Death Note: Episode 1
Release: Fall Season 2006
Genres: Drama, Mystery, Supernatural
OP: “The World” by Nightmare
ED: “Aluminia” by Nightmare
Impressions:
Ah, the long-awaited Death Note, especially for the manga readers (like me), has finally been subbed after what seemed like an eternity. So what did I think of it? I wasn’t overly impressed, to be honest. The washy colours are too dark and yellow. I know Death Note is almost 100% serious (except for Misa later on, who’s being voiced by Hirano Aya!) so such an art style used is expected, but it wouldn’t harm to make the first episode a little livelier. Another problem, it dragged on for too long. I really expected L to appear this episode in the last minute to act as a hook or something, but it didn’t even cover the first chapter! Still, the first episode of Death Note was guaranteed to be boring in comparison to later episodes, which means I still have high hoped for this series. Hopefully the next episode will be faster paced and more thrilling.
One of the things that’s bothering me is the fact that I know absolutely everything that’s going to happen in the anime and maybe more. The whole series has been ruined for me from the start, but if I hadn’t read the manga I might’ve dropped this series after the first episode. Heck, I mightn’t have watched it in the first place, so I’m glad for that. Those who haven’t read the manga are in for the real treat. If anyone who hasn’t read the manga and thought this episode was kind of weak and lacking energy, don’t drop it! You have to watch until at least L appears, which happens next episode. So now, I’m probably just watching the anime to hear the voices and to see actions acted out, though I know the manga is definitely better. I hope not too many details are left out as details are very important to this kind of show.
Now, about the sounds and visuals. Sounds as in voices and OP/ED; the voices were something of what I expected, with the obvious creaky voice of Ryuk, the normal teenage boy voice of Light, and that’s about all the main characters introduced this episode. The OP and ED in my opinion were pretty bad, but it does suit the anime sort of. The visuals – art, character design etc – weren’t exceptional but pretty good. I said before I didn’t like the colours used, but the character design is almost identical to the manga as it should be, except that less emphasis is put on the strands of hair on Light. The actual visuals of the OP and ED are perfect for such an anime – the slightly messed up, scrappy shots represent the crazy minds at work in the anime very well. Strong emphasis is also placed on the contrast behind Light and L with the red and blue hair, though they are actually very similar in many respects.
OP:
Screencaps:
ED:
Story:
In the Shinigami world (world of Death Gods), Ryuk, a Shinigami, is fed up with lying around year after year doing nothing and decides to drop his Death Note in the human world and see the results, as it would be interesting. The Death Note is the tool Shinigami use to kill humans, but when a person picks it up after it is dropped, becomes the owner of it and can kill others like a Shinigami. Yagami Light, Japan’s top student, finds it, and once discovering that its killing powers are real, decides to rid the world of evil by killing criminals. Doing this would result in everyone thinking twice before committing a crime. When the police finally catch on and hire the best detective in the world, known only as L who hides behind his laptop screen, to capture the one behind the killings, the battle of wits, intelligence and cunning begins!
Plot Outline:
- Ryuk, the Shinigami, decides to drop his Death Note in the human world as it would result in an interesting turn of events after so many years of doing nothing
- The book is found by Yagami Light, who thinks the book is a prank after reading instructions on how to kill written in the cover
- However, after submitting to the temptation of trying it on a criminal and finding that it works, he begins to suspect that it is real, though the prospect of it being a coincidence does not leave him
- After prep school, Light witnesses a girl being harassed on the street and decides to kill the motorist doing it, this time specifying the type of death
- Sure enough, after forty seconds, the motorist gets hit by a truck head on
- Five days later, Ryuk decides to visit the new owner of the Death Note
- When he reveals himself to Light, he gets an initial shock but overcomes it quickly and explains he knew the notebook belonged to a Shinigami
- Ryuk explains to Light about several things regarding the use of the notebook. The only consequence from using it is that when he dies, he will die by Ryuk writing his name in his Death Note, and once he does die, will go to neither heaven nor hell
Preview:
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If you call the first ep. “boring” – i’m really starting to doubt if you read the manga.
Oh, well, intellectual “crap” is always boring for simple people.
hey man, the first ep is like HALF the first CHAPTER…the fact that they only used half a chapter in one episode makes me think that you didnt even watch it. the latter parts are thrilling of course, but how can you possibly say there is anything intellectual in this first episode?
this episode was kinda boring compared to what the shows capable of later on…its going to get a hell lot more exciting when L and Kira/Light start working their magic
There is something intellectual in the first episode but beneath the surface, well the intellectuallity lies in idealism and that you must realise that killing isn’t necessary wrong if one person does it (god has a fan club doesn’t he). Or look it at this way, Light is straight A-student and whatever, and Ryuk said that he shouldn’t flatter himself that he ended up with the book, because intelligence is something completly different than what most people believe, and if somebody is really intelligent he is already tormented by his own thoughts.
Where can I get the manga?
register then http://www.mangadownload.net/manga.php?a=series&sid=1&sa=download&fid=6677
where could I download english subbed episodes?
I haven’t read the manga, and I thought the first episode was rather interesting. They’ve just set up a decent plot except for the fact that the dude is just writing names in a fuckin notebook. I mean, the atmosphere and the setting are SUPER thick and have a really awkward and kind of dark feel to them. Seeing as strange things have already happened, I won’t put it past them to make even stranger things happen, which could lead to a rather enjoyable anime. Now to I just need to not be spoiled, and I’ll be good.
shwab: chec tokyo toshokan or animesuki for subs. If you don;t know those two websites, search em up on google!
the art is not exceptional? wow. you’re the first person i know who thinks that way. i don’t know how few animes i’ve watched compared to you guys, but the animation here is by far, the best i’ve seen. so yeah, in your list it may not be at the top, but it astounds me that you would consider it just average.
boring? well, okay, i guess i’d understand that opinion. though for me, if i haven’t read the manga, i’d still be at the edge of my sit. light’s way of thinking was just realistic and clever e.g., calling himself stupid for getting the notebook, his reaction when he thought the death note isn’t real, his ways for verifying if it’s real, etc. etc., that’s exactly what i would do.
If when you say art you mean color scheme, then that is true. The part I didn’t like about it was it was too yellow and moody (ok yes, being moody is a big thing in Death Note but I was thinking more on the lines of dark moody rather than sunset moody). But, if you mean character design, then you must’ve misunderstood me or I didn’t make it clear, cause I think it is outstanding. The only very small problem with it that I have is Light’s hair seems to be more spiky than the anime, which makes him look loads cooler.
->www.death-notes.com
I’ve just gotta agree with the “boring” part. Well, “boring” is perhaps not the word I’d use, but it wasn’t very eventful, at least not when you’ve read all 12 volumes of the manga and is only waiting for L to appear
Death Note IS L and Raito, one of them gone and it’s not even half as intreresting anymore. At least that’s my opinion 
Right now I’m waiting for the 3rd ep..
I have to disagree with you. I haven’t read the manga yet, and i’m SURE that is way better than the anime, because it happens so often, but mainly because i just didn’t find the episode boring, at all, and i can just figure out that the manga, since it has more “freedom” is way better.
Actually, it’s the first time that i can recommend an anime having only seen the first episode. I started watching the serie because i was bored and a person told me “it’s great” and another one “it’s very popular in Japan”. Had absolutely no idea what to expect. Sevvy might be right, it wasn’t very eventfull, but it was pretty great. Like an anonymous person up there said, the animation is by far the best i’ve seen, and it sure kept me at the edge of my seat.
Now that i now that that’s only half the first manga chapter i can’t wait to read it
It seems the only problem you’re having is that you expected too much to happen all in one episode.
It can only be half an hour!
I’ve read the Manga myself and it stays true to it for the most part
is he name meant to be light of raito? havent seen the anime though, but ive read a big portion of the manga. freakin awesome! hopefully the anime can do justice to it.
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