Despite its short length, Death Note has been recognized alongside iconic, long-running anime and manga classics for its focused yet high-impact storytelling.
Author Tsugumi Ohba has succeeded in creating one of the most popular manga and anime franchises of all time, gaining a worldwide following.
Fans often debate which finale would end this acclaimed series better, as the anime and manga portray the downfall of protagonist-turned-antagonist Light Yagami differently.
Ultimately, the manga offers a more satisfying ending by explicitly punishing Light’s turn to evil. On the contrary, the ending of the anime somewhat redeems Light’s evil personality and actions.
Regardless of taste, Death Note distills gripping supernatural drama into a compact story that resonates deeply with readers and viewers around the world.
Death Note Manga and Anime ending
Death Note has achieved immense popularity and is considered one of the most compelling stories in manga and anime.
At the center of the plot is Light Yagami, an exceptionally gifted student who might have achieved great success if he hadn’t accidentally found the Death Note and then gone on a killing spree.
Light’s downfall begins on the fateful day he acquires a supernatural notebook that has the power to kill anyone whose name is written inside.
Initially enamored with the idea of serving justice by eliminating criminals, Light adopts the persona “Kira” and begins systematically eliminating evildoers.
However, Light eventually abandoned his righteous intentions and continued killing to satisfy his personal whims, beginning his downward spiral.
Despite his inevitable death, fans still debate which version – the manga or the anime – provides a more fitting outcome for Light becoming a villain.
Regardless, Death Note is still a parable about the corruption of power and the fall into immorality.
The anime depicts Light’s downfall after a failed attempt to eliminate his rival Near revealing his identity as Kira. His follower, Teru Mikami, commits suicide to create a distraction, allowing an injured Light to escape, but he meets his ultimate fate when Ryuk writes his name in the Death Note at sunset.
This ending paints Light as more of a fallen hero than the mentally disturbed killer he becomes.
In contrast, the manga mercilessly fleshes out the character of Light, clearly conveying the inevitable destruction of those bent on evil.
As Light’s elaborate plots fall apart, the manga highlights his psychology unraveling through his deranged rants as he desperately justifies his evil actions.
Although his death mirrors that of the anime, the manga depicts it in a more brutal manner, emphasizing the message that immorality will eventually have unpleasant consequences.
Where the anime shows some sympathy for Light, the manga clearly conveys the cost of abandoning justice for malice, providing a more impactful ending.
More information about Death Note
The story opens in Tokyo, where disillusioned high school student Light Yagami discovers a mysterious notebook called the “Death Note”.
He soon learns that anyone whose name is written inside will die within seconds, as long as the writer visualizes their target’s face.
Initially skeptical, Light tests the Death Note and confirms its power by killing high-ranking Japanese criminals, then sets his sights on international criminals.
Five days later, Light meets Ryuk, a bored creature from another world who dropped a Death Note into the human world for fun.
When criminals across the globe began dying in unexplained accidents, the media dubbed the mysterious executions the work of “Kira,” which comes from the Japanese word for “villain.” killing”.
To capture Kira, Interpol recruits mysterious detective L, who tricks Light into revealing general information about his neighborhood in Japan.
Angry at being hindered, Light vows revenge on L while evading suspicion from the police force commanded by his father, Soichiro. L recruits Light into the Kira investigation team to keep a close eye on him as the main suspect.
What follows is a tense game of cat and mouse between prodigies Light and L, each trying to expose the other amid escalating Kira murders across the globe.
The story becomes more complicated with the introduction of Misa Amane, an actress and model who received a Death Note from the reaper Rem. Misa makes a deal to have the reaper’s eyes reveal people’s names and remaining lifespan by halving her own remaining time.
Seeking Light’s feelings, Misa discovers his identity as the original Kira. However, Light only intends to take advantage of her infatuation and death eyes to find out L’s real name.
Discovering that she is the second Kira, L captures Misa, causing Rem to threaten Light if any harm comes to Misa.