Protagonist
Light Yagami
A genius student whose god complex turns him from idealist into something monstrous.
The story
What's it about?
Top student Light Yagami finds a notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it. Believing he can purge the world of evil, he becomes the vigilante 'Kira' — and draws the attention of L, the world's greatest detective. What follows is the most famous cat-and-mouse mind game in anime.
Meet the main characters
Deuteragonist
Ryuk
The bored shinigami who dropped the Death Note into the human world for entertainment.
Antagonist
L Lawliet
The eccentric, cake-loving detective who suspects Light from day one — his intellectual equal and opposite.
Side characters
Ally
Misa Amane
A famous model and the second Kira, devoted to Light.
Police chief
Soichiro Yagami
Light's own father, leading the task force hunting Kira.
Successor
Near
L's cold, toy-playing successor who picks up the chase.
Successor
Mello
L's other heir, who plays by far dirtier rules.