Death Note

What is Death Note about?

Death Note is a TV anime series of 37 episodes animated by MADHOUSE, adapted from a manga. It aired from October 4, 2006 to June 27, 2007. AniList classifies it as mystery, psychological, supernatural and thriller.

Synopsis from AniList, which credits VIZ Media. The summary above it is written by FreeAnime.xyz from AniList's data.

Themes AniList users associate with it: Crime, Detective, Anti-Hero, Male Protagonist, Fugitive, Police, Philosophy, Primarily Adult Cast, Noir, Gods.

Main characters

Characters AniList lists in a main role, with spoiler-free notes.

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  L Lawliet エル・ローライト

  Main character

  L Lawliet is a world-renowned detective who takes on the challenge of catching Kira. In his investigation, L becomes suspicious of Light Yagami and makes it his goal to prove that Light is Kira. L is very secretive and only communicates with the world through his assistant, Watari.

  Japanese voice: Kappei Yamaguchi

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  Ryuk リューク

  Main character

  The original Shinigami who dropped the Death Note in the human world, which Light Yagami ended up picking up. Acting out of pure boredom, Ryuk begins the story of Death Note on a whim. Perhaps neutral by nature, Ryuk often refuses to aid Light and instead enjoys watching him struggle for his goal.

  Japanese voice: Shidou Nakamura

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  Light Yagami 夜神月

  Main character

  Light is a third year high school student (12th Grade) at Daikoku Private Academy who also attends supplemental classes at Gamou Prep Academy in the beginning of the story. Light has a father, Soichiro Yagami, who is the head of the Police Force.

  Japanese voice: Mamoru Miyano

• 

  Mihael Keehl ミハエル・ケール

  Main character

  Mello is the older of L's two successors raised in Wammy's House, Watari's orphanage for gifted children, in Winchester, England, United Kingdom. Similar to L's fondness for sweets, Mello is often seen eating bars of chocolate. Mello has an excellent mind and that he sometimes lets his emotions get in his way.

  Japanese voice: Nozomu Sasaki

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  Nate River ネイト・リバー

  Main character

  Near is the younger of L's two successors raised in Wammy's House—Watari's orphanage for gifted children, in Winchester, England. Of the successors, Near is the more level-headed one, able to remain calm and calculated, while the other, Mello, is more emotional and quick to act. The two of them share a strong rivalry.

  Japanese voice: Noriko Hidaka

• 

  Misa Amane 弥海砂

  Main character

  Misa is a famous model, singer and actress and has an immense crush on Light Yagami. She usually refers to herself in the third person by calling herself "Misa-Misa" and tends to be hyperactive. She poses as the second Kira to attract the attention of the first Kira.

  Japanese voice: Aya Hirano

Supporting characters

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  Teru Mikami 魅上照

  Supporting character

  A young man with a strong feeling for justice, and who worships Kira and refers to him as "God". He is prepared to help Kira by any means, even if it means sacrificing his own life. Mikami works as a lawyer, and was bullied for standing up for what is right when he was younger in school.

  Japanese voice: Masaya Matsukaze

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  Rem レム

  Supporting character

  Rem is the Shinigami who first gives Misa her Death Note and Shinigami eyes. Similar to Ryuk, Rem possesses two Death Notes; she purposely gives a Death Note to Misa. Rem inherited her second Death Note from Jealous, another Shinigami who died when he saved Misa's life, and thought it only right to pass it on to Misa.

  Japanese voice: Kimiko Saitou

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  Touta Matsuda 松田桃太

  Supporting character

  Recognized as the most outspoken member of the investigation team, Matsuda possesses an enthusiastic yet impulsive and naïve personality, often lacking the seriousness required for his work.

  Japanese voice: Ryou Naitou

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  Souichirou Yagami 夜神総一郎

  Supporting character

  Souichirou Yagami is Light's father and the leader of the remains of his investigation team under L's command. He is a kind man with a strong sense of justice. He cares greatly for his family and the members of the Japanese Task Force. He is a serious and responsible man that gains the respect of many.

  Japanese voice: Naoya Uchida

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  Kyosuke Higuchi 火口卿介

  Supporting character

  Kyosuke Higuchi is the head of Technology Development at the Yotsuba Corporation and one of the eight members of the Yotsuba Group: a group inside of the Yotsuba Corporation that uses the Death Note to kill individuals from competing companies to dominate the business industry.

  Japanese voice: Issei Futamata

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  Reiji Namikawa 奈南川零司

  Supporting character

  Namikawa is the Vice President of Sales of the Yotsuba Corporation. He initially encourages the Yotsuba Kira. He is seen as the "most talented" of the board members who has the potential to "make it to the top" without Kira. He has a talent in shogi at the professional 4-dan level. He detests useless subordinates.

  Japanese voice: Hirofumi Nojima

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  Arayoshi Hatori 葉鳥新義

  Supporting character

  Arayoshi Hatori is one of the eight members of the Yotsuba Group.

  Japanese voice: Yukitoshi Tokumoto

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  Masahiko Kida 樹多正彦

  Supporting character

  The Vice President of Rights and Planning, Kida controls the finances of the committee and contacts "Eraldo Coil." How to Read 13 describes him as "calm and collected." However he is not able to "deal with surprises," leading him to panic when "Eraldo Coil" asks for more money.

  Japanese voice: Masaki Aizawa

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  Tierry Morello ティエリ・モレロ

  Supporting character

  A professional con-man, Aiber is hired by L for his skills. He was proven helpful in playing the role of Eraldo Coil in the Yotsuba Arc, and in coaching Misa for her interview with the Yotsuba group. He died from liver cancer on 7 April, 2005.

  Japanese voice: Takuya Kirimoto

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  Mary Kenwood メリー・ケンウッド

  Supporting character

  Wedy, real name Mary Kenwood, is a professional burglar in the employ of L. She installs bugs in the Yotsuba Group's meeting room to secretly observe the group's weekly meetings. She does the same for Higuchi's car, allowing the team to watch his desperate attempts to kill Matsuda.

  Japanese voice: Miki Nagasawa

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  Quillsh Wammy キルシュワイミー

  Supporting character

  Watari is L's assistant, providing logistics to the investigation team. Before the team is formed, he is the only person who has seen L, and the only one capable of contacting L directly. Like L, he represents himself with an Old English "W" on computer screens. He is also a fatherly figure to L.

  Japanese voice: Kiyoshi Kobayashi

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  Shidoh シドウ

  Supporting character

  Shidoh is a Shinigami whose Death Note is stolen by Ryuk. In fact, Ryuk takes his Note and gives it to Light, which becomes Higuchi's note and is finally passed on to Mello's gang (more specifically, Mello's subordinate, Kal Snyder (also known as Jack Neylon)). Shidoh has a great liking for chocolate.

  Japanese voice: Kazuki Yao