The dark, intriguing tale of the Death Note was first presented to us in its manga form written by Japanese writer Tsugumi Ohba in 2004. Shortly afterward, VIZ productions adapted the story and in 2006 turned it into an award-winning anime television production that perfectly matched up with the quality of the much-loved manga book series.
The account is based on a young but incredibly smart high school student named Light Yagami who acquires the ability to kill human beings by picturing their faces and writing their names in a notebook that has been dropped from the supernatural realm of a Shinigami death god. If the cause of death is not stated, the person whose name is written in the book will die from a heart attack in the next forty seconds.
When Light decides to discreetly use the notebook as a way to bring criminals to justice, the number of deaths caused by heart attacks soon gets the government involved in what would become a very long and in-depth investigation. The suspense continues to grow when Light’s flawless abilities to deceive and manipulate are put to the test by top secret detective agent ‘L’ and his superb problem-solving skills, making for an amazingly compelling story.
Both the anime and manga have impacted me as well as the lives of many people around me. On December 25, I began watching the show and completed the series on Monday, January 2. I’ve never seen another anime that’s kept me and several people I know so intrigued.
Presently, I’m reading the manga series, which is just as entertaining. Fortunately, it’s got the same concept and the story moves along at a decent pace. Furthermore, I have tried to emulate the art and capture the artistic features of the characters by drawing portraits of Light, ‘L,’ and ‘N.’ Also, I have recommended “Death Note” to family and friends who were deeply impressed when I explained the story to them in a nutshell.
Of all television series and manga, Death Note is by far my favorite. This timeless story of good versus evil, originally told by Tsugumi Ohba, is sure to get you questioning whose side you should be on. Whether you read the manga or watch the anime, you’ll find yourself wondering why it’s so hard to choose between the characters and how difficult it is to differentiate between morality and immorality.