Death Note is known for its symbolic themes, nail-biting tension, and fascinating character designs. Also, it's one of the most serious anime out there. It involves a crazy guy who gets it in his head that he's god and can exact judgment on who he believes is guilty--or gets in his way.
But there is some humor to be had in this infamous game of cat and mouse. Ryuk offers some comedic relief with his apple antics and snarky comments. L's candy addiction and sitting position is quintessential. There's also the infamous potato chip scene. But what other weird aspects can be pointed out?
10 HEY, I JUST MET YOU!
Ryuk is a Shinigami, a death god, with a book that can kill anyone in any way imaginable and he just tosses the book out into the human world and watches what happens. And coincidentally a brilliant high school student with a hidden god-complex picks it up. Ryuk might as well have walked up to Light and sang this parody. What could possibly go wrong? Only maybe the world being thrust into chaos and dozens of people dying, including innocents and Light's family and most anyone who's had anything to do with Light. But at least it's not boring.
9 DUCK AND COVER IS THE BEST WAY TO WARD OFF A KILLER NOTEBOOK
Sweet, sweet Matsuda. So naive. If only this would work for all of Light's victims. But duck and cover is not going to protect you from a notebook that needs just your name to kill you. In the final episode, Episode 37 "New World" when Mikami threatens to basically kill everyone with his Death Note, Matsuda braces for the seemingly inevitable. Thankfully our dear hero is saved and ends the terrible reign of Kira. But if Mikami did manage to write his name, then the pose taught on airplanes to assume in the event of a water landing wouldn't work.
8 WHAT WE ALL WISH WOULD HAPPEN TO EDWARD CULLEN
The Death Note anime and Twilight film came out at about the same time (two years apart), so it's no surprise that this meme was created. Edward Cullen is only the most annoying vampire to ever live yet many a teenage girls salivated at his pasty glittering abs. If only Ryuk and Light could fix that. Is it Cullen with an I or an E? Is it two Ls? Edward... That's spelled normally right? With a stroke of a pen, problem solved and no more vampire wannabe. If only that could be true.
7 AN APPLE A DAY ...
Ah, the infamous saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Well, it doesn't keep Shinigami away. That's for sure. In fact this crunchy juicy fruit attracts them like flies. As Ryuk said they're like cigarettes and alcohol for humans and once they start eating them they get withdrawal which can cause body contortions and handstands. Can't have a Shinigami running around doing handstands in the street or bedroom. It's not pretty! And Light does not want to see that.
6 FEED YOUR PET
"Feed the birds ... Tuppence a bag." Well, Ryuk doesn't care at all about birdseed, but he does need to be fed regularly to prevent those pesky withdrawal systems. After having to abstain from apples since Light's room was riddled with cameras, Ryuk's become twisted like a pretzel. In episode 9 "Encounter," to offset the symptoms Light buys a whole bag of apples from the market and feeds him at the park, though to anyone else it just looks like he's feeding nothing. Kira has to do something to keep his death god pet from writing his name in his Death Note.
5 STRAWBERRIES ARE RARE DELICACIES
What is this? Firefly? I don't think strawberries are very rare in the word of Death Note like they are in the 'Verse yet Kanzo Mogi takes his bribe joyfully.
It seems like L's only nutritional intake comes from the fruit on his sweets and the occasional banana, though that seems counterproductive, but the strawberry on a slice of shortcake is the cherry on a sundae, so Mogi should be honored to have this treat. But L's completely straight face with this offer must be appreciated. Strawberries are wonderful but they can't compare to the delicacy of apples.
4 POTATO CHIP PRIZE
If only every bag of potato chips came with a mini LCD-screen TV. In Episode 8 "Glare," Light bought this nifty device to keep track of the news and off criminals while studying for entrance exams like a good, normal, non-psychotic, ambidextrous student. This reveal precedes the infamous potato chip scene. I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS LITTLE TV! AND WATCH IT! Too bad Light has to throw out that $400 TV to destroy the evidence. Where does a high school student get that kind of money?
3 DIE BEFORE YOU'RE KILLED
Out of context, this is especially hilarious, but for some background context this is from Episode 19 "Matsuda." In this episode, Touta Matsuda has to fake his death and while discussing this plan L gives this line. Acting drunk, Matsuda "accidentally" fell off of a building, but he's saved by falling on a mattress and Aiber poses as his dead body to complete the facade.
Thus with Matsuda out of Kira's sights, he can work behind the scenes to take down this serial killer with supernatural power. Thus he had to die before being killed. Does that make sense now?
2 WORLD'S SMARTEST DETECTIVE
L's the genius prodigy detective, but he meets his untimely demise to a high school student. Granted, Light is very intelligent. The kid keeps up this ruse for years with sociopath-grade acting, consulting a god of death, and elaborate schemes; he's ambidextrous, and he passes all of his exams with flying colors. The two battle it out with an amazing game of cat and mouse for twenty-five episodes but in the end, L loses because he grows to care too much for the Light he thought he knew.
1 RYUK LOGIC
Ryuk is a death god, impervious to death itself. Bullets, cars, nothing can stop him but ... tennis balls? During a friendly game of tennis between Light and L in episode 10 "Doubt," an aggressive serve from L sends the fuzzy green projectile straight at Ryuk and it scares the daylights out of his creepy creature. The true weakness of Shinigami has been revealed and it isn't apples. It's tennis balls. Buy a pack of those at the grocery store and keep them ready, because they're the nemesis of Japanese grim reapers.