Since its debut, Death Note has captivated audiences with its razor-sharp mind games, moral complexities, and the unforgettable cat-and-mouse duel between Light Yagami and L. For newcomers and return viewers alike, the question often arises: which episodes are essential, and which ones can be skipped? Unlike many long-running shonen series that pad their run with original filler arcs, Death Note stands out as a tightly adapted mystery thriller. Still, the franchise extends beyond the 37-episode anime, and understanding what constitutes canon versus non-canon material is key to experiencing the story as the creator intended.

The Manga Foundation and Adaptation Fidelity

The core of Death Note is the manga series written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata, serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from December 2003 to May 2006. Across 108 chapters and 12 volumes, the manga established every major plot beat, every psychological gambit, and every character death that fans dissect today. The anime adaptation, produced by Madhouse and directed by Tetsurō Araki, aired from October 2006 to June 2007, covering the entirety of the manga’s narrative over 37 episodes. This means that, unlike series such as Naruto or Bleach, the Death Note television series contains no filler episodes invented solely to stall for the manga. Every single one of the 37 broadcast episodes directly adapts the source material, and as a result, the anime’s canon is remarkably clean.

To fully appreciate this, it helps to understand the distinction between canon and non-canon as they apply to anime. Canon material originates from the original work—in this case, the Ohba/Obata manga—and is considered the authoritative version of the story. Non-canon content, by contrast, includes original side stories, recap compilations with altered scenes, and live-action reinterpretations that may deviate from the established plot or character fates. In the Death Note universe, the anime’s 37 installments are the definitive canon, while everything else—movies, specials, light novels, and spin-offs—exists outside that primary narrative.

The Complete Canon Episode List (Episodes 1–37)

If you want to experience Death Note exactly as Ohba and Obata envisioned it, simply watch all 37 episodes in order. Each episode adapts several chapters and maintains the relentless pace of the manga. Below is the full list of canon episodes, along with a brief look at how the story arcs unfold.

  • Episode 1: Rebirth – Light Yagami finds the Death Note and meets Ryuk, setting the stage for his new world.
  • Episode 2: Confrontation – L confronts Kira via a global television broadcast, igniting the central battle of wits.
  • Episode 3: Dealings – Light makes a deal with Ryuk for the Shinigami Eyes, and the investigation tightens.
  • Episode 4: Pursuit – L narrows his suspects to Light’s region, and the psychological chase accelerates.
  • Episode 5: Tactics – The FBI agents sent to Japan become unwitting pawns in Light’s countermove.
  • Episode 6: Unorthodox – Light disposes of Raye Penber in one of his most chilling maneuvers.
  • Episode 7: Overcast – Naomi Misora, a brilliant fiancée on the trail, closes in on Light—with fatal consequences.
  • Episode 8: Glare – L installs surveillance cameras in the Yagami household, and Light adapts brilliantly.
  • Episode 9: Encounter – Light and L meet face to face for the first time at the university entrance ceremony.
  • Episode 10: Doubt – L reveals himself to Light and tests him directly, suspecting the truth from the start.
  • Episode 11: Assault – The second Kira, Misa Amane, makes her flamboyant entrance and sends a tape to Sakura TV.
  • Episode 12: Love – Misa locates Light using her Shinigami Eyes, and their destructive partnership forms.
  • Episode 13: Confession – Light manipulates Rem to kill L’s subordinate, tightening the noose around the investigation.
  • Episode 14: Friend – Light and Misa are confined and monitored; Light’s memory gambit begins.
  • Episode 15: Wager – Light forfeits ownership of the Death Note, wiping his memories and testing L’s resolve.
  • Episode 16: Decision – With both Light and Misa amnesiac, the investigation pivots to the Yotsuba Group.
  • Episode 17: Execution – The Yotsuba Kira’s methods and internal power plays come to light.
  • Episode 18: Ally – L recruits Light into the Task Force to catch the corporate Kira.
  • Episode 19: Matsuda – Matsuda infiltrates Yotsuba, and the pressure on the group mounts.
  • Episode 20: Makeshift – A new set of rules emerges, and the Task Force closes in on Higuchi.
  • Episode 21: Performance – The Task Force orchestrates a high-stakes trap to capture Higuchi in Sakura TV’s studio.
  • Episode 22: Guidance – Higuchi is cornered on the highway, and the Death Note returns to the investigation.
  • Episode 23: Frenzy – Light touches the Death Note, memories flood back, and he kills Higuchi in secret.
  • Episode 24: Revival – Light reclaims his Kira persona fully, and Rem eliminates L and Watari under duress.
  • Episode 25: Silence – L dies in Light’s arms, a thunderous turning point that forever changes the show.
  • Episode 26: Renewal – Light takes L’s place and the world enters the era of Kira’s undisputed reign, while Near and Mello emerge.
  • Episode 27: Abduction – Mello’s mafia kidnaps Sayu Yagami to trade for the Death Note, launching the final arc.
  • Episode 28: Impatience – Light scrambles to retrieve the notebook while the SPK, led by Near, observes.
  • Episode 29: Father – Soichiro Yagami makes the Shinigami Eye deal to confront Mello, a devastating sacrifice.
  • Episode 30: Justice – The Task Force raids Mello’s hideout, and Soichiro passes away with the truth in his eyes.
  • Episode 31: Transfer – Mello and Near exchange information, and Light begins fabricating a new Kira to mislead everyone.
  • Episode 32: Selection – Mikami is handpicked as the new Kira’s proxy, executing criminals with religious fervor.
  • Episode 33: Scorn – Near suspects Mikami’s schedule, while Mello acts independently to force Light’s hand.
  • Episode 34: Vigilance – The SPK and Task Force arrange the final warehouse confrontation.
  • Episode 35: Malice – Teru Mikami’s preemptive move, manipulated by Light, appears flawless.
  • Episode 36: 1.28 – The much-anticipated warehouse finale, where Near’s counter-trap is sprung and Light’s downfall begins.
  • Episode 37: New World – Light’s meltdown, the final judgment, and the bleak, resonant conclusion.

It is worth noting that some episode lists online incorrectly label “Episode 38” or “Episode 39” as non-canon specials. In reality, the Death Note television anime finished with Episode 37. The confusion often stems from re-releases or compilation edits that split the story differently, but as far as the original broadcast and official episode count, 37 is the final number.

What About Non-Canon Content in Death Note?

While the 37-episode television series is wholly canon, the Death Note franchise includes several ancillary works that are either abbreviated retellings, alternate continuities, or completely separate adaptations. None of these are required to understand the main story, but they can offer different perspectives—or simplified recaps—depending on your viewing goals.

The Relight Films: A Condensed Recap

In 2007 and 2008, Madhouse produced two feature-length OVA specials: Death Note Relight 1: Visions of a God and Death Note Relight 2: L’s Successors. These films recut the anime’s footage, trimming subplots and rearranging scenes to compress the narrative into roughly two hours each. The first Relight covers episodes 1–25 (up to L’s death) and adds a handful of new scenes, notably a whispered conversation between L and Light before L’s demise that deepens the sense of tragedy. The second Relight covers episodes 26–37, streamlining the Near-and-Mello arc. Because these movies include new dialogue and slightly altered events, they are considered non-canon supplements. They can be useful for a quick rewatch but lack the nuance, pacing, and internal monologues that make the full series so gripping.

Live-Action Japanese Films (2006–2008)

The early live-action adaptations by director Shūsuke Kaneko also introduced non-canon storylines. Death Note (2006) and Death Note: The Last Name (2006) cover roughly the same ground as the first 25 episodes but end with a drastically different fate for Light that diverges from the manga. A spin-off, L: Change the World (2008), invents an original yarn set during L’s final days. While these films captured public imagination and expanded the series’ popularity, their events are not part of the canon timeline. Similarly, the 2015 television drama and the 2016 film Death Note: Light Up the NEW World explore new characters and futures that exist outside the manga’s continuity.

Netflix’s 2017 American Adaptation

Adam Wingard’s Death Note for Netflix transplants the premise to Seattle and makes substantial changes to character backgrounds, rules of the notebook, and the story’s resolution. While it features Willem Dafoe as Ryuk and Lakeith Stanfield as L, the film is a standalone reinterpretation and is entirely non-canon in relation to the original Japanese work.

Light Novels and Spin-off Manga

Fans may encounter side stories like Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases (a prequel light novel focusing on L and Naomi Misora) or the one-shot manga chapters such as Death Note Special One-Shot (2020) set years after the original manga. These are considered supplementary material. The light novel, though written by Nisio Isin with original creator approval, isn’t directly referenced in the anime, so it occupies a gray area of extended canon that viewers can safely explore after finishing the series.

Why Stick to the Canon Episodes?

One of Death Note’s greatest strengths is its breakneck plotting. Every scene, from Light testing the notebook’s rules to the mind-bending memory gambit, serves a purpose. Skipping episodes or relying on condensed films removes crucial internal monologues and visual cues that define Light’s descent and L’s deductions. The anime’s score, by Yoshihisa Hirano and Hideki Taniuchi, also punctuates moments of tension in ways that a compressed cut cannot replicate. Most importantly, the 37-episode experience delivers the intended character arcs—Soichiro’s unwavering sense of justice, Misa’s tragic devotion, Near’s cold logic, and Mello’s reckless ambition—that together form the story’s ethical tapestry.

How you watch Death Note depends on your goals, but the following guides cover all reasonable paths.

For the Complete Canon Experience (First-Time Viewers)

  • Watch Episodes 1–37 in chronological order. Do not skip any installments. The intertitles, eye-catches, and cliffhangers are all part of the rhythm.
  • Consider pausing after Episode 25 if you need an emotional breather; the tonal shift after L’s death can be jarring.
  • Avoid the Relight films until you have finished the full series—they are best treated as bonus material.

For a Time-Saving Rewatch

  • Use the Relight films as a fast recap. Just be aware that several subplots (the Yotsuba arc’s finest details, Matsuda’s development, and certain strategic maneuvers) are truncated or removed.
  • Alternatively, watch specific arc high-point episodes: 1–2 (the setup), 7–9 (Naomi’s arc and L’s introduction), 24–25 (L’s downfall), and 36–37 (the finale).

For Fans Curious About Alternate Takes

  • After the canon anime, watch the live-action Japanese films if you enjoy reinterpretations. The 2006 duology offers a distinct, though non-canon, conclusion.
  • Read the Death Note Another Note novel for an L-focused mystery that slots neatly outside the main timeline but still respects character backgrounds.
  • Explore the 2020 one-shot manga, which introduces a new Kira in a modern context and is available on official platforms like Viz Media.

Where to Stream the Canon Series

As of 2025, the complete 37-episode anime is widely available on major streaming platforms. In North America, you can watch the subtitled and English dubbed versions on Crunchyroll and Funimation (now merged), though regional availability may vary. The series is also often found on Netflix in certain territories. Always verify that you are selecting the original television series (often labeled simply “Death Note”) and not a film compilation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a Death Note episode 38?

No. The television anime consists of 37 episodes. Some unofficial uploads or special DVDs may add recap episodes or the Relight movies separated into multiple parts, but these are not canonical broadcast episodes.

Should I watch the English dub or the original Japanese audio?

Both are excellent. The English dub, with Brad Swaile as Light and Alessandro Juliani as L, is widely regarded as one of the strongest dubs in anime history. The Japanese original features Mamoru Miyano and Kappei Yamaguchi in iconic performances. Choose based on your preference—either way, you will experience the full canon.

Can I skip the Yotsuba arc?

Technically the Yotsuba arc (episodes 16–22) is slower and shifts the focus to corporate scheming, but it is not filler. It is essential to Light’s memory gambit and the eventual capture of the notebook. Skipping it will leave significant narrative threads unraveled.

What about the director’s cut or special editions?

There is no official director’s cut that alters core canon events. The “Relight” films are the closest thing and are explicitly non-canon supplements. The television series as broadcast is the definitive version.

Conclusion

Death Note’s legacy endures because it trusts its audience to engage with a tightly woven narrative where every clue, every death, and every deduction matters. The anime’s 37 episodes are a complete, unadulterated canonical journey from Light Yagami’s first moral compromise to his final, desperate gambit. Non-canon material—whether the condensed Relight films or the various live-action adaptations—can be enjoyed as optional extras, but the core experience remains the manga adaptation that aired between 2006 and 2007. By watching all 37 episodes in order, you will witness one of anime’s finest psychological thrillers exactly as it was meant to be told.