Fans of the iconic thriller anime Death Note have been eagerly awaiting a second season ever since the first one captivated audiences back in 2006-2007. So, is a renewal on the horizon?
Here’s what we know (and what we don’t) about a potential new season of Death Note.
The Story Behind “Death Note”
The “Death Note” anime draws its captivating plot from the wildly popular thriller manga series of the same name, penned by Tsugumi Ohba and brought to life with the illustrations of Takeshi Obata.
This unforgettable thriller pits Light Yagami, a brilliant teenager disillusioned with the world, against L, the enigmatic detective with a knack for unraveling complex cases. Light’s discovery of a supernatural notebook, the Death Note, grants him the power to reshape the world as he sees fit, eliminating criminals with the stroke of a pen. L’s unwavering determination to bring Light’s reign of vigilante justice to an end fuels the story’s central conflict.
The Current State of Things
Death Note has only seen one official anime season, the work of director Tetsurō Araki and the talented team at Madhouse. There’s also the Netflix live-action adaptation, but let’s not dwell on that.
It’s unclear if the original studio and director would return for a new season, should it happen.
The original 37-episode series debuted in Japan in October 2006 and wrapped up in June 2007. The burning question remains – will a ‘Death Note Season 2 Episode 1’ ever materialize?
Is Death Note Season 2 Happening?
As of today, a second season of Death Note remains unannounced. Unfortunately, the odds don’t look great. The first season faithfully adapted all 12 volumes of the manga, leaving little source material for more episodes.
Fans also had a mixed reaction to the anime. While the first season was a smash hit ( averaging an impressive 8.6 out of 10 on MyAnimeList), the ending and second half left some viewers feeling underwhelmed.
The manga itself ended way back in 2006. Other than the Netflix adaptation (which we’ve agreed to ignore), further developments have been few and far between. This makes a new season even more unlikely, as the story feels complete.
How Can the Story Continue?
With the anime covering the entire manga, your best bet for a full Death Note experience is to dive into the original source material. Death Note’s gripping narrative and complex characters continue to resonate with readers, making the manga a must-read for any fan of the anime.
Looking for the full picture? Check out Death Note manga volume 1 in English.
The anime made some cuts, especially in the Yotsuba arc, which some fans felt weakened the overall story. The anime also reduced screen time for Near and Mello, two successors to L who play a significant role in the later chapters of the manga, and even skipped the epilogue altogether!
**I’ll keep my eyes peeled for any official news or announcements about a new Death Note anime project from Crunchyroll and update this post as soon as I have something.