"Death note" redirects here. For the message written prior to a suicide attempt, see Suicide note.
This article is about the manga and anime franchise. For the live-action films based on the series, see Death Note (film).
Death Note
デスノート
(Desu Nōto)
Demographic

Shōnen
Genre

Psychological thriller, Supernatural thriller
Manga
Author

Tsugumi Ohba (story)
Takeshi Obata (art)
Publisher

Flag of Japan Shueisha
[show]Other publishers:
Flag of Canada Flag of the United States Viz Media
Flag of Italy Panini Comics
Flag of Germany Tokyopop
Flag of Hong Kong Animation International (Chinese)
Flag of Singapore Chuang Yi Publications (Chinese)
Flag of the Republic of China Tong Li Comics
Flag of Spain Glénat
Flag of Poland Japonica Polonica Fantastica
Flag of Brazil JBC
Flag of Belgium Flag of the Netherlands Kana
Flag of Thailand Nation Edutainment
Serialized in

Flag of Japan Weekly Shonen Jump
Flag of Malaysia Arena Komik
Original run

December 2003 – May 2006
Volumes

12
TV anime
Director

Tetsurō Araki
Writer

Toshiki Inoue
Studio

Madhouse
Licensor

Flag of Japan VAP
Flag of the United States Flag of Canada Viz Media
Flag of Australia Flag of New Zealand Madman Entertainment
Network

Flag of Japan NTV
Flag of the United States Adult Swim
Flag of Canada YTV
[show]Other networks:
Flag of the Philippines GMA Network
Flag of Hong Kong TVB Jade (Chinese), Animax (Japanese)
Flag of the Republic of China Animax
Flag of Thailand TrueVisions
Original run

October 4, 2006 – June 26, 2007
Episodes

37
Novel: DEATH NOTE Another Note Los Angeles BB Renzoku Satsujin Jiken
Author

Ishin Nishio
Publisher

Flag of Japan Shueisha
Flag of Canada Flag of the United States Viz Media
Published

August 1, 2006
Volumes

1
Game: Death Note Kira Game
Developer

Konami
Publisher

Konami
Genre

Action
Rating

CERO: A (All Ages)
Platform

Nintendo DS
Released

Flag of Japan February 15, 2007

Death Note (デスノート, Desu Nōto?) is a Japanese manga series created by writer Tsugumi Ohba and illustrator Takeshi Obata. The series primarily centers around a high school student who decides to rid the world of evil with the help of a supernatural notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it.

Death Note was first serialized by Shueisha in the Japanese manga magazine Weekly Shonen Jump from the first issue in December 2003 to May 2006, with 108 chapters in total. The series has been published in its entirety in 12 tankōbon volumes in Japan and in North America. The series has been adapted into a pair of live-action films released in Japan on June 17, 2006 and November 3, 2006, and an anime series which aired in Japan from October 3, 2006 to June 26, 2007. Also, a novelization of the series, written by light novelist Ishin Nishio, was released in Japan on August 1, 2006.


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 Death Note's authenticity, believing it is just a prank. However, after experimenting with it and killing two criminals, Light is forced to admit 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 criminals.

Soon, the number of inexplicable deaths of reported criminals catches the attention of the International Police Organization and a mysterious detective known only as "L". L quickly learns that the serial killer, dubbed by the public as "Kira" (derived from the Japanese pronunciation of the word "Killer"), 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.