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Death Note

By: Lee-Anne Rodrigues

Rating: 8.8/10 PG 13 V

 

Genre: Mystery, psycho-thriller, shounen.

 

“The human whose name is written in this note shall die.” – Death Note.

 

Yagami Light (‘Raito’) is the picture of innocence. He has perfect grades, no public record and looks that will set your heart racing. Light is sick of his life and the ‘rotten world’ that consumes him… until he comes across the ‘Death Note’, a notebook dropped by the Shinigami Ryuk (God of Death).

 

At first, Raito sees it as some sick joke but human curiosity takes over. He decides to test it, assuming it wouldn’t work anyway, but (just in case) he decides to use a criminal’s name. To his surprise, the person dies shortly thereafter. Raito then vows to rid the world of all evil, creating a world based on justice… one name at a time.

 

Yagami Light is the reincarnation of Plato’s Republic’s ‘Gyges’ Ring’ discourse: a seemingly unblemished character tainted by self-righteousness and the need to become ‘God of the new world’. Starting out with good intentions - because, let’s face it, who wouldn’t want a world without rapists and child molesters brought to justice? - but should such power reside in the hands of a mere mortal?

 

“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men" - John Dalberg-Acton.

Will Raito’s good intentions stray? Will he be a victim of his own power? Will Yagami Light become part of the decaying world that he detests?

 

This anime becomes a battle of genius, when ‘L’, an anonymous member of the Japanese police force, comes into the picture. While he shares Light’s beliefs about Justice, he believes that Kira (Killer) is going about peace in the wrong way.

 

Unfortunately for you hopeless romantics, there isn’t any romance. Unless of course you see manipulation of a person’s love for one’s own benefit as ‘romantic’.

 

The plot will keep you on the edge of you seat, aching in anticipation and lowering you into deep thought as it takes you down a dark and complex road… while the characters will keep you intrigued and entertained.

 

As far as the animation goes, although 2D as most anime are, Death Note allows you to immerse yourself into the anime itself with every emotion and mood-swing portrayed with utmost accuracy. The background sound sets the mood of the scene, almost telling the viewer what emotion to feel and when. But be prepared for comic relief when you hear the opening song of the second season: ‘What’s up people?’ by Maximum the Hormone.

 

Lastly, Death Note is anime at its best. For all you otaku’s who haven’t watched it, what the Hell is wrong with you? And for you non-anime fans, give it a try. Although it might make you anime-crazed and no longer interested in the monotony of reality.

What would you do if you found a death note?

 

Note: Not for sensitive or brainless/half-brained viewers.

 

Based on the popular manga by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata.

 

 

Otaku: A Japanese term for someone with an obsessive interest in anime or manga.

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