; both authors took advice from the editor.

Ohba began each segment by creating a rough draft; he said that his main weakness was including too much information in each panel. Once each draft «goes through a few rounds» and the elements «are decided on» Ohba split the panels and «solidified» dialog, monologues, and everything else. Ohba included «specific art» in thumbnails if he believed it was needed. Obata took the thumbnails and edited «camera angles» and expressions exhibited by characters. Obata used the thumbnails as models for his final panels. When Obata decided on the content he began drawing. At this point in many cases Obata determined designs of newly introduced characters and items. After that the editor takes the pages and lettering, special effects, and other type are inserted into the pages; at that point the final drafts are finished.

Intent with the series

Ohba said that he did not have a theme that he wished to express throughout the series. Ohba said that if he had to choose one, he would select «Humans will all eventually die and never come back to life, so let’s give it our all while we’re alive.» He said that he did not intend for Death Note to push an ideology or make a statement about good and evil. Ohba said that Near’s statement in Volume 12 about deciding right and wrong is closest to his own personal belief. Ohba said that he understands how debate can form from the story; he also said that since the answers to the questions raised become «ideological» and that he believes this development would be «dangerous» and not «interesting in a manga.» Ohba decided not to include this aspect in Death Note.

As a response to the interview question «So the series is meant to be all about enjoying the plot twists and psychological warfare?» Ohba responded by saying that the statement is the reason why he was «very happy» to place the story in Weekly Shonen Jump. He said that, because Death Note is aimed at «the young» the reader can «push back ideology» and focus on «pure entertainment.» Ohba said that if he aimed the series at an older audience he would expect «more debate over the issues» and therefore he believed that the story would have had to develop in that direction. How to Read 13 states that debate about good and evil «sometimes» appears in the series and that the «answer» to the debate is left for the reader to decide.

Ohba responded to the question «If you had to say what the most important thing in Death Note is, what would it be?» by answering «The human whose name is written in this note shall die.» while Obata responded by answering «Impossible to say.»

Plot

Light Yagami is an extremely intelligent young man who resents the crime and corruption in the world. His life undergoes a drastic change in the year 2003, when he discovers a mysterious notebook, known as the «Death Note», lying on the ground. The Death Note’s instructions claim that if a human’s name is written within it, that person shall die. Light is initially skeptical of the notebook’s authenticity, but after experimenting with it, Light realizes that the Death Note is real. After meeting with the previous owner of the Death Note, a Shinigami named Ryuk, Light seeks to become «the God of the New World» by passing his judgment on those he deems to be evil or who get in his way.

Soon, the number of inexplicable deaths of reported criminals catches the attention of the ICPO and a mysterious detective known only as «L.» L quickly learns that the murderer, dubbed by the public as Kira, is located in Japan. L also concludes that Kira can kill people without laying a finger on them. Light realizes that L will be his greatest nemesis, and a game of psychological «cat and mouse» between the two begins.

Characters

Light Yagami

The protagonist of Death Note, Light is an extremely intelligent but bored 17-year old student. When he finds the Death Note, dropped in the human world by Shinigami named Ryuk, he decides to use it to kill all criminals and earns the title Kira. His ultimate goal is to cleanse the world of evil to create a utopia and then reign over this new world as its god.

L

L is one of the main antagonists of the series. He is the world’s best detective, tasked with tracking down and arresting Kira. As such, he is Light’s arch-enemy. His disheveled appearance masks his great powers of deduction and insight. L has many quirks, such as sitting in an odd manner, snacking on sweets constantly, and holding objects in a peculiar manner. He often takes drastic strategies to confuse and force the hand of his opponents. On several occasions he has willingly disclosed several of his weaknesses to Kira at the risk of his own life in the hopes that he would lure him into a trap.

Misa Amane

A girl with an immense crush on Kira, Misa is a popular idol in Japan. She is immature and tends to refer to herself in the third person in an attempt to be cute. Misa is completely devoted to Light, and she once said that she loved him at first sight. Light, however, only views her as an asset to his plans because of her Death Note and her Shinigami Eyes (which she obtained at the cost of half of her remaining life span, twice). Misa devotes herself to Light because he killed her parents’ murderer after several trials had failed to convict him.

Mello

Mello is an orphan who grew up at the Wammy’s House shelter for gifted children. Like Near, Mello was one of the candidates to become L’s successor. Similar to L’s fondness for sweets, he is often seen eating bars of chocolate. Although Mello is very intelligent, he often lets his emotions get the better of him. He also appears to be less secluded in terms of his friends and hobbies, and seems to be fond of biking. After leaving the orphanage, Mello joined the mafia and joined the race to bring down Kira.

Near

Near was a primary candidate to become L’s successor and refers to himself N during the course of his investigations. He shares a number of similarities with L. Much like how L plays with things such as sugar cubes and forks, Near is frequently shown playing with toys or his hair. Near also sits in an unusual manner similar to L, but with some slight differences. He offered to join forces with Mello to fight Kira, but Mello turned him down. Near then gained the support of the Government of the United States and formed the Special Provision for Kira.

Teru Mikami

Mikami is selected as the fourth Kira by Light, after Light decides that it is too dangerous for the Death Note to be near Misa or himself, since he and Misa are currently under surveillance by Aizawa and Mogi. A prosecuting attorney and adamant supporter of Kira, Mikami shares many of the same ideals, thoughts, and priorities as Kira, and is ecstatic when he discovers that Kira, his God, has chosen him, proving that God is on his side and watching. He is completely devoted and loyal to Kira, believing that divine justice must be brought down upon the people. Little is known about his personal life; he appears to have no hobbies or anything else of the sort. He chants «delete» with each name he writes down in the Death Note due to events in his past when he thought God was «deleting» the evil people in his life. He, like Misa, has made the exchange of half his remaining years for Shinigami eyes.

Ryuk

A Shinigami who dropped a Death Note into the human world, which Light would pick up. Acting out of pure boredom, Ryuk begins the story of Death Note on a whim. Ryuk is not Light’s ally, and in fact declares in their first meeting that someday he (Ryuk) would write Light’s name into his own Death Note. Ryuk often refuses to aid Light and instead enjoys watching him struggle for his goals. He acts for his own interests and entertainment, and often fails to tell Light key details about the Death Note. However, Ryuk will aid Light if it serves his own goals, such as providing amusement or obtaining apples, without which he suffers a form of withdrawal symptoms.

Rem

A female Shinigami who first gives Misa her Death Note and trades her for the Shinigami eyes. Similar to Ryuk, Rem possesses two Death Notes; however, she purposely gives one of them to Misa Amane. Rem inherited her second Death Note from Gelus, another Shinigami who died when he saved Misa’s life, and thought it only right to pass it on to Misa. Rem eventually inherits Gelus’s love for Misa as well and is prompt to defend Misa even at the cost of her life. Rem shows this when she states that she will kill Light if Misa dies before her time.

Pilot chapter

The original Death Note Manga Pilot published in Weekly Shonen Jump 2003 #36 included a rule stating that if the owner of the death note uses the Death Eraser to erase names in the Death Note, the victims come back to life if they have not been cremated. How to Read describes the pilot chapter as «more horror-based» and stated that it differed a lot from the Death Note series.

Yonkoma

Several Death Note Yonkoma (four-panel comics) appeared in Akamaru Jump. The yonkoma were written to be humorous.

The Akamaru Jump issues that printed the comics include 2004 Spring, 2004 Summer, 2005 Winter, and 2005 Spring. In addition Weekly Shonen Jump Gag Special 2005 included some Death Note yonkoma in a Jump Heroes Super 4-Panel Competition. How to Read 13 reprinted all of the yonkoma serialized in Akamaru Jump and the Weekly Shonen Jump Gag Special 2005.

Controversy

People’s Republic of China

Some schools in Shenyang, People’s Republic of China, have banned the manga after some of their students started to tease friends and teachers by altering a notebook to resemble a Death Note and writing their names in it. The newspaper Shenyang Night Report called Death Note «poison, creating wicked hearts.» One major Chinese newspaper felt that the ban is an overreaction and is inappropriate.

Beijing also has a ban on «horror stories» around schools to protect the «physical and mental health» of students, which includes local adaptations of Death Note. China itself is likewise trying to weed out pirated copies of the books and television series, as well as other Japanese horror magazines, where no legal publication house prints it. Wang Song of the National Anti-piracy and Anti-pornography Working Committee has said that the series «misleads innocent children and distorts their mind and spirit.»

Belgium

Main article: Manga Murder

On September 28, 2007, two notes referring to the Death Note series were found near the unidentified remains of a Caucasian male. The notes stated «Watashi wa Kira dess» which is an incorrect transliteration of «Watashi wa Kira desu» (私はキラです), meaning «I am Kira» in Japanese. Nothing was found on or near the victim besides these two notes, and the case remained unsolved for years. The media called the case the «Manga Murder» (Dutch: Mangamoord) and the murderer was referred to as the «Manga Killer» (Dutch: Mangadoder).

In 2010, three men were arrested in connection to the murder, and a fourth man was arrested for «failing to provide assistance to a person in danger.» In June 2013, the three men were convicted of the murder and sentenced to prison.

United States

A senior at the Franklin Military Academy in Richmond, Virginia, was suspended after being caught possessing a replica Death Note notebook with the names of fellow students.

In South Carolina in 2008, school officials seized a Death Note notebook from a Hartsville Middle School student. District officials link the notebook to the anime/manga. The notebook listed seven students’ names. The school plans a disciplinary hearing and has contacted the seven students’ parents. The principal, Chris Roger, sent letters to all the students’ parents saying, «Regardless of the origin of the book, we take the situation very seriously. The safety of our school family is always our top priority. We treat situations like this the same as if a student called in a bomb threat or brought a weapon to school. While there may not be any serious intent to do anyone harm, we cannot and will not take that chance with our students. We will take all steps necessary to ensure our students’ well-being.»

In Gadsden, Alabama, two 12-year-old sixth grade boys were arrested for possessions of Death Notes. It listed names of several staff members and fellow students. According to Etowah County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Lanny Handy, the notebook was found the previous afternoon by a staffer. The students were suspended from the county’s schools. The students, their parents, and school officials met with Handy and a junior probation officer.

Russia

In 2013, a fifteen-year-old girl from Yekaterinburg, Russia committed suicide by jumping off the roof of her home. In her room there was a suicide note reading, «I don’t want to live anymore,» and nearby it was four volumes of Death Note. A criminal investigation was opened to see if there was a correlation, and if the series had driven her to suicide. After this, there was a push to get the series banned from the country, even garnering the support of Pavel Astakhov, Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights.^[3]

In the end, the Investigative Committee of Russia ruled that the manga was not what had pushed the girl to suicide.^[4]

Reception to the series

Critical and audience reception

Death Note has been overwhelmingly praised, and it continues to be cited as one of the best manga series ever created. The twelve manga volumes have over 30 million copies in circulation.

Douglas Wolk of Salon Magazine said that a rumor circulated stating that the creators intended to create Death Note to last half as long as its actual run; according to Wolk the rumor stated that Ohba and Obata had been persuaded to lengthen the storyline when Death Note’s popularity increased. In addition he said that fans wrote «thousands» of Death Note fan fiction stories and posted them on the Internet.

Ohba and Obata’s reactions to the reception

Ohba said that since Obata drew the artwork he would take the blame if the series did not sell well, so he wanted the series to sell well. Ohba said the aspect of writing Death Note that «shocked» him was that the series generated more popularity than he anticipated. Obata said that he also felt shocked and elated by the success of the series. Obata added that the editor believed that it would have a «so-so» reception because «people have varied tastes.» Ohba said that the editor chose not to add advertising notices like «Now on sale, super popular!!» to chapter cover pages because the editor believed that the words «super popular» did not fit with the «feel» of Death Note. Ohba said that «I guess Death Note was meant to be solemnly popular.»

Ohba said that he believes that Death Note appeals to readers because of Obata’s «realistic art» and because the story is a sort «not usually seen in Jump.» Obata responded to the same question by saying that Death Note «didn’t seem like a typical Jump manga—although it actually was, really.» The two also said that they felt «very happy» while seeing Death Note adapted to video games, films, anime, novels, and other mediums.

Ohba said that he did not have a lot of awareness about the debate surrounding Death Note. He says that he remembered seeing a magazine article about the series and that the article was «too difficult for me to understand [laughs].» Ohba added that the creators did not intend for Death Note to be «such a noble piece of work.» Obata added that «some people may have been taking the series a little too seriously.» Obata recalled a television critic discussing the series and said that the broadcast was «so complicated I didn’t understand [laughs].» The two reiterated that the «deep philosophical themes» such as debates about whether Light is good or evil, «life and death,» and the «merits of our Internet society» differed from the intention to entertain.

Many users on the internet discussed future plot twists. Ohba said that he heard that this occurred but he had «no time» to see it. In addition he did not want the discussion to affect him and that he chose not to view the discussions. Ohba and Obata said that they felt glad that internet users discussed Death Note.

Adaptations

The Death Note manga series has had multiple adaptations and spin-off stories.

Anime series

• Death Note (2006-2007)
• Death Note Relight 1: Visions of a God (2007)
• Death Note Relight 2: L’s Successors (2008)

Live-action film series

• Death Note (2006)
• Death Note: The Last Name (2006)
• L: Change the WorLd (2008)
• Death Note: New Generation (2016) — Mini-series
• Death Note: Light Up the NEW World (2016)

Live-action adaptations

• Death Note: The Musical (2015, 2017)
• Death Note (2015) — Television drama series
• Death Note (2017) — Netflix’s American film

Music

• Sound of Death Note (2006) — Film soundtrack
• Sound of Death Note the Last Name (2006) — Film soundtrack
• Death Note Original Soundtrack (2006) — Anime soundtrack
• Death Note Original Soundtrack II (2007) — Anime soundtrack
• Death Note Original Soundtrack III (2007) — Anime soundtrack
• Sound of L Change the WorLd (2008) — Film soundtrack
• Death Note: The Musical (2015) — Musical soundtrack
• Death Note: Light Up the NEW World Original Soundtrack (2016) — Film soundtrack

Novels

• Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases (2006)
• L: Change the WorLd (2007)

Video games

• Death Note: Kira Game (2007)
• Death Note: Successors to L (2007)
• L the ProLogue to Death Note: Spiraling Trap (2008)

Navigation

Death Note series and adaptations
Manga 2003 — 2006 Film series 2006 — 2016 Anime 2006 — 2007 TV drama 2015 Musical 2015 American film 2017 Audio drama 2018 — 2019

External links

• Official site: j-deathnote.com (Japanese)
• Official site: deathnote.viz.com (English, North America)
• Official site: deathnote.com.au (English, Australia and New Zealand)

References

Death Note (デスノート, Desu Nōto) is a manga series created by writer Tsugumi Ohba and illustrator Takeshi Obata. The series centers around a high school student who discovers a supernatural notebook that allows him to kill anyone by writing the victim’s name while picturing their face. The plot follows his attempt to create and lead a world cleansed of evil using the book, and the complex conflict between himself and those assailing him that results.

Publication

For a list of manga chapters, see List of Death Note chapters.

Death Note was first serialized by Shueisha in the Japanese manga magazine Weekly Shonen Jump from December 2003 to May 2006, with 108 chapters in total. The series has been published in its entirety in twelve volumes in Japan. Death Note was licensed for North American publication by Viz Media, and the first English-language volume was released on October 4, 2005. The manga has since been published in several different languages including English, German, Chinese, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish. Viz has released all twelve volumes of Death Note in English, as well as the How To Read 13 guidebook.

To date, Death Note has sold around twenty million copies in Japan and was nominated for Best Manga at the 2006 American Anime Awards.

On October 13, 2006, shortly after the release of the final volume, a guidebook titled Death Note 13: How to Read was published. The guidebook served as a series encyclopedia, including character files, a timeline, interviews and the like.

In January 2008, the booklet L FILE No. 15 was published with two additional one-shot chapters: L: The Wammy’s House and L: One Day. L: The Wammy’s House begins when Watari first brings L to the orphanage as a child, and L: One Day is about L as an adult.

In February 2008, a one-shot epilogue chapter was published in Weekly Shounen Jump. Set two years after the manga’s epilogue, it sees the introduction of a new Kira and the reactions of the main characters in response to the copycat’s appearance.

From 2010 to 2011, a set of six omnibus volumes with updated translations, titled the Black Edition, were released in English. Publication of said volumes began December 28, 2010 and ended November 1, 2011.

In 2012, fully colorized, digital volumes of the entire manga series were released online. In addition to the coloring, there are minor tweaks to some of the drawings.

On October 2, 2016, the Death Note All-in-One Edition was released. It is a reprint of the manga series compiled in a single omnibus volume.

Sometime in April 2019, it was announced that a new one-shot chapter would be released.^[2] It was physically released on February 4, 2020, in the March edition of Jump Square magazine. It was later announced December 2020 that a new compilation volume containing this chapter and various other self-contained one-shots would release February 4, 2021 in Japan. The volume is titled Death Note: Short Stories and is set to be released in English by Viz May 10, 2022.

Development and creation

Ohba said that he decided to create a suspense series because he did not feel that he could have created a «normal fight-style» series and that the genre had few suspense series. Ohba said that he did not derive the Death Note concept from any single source. He said that one day he thought of a concept involving Shinigami and «specific rules.»

After publication of the pilot chapter Ohba said that he did not expect for the series to be approved as a serialized comic as he thought it did not «fit with Jump.» Ohba said that when he learned Death Note received approval and that Obata would create the artwork he couldn’t even believe it. Due to positive reactions to the series Death Note became a serialized manga series.

Ohba created «thumbnails,» consisting of dialog, panel layout, and basic drawings, to be sent to Obata; the editor reviewed the thumbnails and sent them to Obata with the script set in stone and the panel layout «mostly done.» Obata determined the expressions and «camera angles» and created the final artwork. According to Ohba he concentrated on the «tempo» and the amount of dialog; he added that he had difficulty in keeping the text from being too long. Ohba said that he tried to make the story concise and did not want too much text as he believed that «reading too much exposition» would be «tiring» and that it would negatively affect the atmosphere and «air of suspense». Ohba set the basic characteristics of his characters while he allowed for Obata to influence the actual character designs. According to Ohba he did not derive the actual plot idea from one particular source. Regarding the backgrounds and props Ohba said that he put descriptions such as «abandoned building» and let Obata wield most of the creative power regarding the backgrounds and props.

Ohba said that when he decided on the plot he internally visualized the panels while «rolling around in bed,» drinking tea, or walking around his house; Ohba said that he needed to feel relaxed while visualizing the panels. After that he drew the panels on white paper in a «very simple manner.» The writer added that on many occasions the draft consisted of too many pages and he had to write drafts two or three times to find the desired «tempo» and «flow» for the chapter. Ohba added that he liked to read the previous two or four chapters very carefully to ensure consistency in the story.

Ohba said that his general weekly schedule consisted of five days to create and think about the creation and then use one day pencil and insert dialog into the rough drafts; according to Ohba, after this point he faxed the drafts to the editor. Obata also described his weekly schedule. He said that he usually took one day with the thumbnails, layout, and pencils and one day with additional penciling and inking. His assistants usually worked for four days and Obata used one day to add «final touches.» Obata said that sometimes he took an extra day or two to color pages and that this «messed with the schedule.» Ohba said that on some occasions he took three or four days to create a chapter while on other occasions he took a month to create a chapter. Obata said that his schedule remained consistent except when he had to create color pages.

Ohba and Obata rarely met in person during the creation of the serialized manga—they met with their editor, instead. The first time they met in person was at an editorial party in January 2004. Obata said that, despite the intrigue, he did not ask his editor about Ohba’s plot developments as he anticipated the new thumbnails every week. The two did not discuss the final chapters with one another and they continued to talk with the editor. Ohba said that when he asked the editor if Obata had said anything about the story and plot the editor responded «No, nothing».

Ohba said that the series ended more or less in the manner that he intended for it to end; Ohba considered the idea of L defeating Light Yagami with Light dying; he instead chose to use the «Yellow Box warehouse» ending. According to Ohba he had the details set from the beginning. Ohba wanted an ongoing plot line instead of an episodic series because Death Note was serialized and that Ohba wanted a series focused on a cast with a series of events triggered by the Death Note. Ohba used the Internet for research and did not go on any research trips.

Death Note 13: How to Read states that the humorous aspects of Death Note originated from Ohba’s enjoyment of comedy.

General creative process

For each chapter the creative process began with Ohba and moved to Obata; both authors took advice from the editor.

Ohba began each segment by creating a rough draft; he said that his main weakness was including too much information in each panel. Once each draft «goes through a few rounds» and the elements «are decided on» Ohba split the panels and «solidified» dialog, monologues, and everything else. Ohba included «specific art» in thumbnails if he believed it was needed. Obata took the thumbnails and edited «camera angles» and expressions exhibited by characters. Obata used the thumbnails as models for his final panels. When Obata decided on the content he began drawing. At this point in many cases Obata determined designs of newly introduced characters and items. After that the editor takes the pages and lettering, special effects, and other type are inserted into the pages; at that point the final drafts are finished.

Intent with the series

Ohba said that he did not have a theme that he wished to express throughout the series. Ohba said that if he had to choose one, he would select «Humans will all eventually die and never come back to life, so let’s give it our all while we’re alive.» He said that he did not intend for Death Note to push an ideology or make a statement about good and evil. Ohba said that Near’s statement in Volume 12 about deciding right and wrong is closest to his own personal belief. Ohba said that he understands how debate can form from the story; he also said that since the answers to the questions raised become «ideological» and that he believes this development would be «dangerous» and not «interesting in a manga.» Ohba decided not to include this aspect in Death Note.

As a response to the interview question «So the series is meant to be all about enjoying the plot twists and psychological warfare?» Ohba responded by saying that the statement is the reason why he was «very happy» to place the story in Weekly Shonen Jump. He said that, because Death Note is aimed at «the young» the reader can «push back ideology» and focus on «pure entertainment.» Ohba said that if he aimed the series at an older audience he would expect «more debate over the issues» and therefore he believed that the story would have had to develop in that direction. How to Read 13 states that debate about good and evil «sometimes» appears in the series and that the «answer» to the debate is left for the reader to decide.

Ohba responded to the question «If you had to say what the most important thing in Death Note is, what would it be?» by answering «The human whose name is written in this note shall die.» while Obata responded by answering «Impossible to say.»

Plot

Light Yagami is an extremely intelligent young man who resents the crime and corruption in the world. His life undergoes a drastic change in the year 2003, when he discovers a mysterious notebook, known as the «Death Note», lying on the ground. The Death Note’s instructions claim that if a human’s name is written within it, that person shall die. Light is initially skeptical of the notebook’s authenticity, but after experimenting with it, Light realizes that the Death Note is real. After meeting with the previous owner of the Death Note, a Shinigami named Ryuk, Light seeks to become «the God of the New World» by passing his judgment on those he deems to be evil or who get in his way.

Soon, the number of inexplicable deaths of reported criminals catches the attention of the ICPO and a mysterious detective known only as «L.» L quickly learns that the murderer, dubbed by the public as Kira, is located in Japan. L also concludes that Kira can kill people without laying a finger on them. Light realizes that L will be his greatest nemesis, and a game of psychological «cat and mouse» between the two begins.

Characters

Light Yagami

The protagonist of Death Note, Light is an extremely intelligent but bored 17-year old student. When he finds the Death Note, dropped in the human world by Shinigami named Ryuk, he decides to use it to kill all criminals and earns the title Kira. His ultimate goal is to cleanse the world of evil to create a utopia and then reign over this new world as its god.

L

L is one of the main antagonists of the series. He is the world’s best detective, tasked with tracking down and arresting Kira. As such, he is Light’s arch-enemy. His disheveled appearance masks his great powers of deduction and insight. L has many quirks, such as sitting in an odd manner, snacking on sweets constantly, and holding objects in a peculiar manner. He often takes drastic strategies to confuse and force the hand of his opponents. On several occasions he has willingly disclosed several of his weaknesses to Kira at the risk of his own life in the hopes that he would lure him into a trap.

Misa Amane

A girl with an immense crush on Kira, Misa is a popular idol in Japan. She is immature and tends to refer to herself in the third person in an attempt to be cute. Misa is completely devoted to Light, and she once said that she loved him at first sight. Light, however, only views her as an asset to his plans because of her Death Note and her Shinigami Eyes (which she obtained at the cost of half of her remaining life span, twice). Misa devotes herself to Light because he killed her parents’ murderer after several trials had failed to convict him.

Mello

Mello is an orphan who grew up at the Wammy’s House shelter for gifted children. Like Near, Mello was one of the candidates to become L’s successor. Similar to L’s fondness for sweets, he is often seen eating bars of chocolate. Although Mello is very intelligent, he often lets his emotions get the better of him. He also appears to be less secluded in terms of his friends and hobbies, and seems to be fond of biking. After leaving the orphanage, Mello joined the mafia and joined the race to bring down Kira.

Near

Near was a primary candidate to become L’s successor and refers to himself N during the course of his investigations. He shares a number of similarities with L. Much like how L plays with things such as sugar cubes and forks, Near is frequently shown playing with toys or his hair. Near also sits in an unusual manner similar to L, but with some slight differences. He offered to join forces with Mello to fight Kira, but Mello turned him down. Near then gained the support of the Government of the United States and formed the Special Provision for Kira.

Teru Mikami

Mikami is selected as the fourth Kira by Light, after Light decides that it is too dangerous for the Death Note to be near Misa or himself, since he and Misa are currently under surveillance by Aizawa and Mogi. A prosecuting attorney and adamant supporter of Kira, Mikami shares many of the same ideals, thoughts, and priorities as Kira, and is ecstatic when he discovers that Kira, his God, has chosen him, proving that God is on his side and watching. He is completely devoted and loyal to Kira, believing that divine justice must be brought down upon the people. Little is known about his personal life; he appears to have no hobbies or anything else of the sort. He chants «delete» with each name he writes down in the Death Note due to events in his past when he thought God was «deleting» the evil people in his life. He, like Misa, has made the exchange of half his remaining years for Shinigami eyes.

Ryuk

A Shinigami who dropped a Death Note into the human world, which Light would pick up. Acting out of pure boredom, Ryuk begins the story of Death Note on a whim. Ryuk is not Light’s ally, and in fact declares in their first meeting that someday he (Ryuk) would write Light’s name into his own Death Note. Ryuk often refuses to aid Light and instead enjoys watching him struggle for his goals. He acts for his own interests and entertainment, and often fails to tell Light key details about the Death Note. However, Ryuk will aid Light if it serves his own goals, such as providing amusement or obtaining apples, without which he suffers a form of withdrawal symptoms.

Rem

A female Shinigami who first gives Misa her Death Note and trades her for the Shinigami eyes. Similar to Ryuk, Rem possesses two Death Notes; however, she purposely gives one of them to Misa Amane. Rem inherited her second Death Note from Gelus, another Shinigami who died when he saved Misa’s life, and thought it only right to pass it on to Misa. Rem eventually inherits Gelus’s love for Misa as well and is prompt to defend Misa even at the cost of her life. Rem shows this when she states that she will kill Light if Misa dies before her time.

Pilot chapter

The original Death Note Manga Pilot published in Weekly Shonen Jump 2003 #36 included a rule stating that if the owner of the death note uses the Death Eraser to erase names in the Death Note, the victims come back to life if they have not been cremated. How to Read describes the pilot chapter as «more horror-based» and stated that it differed a lot from the Death Note series.

Yonkoma

Several Death Note Yonkoma (four-panel comics) appeared in Akamaru Jump. The yonkoma were written to be humorous.

The Akamaru Jump issues that printed the comics include 2004 Spring, 2004 Summer, 2005 Winter, and 2005 Spring. In addition Weekly Shonen Jump Gag Special 2005 included some Death Note yonkoma in a Jump Heroes Super 4-Panel Competition. How to Read 13 reprinted all of the yonkoma serialized in Akamaru Jump and the Weekly Shonen Jump Gag Special 2005.

Controversy

People’s Republic of China

Some schools in Shenyang, People’s Republic of China, have banned the manga after some of their students started to tease friends and teachers by altering a notebook to resemble a Death Note and writing their names in it. The newspaper Shenyang Night Report called Death Note «poison, creating wicked hearts.» One major Chinese newspaper felt that the ban is an overreaction and is inappropriate.

Beijing also has a ban on «horror stories» around schools to protect the «physical and mental health» of students, which includes local adaptations of Death Note. China itself is likewise trying to weed out pirated copies of the books and television series, as well as other Japanese horror magazines, where no legal publication house prints it. Wang Song of the National Anti-piracy and Anti-pornography Working Committee has said that the series «misleads innocent children and distorts their mind and spirit.»

Belgium

Main article: Manga Murder

On September 28, 2007, two notes referring to the Death Note series were found near the unidentified remains of a Caucasian male. The notes stated «Watashi wa Kira dess» which is an incorrect transliteration of «Watashi wa Kira desu» (私はキラです), meaning «I am Kira» in Japanese. Nothing was found on or near the victim besides these two notes, and the case remained unsolved for years. The media called the case the «Manga Murder» (Dutch: Mangamoord) and the murderer was referred to as the «Manga Killer» (Dutch: Mangadoder).

In 2010, three men were arrested in connection to the murder, and a fourth man was arrested for «failing to provide assistance to a person in danger.» In June 2013, the three men were convicted of the murder and sentenced to prison.

United States

A senior at the Franklin Military Academy in Richmond, Virginia, was suspended after being caught possessing a replica Death Note notebook with the names of fellow students.

In South Carolina in 2008, school officials seized a Death Note notebook from a Hartsville Middle School student. District officials link the notebook to the anime/manga. The notebook listed seven students’ names. The school plans a disciplinary hearing and has contacted the seven students’ parents. The principal, Chris Roger, sent letters to all the students’ parents saying, «Regardless of the origin of the book, we take the situation very seriously. The safety of our school family is always our top priority. We treat situations like this the same as if a student called in a bomb threat or brought a weapon to school. While there may not be any serious intent to do anyone harm, we cannot and will not take that chance with our students. We will take all steps necessary to ensure our students’ well-being.»

In Gadsden, Alabama, two 12-year-old sixth grade boys were arrested for possessions of Death Notes. It listed names of several staff members and fellow students. According to Etowah County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Lanny Handy, the notebook was found the previous afternoon by a staffer. The students were suspended from the county’s schools. The students, their parents, and school officials met with Handy and a junior probation officer.

Russia

In 2013, a fifteen-year-old girl from Yekaterinburg, Russia committed suicide by jumping off the roof of her home. In her room there was a suicide note reading, «I don’t want to live anymore,» and nearby it was four volumes of Death Note. A criminal investigation was opened to see if there was a correlation, and if the series had driven her to suicide. After this, there was a push to get the series banned from the country, even garnering the support of Pavel Astakhov, Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights.^[3]

In the end, the Investigative Committee of Russia ruled that the manga was not what had pushed the girl to suicide.^[4]

Reception to the series

Critical and audience reception

Death Note has been overwhelmingly praised, and it continues to be cited as one of the best manga series ever created. The twelve manga volumes have over 30 million copies in circulation.

Douglas Wolk of Salon Magazine said that a rumor circulated stating that the creators intended to create Death Note to last half as long as its actual run; according to Wolk the rumor stated that Ohba and Obata had been persuaded to lengthen the storyline when Death Note’s popularity increased. In addition he said that fans wrote «thousands» of Death Note fan fiction stories and posted them on the Internet.

Ohba and Obata’s reactions to the reception

Ohba said that since Obata drew the artwork he would take the blame if the series did not sell well, so he wanted the series to sell well. Ohba said the aspect of writing Death Note that «shocked» him was that the series generated more popularity than he anticipated. Obata said that he also felt shocked and elated by the success of the series. Obata added that the editor believed that it would have a «so-so» reception because «people have varied tastes.» Ohba said that the editor chose not to add advertising notices like «Now on sale, super popular!!» to chapter cover pages because the editor believed that the words «super popular» did not fit with the «feel» of Death Note. Ohba said that «I guess Death Note was meant to be solemnly popular.»

Ohba said that he believes that Death Note appeals to readers because of Obata’s «realistic art» and because the story is a sort «not usually seen in Jump.» Obata responded to the same question by saying that Death Note «didn’t seem like a typical Jump manga—although it actually was, really.» The two also said that they felt «very happy» while seeing Death Note adapted to video games, films, anime, novels, and other mediums.

Ohba said that he did not have a lot of awareness about the debate surrounding Death Note. He says that he remembered seeing a magazine article about the series and that the article was «too difficult for me to understand [laughs].» Ohba added that the creators did not intend for Death Note to be «such a noble piece of work.» Obata added that «some people may have been taking the series a little too seriously.» Obata recalled a television critic discussing the series and said that the broadcast was «so complicated I didn’t understand [laughs].» The two reiterated that the «deep philosophical themes» such as debates about whether Light is good or evil, «life and death,» and the «merits of our Internet society» differed from the intention to entertain.

Many users on the internet discussed future plot twists. Ohba said that he heard that this occurred but he had «no time» to see it. In addition he did not want the discussion to affect him and that he chose not to view the discussions. Ohba and Obata said that they felt glad that internet users discussed Death Note.

Adaptations

The Death Note manga series has had multiple adaptations and spin-off stories.

Anime series

• Death Note (2006-2007)
• Death Note Relight 1: Visions of a God (2007)
• Death Note Relight 2: L’s Successors (2008)

Live-action film series

• Death Note (2006)
• Death Note: The Last Name (2006)
• L: Change the WorLd (2008)
• Death Note: New Generation (2016) — Mini-series
• Death Note: Light Up the NEW World (2016)

Live-action adaptations

• Death Note: The Musical (2015, 2017)
• Death Note (2015) — Television drama series
• Death Note (2017) — Netflix’s American film

Music

• Sound of Death Note (2006) — Film soundtrack
• Sound of Death Note the Last Name (2006) — Film soundtrack
• Death Note Original Soundtrack (2006) — Anime soundtrack
• Death Note Original Soundtrack II (2007) — Anime soundtrack
• Death Note Original Soundtrack III (2007) — Anime soundtrack
• Sound of L Change the WorLd (2008) — Film soundtrack
• Death Note: The Musical (2015) — Musical soundtrack
• Death Note: Light Up the NEW World Original Soundtrack (2016) — Film soundtrack

Novels

• Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases (2006)
• L: Change the WorLd (2007)

Video games

• Death Note: Kira Game (2007)
• Death Note: Successors to L (2007)
• L the ProLogue to Death Note: Spiraling Trap (2008)

Navigation

Death Note series and adaptations
Manga 2003 — 2006 Film series 2006 — 2016 Anime 2006 — 2007 TV drama 2015 Musical 2015 American film 2017 Audio drama 2018 — 2019

External links

• Official site: j-deathnote.com (Japanese)
• Official site: deathnote.viz.com (English, North America)
• Official site: deathnote.com.au (English, Australia and New Zealand)

References