Anime #22- Death Note

Black notebooks should be avoided. Death Notes are black notebooks dropped by Shinigami, or death gods. Any time a Shinigami drops a death note, it stays in the human world. Any human who decides to use a Death Note will not go to heaven or hell. But what's a Death Note, you may ask? Any time you write a person's name in the book and visualize their face, they will die within 40 seconds of writing the name. If you simply write their name, they will dies of heart attacks. Details may be written about the death after writing the person's name. You may make the person do anything that is possible for them to do before they die (ie. you can make them write suicide notes, but can't make them fly off a building).Super-genius Light Yagami happened to stumble upon the notebook dropped by a rather freaky-looking Shinigami called Ryuk. Light decides to use the Death Note to kill criminals who have commited major crimes. This quickly alerts the UN, and they recruit their most intelligent detective ever, the mysterious "L", to figure out who the killer (known as Kira) really is. L is extremely intelligent and used a variety of tactics to come across one suspect: Light Yagami!

Characters

Light
A young man who excels in school. Ever since he picked up the Death Note, he has tried to create a new world order by elminating criminals. Though violent crimes did cease a lot, he still had no right to do it, according to L. Light is always aware of his surroundings, and is very careful with every step he makes, as he knows L is hot on his trail. He is also, according to Ryuk, the first human to take a Death Note so seriously.

Ryuk
A death god or "Shinigami". He informs Light of all the rules of the Death Note. Ryuk also tells Light that he is impartial and does not help Light nor L. His "hyuk hyuk hyuk" is his trademark laugh, and is addicted to apples. Too bad he can't eat them most of the time, since he's invisible to everyone except Light, other death gods, and those who have touched Light's Death Note.

L
A genius detective who has never left a case under his command unsolved. He is a very odd fellow, and is very smart, like Light. He always looks sleep deprived and is always searching for new clues that will lead him to the identity of "Kira".

Misa
A young girl who also carries a Death Note. She caused a lot of confusion as a "Second Kira" and was later found out by Light. She becomes Light's girlfriend, and Light tries to use her, since she has Shinigami Eyes**, to kill L.

Overall, the series is filled with many twists and turns. It is definetely worth watching.

** Shinigami eyes are eyes that can see a person's real name and lifespan by looking in their eyes. Humans are allowed to get this power in exchange for half their lifespan.