For a show with a villain as the lead, Rem emerged somewhat as a ray of hope throughout Death Note. She was the Shinigami chosen to guard the notebook that fell into Misa Amane's hands. Compared to her male counterpart, Ryuk, Rem was quite clearly much more attached to her Death Note's owner.
She was never neutral in matters regarding Misa, even going so far as to sacrifice her life for her. Her affection and warmth toward Misa quickly led fans to grow fond of her character, inspiring loads of creative fan art. Let's take a look at some standout pieces that are sure to appeal to every fan.
10 Paper Child Rem By AppleCherry
If you don't know what a paper child is, it's exactly as it sounds — a cut-out paper model of an anime character. AppleCherry has shown us the adorable side of Rem with this cute little paper child of the Shinigami herself. The innocent expression on her face couldn't be more in sync with her character — the softy. Although she doesn't show it anywhere in the show, fans know that's how she truly is on the inside for Misa.
9 The Inevitable By Yurusen
Let's take a look at this breathtaking piece of art by a very talented artist, Yurusen. He has masterfully shown Rem as the 'hopelessly in love' Shinigami that she was throughout the series. It really makes fans wonder what it was about Misa's character that was so charming. First Gelus and then Rem were willing to give their lives for Misa. Surprisingly, Yagami Light didn't follow suit at all.
Coming back to the art, Yurusen has done a rather fantastic job with the background. Not to mention, his immaculate rendering of the shadows and lighting doesn't leave any effort for the observer. Overall, it's definitely a remarkable work of art.
8 Misa & Rem By Marreeps
This one's perhaps the cutest piece of fan art to ever bless the internet. The artist Marreeps shows Misa and Rem's relationship through a whole new lens in this artwork.
Here, Misa can be seen flaunting her signature gothic look as she paints Rem's nails black. It's hard to tell what Rem's feeling at this moment as her expressions show that she's rather confused about what's happening. Maybe it's because Shinigami aren't used to such open portrayals of affection. Either way, she wouldn't wish to be anywhere else in the world.
7 Chibi Rem By Krizhit
Having seen the Shinigami throughout the show — Ryuk, Gelus, and Rem — fans must already be aware that they're never the cute ones (being death gods and all). However, an aspiring artist named Krizhit took that as a challenge and came up with this adorable little piece. This cute chibi version of Rem is exactly what the world needs more of at the moment. The detailed artwork employs remarkable color-blending techniques that make this piece an overall eye-catching work of art.
6 Rem Kitty By Neotokyo9
Neotokyo9's feline portrayal of Rem is exactly the double dose of cuteness that fans needed for today. The otherwise condescending Shinigami can be seen licking her paw, flaunting her beautiful furry tail in this piece. Contrary to her stance with the fans throughout the show, Feline Rem is bound to stir up some controversy. She was fine as a death god who was hopelessly in love with Misa, but as a cat, she's bound to accompany some mixed opinions about her likeability.
5 Despair By AlenaO
AlenaO's breathtaking portrayal of Rem has garnered a lot of attention on the internet. She is known for adding a highly realistic flair to all her art pieces, and this one is no exception. Rem's expressions in this piece are indicative of her being overtaken by a wave of despair. It reminds fans of the choices she had to make to ensure Misa's safety, one of which was sacrificing her own life. She was indeed one of the most admirable characters of the show that fans hated to see leave.
4 Vengeance By AtomiccircuS
This fan art of Rem was created by a talented artist named AtomiccircuS. With this amazing piece of art, he has masterfully portrayed Rem's overpowering Shinigami appearance.
The amazing detail of the bones really makes viewers feel the texture from their screen. Now that's some amazing work. Rem is clearly seen giving a little smile in this piece, indicative of her soft nature toward Misa. Rem was indeed too good for the series.
3 The Shinigami By Tetsuok9999
Tetsuok9999 has done a rather stunning job with this amazing, descriptive art piece of the powerful female Shinigami. By keeping the overall atmosphere dark and gloomy, the shade of her eye really pierces through the image. It feels as though she's staring into the very depths of the viewer's soul. That's an artistic achievement right there. The lighting and shadows are also immaculately handled. Not to mention, the realistic 3D texture makes this piece all the more appealing.
2 A Life For A Life By Clairictures
Clairictures is the talented artist behind this thought-provoking art piece. The idea behind this artwork stems from Yagami Light's ingenious move to kill two birds with one stone. Rem's weakness was to protect Misa at all costs, and that put everything into place for Light. Upon killing L, the primary threat to Misa's life, Rem turned to dust because she altered Misa's lifespan. As poetically put by the artist, it was a life for a life.
1 Destiny By Moonlightshxdow
This thoughtful portrayal of Shinigami Rem is the creation of Moonlightshxdow. Rem was undoubtedly one of the most valued characters on the show and Moonlightshxdaw has made sure to portray just that. Eliminating all background noise, the artist ensures that all the focus lies solely on Rem. The soft brush strokes combined with an immaculate blending technique really kick things up a notch.