Death Note is one of those animes that remains etched in your memory. First, because the story could have had absolutely any type of protagonist, which makes the audience fantasize about having the famous murderous notebook. Second, because it's an intelligent plot, which confronts inflated egos with advanced and sharp intellects. Third, because it proposes an impossible fantastic world framed in the real world, making this story even closer, intriguing and entertaining. Probably the best part is the first two thirds of the total episodes, because then everything declines to situations that are too convenient for the development of the general plot. Also, in the last third there are new characters similar to others who had already served their time on screen, wasting potential new arcs with new and unexplored crossroads. Fortunately the ending is on par with the best Death Note offered. A dramatic anime, full of mystery, suspense, action and dark characters, seemingly unbeatable and with rounded endings. In terms of aesthetics, Death Note is within the general style of 2000's anime, efficiently mixing 2D animation with 3D buildings, vehicles and machinery. The character design fits within Japanese animated folklore, although it's notable that there were several teams of animators throughout the series, since the level and quality of the animation, both of the characters and the environment, are uneven. Death Note remains one of the great recommendations for someone who is entering the world of Japanese animation and for those who like detective mysteries.

10/10 This was my first foray into the world of anime (shows, at least). From the minute it began until the credits of the finale, I was hooked. Are some things overdramatized to the point of being close to goofy? Yes, but it’s part of the experience. These characters are insanely good. It was very interesting to watch Light’s corruption and downfall, to the point where he completely cracks in the finale. Ryuk was way funnier than I was expecting. L was very odd, yet endearing. So was Near. All of the side characters were great too: Chief Yagami, Matsuda, Mikami, and Rem, just to name a few. The only character I actually have an issue with is Misa. She gets pretty annoying whenever she doesn’t have a Death Note. That’s not a huge issue, though. The English dub for this is actually good. The characters are well acted. The score to Death Note was incredible. The mix of electric guitar and piano fit surprisingly well. The animation was good, but there were many scenes where it got to truly shine. What Death Note is best at is surprising its audience. There are so many twists and turns throughout the story, with the second and third Death Notes chief among them. A lot of the main killings were surprising (and haunting) as well; Ray Panber and his fiancé, for example. The internal monologues are something to behold. The most cited one is probably L and Light’s tennis match, but the coffee shop and Ryuk’s final monologue are all amazing as well. Speaking of which, the finale to this show was just perfect. The tension in the warehouse... just incredible. Having Light lose was the right call. Seeing Matsuda’s reaction to the reveal that Light was Kira was insane too. It all worked very well.

A notebook falls from the sky & a human who writes a name in it is capable of killing the individual pictured in his mind. Intoxicated by the powers of Death Note, a brilliant high school student Light Yagami sets out in a quest to make this world a better place by eliminating all the criminals. His killings catch the attention of an enigmatic detective L who resolves to do everything in his power to stop Light. What follows is a deadly game of cat & mouse between them. Death Note is a Japanese anime based on the manga written by Tsugumi Obha & Takeshi Obata. It's written with such intelligence & ruthlessness by masterfully building suspense that seizes our attention. The soundtrack bursting with doom fits the mood and the tone of the show. Light & L are some of the most interesting & intellectual characters that I have ever seen. Light's charismatic yet extremely demented persona gives us the reason to watch his conquests & failures. He's not a hero but more like an anti-villian. With the power of Death Note, he begins considering himself as the God, harbinger of death, the persona of justice, Kira. L's quirky yet highly intelligent qualities rivals Light. But L knows that Light is no God just a brat with a false sense of justice. They are both unique & likeable in their own ways. The efforts of the two trying to outsmart & manipulate each other without getting discovered generates palpable tension & keeps us on the edge of our seats. This is an excellent series that would leave the viewers wondering what they would have done with the Death Note.