The Original Anime Series: Where to Begin

Any journey through the Death Note universe must start with the 2006 anime adaptation produced by Madhouse. Spanning 37 episodes, this series is the definitive entry point. It introduces Light Yagami, a brilliant but bored high school student who comes across a supernatural notebook dropped by a shinigami named Ryuk. The rule is simple: any human whose name is written in the notebook will die. Light, disillusioned with the state of the world, decides to use this power to cleanse society of criminals, adopting the alias "Kira."

The anime masterfully adapts Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata's manga, running from October 2006 to June 2007. Director Tetsurō Araki tightens the pacing, particularly in the series' first half, delivering a taut psychological thriller. The soundtrack by Yoshihisa Hirano and Hideki Taniuchi, with its operatic chanting and guitar riffs, elevates every mental duel. Voice actors Mamoru Miyano (Light) and Kappei Yamaguchi (L) deliver performances that have become iconic in the industry. This is not just an introduction but the core experience, perfectly balancing moral philosophy with edge-of-your-seat mind games. Make this your first stop, no exceptions.

Expanding the Universe: The Relight Films

After completing the 37 episodes, you might be curious about the Death Note: Relight films. These two direct-to-video movies, released in 2007 and 2008, serve as condensed recaps of the anime series, re-edited with some newly animated scenes and altered audio. They are not a replacement for the series but offer a compelling alternative viewing for returning fans.

Death Note: Relight - Visions of a God covers the first half of the anime, where Light and the legendary detective L first clash. The framing device is unique: it presents the story as a conversation between a new shinigami and an unnamed old one, essentially revealing the events from Ryuk’s perspective hundreds of years later. This new context adds a layer of mythological distance to the epic conflict.

Death Note: Relight 2 - L's Successors summarizes the second half, focusing on the introduction of Near and Mello and the final resolution. While the second Relight rushes through significant plot points from the manga, it provides a few extra scenes that tie up loose threads more neatly than the original broadcast, particularly around Light’s final moments. Watching these after the series is useful for consolidating your understanding of the complex narrative, but skip them only if you are short on time; they are not essential to core canon.

The Manga: Reading Order and Its Relationship to the Anime

While this is primarily a watch order guide, ignoring the source material would be incomplete. The original Death Note manga, written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata, was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 2003 to 2006 and compiled into 12 volumes (tankōbon). The anime is a remarkably faithful adaptation of the first half but compresses and somewhat alters the second. To experience the complete, unaltered story and Ohba’s intricate plotting at its finest, the manga is necessary.

Read the main series in volume order, 1 through 12. Following the main story, you can move on to the one-shot chapters and sequel manga. Death Note: The a-Kira Story (2020) takes place years after the original, set in a world where Kira’s influence lingers, and a new protagonist receives the notebook. Death Note: Short Stories (2021) is a collection of various one-shots, including the debut pilot chapter and stories exploring older characters like Near. These are best read after finishing volume 12, as they assume full knowledge of the ending. For dedicated fans, the manga provides the deepest and most satisfying conclusion, with an epilogue chapter that the anime chose not to adapt fully.

Live-Action Adaptations: Multiple Takes on a Classic

Death Note’s influence quickly spread beyond animation, spawning several live-action films that reinterpret the material in distinct ways. None are a substitute for the anime, but they offer fascinating "what-if" scenarios and visual styles. The correct order to view these depends on whether you prioritize release chronology or tonal consistency. We recommend grouping them by region and creative team.

Japanese Films (2006, 2006, 2016)

The first two Japanese live-action films, directed by Shūsuke Kaneko, were released in 2006. Death Note and its immediate sequel Death Note: The Last Name were produced simultaneously and tell a complete, closed-loop story. They closely follow the anime’s first arc but diverge significantly in the second act, introducing an original ending that deviates from both the manga and the anime. The casting of Tatsuya Fujiwara as Light and Ken'ichi Matsuyama as the eccentric, crouching L is widely celebrated, with Matsuyama’s performance considered definitive by many live-action fans.

A decade later, Death Note: Light Up the New World (2016) serves as a direct sequel to those two 2006 films, not the anime or manga. Set ten years after Kira’s death, it introduces a cyber-terrorism angle and six new Death Notes falling to Earth. It features re-imagined successors to L and a new shinigami investigation. Watch this only after you have seen the 2006 Japanese duo, as it builds on their specific canon and character fates. All three are available on various streaming platforms; a quick search on sites like JustWatch will show current availability.

Netflix’s American Adaptation (2017)

Death Note (2017), directed by Adam Wingard, is an American reimagining that transplants the story to Seattle. This is the most controversial entry, drastically altering character personalities and the core premise. Light Turner (Nat Wolff) is a much more emotional and impulsive teenager than his calculated counterpart in the original. L (Lakeith Stanfield) is portrayed with a raw, unhinged intensity, and the dynamic hinges on a high-school setting and romantic subplots. Willem Dafoe voices Ryuk, providing a genuinely menacing presence that many fans appreciate, even if the rest of the film rarely matches his menace.

Because of its radical departure, this film should be watched completely independently and absolutely last. Viewing it before the anime or the Japanese films will create a deeply skewed understanding of the characters. Approach it as an alternate-universe experiment rather than a faithful translation. Its runtime is short (101 minutes), and it can be an interesting curio to see how the unfilmable mind games were adapted for a Western pace, but temper your expectations.

Spin-offs, Novels, and Manga Extensions

The Death Note intellectual property extends into light novels and side stories that flesh out specific characters. These are not visual media, but they hold canonical or semi-canonical weight and add rich texture to a full franchise consumption.

Novels: Los Angeles BB Murder Cases

Death Note: Another Note - The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases is a prequel light novel written by Nisio Isin (of Monogatari fame) in 2006. It is narrated by Mello and focuses on a young L investigating a series of bizarre murders in Los Angeles alongside FBI agent Naomi Misora. The novel brilliantly captures L’s deductive reasoning and introduces the unforgettable killer Beyond Birthday. It does not require visual media order, but reading it after finishing the anime or manga provides maximum emotional resonance, especially knowing Naomi’s eventual fate in the main story. This is a must-read for character enthusiasts.

Live-Action Television Drama (2015)

Often overlooked is the 2015 Japanese television drama, an 11-episode series that reinterprets Light Yagami as a more relatable, average college student rather than a flawless prodigy. Masataka Kubota’s Light begins with genuine doubt, and the series explores the cat-and-mouse game with L in a grittier, less stylized Tokyo. The drama includes more screen time for secondary characters and a revised ending. It’s a slow-burn interpretation that some prefer for its character depth. Include this after all Japanese films if you crave yet another version. It aired on NTV and may be available on niche streaming services or import DVD.

Musical and Audio Drama

For an entirely different texture, the Death Note: The Musical premiered in Japan in 2015, with music by Frank Wildhorn. It later had a Korean run and a 2023 London concert staging with an English cast. While no official pro-shot is widely available, cast albums can be streamed. The musical condenses the plot to L and Light’s rivalry and gives songs to Ryuk and Rem that frame the philosophical battle in soaring ballads. Additionally, the original Japanese anime’s soundtrack is available as a standalone auditory experience, but an official audio drama adaptation also exists in Japanese, offering a radio-play approach to the story.

The Definitive Watch and Read Order (With Explanations)

Given the sprawling nature of the franchise, a simple list doesn't convey why you should follow a particular sequence. The order below prioritizes narrative coherence and emotional buildup, ensuring the core thesis of the series isn’t diluted by alternate interpretations too early. It’s designed for a first-time audience member who wants to experience the phenomenon as close to its original, intended impact as possible.

  1. Death Note (2006-2007 Anime, 37 episodes)

    Reason: This is the foundation. Its controlled pacing, stellar voice acting, and full adaptation of the core conflict between Light and L will define all character archetypes in your mind. Watch the series in sequence; do not skip the second arc, as it completes Light’s descent.

  2. Death Note (Manga, Volumes 1-12, Optional but Highly Recommended)

    Reason: If you are a completionist, reading the manga immediately after the anime will highlight the nuances in character motivation that the tighter anime runtime had to sacrifice. The manga’s ending feels philosophically heavier and more poetic. The epilogue with the Kira worshippers is essential and unfilmed.

  3. Death Note: Relight 1 & 2 (OVAs)

    Reason: Now that the main story is solidified, the Relight films act as a cinematic recap with a fresh framing device. They let you re-experience the story through Ryuk’s detached, eternal perspective, adding a new thematic shade to Light’s legacy.

  4. Death Note: Another Note – The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases (Novel)

    Reason: This prequel sidestory slots perfectly before the Japanese live-action films, which also feature Naomi Misora briefly. Knowing her backstory enriches her small screen appearances in other adaptations. Read in print or digital formats.

  5. Death Note (2006 Japanese Live-Action Film) + Death Note: The Last Name (2006)

    Reason: Watch these two back-to-back as a double feature. They form one continuous narrative. The practical effects and Matsuyama’s physical embodiment of L offer a new appreciation for the character. The ending is a significant deviation—embrace it as an official “alternate timeline.”

  6. L: Change the WorLd (2008 Spin-off Film)

    Reason: Set in the 23 days that L has before his death in the 2006 film canon, this movie shows him solving one last case and protecting a girl. It’s a strongly character-driven piece for L fans and fits only in the Japanese film universe.

  7. Death Note: Light Up the New World (2016)

    Reason: The direct sequel to the two-part film saga. It brings closure to that timeline and introduces new shinigami rules. Some fans are divided, but it completes the cinematic trilogy launched in 2006.

  8. Death Note (2015 Japanese TV Drama)

    Reason: A full series reboot that grounds the fantastic elements. It works best here as you can appreciate the adaptation choices after seeing nearly every other version. Kubota’s less confident Light is a fascinating contrast to Fujiwara’s and Mamoru Miyano’s.

  9. Death Note: The a-Kira Story & Death Note: Short Stories (Manga)

    Reason: These are narrative epilogues and side experiments. Read them now as they canonically take place after the original manga. The Short Stories include a charming tale of Ryuk trying to get an apple and a story about Near’s successor, all best absorbed with complete knowledge of the world’s rules.

  10. Death Note (2017 Netflix Adaptation) – Last Resort

    Reason: This should be your final stop. By now, you understand the characters so deeply that you can view this as an experimental piece without it warping your perception. It’s a distant, Americanized echo of the original concept.

Common Pitfalls and Frequently Asked Questions

Can I skip the second half of the anime?

No. While many viewers note a drop in intensity after episode 25, the second half is critical to Light’s complete character arc. His arrogance, the shift in detective style from L to Near and Mello, and the moral cost of his actions only crystallize in the final episodes. The final confrontation on the staircase is one of the most memorable scenes in anime history. Skipping it leaves the philosophical debate unresolved. If you must, watch the Relight 2 film for a condensed version, but the 37-episode arc rewards patience.

Which is canon? The anime ending or the manga ending?

Both are valid within their own medium. The manga’s ending is generally considered the original, authorial vision, presenting Light’s death as pathetic and desperate—a deliberate thematic choice. The anime softens this slightly but remains true to the outcome. The Japanese live-action films create a wholly separate canon where Light dies differently and some characters survive. Accept each adaptation as its own continuity. You can find detailed comparisons on fan resources like the Death Note Wiki, though beware of spoilers.

What about the 2015 drama? Is it worth the time?

Yes, especially if you are fascinated by L and Light’s dynamic but want to see them in a more mundane world with less stylized direction. The drama explores cybercrime and modern surveillance technology more explicitly. The musical score by Takashi Ohmama is also notably different, using more piano-driven melancholy. It’s an 11-episode commitment and offers the most “realistic” take, so it’s a refreshing palate cleanser after the fantastical elements of the shinigami realm.

Where to Stream and Purchase

Accessibility changes frequently. As of now, the original anime series is widely available on streaming platforms such as Netflix (in many regions), Crunchyroll, and Hulu. The Japanese live-action films occasionally cycle through services like Amazon Prime Video or Tubi. The 2017 Netflix film is, naturally, on Netflix. For the manga, VIZ Media publishes the standard volumes and the all-in-one edition. Light novels and spin-off manga can be ordered through major retailers or your local bookstore. Always verify region-specific availability.

Death Note endures because its central question remains unanswered: if you had the power to kill anyone, would you, and what would that turn you into? Following this comprehensive guide ensures you experience every shade of that moral darkness in the right order, from the masterful original to the most experimental retellings.