The plot of the anime closely follows that of the manga of the same name by Tsugumi Ohba

 

In the series Light Yagami, a brilliant high school student, finds a notebook formally belonging to a shinigami, a God of Death. This notebook has a simple premise; the human who's name is written in it will die. 

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Light uses the power of the notebook to kill the worlds criminals with the intention of making the world a better place and reigning as a God in the new world he would create. He becomes known as a serial killer named Kira.

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Through out the series their are those who agree with what Light is doing and those who are trying to stop him. The most notable character working against Light is a detective known only as L, who works with interpol and the Japanese task force. Each must hunt down the other without knowing their name or face and the first to be reviled will be executed. 

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Death Note is a psychological thriller with heavy religious symbolism

 

click HERE for additional information on characters and plot

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