Death Note: Rewrite

When approached by a fellow death god tempted to visit the human realm, Ryuk recounts his own journey to the other side and the story of Light Yagami—a brilliant young man who impressed him there.

One day at school, Light stumbles upon Ryuk's lost Death Note and realizes it is not an ordinary notebook. He learns that it has the ability to kill every person whose name is written inside, provided that the user can visualize the victim's face. Having long deplored the decadence of current society, Light believes this sinister weapon offers him an unexpected opportunity: to eradicate all evil and bring about a new ideal world.

Following a string of fatal heart attacks, the authorities start to suspect that the alarming number of dead criminals is not coincidental. Determined to uncover the mysterious culprit, they join forces with L, an internationally renowned detective. As the death count escalates, Light and L clash in a breathtaking confrontation of wits and deception—a duel that will decide the future of humanity.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Lawliet, L Main

Yamaguchi, Kappei Japanese

Yagami, Light Main

Miyano, Mamoru Japanese

Ryuk Main

Nakamura, Shidou Japanese

Amane, Misa Supporting

Hirano, Aya Japanese

River, Nate Supporting

Hidaka, Noriko Japanese

Keehl, Mihael Supporting

Sasaki, Nozomu Japanese

Matsuda, Touta Supporting

Naitou, Ryou Japanese

Mikami, Teru Supporting

Matsukaze, Masaya Japanese

Jeevas, Mail Supporting

Rem Supporting

Saitou, Kimiko Japanese

Maruyama, Masao Producer

Tamura, Manabu Producer

Nakatani, Toshio Producer

Hashimoto, Kentarou Producer

Reviews

May 11, 2026

LevinH_

Recommended

Death Note Relight 1: Visions of a God and Death Note Relight 2: L's Successors are excellent recap films that successfully condense the core story of Death Note while still preserving the psychological tension, moral conflict, and intellectual battles that made the original series legendary. Even though they mainly retell existing events, they still manage to feel engaging and worthwhile, especially for fans revisiting the story.

What makes the Death Note Relight movies so effective is how they streamline the narrative. The original anime contains many slower moments and extended scenes, but the recap format removes much of the downtime while keeping the major plot points ... and mind games intact. This gives the story a faster pace without completely losing its emotional or psychological impact.

The battle between Light Yagami and L remains the heart of the experience. Light’s transformation from an intelligent student into someone consumed by his god complex is still fascinating to watch, while L continues to stand out as one of the greatest rival characters in anime history. Their constant psychological warfare remains intense even in condensed form.

One of the strongest aspects of the films is how clearly they present the themes of justice and corruption. Light truly believes he is creating a better world, but the more power he gains, the more disconnected he becomes from morality and humanity. The recap structure makes this downward spiral feel even more direct and noticeable.

Ryuk’s role as an observer also feels more pronounced in the movies. Since the story is framed through his perspective, it creates an almost myth-like retelling of Light’s rise and fall, which fits the dark tone of Death Note perfectly.

The movies also include some additional or slightly altered scenes that give longtime fans a reason to watch them beyond simple recap value. These additions help refresh the experience while still respecting the original story.

Visually, the films maintain the strong atmosphere of the anime. The darker color palette, dramatic lighting, and intense facial expressions continue to create a constant sense of tension and paranoia. Even simple conversations feel dangerous because every word can carry hidden meaning.

The soundtrack remains one of the best parts of the experience. The dramatic orchestral music and unsettling themes perfectly enhance the psychological battles and emotional breakdowns throughout the story.

Of course, because these are recap films, some side characters and slower emotional developments naturally receive less focus. Certain scenes may also feel rushed compared to the full anime series. However, considering the amount of material being condensed, the movies do an impressive job maintaining the core impact of the story.

Overall, I gave Death Note Relight a 9/10 because it is a well-executed and highly entertaining retelling of one of anime’s greatest psychological thrillers. It successfully preserves the tension, philosophy, and brilliance of the original while presenting the story in a more compact and cinematic format.

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Mar 22, 2025

LavenderSys

Mixed Feelings

The Rewrite films attempt to do a lot with very little time; that said, I can only personally recommend the first of the two. Before continuing I'd like to note that if you are looking to watch these films instead of the series, don't bother; as good as the first film may be, it is not a replacement for the series in any way, and is moreso a fun way for fans of the series to easily re-experience the story in a day.

The first rewrite film covers the first half of the series, and does so relatively well. Despite cutting out content for the ... sake of time, Death Note Rewrite 1 does it's best to tell a self-contained story. This film covers the major plot beats, and does so well, taking the viewer through the first half of Death Note quickly and effectively. The viewers are re-introduced to the plot, character, and story at a very digestible pace, and the action kicks off in this retelling right away. Overall I'd recommend watching this if you want to re-experience Death Note's initial plot in an afternoon.

Now, with that out of the way, let's get to the elephant in the room, the second film. Death Note Rewrite 2 manages to take up less of the viewer's time while simultaneously having less to say. This is not to say anything in regards to the second half of the series, which shares story, but not spirit, with this retelling of the story. Ultimately. this film is, just as the first was, a quick and simple retelling of half of the story; but this time it seems the pace of the film has picked up relative to the first film. While the first film covers an entire 26 episodes, allowing the story to feel dynamic and easy to invest in, this film only covers 10, and you can feel that upon watching. The lack of content truly does make this adaptation of the story feel less like a director's cut and more like an unnecessarily long episode.

Both Rewrites add slivers of new content, retell the story in a timely manner, and cover a portion of the story each. Although both attempt to do the same thing in the same way, it is safe to say that only the first is truly worth a watch, not just for the content it provides, but also for the way it manages to tell said story; plus if you're looking for bonus content to supplement the anime, you've found it here. So, if you want to experience Death Note without the pain of binging, look no further than the Death Note: Rewrite films.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Apr 12, 2023

FAKECROSS97

Not Recommended

Part 1 English
Part 2 Bahasa Indonesia

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Oh, Death Note: ReWrite, The story is so well-written, with its complex characters and intricate plot twists that keep you on the edge of your seat. The main character, Light Yagami, is a true genius and his battle of wits with the equally brilliant detective L is simply enthralling.

The music in so - so. but I especially loved the opening and ending themes, which were so catchy and memorable.
As for my enjoyment experience, well, let's just say that I couldn't get enough of Death Note: ReWrite. Every episode had me hooked, eagerly waiting to see what would happen next.

The story ... is so convoluted and confusing that it's hard to keep track of what's going on, and the characters are so flat and one-dimensional that you couldn't care less about their fates.

The music is equally forgettable, and I found myself checking the time every few minutes, just waiting for the episode to be over. So no, I wouldn't recommend Death Note: ReWrite to anyone, unless you enjoy being bored out of your mind.

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Oh, Death Note: ReWrite, ceritanya sangatlah baik ditulis, dengan karakter-karakter yang kompleks dan plot twist yang rumit yang membuat Anda terpaku di tempat duduk. Karakter utama, Light Yagami, adalah seorang jenius sejati dan pertarungannya dengan detektif yang sama briliannya, L, benar-benar memikat.

Musiknya biasa-biasa saja, tetapi saya terutama menyukai lagu pembuka dan penutupnya yang sangat mudah diingat.
Untuk pengalaman saya menikmati, mari kita katakan bahwa saya tidak bisa cukup dengan Death Note: ReWrite. Setiap episode membuat saya tergila-gila, dengan nafsu menunggu untuk melihat apa yang akan terjadi selanjutnya.

Ceritanya sangat rumit dan membingungkan sehingga sulit untuk mengikuti apa yang sedang terjadi, dan karakter-karakternya sangat datar dan satu dimensi sehingga Anda tidak peduli dengan nasib mereka.

Musiknya juga mudah terlupakan, dan saya sering mengecek waktu setiap beberapa menit, hanya menunggu episode selesai. Jadi tidak, saya tidak akan merekomendasikan Death Note: ReWrite kepada siapa pun, kecuali jika Anda menikmati merasa bosan.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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	Poll: Death Note Rewrite Episode 2 Discussion VARIAchan - Nov 15, 2010	27 replies	by Frosty »» Nov 22, 2025 10:25 AM
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