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Introduction
Death Note started as a Japanese manga in 2003 serialized by Shueisha in Weekly Shonen Jump, written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. The plot of Death Note centers on 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. The manga series went onto be published a series of graphic novels.
Death Note was then adapted into a pair of live-action films (released in Japan on June and November, 2006), and also became an anime series which went on the air in October of 2006. But it doesn't end there, a novelization of the series by light Nisio Isin was released in Japan during the Summer of 2006.
Unlike the live action movies, the anime series follows the manga's original storyline with just a few alterations on the character designs and order of facts, as well as a few additional scenes not featured in the manga.
Death Note Box Set 1
Anime DVD Review
I've been following Death Note on Cartoon Network (although it comes on so late, I'm turning into a vampire!) and I must say, it's a very, very complex series because it deals with issues we don't normally touch upon.
What if you had unlimited power over life? Would you do what Light tries to do, make the world a better place by eliminating everyone you deem "bad"? While Light's motives seem altruistic, in truth, he's no better than the people he kills because he sees their deaths as a way to advance his own agenda. Do we root for someone who kills without remorse, who uses the power within the notebook to serve himself?
Death Note is a suspense allegory about absolute power corrupting absolutely. The suspense comes from the cat and mouse game between the protagonist (Light) and the mysterious police detective tasked to bring him to justice. And frankly, it seems like neither of them are on the side of the law. But both of them seem to feel that the world needs their brand of justice.
Death Note is a sober reminder to be careful what you wish for, because sometimes, you might just get it.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, May 2009
Below: Images from the Death Note manga.
Below: Images from the Deth Note anime.
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