Death Note Vol. 1 :: Education by Design Store

Editorial Review
Meet Light Yagami, a brilliant but bored high school student whose life is changed when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami, or god of death, named Ryuk. When Light discovers that any human whose name is written in the book dies, he vows to use its power to rid the world of evil. But every action has its consequences, and Light soon finds himself in a life or death battle of wits with the mysterious genius detective called L. Humanity itself becomes the battleground to determine what form of justice will prevail!

Episode 1: Rebirth

Brilliant but bored high school student Light Yagami suddenly finds himself holding the power of life and death in his hands--the power of the Death Note! He decides to rid the world of evil--by killing off criminals one by one. When the murders start to pile up, genius detective L is on the case, and an epic battle of wits unfolds!

Episode 2: Confrontation

While the world's criminals continue to drop dead, L meets by computer with representatives from various nations. He requests that a task force be set up in Japan, under the direction of none other than Soichiro Yagami, Light's father!

Episode 3: Dealings

Ryuk, the shinigami, or god of death, who dropped the Death Note into the human world, warns Light that someone is on his trail. Light is troubled that he can't find out the identity of his tracker, and Ryuk suggests an amazing deal...

Episode 4: Pursuit

Light--now known to the world as Kira--tests the Death Note to understand the scope of its powers by killing off six convicts in various ways--and confirms he can control his victims' actions before they die!

Episode 5: Tactics

Soichiro Yagami demands to meet with L in person when he finds out that L has secretly brought FBI agents into Japan. Light, meanwhile, has found a way to get those very FBI agents off the case--permanently!

Episode 6: Unraveling

Light meets a woman at the Police Department with an urgent message for the Kira task force. As son of the chief investigator, Light listens to her story and is startled to discover she has information that could lead to his arrest!

Episode 7: Overcast

Light uses the Death Note to try to get rid of the woman who could get him captured, and is shocked when it doesn't work. Realizing she must have given him an alias, he's got only minutes to find out her real name before she spills her story to the task force!

Episode 8: Glare

L insists on setting up bugs and cameras in the homes of members of the Japanese task force, including the Yagamis'. But Light is a step ahead as usual--he knows he's being watched!
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Customer Reviews

great series but can get all episodes from somewhere else

2008-08-02
Like all the people that have giving good reviews, I will say that the story is great. Most shows and movies involving mystery focus more on the investigation, but this is different. Light Yagami wants to rid the world of evil and becomes a murderer himself. Meanwhile, the police begin investigating Kira, due to the unusual number of heart attacks. This show would probably be like dramatic irony more than anything else because we, the audience, know from the beginning that Light, the protagonist of this story, is the culprit. I recommend that everyone get this series from iTunes or Direct2Drive though because Amazon has only 16 episodes for download, while iTunes and Direct2Drive have all 37 episodes.

Solid Opening

2008-07-14
While this first volume didn't convert me over to the masses that have already found this series, I do consider myself very intrigued by what has transpired so far. Within four episodes, I find myself asking many questions not only about Light but his pursuer, L. Recommended for its very intriguing concepts but I'm not entirely sold yet.

Please read.

2008-07-09
This anime is superior to most others on the market right now. I read the manga first and I was hooked I then watched the show and noticed that it was almost frame by frame similar with the manga. So all of those people out there who prefer the manga to the anime. I must say there really is no difference in the two mediums. Except...the ending. The ending of the anime almost made me cry. Not because it was sad but because they ruined a piece of art. In my humble opinion before you watch the last episode of the anime, buy the final manga and read the ending. And then watch the last episode it doesn't take a genius to realize which has the better ending of the two.

GREAT

2008-06-28
I became a Death Note FAN after seeing these first episodes on this DVD. There is nothing more to say with the exception....FANTASTIC!!!

Something New and Fresh to the world of Anime

2008-06-21
Unlike anime heavy weights such as; Bleach, Naruto, Inuyasha, and Full Metal Alchemist, Death Note brought something new to the table. Instead of big swords, too much hair gel, and busty women, Death Note has a entirely never done before story; which makes it so appealing. It has almost a Gothic feel to it that's addicting like chocolate.... (don't mind the bad comparison....!)

Death Note revolves around Seventeen year old Light Yagami; a genius, tennis star, and heartthrob. One fateful day, Light happens to pick up a black notebook off of the ground bearing the words; Death Note. Upon further inspection, Light learns that if you write a person's name in the Death Note while thinking of their face, you can kill them. Now Light, an aspiring Police/Detective officer puts away the Death Note and doesn't even think about it. Until he happens to witness a young girl being attacked by grimy men. He quickly writes the guys name, and sure enough he dies. Light is shocked, how could something like this really be true? It is true however, as Light gets an unexpected greeting by the owner of the Death Note, Ryuk, who happens to be a Shinigami. (Think something like a Grim Reaper.) Ryuk tells Light he can kill anyone, provided he follows the rules. So here history is made, as Light decides to kill of all criminals and 'evil.' He will become the God of the new world. Light dons the name 'Kira' (derived from Killer) and starts off killing criminals.

But all is not well in Light's world. The Police have noticed all of the mysterious deaths, and have now vowed to get this Kira; including the world's best detective, known simply as; L.
Will Light carry out his goal for complete dominance over the world? Or will the world's best detective, L, stop him? Your going to have to either A) Watch the Anime or B) Read the Manga.

Characterization has never been better in a Anime or Manga then it has been in Death Note. Light Yagami is characterized as an arrogant, greedy, devilishly intelligent young man who will stop at nothing to achieve his goal. You'll love to hate Light, and find later in the series how evil and maddening his character is.

L, the world's best detective, remains enigmatic for much of the first part of the series. But once his grand entrance is staged, you'll see truly grand character development.

Animation is certainly gorgeous, with a Gothic element that's hard to resist. You'll have a hard time not to drool over Light or even L later on. (Who doesn't love the fact they both don't wear hair gel....!) There's something about the stunning visuals that'll suck you right in, and certainly draw you into the world of Death Note.

Voice Acting is top notch, which is rare for an Anime. Usually you get one or two people whom or really bad, or even sometimes a completely terrible cast all together! (Think One Piece) However, Death Note is quite different indeed. Brad Swaile lends his voice for Light Yagami, and does it perfectly. His voice will send chills up your spine, in a great way. Alessandro Julliani (whom plays Felix Gaeta on Battlestar Galactica) is perfect as L. There's no way to describe how good he is. Even supporting characters voices are top notch, which truly shows that this show was made with much effort involved. The Music is really nice two, sweeping Gothic vocals in intense moments, and often complete and utter silence at shocking moments. There are four opening and closing theme songs in the entire run of the show, which are really nice to listen too.

So go ahead, try something new. There certainly aren't any; Big Swords, Hair Gel, Busty Women, or over the top Gore, but that makes Death Note even the more satisfying. It's new and fresh, and something that's never been done before. I'm glad I watched Death Note, (and I almost didn't!) and now I'm completely obsessed.

Didn't Parents always used to say, trying something new is good for you?

Great Series But No Discernible Heros's Or True Villains

2008-06-07
Meet Light Yagami, a brilliant but bored high school student whose life is changed when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami, or god of death, named Ryuk. When Light discovers that any human whose name is written in the book dies, he vows to use its power to rid the world of evil. But every action has its consequences, and Light soon finds himself in a life or death battle of wits with the mysterious genius detective called L. Humanity itself becomes the battleground to determine what form of justice will prevail!

Episode 1: Rebirth

Episode 2: Confrontation

Episode 3: Dealings

Episode 4: Pursuit

Episode 5: Tactics

Episode 6: Unraveling

Episode 7: Overcast

Episode 8: Glare

L insists on setting up bugs and cameras in the homes of members of the Japanese task force, including the Yagamis'. But Light is a step ahead as usual--he knows he's being watched!

Great Anime for a Perfect Manga 2008-05-28
The manga was so great, I didn't think an anime could ever live up to it. But after watching the first volume, it comes close. It follows the manga pretty close, cutting off some of the less needed details for time and just gets to the point of each chapter. This causes it to move at a faster pace than the manga in areas, which doesn't give you much time to absorb the story as I would have liked. The animation is great, but somewhat simplified over it's manga counterpart, which is to be expected I suppose.

The voice acting isn't exactly what I would have liked. Some of the characters, such as Light and Ryuk sound out of place, but Light's father and L sound spot on to what I imagined while reading the manga. This is only my opinion of course, and others may have a different view on the voice for each character.

I would recommend, if possible, for people new to the series to read the manga first. It will provide a much more in depth and detailed story. If you are not big on reading, then the anime is a must. Death Note is a story that's fresh and different than any thing else out there and above all, it always keeps you interested.

The Human Whose Name is Written In This Notebook... 2008-05-24
will die.

Thus opens the brilliant saga of Deathnote, one of the most compelling and amazing animes of all time. It tells the story of Light Yagami, an intelligent university student with a strong sense of justice who accidentally picks up a notebook owned by a God of Death. Slowly, he starts killing off criminals under the guise of Kira ('Killer'), becoming more and more like those who kills in the process. The storyline is incredibly amazing and faithful to the original mangas, while the artwork is absolutely perfect. And the music and English vocals are a perfect match as well. As a result, this is one of those animes that even people who normally don't like cartoons can get into.

The first four episodes, which is where you SHOULD start, introduce the protagonist of Light Yagami, as well as his rival, the great detective known only as L. L, of course, is a fan favorite (hes certainly my favorite) and the first four episodes here tell the story of Light and L.'s mind games, each trying to lure the other out into the open without revealing their own identities. The confrontation between the two, in the episode appropriately named 'Confrontation,' was one of the most defining moments of the anime. Meanwhile, Light uses his Deathnote to kill criminals and set the Japanese police against L. Very well complex storyline, but quite enjoyable.

This is easily one of the coolest animes on air right now, and well worth watching. It is the characters who really make this show good too.... L. of course, but also Ryuk, the bored God of Death who drops his Deathnote in the human world for amusement, and Light whose quest for justice steadily taints him in the process. And Misa too, but she doesn't come into the series for a while yet. Just go out and buy this DVD and I promise you won't be disappointed. You WILL be addicted to the series, I promise you that.

Not as good as the manga... 2008-05-15
Well I enjoy this series, but the manga drew me in. I think I might like this a bit more if I hadn't already read the manga.

One of the most remarkable animated series ever made 2008-05-04
Because so many others have praised this so highly and so well I will not add a great deal here. The brilliance of the show lies not in its premise, but in what it does with that after initially established. A brilliant high school student named Light Yogami finds the Death Note, a notebook that can literally kill a person once you have entered their name in it. Light proceeds to make the world a better place by entering the names of as many criminals as possible (though one wonders why he focuses so ardently on those who commit violent crime, when some political leaders cause far more destruction than even the worst -- it would have been interesting to see Light enter the names of Taliban leaders or the president of the US). Worldwide authorities quickly surmise that the rash of deaths of inmates in prisons (especially in Japan) due to heart attacks (the default method of death unless further specifications are made) is the work of person or persons unknown and they recruit the world's foremost investigator, known merely as L (voiced in the English language version by BATTLESTAR GALACTICA's Allesandro Juliani aka Gaeta aka Butter Fingers). The ensuing chess match between Light, who is megalomaniacally determined to remake the world according to his personal moral standards, and L, who is determined to stop anyone striving to make themselves the world's grand executioner, provides most of the focus for this first disc in the series. The two are constantly represented as each other's opposite, though interestingly both are seeking justice and a better world, though by different and incompatible means.

What sets DEATH NOTE above other animated series is the brilliance of the writing and its patience in exploring ideas. This is a show of ideas and not of action. In fact, in many episodes virtually nothing "happens." Even on a visual level there are long stretches where there is little or no actual animation, but instead a "camera" panning over a still painting. But the show is never, ever boring or less than fascinating. The most fascinating moments in the show consist of the patient, methodical working out of ideas, often in conversations between Light and Ryuk, the death god from the Shinigami realm (who looks like a cross between a very small dragon and the Joker from Batman). If the ideas permeating the show were not so fascinating, the show would indeed be dull. As it stands, this is one of the most original, fascinating shows on TV.

I have a couple of minor quibbles with the show. The FBI features prominently in the series. Of course, the FBI has no jurisdiction outside the United States and would not be employed on missions in Japan. And as I mentioned above, I think many social and political leaders do far more harm than violent criminals. From my own perspective Jim Dobson or Karl Rove have done far more damage to the world than any bank robber. But perhaps they realized that ridding the world of social and political leaders would have been too controversial. It would also have been politically divisive, since one person might find George Bush to be a source of great evil while another sees him as a beacon of light. Criminals are another matter entirely. My other complaint is with the price of the discs. The series as a whole is now up to 28 episodes. At this pace a show with about the same amount of total minutes as a full season of the American TV comedy THE OFFICE will cost four times as much (after Amazon discount). Hopefully when the series is complete and all "volumes" have been released they will repackage it in a more affordable form.

But these are minor quibbles beside the brilliance of the series. I strongly recommend this to anyone who enjoys intelligent, brilliant television. If you have never watched anime before, this would be a superb place to start. TV, let alone anime, doesn't get much better than this.