Death Note

Death Note is a highly successful Japanese manga series.

A manga is a style of Japanese comic book. This specific series was written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. It was serialized in the magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from December 2003 to May 2006. The story is famous for its suspenseful plot and psychological battles. By April 2015, the manga had over 30 million copies in circulation. This massive number makes it one of the best-selling manga series in history.

The plot centers on a brilliant high school student named Light Yagami. While in Tokyo, Light discovers a mysterious black notebook called the Death Note. This notebook originally belonged to a Shinigami, or death spirit, named Ryuk. Ryuk dropped the book into the human world because he was bored. The notebook contains specific rules that allow a person to end another's life. To use it, the writer must know the target's true name and face. Once written, the person dies within seconds.

Light decides to use the notebook to change the world. He targets high-profile criminals to create a crime-free society. He uses the alias Kira to hide his identity from the public. As criminals die, global media begins to suggest a single mastermind is responsible. This leads to a massive investigation by the Japanese police and Interpol. An enigmatic detective known as L begins the hunt for Kira. The story becomes a high-stakes game of wits between Light and L.

As the investigation progresses, new characters and complications emerge. A woman named Misa Amane obtains a second Death Note from a Shinigami named Rem. Misa makes a deal for "Shinigami eyes," which allow her to see names. This ability costs half of her remaining lifespan. Light eventually uses Misa's devotion to his cause to further his own plans. Later in the series, L's potential successors, Near and Mello, enter the chase. Mello joins the mafia, while Near works with the United States government.

Death Note has expanded into many different types of media. A 37-episode anime television series was produced by the studio Madhouse. This adaptation was directed by Tetsurō Araki and aired between 2006 and 2007. There are also several live-action films from Japan and an American film released on Netflix. The franchise includes a light novel by Nisio Isin and various video games. Konami published games for the Nintendo DS, and a social deduction game called Death Note: Killer Within was released in 2024.

The creation of the manga involved a unique collaborative process. Ohba and Obata rarely met in person during the serialization. Instead, they communicated through their editor to coordinate the story. Ohba focused on the "tempo," or the speed and flow of the dialogue. He wanted to ensure the writing was concise to maintain a sense of suspense. Obata handled the visual elements, such as panel layouts and camera angles. He also had artistic license to design the specific look of the Death Notes.

The production followed a very strict weekly schedule. Ohba would spend several days creating and thinking about the script. He would then fax his initial drafts to the editor for review. Obata used a system of "thumbnails," which are rough sketches used for planning. He then spent time on detailed penciling and inking. His assistants worked four days a week to help complete the artwork. This disciplined teamwork allowed them to maintain a consistent weekly release for years.