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Parents' Guide to

Death Note

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Dark psychological anime mixes sci-fi, drama.

TV Cartoon Network Anime 2007
Death Note Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 67 parent reviews

Kawnir42
Kawnir42 Adult
January 19, 2022
age 14+

Fascinating show but very dark

This show is a fantastic exploration of morality and justice. While the main character means well, the combination of his being a sociopath and having a god complex makes him out to be a really interesting character. The show does get a little less interesting near the end, but saying why is a massive spoiler. The show also deals with the concept of suicide a little bit, which might be too dark for younger kids.
MomOf7ChildrenJanine
MomOf7ChildrenJanine Parent of 13-year-old
October 5, 2022
age 11+

Nothing to get worked up about

There is not much violence with most deaths being caused by heart attack. The main character is incredibly smart and is really cool as a detective. My son adores L because of how good a detective he was.
See all 67 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Light Yagami, the protagonist of DEATH NOTE voiced by Mamoru Miyano in the original version and Brad Swaile in the English dub, is a smart high school student who has become frustrated with the endless criminal activity taking place all over the world. He finds a notebook that enables its owner to kill people by writing their names in it. Realizing that he possesses the means of creating a crime-free world, he becomes a serial killer who targets criminals. Light, known to the public as "Kira," meets his match when the mysterious, cunning detective known only as "L" (Kappei Yamaguchi/Alessandro Juliani) joins the police investigation. L (who communicates with the world only via computer) knows that Kira is in Japan, and is committed to finding him and bringing him to justice. As each character tries to outsmart the other, they find themselves developing a better understanding of the internal struggles that drive them to do what they do.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (67 ):
Kids say (485 ):

This brainy series explores the mind of a young man whose simplistic vision of a new world allows him to detach himself from the immorality of his acts. Death Note looks at some of the ethical questions surrounding the execution of criminals in the name of justice. But while it lacks a lot of the blood and gore noted in other anime series, this dark psychological drama isn't intended for young anime fans.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about adaptations. What is lost and/or gained when a beloved manga, comic book, or graphic novel is turned into a TV series or film the way Death Note has been adapted?

  • Talk about Light's actions. Is murder ever justified? Is doing something illegal ever OK? Where do you draw the line between justice and following the law?

  • If you found a magical notebook, what would you do with it?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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