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Death Note

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Death Note
File:Deathnote01.jpg
The cover for Death Note Vol.1
GenreShōnen, Drama, Mystery, Psychological, Supernatural, Detective fiction
Manga
Written byTsugumi Ohba (story)
Takeshi Obata (art)
Published byJapan Shueisha
Canada United States VIZ Media
Taiwan Tong Li
Singapore Chuang Yi Publications (Chinese)
Anime
Directed byToshiki Inoue
StudioMadhouse

Death Note (デスノート) is a Japanese manga series written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. It was serialized by Shueisha in Weekly Shonen Jump from the first 2004 issue, to May 2006, with 108 chapters in total. The series has been published in its entirety in 12 tankōbon/graphic novels. Death Note has been licensed for American publication by VIZ Media and began to be released in October 2005; as of August 2006, translated versions of 7 of the 12 volumes have been published. Two Live-Action movies based on the story are currently in production, with the first one released on 17th June 2006, and the second one due in October 2006.[1]. There is also an anime based on the manga series to be released in October 2006.[2] To date, Death Note has sold 18 million copies.[3]

Plot outline

Main article: Death Note/Detailed Plot Outline

Raito(Light) Yagami is the top high school student of Japan who has until recently led a boring and uneventful life. That changed very quickly when he found a mysterious notebook with the title "Death Note" on it, lying on the ground one day in the year 2003. Although initially skeptical, after realizing that the "Death Note" is a Shinigami's tool with the power to kill anyone whose name is written on its pages, Light decided to use it to "cleanse" the world of evil.

Soon the many unexplainable deaths of reported criminals was noticed, and Light becomes hunted by the Japanese police force and a mysterious detective known as "L." L quickly discovers that the murderer, that the publics dubs "Kira," is located in Japan, and that he can kill just by knowing someone's face and name. Light realizes that L is just as cunning, if not more intelligent than himself, and begins a cat and mouse chase with L to see who will be the first to have their identities exposed.

Characters

This section contains basic information about the most important characters in Death Note, with as few spoilers as possible, though some may still be present.

Main article: Characters of Death Note

Template:Spoiler

Main characters

Light Yagami

Light Yagami/Kira (夜神 月, Yagami Raito)

Both the protagonist and antagonist of Death Note, which is rare in manga storytelling. An intelligent young man who picked up the Death Note dropped in the human world by Ryuk, a Shinigami (death god, literal translation). He decides to use the Death Note to kill all criminals, with the ultimate goal of cleansing the world of evil and creating a utopia.

After several incidents, his goal changes from creating a utopia to creating the world in his image and bending the world to his will. As he now possesses the power of death over both human and Shinigami, he is on his way to becoming more powerful than god.

File:L from Death Note.gif
L

L (Ryuuzaki/Ryuuga)

The world's top rated detective, tasked with tracking down and arresting Kira. His disheveled appearance masks his great powers of deduction and insight. He has many quirks, such as sitting in an odd manner and snacking on sweets in the middle of meetings. His intelligence matches or exceeds Light Yagami's. He often takes drastic strategies to confuse and force his opponents.

By traditional measures of storytelling, L (Ryuzaki by nickname) is the main hero of the story. He has dedicated his life to catching Kira. On several occasions he willingly discloses several of his weaknesses to Kira at the risk of his own life in the hopes that he will lure Kira into a trap and catch him.

Misa Amane (弥 海砂, Amane Misa)

A young girl who has an immense crush on Kira. She is a famous model, and tends to wear clothing in Gothic Lolita style. She is immature and has a tendency to refer to herself in the third person in an attempt to be cute.

Misa's parents were killed on the street, the criminal - due to the lack of evidence - was released. When she heard of Kira, a person who kills criminals that police and officials cannot arrest (and those they already have but have not tried/sentenced), she felt the need to be with him to join him on his crusade against criminals.

Misa is totally devoted to Light, and she has said once 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" power, that she obtained at the cost of half of her remaining life span.

Shinigami (The Death Gods)

Ryuk (リューク, Ryūku)

The Shinigami who dropped a Death Note in the human world, which was subsequently picked up by Light. It was revealed that Ryuk did that out of boredom, as there was little to do in the Shinigami world. It was revealed in the fourth volume of the manga that Ryuk obtained a second death note by tricking the King of Death into giving him another one. Ryuk has a great fondness for apples. He tells Light that apples are to Shinigami as what cigarettes and alcohol are to humans; if he goes too long without one his withdrawal symptoms are that he stands on his head and twists his body into a pretzel-like shape. This is seen in volumes 3,4, and 5.

Rem (レム, Remu)

Misa's Shinigami. Rem cares deeply for Misa, and is willing to do anything to protect her from harm even if it costs her her life. Although Rem is female, there is no distinction between male and female shinigami.

Gelus (ジェラス, Jyerasu)

Gelus appeared in volume 4 when Rem explained how to kill a Shinigami. In a flashback, Gelus looked down at Misa in the human world with Rem wondering behind him how she would die. Then it was revealed that Gelus was in love with her and killed Misa's destined murderer with his Death Note. A few minutes later Gelus himself died, turning to sand and rust, and his lifespan was transferred to Misa.

Investigation Team

A group of Japanese police officers, led by Soichiro Yagami, tracking down Kira alongside L.

Soichiro Yagami (夜神 総一郎, Yagami Sōichirō)

Light's father and leader of the investigation team, dedicated and determined to arrest Kira at any cost. He cares a lot for his family.

Tota Matsuda (松田 桃太, Matsuda Tōta)

The most outspoken member in the investigation team. Although most of the Investigation Team are adamant that what Kira is doing is wrong, Matsuda wavers on the fence, often speaking his mind without thinking - questioning if what Kira is doing is in fact right. He's also the most easily fooled by Light, who he trusts with absolute certainty. Despite his excitable and naive personality, Matsuda has managed to survive quite a few dangerous situations. Furthermore, when he discovers who Kira is, he becomes engulfed in his personal feelings.

Kanzo Mogi (模木 完造, Mogi Kanzō)

Mogi is one of the most dedicated members of the investigation team. He remains mostly silent. This silence was marked when he refused to answer Near's questions about the Japanese Investigative Team, even when he was clearly affected by the theories that Near was presenting to him. He collects data quickly and efficiently for the team. Later on, he is one of the first members who begins to warm up to Near's theory that Light is Kira.

Shuichi Aizawa (相沢 周市, Aizawa Shūichi)

Aizawa chose to leave the investigation team and remain in the police force, when L offered the investigation team members the choice of quitting and returning to the life of a normal police officer. He continued assisting the investigation team as a member of the Japanese police force after he left.

Watari (ワタリ)

L's assistant. Acts as logistics to the investigation team. He runs a shelter for gifted young children such as L, Mello, and Near. Also, as evidenced during the police chase at the end of volume six, he is an experienced sniper.

Other characters

Sachiko Yagami (夜神 幸子, Yagami Sachiko)

Light's mother and Soichiro's wife. She plays a minor role in the storyline, unaware of Light's possession of the Death Note.

Sayu Yagami (夜神 粧裕, Yagami Sayu)

Light's younger sister. She plays a minor role in the main storyline, unaware of Light's possession of the Death Note.

Raye Penber (レイ・ペンバー)

A member of an FBI team sent to Japan to investigate the Kira killings.

Naomi Misora (南空 ナオミ, Misora Naomi)

A former FBI agent. Engaged to Raye Penber.

The rules of the Death Note

Main article: Rules of the Death Note

Written rules

Before the series begins, Ryuk writes instructions in English inside his Death Note, because he believed that English is the most widely used language in the world.

  • The human whose name is written in this note shall die.
  • This note will not take effect unless the writer has the subject's face in their mind when writing his/her name. Therefore, people sharing the same name will not be affected.
  • If the cause of death is written within 40 seconds of writing the subject's name, it will happen.
  • If the cause of death is not specified, the subject will simply die of heart attack.
  • After writing the cause of death, the details of the death should be written in the next 6 minutes and 40 seconds.

The Shenyang Incident

Some schools in Shenyang, China have banned the manga after some of their students started to tease friends and teachers by altering a stationery to resemble a Death Note and writing names of people they don't like in it.

The newspaper Shenyang Night Report called Death Note, "Poison, creating wicked hearts." Others however, including one major Chinese newspaper, feel that the ban is an over-reaction and is inappropriate. Some have suggested that overreactions such as these are what stifle creativity in China. [4]

Movies

Death Note is also being adapted to the big screen, spanning two movies. The first one premiered in Japan on June 17, 2006 and topped the Japanese box office for two straight weeks. It is largely faithful to the manga (excepting the addition of the girlfriend, Shiori), starting with Light in university and flashing back a year or so to him receiving the Death Note. It ends with his first meeting with L. The second movie is scheduled to premiere in October 2006. A trailer is available at: [5]. An early review of the just released Japanese film can be found here.[6]

Cinema Topics Online has confirmed that there are plans for an American screening of these movies and even an American remake, depending on their commercial success.

Theme Songs

Cast

Trivia

  • In the first volume over 1000 people were killed[citation needed].
  • Throughout the manga L is usually seen eating or playing with different sugary foods, Near is usually seen playing with some toys, and Mello is usually seen eating chocolates.
  • There are 108 chapters in the Death Note manga series. In Japan, at the end of the year, a bell is chimed 108 times to finish the old year and welcome the new one. Each ring represents one of 108 earthly temptations a person must overcome to achieve nirvana.
  • The last name of the writer and of the mangaka have opposite meanings. Ohba means a large area/square, while Obata means a small field.
  • The font L, Watari, Aiber and others use on their televsion and monitor screens is Cloister Black Light.
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