Editing Death Note (section)

==Reception==
===Manga===
By April 2015, the ''Death Note'' manga had over 30 million copies in circulation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mantan-web.jp/2015/04/20/20150419dog00m200024000c.html|script-title=ja:DEATH NOTE ： 日テレで今夏連ドラ化決定 ニアも登場|work=Mainichi Shimbun Digital|date=April 20, 2015|access-date=April 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422031147/http://mantan-web.jp/2015/04/20/20150419dog00m200024000c.html|archive-date=April 22, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> On [[ICv2]]'s "Top 10 Shonen Properties Q2 2009", ''Death Note'' was the third best-selling manga property in North America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/15498.html|title='ICv2 Insider's Guide' #67: Top 10 Shonen|date=July 30, 2009|publisher=[[ICv2]]|access-date=August 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803102702/http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/15498.html|archive-date=August 3, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> The series ranked second on [[Takarajimasha]]'s ''[[Kono Manga ga Sugoi!]]'' list of best manga of 2006 and 2007 for male readers.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:【公式発表!!】『このマンガがすごい！』歴代ランキング作品を一挙大公開!!|url=http://konomanga.jp/special/86773-2/|website=[[Kono Manga ga Sugoi!]]|publisher=[[Takarajimasha]]|access-date=March 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161207194341/http://konomanga.jp/special/86773-2|archive-date=December 7, 2016|language=ja|date=December 1, 2016}}</ref> It was nominated for the 38th [[Seiun Award]]s in the Best Comic category in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sf-fan.gr.jp/awards/2007.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070406182617/http://www.sf-fan.gr.jp/awards/2007.html|archive-date=April 6, 2007|script-title=ja:2007年星雲賞|publisher=[[Nihon SF Taikai]]|language=ja|access-date=March 21, 2022}}</ref> The manga received the Grand Prize of Best Manga and Best Screenplay at the [[Japan Expo|Japan Expo Awards 2007]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 10, 2007|title=Japan Expo - Manga Awards - Les résultats.|url=https://www.manga-news.com/index.php/actus/2007/07/10/Japan-Expo-Awards-les-resultats|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930155809/https://www.manga-news.com/index.php/actus/2007/07/10/Japan-Expo-Awards-les-resultats|archive-date=September 30, 2015|access-date=May 30, 2022|website=Manga-News|language=fr}}</ref> The series won the 2008 [[Eagle Award (comics)|Eagle Award]] for Favourite Manga as voted by UK fans.<ref>{{cite news|last=Loo|first=Egan|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-05-14/uk-fans-give-eagle-award-to-death-note-manga|title=UK Fans Give Eagle Award to Death Note Manga|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=May 14, 2008|access-date=August 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808060242/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-05-14/uk-fans-give-eagle-award-to-death-note-manga|archive-date=August 8, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> According to a survey conducted in 2007 by the [[Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology|Ministry of culture of Japan]], occupies the tenth place among the best manga of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japanprobe.com/2007/06/08/the-top-50-manga-series/|title=The Top 50 Manga Series|publisher=Japan Probe|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120702232859/http://www.japanprobe.com/2007/06/08/the-top-50-manga-series/|archive-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref> It also received several nominations such as Best Manga at the 2006 [[American Anime Awards]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/10043.html|title=Finalists for the American Anime Awards|date=February 8, 2007|publisher=[[ICv2]]|access-date=May 30, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707033210/http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/10043.html|archive-date=July 7, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/10138.html|title=American Anime Award Winners|date=February 26, 2007|publisher=[[ICv2]]|access-date=February 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402055544/http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/10138.html|archive-date=April 2, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> the 2007 [[Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-05-10/11th-annual-tezuka-cultural-prize-winners-announced|title=11th Annual Tezuka Cultural Prize Winners Announced|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=December 27, 2007|access-date=August 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725084957/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-05-10/11th-annual-tezuka-cultural-prize-winners-announced|archive-date=July 25, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> an Official Selection at [[Angoulême International Comics Festival]] 2008,<ref>{{cite news|last=Koulikov|first=Mikhail|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-01-22/manga-nominated-for-awards-at-angouleme-festival|title=Manga Nominated for Awards at Angouleme Festival|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=January 22, 2008|access-date=August 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703135121/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-01-22/manga-nominated-for-awards-at-angouleme-festival|archive-date=July 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> and Obata was nominated for Best Penciller/Inker at the 2008 [[Eisner Award]]s.<ref>{{cite news|last=Loo|first=Egan|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-04-14/manga-listed-among-eisner-award-nominees-for-2008|title=Manga Listed Among Eisner Award Nominees for 2008|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=April 14, 2008|access-date=August 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140823123905/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-04-14/manga-listed-among-eisner-award-nominees-for-2008|archive-date=August 23, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2007, the first three volumes of ''Death Note'' were on the [[American Library Association]]'s 2007 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten list.<ref>{{cite web|title=2007 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten|publisher=American Library Association|url=http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/greatgraphicnovelsforteens/annotations/07toptengn.cfm|access-date=June 28, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415082431/http://ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/greatgraphicnovelsforteens/annotations/07toptengn.cfm|archive-date=April 15, 2009}}</ref>

Douglas Wolk of ''[[Salon (magazine)|Salon]]'' said that a rumor circulated stating that the creators intended to create ''Death Note'' to last half as long as its actual run and Ohba and Obata had been persuaded to lengthen the storyline when ''Death Note''{{'}}s popularity increased, noting that the rumor "makes sense, since about halfway through the series, there's a point that seems like a natural ending". In addition, he said that fans wrote "thousands" of ''Death Note'' [[fan fiction]] stories and posted them on the internet.<ref>{{cite web|title=Death strip|url=http://www.salon.com/2007/07/26/death_note/|last=Wolk|first=Douglas|date=July 26, 2007|website=[[Salon (magazine)|Salon]]|access-date=August 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924184827/http://www.salon.com/2007/07/26/death_note/|archive-date=September 24, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2006, Japanese fans pointed out the similarities between ''Death Note'' and the 1973 [[one-shot manga]] {{Nihongo|''The Miraculous Notebook''|不思議な手帖}} by [[Shigeru Mizuki]]. Comipress reported that the only difference between the story and ''Death Note'' is that there are no ''shinigamis''.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Origin of Death Note?|url=http://comipress.com/article/2007/01/08/1287|publisher=Comipress.com|date=January 8, 2007|access-date=August 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605001232/http://comipress.com/article/2007/01/08/1287|archive-date=June 5, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

''[[Anime News Network]]'' writer Zac Bertschy called ''Death Note'' a "surprisingly gripping and original suspense tale that raises a handful of interesting questions about morality". He noted that the difference between the series and other manga from the same demographic was very big due to the murders the main character commits as well as how he hides his identity of Kira. Although Bertschy mentioned some manga readers will be surprised with the dark themes of ''Death Note'', he praised the series for its "great art, great story, [and] compelling characters".<ref>{{cite news|last=Bertschy|first=Zac|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/death-note-gn-1|title=Death Note GN 1|date=September 29, 2005|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=June 8, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090607111516/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/death-note-gn-1|archive-date=June 7, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> Briana Lawrence from the same website stated that what makes ''Death Note'' so interesting is that there is no villain, "instead it had two opposing sides that both believe in the same thing: justice". She felt that once vital characters fading into the background, the ending brings back what the fans loved about the first volume and the supporting cast are "given a chance to shine". She also mentioned that the epilogue made no mention of what happens with [[Misa Amane]] and how Near and Mello were still treated like parts of L.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lawrence|first=Briana|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/death-note/gn-12|title=Death Note GN 12|date=August 5, 2007|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=June 8, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140919110645/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/death-note/gn-12|archive-date=September 19, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Julie Rosato from ''Mania Entertainment'' found the story to be very entertaining, having liked Light's development in the story and L's introduction as well as how the latter starts suspecting the former's identity. Additionally, she praised the story as it is "building a climax" with each detail introduced in the first chapter, making the reader look forward to upcoming chapters.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rosato|first=Julie|url=http://www.mania.com/death-note-vol-02_article_82348.html|title=Death Note Vol. #02|date=November 3, 2005|publisher=Mania Entertainment|access-date=June 8, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130074517/http://www.mania.com/death-note-vol-02_article_82348.html|archive-date=November 30, 2012}}</ref> Jolyon Baraka Thomas, in a ''[[Japanese Journal of Religious Studies]]'' article, describes the manga as having a "somber narrative" with a "dark cast". Obata's art is "[rendered] in stark strokes characterized---fittingly---by a complex interplay of light and shadow".<ref name="JJRS_Thomas_2012"/>

===Anime===
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|100|8.5|14|''Death Note'' is an exceptional anime that poses profound questions about justice and murder, all while delivering a supremely satisfying tale of tactical one-upmanship between a detective and killer.|ref=yes|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}<ref>{{cite Rotten Tomatoes|id=death_note|type=tv|title=Death Note|season=1<!--required parameter-->|access-date=November 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025165407/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/death_note/s01|archive-date=October 25, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

The anime was commended with Tom S. Pepirium of [[IGN]] saying that ''Death Note''{{'}}s "heavy serialized nature" is what "makes the show so engaging and discussion worthy".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/836/836387p1.html|title=Death Note: "Tactics" Review|last=Pepirium|first=Tom S.|date=November 19, 2007|website=[[IGN]]|access-date=June 15, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121162826/http://tv.ign.com/articles/836/836387p1.html|archive-date=November 21, 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> Pepirium, saying that translating ''Death Note'' is "no small task", stated that Stephen Hedley created an English dub with "nothing clunky". He added that Karl Willems, director of the dub, assembled a "stunning voice cast of professionals" with a "solid tone minus some of the cheesy yelling and screaming of other dubs".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/855/855426p1.html|title=Death Note: "Ally" Review|last=Pepirium|first=Tom S.|date=February 27, 2008|website=[[IGN]]|access-date=June 15, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302082715/http://tv.ign.com/articles/855/855426p1.html|archive-date=March 2, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> On the [[NPR]] show ''[[Fresh Air]]'', John Powers said that ''Death Note'' is "at least as addictive as a show like ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]]''".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89999028|title=Killer Penmanship in 'Death Note'|last=Powers|first=John|date=April 28, 2008|publisher=[[NPR]]|access-date=June 15, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526133004/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89999028|archive-date=May 26, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Hyper (magazine)|Hyper]]'' wrote: {{Blockquote|text=Running over thirty-seven 20 minutes episodes, the anime sticks much closer to the manga so takes a far more languid approach to storytelling, better fleshing out the fantastic characters of Light and his nemesis, L. Light in particular is one of the most layered characters to appear in anime in a long time.<ref>{{cite journal|date=March 2008|title=Death Note: Volume 1|journal=[[Hyper (magazine)|Hyper]]|publisher=[[Next Media]]|issue=173|page=79|issn=1320-7458}}</ref>}} Jacob Hope Chapman from ''[[Anime News Network]]'' praised Teru Mikami's role as bloody and flashy and even better than that of Near, Mello, and Misa.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/death-note-relight/dvd-2|title=Death Note Relight 2|last=Chapman|first=Jacob Hope|date=January 30, 2010|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=November 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140919102127/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/death-note-relight/dvd-2|archive-date=September 19, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> [[The Daily Telegraph|''The Daily Telegraph'']]'s Henry St. Leger wrote, "What starts as a moral fable about the corruption of power becomes a slow-burning game of cat-and-mouse as Light is chased down by the world's greatest detective. Some droning voice acting leadens what is otherwise a brilliantly terse noir."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Leger|first=Henry St|date=May 10, 2016|title=The 5 best anime series to stream online|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/on-demand/2016/05/10/the-5-best-anime-series-to-stream-online/|access-date=February 12, 2025|work=The Telegraph|issn=0307-1235|archive-date=August 24, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240824201029/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/on-demand/2016/05/10/the-5-best-anime-series-to-stream-online/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Vulture (website)|''Vulture'']]'s Maya Phillips wrote, "Beyond its deft twists and turns, ''Death Note'' also addresses questions about morality, justice, and capital punishment. All this, plus beautiful animation and well-written dialogue and plot, makes ''Death Note'' the cream of the animated crop."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Phillips|first=Maya|date=October 10, 2017|title=The 10 Best Anime Shows to Watch on Netflix|url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/10/best-anime-to-watch-on-netflix.html|access-date=February 12, 2025|website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]|archive-date=February 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203162714/https://www.vulture.com/2017/10/best-anime-to-watch-on-netflix.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The ''Death Note'' anime was one of the series to win Best TV Anime at the 2007 [[Tokyo International Anime Fair]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Evan|date=March 19, 2007|title=Results of 6th Annual Tokyo Anime Awards Announced|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-03-19/results-anime-awards|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430233421/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-03-19/results-anime-awards|archive-date=April 30, 2016|access-date=June 7, 2016|work=[[Anime News Network]]}}</ref> In 2009, ''Death Note'' was listed as the 51st best animated show in IGN's Top 100 Animated Series.<ref name="ign100">{{cite web|date=January 23, 2009|title=51. Death Note|url=http://tv.ign.com/top-100-animated-tv-series/51.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316190924/http://tv.ign.com/top-100-animated-tv-series/51.html|archive-date=March 16, 2010|access-date=September 5, 2009|website=[[IGN]]}}</ref>

===Light novels===
A.E. Sparrow of ''[[IGN]]'' reviewed the novel ''Another Note'' and gave it a 9.5 out of 10. Sparrow said that the author understood "what made these characters click so well" and "captures everything that made the manga the compelling read that it is". Sparrow said that fans of ''Death Note'' who read ''Another Note'' will "find a welcome home" in [[Nisio Isin]]'s work which "adds a few more fun layers" to the ''Death Note'' franchise.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/865/865077p1.html|title=Death Note – Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases Review|last=Sparrow|first=A.E.|date=April 8, 2008|website=[[IGN]]|access-date=June 15, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211195725/http://comics.ign.com/articles/865/865077p1.html|archive-date=February 11, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The novelization of ''L: Change the World'' became the second top-selling light novel in Japan during 2008.<ref>{{cite news|last=Loo|first=Egan|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-01-04/2008-top-selling-light-novels-in-japan|title=2008's Top-Selling Light Novels in Japan (Updated)|date=January 4, 2009|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=August 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929021100/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-01-04/2008-top-selling-light-novels-in-japan|archive-date=September 29, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>