Series Guide

Death Note

2006-2007 TV 2 arcs 37 episodes 0 movies 15 characters

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Death Note poster

Spoiler-Safe Summary

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Death Note follows Light Yagami, a brilliant high school student who finds a mysterious notebook — the Death Note — that belonged to a Shinigami (death god). Anyone whose name is written in the notebook dies. Light uses it to kill criminals, gaining a following as the god-like Kira, and the world's greatest detective L sets out to capture him.

Full Plot Summary

spoilers

Death Note opens in Japan with Light Yagami, an academically gifted high school student, finding a black notebook called the Death Note on the ground. He picks it up and reads its rules: if he writes someone's name while picturing their face, that person will die of a heart attack. A Shinigami named Ryuk appears, explaining he dropped the notebook. Light begins killing criminals, initially telling himself it is justice. The Kira case goes global and L, a legendary detective operating from the shadows, deduces that Kira is in Japan and a student. L challenges Kira publicly and the two engage in an intense psychological cat-and-mouse game, each trying to discover the other's identity. Light manipulates others, including the FBI agent Raye Penber and his fiancée Naomi Misora, to further his goals. Light uses his sister Sayu's boyfriend to get close to L and eventually engineers a plan to have L write his own name — but the death is faked. Light takes L's place as the new L. Later, Near and Mello, child prodigies who succeeded L, begin investigating Light. In a final confrontation, Light attempts to escape using a hidden pocket of the notebook but Mikami, his supporter in the Task Force, fails to write Near's name. Near exposes Light, who dies of a heart attack caused by Ryuk writing his name in the Death Note.

Watch Order

100% canon guide

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Story Arcs

2 entries
Episodes 1-19

First Half: Kira's Reign Arc

First Half: Kira's Reign Arc covers episodes 1-19, following Rebirth through Matsuda. The summary is tied to the corrected active TV episode spine so the arc can be reviewed without relying on legacy manga or placeholder numbering.

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19episodes 19canon 0filler
Episodes 20-37

Second Half: Confrontation Arc

Second Half: Confrontation Arc covers episodes 20-37, following Makeshift through New World. The summary is tied to the corrected active TV episode spine so the arc can be reviewed without relying on legacy manga or placeholder numbering.

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18episodes 18canon 0filler

Episode Guide

37 / 37 entries

Characters

15 entries

Official Hub

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Series FAQ

4 answers
How many episodes does Death Note have?

Death Note has 37 episodes in the current AnimeAnchor baseline, with 37 canon episodes and 0 filler episodes.

Does Death Note have movies?

Death Note has 0 movie entries in this guide. Movies are kept separate from TV episodes so recuts, specials, and theatrical releases do not distort episode numbering.

Can I avoid spoilers on this Death Note page?

Yes. The spoiler-safe summary is visible first, while the full-plot summary is hidden behind a reveal control on the series page.

How are arcs handled for Death Note?

Death Note is organized into 2 story arcs with episode ranges and canon/filler counts.