Wether what’s right or not, Death Note (in short DN, I will use it from now on) is attending that question, but not answering it. It sure presenting the two sides of the equation, but it either not answering it and nor trying to, the main story of DN is on another dimension, a mind game between two genius minds - Yagami Light and L. About the question above? Rather than DN isn’t attending to answer that it’s leaving to the watcher the choice to wether cheer on one of the sides and decide for themselves. Yes, there’s going to be dark sentences as “The world needs a better way”, and for the other side “Justice will always win”, but in the main story dimension it’s really doesn’t matter, there’s much more than psychological question for DN and that’s the mind game.
And that’s what really makes DN story being notable, if the story would revolve about “who’s right” the answer would be too much expected as the story is published in Shounen magazine and not Seinen one, those who would want this kind of stories that mixing the two dimension of psychological question what is good and what is wrong plus the mind game dimension, can find it in Monster which is in my opinion feels like Seinen version for DN. But since DN isn’t concentrating on that level, it’s letting the two sides being favourable at the same time without worrying that “why am I cheering for the bad side”, in the mind game level the only difference is whether on what level the other side will use, and that’s what make the suspense of DN roll.
Light for example, though to be the “dark hero” isn’t bad because he wants to kill people for the “Utopia” thingy, Ohba made his character being convincing enough that his way is sure the “good way”, he isn’t evil but have true ideology (though to have some evil aura around him). MadHouse truly succeeding in making Light background opinions clearly as being a high class student without any competition on the class, their introduction they made for us make us more recognise and realise where his ideology came from. One of the thing that’s so likeable in his character is mostly his believing in his action, some people can say he’s doing the wrong or good thing, but the way he presenting his ideas and making his “world” without evil making him deep enough character for anyone to love his writing (I was being careful not saying people will love his ideas, but how he’s wrote).
L on the other hand, felt to me much less the other side character, it’s not that he isn’t but the way he’s presented making me less feel his ideology - I will try to explain. L is the world best detective, once recruited for the Kira case he doesn’t really showing his ideology, he may be in the “light side”, but unlike Light who had worked hard convincing us he really thinks he can be the “ruler of the world”, L doesn’t have much to answer that, he just good and that’s what he is and doesn’t gives us much else on that, just being in the other side of the map. Though that being said, L character is still interesting in his own unique way, and perhaps Ohba felt that “weakness” I mentioned in L character so he went ahead making him with unique personality - goofy and seriousness mix with good balance that makes honest and true character that will be close to our heart. But still, the difference in the ideology “building up” felt missing in L.
In other two characters though, seems that Ohba didn’t had to sweat so much. One is Soichiro, the top detective of the NPA which doesn’t need to do much convincing why he’s on the other side of the map of justice, and besides have the feel of the more mature and adult character, these maturity is felt by his ideas and opinions, he really doesn’t need much to convince us why he’s sure in his way, and his actions along the series going through his “recipe” though lots going to happen.
The other is Matsuda, though to be really side character he still have the most interesting balance of ideology, which in one way he isn’t sure he’s against Kira but still being in the other side of the map, all the together with his comedic personality adds a lot of spice to the kinda heavy of the series. He’s maybe not the most bright person of DN, but that’s why he’s one character to develop a lot and add a lot to the anime, and the fact the he’s “side character” adding that a lot.
Might be little mention for kinda important character, but though Aizawa feels a true vessel in the detectives side, he have the more average feeling of them all, he have his development and good opinions alright, some major development his character alone is carrying along the story, but from all the characters he feels the more “stable but average” character. It doesn’t makes him bad, he sure have deep writing but he just feels like the more ordinary characters from all in DN. Though that’s to been said, I truly love his design along the series and how he can steal the show from time to time.
The true pearl of character in DN though is Ryuk, his true goal in DN is only to have fun and seeing the mind game from the sideline, his character design together with half funny and half serious personality truly takes the story in interesting ways, sometimes for his side notes and sometimes for his helpless in the development of the story. His natural side is what makes Ryuk great addition to dark and serious story to lighten the mood and feeling less tense, his appearance also can from time to time to bring the watcher another view of the things.
The first part of the story really makes what counts and how the story will be unfold in the next arc. Ohba truly does make great job balancing in delicate way of the supernatural of the Death Note with Light smartness without being seems like the Death Note itself is what makes Light crossing his obstacles on his way but his puzzle and detective mind. The more the story continues, the less the Death Note powers being used to his plans and more and more the mind game is unfold, ’till the first arc reaching it’s peak on ep10. Though the series is good after this point too, the first part will be reminded by everyone where DN truly makes Light and L shine.
The next arc though, has the first feeling of downhill on the series.
*spoilers alert from now*
Well, it’s not that the story is being bad or anything, and it more like a feeling of the continuity that makes the 2nd arc feels little differ from the first one, especially with the appearance of new character to the cast Misa.
It’s not that she’s bad character, but the way she were made at start let anyone feel little unease at start, her light and different style makes a lot of difference in the theme of the anime, and the way Ohba made her to be light minded and useable might angry some people. But as her characters makes twists in the story and makes Light work much harder, her unique characteristic start paying off, and as the story continues her character starting developing a bit though not being changed much she’s donating much more to the series, making her character maybe not the favourite but important and necessary.
But apart of her appearance and her actions in this arc, the thing that maybe makes the “downhill” feeling is probably due the less crossing obstacles that was the main first arc theme to more detective like them. Apart from that, the cat and mouse mind game is still on. The best part probably is Light and L friendship being strengthen, levelling up the whole mind game story, which have once again a great peak of it’s own.
The whole Yutsuba arc is doesn’t bad so much either. Sure, there ARE problems with this arc, but as climax of it comes it seems Ohba used it only as a ladder to the true meaning of all. Higuchu as Kira isn’t the best, but the story made us know already what kind of Kira he’s gonna be - lust for money and fame, Ohba made it out that Higuchu will fit to the rule fine, and Hugichi doing it great and steal the show with his cunning personality. The other Yutsuba members serving fine as business men, but it’s kinda pointless to write a lot about them when the anime didn’t cared but to so few of them. The story of DN was never the problem even in the Yutsuba arc. No, not here is where Death Note having bad problem, the problem starts with the appearance of Mello and Near.
The story here runs very fast, and though MadHouse did great job compressing the “Mafia arc” into small 3 episodes, its still suffering from the fact it isn’t the same story ‘till now, the director of the anime realised it well, and so the anime continue to run into the bad arc anyone knows as Near arc. It’s not that it’s bad, but it’s just not the same DN anymore, and the amount of build-up Ohba is making in the manga is stretching it’s limits, the anime made it kinda shorter somehow, and though to be better somehow it’s still suffers from the big issue - Near.
Mostly the most annoying character of the anime, though somewhat being “L” replacement, his personality and his method isn’t as L at all and makes the story run on straw rather than deep storyline like the first part of the anime. Though that even Light’s personality kinda changed in this part, Near personality can mad elephants, and the story he brings with his actions doesn’t feels the same deep feeling the anime gave us ’til now.
Though all that being said, the “ladder” feeling that the Yutsuba arc is feeling here as well, and as the anime came to it’s reach, it’s all kinda worth it. Though Near feels as Ohba’s tool to get there, we can somewhat forgive the deep downhill in the Near arc as the true story unfolding.
There’s also Mello, but the anime treated him as tool too, it’s hard worthing mentioning him. In the manga he have his potential fulfilled, but as the anime just ran ahead to make its point his character doesn’t show much of use. Still though, it’s not bad thing, the anime in the 2nd part of the story just seemed to wants to take the good part of the story. So yeah, though the anime kinda have miss or hit here, its doing best in doing that.
Story - (10 for part 1, 8 for part 2) / 10
Characters - (10 for part 1, 9 for part 2, 5 for Near) / 10
A good thing about DN manga Is Obata’s work on it, the seriousness of his art is inserting the much of Ohba’s story to different level, and honestly, MadHouse’s art for the anime isn’t even close to Obata’s quality. And have no doubt, I’m doubting there’s a studio out there that can really match the level of Obata’s work, but still MadHouse doesn’t say “failed” and give up, the serious tone is still there, it may not be Obata’s high level of work but it somehow still bring life to Obata’s seriousness story with good dark and serious tone to the colours of the series that gives enough justice to Obata’s work.
But as with every anime, there’s no 100% anime that doesn’t have flaws in animation and art, DN is one of them. There are one and more of those episodes that seems the animators tried their best, but some proportion weren’t as usual and effected some of those. But make not mistake, though those episodes still exists, it doesn’t effecting the overall animation and art of the series as those are very few. Exists and annoying, but very few.
With the animation and art dark and serious tone MadHouse gives there’s also a fitting OST to it, and one freaking OST that gives me the chills every time hearing it. There’s even a fitting OST to the more detective scene, mind game scenes and the mad scenes of the anime. It gives new meaning to each and every scene from the manga to be the exact tense it supposed to be. In this are, you can say MadHouse truly served the purpose of “anime” adaption to the manga, matching the seriousness and psychological tones of the manga in perfect animation and OST.
And while the 1st and the two other endings of the series are fitting the overall theme MadHouse succeeded giving to DN, the 2nd one feeling much less connected. It purposes are understandable to those who knows the series “mad” scenes, but no. it felt to me kind of hit or miss. While the 1st opening did serve great as opening to the series, and the two ending surely have lot of thoughts of being more than average ending compare to other anime. I still somehow liked the 2nd ending better.
Animation - 9.5
OST - 10
You know those shows (even not anime, drama movies and such) that have some mind blowing twists, and while the first watching is very entertaining, rewatching it is hard. Why is it? The twist was so darn good and all, but that twist have so main purpose in the story that in the second watch you just wait it to happen. Let along the show is good and so the rewatch is worth it for the good acting (in real shows) and directing and such, but the enjoyment from the story isn’t the same. I ran a lot to those kind of cases, Death Note on the other hand isn’t like this. Even rewatching it in the 10th time, the excitement and the depth of the story is still there, it will never bore me. And though I know already what’s going to happen, it’s still exciting as the first time.
You might call me obsessed, maybe I am, but I still haven’t found good anime like DN. it’s depth, it’s characters, in my free time I’m listening to the anime OST and songs. The quality of DN is something I haven’t found in any other anime, and it remains my top favourite ‘till those days. There’s those calling DN “gateway anime” and such, but while watching lot of other anime, I still haven’t found story with depth Obata gives to the characters and story. I may gave away Monster is like DN Seinen version, but even DN itself isn’t complete shounen with it’s dark and mature scenes, and while Monster is masterpiece of anime so is DN. In fact, MadHouse giving DN almost the same treatment they gave Monster, but it feels there’s much more to it with DN’s OST and such.
Still, DN is masterpiece of anime though all it’s downhills and such. It’s weak parts considered for me weak in term of DN, compare to other anime out there, even those weak parts are better. And MadHouse gives a lot of justice even to those weak parts.
Overall: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
